For personal use and select distribution only © April 2000 by "Tiff" Amber Miller
Chapter Three
"Would you like some help with the dishes?" Kat asked.
"That's all right, Miss Katherine. It's my turn to do them," Brian replied, picking up the first of the dishes.
"You know, some girl is going to be real lucky to have you for a husband one day," Kat complimented.
Brian blushed.
"Any girls in mind?" she continued
"Well, just one," he murmured.
"Really? Do tell!"
"Her name is Sarah Sheehan."
Michaela filled in the information for him. "They met four years ago when her Mother and she moved here from Georgia. After that Christmas, they had a shared interest in each other and began to spend time with one another," she finished.
"It sounds very nice, Brian. I wish you both the best."
"Thanks," he replied and returned to his chore.
"Why don't we adjourn for some tea in the living room," Michaela suggested.
"Actually, I was gonna ask Ben if he'd wanna help me with some things in the barn," Sully countered, sharing a meaningful look with his wife.
"Sure! I don't mind!" Ben agreed, standing to follow Sully out the front door.
"And Katherine, would you mind helping me get these two little ones to bed?" Michaela gestured to Katie, playing with Wolf on the rug, and Marjorie, who was sitting in the high chair.
"Not at all," she replied, reaching for Katie, who went willingly into her arms. "This one is such a little angel."
"No bed, Mama!" the child protested.
"But, Katie, if you don't go to bed, now, then I can't read you a story," Kat tempted her.
"Stowy? You read me stowy?! Yay!!" Katie clapped her hands. "Okay. I go bed, now," she said, as if that decided the matter.
"Well, I'm certainly glad that you agree," Michaela laughed, picking up Marjorie and leading the way up the stairs.
Katie willingly participated in her nighttime routine, and with Katherine telling her a story and Michaela rocking baby Marjorie to sleep, it wasn't long before the two women were settled comfortably in the wingback chairs in front of the fireplace, each cradling a hot cup of tea.
"I'm gonna go upstairs and read before goin' to bed, Ma," Brian called, having finished with the supper dishes.
"Alright, Brian," Michaela replied. "Thank you for cleaning up."
"You're welcome. Good night, Miss Katherine. It was nice having you over for supper. Goodnight, Ma!"
"Good night, Brian," Michaela and Katherine said at the same time, returning to quietly sipping their tea and staring into the crackling flames of the fire.
"This is my favorite time of day," Michaela began.
"Next to seeing the sunrise, it's mine, too," Katherine agreed.
"Once the children are in bed or in their rooms, Sully and I usually take our tea on to the front porch and sit, looking up at the stars, or just listening to the quiet of the evening. On some occasions, he even reads me poetry."
"Poetry? Sully?" Katherine asked, astonished. "Sully doesn't strike me as the type of man who would like poetry," she observed.
"You certainly wouldn't think that from seeing him, but once you get to know him, you'll think differently. And it's not a lot of poetry, mostly Whitman. I'll admit that he's surprised me more than once, but I wouldn't trade the evenings or our life together for anything in the world," she said, decisively.
"Sounds so nice, sitting and listening to your husband read poetry. So, peaceful. So.......loving," Katherine finished, wistfully.
"Tell me about your husband, Katherine," Michaela invited.
Katherine sighed deeply. "Not much to tell, I'm afraid. When we were first married, he was the most adoring man you could meet, always helping me into the wagon, holding doors for me, and making sure that I didn't do too much work. After the first year, though, he changed. He became angry and violent, taking out his frustrations from work on me when he came home. First, his supper wasn't cooked right. Then, his clothes weren't cleaned. If it wasn't that, it was something else. He always came up with a reason to be angry with me, and I could never do anything to change it. He never drank and always apologized, but all too soon, it became too much for me to bear."
She paused, wondering if she should stop here. She knew that Michaela wouldn't gossip or treat her any differently from knowing what really happened, so she continued. She told about how she and Ben met and how she came to marry Arthur, finishing with explaining about Ben convincing her to leave. "So, we came here. You know that Anabel is my cousin, so we thought here would be the best choice. Arthur doesn't know about her, so he would be less likely to find us here," she confessed.
Michaela sat quietly listening, taking in all that the young woman was telling her. "So, your husband hasn't passed away?"
"No, I'm afraid. I live every day in fear that he will come looking for and find me, and then what will I do?"
How was she going to say this without coming across like an interfering schoolteacher who had all the answers to all the questions? "If you are technically still married to him, then your relationship with Mr. Holbrook shouldn't develop into anything further than friendship at this point," she began. "It would not be proper to encourage the affections of one man when you are still married to another," she advised.
"Oh, I know that, Dr. Mike. And Ben is being very helpful and understanding. I'm amazed that he has even remained my friend through all of this," she confessed.
"Well, he cares a lot about you, that's obvious, but I feel it very important to advise you not to encourage his affections. Are you absolutely certain that you can not reason with your husband and work things out?"
"Dr. Mike, you don't how many times I have wondered that myself, but the truth is, he is just not the same man I married. He abuses me, both physically and verbally, and I dreaded every day I spent with him. When he went away on business trips or deliveries, that was when I was happiest. I tried to talk to him when he was home, but it was like talking to myself. He never listened and told me I was just being a flighty woman who was complaining about my lot in life. Believe me, I am the last person who would have thought I'd ever be considering a divorce, but I can't go on living with him, and I can't live alone in fear for the rest of my life, wondering if he will ever find me and demand that I return! I've run away from him, and since we're still married, I'm the one in the wrong. I just don't know what to do!" she cried, tears filling her eyes and spilling onto her cheeks. She put her cup on the table and covered her face with her hands.
