Love and Glory: The Coltrane Saga, Book 3 (5 page)

The first person Kitty saw as she entered the hotel lobby was Nancy Warren. Actually, she was Nancy Danton, but Kitty would always see her as the childhood adversary who had grown up to inflict more cruelty on Kitty than she would have believed possible. And all because of Nathan Collins, who had never cared for the haughty Nancy in the first place, though Nancy had never accepted that fact. She never would.

Kitty spoke with several other people, then found herself being moved along toward Nancy, who was smiling arrogantly, her eyes glittering. “Why, I do declare, if it isn’t Mrs. Travis Coltrane,” she cooed with wildly overdone sweetness. She held out her hand. “To what do we owe this pleasure, dear? I don’t think I’ve seen you off that little farm of yours in months. But then, I can imagine it keeps you busy, what with your not having
any
hired help and
all.”

Holding Kitty’s hand, Nancy looked past her to where Travis stood with Sam, exchanging pleasantries with guests but looking quite miserable. Leaning forward so no one could overhear, she whispered with mock sympathy, “That gorgeous husband of yours is a waste on a farm, darlin’. He’s good for so many
other
things,” she added.

Kitty tried furiously to pull her hand away. Nancy’s smile was almost a snarl, ruby-painted lips curling back over her little pointed teeth. She held fast to Kitty’s hand, still leaning forward, but there was no longer any pretense. “What are you doing here, you bitch?” she hissed. “You don’t belong here. Do you want me to make a scene? I won’t have you here.”

Kitty jerked her hand back so quickly that Nancy pitched forward slightly. She righted herself, letting go of Kitty’s hand as she did. “I don’t think you want a scene, Nancy,” Kitty said quietly. “If memory serves me well, it was upstairs in this very hotel that I found you frolicking in bed with my husband. Of course, he wasn’t married at the time—but
you
were. Now, would you like me to become hysterical and shout that to everyone here?”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Nancy paled, and the huge splotches of rouge on her cheeks appeared even brighter, giving her a clownish look.

“I would dare and you know I would. I seem to remember another time, at another party, when I dumped a pitcher of water on your head because you were saying unkind things about my father. That was back when you were chasing after Nathan, remember, Nancy?” Kitty gave her a wink and grinned. “You should have learned by now that I push only so far, Nancy. So let’s make the best of having to be in the same room together, and don’t you start anything I will be forced to finish.”

Nancy’s eyes widened. She was standing there, mouth agape, as Kitty felt hard fingers tightening around her bare arm. She looked up quickly, to see Travis’ cold gray eyes looking threateningly from her to Nancy. “I’m not going to put up with any sniping between you two tonight,” he said in a low voice. “Is that clear?”

Nancy dismissed them both with a toss of her head and turned to another guest coming through the reception line, her voice sounding high and unnatural as she spoke. Travis steered Kitty to a corner where no one could hear them and lashed out, “Damn it, I’m not putting up with this, Kitty. Now go ahead and do whatever it is you came to do. I want to leave here just as quick as we can.”

“It won’t hurt you to be sociable once in a while,” she snapped back. “Don’t you think I get tired of being stuck on that farm all the time? We should make friends.”

“Oh, to hell with it!” He turned away, heading for a far corner where the men were gathered, drinking. Sam was there. He threw her a sympathetic look, and she turned away. She was tired of this, tired of the strain. She just wanted it over with.

The orchestra began to play as the ballroom filled with people. Kitty moved through the crowd, speaking to people she thought would speak back to her. There were a few cold shoulders, mostly distant relatives of Nathan’s who would never forget, others who would forever condemn her for marrying a Yankee.

Maybe, she thought dizzily, maybe it
had
been a mistake to come back here. There had been such tranquility and beauty in the Louisiana bayou, and sometimes she longed to get away from here and return to that magical place. She remembered that almost frightening moment when the air turned delicate pale blue and everything was bathed in glorious azure. Blue Bayou. Travis had loved the bayou and had known peace there. Perhaps, she thought fearfully, perhaps they ought to have stayed.

