Revenge
A Sequel to The Contract
By
AZgirl66
Chapter 11-Surprises
Unbeknownst to her mother, Scarlett was upstairs in her parents' bedroom, staring at her big sister. Her little eyes grew wide, as Addie began to stir.
The toddler reached out her tiny chubby hand, stroking Addie's arm saying, "Addie! Upsie, Addie. I wanna play wif you. Addie-"
Adelaide Jane Dillon opened one blood-shot eye to greet the morning. She moaned, "Scarlett…leave me be…go find Mama."
"No, Addie. I wanna plaaaaayyyy…" Scarlett fussed, pulling on her sister's forearm.
Suddenly, Addie realized something was off. The bedroom was quite bright. The girl panicked, leaping out of bed, "I'm late for school!"
Kitty and Doc sipped their mid-morning coffee, both exhausted from lack of proper sleep. Thankfully, the children had all slept-in, giving the adults in residence a couple more hours of sleep than usual.
"Doc, I've been thinkin'," Kitty began, taking another sip of her strong brew, "maybe we should just keep the kids home the rest of the week. They get out for the summer on Friday, anyhow. I just have a strange feeling about that woman who approached Addie at Lathrop's."
Doc scrubbed his mustache, "I'm glad you brought that up. When I climbed into bed last night, I thought the same thing. Somehow, I think the boys will be thrilled," he took a swig of his coffee, "Speaking of which-"
"The boys are out finishing with the goats," Kitty walked to the screen door to check on her little helpers, "Matthew's decided he's gonna teach Adam how t' milk the cows and Ezra t' milk the goats…I think he wants to lighten his workload," she chuckled.
"He's been hangin' around Festus for too long," Doc groused with a smirk, giving his earlobe a tug.
Kitty gasped as her right hand reflexed to her throat, "Where's Scarlett?! Doc…?"
Addie came crashing down the stairs, her hair wild, her dress unbuttoned and her pinafore hanging off her shoulders, "Mama! I'm late for school! Why didn't you wake me?!" she raced around the kitchen, in search of something to eat. Kitty smiled with her hands on her hips, waiting for her daughter to slow down in order to inform her of the change in plans.
Doc got Kitty's attention and pointed to the staircase, where Scarlett had stationed herself to watch her frantic sister hunting for her boots.
"Where are my boots?! Grandpa, have you seen my boots?" Addie kept her head down as she searched behind the settee and the chairs in the sitting room.
"Addie…" Kitty finally spoke, but her child's only response was to run into the study to look for her missing foot ware.
Kitty loudly cleared her throat, "Adelaide Jane," she made sure to enunciate her eldest's name.
"Yes?" Addie breathlessly answered, swiping her long hair out of her eyes.
"I let you sleep because you aren't going to school today."
"Why not?" she pulled her pinafore sleeves onto her shoulders.
"None of us slept well last night and frankly, I'm ready t' have all my babies home for the summer," Kitty stated matter-of-factly.
"But there are only two days after today," Addie pouted, her bottom lip threatening to stick out. She didn't socialize much outside of school, so she enjoyed her time with her friends.
"Mama and I think it's best, Honey. And sometimes, that's good enough," her grandpa patted her shoulder as he passed her to scoop Scarlett off the stairs. "Wanna swing, Scarlett?" he asked the two-year-old, kissing her rosy cheek.
"Yay!" the little girl clapped, "Wanna wing, Addie?"
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Kitty hauled two full buckets from the well over to the blossoming garden, as Addie checked the plants for new growth.
"We can have green beans with supper tonight," Addie proudly announced, glancing up at her mother.
"Wonderful," Kitty smiled, "get a pail and start pickin' 'em, and don't forget t' look at the bottom of the plants. Those beans like t' hide…" she began to slowly pour the water around her thirsty plants.
"Mama," Adam stood off to the side of the rather large garden patch, "I can pick some a this lettuce for ya," the small boy happily offered.
"Why, thank you, sweet boy. Go get yourself a bucket and some scissors. Don't pull out the whole plant…" Kitty instructed, "When you come out of the shed, I'll show you."
Kitty stood to wipe her brow, surveying the scene around her. She figured this is what Heaven looked like. The sun was shining, Doc was alternating between swinging Ezra and Scarlett on their swings, Matthew was lunging a pony in the corral attached to the family barn, and Maggie slept peacefully in her carriage, parked under the shade of an old oak tree. Mutt had stationed himself right next to the baby's conveyance, knowing his duty was to protect her and the family. The only thing missing from Kitty's paradise was her beloved husband. Hurry home, Cowboy. The dance is in two days.
Mutt began to bark, rousing Kitty from her thoughts. She followed the dog's line of sight, biting her bottom lip. A stranger was riding up the road-something Kitty always dreaded when Matt wasn't home. To add to her anxiety, Festus had taken Moose on horseback to learn the boundaries of their expansive property.
"Doc…" Kitty alerted him, nodding her head down the road.
"I see 'im," Doc gave Scarlett a big push and headed for the porch, where the loaded shot gun had been strategically placed. He fetched the weapon and carried it with him toward Ezra's swing.
The children took notice of the approaching rider too, but they had been trained well by their parents. The brood went about their activities, but knew not to talk in front of the stranger, unless their mother or grandfather asked them a question.
"Mutt," Kitty commanded, the dog joining her at her side, "go on, boy." The dog jogged toward the man, barking and growling.
Kitty adjusted her hat to get a better view of the man. He was tall, of average build, bearded, and wore a large Stetson. He halted his horse a few yards from the lady of the house, who had taken several steps in his direction.
"Ma'am?" the big man spoke with a slight twang, "This the Triple D?"
Mutt stopped barking, but sat in between Kitty and the stranger, who remained on his horse.