Michaela set down her cup and reached over to take Katherine's hands in her own. "Katherine, look at me," she implored, and when the young woman did, she continued. "You are not the first woman to have to endure this problem, and you are certainly not the last. If you have seriously considered all of your options and find that a divorce is your only choice, then I will support you, even if I don't agree with it. I can't imagine going through what you have and still being as strong, but I also can't say that I blame you for running away," she sympathized.
Katherine sniffed. "The worst part is that, in public, he was always a gentleman. No one thought he would ever do the things that he did to me at home, so I couldn't tell anyone about it. Ben was the only one who showed any kind of support or understanding. His friendship is what helped me last as long as I did, and when he offered to take me away, I just couldn't refuse!"
"I know how you feel, and while I have never been in your exact situation, I did face a time in my life when I had to leave all that I had known as well and venture out to an unknown land. My father had passed away, and the medical practice I shared with him ended when none of the patients would come see a woman doctor. So, I answered an advertisement in a paper and came out here. It was the biggest move in my life, and I had to deal with my mother constantly berating me for making the move, imploring me to come back home, but I never changed my mind. I have found a new home, here, and I would never go back." She patted Katherine's hands, consolingly. "The move did me a world of good, and I have a feeling this one will do the same for you."
Michaela's practical nature took over for her, and she began formulating ideas in her mind. "However, you do need to make sure that you get the process moving. My son is a lawyer, and he can help you with the legalities involved," she offered.
"Yes, I've already spoken with Matthew about the situation. He knows the basics, but I don't think he knows everything. He told me I would have the full backing of the town if Arthur ever came for me, but that it still wasn't going to be easy."
"Well, he was right about that. You will have the town on your side, but if he finds you before those papers are signed, your marriage to him is completely legal, and he can demand that you return with him," Michaela cautioned. Katherine paled, noticeably, despite the only light coming from the fireplace, and Michaela was quick to assure her. "I would say you have a good enough lead on him to deter him, and maybe by the time he receives the papers, he will have realized that the two of you are not right for each other. Maybe he will just sign the papers, and then you won't have to worry about anything else. Why don't we go sit at the table and see if we can work this out?" she suggested.
"That would be great, Dr. Mike! Thank you so much for your help!"
"You're quite welcome."
"Hand me that brush over there," Sully requested, taking the brush from Ben. He began stroking Flash's already shiny coat. "So, quite taken with our new schoolteacher, huh?" Sully asked with a grin, not bothering to turn around.
Ben sighed. "Is it that obvious?" he asked, allowing a small grin to minimize his worry.
"Well, bein' as ya hardly took your eyes off her all through supper, I'd say it is," Sully continued teasing.
"I sure ain't gonna deny it, but there's some problems involved with our relationship," Ben admitted.
"Like what?"
Ben picked up a horseshoe that was hanging on the post and tossed it from hand to hand. "Well, for starters, she's married."
Sully stopped brushing Flash and turned to face Ben. "Married? Ya mean ya brought a married woman here with ya? What in the world were ya thinkin'?!"
"Accordin' ta Kat, her marriage is over, but accordin' to the law, it ain't. See, we basically grew up together, and I was plannin' on askin' her to marry me when the War broke out. I went to fight, and we kept in contact through letters, but then I got injured and had no idea where I was. I had no way of knowin' that I left a girl and entire life back in Missouri. A family nearby found me and took me in, helping me recover, and trying to help me remember my past. I was with them for four years, earnin' my keep on their plantation. Their children had adopted me as their uncle, and I was really content.....until the dreams, or more like nightmares started." He paused.
"What kinda nightmares?" Sully encouraged, leaning against the post nearby and crossing his arms across his chest.
"At first, they were just little bits and pieces of what I now know was my life. I had no idea what they were, and then the worst one of all kept recurrin'. I dreamed that I was wavin' goodbye to a girl and kept my eyes on her as I walked away. Then, all of a sudden, I saw another man come and grab her away, and then all would go black. It haunted me for months, and I even saw a doctor about it. Since I had no memory of my past, he told me that my mind was probably trying to remember, and that it needed a little help. He suggested that I go back to the battlefield where my injury occurred and walk around. I did as he said, and for weeks nothing happened.
"Then, one day it all came back to me. I was riding away from the site when my horse threw me. I struck my head on something and suffered a minor concussion. During my recovery, I was plagued with dreams from my past. I relived the battle and the Rebel who struck me on the head with his rifle, leaving me for dead. I remembered why I was there and all of my past. That was when I knew I had to go back. The only trouble was, when I finally made it home, Kat had married another man. I knew then that was what that recurrin' dream was. Another man had taken her away, and I was too late. So, I settled myself for bein' her friend, thinkin' that maybe it wasn't in God's will for us to be together in that way.
"It didn't take me long to realize that she was unhappy and that Arthur, her husband, was abusin' her, physically and verbally. I took it upon myself to look out for her, as I had when we were growin' up. I felt so bad for leavin' her, and I had to make it up to her, so I became the only real friend she had in the middle of the abuse. Two years after I came home, things had gotten bad enough for her to consider leavin', so I asked her to come with me, and here we are," he finished.
