For personal use and select distribution only © April 2000 by "Tiff" Amber Miller
Chapter Six
*****
* November 18th, Berthoud Pass, Colorado - Berthoud Pass wagon road is completed and the first coach is driven by Billy Updike into Hot Sulphur Springs.
* November 24th, Washington, D.C. - one of numerous patents is granted for barbed wire, Joseph F. Glidden of DeKalb, Illinois.
* December 9th, Sturgis (South) Dakota (near) - Gordon party of prospectors enters Black Hills with twenty-six gold seekers, Annie Tallant and her six-year-old boy, they built Gordon Stockade on December 28th on the French Creek near Custer, Wyoming, and were ejected from the hills the next spring, they went to Cheyenne, Wyoming where Mrs. Tallant met Wild Bill Hickock.
*****
After Ben left, Kat walked up the stairs to her room, softly closing the door behind her. It did not matter how much Ben assured her that everything would be alright, she knew Arthur. She knew he would come after her. The question was when? It had been a little over two months since the divorce papers had been sent from Denver. Thanksgiving had come and gone, and preparations were being made for the upcoming Christmas. She paced the room, pondering the same questions again and again. How long did it take for them to reach Missouri? Was Arthur at home to receive them? How long after he saw them would he leave to come find her? What would he do when he traced her here?
All of these questions had been plaguing Kat ever since she agreed to filing for divorce, but one question repeated itself more loudly than the others: Am I doing the right thing? "Living with Arthur was one nightmare after another and I'm very happy here!" she thought out loud. "What if I had not filed for divorce? What if I had just kept moving to make sure Arthur could never come near me again? No, I can't just keep going on the run from him, wondering if he'll appear and demand I return. Besides, if I didn't do this, I would be married to him for the rest of my life, and I definitely don't want that!"
No, she convinced herself she was right. Matthew had assured her that the town would stand behind her, no matter what happened, but Ben's words rang loud and clear and comforted her more than any others: "Kat, you know I care about you, and I swear that I won't let anything happen to you. I'd die protecting you. So, no matter what happens, you can be assured that I will always come for you." He had spoken those words only moments before, but they wrapped her in such a warm cocoon of assurance, she knew she could trust him.
With his promise stored safely in her heart, she sat at her desk and began making her presents for her friends and the children at school, a small part of her feeling nostalgic at the thought of the upcoming festivities. This was her first Christmas away from home. Will it be so different? Will I miss my friends and family back home? What will it be like celebrating with new friends?
"Katherine!"
Kat turned to see who was calling her name, clutching tightly to the stack of papers that had to be graded before the Christmas break and tucking her chin into her cloak to avoid the chilling wind. "Carolyn! It's nice to see you. Wow, you're getting big!" she exclaimed, looking at her friend.
Carolyn lovingly caressed her swollen abdomen. "Yes. I figure this little one will be making its appearance sometime around the end of January. But, that's not what I wanted to talk about. Matthew and I would like to invite you and Ben to join us at Grace's tonight. I know you both have been busy with everything that has been going on, and we wanted to treat you to one of Grace's delicious meals."
"Oh, Carolyn, that sounds wonderful!"
"So, you'll come?"
"Yes! I'll have to ask Ben first, but I have never known him to turn down a good meal!" she laughed.
Carolyn smiled. "Does any man?"
They both shared a laugh over their private joke, but the wind picked up speed and nearly froze them standing there. "Why don't we walk to the boardinghouse," Kat suggested. "I'm sure there's a fire going and we can warm ourselves while we talk."
"That sounds like a great idea!" Carolyn agreed and walked beside Kat.
"So, what are your plans for Christmas?" Kat started the conversation again once they were settled inside by the fireplace.
"Well, Matthew and I are going over to my parent's house for dinner on Christmas day, and we'll open presents there. But, we have also been invited to spend time with Dr. Mike and Sully, since Colleen and Andrew are coming home that week, and there's a welcome home party planned for them. Maryann and I are doing the food for it. You are coming, aren't you? To the welcome home party?"
"Well, Dr. Mike invited Ben and me, but I don't even know them."
"That doesn't matter. You know Dr. Mike and Sully, and the rest of the family. Besides, the whole town is invited, so you have to come!"
"Now, how can I refuse an offer like that?"
Carolyn smiled. "I can be very convincing when I want to be." She paused. "So, what are you doing for Christmas?"
"Well, I'm really not sure. I mean, it's my first Christmas away from home, so it's certainly going to be different. Hank and Anabel have invited Ben and me over to have dinner with them since Anabel's my only family here in town. But, with this welcome home party, I guess we'll need to make time for that, too. So, I'll most likely just spend a lot of it with everyone I know, here. All of you have been so helpful and accepting of me since I've arrived. I don't know how to thank you."
"Oh, no thanks are needed. You've been a great addition to this town, and I know I love having someone else my age around to talk to!"
"Yes, I do, too, but I still appreciate all of the help that everyone has given me in getting settled. With everything's that happened, I knew it wouldn't be easy. You've all helped make it tolerable. I have often wondered if coming here was the right thing to do, but I just think about all of the friends I've made here, and how accepted I feel, and I know I've found a new home. It will still be hard facing Christmas without my friends and family from back home, but I know I will have a good time with everyone here."
"You'll always be welcomed, here, Katherine," Carolyn assured her. She reached out and gave her friend a hug and heard the clock chime. "Oh my! I can't believe it's so late! I have to get back to the bookshop to help Mother with a few things before we close! I'm sorry, but I have to go!" she exclaimed and stood up.
"That's alright. I understand. I have some papers to grade before supper, so I should get to work on them. I'll see you tonight at Grace's," she said in parting.
"See you tonight," Carolyn repeated and braced herself for the cold wind that would blast as soon as she opened the door.
Kat gathered her stack of papers and books and ascended the stairs to her room, thinking about how nice it was that she had found some friends.
