Revenge

A Sequel to The Contract

By

AZgirl66

Chapter 14-Hell Hath No Fury

"Matt, I swear the children had the time of their lives this afternoon. You are the best Daddy," Kitty pulled back the quilt on their big brass bed. She leaned over to Matt's side of the bed before hopping under the covers, planting a big kiss on his lips.

"They sure did have fun. Even Adam, and he's a little scared of the water," Matt folded his arms in front of his chest, leaning against the headboard.

"Why don't you work with him on that this summer? You know, alone, without the other children around," Kitty cuddled up next to her husband, rubbing her hand across his bare chest.

"Yeah, I suppose that's a good idea, Honey. Ezra swims better than Adam. He's just so timid about certain things. I wonder why?"

Kitty shrugged her shoulders, always wondering if she'd done something to him while he was within her. "Not everyone is a Matt Dillon," she offered, "rough and tumble and not scared of anything. Sometimes, people are more like a Chester Goode. A little slower t' master new things, but awfully sweet on the inside. Not that you're not sweet, Cowboy."

Matt wrapped his arm around Kitty's shoulders and kissed her forehead. He yawned, "Someone named Wes Townsend left a note on the porch, saying he'd be back in a week or so t' look at some horses. Says he was here a couple a days ago."

"Oh, shoot! I forgot t' tell you. I told him t' come back Saturday. I told a white lie-said you only sold on Saturdays," she glanced up at her husband's face.

"Why'd ya do that?"

"I dunno. He gave me the willies," Kitty yawned, as Matt turned down the lamp.

"Why is that?" Matt suddenly seemed wide awake.

"Can we talk about it tomorrow, Matt? I'm beat," she closed her eyes and was asleep before Matt could even answer her.

XXXXXXXX

"Did you see her today, laughing with her big, handsome husband?! Bitch. Who does she think she is?! She steals my man, has his baby and then goes off and marries a lawman!" Trudy June hissed as she paced inside the dilapidated shack in which she and Weston had been squatting.

"And not just any lawman, Trudy June. Matt Dillon. The man is a legend for how he tamed Dodge. Hell, I even respect him…a little bit," Weston chewed his tobacco, leaning back on two of the chair legs. He got a charge out of the fact that he was winding Trudy June up.

But what Weston had neglected to say, was that he'd respected Matt Dillon for being the man who could tame the fiery, redheaded hell cat, formerly known as Kitty Russell. Mannon sure had tried, but he couldn't always keep her in line.

And Weston should know. He'd followed her all-over Deep Ford, sometimes even when it wasn't his turn to do so. The only demands Mannon had made concerning Weston and Kitty had been simple enough. Weston could absolutely never be seen trailing her, and he was never allowed to touch her in any way. The stalker had always thought the second rule strange; how could he touch someone if he wasn't to be seen?

Weston's favorite duty was when he'd have to sit at the end of the hallway in the Deep Ford Hotel, making sure no one would bother Mannon. He'd enjoyed imagining he was the one ramming his ample manhood into Kitty, causing her to cry because he was such a good lover. By the sounds of things, Mannon had certainly not been able to get enough of her.

"Weston?! Are you listening t' me?!" Trudy June shrieked, standing in front of her partner in crime. Her eyes were narrowed to slits and her lips were taut.

"How could I not be, ya got such a damn big mouth," he spit out his tobacco onto the dusty, wooden floor.

"You're such a pig," she turned her back to him, crossing her arms over her breasts.

"I'm a pig?!" Weston laughed, "Who sold herself in Wichita and Salina, just t' spread the word about a nonexistent bounty? Who's gonna go sell her body in Dodge City fer a couple a weeks t' make enough money t' pay me t' snatch someone?" the airborn two legs of the chair crashed to the floor.

Trudy June whipped around and studied the calm man sitting before her. "At least I know who and what I am. You had my Will so fooled. He thought you were so tough. But you won't even kill that woman or her baby! I've got t' work at the Bull's Head t' find someone man enough for the job."

"You'd best watch yerself, whore," Weston stood, taking two steps toward the unkempt woman, "I dunno why you need t' kill a little baby, anyway," he placed his hands on his hips, "Yer a special kinda crazy."

As he turned his back to walk out the door, Trudy June shouted, "It's because a her Will made me kill my baby, that's why!"

Crazy bitch, he thought, I was with Mannon in the Dakotas. No way that was his kid. Now the way those two went at it, that Addie, she's Mannon's alright.

XXXXXXXX

The first two weeks of summer had the Dillon children settling into an easy routine. They'd been allowed to sleep a bit later in the mornings, followed by their normal morning chores. The afternoons had become less structured, with free time for all, except for Ezra, Scarlett and Maggie. They had to have naps, which Ezra had found completely unfair, even though this had been his routine his whole life. He so badly wanted to be a "big boy."

Matt was up early to help Festus and Moose with the feed before he headed into Dodge for the morning.

Kitty was surprised to find his side of the bed empty long before sunrise. She opened one eye to look at the clock.

"Matt?" she whispered in her sultry morning voice, trying not to disturb Maggie.

"Yeah?" he popped his head out from within the water closet, his face lathered for shaving.

"Why are you up so early?" Kitty sat up, tucking the sheet under her armpits, covering her bare breasts.

"I want t' get the feed done early. I've got a busy mornin' in Dodge," his head disappeared back into the water closet.

"What makes it…so busy?" Kitty yawned.

"I'm going over the finer points of government paperwork with Newly," Matt mumbled while shaving, "I also promised Matthew that I'd take 'im rabbit huntin' after lunch."

