Revenge

A Sequel to The Contract

By AZgirl66

Chapter 10- Truth and Consequences (2)

Kitty sat at her vanity, slowly brushing her long, red hair. Through close examination of her reflection, she spotted a few gray hairs starting to sprout. She crinkled her nose in disgust, before noticing her oldest daughter through the looking glass. Addie was in her white, short-sleeved cotton nightgown, crouched next to her sleeping sister's cradle.

Kitty turned her back to the looking glass and continued her nightly ritual, while watching Addie gently rock Maggie.

Addie sensed that her mother had changed her orientation, commenting, "She's so pretty," keeping her gaze upon her slumbering sister.

"You three girls were identical at this age," Kitty softly stated, "I never expected my girls would all look so much alike. It's remarkable, really."

Addie paused in her action and asked, keeping her back to her mother, "And why is that, Mama?"

The bite in Addie's tone was evident. Kitty abandoned her silver hair brush on her vanity, gathered her light-blue, cotton nightgown in her hands and climbed upon the big brass bed. She arranged all the pillows against the headboard and ordered, more-so than asked, "Join me?" she patted the top of the quilt.

Addie could swear her heart was beating against her rib cage. She joined her mother on the bed, but did not sit next to her. She sat cross-legged, facing Kitty.

"I believe you have some things you wish to ask me?" Kitty commenced, her facial expression serious, but warm.

"Yes. But will you get mad?" Addie blurted, folding her hands in her lap.

Kitty waited a minute before responding, "No, I won't get mad. But understand, young lady, some things are private-therefore, off limits. I'll let you know if you cross that line. Got it?" she tilted her head and lifted her eyebrows.

"Yes, Mama," Addie answered in her usual, melodic tone.

Kitty pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them with her lithe arms, waiting for her daughter to begin her line of questioning. She felt like a witness on the stand, her heart beating like a butterfly's wings.

"Why was I born in Deep Ford?" Addie started.

"Because that's where I was when my time came." This isn't gonna be that easy, Kitty thought.

"Why were you there? Had you been there a long time?" Let's see what you say to that, Mama.

Kitty grinned, "That's where I was living for a few months." Oh, shit.

"Were you living with Daddy there?" Addie's big eyes were hopeful.

"Yes. Part of the time…" Oh, boy…

Addie suddenly changed her line of questioning, "Is Daddy your first husband?"

Kitty giggled while she answered, "Why, of course he is. Adelaide, where are you going with this?"

Addie furrowed her brow, thinking, Is she laughing at me?! She decided to just go ahead and ask, "Is Matt Dillon my real father?"

Kitty's expression sobered. She adjusted her posture so her legs were tucked underneath her body. Her arms were pressed firmly into the mattress as she leaned over, her tone eerily calm, "Of course Matt Dillon is your father. Just what are you accusing me of?" Kitty could barely control her anger.

Addie blinked back her tears, realizing she should have just told her mother about the lady in Mr. Lathrop's store and what she'd overheard in the barn.

Addie drew her legs up to her chest to partially hide her face. She blushed and softly stated, "I think that maybe…maybe Will Mannon could be my father…"

Kitty's heart was beating so loudly, she was sure Addie could hear it. Tears filled Kitty's eyes, for she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Why…would you…think such…a thing…Adelaide Jane Dillon? Why?" Kitty gasped, nearly hyperventilating. She was doing her best to keep her voice down. Hell, she was doing her best not to fall apart.

Addie began to shudder, "Because, the man who came up to us in the street…and…and the lady in the general store today and, and I heard Mr. Moose and Uncle Festus talking…" a torrent of salty tears dripped down the child's freckled cheeks.

Kitty tilted her head back and closed her eyes, God, what do I say?! Her daughter's sobbing begged for her attention.

"Come 'ere," Kitty held out her arms to embrace her heart-sick child, "Come t' Mama, Sweetie."

Addie launched herself into her mother's arms, nearly knocking them both over. The child cried silent tears for several moments, her body shuddering, while Kitty adjusted their bodies against the pillows.

"I've got some things t' tell you," Kitty whispered into Addie's ear.

XXXXXXXX

Kitty rubbed Addie's back until it was evident the child had fallen asleep. She smoothed her daughter's long, ropey curls and kissed her tear-streaked, fevered cheek. The emotionally exhausted mother rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling, wondering what Matt would think of her telling Addie about Mannon and their deal.

Kitty had just closed her eyes when Maggie began to stir. The experienced mother quickly gathered the infant in her arms, along with a fresh diaper and made her way down to the sitting room, where she changed the baby's wet diaper and got comfortable for a late-night feeding.

"Shh, Maggie Lou, Mama's here," Kitty quietly soothed as she unbuttoned the top of her nightgown. The baby immediately latched onto her mother's breast, greedily suckling.

Clad only in his nightshirt, Doc exited the study, which doubled as his room when he'd spend the night at the Triple D. He tugged on his ear and offered Kitty a fatherly grin, "Do you mind if I join ya, Honey?"

"Please do," Kitty rested her head on the back of her rocking chair.

"I do believe with all your nocturnal activities, you and Matt have trained these children t' sleep through just about anything," Doc lowered himself onto the settee with a groan.

Kitty glanced at Doc, "Oh…I'm sorry, Doc. Addie woke you?"

"She probably woke half the state of Kansas. I almost came up to check on her, but I could hear your voice trying to calm her, so I let mother and daughter be," he patiently stared at Kitty, hoping she'd share her burden.