"Okay, so we have the menu all planned for Colleen and Andrew's party. Now, who's going to make what?" Carolyn was trying to make sure that they had everything handled for the party, and she had acquired the help of Katherine just recently.
"Menu? Does that mean y'all are plannin' on makin' a meal?" Grace interrupted after overhearing the tail end of their conversation. "Here's your dinners," she told them and placed a plate in front of each person.
"Yes, Grace. Mike and Sully are planning a welcome home party for Colleen and Andrew, and Carolyn and Maryann agreed to do the food," Matthew explained.
"Well, that's mighty nice of ya both. If you need any help, you be sure and let me know," she offered.
"As a matter of fact, we do have a question," Maryann began.
"I'll be there in a minute!" Grace called to a customer who had requested her attention to complain about his food not being cooked right. "And what's that?" she returned her attention to the table.
"Well, do you think you could make the pies for the party? Your pies are known for miles around for their taste, and I don't think any of us could come even close to making one that tasted as good," Maryann complimented.
"Well, thank you, Maryann. It's nice to know *some* people appreciate my cookin'," she stated with a glare over in the direction of the impatient customer. "I'd be happy to make the pies. After all, it's not every day that we have a reason ta celebrate around here. Christmas is comin', and I'm lookin' forward to spending the first with our little Michael," she said with a loving smile, looking through the window of her Café over at her son sitting in a chair and watching his papa, Robert E, work in the livery.
"How is Michael doing?" Kat asked. She had eaten in the Café so much and seen him around with either Grace or Robert E, she felt like she had known them all her life.
"He's just a little bundle of energy! He's already startin' ta walk, and he's gettin' in to everythin'!! I can barely manage keepin' my customers fed and happy, let alone if I turn my back on him, he's into somethin' else!" she exclaimed. "I'm sure glad Robert E went and made that chair for him. That's the best idea he's though of yet!"
"Well, he's almost a year old. What would you expect?" Katherine asked, joining in the laughter of everyone else.
"He'll be the death of me, yet!" Another call came from one of her customers. "Alright, I best be gettin' back to work, or I'll have plenty of time to bake those pies cuz I won't have any customers!" She refilled their coffee and hot cider mugs and went back to work. They were all thankful that Robert E and Sully, along with Jacob Farley and Hank, had finally built the walls to enclose the Café this past autumn. It increased business for Grace, but it also made it more comfortable to eat when the weather turned colder. The extra gas stove added just the right amount of heat to keep things warm all the time.
"I guess that's everything then!" Carolyn said with a smile. "Ben, you and Matthew are going to get the meat for us, right?"
"Yeah. We're goin' out at the end of the week. Matthew can't afford to take time off of work at this time of year, so we'll wait until the week's over."
"That's good. Now, Katherine, you're helping Maryann and me with the preparations, so that means you'll have to come over early and plan to spend most of the day with us. I hope you don't mind," she said with a smile, knowing that the three of them would have a great time.
"I'll try my best to endure it," she replied, returning the teasing.
"Ben, I say you and me steer clear of my place that day. Three women together cookin' can't be a good thing," Matthew laughed.
"You're right, there! It's a wonder they'll get anything done. It spells nothin' but trouble!" Ben agreed.
"Hey! We could run circles around you guys!" Carolyn replied.
"Is that right?" Matthew returned.
"Yes. As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to bet that you couldn't even bake the potatoes and make the soup in the time it takes us to make the entire meal!" Kat challenged.
"Yeah? And what's the bet?" Ben asked.
She thought for a minute. "The losers have to do the winners' laundry for a month!"
"But you women do that anyway. What kind of bet is that?" Matthew complained.
"So sure you'll win?" Maryann joined in the game.
"Yeah! It'll be nice not to have to do my own laundry for a change," Ben stated.
"So, is it a bet?" Kat pushed.
"It's a bet!" Ben and Matthew agreed simultaneously, reaching across to shake hands with the ladies.
"What's this I hear about a bet? You aren't gambling, I hope?" Michaela approached the table, Marjorie on her hip and Katie holding her hand, Sully right behind them.
"Hey, Dr. Mike, Sully," everyone greeted.
"Hey, Ma, Sully," Matthew intoned.
Katie ran over to Kat the moment she saw her. "Katie!" she exclaimed and scrambled up into Kat's lap.
Kat laughed. "No, that's your name, Katie. My name is Katherine," she corrected.
"That my name, too, but ev'body call me Katie. What they call you?"
"Well," she began, looking over at Ben, who smiled. "Some people call me ‘Kat'."
"Kat," the little girl repeated. "Like ‘meee-owww'?"
Everyone laughed. "Well, sort of. It's just the first part of my name," Kat explained when she composed herself.
"Oh. Can I be called ‘Kat'?"
"Well, I don't know about that," Kat looked at the others for help.
Sully walked around and stooped beside her so that he was at eye-level with his daughter. "If you were called ‘Kat', you couldn't be my little ‘Kates' anymore," he explained.
"I no like that, Papa. I your ‘Kates'!" she exclaimed and left Kat's lap to jump into his arms.
Sully straddled the bench next to Kat. "Now, what's this about a bet?"
"Oh, that. Well, the ladies here were boastin' about their cookin' skills, and they bet us that we couldn't bake potatoes and make the soup for Colleen and Andrew's party before they could finish the rest of the meal," Matthew explained.
"And what do the losers have to do?" Michaela asked and took a seat across from Sully and next to Matthew. Ben was seated on the other side of Matthew, Maryann at the end, Carolyn across from Ben and Kat next to her.
"The losers have to do the winners' laundry for a month!" Carolyn answered.
"That sounds fair!" Michaela agreed. "So, does this mean you have everything arranged?"
"Yes. Grace is making the pies, Katherine, Maryann and I are doing most of the food, and Ben and Matthew are doing the potatoes and soup."
"Sounds like ya got everythin' covered," Sully noted. "Now, I just gotta get Michaela workin' on fixin' up the Homestead," Sully sent a teasing wink at across the table to his wife.
