Wild Kat (12 page)

Thomas
was having similar thoughts.  Next time he would not ask her, instead he would
simply carry her upstairs and make love to her.  The way her mind worked was
still rather odd to Thomas.  She was not logical at all.  She went on instinct
and feeling alone.  She followed her gut. She learned it from the Indians. 
Thomas was sure if he could get her through the first time; he would tame the
wild cat in her.  He carried buckets of water to the trees and patted the dirt
down around them.  Thomas came to sit beside her on the step.  “Are there any
biscuits left from breakfast?  I am getting hungry.”

“I
think there are a couple.  I have those melons they smell ripe.  Would you like
a piece of that?”  Her eyes were far away, past the trees and field of new
corn.

“I
think a tomato on a biscuit; I am going to take a bath also.  Will you heat the
water if I carry it in?”  She nodded.  She was not hungry at all, still full
from the cobbler.  Her mind was on what would soon come.  She was growing
anxious, he said they would do what she wanted but now she was not sure what
that was.  Another night with him next to her, how would she sleep? Would they
make love?  Unsure of whether she wanted to try it or not, she was growing
nervous.  What if she did not like it?  What if it hurt?  What if Julie was right?
That would really be awful, Kat did not like for her sister to be right. 
Thomas carried the water into the house and dragged the bathtub up onto the
back porch.

“You
are going to bathe out here?  What if someone sees you?  Thomas that is not
proper.”  He smiled at her.

“Who
will see me?  Toby, perhaps?”  Thomas ate the biscuits and tomato while his
water heated on the stove.  He moved the checkers around to their starting
positions.  Kat looked at the checkerboard and thought about losing again on purpose. 
She could kiss him and let him carry her upstairs, she could ask him to take
her right now and he would.  That would be extremely forward, if she did that,
she would be no better than one of those women who are paid for it.  Kat
shuttered at the thought.  Thomas gathered his soap, toweling and fresh
clothes.  She carried the warm water to the tub and filled it.  He took his
boots off and left them by the door.  Kat washed the few dishes she had from
supper and tried not to look to where he was undressing.  She found her eyes
wandering to the back door often.  She could hear him in the water now. His
deep voice hummed an old song she had not heard since childhood. 

“Wife?” 
Thomas called.  “Come wash my back.”  Thomas smiled to himself, knowing she was
probably panic-stricken.  “Wife?”  Kat appeared in the doorway.  She stepped
out onto the porch and took the rag from his hand.  She soaped it well and
scrubbed the back of his neck and his broad back.  Her small hands were strong
and quick.  She washed his shoulders, arms and behind his ears.  She offered
him the rag now but he ignored it.

“Here,
I am finished.”  Thomas lay back in the tub, his head resting on its edge. 

“What
about the rest of me?” He gazed up at her his eyes full of mischief.  He held
his arm up for her to scrub it again. Her pulse quickened and her belly
gathered in knots again.   Kat held his hand in her own and scrubbed the length
of his arm, the other followed.  She soaped his chest and face.  Her heart
pounded furiously. His eyes were closed but a hint of a smile played on his
lips, his dimples shone at the corners of his mouth and then disappeared.  Kat
could stand it no longer and dropped the rag in the water.  She was inside the
house before he realized she was gone.

Thomas
finished bathing and toweled himself dry.  He drained the large oval galvanized
tub while he dressed.  Kat was inside the house now trying to keep busy.  She
filled a pot with water to soak beans for supper the next day.  Her nervous
hands fluttered about finding things to do anything to avoid the porch where he
was.  Thomas pulled a brush through his wet blonde curls, slicking them back
neatly.  He sharpened the straight razor on the long black strap that hung from
the porch wall.  He shaved the stubble from his face in the fading sunlight on
the porch.  He could see her in the kitchen pouring beans into a pot of water. 
When he came through the porch door she froze, the spoon she’d been using
clattered noisily to the counter.  Her eyes took in the sight of him and she
gasped. Her heart was flopping about like the fish again.  His face was clean
instead of its usual slight stubble.  His blond hair that tumbled freely over
his forehead was brushed back and neat.  His dirty overalls had been replaced
with a pair of Jacob’s new dungarees.  He was barefoot but stood tall in her
kitchen.  He wore no shirt but had toweling hung over one broad shoulder. 
Thomas lit the lamp that hung over the table.  It filled the room with warm
golden light.  His white teeth flashed before he spoke.  “Do you want to play
with me Kat?”  Her gaze met his after a Moment. She had been focused on his
broad chest.  Thomas smiled again.  “You can have me anytime you like Kathleen. 
I belong to you and I am all yours, just say so.”  His smile grew wider, he
knew where her mind was but like so many times he misread her thoughts.  Her
eyes widened with the shock of what he said.

“I
think I need a breath of air, I am going to take a walk.”  She turned to leave
through the front door.  Thomas sat down heavily shaking his head.     

“We cannot
avoid this forever.”  Toby yawned and stretched across the floor.

