Revenge

A Sequel to The Contract

By

AZgirl66

Chapter 6- Echoes of the Past

Matt extricated himself from Kitty's embrace, hoping to get to Maggie before she woke up her mother. Kitty'd had a hard time settling down after she was positive she'd heard the voice of Will Mannon singing outside the Dillon home while she took her bath. The concerned husband had been able to convince her that she must've dozed off in the tub, even though he wasn't sure he'd believed that himself.

"Shh, Maggie, don't wake Mama," Matt whispered, as he picked up the fussing infant from her cradle.

Once downstairs, Matt walked through the kitchen in his bare feet, wearing only his union suit. "Let's see if Grandpa left any goat's milk for ya in the icebox," he soothed. His youngest child was definitely hungry, but he also knew her diaper must be soaking wet, noting it was four-thirty in the morning.

The experienced father lit the stove and put a glass bottle of goat's milk on to warm, before retreating into the study, where Kitty kept additional diapers. Matt gently placed the upset baby in her basket and soothed, "Daddy's here, Margaret Louise. Let's take care of this nasty diaper first," he smiled at her sweet face.

After she was changed, he wrapped her in a white, fluffy blanket and retrieved the warm milk from the stove. He checked the temperature on his wrist, like the seasoned parent he'd become, and got comfortable in his overstuffed chair in the sitting room.

"Okay, Maggie Lou, here ya go," Matt whispered, rubbing the nipple against her mouth. The baby's bottom lip curled in a pout, as she started to whimper. "Now, now, young lady. I know this isn't as tasty as Mama's milk, but she needs some sleep."

As if she understood his plea, Maggie opened her perfect little lips to accept the nourishment her father was offering. She didn't suckle as eagerly as she did at Kitty's breast, but Matt was relieved the baby was cooperating. He tilted his head all the way back on the chair, remembering Kitty's distress from the previous night.

"Matt, I'm telling you, I heard him! I heard Mannon singing outside," her eyes wild, unfocused.

He sat her on the side of the bed, handing her a dressing gown. "Kitty," he comforted, "that's impossible, and you know it. Mannon's dead," he helped her into the garment.

"How can we be positive, Matt?" she asked, frightened beyond belief, her wet hair plastered to her face.

"Honey, Festus buried him. You even stood over his grave, remember?"

"Yes, yes. I do remember," Kitty wiped away her tears, searching Matt's eyes for comfort.

"I think maybe you fell asleep in the tub, and just had a bad dream," he offered.

"Matt, I'm not crazy," she whispered, her voice trailing off as she rested her head against his chest.

"I didn't say you were, Sweetheart. But you're tired. We run all day long around here," Matt stroked her back, "and you haven't had an uninterrupted night's sleep since Maggie was born."

"You're probably right," she admitted in a monotone voice, tightly closing her eyes.

XXXXXXXX

"What'll it be, Mister?" Floyd asked the stranger on the other side of the bar.

"I'll have a beer," the tall, heavyset man with dirty clothes answered, tossing a coin onto the bar.

When Floyd delivered the foamy beverage, the stranger asked, "Hey, do you know a redheaded woman named 'Kitty' who lives in these here parts?"

The white-haired bartender eyed the stranger, noting his gun was worn low, much like a gunslinger, "Can't say I do," he lied.

"Hmm. That's real interestin', cause I hear once upon a time, she done owned this here saloon," the dirty man offered, before taking a large swing of his brew.

"Musta been b'fore my time here," Floyd answered as he began to wipe the bar, signaling he was done with this particular conversation.

The stranger turned around and sat at a table near the stairs. He'd figured that would be a good spot to observe the crowd. It didn't take long for him to spot a couple of chatty men who seemed to be regulars at the Long Branch.

"Howdy, gentlemen," he smiled as he approached their table, "My name's Waldren. Can I buy yas a beer?" he sat down next to the two men.

"I don't see why not," one of the men answered, "I'm Burke, and this is Lathrop."

XXXXXXXX

Kitty walked down the boardwalk with her hand on Addie's shoulder, commenting, "That color green is going to look beautiful on you, Sweetheart."

The young girl beamed up at her mother, "Thanks, Mama. I'm so glad Mrs. Carr can make me a dress so quickly. I've never had a dress that color before. Have you?"

Kitty smiled, remembering several of her fancy saloon gowns in that same, deep green color. "I've had a couple that color, yes. It goes nicely with our red hair." The mother had never discussed her past profession with her children. They knew that once upon a time, she'd owned The Long Branch, but neither Kitty nor Matt had ever gone into any detail about how long she'd owned it, or what made her sell the business.