She grinned and sighed. "It's not as easy as it seems. I've got little Marjorie here, always getting into things, and Katie is full of questions all day long. That and maintaining the Clinic keeps me busy all the time," Michaela explained.
"Well, Dr. Mike, if you ever need a break, you know I can take the girls for you for a day or evening. I love watchin' them at the Clinic, but if you need to plan, I can come to the Café and spend some time with Michael. The three of them get along great!"
"That just might be a good idea, Maryann. How about Friday?"
"Sure! No problem." She turned to look at Katie. "How does that sound, Katie? Would you like to spend the day with me and Michael and your sister, here at Grace's?"
"Yay!!" the toddler clapped her hands.
"Looks like it's all settled," Kat said, and everyone laughed at the little girl.
"Now, I want all of you to promise me that you are going to have a great holiday and that you will all behave yourselves through Christmas," Ms. Teresa was telling the students.
"Yes, Ms. Teresa," the students intoned.
"Before you go, Miss Dawson has something she would like to say to you."
"Thank you, Mrs. Slicker," she replied and turned to face the students. "As most of you know, Ms. Teresa is going to be having a baby very soon. When she does, she will have to take some time off from teaching."
A chorus of sighs and groans went up from the students.
"Now, wait a minute. Let me finish," she held up a hand to silence the children. "What I was going to say is that it doesn't mean you'll be getting a new teacher. Mr. Slicker, the mayor, has asked me to take over as the permanent teacher here, until Ms. Teresa decides if she would like to come back. So, when you return from the Christmas break, you'll have me as your only teacher."
This time, a chorus of cheers and applause was heard. Kat smiled, as did Mrs. Slicker. It warmed her heart to know that the students would be in good hands and that they were excited about the change.
"Alright, now settle down class," Ms. Teresa said. "Miss Dawson and I have some gifts we would like to give each of you, so when you hear your name, please come up to get your present. Once we are done, everyone is dismissed. I want you all to have a wonderful Christmas!"
In a matter of minutes, the schoolhouse became a mixture of noise, movement, and extreme activity as the students all filed up to receive their gifts from their teachers, then gave each a hug as they said goodbye for the holidays. All too soon, the schoolhouse was empty and the silence seemed to echo off the four walls.
"I never thought this day would come so soon," Mrs. Slicker said with a slight touch of melancholy. "I have been teaching these children for almost four years, and I never thought I would miss them so much."
"Well, just because you won't be teaching doesn't mean you can't come and visit once in a while. The students would love to see you, and I know they'll want to see your little one once he or she is old enough to come visit," Kat assured her.
"Yes, that is true. I know it might be some time before that can happen, but I will promise to come and visit as soon as I am able."
"Great! Now, let's get this all cleaned up, so we can go home and begin enjoying *our* vacation!" Kat laughed.
Arthur sat in his room at the Gold Nugget. As much as he abhorred saloon's, there didn't seem to be much of a choice in town for places to stay. He heard there was a hotel a little ways outside of town, but he needed to stay in town to keep an eye on Katherine. "I have to make my move soon," he plotted. With the weather turning colder, and the wind increasin' in intensity, he didn't want to risk being caught in a blizzard. "Katherine will never know what hit her!"
Chapter Seven
"Can you believe it's only a week away before Christmas?!" Michaela exclaimed to Sully. "Colleen and Andrew are due to arrive on Monday, and I haven't even finished with the decorations yet! I hope Carolyn, Maryann and Katherine get the food prepared. Do you think I forgot to tell anyone about the party? I wouldn't want anyone to feel like I ignored them on purpose. That just wouldn't do."
Sully sat back in his chair at the table and watched his wife bustle to and fro from the kitchen to the main part of the Homestead, checking and re-checking everything to make sure it was all in order. He knew everything would go fine, and that Michaela would have it all handled by the time Colleen and Andrew arrived, but that didn't stop him from enjoying this little frantic scene she was creating. He also knew better than to reply to her questions, since she really didn't want an answer.
"Papa, why Mama walkin' round and round and round?" Katie had toddled up to him and began to climb into his lap. He placed his hands under her upraised arms and lifted her into his arms.
"‘Cause she's frettin' about the party for your sister and Andrew when they come home," Sully explained.
"But, why she walk to fret? She sit like me," the child wondered.
"Well, ‘cause that's how your Ma frets. She likes to pace back and forth. Helps her think."
"Mama make me sleepy!"
Sully laughed and Michaela turned towards her husband and daughter. She walked towards them and heard Marjorie's cries from upstairs. Coming back down with her youngest daughter in her arms, she joined Sully at the table. He gave her a knowing look, and she smiled.
"I'm sorry, Sully. I know I shouldn't worry so much, but I guess it's just in my nature. I want everything to be perfect."
"And it will be. Don't worry. Everythin'll go real smooth and afore ya know it, the party'll be over, and everyone will've had a good time," he assured her.
The front door opened and closed, and Brian removed his coat and hat, hanging them on the hooks. "Phew! That wind's really pickin' up. Makes it feel a lot colder than it is out there!"
"Well, it's winter, what else is the weather supposed to do?" Michaela's practical side pointed out.
"We may even get snow again, hopefully on Christmas," Sully predicted. "That first storm's all but gone now."
"Oh, I hope so. Snow covering everything is so beautiful and peaceful, as long as it's not a blizzard. I wouldn't want anything to happen to delay Colleen and Andrew."
"Oh, they'll get, here, Ma," Brian assured her. "Ya don't hafta worry."
"That's what I been tryin' to tell her, but it ain't workin'."
"Mama frettin'," Katie chimed in.
"Alright. Enough talk about my worrying habits. Let's get some supper on the table," Michaela decided.
"Brian, do you think you could watch Katie and Marjorie tomorrow morning?" Michaela asked halfway through the meal. "I have to go visit a patient outside of town, and I know Maryann's very busy helping prepare the food for Colleen and Andrew's party."