After a few moments in comfortable silence, she finally spoke, "Doc, why don't you make us some warm milk while I finish with the baby? She's nearly done. I'll put her back in bed-"

"Let her sleep in the study with me. She can sleep in her basket and if she gets up, I'll just give her some goat's milk t' tide 'er over-if that's okay with you, Mama."

"Oh, Doc. Thank you so much," Kitty began to burp Maggie.

"Meet me on the porch. We don't need any little ears eavesdropping," Doc advised, heading for the kitchen.

XXXXXXXX

"So, some woman actually said that to her?" Doc couldn't believe his ears, "But Addie didn't recognize her?"

"Correct," Kitty sat companionably next to Doc on the porch swing, "I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out who this farm woman could be…" she took a sip of her warm milk, holding the mug with both hands, "I've never recognized anyone from Deep Ford around here."

"How did ya explain why you were with Mannon?"

Kitty took a deep breath, "I stuck to a version of the truth a child could understand. I told her that Mannon wanted to kill her daddy, and I couldn't bear the thought of it. So, I told Mannon I'd go with him…"

"Did she understand all that entailed? I mean, I know she knows how babies are made…" Doc's voice trailed off.

"She understood enough of what went on. Especially when I explained that I had to fool Mannon in order to keep us both alive," Kitty laid her head on Doc's shoulder.

"Oh, boy," he swiped his moustache, pushing the swing with his feet on the porch floor. "I don't think Matt will be too happy about you telling her."

"He'll just have to understand. Doc, she thought Matt didn't care about the dance because she isn't really his child," Kitty's voice quivered as she searched Doc's eyes, "I just couldn't let her continue t' think that, so I went with a lean version of the truth."

"Poor thing," he wrapped his arm around Kitty's shoulders as she rested her head upon his shoulder once again.

"She asked a question that I'd hoped to never have t' answer…"

"Oh?"

"She asked how long Matt and I were married before this all happened," Kitty wiped a tear from her cheek.

"How'd she take it?"

"Mama, how long were you and Daddy married when you went with Will Mannon?"

Kitty paused, running her hand over the length of her daughter's hair, "We weren't…"

"You weren't what?" Addie furrowed her brow.

"We weren't married," Kitty answered softly.

"But you said I was in your belly before you left Dodge…" the child's eyes widened.

"You were," Kitty offered a genuine smile, stroking Addie's cheek with the back of her hand, "I just didn't know it yet."

"But…but…that means…" the girls eyes filled with tears.

"What that means, Adelaide, is that you were made just the same as your brothers and sisters. From the love between me and your daddy. What that means, is without you, we may not have ever been a family."

XXXXXXXX

Kitty had just kissed Doc's cheek and had bid him a "good night" when she heard the blood curdling scream coming from upstairs. She hitched up her night gown and raced up the wide staircase, hoping to reach her daughter before she woke the whole house.

"Mama! No! You can't take my mama!" Addie screamed herself hoarse, her body completely tangled in the soft, cotton sheets.

Kitty grabbed the girl by the shoulders, "Shhh…Addie girl, you're just havin' a bad dream," the mother attempted to soothe.

"Let me go!" Addie thrashed in her sleep, wrestling with her invisible assailant, her long, red hair covering her face.

"Adelaide!" Kitty authoritatively whisper-yelled, "Wake up, Honey. It's Mama."

The hysterical girl quit thrashing and opened her bleary blue eyes, "Mama!" she gasped, sitting upright to embrace her mother as tears coursed down her flushed cheeks.

"There, there," Kitty gently patted Addie's back, "settle down now, Baby. It's okay, I'm here," her husky voice like a bandage for Addie's wounded heart.

"It was awful," Addie whispered through her tears, "A man tried to grab you, take you away from us. Daddy wasn't…he wasn't here…to help…" she hiccupped and nuzzled her face into Kitty's neck, inhaling her mother's familiar, comforting scent.

"Mama?" Matthew, Jr. whispered into the darkness of the room, "Are you okay?"

Kitty continued to rock Addie in her arms, "Yes, Son, we're alright," she calmly answered, "Your sister had a bad dream is all. Please go back to your room. And Matthew?"

"Yes'm?" he glanced back over his shoulder.

"Thank you for checking on us. You're such a good boy."

"You're welcome. I was worried…" the young boy murmured, looking at the floor.

Sensing the boy's nervousness, Kitty beckoned, "Matthew, come 'ere, please."

The boy eagerly stood by the side of the bed, right up next to Kitty. She kept one arm around Addie, while taking Matthew's hand in hers.

"Would it be alright with you, if I let you children stay home from school tomorrow? You only have three days left until summer vacation, anyway."

Matthew closely examined his older sister. Her eyes were closed, her head laying against Kitty's breasts. Her breathing slowed, as she sniffled in an attempt to calm herself.

"Sure, Mama. Adam and me would like that," he didn't take his eyes off of his sister.

"Thank you, Sweetheart. That will help Mama in the morning. I just need you boys t' take care of your chores right after you wake up," Kitty squeezed Matthew's hand and offered him a closed-mouth grin.

Matthew leaned into his mother's side and quietly spoke into her ear, "Sure. I'll have Ezra feed Mutt and Adam can feed th' chickens 'n get th' eggs. I'll feed the cows 'n goats and milk 'em all. Addie can sleep late, Mama. Don't make her do her early chores."

Kitty embraced the boy with one arm and whispered, "You're becoming such a fine young man…just like your daddy. I love you, Matthew," she gently patted his bottom as he walked away.

"I love you, too," he shyly offered as he exited his parents' room.

TBC