Revenge

A Sequel to The Contract

By

AZgirl66

Chapter 12-The Dance

"Don't move, Honey. I'm almost done," Kitty urged, as she finished tying the emerald green bow in her daughter's hair, "Voila! Ready to see how you look?!" Kitty beamed.

Addie excitedly nodded her head, "Yes, Ma'am."

"Okay…" Kitty took Addie by the shoulders and slowly turned her around to view herself in the full-length looking glass.

"Mama!" the child gasped, "I…I don't know what t' say…" Addie took in her appearance, stroking the length of her curly hair with one hand while straightening the skirt of her dress with the other.

"You look beautiful, Adelaide. Just beautiful," Kitty clasped her hands together, resting them under her chin as she observed Addie through her reflection. Her eldest had never been one to care about how she looked on a day-to-day basis. The child turned her shoulders this way and that, trying to see the elevated sash tied in the back.

"Mama?" she turned to look at Kitty.

"Hmm?" Kitty rechecked the bow on top of Addie's head, making sure it was secure-only holding up a handful of ropey strands from each side of her head.

"May I use a little of your lip paint?" Addie asked, her eyes wide with hope.

Without missing a beat, Kitty flatly responded, "No."

The disappointed girl shrugged, looking at the ground, "Oh, well…"

Kitty lifted Addie's chin to meet her eyes, "You certainly don't need any lip paint. First of all, you're ten-years-old. Second of all, you're too beautiful to need any paint," she playfully pinched the little girl's cheeks.

"You don't really wear paint, Mama. How come ya have it?" Addie turned toward Kitty's vanity and picked up some small brushes.

"It's old…" the nervous mother let her voice trail off, "I don't know why I keep it." She'd figured it best not to reply, "Well, sometimes your daddy likes to play 'the returning marshal and the lovesick saloon keeper.'"

"Mama, Addie," Adam knocked on the door, "Grandpa says it's time t' go if ya don't wanna be late."

"Ready?" Kitty asked, tears filling her eyes.

"Yes," Addie reached for the door knob and stopped, keeping her back to her mother, "I don't want t' hurt Grandpa's feelings…but I wish Daddy was here."

Kitty hugged her daughter from behind, kissing the top of her head, "I understand, Addie girl. Really, I do. But Grandpa is sooo proud t' be taking you."

She glanced at her mother over her shoulder, offering a genuinely bright smile.

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Addie flounced down the stairs a couple of minutes after her mother. The skirt of her emerald green dress billowed with each step, seemingly moving in time with the child's bouncy curls.

Kitty waited at the bottom of the staircase. She held out her hand for Addie to clasp, "Your public awaits, m' dear."

Addie held her mother's hand and wondered where everyone was. She got her answer when Kitty loudly cleared her throat and Moose opened the screen door from the outside with great fanfare, as if Addie were a princess in a fairy tale.

"Miss Adelaide Jane Dillon," he announced with his deep, gravelly voice, "Please step outside, where your escort and carriage await," Moose smiled brightly as he bowed.

"Thank you, Sir," Addie played along, curtsying before fully stepping onto the porch.

Matthew, Jr. was dressed in his best pair of slacks and a clean white shirt. He sidled up to Addie and eyed his mother, who was standing directly behind the girl.

Kitty couldn't help herself. She grinned from ear to ear, and winked at Matthew. He winked back at her, before saying, "Wanna take m' arm?" He held his elbow out to his sister, offering himself as her escort to the buggy.

"Okay," Addie whispered, feeling a little self-conscious. She took a deep breath before she looked up to take in the scene before her.

At the bottom of the stairs stood Festus, holding Ezra's hand on one side of him and Scarlett's on the other. Across from him stood Abelia, juggling Maggie in her arms, with Adam by her side. Right smack in the middle, just beyond the crowd, was Doc, standing in front of the family's small buggy. He was dressed in what appeared to be a new suit, holding a small bouquet of yellow roses.

Addie took Matthew's arm and they walked toward their grandpa. The boy stopped a couple of steps short and whispered to his sister, "Ya look real pretty, Addie. I hope ya have fun."

She grinned, replying, "Thanks, Matthew."

"We haven't got all night, Matthew. Bring my granddaughter t' her carriage," Doc smiled and kissed Addie on the cheek once she was at his side. "You look absolutely beautiful, Pumpkin. I know you're going t' have a wonderful time," he handed her the bouquet.

"Don't you mean we are going to have a wonderful time, Grandpa?" Addie asked, her voice a little shaky.

"No, Baby, I don't…" Doc's voice trailed off as he stepped to the side, revealing Addie's actual date.

Matt stepped out from the side of the house, holding a bouquet of tangled wildflowers, tied together with a bow made of twine. He smiled a perfect, dazzling smile that conveyed all the love he held for his sweet Miss Buckshot.

Addie felt paralyzed. She blinked furiously, whispering, "Daddy…"

Matt sighed, "I made it, Sweetheart…I made it!"

He held out his arms and Addie ran to embrace him. Kitty stood on the porch, one hand covering her mouth, the other resting over her heart. Silent tears threatened to fall as she murmured, "Oh, Matt…"

Once the shock of Matt's surprise appearance wore off, the head of the Dillon household braced himself for the onslaught of his offspring.

"Careful, kids," Matt warned above the joyful greetings, "I'm a bit dusty from the trip."

Kitty remained on the porch, absorbing the pure joy of the moment. As Matt squatted to hug his children, Scarlett hurled herself at him, not willing to release her hold on her Daddy's neck. Ezra jumped on Matt's back and Adam planted a kiss on his father's whisker covered cheek. Matthew patted him on the back, kissed his cheek and over the raucous greetings, much to the adults' surprise, exclaimed, "Okay, everybody! Enough! We can see Daddy t'morrow. It's Addie's night!"