"Sure, Ma. School's out, so I don't have anythin' to do." He paused, thinking, and decided to go ahead and ask. "Do you think Sarah could come over, too? I had planned to spend the day with her tomorrow, but I know she would love helpin' watch Katie and Marjorie."
Michaela looked down the table at Sully, who shrugged. They both knew that they could trust their son, but Sully also knew that Michaela did not like for them to be alone unchaperoned. "I've got some work ta do around the Homestead, so I'll be here, too."
Michaela smiled and communicated her thanks through a private look with her husband. "Alright, Brian. Sarah can come over, but you have to promise me that you will look after your sisters and not let them get into any trouble. Marjorie's a lot more sure on her feet, now, and she can disappear in a second," Michaela warned.
"I promise, Ma. And when Marjorie's sleepin', maybe we'll teach Katie how to play checkers!" he smiled at his younger sister.
"Checkers?! Me? Yay!!" she clapped her hands. "I learn play and I beat Papa!"
They all laughed. "Well, you might have a little while before you can do that, sweetheart," Michaela told her.
"You right, Mama. Papa real good at checkers. I let you beat him!"
"Now, your Ma don't win all the time!" Sully corrected her.
"That's right. Sometimes I *let* him win!" Michaela added and laughed, sharing another private look with her husband, this time with more meaning.
"....and they all lived happily ever after. The end!" Katie finished the story her Mama had been telling her.
"Alright, little lady. It's time for you to go to sleep. Your baby sister's asleep, already, and you need to do the same thing."
"Yes, Mama," the little girl agreed and snuggled beneath her warm covers.
Michaela leaned down to kiss her daughter good-night, stroking her soft, blonde curls. "Did you say your prayers?
"Twice!" the girl replied, Michaela laughing at the typical response from her daughter. She shut out the light and left the room, pulling the door closed behind her.
She descended the stairs to find Brian sitting at the table working on some writing and Sully in the kitchen at the sink. She walked over to him and began helping him with the supper dishes. They worked together in silence for a few minutes.
"You *let* me win?" he questioned the comment she made earlier.
Michaela smiled, knowing that he wasn't going to let that part of the conversation rest. "Yes, well, maybe not at checkers, but certainly at chess." Sully gave her a look that told her he doubted it. "Admit it, Sully. I am better than you at chess. I can't remember the last time you won!"
Sully smirked. "Well, maybe not at chess, but I can think of several times where I was the winner." He paused as if trying to think of one such time. "I remember a few certain medical journals that lost the battle on more than one occasion," he teased.
Michaela blushed and Sully leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Well, you keep talking like that and these dishes will never get finished," she warned.
"And would that be such a bad thing?" he continued to tease.
"Sully! Brian's sitting at the table," she reminded him, keeping her voice low.
They didn't realize that Brian could hear their entire conversation. He smiled and continued writing, then thought of a better idea.
"Ma! Pa!" he called from the other room.
"Yes, Brian?" Michaela answered.
"I'm goin' on up to my room to finish writin'. I promise not to stay up too late."
"Alright, Brian," Sully replied. "Goodnight," he and Michaela called together.
"Goodnight," Brian echoed and ascended the stairs.
Sully turned to his wife again. "Now that we're alone, where were we?"
"We were finishing the supper dishes," she reminded him, playfully.
"Oh, yeah," he acquiesced, momentarily.
When the last dish was dried and put up, Sully took the towel and swatted his wife on her backside.
"Sully!" she pretended to be indignant.
"Yes?" he replied with an innocent look on his face.
"Ohh, you are so infuriating!"
"Me?" he placed a hand on his chest.
Michaela pretended to be walking into the other room, but she quickly grabbed another towel and gave him a swat, too. This started a tug-of-war of sorts between the two of them, each trying to dodge the other's hits. The game took them into the other room and around the wingback chairs, but ended when Sully reached out his arm and snagged his wife around the waist, sitting down in the chair and pulling her into his lap. Their laughter and the chase caused them to be out breath.
"Shhh," he warned, placing a finger over her lips. "The children are sleepin', remember?"
Michaela immediately took a few deep breaths to calm herself. With her breathing under control, she realized where she was sitting and started to rise.
"Ah-ah!" Sully held her tight and leaned towards her to place a quick kiss on her lips. When she didn't move, he kissed her again, only longer. He pulled away and looked her in the eyes, knowing the affect he was having on her.
"Sully," she breathed.
"Shhh," he whispered and kissed her again, more passionately.
Soon, he moved from the chair and kneeled on the rug in front of the fireplace, still holding Michaela in his arms. He gently set her down, his lips leaving hers only to trail down the side of her face and neck. He undid the top few buttons of her blouse and began caressing and kissing the soft flesh of her shoulders and the hollow of her neck. His hands moved up to the back of her head and loosened her hair from the bun in which she had put it this morning.
"I love your hair down. You should wear it like this more often," he whispered, huskily, running his fingers through her hair and encouraging it to fall gracefully down her back.
"It's not practical for work, Sully," Michaela whispered back, almost unable to speak.
"Then, wear it down for me when we're at home," he requested, trailing his fingers from her hair back to her neck and down her collar.
Her breathing quickened at his touch, and she half-heartedly tried to stop his advances. "Sully, I have to...." she paused as he kissed her neck. "......leave early tomorrow morning to....." she paused again as he kissed her shoulder. ".......go and visit........"
"We got plenty a time," he stopped her from finishing by covering her lips with his own, leaning her back on the rug, the sound of the fireplace crackling beside them and casting them both in its heat and flickering light.
"You know, I really like this new kitchen you have, Hank," Kat told him over the tea and coffee they were drinking after supper. "Has the new meals you've offered changed business any?"
"Hell, yeah!" he replied. "I ain't seen this much money comin' in since I had a real good year with my women!" Anabel gave him a scathing look, and he cleared his throat. "That is, it's the best it's been in a long time," he amended.
