Revenge

A Sequel to The Contract

By

AZgirl66

Chapter 13- The After-Party

Matt stood in the outdoor shower, the full moon offering it's light to the exhausted marshal. His head rested against the tall wooden fence that offered privacy, while his eyes remained closed. He groaned as he pulled the chain to release the warm water from the suspended tank. God, that feels good.

He grabbed the bar of soap Kitty had left for him and lathered it up in his hands. He washed his whole, tall, sore body starting with his hair and finishing with his feet. One final, long pull on the chain and he could make his way up to his bed to lay beside his lovely wife.

"Well, hello, Marshal," Kitty said in her most seductive, deep whiskey voice.

Matt jumped two feet off the ground, his heart pounding as if he'd been called out on Front Street.

"Jesus, Kitty!" he stood, soaking wet, his right hand held over his heart. He swiped the water out of his eyes, blinking furiously to focus.

She'd wanted to laugh hysterically, but remained composed, in order to maintain her role as the lovesick saloon keeper.

Once Matt got ahold of himself, he couldn't believe his eyes. There stood Kitty, leaning against the shower gate, one hand poised on her hip. She wore one of her oldest, sexiest, saloon dresses-the color a midnight blue. The top of the ornate dress hung so low on her shoulders, it's a wonder it could remain in place at all, with her cleavage spilling over. In fact, Matt remembered wondering that very same thing when he'd first seen Kitty in that dress the first night her father had shown up in Dodge.

"Kitty…my, God…" Matt murmured, "you look…amazing," the big man gulped.

She dramatically blinked her darkened thick lashes, her beautiful blue eyes highlighted with black kohl. She wore a light dusting of powder to hide her freckles and dark-red lip paint to decorate her plump lips.

"You've been out of town a long time, Marshal. I think ya missed me," Kitty stared at his hardening member. She tossed him a towel and purred, "It's a little crowded here at the Long Branch, so whadd'ya say we go to Moss' for a little…" she licked her lips, "welcome home tumble…" she slowly turned and sashayed her way toward the little barn. The sound of her dress swishing from side-to-side echoed in the still of the night.

Matt seemed to lose his gift of speech. He licked his lips and secured the towel around his waist, racing after Kitty.

Once inside the barn, he quickly bolted the door. The moonlight made for dramatic shadows against the walls, as the long-time lovers plundered each other's mouths, moaning in sheer pleasure.

"Matt…" Kitty gasped, "unbutton my dress…before it tears…I was barely able to get it on…it's so tight…"

"You're lucky I don't just rip it off your body, you little vixen," he hissed, his voice nearly unrecognizable, thick with primal need.

Matt whirled Kitty around so her back was to him. He was so aroused; he couldn't see straight.

"Matt! What the hell?!" Kitty whisper-yelled when she felt the material being torn from her body, accompanied with the sound of buttons being torn from their moors. The bodice of the dress easily fell to her waist, exposing her heaving breasts.

She faced him with the intention of chastising him, but the look of pure passion mixed with lust etched on his face immediately changed her mood. Kitty held his face with both her hands, kissing him hard on the mouth, her tongue being granted immediate entrance.

She made light work of removing Matt's towel, as he walked her backwards into one of the empty stalls.

Fast and furious had not been Kitty's intention. She attempted to slow down their tempo, but Matt had other ideas. He furiously pulled at the bottom of her dress, trying to release her from all that unnecessary material. He finally just lifted her out of it, midnight blue taffeta forming a pool at her feet.

His groan let Kitty know he'd approved of her decision to not bother with any undergarments.

"Too…much work to…go up…t' the loft…Cowboy?" she gasped, trying to catch her breath as Matt caressed her backside, "I made us a pallet up there…"

Matt's answer wasn't with words. He grunted as he lowered himself onto a small pile of hay, pulling Kitty down with him. She straddled him, calmly urging, "Slow down, Marshal, or this will be over before it starts…please…"

He cupped Kitty's face with his hands, "We never needed a bed, or t' slow down at Moss'," he panted, pulling her closer, nipping at her neck.

"Ow, Matt…not so hard," she let out a yelp as he greedily suckled one of her breasts, positioning himself perfectly under her. He was proud to note that she was more than ready for him.

Kitty lifted herself onto her knees, trying once again to get her husband to slow down. For some reason, she was beginning to feel panicked.

"Matt, Honey, please," she implored, "I just want-"

Before she could finish her request, Matt flipped her over onto her back, "I know what you want," he whispered in her ear.

"Oh, God…" Kitty drew in a breath, her eyes wide as Matt stretched his body over hers, softly asking, "You enjoying our tumble, Miss Kitty?"

Kitty bit her bottom lip and tightly closed her eyes, turning her head to the side, "Please, please..." she said, barely above a whisper. She pushed her hands lightly against Matt's chest as he leaned over to nip at her neck, working his way down to her cleavage.

He caressed her inner thigh with one hand and fondled a breast with the other, moaning, "Oh, Kitty…yessss…" his mouth biting the side of her breast.