"Listen t' yer brother now, ya crazy rascals," Festus approached the swarm of children, plucking Ezra off of Matt by the back of his trousers. He offered with a nod, "Welcome home, Matthew."

"Thanks, Festus. It's good t' be home," Matt patted his friend on the back.

"Let's go, little girl," Doc snatched Scarlett's hand before she could run off, "Want a cookie?"

"Cookies?!" Adam and Matthew, Jr. shouted in unison and ran up the porch stairs, the screen door slamming behind them.

On her way into the house, Abelia handed Maggie to Kitty, who kept her eyes on her husband and Addie. She gently swayed with the infant, waiting for her turn to greet her man.

Just like the old days, Matt looked at the love of his life, touched his fingers to the tip of his hat and simply greeted, "Hello, Kitty."

Kitty beamed, tears clouding the view of her husband lifting their daughter into the buggy. She quietly responded, "Hello, Matt."

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Addie leaned against Matt's arm on the ride home. She was tired from dancing the night away with her father, who, in her humble opinion, happened to be the most handsome daddy at the Father/Daughter dance-even if he appeared a little trail worn.

"I sure had a nice time t'night. How 'bout you?" Matt glanced down at the sleepy girl while he loosely held the reins.

Addie sat up straight, answering, "Oh, yes, Sir. It was really fun. Thank you for hurrying back for me," she tilted her head up at Matt, looking at him through her thick ginger lashes.

"You're most welcome. I wouldn't have missed it for anything, Honey," he smiled at her, his grin wide and sincere.

"Daddy…I've got somethin' I'd like t' tell you."

"Oh? Well, out with it, then. You know you can tell me anything," Matt kept his eyes on the road.

"Well," she cleared her throat, "You know my friend Gracie Mae Compton?" Addie began, her hands folded in her lap.

"Why sure. I know the Comptons." Boy, do I, Matt thought to himself.

"Gracie Mae has a brother named Bud. And Bud, well, he got married to a girl named Shannon O'Leary," she took a deep breath and swiped her hands over her lap, seemingly to straighten her skirt.

Matt smirked, Yeah, I was called to the Bull's Head because Mr. O'Leary had a rifle in Bud's back, swearing he'd blow the boy t' kingdom come if he didn't marry his pregnant seventeen-year-old daughter.

"Yes, I did hear they got married," Matt bit the inside of his lip, trying not to chuckle.

"Gracie Mae told me that the night before Bud got married, he was yelling about how Shannon and 'that stupid baby' ruined his life…" Addie's voice trailed off, her eyes focused on the road ahead of the buggy.

All of a sudden, Matt didn't see the humor in this tale any longer. He looked at his daughter and soberly asked, "What are you trying to tell me, Adelaide?"

Addie exhaled loudly, turned her head toward her father, and replied, "I'm sorry if I ruined your life, Daddy."

"Woah, Gladiola!" Matt immediately pulled back on the reins, jerking the buggy to a complete stop. His eyes widened as he shifted his body to fully face his daughter.

The flabbergasted father spoke softly, gently placing his hands upon Addie's shoulders, "What are you talking about, child? 'Ruining my life'?"

She fidgeted, not wanting to meet her father's gaze, "I'm sure Mama will tell you about the talk we had. I asked some questions and, well…I know that," she searched for the right words, "that I was born before you and Mama-"

He interrupted, the picture suddenly becoming very clear, "Hold it, right there, Adelaide. You are to never, and I mean never think that you ruined my life. Baby, you and your mama and your brothers and sisters…you all are my life. I'm grateful every single day that you came along," Matt wiped away the lone tear that ran down Addie's freckled cheek.

"You are?" her small voice cracked as she rested her head upon his big chest.

Matt wrapped his arms around her, "Oh, Honey, you can't possibly know how grateful I am. I've loved your mama since the moment we met. I should've married her long before I did. Your grandpa will tell you I was a fool. Heck, I'll tell you I was a fool," he gently patted her back.

Addie hugged Matt with all her might. She sat up straight, and said, "I believe you," she wiped away another tear, continuing, "We should get home, Daddy. Mama might get worried."

"You're right," he winked at his daughter, "we sure should. We don't want t' worry your mama. Giddup, Gladiola!"

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Doc stood as Matt assisted Addie out of the buggy. He greeted them at the bottom of the porch steps, "Well, hello, you two. How was the dance?" he playfully tapped Addie's nose with his pointer finger.

"It was so much fun…Grandpa…" the tired girl yawned.

"We had a nice time, Doc, but we're both beat."

Doc swiped his mustache, "Well, Kitty has already gone t' bed. Maggie was in rare form tonight. I told her I'd stay up to deliver these instructions, and then I'm locking myself in the study till after sunrise. Adelaide-you are to go directly upstairs, wash your face, brush your teeth and head to bed," he turned his attention to the big, dusty marshal, "Matt, you're t' take a shower before you step foot in th' house. Kitty left you towels and soap out there. Moose put plenty a hot water in the tank. Now, I bid you a good night," he slowly ambled up the porch stairs without uttering another word.

Matt smiled at his daughter, "You heard your grandpa. Head on up t' bed," he kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight. See ya t'morrow."

"Mr. Dillon!" the call came from the area near the big barn, "I'll take care a th' horse and buggy for ya," Moose offered, "Festus went t' Abelia's, so I'm headin' t' bed soon m'self."

"I'd appreciate that very much, Moose. I'm dead on my feet and I still need t' clean up," Matt removed his hat, smacking it against his pant leg, dust billowing around him.

TBC