A chill passed over her despite the warmth of the crowded room, and she was suddenly aware that the orchestra had stopped playing and that Dr. Sims had moved to the stage. All eyes were on him. A hush swept the room.

He began to speak, acknowledging the special guests, members of the hospital board, the benefactors, thanking everyone for making the charity ball a success. Then he gave a short speech of regret over Marshal Sam Bucher’s leaving and presented him with a gift from the citizens of Goldsboro. Sam was visibly touched by the gold pocket watch. With tears in her eyes, Kitty applauded her old friend. Dear, crusty, comfortable old Sam had made even these people love him.

“Now I have a very special announcement to make,” Dr. Sims’ jovial voice boomed out across the room and Kitty froze. The moment was at hand. Curious murmurings rippled through the air, but the doctor waved his arms for silence. When all attention was on the stocky man once more, he smiled broadly and said, “We here in Goldsboro and Wayne County are very fortunate to have the talents of a brilliant and kindhearted young woman, a woman who served the sick so well during the terrible war.

“Not only did she tend the wounded of the Confederacy,” he went on after a brief pause, “but she tended the soldiers of the Union as well, often performing tasks that made others faint. I am told that she was often more skilled than some of our doctors. There were times on the battlefield when she was called upon to do surgical tasks, such as amputations.”

A gasp went through the listening crowd, and women clutched their throats in horror. To think that one of their genteel breed could cut into a man’s flesh!

“This young woman,” he continued, “never had formal training in our medical profession, but perhaps she had better schooling, in a way, than we did. Most of you here remember Dr. Musgrave. Why, I imagine he brought many of you or
 
your children into this world. This woman followed Dr. Musgrave in his rounds almost from the time she was old enough to walk, learning all he had to teach her, and matching his deep compassion for his fellow man.

“Unfortunately,” he paused, clearing his throat, “Dr. Musgrave tragically died in the early part of the war.”

He did not die!
Kitty screamed silently.
He was murdered. Murdered by that bastard Luke Tate, who I hope is burning in hell this very minute.

“I am speaking of Mrs. Kitty Wright Coltrane.” Dr. Sims smiled at her, his green eyes bright, but she could see the strain on his face, feel it in his gaze. “Mrs. Coltrane has graciously offered to return to work at our hospital as head nurse, to share with other young women her vast knowledge of medicine. We, the doctors and staff of Goldsboro Hospital, want to take this opportunity tonight to welcome her, and to thank her for coming forward to help us once again.”

There was applause, but Kitty did not really know whether it was enthusiastic or simply polite. A few people standing near her murmured appreciation. The orchestra began to play, but no sound could drown out the great roaring that had begun in her ears.

“Here he comes,” Mattie Glass whispered, reaching Kitty’s side as the applause died. “Oh, dear God, he’s got the wrath of the demons in his eyes. He’s pushing people aside. Oh, dear, dear—”

Kitty placed her hand on top of Mattie’s, squeezing hard. “Don’t leave me now, Mattie, please. I can’t handle this alone.”

“No, no, I won’t, I promised you. Oh, dear, dear.” She rolled her eyes skyward, trembling.

Kitty gasped as Travis’ fingers dug into her shoulder. He spun her around to face him, oblivious to others watching. “What the hell is going on?” he growled. “What was Sims talking about? If you think you’re going off and leaving John to work at that hospital, you’re crazy.”

“Travis, this isn’t the time,” Mattie interrupted weakly. “Don’t you think—?”

“I think you should mind your own business,” he lashed out, withering her to silence with a quick piercing look from those flashing gray eyes.

Mattie retreated quickly, throwing an apologetic glance at Kitty. She had tried, but dear Lord, she was not able to fight Travis Coltrane. Surely Kitty would understand that.

“Answer me, woman!” He gave her a rough shake. She could smell the liquor on his breath, knew he was drunk or close to it. “Is this why you brought me here tonight?”

“Hold it, Travis.”

Kitty looked up gratefully into Sam Bucher’s worried face. Sam lifted Travis’ hand from her shoulder and began to guide both of them through the ballroom, toward the French doors leading to a terrace—and privacy.