"Ya mean teach Newly 'shortcuts', Cowboy?" Kitty playfully asked as she stepped into the water closet, wearing only a thin, white sheet and a smile. She stood to the side of the basin, "May I?" she nodded her head toward the razor.

"Oh, please, Mrs. Dillon, if you would be so kind," he smiled that sweet, little boy smile and happily handed her the razor. Kitty's tongue peeked out of the side of her mouth as she began her first swipe.

"What are you doin' today?" Matt asked her as she wiped the whisker laden blade on a towel.

"During nap time, I'm gonna take Adam to the pond t' work on his swimming. If he'll let me, that is. I'll take Addie with me to watch Maggie," Kitty bit her bottom lip in concentration as she completed her last few shaving swipes, "There. My, you are a handsome man," Kitty grinned.

"I'm a married man, Miss," Matt teased, pulling Kitty into his arms by yanking the top of the sheet, just near her cleavage.

"Well, well, well," Kitty sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck, "what a coincidence. I, too, am married. Quite happily, actually," she tilted her head, leaning her whole body into her husband for a deep, probing kiss.

When the two broke apart, they rested their foreheads against one another's. "You be careful today, Matt," Kitty ran her hands up and down his collar, "You've only got two weeks t' go until your retirement."

"Yes, Mrs. Dillon. I swear to you, I won't so much as bust a nail."

"Good," she sighed, tightly hugging him, "I love you, Cowboy."

"I love you too, Honey."

XXXXXXXX

"Mama, do I gotta get in the water?" Adam whined.

"Well, Son, only if you want t' learn how to be a better swimmer," Kitty smiled at her sweet boy as she sat on the side of the pond, removing her boots and stockings.

"You gonna get in with me?" the boy bit his fingernails as he stared at his mama.

"I'll wade in some, yes."

"How come Addie's here? I don't want 'er t' watch me," Adam pleaded, his eyebrows reaching his hairline.

"Adam, I'm just here t' watch Maggie," his sister explained, lightly bouncing the baby carriage.

"Okaaayy," the child decided to cooperate. He sat next to his mother and removed his boots and socks.

"Then go ahead and strip down t' your shorts," Kitty instructed, as she shimmied out of her cotton petticoat.

"Yes'm," Adam bit the side of his cheek.

"Mama?" Addie asked, "Can I take Maggie over by the wild blueberry bushes?"

Kitty stood, hiking up her pantaloons underneath her skirt. She paused, lifting her hand to her brow, trying to determine if she'd be able to see her daughters from her present location.

"I don't know. Adelaide. That's not exactly close, and the trees make it hard t' see over there," Kitty fretted.

"I promise we'll just go, pick one pie's worth and then come right back."

"Well, okay. Just be careful, young lady," Kitty warned with a wink.

"I will. C'mon, Maggie Lou," Addie turned the carriage and began her trek behind the small tree line, talking to her sister, "We'll use one a your clean diapers to wrap 'em in."

XXXXXXXX

Weston couldn't believe his luck. He'd spotted Kitty entering the pond, her skirt hitched up and tucked into its own waist band. He licked his lips from behind the tree line, pondering, What I wouldn't give t' see what's under those pantaloons.

The uninvited guest dismounted and made himself comfortable straining to hear the conversation between mother and son.

"Good boy! Look at you go, Sweetheart…" Kitty complimented, smiling radiantly.

"I'm doin' it, Mama! I'm doin' it!" the boy crowed, as he sloppily splashed to keep himself afloat.

She's a good Mama, Weston noted, actually reminds me of my mama. Patient, kind, loving. She died so young…

His attention was drawn elsewhere. Behind him he'd heard the soft cries of an infant. My, my, my. If t'day ain't my lucky day. Those two all alone…I know Trudy June said t' wait a bit, but I could use that money now…

With those thoughts, Weston quietly lead his horse toward the two little girls, armed with a gun and a half-baked plan.

XXXXXXXX

"Adam, we need t' get out. Maggie should be hungry by now," Kitty glanced over her shoulder, furrowing her brow. Where are those two?

She quickly waded out of the pond and grabbed one of the towels she'd strategically placed on a nearby shrub. Adam was quickly at her side.

"Where's Addie, Mama?" he questioned, drying his legs.

"I don't know, Son, but I'm sure gonna find out," the concerned mother unfurled her skirt, "Sweetie, just put on your socks and boots."

"Mama! I'm just in my undershorts."

"No one's gonna see you on our own property. You can put on-"

"Nooooo! MAMA! Help! MAMA!" Addie's cries pierced the still air, causing Kitty to hike up her skirt and run toward the tree line, only wearing one boot.

"MAMA?!" Adam called after her, quickly buttoning his second boot.

"Bring me my other boot, Adam! Hurry, please!" she strained to see the big man, riding his large chestnut horse in the opposite direction, with Addie in the saddle in front of him, while he held Maggie in one arm.

"Here, Mama, here…" Adam was out of breath and crying as he handed his mother her boot.

"Son," Kitty grabbed him as she slid on her boot, "run home as fast as you can. Tell anyone who's home that a man on a chestnut horse took the girls. They're headed south. Got it?!" she implored, her eyes wide with panic.

"Yes'm!" the terrified boy ran as fast as his legs would go.

Kitty ran through the trees, desperately trying not to lose sight of the big chestnut horse. She figured he wouldn't trot with the children with him. She wanted to yell out to Addie that she'd heard her, but she certainly didn't want to alert their captor.

Kitty breathlessly whispered as she ran, "I'm coming, girls…Oh, God, please help me!" as the horse disappeared over a hill.

TBC