Kat smiled. Never in a hundred years would she have thought that her cousin would marry a bartender, and one who had kept women for entertaining, no less! Still, she had to admit that Anabel had proven she could handle him very well. She had managed to convince him to dispense with the entertainment in the back rooms of the saloon, instead expanding to two floors and adding a crystal chandelier hanging from the high ceiling in front.
While she had no idea what the Gold Nugget had looked like before the change, she knew from talking to Anabel that it had done nothing but good for business. And now, thanks to her intuition, they were seeing even more business coming from the meals offered to the hungry men who frequented the saloon.
"Got all your plans settled for Christmas, Kat?" Anabel interrupted her thoughts.
"Well, there's the party for Colleen and Andrew on Monday, and I've been invited to spend some time with Carolyn and Matthew, along with Ben, and then there's Christmas day here with the two of you, so yes, I would have to say that my next week will be very busy."
"You mean, you aren't going to spend time with Ben, alone?" Anabel teased, sharing a look with Hank across the table.
"I can't say that the idea hasn't crossed my mind, or his, for that matter, but with this whole mess with Arthur, it just wouldn't be right. We have to be careful, or things could get even worse."
"Now, what is with this Arthur?" Hank asked.
"He's Katherine's ex-husband, or will be once he signs the divorce papers. He and Kat were married for four years, but after the first, he began to get abusive," Anabel explained.
Hank put down his coffee cup with a loud bang. "Ain't right for any man to hit a woman, even if it is his wife!" Hank growled. "What'd he say you did? I'm sure he said it was all your fault."
"Yes, and it was any number of things. It really didn't matter what it was. Arthur would use it as an excuse to get angry at me," Kat said with a sigh.
"Well, you're good to be rid of him!" Anabel stated.
"That's just it. I'm not sure I am!" Kat said, fearfully. "I know he's received the papers by now, and I have no idea what he'll do."
"He ain't gettin' anywhere near ya, if I have anythin' to do with it!" Hank threatened. "And if he does, he's gonna regret it!"
"That really means a lot to me, Hank. I know I had my doubts about leaving home and coming to a strange town so many miles away, but everyone here has been so friendly to me and helpful, that I really feel like I've found a new home."
"And you're welcome here as long as you like, Kat, you know that. I'm glad that ya decided to come and visit, but even more happy that ya decided to stay. I remember life in Rockbridge, and when I left for Colorado, a small part of me wished you could have joined me. It took a lot of adjustment being on my own, but once I arrived here and met Hank, I knew I had found a new home," she finished. "Of course, Hank didn't exactly make it easy on me!" she laughed.
"Me? Like y gave me much choice! Chasin' after me and naggin' me ta talk all the time. I just ain't the talkin' type, especially when there are much better things to be doin' than talkin'," he stated with clear meaning to both women present.
Anabel just smiled, lovingly, at him, but Kat blushed, realizing what he meant, "Well, I hope I can find the happiness the two of you have, someday," she sighed, wistfully.
Anabel turned to look at her cousin. "It will be, Kat. Just watch and wait," Anabel promised.
There was no one out in the streets when Kat left the Gold Nugget. She was really happy for her cousin, but a small part of her wished that her life had not turned out the way it had. All of her friends were married back home, and even her friends here had someone. "If it weren't for Arthur, I could be happily married to Ben by now!" she exclaimed out loud.
A noise to her right caused her to stop where she was and look around. She thought she had heard something, but when the wind picked up again, she brushed it off and headed towards the boardinghouse.
Out of nowhere, a man on a horse rode up and grabbed her by the waist, hauling her up in front of him and settling her astride the horse. When she tried to scream, he clamped a hard hand over her mouth and pulled her head back against his chest. "One sound outta you and you'll be even more sorry for what you've done!" the man threatened.
Only one word went through Kat's mind as she slipped into unconsciousness....
Arthur!
Chapter Eight
When Kat finally came to, she had no idea where she was or how long she had been riding on this horse. It was still dark, so she assumed it hadn't been too long. She shivered at the cold and folded her gloved hands together to make them warmer, thankful that she had been taken while she was wearing her coat, gloves and scarf. She would have surely frozen, if she hadn't. She turned her head slightly and felt a squeeze of pressure around her abdomen, a silent warning that he was watching her.
"Don't be thinking about trying to escape, because you won't succeed," he said.
One sound of that voice and everything came thundering back to her. Overwhelmed by the shock of it all, she lapsed into unconsciousness a second time.
When Kat came to again, her hands were bound to the saddlehorn, and her feet were tied beneath the horse's belly. It didn't matter that the ropes weren't that tight, there wasn't much she could do with her captor sitting right behind her. She wouldn't even acknowledge that he had a name, since in her mind, he wasn't worthy of one. "Why is he doing this?" she wondered. "Why doesn't he just tell me what he wants, instead of kidnapping me?" Truth of the matter, she was scared to death at what he would do should she even make a sound, so she remained silent.
"We're going to stop up here and give the horse a rest," he suddenly announced. She nodded her head to acknowledge that she heard him, but said nothing.
The horse stopped and he dismounted. He stood next to her and warned, "One false move, and you'll regret it. I'm warning you." He untied the rope that bound her feet, then loosened the rope, which bound her wrists, from the saddlehorn and helped her off the horse. "Don't try screaming, either, because no one will hear you. There's no one around for miles."
She just stood there, fighting hard to control the tears which threatened to spill down her cheeks, giving evidence of her fear and utter helplessness. Despite his warnings, though, she was making note of her surroundings and trying to devise a plan of escape. Even though she was no more familiar with this area than if she had been in a different state, she saw endless possibilities for hiding from him.