"And the question is, what do you do now, right?" Sully added, picking up the brush again, but this time going over to his own horse to brush.
"Right. She is living every day in fear that Arthur will find her and force her to come back home with him, and I swore to myself and her that I would never let that happen. Any man who beats his wife don't deserve to have her," he stated, vehemently.
"I agree with ya there. A man never beats a woman or any livin' thing. I once told that to a man who was gonna whip a horse, and I still live by it." He paused to gather his thoughts. "Is Miss Katherine sure she wants a divorce?"
"More than anythin', but she ain't sure how to go about it. If she files the papers, he'll know where she is. I talked with Matthew about a restrainin' order just in case, but he said she can't file one against her husband. He wants to talk to Kat about everything, but that's gonna take some work, cuz she don't want everyone knowin' about her past. It was hard enough convincin' her that I was only worried about her and that I wanted what was best for her. I can't imagine what she'll say when she finds out that I already talked to Matthew."
"Well, I can sure relate to dealin' with a difficult woman," Sully laughed. "Michaela ain't exactly the most easy woman to handle, but I finally got through to her that I wanted to marry her, but more importantly, that I would be there through whatever happened. I'm sure Miss Katherine feels the same way about you right now. She's just scared of what she's done and until she gets this worked out, she ain't capable of givin' more‘n her friendship. Ya just gotta be patient."
"I know that, but it ain't easy. When I came home to find her married, it about killed me, and then when I found out Arthur was abusin' her, I wanted to tear him apart with my bare hands," Ben admitted, gritting his teeth. "But reality took over and made me see that what Kat needed was a friend, and that's just what I'm bein'.....for now," he laughed. "Once this whole thing with Arthur is over, I plan on doin' some serious courtin'."
"I have a feelin' that your attentions ain't gonna be ignored," Sully agreed. "In the meantime, I don't recommend ya allowin' your feelin's to be too obvious. If word gets out that you're carryin' on with a married woman, things ain't gonna look good. But, if there's anythin' me or Michaela can do to help ya, just ask. Ya got a tough road ahead of ya, but I have a feelin' that you'll do alright." He put away the brush, and Ben helped him make sure the horses and cow would be warm enough through the cool night and had grain in their troughs. With that done, Sully placed a reassuring hand on Ben's shoulder. "‘Sides, if I know Michaela, she's in there right now talkin' with Miss Katherine and offering her help. She don't ever miss a chance to meddle," he predicted with a smile.
Ben turned to Sully and reached out his hand. "Well, thank you, Sully, for your advice and offer to help. I'm sure it will come in handy."
Sully took Ben's hand in a firm shake. "Anytime. Now, we better be gettin' back in, else the ladies'll be wonderin' if we got lost," he turned towards the door, allowing Ben to precede him out, and closing the door firmly before walking back to the Homestead.
Michaela sat at her dressing table, brushing her waist-length hair. Sully removed his shirt and came to kneel behind her, taking the brush from her hair and running it gently through her hair. Michaela closed her eyes at the soothing feeling, a contented sigh escaping her lips.
"So, did ya have a nice chat with Katherine?" he asked, breaking the silence.
"Yes. Did you have a good talk with Ben?"
"Yeah, told ‘em all about stubborn women, and how I know about ‘em from first hand experience," Sully replied, waiting for the reaction he knew would come.
"Oh really?" she countered, turning around to face him. "And just what kind of experience are we talking about, Mr. Sully?"
He smiled at the teasing look in his wife's eyes and returned it in his own. "Makin' her see that I was right," he replied with a smile.
"That you were......"
He cut her off by placing a finger on her lips. "Convincin' the woman I love that I'll be there for her no matter what happens, and that I'll wait no matter how long it takes."
"That's more like it," she smiled, her heartbeat beginning to race at the look in his eyes.
He trailed his fingers across her forehead and down her left cheek, cupping her chin and drawing her to him for a soft, but lingering kiss. He stood to his feet, drawing her up with him, and led her to the bed. He pulled back the covers and helped her in to bed, then walked around to his side and climbed in beside her, immediately pulling her to him. She settled her head into the hollow of his shoulder, resting her hand on his chest, drawing lazy circles with her fingers.
"So, did Katherine tell ya everythin' about her past and what brought her here?"
"Yes, and I told her that she needed to be careful with encouraging Ben's affections with her still being married."
"That's sorta what I told Ben. He told me everythin' too, and he seems to have his head on straight when it comes to doin' the right thing first before lettin' his feelin's get in the way. He told me that he knew it wouldn't be right to press Katherine when she's still got this thing hangin' over her head."
"Well, I just counciled her to be careful, and to make sure she was doing the right thing before going through with it. She assured me that she would. I was so worried for her that I offered to help in any way I could, and told her that if she needed anything from us, she only needed to ask, and we would do our best." She paused and looked up at Sully. "Was I being presumptuous in doing that, Sully?" She felt a chuckle rumble deep in his chest at her words. "What's so funny?" she began to get indignant that he would find any humor in her question.
"You. Have I ever told ya how much I love ya when ya meddle?" he asked, tapping her nose with his finger and kissing the top of her head. "And no, I don't think you were wrong to do what ya did.....'cause I told Ben the same thing," he admitted with a laugh.