Kitty cried out loud, "Please, Will, stop…stop…"

Matt's facial expression changed. The lust disappeared from his eyes. He froze, taking in his position-his body completely blanketed over Kitty, crushing her into the hay beneath them.

Will? What the hell?

"I'm sorry, Kitty," he pushed himself off of her, running his fingers through his damp curls. He remembered a few instances after both Mannon and Bonner when Kitty would suddenly become frightened, losing herself in another place and time.

"Honey?"

Kitty remained laying on the hay, her eyes still closed. Tears began to slip down her flushed cheeks. She crossed her arms over her breasts and rolled onto her side, curling up into a ball.

Matt gently touched her arm, "Sweetheart," he whispered, but she merely continued to cry.

He looked around to find his towel. He secured it around his waist while searching the barn for something with which to cover Kitty. His eyes focused on the remnants of her beautiful dress. Shit. No wonder why she was terrified. I ripped her dress right off of her.

"Kathleen," he began, as he lifted an old blanket he'd found perched over a saddle, "please, Honey," he sat next to Kitty on the mound of hay, covering her with the blanket, "please say something. I'm begging you…"

"I don't know what…what's wrong…with…me," she hiccupped, tears continuing to fall, "I got the idea t' pretend…like it was before…I thought it would be fun…" she looked up at Matt, her face paint smeared around her eyes.

"Here, Honey, let me help you," Matt fully wrapped her in the blanket, pulling her next to him.

"I don't know what happened…" Kitty wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, "I felt like you were…someone else. Matt, I'm so, so sorry," she wrapped her arms around him and cried some more.

"Kitty, as I look around this place, I feel like an animal. No wonder you got scared. I tore your dress off ya, threw ya down, said things I don't even remember…" his voice trailed off.

"Are you angry with me, Matt?" Kitty bent her knees toward her chest, embracing them with her arms.

"Are you kidding?! I should be asking you that question."

"But I started this…this game, Matt. We've been passionate like that before…" Kitty studied her husband's solemn expression, placing her hand over his.

"Well, remember years ago, Doc Roseveare told us episodes like this could occur from time to time. To my knowledge, it's been quite a while…" Matt gently stated, wrapping his arms around his wife's shoulders.

"Yes. A really long time," Kitty gulped, looking at the ground.

"Let's get you inside and cleaned up, Honey. A good night's sleep will do us both some good."

Matt gathered Kitty into his arms and headed for the house.

XXXXXXXX

Doc and Matt sat at the kitchen table before sunrise, drinking coffee and discussing the events of the previous evening. Matt had described Kitty's episode to Doc, without revealing specific details of how the scenario began.

"It's been a while since this has happened, hasn't it, Son?" Doc asked, tugging on his earlobe.

"Yes, it really has," Matt answered quietly, turning his coffee cup clock-wise between two fingers, "She scrubbed her face and just climbed into bed. When Maggie got up a couple of hours later, I just gave her some goat's milk and let her sleep on my chest down here."

"Good call, Matt. Maybe it's best if we just act normally, like nothin' ever happened," Doc offered, filling their cups with more coffee.

"I suppose…she'll talk about it when she's ready."

"Hey, before I forget- I promised Doc Brooker I'd go inta town early Monday morning and man the office for 'im for a couple a days. He's goin' out t' some of the distant homesteads t' do rounds," Doc swiped his mustache.

"Well that's awfully nice of ya, seein' how you pretty well retired around the time Adam was born," Matt closed his eyes as he took a long sip of his coffee.

The men sat in silence for a few moments, each remembering in his own way how Doc had searched for a medical partner so he could semi-retire shortly after Matt and Kitty had returned to Dodge with their precious Addie.

Once the Dillons had purchased their home and land, they'd invited Doc to be a permanent resident at the Triple D. He'd said he would slowly make the transition to ranch life-which he'd yet to really do. After Bonner, Doc let Doctor Brooker completely take over his practice. Kitty had been in a very fragile state, especially once she'd discovered she was pregnant shortly after the brutal attack. That's when Matt had given part of his study to Doc. Kitty had thought it a perfect arrangement for Doc to sleep on a day bed that resembled a long, wooden-framed settee. That way, Matt could easily continue to have clients negotiate and sign papers in his study, without it appearing like a bedroom.

The sound of children clattering around upstairs pulled both men from their private thoughts.

"Here we go…" Matt murmured, heading to the pot of porridge on the stove.

Doc sat in the sitting room, rocking Maggie, trying to coax her to take another bottle of goat's milk. Maggie fussed, crinkling her nose and turning her head from side to side.

Matt sat at the head of the kitchen table, listing who was to do what chore, as the children ate a simple breakfast of porridge and bacon. Matt cleared his throat, "Listen here, Dillons. We're gonna do our chores this mornin' without any complainin'-got it?"

A chorus of "Yes, Sirs" brought a smile to Matt's otherwise serious expression. In his most authoritative baritone he continued, "Okay-Addie-water the garden and check for anything that needs t' be picked. Matthew-cows-that means feed 'em, water 'em and milk 'em. Adam-same for the goats. Ezra-feed the chickens and collect the eggs. Any questions?" He eyed his miniature ranch hands.