"Not talking, huh? Well, that's certainly a first. The woman I knew before had trouble shutting up, you talked so much. Used to annoy me to no end, but I enjoyed your cooking and having a woman around, so I tolerated it, for the most part." He dropped the reins of the horse and allowed it to wander over to the water. "Doesn't bother me a bit if you don't wanna talk. Makes it a more peaceful ride for me." He grabbed a hold of her arm and threw her down on the ground in the direction of the little stream where the horse now drank. "Get yourself a drink and wash off a bit. We'll be riding again real soon," he commanded.
Kat scrambled to stand and walked over to the water's edge. She kneeled and cupped her hands as best she could to get a drink. Washing her face was more difficult without full use of her hands. She didn't dare ask to be cut loose, so she did her best.
Within moments, he grabbed her up to mount again, haphazardly throwing her into the saddle and binding her feet again. She realized that she could kick him really hard right now, but it more than likely wouldn't stop him enough for her to get away. She also saw that he had a pistol in a holster around his hips, and he more than likely would use it should she try anything like that, so she remained still. There would be time to escape later.......she prayed.
Prayer! Now, why hadn't that been the first thing she did upon regaining consciousness and realizing her situation? God had always come through for her before. This time wouldn't be any different. Realizing that it might be her only chance, she closed her eyes and sent a plea heavenward that someone would realize she was missing very soon and send out a search party for her. If they waited too long, she could be long gone by the time they got started.
"You can pray if you like, but it won't do you any good," he sneered.
All too soon they were moving again, and Kat settled herself for the ride, not having any idea how long it would be.
Kat sat upright when she felt the horse stop and her captor tense in alertness.
"Not a sound," he warned. "I think I heard a horse."
Kat looked around but didn't see anything. She listened closely but to no avail. It was probably just his overactive imagination, worried that someone would find them. She prayed hard that it was, but didn't dare say a word.
She felt him reach for his pistol and heard the hammer click. Immediately, she tensed, scared of what he might do with the weapon. He led the horse to the side of a rock wall, making sure to remain concealed, lest the rider he thought he heard identify them and make a move to betray them.
A horse's whinny came loud and clear this time, and Kat looked around to see if she could alert the rider somehow without her captor seeing him. She felt the horse shift, eager to greet the other horse she now knew to be out there, his breathing coming in visible puffs of air, reminding her of the cold.
Suddenly, they were face to face with a horse Kat recognized very well. Flash! And Dr. Mike! She had never been so happy to see anyone in her life, nor so scared. Why couldn't it be a man? She was sure Dr. Mike wouldn't be able to outsmart him, and she feared for her safety. What would he do?
She didn't have long to wait.
"Katherine?" Dr. Mike questioned, unbelievingly.
In a matter of seconds, Kat felt the horse move and saw the flash of a gun being brought down on Dr. Mike's head. The woman doctor fell from her horse in a crumpled heap. Flash whinnied and nudged his mistress, but nothing happened. Kat almost cried out, but feared the same fate would happen to her, and she needed to stay awake and alert. Maybe she wasn't alone. Maybe someone else was with her and would find them! Maybe Flash would ride back and get some help! What was she thinking? Flash isn't a messenger carrier! And from what she knew of horses, they usually stayed near their riders unless spooked.
They started moving again, and Kat looked down at the crumpled form of Dr. Mike, frantically searching for any blood that might have resulted from the blow to the head. When she saw nothing, she breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully, she would regain consciousness very soon and then ride off to warn someone in town of her capture. She prayed that Dr. Mike would be alright, knowing that her only chance of being rescued lay with the lady doctor lying on the ground.
By dusk, they stopped again, only this time there was a cave nearby. "I guess I don't have to tell you to be quiet, since you haven't said a word this entire time," her captor made an attempt at wry humor.
She was soon released from her binding to the horse, but her hands remained tied. She was led deep into the cave and noticed that there was a campfire that had long since gone out not too far inside. Throughout her perusal, she realized that there were several saddlebags and supplies present. She assumed this was where he had been staying since he arrived, or at least where he had stashed some necessities. How long had he been planning this?
He threw her down along with several blankets. Without the use of her hands to break her fall, she landed on her hip and knew there would be a bruise in the morning. "Make yourself useful and cook us something to eat," he commanded.
She looked around and saw the frying pan as well as a can of beans, some dried jerky and a small amount of vegetables. Well, it won't be stew, but it will have to suffice. He started the fire again and watched as she fumbled with the can and other food, but just wasn't able to work well with her hands tied, realizing that if he was going to get anything to eat, he would have to cut the rope.
"I'll warn you again. You make any sudden moves, and you'll regret it," he threatened before cutting the rope that bound her wrists.
Quicker than he could block, she grabbed the frying pan and smacked the side of his head, then scrambled up to try to make a run for it. He was dazed, momentarily, but recovered faster than she could escape and grabbed her by the arm, swinging her back around to face him. He brought his hand up and struck her across the face, sending her falling face-first to the dirt floor of the cave and causing her hair to fall from the pins that held it away from her face. Her waist-length golden-red hair fell around her shoulders, landing in the dirt..
She shook her head and grimaced. It all came back to her, the life she had before she left. It was just like being married again, never knowing whether or not she would be struck or just be forced to bear the brunt of his suppressed anger. She didn't have too long to remember before he was standing over her again. He grabbed her arm and yanked her up to face him. She tried to look away, but he grabbed her chin and squeezed so hard, she winced.
"I warned you not to try anything, but you couldn't listen, could you? You just had to be brave, didn't you? Well, you're going to be sorry." He struck her once more across the face, causing her to fall again, then grabbed her arm. "Now, get back to making that food, or else!"
Arthur went outside to tether the horse and secure everything for the night, making sure to lead the horse a little ways back into the bushes so as not to be easily spotted. He threw a couple of blankets over his back to make sure he wouldn't freeze through the night, and walked back into the cave to sit down, leaning against the wall. Watching Katherine, he wondered what had got into him. Why did he strike her? He had never hit any other woman in his life before he met her, and even then, it wasn't until after at least a year of marriage.