"Really?"
"Yep. Just shows ya what great partners we make," he placed his fingers beneath her chin and lifted her face to his. "In more ways than one," he finished, suggestively.
Michaela stirred at the husky sound to his voice and leaned in to his kiss. Sully reached over to turn out the lamp, then drew Michaela more securely into his arms as he initiated a longer, more passionate kiss. Thoughts of Ben and Katherine faded as their all-consuming love took precedence.
Chapter Four
"No!" Kat firmly stated. "I can't!"
"Kat, ya gotta at least go talk to him!" Ben continued to push. He had decided to come see her during lunch while the students were outside playing and eating.
"What's the point? You've already told him everything about me!" she accused, a hurt sound to her voice.
Ben sighed. "I'm sorry about that, Kat, but I'm worried about ya. I knew you didn't wanna go on your own, so I started the process."
"I appreciate you concern, but you still shouldn't have gone without at least consulting me first! How does that make me look? Like someone who can't solve her own problems and needs a man to do it for her?"
"You're right. I should have asked ya about it. But, it doesn't make you look incompetent," he argued.
"Do you think I'm some child who can't handle myself? Do you think I don't know what I have to do?!" Her voice raised with every word, and she fought to remain calm. How could he do this? He knew how she felt about other people doing things for her, things that she should be doing herself! Yet, he did it anyway, without any thought of her. Why?
"Kat, listen to me," he pleaded. "I didn't do this to upset ya, or to make it look like you couldn't do it on your own." Observing the stubborn tilt to Kat's chin, Ben knew that he wasn't getting through to her. So, he tried another angle.
"If you had the nerve to go over to Matthew's office and talk to him yourself, I wouldn've had to do it in the first place! Instead, you've been puttin' it off since we got here, and the longer you wait, the more chance you have that Arthur *will* find you, but before the divorce papers are finished. Then, what will you do?"
"How dare you!" she replied and turned towards him. "If I had the nerve!? I'm not scared of going over to talk to him. You're just upset because I didn't ask you for your help in the matter. You're upset because I never said I needed you. It's your male pride that's acting up, not your concern," she accused, angrily.
If he didn't know Kat the way he did, he'd have gotten mad at her accusations. But, what good would that do? He couldn't get mad, now. Besides, she was just angry at herself for not doing what she knows she should have done a long time ago. The fact that he did it for her made it even worse. No. He needed to keep a level head about this. He was going to get through to her, no matter what.
"Male pride is it? Well, if that's my reason for doin' what I did, then what's yours for not doin' what you should've?" he pressed.
She bit off an angry retort and thought about his question. Why was he agreeing with her? Could he really be right? Could it be that he did what he did because he was worried about her? She knew that he cared, or he wouldn't have done everything he'd done for her in the first place. Okay, so maybe he was right, but she didn't have to admit it.
"Fine! I'll go talk to him, today. I'll probably have to tell him the truth about everything that happened, since you most likely got some of it wrong," she stated.
"I probably did. It's not my life we're talkin' about here," he agreed. "Well, I'd best be gettin' back to work." He headed towards the door, opening it and settling his hat on his head. He paused when he heard her voice.
"Thank you," she said, so low that he had to strain to hear it. He nodded in response, not daring to turn around and allow her to see the smile on his face. He closed the door behind him, walked down the steps and crossed the meadow, heading back to work and whistling as he walked.
* * * * *
"What do you have, there?" Carolyn asked her husband, Matthew, leaning over his shoulder to peer at the papers he had on his desk.
"Dr. Mike stopped by today and told me that I would probably be hearin' from Miss Dawson this afternoon, after school lets out, and I wanted to make sure that I had all of the papers ready for her to fill out. With her having been here so long, this ain't the kind of thing that can wait much longer," he told her.
"What's wrong?" Carolyn asked, concerned.
"Well, without revealin' the exact situation, she's going to be filing for divorce from her husband. I just wanna be prepared in case she stops by."
"You're always so thoughtful," she complimented, wrapping her arms around his shoulder and kissing his cheek.
He turned towards her and pulled her down into his lap, wrapping his arms around her, as well. Laughing with her, Matthew placed a soft kiss on her lips, the moment broken by a knock at the door..
"Come in!" Matthew called in response. Carolyn scrambled out of her husband's lap and stood, embarrassed at almost being caught in his embrace. The door opened and Katherine walked into his office. "Miss Dawson! Good afternoon!" he greeted and stood to his feet. Carolyn stepped back towards the back wall. "How can I help you?"
"Good afternoon Mr. Cooper."
"Please, call me Matthew," he invited. "Mr. Cooper's my father. Would ya like to sit down?"
"Thank you, and please call me Katherine," she accepted and took a deep breath. "Mr. Coo.....Matthew, I came to talk to you about my situation."
"I'll wait in the other room, Matthew," Carolyn stated and Matthew nodded. She paused to give Katherine a reassuring smile, even though she had no idea what the "situation" was. That young woman looked to be in need of a friend. Maybe....., she thought and closed the door behind her.
"Now, what did you want to tell me?" he invited.
"I know that you've already spoken with Mr. Holbrook....Ben, and he's the one who told me that I should come talk to you as well," she began. "I've also talked with Dr. Mike and Sully, and they suggested the same thing." She paused. "I'll admit that I'm not happy about doing this, but if it will help my chances of stopping the fear of Arthur hurting me again, I'll do it. Anything to keep him away from me."