As Kitty and Addie were beginning to cross Front Street to collect Matthew Jr. and Adam from the jail, the tall, wiry stranger whom Addie had encountered the previous day approached them from behind, calling out, "Mrs. Mannon! Oh, Mrs. Mannon!"

Kitty's eyes nearly bulged out of her head. She wrapped her arm tightly around her daughter's shoulders and began to walk faster, her blood turning to ice.

Addie noticed that her mother's jaw tensed, as they picked up their pace. Just as she was going to ask what was the matter, the stranger put his hand on Kitty's shoulder, repeating, "Mrs. Mannon!"

Kitty whirled around, forcefully pushing Addie behind her. With fire in her eyes, she said to the man before her, "You've mistaken me for someone else, Sir. That's not my name."

The man spit some tobacco juice out of the side of his mouth onto the street, "Oh, well I sure am sorry, Ma'am. I was lookin' for a 'Kitty Mannon', wife of Will Mannon," he placed his hands upon his waist, his eyes settling on her breasts.

"Mama?" Addie whispered, trying to see around her mother. Kitty kept a firm hold on the child behind her, not allowing the girl's face to be seen.

"Go to your father's office, Honey," Kitty ordered, not breaking eye contact with the stranger. She made sure not to use her child's name.

The man quickly offered, "I sure am sorry. Ma'am. I didn't mean t' scare ya. I was told Mrs. Mannon was a redheaded looker, lived in Dodge with her daughter, Mannon's child," he nodded in the direction of the frightened girl.

"Well," Kitty tried her best to sound nonchalant, but her eyes could not hide her fear, "I've lived in Dodge for twenty-four years and there has never been a 'Mrs. Mannon' here."

With that, the smarmy man tipped his hat, stating, "Sorry t' have bothered ya." His eyes wandered up and down Kitty's body before he turned on his heels and headed toward the Lady Gay.

XXXXXXXX

As soon as Kitty and Addie entered the jailhouse, Matt knew something was wrong. It was written all over the faces of his wife and daughter. Kitty leaned her back against the closed office door, in an attempt to steady her nerves.

"Hi Daddy, hi Grandpa," Addie quietly greeted her father and Doc with a weak smile.

"Hello, Pumpkin," Doc said, taking notice of the nervous look on Kitty's face and Addie's lack of exuberance, "why don't ya come on over here and give me a big hug?"

Addie warmly embraced Doc as her brothers concentrated on their game of checkers. Doc glanced over Addie's shoulder at Matt and chirped, "Hey, kids, what would you say to a piece a pie at Delmonico's?"

"Pie!" Adam shouted, clapping his hands.

"You just want pie cause I was beatin' ya," Matthew, Jr. teased.

"Nuh-uh," Adam pushed his brother's shoulder.

"Mama?" Addie looked at Kitty for permission, noticing that her mother just blankly stared at her father.

"What?" Kitty shook her head, trying to focus on the conversation at hand.

"Is it okay if we go have pie with Grandpa?" Addie asked, her brows furrowed.

"Why, I think that's a fine idea," Matt chimed in, herding his three children. "Doc, when you're done, would you mind taking the children home for us?"

"I'd be happy to. In fact, I just might spend the night at your place, if it's okay," Doc offered, hoping to be able to lend his friends a hand with whatever it was they needed.

As Matt escorted Doc and the children onto the boardwalk, he whispered into Doc's ear, "Don't let them out of your sight. Not for a second. I'll bring Kitty to you, as well."

Doc acknowledged with a quick nod of his head.

XXXXXXXX

"He flat out called you 'Mrs. Mannon'?" Matt questioned, holding onto both of Kitty's shoulders.

"Yes…" she cried, silent tears falling down her flushed cheeks, "he said he was given a description of me…and Matt…" she paused, staring at him through her tear-filled eyes, "he knew about Addie. He thinks she's Mannon's…" Kitty rested her head upon Matt's chest, "What could he possibly want? Oh, Matt, I'm absolutely terrified," Kitty gasped, grasping the front of Matt's shirt.

"Shh, Honey," he soothed, rubbing her back, "I don't want you to worry about a thing. I'm gonna track 'im down and get t' the bottom of this. Let me take you to Delmonico's, and you can go home with Doc and the kids. When you get home, tell Festus what happened. Understand?"

Kitty wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, "Yes, Matt. I understand," she sniffled, offering him a weak smile, "You'd better come home to us in one piece tonight, Cowboy."

He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a small pistol. He checked to make sure it was fully loaded. "Here," he handed it to her, "put this in your reticule. Let's get the surrey and I'll take you to Delmonico's." Matt comfortingly looked into her eyes, adding, "And don't you worry about me, Mrs. Dillon. You just keep my bed warm."

TBC