"It is…" Kitty responded. Much to her dismay, the baby started to cry. She hated to take her eyes off the man, but she'd realized she had to-in order to signal Addie to tend to her sister. Kitty was relieved to find the man hadn't moved an inch.
"How can I help ya, Mister?" she studied his face, recognizing something was familiar about this man. Between his beard and the position of his hat, it was difficult to make out his facial features.
"I heard this was th' best horse ranch 'round. Me and the Missus are passin' through and we could use some new wagon horses," the stranger nodded toward the barns.
"My husband only sells on Saturdays," Kitty lied, not wanting to inform the man her husband wasn't home.
Doc watched the whole scene carefully, keeping his hand on the rifle. He crinkled his mouth, watching Addie trying to quiet her baby sister. She picked her up and headed toward her mother.
"Mama," Addie whispered, handing the baby over. When she looked up into the man's face, her eyes widened and she bit her bottom lip. Kitty immediately had noticed the change in her daughter's expression.
"Get back t' your chores, please," she nodded in the direction of the garden. Kitty wanted Addie to move away from the stranger.
"My, my, Ma'am, what lovely children you have," the man almost hissed the compliment through his yellowed teeth.
"Your name, sir? So I can tell my husband to expect you," Kitty bluffed.
"Name's Wes. Wes Townsend. I'll be back," he softly spoke in his phony, syrupy drawl, "I really need me some," he paused, taking in Kitty's whole body from head to toe, "horses."
Why did he seem familiar?! Kitty's mind was racing, until she looked at his horse. Then time seemed to stand still. A chestnut quarter horse, with a blaze, and a sock on his rear left leg. By God, if she didn't know any better, she could swear that was Mannon's horse. The horse he'd bought for them in Garden City.
Kitty shook her head to erase the image that had haunted her, as she cradled Maggie closer to her bosom. The man tipped his hat to her, sinisterly grinning. Once Doc started to walk in Kitty's direction, the man suddenly turned his horse and trotted off.
"That was strange," Doc whispered, standing next to Kitty.
Kitty's eyes were still on the retreating stranger, "You can say that again." She remained watchful until the rider was out of sight. She continued comforting Maggie, glancing first at Scarlett and Ezra, who had now headed with their grandpa toward the goat pen. She then took inventory of her helpers in the garden. Adam was diligently trimming lettuce, but Addie stood erect, still staring down the road.
"Addie…" Kitty approached; her knuckle resting in Maggie's suckling mouth.
Her child remained wide-eyed. Kitty noticed Addie's hands were balled into fists, trembling at her sides.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Kitty took Addie's cold hand in her warm one. She narrowed her eyes, patiently waiting for an answer.
"Mama," Addie said, barely audibly, "that's the scary man from my dream. The man who tried t' hurt you and take you away…"
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"Well?!" the dark-haired woman demanded, standing with her hands on her hips, "Whadd'ya find out?"
The contrast between the bright sunlight and the dimly-lit, dirty shack made it hard for the man to clearly see the impatient woman.
"Well," the muscular, tall man teased, grabbing a bottle of whiskey off the worn, wooden table, "you ain't gonna believe it." He sat on a rickety wooden chair and propped his feet on the table top. His eyes had finally adjusted to take in his filthy surroundings.
"Try me," the woman snatched the bottle from the man and poured herself a small amount of the brown liquor. "Did ya find Mannon's girl? The one I told ya 'bout?" she smiled, swirling the liquid in her glass. "She sure is a pretty l'il girl. I imagine my girl woulda been just as pretty."
"I found her and a whole lot more," the man took a swig, directly from the bottle.
"Quit talkin' in riddles, Weston. I'm payin' ya good money fer this information," she threw back her whiskey, standing inches from her informant.
"Mannon's woman went and had herself a whole passel a kids. A complete yard full a brats," Weston belly-laughed, "Woo wee, that there's an active woman!" he reclaimed the whiskey bottle, sloshing some onto the table, "I can't wait t' have her m'self," he mumbled.
"What did you say?" the woman hissed, "Surely you don't plan on bedding that whore, do you?" she asked, distain evident in her tone.
"Hell, yeah! If I'm snatchin' her and Mannon's kid, I'm havin' the redhead. She is beaut-"
"Shut up! She's nothin' but a low down, low-priced harlot!" her eyes bulged while she leaned into his face, her whiskey breath invading Weston's senses, "I don't know why men fall for her constantly. First, she stole Will from me, then she had 'im kill my baby, then she had th' love of my life killed. She's gonna pay. Oh, is she gonna pay…"
"Trudy June, I don't know how we're gonna be able t' get her away from all those kids. Hell, she's even got a baby," Weston stood, making his way over to the only woman who was available to him at the moment. He ran his pointer finger under the low-cut neckline of her simple day dress. "Hey, take this off…she got me all worked up…" he leaned in to sloppily kiss the top of her cleavage.
Lost in her thoughts, Trudy June commented, "A baby huh? That gives me somethin' t' think about." Finally realizing Weston's hands were all over her breasts, she ordered, "Get yer filthy hands offa me, ya pig," Trudy June swatted his hands away.
In the blink of an eye, Weston smacked Trudy June in the face, knocking her onto her stomach, stretched out across the old, squeaky bed. He began to unbutton his pants and reach down for the hem of her skirt, as Trudy June began to kick her legs. She shouted, "Get offa me! Do you hear me?! If ya don't, I swear I'm gonna-"
"Gonna WHAT?! Go git the marshal in Dodge? Oh, wait, he's busy makin' babies with Mannon's wida," he slapped Trudy June's rear end, as he yanked down her pantaloons, "Just lay still and be quiet, so I can pr'tend you're the pretty redhead…"
TBC