"I'm real glad you came to see me, since we can now get the divorce papers filed." Kat took a sharp intake of breath. "Is somethin' wrong?"
"I've thought about this, and if I file divorce papers, won't Arthur know where I am?"
"Well, yes, but there's still the chance that he'll sign 'em without comin' after ya."
"I know that. I'm sure he's already angry enough that I left without a word, and he most likely knows that I left with Ben, so he certainly won't be in a good mood when he gets these papers," she agreed. "Still, I want to take care of this. The sooner the better. I want him out of my life!"
"Well, then let's get started," Matthew said and stood to retrieve the necessary papers Katherine would need to complete.
An hour later, Katherine left Matthew's office, a feeling of relief settling about her shoulders. She reached her hand out to Matthew and he took it. "Thank you, Matthew, for all of your help. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome, Miss Dawson, uh, Katherine," he replied. "Anytime ya need anythin', come see me. I'll take care of filin' these papers. And, don't worry. This town ain't gonna let go of ya that easy, even if Arthur does come here, tryin' to make trouble. They stood behind me, and they'll do the same for you," he reassured her.
"Thank you, I needed that," she replied, closing the door behind her and stepping off the boarded walkway.
A moment later, the door opened again. "Katherine!" Carolyn Cooper called. Kat turned around to greet Matthew's wife. "I was wondering if you would like to have some pie and cider over at Grace's?" she invited, and at Kat's hesitancy she continued, "You look like you could really use a friend," she smiled, comfortingly.
Kat nodded, and they walked together towards the Café.
* * * * *
The bell rang, signaling a patient, and Michaela walked to the door to open it. She saw Katherine standing there and welcomed her in. "Come on in, Katherine. I'm pleased you could find time to visit."
"You said that you needed to see me this week to check on my stitches, and truth is, I'll be glad to get rid of this bandage so that I can finally take a complete bath," she laughed.
"Well, sit up on the table, and I'll check them." She unwrapped the bandages. "No infection, and the wound has healed nicely, so it appears as if we can take them out today," she announced and wet the area with disinfectant.
"Great!" She sighed with relief. "Thanks, Dr. Mike!"
"So, how are things going?" she asked as she began removing the few stitches.
"I filed the divorce papers," she replied, a hint of worry in her voice, which was not lost on Dr. Mike as she finished and wiped Katherine's arm clean.
"Did Matthew mention from where he was going to send them?"
"Yes, he said he would send them by way of a law office in Denver, as it would make things more official."
"Katherine, are you absolutely certain that Arthur will come after you once he receives the papers?"
"I'm almost sure of it, Dr. Mike," Kat replied. "Any time I've gone anywhere without him knowing, he has always come and forced me to return with him, even if I was just visiting some friends a little ways out of town. But, I've never been gone this long, or left with such a permanent purpose, before. I'm sure that when he receives the papers, he'll immediately come searching for me." She paused and sighed. "And, then I don't know what I'm going to do," she finished in a helpless whisper.
Michaela reached out and embraced the young woman. "Katherine, I know it isn't easy doing what you've done, but from what you've told me, this seems to be the only option you have, other than going back and living a life of unhappiness with a husband who doesn't appreciate you for who you are." She reached out to get a handkerchief, then pushed Katherine back, handing it to her. "Listen to me. I know you're scared, and you have every right to be, but Arthur should have no right over you any longer, and if he tries to take you away, we won't let him. No matter what happens, we will make sure you never have to go back to live with him again. You've come to mean too much to this town since you've arrived, and I know they're not going to just stand by and let Arthur take you away."
In spite of her tears, Katherine smiled. "That's just what Matthew said. He told me that the town stood behind him during his start as Sheriff, and they would do the same for me, if the need arises."
"He was right. I know that Sully and I won't stand by and not help, and I'm sure that everyone you know here, won't either. Trust me. This town has a history of standing up for its citizens. They have had their moments when they've allowed their prejudices and sour feelings to get in the way, but deep down they're good people, and they'll support you in this." She helped Katherine to the door. "Now, go on home and get some rest. Think about your life here and how happy you've been these last months, and things will be all right."
"Thank you, Dr. Mike, for everything. You have no idea how much it means to me to know that I have friends who will help me through all of this. Where I used to live, I never felt like I could tell anyone about Arthur, since I was sure no one would believe me. Sure, they were very supportive when I ceased to receive word from Ben after the War, but once I was married, it was as if I lost all of my rights to having true friends. That's one of the reasons I've come to love this town. Everyone I've met is so kind, and I really feel accepted for the first time since the War."
"I'm very happy to hear that. Now, I have some things to finish here before Sully comes to take me home."
"Of course, Dr. Mike. Sorry for keeping you," Kat apologized.
"No apology necessary," Michaela countered. "I'm happy I could be of assistance."
"Good-bye, Dr. Mike. Thank you again," Kat called in farewell.
She stepped down off the sidewalk and nearly ran into Sully. "Miss Katherine," he greeted.
"Good evening, Sully," she replied, less than heartfelt.
He placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "Don't worry, Miss Katherine, it'll be all right," he told her.
She looked up into his kind, blue eyes, amazed at his perception. "How did you.....?"