They had such a happy time together that first year, and Arthur really believed himself to be in love with her. If that was the case, why would be treat her so cruelly? It's no wonder she had to escape. He didn't exactly give her much of a choice. He was just surprised she had tolerated it as long as she did.
Still, what she did had angered him more than anything else. When he read those divorce papers, he allowed his anger to get the better of him. He cringed at the thought of how he left the cabin when he came riding out here after her. Broken dishes were left unswept on the floor, and whatever else he had found to throw had joined them. He looked over at Katherine finishing with the cooking and shrugged it off. There would be plenty of time later to think about his actions. For now, he would satisfy his hunger.
They both ate in silence, Katherine choking down the food. When would she get another chance to eat? For that matter, what were his plans? She watched him eat and was unable to tell what was going through his mind. She knew he had been watching her while she cooked, but she didn't dare look up at him.
Assuring herself that they were both finished, she silently took their plates and one of the canteens of water, washing them off and drying them by the fire. She watched, from the corner of her eye, him laying out the blankets and bedrolls, seeing that they weren't right next to each other and sending a prayer of thanks heavenward. She still had no way of knowing what he was thinking and knew that, according to the law, they were still married, despite the papers that had been filed. He hadn't signed them, she was sure. He wouldn't be here if he had. Or would he? Could this just be some horrible game he was playing? Would he have signed the papers but still come after her, forcing her to go along with his plans? She wouldn't have thought him capable of such a cruel trick, but thinking back on how he had been so far, she changed her mind.
"Come on over here and lie down," he commanded, throwing a couple of extra blankets down with the others. She did as she was told and he immediately bound her hands and feet with more rope. "Can't have you running away in the night on me." He finished and went to lie down on his own blankets, stoking the fire for more warmth. He retrieved his revolver and tucked it beneath his bedroll, a silent warning that he wasn't afraid to use it and reminding her that he had done that only a few hours before. He turned his back to her and pulled the blankets over him, safely assured that she wasn't going anywhere.
She settled down amongst the blankets he had formed into a bed and did her best to pull the others over her to ward out the chill in the cave. She tried to fall asleep, but her thoughts were a jumble all mixed up inside her head. Was someone back in town aware that she was missing? What had become of Dr. Mike and Flash? She was sure that Ben knew she was gone, but what would he do? Would he organize a search party? Would he come after them by himself? She prayed that he wouldn't. Who knows what Arthur would do!?
Wrestling with her thoughts and fears for close to an hour, she finally drifted off into a restless sleep.
Arthur awoke close to dawn and looked around, remembering where he was. He shivered from the cold and rose to add some wood and stoke the fire again. The flames leaped and ignited several of the new pieces. He warmed his hands and looked over at Katherine. The flickering flames danced across her face and gave her the appearance of an angel . Walking over to her, he noticed the bruises on her cheek and cringed. It was just like when they were married. He struck her out of anger and then regretted it the next morning.
He walked over and retrieved the canteen of water and soaked a strip of cloth, warming it by the fire before returning to her side. Tenderly, he brushed back a few strands of her hair from her face and gingerly touched the wet cloth to her cheek, cleaning off the dirt and touching the swell of her cheek from the bruises. Silently, he cursed himself for doing this to her and contented himself with sitting back and watching her sleep. She really was a beautiful woman. True, there were other women whose beauty was obvious to the eye, but Katherine's came from her spirit as well as her physical appearance. She had a gentle heart, when she wasn't pushed to her limits, and Lord knows, he'd done that on more than one occasion. He gingerly touched the small lump he had on the side of his head from the frying pan she had swung at him the night before and smiled. She certainly had spunk, he wouldn't deny that.
Katherine awoke with the feeling that someone was watching her and opened her eyes to find Arthur sitting next to her. At first, they both just sat there and looked at each other. He reached out to softly touch her cheek.
"I'm sorry," he intoned, gently.
Those two words brought back such a myriad of memories and feelings, and Kat gave herself a mental shake. For a moment, she had almost been mesmerized again by his charms. He was a handsome man, and she had known him during his good times, but that wasn't enough to overshadow the bad.
"Why, Arthur?" she asked, almost whispering.
He immediately retreated back from her and shrugged his shoulders. She reached out her bound hands and touched his arm. "Don't. Please," she begged. "Don't turn away from me, like you always used to do. Tell me why you do this?"
He sighed and ran his fingers through his already disheveled hair, making it stand on end. If it hadn't been such a serious moment, she might have laughed at the sight he presented.
"I don't know," he said and let out a frustrated grunt. "I thought about that last night and just a few moments ago while you were sleeping. I asked myself why I would put you through such agony. I never ever struck a woman before I met you."
"And you didn't at first, either. It wasn't until after we had been married more than a year that you began coming home angry all the time."
"I know. I don't know what it was that caused me to act that way," he replied. He thought back to all of the good times they had shared together, thought of their first year of marriage and how happy they both were, despite Katherine's sadness over losing Ben Holbrook.
He clenched his fists in anger at the mere thought of that man! Ben! That was it! That was the reason he was always mad at her!
"It was all your fault!" he accused.
"My fault?" she questioned, surprised. Just when she thought she had begun to get through to him, he turned back to his old ways again. "Will I ever understand?" she wondered. "I don't understand, Arthur. I always had supper ready for you when you came home. I made sure your clothes were clean and pressed. I kept the house in good order. I never once complained, though I may have questioned why you would still be angry," she enumerated each and every thing she had done to make their marriage a happy one.
"It was still your fault. You and that damn Ben Holbrook!" he spat out with venom.
"Ben? What does Ben have to with this?"
"You're still in love with him! I knew you were in love with him when I proposed to you, but I thought I could sway your affections, make you love me, instead. God knows I tried, that entire first year, I tried. But, it didn't matter!