"Daddy?" Scarlett sat in her high chair, her spoon in mid-air, dribbling a bit of porridge onto her unruly, morning curls.

"Yes, Scarlett?" Matt grinned from ear to ear.

"Me, Daddy. Me?" she pointed to her chest with her spoon.

"You need t' stay and help grandpa with Maggie," Matt took the spoon from her hand and began to feed her some porridge, so it would actually make it into her mouth.

"Where's Mama?" Addie asked, pouring her siblings some milk.

Matt didn't miss a beat, "She feels a little under the weather this mornin'."

"Ugh," Matthew, Jr. sighed, "You know what that means…"

Doc snickered, "Why don't you enlighten us, Matthew?"

"Last time she was 'under the weather' in the mornin', we got Maggie," the redheaded boy rolled his eyes as he took his bowl to the sink.

"That's enough a that talk," Matt lightly chastised, "Once you're all done eating, head off t' your jobs. And if you all do a good job, maybe this afternoon we'll go swimmin'."

His brood made such a ruckus, Matt had to raise his voice, "Settle down, now! Don't wake your mother!"

The children ran out the screen door, with Matt and Doc both breathing a sigh of relief.

Maggie had had enough of wrestling with her grandfather. She began to wail, the only way to protest her deprivation of her mother's milk.

"Matt, you take Maggie Lou here on up t' Kitty. The child is starving. I'll clean up Scarlett and do the dishes."

Matt cuddled his now hysterical three-month-old as he made his way up the wide staircase. The big marshal was more than a little nervous about what awaited him behind his closed bedroom door.

XXXXXXXX

"Mornin', Matt," Kitty greeted in her deep, morning voice.

Matt was surprised to see her awake and ready for him, comfortably propped up against the headboard, flanked by her sea of pillows.

"Mornin'," he greeted, still juggling the disgruntled infant, "I'm surprised you're up," he patted Maggie's back as he sat on the bed next to Kitty.

"You must be joking," she smirked, arranging a pillow onto her lap, "You are aware that we have six children…? Here, gimme my baby."

"I'm more than aware, Mrs. Dillon," he handed over the squirming bundle.

Kitty unbuttoned the top of her nightgown, setting her left breast free. Maggie desperately rooted around, her head bobbing from side to side, her mouth eagerly seeking her mother's nipple. Once successfully latched, the baby started to happily hum with each rewarding suckle.

Matt propped himself against the headboard. He'd always loved to watch Kitty feed their babies. Why he'd waited so long for this slice of Heaven he would never know. He was just grateful they were able to enjoy this life in the here and now. He took in Kitty's soft features, noticing how she grinned at Maggie, while gently playing with her wispy red curls.

Then he noticed it. A large red bite mark on the side of her breast.

"Kitty," Matt gasped as he tenderly traced the angry indents he'd inflicted, "Honey…I'm so sorry…"

She kept her eyes focused on the baby, whispering, "Forget about it, Matt. It's nothing."

"Nothing?! Oh, Kitty, I had no idea. I just got lost in the moment…I swear to you-"

Kitty finally looked at her husband, "Matt, please," her voice shook ever so slightly, "I really don't want t' talk about it. I started that silly little game, anyway…" her voice trailed off.

As she unlatched Maggie from her breast, Matt noticed another faint mark on the side of that same breast. He'd almost forgotten it was there; a scar so extremely slight, it was nearly white. A scar left by the teeth of none other than Will Mannon. Matt's heart sank.

Kitty put one half of her nightgown back on and slipped her right breast out of her gown. She shifted the pillow on her lap and attached Maggie to the freshly exposed breast.

"Look at you, Mama," Matt smiled, silently agreeing to change the subject, "You're like a professional."

Kitty graced him with a genuine grin, "Have you looked around this house, Mr. Dillon? I am a professional," she winked.

"Do ya ever miss it, Kitty?"

"Miss what?" she returned her attention to Maggie.

"Your old life? Being in charge of the Long Branch? Not being at the beck and call of a houseful of little ones?" Matt softly asked, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"I don't know what I miss most, Matt. The smoky atmosphere, the drunks fighting-busting up the place, or filthy cowboys groping me," she sarcastically quipped, "Yeah, those were the days, alright," she glanced at Matt through her thick, ginger lashes, pursing her lips.

"Now, Kitty, we had some good times there, too, and you know it," Matt kissed the top of her head, watching Maggie drift off to sleep. Her head slowly rolled away from her mother's nipple, milk dribbling down her sweet little cheek.

Kitty handed Maggie to Matt, "Here, if you wouldn't mind burping her, please."

The big man gingerly accepted his little girl into his arms, situating her against his shoulder.

Kitty rebuttoned her gown and sat up, tucking her legs under her body. She faced her husband and placed her hand on his thigh, stating firmly, "Matt, everything I've ever wanted, and everyone I love, lives here in this house. Do you understand me?" her eyes glistened as she willed him to believe her.

Matt patted Maggie's back as he studied his wife's beautiful face. "Yes, Kitty. Believe me, I completely understand."

TBC