He held up a hand. "I don't. I can jus' see somethin's worryin' ya, but ya ain't gotta let it. If ya need someone ta talk to, you know me and Michaela are here," he assured her and she smiled, slightly. "Is Michaela in there?" he asked, pointing towards the Clinic.
"Yes, I was just coming out from an appointment I had with her," Kat answered. "She was going to finish a few things before you came, but I guess she won't get to that," she said and laughed.
Sully smiled. "Knowin' Michaela, she'll wanna finish her stuff before we leave, so I guess I'd better be prepared ta wait," he laughed as well.
"Well, I'm heading back to the boarding house. Goodnight, Sully, and thank you."
"You're welcome, Miss Katherine. Goodnight," he replied and turned to go into the Clinic.
Michaela looked up when she heard the door open. "Sully! You're early!" she said in greeting.
He smiled. "Is that any way ta greet your husband after a long day's work?" he asked, walking over to where she was standing by the filing cabinet. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him, leaning down to kiss her neck.
"Sully!" she protested, even though she enjoyed his attentions.
"What?" he asked, pretending to be innocent. He turned her around to face him and lifted her chin so that she looked at him.
"I...." she began, but couldn't finish as she was becoming lost in the depths of his eyes.
"Yes?" he prodded, knowing full well the affect he was having on her. When she didn't say anything, he smiled and leaned to cover her lips with his own, wrapping his arms more securely around her as the kiss lengthened.
When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless. "Now, that's more like it," he said with a smirk, causing her to blush.
"I, um, need to finish this one patient file," she told him, flustered and trying to do anything that would take her mind off of his kisses.
Sully smiled at his wife's poor attempt to hide her feelings. "I figured ya would, that's why I came early," he said, then went to sit on the bench by the door, watching her every move. Even after all these years, it never ceased to amaze him how beautiful she was, and she got more so every day. He couldn't believe he was so lucky. He watched as she hurried through what she was doing. "Maryann's not expectin' us ‘til five-thirty, anyways, so ya got time," he assured her.
Michaela finished updating the patient file and walked to return it to the drawer. "All right, I'm ready to go, now," she announced.
Sully stood and grabbed her shawl. Michaela took off her apron and hung it on the hook by the door, then stood and allowed Sully to drape her shawl across her shoulders. He placed a brief kiss on her lips, turned out the lamp, and held out his hand to her. "Shall we go?" She smiled and placed her hand in his, making certain to lock the door behind them.
He helped her into their wagon and climbed up after her, taking up the reins and giving them a light smack to start the horse moving. Once out of town, he allowed the horse to take the lead, putting one arm around his wife and keeping a hold on the reins with the other. She leaned against him and put her head on his shoulder, sighing contentedly and enjoying the peaceful ride home.
Chapter Five
"Are you certain that no one matching my description or this picture came through here?" he asked the next person he saw, holding up a daguerreotype of Katherine.
"I'm sorry, sir," the man replied, "but I'd remember a lady like that, for sure. Ain't no lady like that come through here, either alone or with anyone, and I see just about everyone who comes through town at one time or another."
"Thank you," Arthur said goodbye and moved on.
It was the same process that had been going on ever since Katherine left. He started in their home town and then moved on the towns in the surrounding areas, hoping to find some clues, but always coming up empty-handed.
He had been searching for Katherine for months and was no closer to finding out anything about her than he was when he had started. From the moment he came home and found her gone, a never-ending list of questions had plagued him. Why did she leave? How had she managed to elude him and everyone else so well? Had she really left with Ben Holbrook, or on her own? Where did she go? Why had she chosen now to leave? What had happened to their marriage? What else could she have wanted? He gave her everything she needed. He had remained faithful to her, put food on her table, built a shelter over her head, and provided the material for the clothes on her back. And this was how she repaid him?
From there, the questions turned more on him and his motives. Why had he married her? What had kept him faithful to her? Did he really love her? What was it about her that captivated him? Was it the lack of available women and the fact that she was the only one who seemed to return his affections? Or had he simply taken advantage of a grieving woman when she had received word that Ben Holbrook was missing in action and not a word from him was received?
If he was true to himself, he would admit that it was because he was really jealous of Ben and everything that man had. Ever since the first day Ben had arrived in town, he had been the favorite. He was one of the best pupils at school, even though Arthur was a couple of years older. He got all of the attention from the girls, even though Arthur and his family had more money. He even got the job as stock boy at the mercantile, even though Arthur's family had known the Schubert's for as long as he could remember. Ben won the affections of Katherine, even when all of the other men in town had tried. When Ben gallantly went off to fight in the War, he was given a rousing send-off with everyone in town showing up to wave goodbye. Arthur had chosen to stay behind to manage his business, and that certainly wasn't the favored option.
Ever since Ben had arrived and all through the War, Arthur had felt like he was living in his shadow. When word was received of Ben's disappearance, something in him spurred him into action. Finally, he could win back everything that was his before Ben had come to town. He wasn't even sorry that Ben might have died, because everything Ben had could now be his, including Katherine. Still, he bided his time, since he knew that it wouldn't come off well to try to win her favors so soon after hearing about Ben. So, he waited patiently, being kind to her and inviting her to share her feelings with him, even though he really didn't care to hear about Ben any more. It had taken a couple of years, but he finally saw her begin to soften towards him and genuinely smile whenever she saw him. He realized that this might be his chance. He had sure waited long enough for her, assuring her that Ben would return, but offering his comfort should he not.