"At first, I thought you were beginning to love me, that you had begun to put Holbrook out of your head. You used to smile when I came home from work, happy to see me. We used to go on walks together, sit together in front of the fire," he reminisced about how much he had enjoyed having her company around at the end of a long day.
"But, it didn't matter. You still thought of him, dreamed of him!"
"Arthur, I don't understand! I never once mentioned Ben to......"
"You called his name in your sleep!" he threw in her face. "At night. More than once, I awoke to hear your mumbling his name while you slept, sometimes tossing and turning in bed and other times just sleeping peacefully with a smile on your face." He paused and unclenched then clenched his fists again.
"You have no idea how many times I wanted to just shake you awake and rip his image from your mind and your dreams!" his voice was increasing in volume. He reached over and placed his hands on either side of her head. "If I could just squeeze really hard, you might forget all about him!" he said and demonstrated.
Kat winced and turned away, and Arthur dropped his hands to his sides.
"But, no. Nothing I did would keep you from thinking about him. Every time I touched you, kissed you, held you, you were thinking of him. You were wishing and dreaming that it was him who was loving you, him who was with you in bed!"
"Arthur, stop it! Stop that this minute!" she demanded. "I never once thought that of Ben! It wouldn't be right to wish for another man other than your husband!" she tried to sound convincing.
Truthfully, she didn't even remember thinking about him while she was with Arthur. Her dreams were filled with Ben, and she thought about him when Arthur was away, but she was sure to control those thoughts and keep them at bay whenever he was around. It just wasn't that easy to completely erase someone who had come to mean so much to her. He was her first love, and though she tried to convince herself that she loved Arthur, she couldn't stop thinking of Ben, wondering where he was or if he was alive. She knew she loved Arthur in her own way, but it wasn't enough for him.
"Don't try to be prim and proper with me, Katherine! Those rules of propriety obviously didn't work well enough for you to completely rid Holbrook from your thoughts, or we wouldn't have had the problems we did! To top it all off, you couldn't even give me a son! How do I know you didn't find some way to get rid of any babies that might have been born?" he accused.
Unbidden tears came to her eyes at the thought of killing any living thing, especially a helpless baby growing inside of her. How could he think so lowly of her? He knew how much she wanted children; she had told him more than once how much they meant to her. How could he accuse her of killing a baby that would mean the world to her? No, he was speaking from anger. He wasn't thinking clearly. He was just accusing her out of hurt, or something else.
Kat still wasn't convinced that she was at the root of the trouble. Wanting to force her to love him just didn't seem like enough to make him behave the way he did, so she tried another tactic. "Arthur, if you knew that I loved Ben when you married me, why did you even propose?"
Her question threw him off guard and for a moment, he just sat there and stared at her. Why did he want to marry her? He knew she didn't love him when she agreed, so why did he go through with it?
"I always loved you, Katherine, ever since we were children. I loved you for your spunk, for your boyish ways, for your independence, for your tenacity to speak your own mind," he confessed. "Before Holbrook came to town, I was the one who had all the girls. I was the one who was always in charge. But, then he moved to town and everything changed. Everyone turned to him for answers. Everyone wanted him to be the leader. Even the girls all flocked to him. All of a sudden, everything I had was his. He stole it all. You even fell for his charms, and suddenly, you were unavailable!" he ended with a fierce honesty.
It was like a light shined on them both. Everything made sense, now. She wouldn't deny that Arthur loved her, in his own way, but it was more than that. The reason he wanted her so badly was because he couldn't have her. It was rooted in some deep-seeded jealousy at Ben for becoming so popular as soon as he moved to town, upstaging everyone around him, or at least it seemed so to Arthur. Suddenly, she felt sorry for him. He had spent so much time being angry at Ben and wanting everything Ben had, that he had allowed it to turn him into someone he wasn't. He let his anger get the best of him.
"Even when he went off to fight in the War," Arthur's words drew her out of her thoughts, "everyone called him a hero, saying that he was doing the best thing in fighting for our country. I couldn't go anywhere without hearing his name spoken in reverence or appreciation. And you!" he gestured his hands at her in disgust. "You were pining away for a man who might not've even come back! You spent all of your time writing to him and waiting for his letters to come to you. When they stopped, you were such a sorry sight, I'm surprised I still wanted to marry you!" he stated, haughtily. "When no one knew where he was or if he was even alive, I knew I had my chance. When he was reported missing in action, I couldn't have been happier," he admitted.
Kat stared at him, shocked at his confession. She couldn't believe he was capable of such hatred, for anyone, let alone Ben. She knew how he felt, even if she didn't understand, but that didn't make any difference. How could he have allowed it to control him so much that he would let it guide his every move?
Arthur looked at the tears shining in her eyes and threatening to spill down her cheeks and realized all of the things he had just said to her. Why had he confessed so much? Now, she knew the truth! His heart melted a little at her expression of sadness and shock and wistfulness, all mixed together. He reached out to tenderly touch her face, but she recoiled from him. This caused his anger to resurge and he grabbed her chin, covering her mouth with his own and kissing her, ruthlessly.
She fought to push him away, but with her hands and feet being bound, she didn't have very much strength. He leaned over her and thrust her down against the blankets, holding her bound hands with one of his, and pinning her flailing legs with his own. He ran his fingers across her face and down her neck, despite her attempts to turn her head away from him.
When he got to the collar of her blouse, he pulled roughly on fabric, popping almost all of the buttons. Pushing the material aside, he ran his fingers across her neck and shoulders and the swell of her breasts beneath her camisole.
"Don't bother trying to fight me, Katherine. We're still married, remember? There's nothing you can do to stop me," he threatened, a menacing gleam in his eyes.
She continued to struggle, but to no avail. His strength was no match for her, especially coupled with his anger. He held her down and began to kiss her neck, all the while fighting against her movements. Scared to death of what he was going to do, she closed her eyes and focused her mind on something else, anything else, and her mind settled on Ben.
"Please, Ben, find me soon!" she prayed in her heart. "You promised you would come!"