Revenge
A Sequel to The Contract
By
AZgirl66
Chapter 18- Healing
A/N: The games in this chapter were (are) real. Jackstraws is now known as Pick Up Sticks.
"Addie, can I come in?" Matthew, Jr. knocked on his parents' bedroom door. Earlier in the day, his big sister had been moved upstairs into their parents' room, so his mother could keep an eye on her and Maggie while they napped.
"Sure," Addie answered, propping herself up on a sea of white, fluffy pillows.
"Wanna play a game? I got crokinole or jackstraws," he offered, holding the crokinole board at his side, the jackstraws clutched in his fist.
"Let's play crokinole," she emerged from under the covers and sat cross-legged, her brother sitting opposite her, placing the board in between them.
"Here, you be red," Matthew pushed the small red discs toward his sister. He paused for a moment, "Can I ask ya somethin'?"
"Sure," Addie arranged her discs next to her.
"Were ya scared? When that man took ya?"
"Yes…" Addie rubbed a disk between her thumb and forefinger, studying the board in front of her.
"Did he hurt ya? Or Mama? I don't think anyone would hurt a baby…" Matthew bit the inside of his cheek, almost nervous to hear her answer.
"The man-Weston was his name, was mean, but he didn't hurt me. I think he hurt Mama, though. You can go first."
"Okay," the curious boy flicked his first disc, asking, "What do ya mean, you think he hurt Mama? You were there, weren't ya?"
"Yeah," she flicked her first disc, sliding it right into the coveted twenty-point hole.
"Aww, Addie. Ya already got one in the middle. Take it out. Finish tellin' me about Mama," he readied for his next turn.
"They were outside for a while," she crinkled her nose, "Mama told me to run away while they were outside, but I just couldn't leave her there alone…"
"AND? Addie, it's your turn."
"Next time I saw Mama, her shirt was on funny and part of it was ripped. Her cheek was really red, too," Addie flicked her disc, not daring to look at her brother's face.
"I heard Daddy and Uncle Festus talking. Did Uncle Festus really kill the lady?" Matthew stared at his sister.
She took a deep breath, "Yes…that's when I fainted, I guess. She was really, really mean, Matthew. She hated Mama…called her bad names. She wanted to drown Maggie…" Addie's voice trailed off. She folded her hands and placed them in her lap, "I don't wanna talk about it."
"Oh…I won't ask ya anything anymore. Daddy said I shouldn't. You won't tell, will ya?"
"No, I promise. It's your turn."
"Do ya feel better? Your head, I mean," he took his turn.
"Mostly. Grandpa gives me powders that help. Hey, you knocked my disc!"
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Matt sat behind his massive desk in the study, with Moose sitting opposite him on the other side of the desk. Kitty entered, carrying a tray with three white and blue china cups and a matching carafe. Her hair was tied up in a high pony tail and she seemed refreshed after her trying ordeal the previous day.
"Gentlemen, may I offer you some fresh coffee before we get started?" Kitty smiled brightly, lifting her eyebrows.
"Yes, please, Ma'am," Moose grinned, fidgeting with his hat in his lap.
"Sure, Hon," Matt offered a half grin, "Kids all squared away?"
"Mostly. Doc's telling the little ones stories and Matthew and Addie are playing a game. At least that's the last I heard."
"Maggie?" Matt asked, talking a sip of his piping hot brew.
"She's in her basket, by Grandpa," Kitty sat in a chair right next to Moose.
Moose took in the exchange between the couple. These were the two kindest people he'd ever met. Even though he knew they'd seen their share of strife, he thought the Dillons were the luckiest people on Earth. They were very much in love, had a large, beautiful family, and the means to support them.
"Moose, we wanted t' talk with ya about some things," Matt began, his tone serious.
"Yes, Sir, I figured ya would," Moose had a difficult time meeting Matt's gaze.
"Why did you think that, Morris?" Kitty grinned, trying to make their newest employee feel at ease.
Moose cleared his throat, "I told Festus that I figured I'd lose m' job."