Somewhere along the line, he had become attracted to Katherine for more than just the desire to take something from Ben. She was a beautiful woman who was loved by everyone in town, and any man would be envious of him with her has his wife. Her long, red hair and shining green eyes were something to behold, but it was the way she carried herself that demanded the attention of everyone around her. She had a very engaging personality that caused everyone to stop and listen when she was talking or turn in her direction when she laughed. Of course, she also had a spark in her that few could ignore. On more than one occasion, he had seen that spark ignited, and he was smart enough to not get in her way when it did.
Still, he was sure that once they were married, things would be fine. He had been living alone for far too long, and he needed a wife at home who could cook and clean and mend for him, and who would also give him a son to carry on his name. He was away on business enough that he wouldn't really have to worry about helping to raise the child, but he would help when he was home. After all, child-raising and keeping house was women's work. His job was to make sure the money was there. And that was just what he did once he and Katherine were married.
Of course, he didn't make it easy on her. Not long after they were married, he came home demanding that his supper be on the table and hot, and when it wasn't, he got angry with her. When he saw that she was thinking about defying him, he would hit her and weaken her resolve. He never actually intended to hurt her, but he had no tolerance for a woman who didn't do as he said. On top of that was the fact that even after three years of marriage, there were still no children. That certainly didn't help matters any, and it made him even angrier with her, since he was sure it was all her fault.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Despite all of her faults, he had grown accustomed to having things done for him. He didn't like coming home to an empty house and an empty stomach. He certainly couldn't cook, and the food at the restaurant in town got old after a while, even though the waitress was something to behold. He made no effort to disguise his interest in her, and she made no effort to avoid him, giving him an extra cup of coffee or a double-portion of potatoes. She always had a smile for him, and even with the limited choices, she made it very enjoyable to dine there. Had he missed something in his desire to have something that didn't rightfully belong to him? Should he have pursued the girl at the restaurant more than he pursued Katherine? When that realization hit him, he had all but given up on ever finding Katherine again.
That was when it happened. Walking into the restaurant, he heard his name being called.
"Mr. Randall!"
"What can I do for you, John?"
"Oh, nothin', really. I just had this package that was delivered and wanted to make sure ya got it," the telegraph operator replied, handing him an official-looking envelope.
Arthur looked at it and wondered what it could be. It had a Denver postmark on it, and he didn't know anyone in Denver. "Thank you, John," he said and handed the man two bits for his trouble. He walked over to the restaurant, staring at the envelope in his hands all the way.
He smiled when he saw Rose coming his way with the coffeepot, knowing that he always took coffee with his meals.
"Evenin' Mr. Randall," she greeted and filled his cup, bestowing a very flirtatious smile upon him.
"Good evening, Miss Calhoun," he returned, an equally engaging smile on his own lips.
"So, what'll it be tonight," she asked, taking out her order pad from her apron pocket.
"Well, if I can't have you, I guess it'll be the steak," he teased.
She playfully swatted him with one of the napkins she had removed from the table. "Oh, Mr. Randall. You're such a tease," she told him. "Steak it is. Well-done, of course?"
"You know me," he replied.
"Comin' right up," she said and returned to the kitchen.
Arthur watched her go and again wondered if he had missed out on something in his quest to have Katherine as his wife. Nothing could be done about that, now, he thought, turning his attention to the enveloped he still held in his hands.
He flipped it over and slit the seal, removing the papers from inside. At the first few lines, he nearly dropped his coffee cup, and his face paled. Divorce? Katherine had filed for a divorce from him? How could she do such a thing? She was against divorce under any circumstances, and he remembered her saying it over and over again when she was still living with him. She had made no attempt at hiding her beliefs, making it clear that she put God above everything else in her life. He had even humored her and attended church every Sunday, just to look good, even though he didn't really care one whit about what the preacher had to say.
Was she so eager to be rid of him that she would go against everything she believed to do it? He continued to read until the end and realized that she was doing just that. Then, his eyes immediately went to the top of the paper and he saw the name of the prestigious law firm in Denver. Denver!? Denver, Colorado?! Who did she know in Colorado? Better yet, these papers now gave him her whereabouts. That was just what he needed to find her and bring her back. After all, if he didn't sign the papers, she was still married to him, and she was bound by law to return once he found her. The trouble was, did he really want her back?
He didn't have time to ponder that question since Rose returned with his meal. "Is everythin' alright, Mr. Randall? You look a might peaked," she observed. "Your face is as white as a sheet. No bad news, I hope," she said and pointed to the papers he held.
Arthur shook himself out of his reverie and pasted a smile on his face. "No, Miss Calhoun, not bad news. Just surprising, that's all," he told her.
"Well, I'm glad. Wouldn't want my favorite customer to be upset about anythin'."
At this, his smile turned genuine. "Everything's just fine, I assure you."
"Good," she said and set his plate in front of him. "Steak, well-done, just like ya asked, and an extra portion of potatoes, as usual."
"Thank you, Miss Calhoun," he replied and swatted her backside as she turned to leave. She threw a grin over her shoulder and sashayed to one of the other tables. He turned his attention back to the matter at hand, and a plan began to form in his mind. No matter what he did, he would definitely return here to Rose. He wasn't about to let something like a soon-to-be-ended marriage prevent him from companionship again. If Katherine wanted a divorce, fine, but he was not going to make it very easy for her to get rid of him. She was going to regret the day she ran out on him and left him without a word.
