Revenge
A Sequel to The Contract
By
AZgirl66
Chapter 5-Festus, We May Have a Problem
It was still dark when Matt Dillon made his way to the big barn on the Triple D Ranch. He needed to speak with Festus before he headed out for town. Luckily, he'd noticed a lamp glowing through one of the windows of Festus' quarters.
Matt made his way through the large barn and lightly tapped on Festus' door. No one answered, but Matt could swear he'd heard voices.
"Festus," Matt quietly said, "I know it's early, but I really need t' talk t' ya," he waited patiently, his hands on his hips.
"Comin', Matthew," Festus answered, accompanied by sounds of movement from within the rooms.
"Mornin'," Festus greeted as he slipped through a slender opening between the door and its jam. He pulled up one of his suspenders as he sheepishly grinned at his friend.
"Good morning," Matt answered, nodding, "Sorry if I woke ya, but I saw your lamp was lit and figured-"
The disheveled hill man interrupted, "Oh, ya didn't wake me. I was jus'…busy is all," Festus gulped.
"I wanted to talk with ya while we fed the horses. It's pretty important, really," Matt's expression sobered.
"Okay, let me grab m' hat," Festus responded. As he opened his door to grab his hat off the hook, Matt spied Abelia Johnson sitting at the small kitchen table, clad only in one of Festus' shirts, sipping a cup of coffee. The lawman smiled to himself, turning around so as not to embarrass his friends.
Festus shut the door behind him, saying, "Whadd'ya need t'day, Matthew?"
Matt offered a closed mouth grin and answered, "Festus, we may have a problem."
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"I don't git it," Festus offered as he pitched some hay into one of the many occupied horse stalls, "You mean t' tell me that some yayhoo in Topeka said he done saw Mannon walkin' aroun' somewheres?"
"No, Festus," Matt answered while forcing his pitchfork into a small haystack, "the sheriff in Topeka told me a bounty hunter came into town lookin' for Mannon. He'd told the sheriff that there was a five thousand dollar bounty on Mannon's head," Matt removed his hat and wiped his brow.
"But Mannon's dead, Matthew. I done buried 'im m'self," Festus continued to pitch hay.
"I'm fully aware of that. That's why I was so late comin' home this last trip. I had t' try and figure out who this bounty hunter is and how t' find him so I could dig a little deeper," Matt started plunging a scoop into the oat bin, "and I sure as hell couldn't tell Kitty why I was late. That's the last thing she needs t' hear."
Festus paused to study his friend. He took a deep breath, "Miz Kitty had a bad dream whilst you was gone…" he nearly whispered.
Matt stood still, his lips pinched tightly, "Addie told me. Thanks for helpin' out with that," he studied the ground beneath his feet.
"She was screamin' 'er head off…I couldn't believe the young 'uns done slep' through it," Festus scratched his temple.
"Good morning, Marshal," Abelia greeted as she walked out of Festus' rooms. She held her head high and smiled as if this were an everyday occurrence. "I'm heading over t' the house t' help Kitty get the children ready for school."
"Good morning, Abelia," Matt nodded, noticing her change of attire, "Please tell my wife I'll be in for breakfast in a little bit, and I'll be taking the children t' school this morning."
"Sure thing," she turned her attention to Festus, "You have a good day, now."
"You, too, Abelia," Festus smiled and nodded, tipping his hat to her before turning his attention back to Matt.
The men continued with their chores in silence until the marshal spoke, "Festus, I want you to be the first t' know, aside from Kitty that is," he paused, "I'm wiring Washington today. I'm gonna retire," he looked at his dear friend, his eyebrows arched and lips pursed.
"Well, golly bill, Matthew! That there is wonderful news! I bet Miz Kitty is happier than a pig in slop," he animatedly shook Matt's hand.
"Thanks. I guess she is that," Matt smiled brightly, "It's time I give Kitty and this family more of my attention. I'm away too much and these kids are just…" he paused and shook his head, "growin' so darn fast. I've already wasted too much time."
"Matthew, I been thinkin' on it. We could use another hand out here, with the ranch gettin' busier," Festus picked up some buckets before heading out to the pump.
"I know. And I do have someone in mind," Matt patted Festus on the back as they headed out of the barn.
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Addie ate lunch with three of her friends in the exact same spot they ate lunch every school day. Unbeknownst to the girls, a tall, trail-worn, thin man was keeping an eye on the small group. Specifically, he was keeping an eye on the pretty little redheaded girl. He propped himself against a large oak tree near the schoolyard and picked at his teeth with a small reed.
He didn't realize that his opportunity to question the girl about the whereabouts of her father would come so quickly. A small group of boys playing with a ball helped him out, as one threw the ball over his friend's head. The ball conveniently landed in between the girls eating their lunch and the stranger.
"Hey, Addie!" one of the boys hollered, "Can ya get the ball fer us?"