Matt and Kitty exchanged a curious look. Matt spoke first, "Why would ya think that?"
Moose looked into his boss' kind blue eyes, "'Cause a Weston. And what he done. He was m' brother."
"That has nothing t' do with you, Morris. You are who you are and Weston was who he was," Kitty placed her warm hand on top of his.
"But, Miss Kitty, he wanted t' hurt ya…and yer li'l baby," Moose's voice trembled, "Why, he and that crazy Trudy June woulda taken Addie Jane away," he swiped at a falling tear.
"But he isn't you," Kitty cupped his cheek with her palm, "In fact, you helped save us. Again. Addie trusted you so much that she took her baby sister right to you. Did you ever think about that?" she smiled all the way up to her glistening blue eyes.
"I guess not, Ma'am," his hands slightly trembled as he bit his bottom lip.
"I asked you here tonight because I wanted t' let you know that we are building you your own room. It will be on the opposite side of the big barn from Festus' rooms," Matt folded his hands in front of him, placing them upon his desk, "If you want to stay here working for the Triple D, that is."
"Sir, I…I don't know what t' say. That's the nicest thing anyone has ever did fer me," Moose's oversized smile shone from under his bushy beard.
"So you'll stay on?" Kitty beamed.
"Yes'm. I'd be honored," he stood to offer Matt his hand.
"We'll have your room done before the end of summer, so you and Festus won't have to be roommates too much longer," Matt grinned, as the men sealed the deal with a firm handshake. Kitty sealed the deal with a soft kiss to Moose's cheek.
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"I wanna play," Adam whined as he entered his parents' room. He placed his hands on the brass footboard, watching his brother and sister play their game, "Pleeaase, lemme play," he begged.
"We're almost done, Adam. How 'bout you play the winner? We can't play with three people, you know that. It's two or four players," Addie said as she lined up her final flick, her tongue peeking out of the side of her mouth.
"I'll add it up," Matthew offered, grabbing the paper and pencil from the side table.
"Who won?! Who'm I playin'?" Adam jumped up and down.
"Addie won," Matthew announced, "She's gonna whoop ya, Adam."
"Hush up," Adam climbed onto the big brass bed, wearing his blue and white stripped nightshirt.
"Whatcha doin?" Ezra entered the room, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.
"They're getting' ready t' play crokinole. You got eyeballs?" Matthew teased, pushing his brother away from the bed.
"Matthew! Stop that," Addie chastised, "I have an idea. Why don't we play jackstraws? That way Ezra can play, too."
"Yeah! Yeah! Good idea, Addie!" Ezra sang happily, dancing on the floor next to the bed, "Oh! I gotta potty first!" he ran into the water closet.
"How can we play jackstraws, Addie? The bed's too soft," Adam asked, scratching his temple.
"We can use the crokinole board," Addie smiled, happy to be feeling normal again.
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Kitty locked the door between the study and the sitting room, while Matt locked the door between the study and the outdoors.
"And just what do you think you're doing, Mrs. Dillon?" Matt grinned from ear to ear as he approached his wife, encircling his arms around her waist.
"I was just hoping to have a few private moments with my handsome husband before we tuck everyone inta bed," Kitty wrapped her arms around Matt's neck.
"I'd sure like you t' tuck me inta bed, Honey," he gently kissed the curve of her neck.
"Matt?"
"Hmm?" he murmured, continuing his kissing.
"I can't believe Morris thought we'd fire him," Kitty elicited a moan as she ran her fingers through her husband's thick, curly hair.
"Kathleen," he whispered as he momentarily captured her lips, mingling his tongue with hers.
"Huh?" she whispered as she closed her eyes, pulling him closer.
"I don't want to talk about Moose right now. Do you?" Matt quietly questioned, beginning to explore her throat.
Kitty answered without words. She gently kissed her husband's lips, her tongue begging for entrance. Her lover quickly obliged as their lips smoothly glided and their tongues tenderly tangled.
Suddenly, Kitty stopped, her eyes popping open, "Cowboy?" she whispered, turning her head to the side.