Two weeks later, he boarded the train heading for Denver. He was going to get to the bottom of this, if it was the last thing he did. He hardly remembered anything about the journey, with his mind on other matters, but was thankful when he arrived right on schedule. His first order of business was to find a hotel, having no idea how long he would be in Denver. With that done, he headed straight for the law firm, whose name he read from the top of the divorce papers, looking up at the beginning signs of dusk and hoping they weren't yet closed.
"Can I help you," asked a lady behind a desk just inside the front doors.
"Yes, I am looking for a Mr. Hancock," he said, looking down at the name signed at the bottom of the paper he held.
"Do you have an appointment," she asked.
"No, but I received these divorce papers a couple of weeks ago, and I would like to ask him a few questions," he told her.
"I understand, but you still need an appointment. I can put you down for tomorrow morning at ten o'clock."
"That will be fine," Arthur replied. In the meantime, he could ask around and see if he could find Katherine. He patted his jacket pocket to be sure that her photograph was still there, feeling certain that someone in this city would have seen her. It was just a matter of finding the right places.
Five hours and at least thirty people later, he was at the same dead end he had faced while trying to locate her back in Missouri. No matter who he asked, no one had seen her. He was beginning to think that she had bribed these people to lie, but where would she have gotten the money? No, more than likely, she had never even been to Denver, but had some lawyer handle her affairs for her and use Denver as the return address, attempting to keep her location hidden.
Well, that wasn't going to stop him. He had an appointment tomorrow morning, and he wouldn't leave until he got some answers. In the meantime, he had better go back to his room and get some sleep. All of this traveling and searching had wore him out, and he needed to be alert, if his plan was going to succeed.
The next morning, arrivingd five minutes early, he followed the secretary to the lawyer's office. The door closed behind him, and the man behind the desk greeted him.
"Please, would you take a seat," he offered after shaking hands and introducing himself.
"Thank you," Arthur said and sat in one of the leather chairs, opposite the gleaming and very expensive, oak desk.
"Now, Mr. Randall, what can I do for you," the lawyer asked.
Arthur took out the papers from the envelope and extended them towards the man. "I received these papers a few weeks ago, and I would like to ask you a few questions," he replied, coming straight to the point.
Mr. Hancock perused the pages, stroking his chin in though. "I see. And what is it that you would like to know?"
"Well, for starters, I would like to know if my wife secured your services herself, or if she is represented by another lawyer who is simply using your office as a means of keeping her location a secret."
"To be honest, I have never met your wife, Mr. Randall. In truth, I don't normally agree to something like this without meeting the party involved, but the young man who contacted me is a good friend of mine, and I owed him a favor."
"Young man? Could you, perchance, give me his name?"
He stroked his chin again. "Well, I don't normally give that kind of information out about my clients, but seeing as how he isn't really a client, I guess it can be done this time," he replied. "His name is Matthew Cooper, and he has a practice in Colorado Springs. He came here for school and trained under me. A very promising young man. If it hadn't been for his ingenuity, I would have lost one of the biggest cases of my career. In return, I couldn't refuse his request in regards to these papers," he explained and gestured to the papers on the desk between himself and Arthur.
"I see. So, you are saying that my wife is most likely in Colorado Springs right now, and that I can find this Matthew Cooper there?"
"Yes. I keep in touch with Mr. Cooper on a regular basis, and he has a nice little law practice there. It's a small town, but his services come in handy quite often."
Arthur stood and retrieved the papers from the desk, placing them back into the envelope from where they came. He reached across the desk to shake hands, and Mr. Hancock returned the shake. "Thank you for all of your help," he said in farewell.
"You're quite welcome, Mr. Randall. If I can be of any other service, please don't hesitate to ask," the lawyer replied, walking with Arthur to the door and closing it behind him.
Stepping out into the daylight, Arthur immediately walked to the train depot to purchase a ticket for the next train to Colorado Springs. Good. He had a little over an hour to check out of the hotel and get something to eat before his train departed. What would he find in this town of Colorado Springs?
Blending in with the crowd was never easy for a man like Arthur. He always made an entrance, no matter where he went. In his business, he had to maintain the upper hand. But, here, in Colorado Springs, he didn't have much of a choice. He had to keep his distance or risk Katherine finding out he was here.
"I'll just have to venture out in the evenings. That way, I'll be less conspicuous," he thought, continuing to modify his plans and looking around to get a layout of the town. "It looks like the local gathering place at night is the saloon. Guess I'll just have to break my rules and set foot in the place." Ever since his father had died in a drunken fight at the Saloon back home, he made a vow to never darken the doorway of one again. "But I'll never succeed if I don't," he tried to convince himself, looking towards the saloon from his vantage point beside the mercantile. Besides, it looks like the Saloon was the only place that offered rooms in this little town.
Darkness had already settled on Colorado Springs, and he began walking towards the Gold Nugget. A door opening and closing caused him to stop in his tracks and retreat back to the side of the building. He looked in the direction of the noise and noticed a very familiar-looking man leaving from the boardinghouse. Looking closer, he realized who it was. "Holbrook!" he muttered between clenched teeth. "I should have known he would be behind this!" He clenched his fists at his side, immediately changing his course of action. "Looks like I won't need to visit the saloon after all."