Addie got up and walked a few feet into the direction of the stranger. When she bent down to pick up the ball, the stranger beat her to it. He picked up the ball and said, "Here ya go, Miss."
Addie started to take the ball from the man when he tightly clenched his fingers around it. He asked, "You're Addie, ain't ya?" She fit the description he'd been given of her mother. Lovely redhead with big, blue eyes and porcelain-like skin. This had to be the woman's daughter.
The frightened girl took a step backwards, "Yes," she whispered, glancing over her shoulder toward her friends, who weren't looking in her direction.
"Addie, I'm lookin' fer yer Papa," the tall, thin man grinned, his teeth brown, his breath smelling of whiskey.
"He's probably at the jail, Mister. Can I please have the ball?" Addie held out her hand, secretly grateful that the teacher began to ring the school bell, signaling the end of lunch recess.
The stranger handed Addie the ball. She ran toward the schoolhouse, a little shaken by the odd encounter. Her parents had always taught her to be wary of those she didn't know. As she stood in line, Addie glanced back at the man, noting he was heading in the opposite direction of the jail.
Well, well, well. That seemed too easy, the stranger smiled to himself as he headed toward the Lady Gay.
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The Dillon dinner table was abuzz with four different conversations taking place while Kitty and Abelia brought the evening's offerings to the hungry group. Festus and Doc were busy antagonizing each other, with Matthew, Jr. and Adam doing the same. Ezra and Scarlett were trying to out-sing each other with their renditions of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and Addie was asking her mother about a new dress when Matt let out a piercing whistle.
Everyone silenced as they stared at the head of the household, seated in his usual spot at the head of the table. Kitty and Abelia took their seats beside their men after placing the last bowls upon the long kitchen table.
"Family, your mother and I have an announcement to make," Matt cleared his throat before continuing. He tightly held Kitty's hand and announced, "I sent a telegram t' Washington today. I informed the powers that be that I am retiring from being a U.S. Marshal," he squeezed Kitty's hand, smiling brightly.
"Why, that's just wonderful, Matt," Doc congratulated his friend. He'd known that this was a long-time coming for his dear friends.
"Congratulations, Marshal," Abelia offered, smiling directly at Kitty.
"Daddy?" Matthew looked worried, "Does that mean…well, what are ya gonna do?"
"I am gonna stay at home as much as possible to be with my family and run this ranch. I hate being away from you all," the loving father reassured, winking at his first-born son.
"I'se so glad, Daddy!" Ezra crowed, "I miss ya when yer gone," he grabbed a freshly baked piece of bread.
"Me, too!" Adam said through his mouth full of mashed potatoes.
"Adam Dillon…" Kitty warned, her eyes small and her lips in a straight line.
"I'm so happy fer ya'll," Festus crowed, slapping a large slice of roast beef onto his plate.
"Thanks, everyone," Matt spread his napkin on his lap, "I'm looking forward t' seeing more of my family. Now, who wants some of these green beans?" he held up the large bowl.
Kitty looked around the table at the faces of her children and dear friends. She felt absolutely overcome with happiness and peace.
"Mama?" Addie broke Kitty's trance.
"Yes?" she focused on her daughter.
"Are we still going to Mrs. Carr's tomorrow about my new dress for the dance? We don't even have two weeks," Addie pleaded, her big, blue eyes sparkling.
"I promised you, didn't I?" Kitty winked, "The boys can wait at the jail after school until we're done."
"The jail?!" Matthew happily echoed, "Yahoo! I love the jail!"
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Kitty lounged in her hot bath, reflecting on the day. She was so relieved that Matt had followed through on his promise to retire. She had been holding her breath, worried about what Washington would have to say about her husband's plans.
She closed her eyes and reveled in the silence-her own little slice of paradise. Then she heard it. A deep male voice singing. At first, she grinned, imagining Matt on the side of the house in the outdoor shower, belting out a tune. Quickly, her smile disappeared as she recognized the melody before the words, "It's bright sunny waters…and hosts of dear faces gaze fondly at me…"
"No!" she shouted as she quickly stood in the tub, frantically looking around for her towel, water splashing onto the floor.
"Kitty?" Matt entered their water closet, a towel tied around his waist while he dried his hair with another, "What's wrong, Honey?"
Kitty leapt out of the tub and threw her arms around her husband's waist. She whispered, "Matt, did…did ya hear that?"
He pushed her shoulders back so he could study her face. Kitty looked absolutely terrified. Her eyes were as big as saucers and she was as pale as a new piece of paper. Her bathwater dripped from her thick, copper-colored curls.
"Hear what?"
"The singing! The singing! HIM singing!" she buried her face into his naked chest, tears freely falling.
"Sweetheart," Matt soothed, rubbing her wet, naked back, "I didn't hear a thing. Who did you hear?"
She looked at his face through her tears and downcast lashes and gasped, "Mannon. He's here."
TBC