"What?" he mumbled, pulling her closer so their bodies were completely touching.
"It's too quiet in this house."
"Shit."
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The curious parents exited the study, only to find Doc alone and sound asleep in his overstuffed chair.
"Well, well, well," Kitty said quietly, "looks like the children outlasted Grandpa," she stood with her arms folded over her chest, curiously staring at Doc.
"Look who's awake, Mama," Matt bent down to rescue Maggie from her basket, "Hello, Margaret Louise. Looks like you may be the only Dillon who won't be getting in trouble this evening," he kissed the baby's cheek and she responded with a tiny giggle.
Both parents studied the ceiling, smirking as they listened to their other children singing and laughing.
"C'mon, Marshal. You're gonna need your deputy to wrangle this rowdy bunch," they wrapped their arms around one another's waists as they headed for the staircase. Before beginning their ascent, Matt smiled down at Kitty, "Ya ready, pard?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
The bedroom door was wide open, so the element of surprise was gone. Oddly, not one child noticed their parents at the threshold. Matt stood behind Kitty, clutching Maggie to his chest, his other hand resting upon Kitty's shoulder.
Kitty stood stock still, merely taking in the sweet scene before her. Addie was near the headboard, poised on her knees while holding Scarlett's hands, assisting her little sister in jumping on the bed. Along with the girls on the big brass bed were Matthew and Adam, trying to capture Ezra while they sang, "London Bridge is Falling Down." Ezra jumped too fast and too high for his brothers to grab him in their "lock him up" hold, causing fits of laughter.
Matt leaned down and whispered into Kitty's ear, "Look at what we made, Honey. And t' think, we almost missed it." He blessed the top of her head with a kiss before letting loose with his classic, "Hold it!"
The children froze in their spots, trying to gauge their parents' mood.
Scarlett was the first to break the silence, "Mama! Daaaaadddy!" as she ran across the bed to grasp the brass footboard and jump up and down with excitement.
Ezra made his way to the headboard and bent himself in half, his face determined. Just before he took off in a sprint toward his parents, his mother warned, "Ezra Festus Dillon, don't you dare."
"Aww, Mama. How come Scarlett got t'-"
"Scarlett is two years old," Kitty admonished, "You'd go flying over the footboard into the hallway and fall down the stairs. I don't have time for anymore injuries."
"Mama," Adam asked, "Can we all sleep in your room tonight? Pleeeease!"
A chorus of "pleases" filled the room, along with the ever popular "prayer hands" gesture.
"Well, I don't know…there are an awful lot of Dillons for one room…" Kitty looked at her husband, "Daddy, what do you say?"
"I think we can manage for one night," he smiled from ear to ear, picking up Scarlett from her spot at the foot of the bed.
Kitty smiled brightly, marveling at her cowboy as he held their two youngest children in his arms, while directing Matthew and Adam on how to build a proper pallet on the floor. Who would have ever thought?
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Kitty fidgeted in the bed, trying to decide if she should attempt to make her way to the water closet one last time. She pushed herself up using one arm and took in her surroundings. Matt laid flat on his back, lightly snoring, with Scarlett laying on top of him, her chubby little arms stretched across her daddy's chest in a big bear hug. She looked so tiny sprawled on top of her daddy. Ezra was next to Kitty, his back to her, while Addie slept comfortably across the foot of the bed.
The exhausted mother carefully extricated herself from under the covers, making sure not to jostle anyone. She tip-toed past the pallet where Matthew and Adam slept soundly, gently removing some jacksticks from Adam's grip. She stopped briefly at the side of Maggie's cradle, caressing her wispy copper curls.
Just as Kitty was about to close the water closet door, she glanced one more time into the dimly lit room. She smiled to herself, remembering what she'd recently told her husband, "Everything I've ever wanted, and everyone I love, is here in this house."
THE END
A/N: Thanks so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed the Dillon family as much as I did. Their next saga is whirling around in my head and is actually being outlined d'rectly. Stay safe and healthy!