The cooling night air was welcome. Maybe it would sober Travis.

“Now talk, damn it,” Travis thundered.

Sam stepped between them. “Now listen, Travis, Kitty talked to me about this, and I think it’s a nice idea. She doesn’t like being stuck out there on that farm, and she told me how the Widow Glass has agreed to look after little John so you won’t have to worry with him while you’re out in the fields.”

“You think that’s all that matters?” Travis stared down at her incredulously. “Having someone look after John? What about me? You don’t like being stuck out there on that farm? Hell, woman, do you think I like it? You think I like stumbling through those everlasting fields behind that stinking mule till I start wondering which one of us is the animal? Hell, no, I don’t like it, but I’ve done it for
you.
Always for you.”

It took all Kitty had not to confess her scheme, then and there. “It’s different for a man.” She forced herself to sound cool. “A man farms the land, but you won’t let me do anything but tend to John and the house. I get so bored.”

She glanced away, unable to face him with lies. She had never, never been bored caring for him and their son. Except for the times she grieved over his misery, her life had been fine.

“You get bored!” He spat out the words. “Jesus Christ, how could one woman change so much and me not realize it for so goddamned long? You’ve made a fool of me!”

He shook her so roughly that Sam pulled him away. “Just calm down, boy. You’ve had too much to drink. I’ve been watching you tonight, and you’ve been tossin’ that stuff down like it was water. Tomorrow you’ll feel better. You and Kitty can talk then.”

Kitty took a deep breath, lifted her chin in what she hoped seemed utter defiance. “We can talk,” she said coolly, smoothing the front of her green dress, “but my mind is made up. I start work at the hospital Monday. I have a right to live a part of my life just for me.”

Travis stared at her for long, painful moments, during which Kitty and Sam did not look at each other. They knew they were about to hear the very words she had schemed to make him say.

“So have I, Kitty,” Travis said coldly. “For too long I’ve given all my life to you, and now I realize it never meant a damn thing to you.”

He turned to Sam. “I’m going with you. I don’t know if they’ll even let me be on that committee or not, but I’ll go with you if I have to be a stowaway. I’ve got to get away from here.”

“Sure, Travis, sure.” Sam put his big arm across his friend’s shoulders and led him away. He chanced a backward glance at Kitty, pity in his eyes, and saw that she was biting her lower lip hard, trying to hold back the tears. She couldn’t give in now. “I’ll fix it so you can go along,” Sam was saying. “Maybe you two need to be apart for a little while to think things out. Then, when you come back, everything will be different. You’ll see.”

They reached the door leading back into the ballroom and Travis stopped suddenly. Without turning around to look at her, he muttered, “Sam will take you home. I’m staying in town tonight.”

Sam led Travis back inside and she could hold back the tears no longer. Sinking to her knees on the terrace, she covered her face with her hands and began to sob.

Love something, set it free,
she cried to herself.
Please, God, let me have done the right thing, for it’s too late to turn back now.

Chapter Three

Orange and pink streaked across the eastern horizon. Kitty stood at the window, eyes burning from the sleepless night just past and from squinting into the darkness, praying for a sight of Travis. How many nights, she wondered wearily, and how many days would she spend in front of this very window, staring down that long, lonely road? She could only hope he would come home and say good-bye, if not to her, then surely to his son.

“I brought you some coffee, Miss Kitty,” Lottie whispered, so as not to wake the little boy sleeping across the room.

Kitty murmured thanks. When Sam had brought her home, he had offered to take Lottie to her place but she declined, sensing something was very wrong.

Sam had returned to town, promising to find Travis and try to sober him up. “I think you should just tell him the truth,” he had said angrily. “This has gone too far.”

“He would never leave,” she sighed wearily. “There’s no need to keep discussing it, Sam. It’s done. I am going to farm the land out on shares, and I will go back to work at the hospital to keep busy and make some money. Mattie will love taking care of John. I’m sorry Travis got so upset, but that’s the way he is, headstrong and bullish.”