Kat
walked through the orchard to her favorite tree.  She sat beneath it to think. 
Fireflies danced on the warm air, she watched them light and then disappear. 
If she could tell him that easily that she wanted him but she was afraid just
by lighting up.  She caught one and watched it crawl across the back of her
hand and around her wrist as she turned her hand slowly.  His wings lifted and
he flew away.  It occurred to her that Thomas might do that same thing if she
did not grow up and get past her fears.  It was getting more complicated with
each breath she drew and she knew that he would not be so understanding
forever.  Kat got up and walked on deeper into the orchard.  The blue sky
deepened in color as it got darker when she came out on the other side.  She
took the fifty steps cautiously.  Her parents rested under a giant white maple
tree there.  Tears pricked and filled her eyes then fell slowly down her
reddened cheeks.  She did not hear him coming. Her own sobs filled her ears. 
Her knees weakened and Kat fell to the foot of their graves marked with one
rough gray stone.  Thomas stood back watching her shaking shoulders.  He was
not sure if he should leave her to her thoughts or go and hold his trembling
wife.  He picked a few wild flowers and held onto them.  If she left he would
follow and give them to her or he would take them to her mother.  She must have
been a very miraculous woman to raise the angel Thomas married.  An angel with
a heart full of kindness and love yet a ferocity strong enough to survive
without help.  Kat did not need anyone to make it on her own. Thomas wished she
needed him if it was only the tiniest bit.  He had no business out here on this
farm. He knew nothing of farm work.  His life had always been books and
learning, he had servants and hired hands to wait on him and work the ranch. 
His father wanted to be a lawyer as a young man but was forced to work a ranch,
the family ranch.  It was this way for generations, so he did the same to
Thomas as his father had.  He forced him into a life the boy did not want.  He
forced Thomas to learn to be a lawyer when all Thomas ever wanted was to learn
to farm.  When his parents died, he realized life was too short to live someone
else’s dreams and he moved here.  Now he realized he did not belong here, as
she did.  This was Kathleen Whitley’s home.  Her blood was in this farm and
this farm in her blood.   Her parents lay not more than twelve paces away.  She
could not have left here if she wanted to, she was still a girl and she still
needed her mother.  Since mother could not leave, neither could she. She did
not marry him for love but for lack of choices.   Kat was still kneeling as
Thomas walked away.

My dearest Kathleen,

I
have decided you were right.  This is no place for me, it is your farm, and it
always was.  You keep it and run it.  I want you to be happy so I leave it to
you.  I am going back to the life I belong in.  I release you from our marriage
and any bonds.  The money in our accounts should be enough to sustain you and I
hope you will accept it as rent on your farm.  You will find a man someday that
will know how to love you properly and I only wish you happiness.

                                                I
love you,

                                                            Thomas

Kat
looked up into the starry night with new resolve.  She would be married to this
man she loved more with each breath and she would make love to him this night. 
She would have no fear and she would show him how much she did care for him. 
She wiped her eyes and walked home happier than she’d been in five long years.

She
glided over the wood floors to the stairs, going silently to keep her courage
up.  She would wake him and they would love one another until the sun rose.  Her
bed was empty though and cold, he had not been here and she could not recall
seeing Toby either.  Her feet took the stairs two at a time in an awkward
decent.  The lamp caught quickly over the table where she found his letter. 
The wail that escaped her throat was long and shrill like the cry of a wounded
animal.  Her breath came in airless pants and her knees buckled beneath her. 
Struggling to her feet Kat slammed through the screened door and ran for the
forest and eventually to town. It was mostly dark and quiet except the saloon
where she would start her search.

“Tickets
please?”  The elderly conductor passed by each set of seats and collected the
tickets from each passenger.  Thomas handed his over and went back to looking
out the window.  He wondered if she missed him yet, deciding she was probably
happy about it, he closed his eyes to sleep on the way to New York.  He would
acquire an office hire a secretary and find his happiness where his father
wanted him to be in the first place.  Perhaps his father was right all along
the thought nearly sickened him.  His dark suit was hot and confining compared
to the overalls he usually wore, he would have to grow used to it.  His heart
was beginning to ache for her already, his chest felt tight and it was as if no
air would fill his lungs.  His gut told him he was making an incredible
mistake.

Kat rocked
lazily in the porch swing.  A blanket was wrapped around her and her red-rimmed
eyes stayed focused on the road.  She had spent most of the night looking for
Thomas.  Sheriff Brown sent her home early this morning and promised to look in
the next town for her lost husband since she had not found a trace in her own. 
He promised to find him if she would go home and rest.  He knew how relentless
she could be.  A black carriage pulled by a pristine white horse with the
silliest looking hat on its head was approaching.  Thomas was not in it and Kat
did not have the energy to move or she would have laughed out loud at how
stupid that horse looked.  A curvy blonde was at the reins and pulled it to a
stop not far from the porch.  The horse whinnied and snorted not drawing the
least bit of attention from the pale wooden creature on the swing.

“Where
is Thomas Woods, is he here?” The blonde asked.   Kat shook her head.  Her eyes
still fixed on the road.  The girl climbed down.  “Excuse me, who are you?” 
The girl asked contemptuously.

“His
wife.”  Kat answered flatly.  The girl laughed sadistically.

“I
think not, he could do much better.  Where is he?”  Kat looked up at her now. 
She resembled Julie some.  Long blonde hair framed a pale face with pale blue
eyes.  Her skin weathered and sun beaten, it seemed to Kat she may have been
beautiful once, but no one told her she was anymore.

“I
am his wife and he is not here, you can go back the way you came.”  There was a
threat in Kat’s voice.  A stranger would not know to fear, but any resident
from town would have run and not looked back.

“You
best watch your mouth Missy or you won’t be his wife long, if you are his wife
and not a fraud.”  The girl spat at her climbing the porch steps.

“Nobody
calls me a liar and lives to tell about it, you best be on your way.  That‘s
your last warning.”  Kat’s voice was even and barely in control now.

“Thomas
Woods would never marry a little heathen like you...” Her small pointed teeth
shown as she lunged for Kat.  Her fingernails were out like claws and grabbing
for Kat’s throat.  Kat easily avoided her and let her fall vainly to the
ground.

“Get
out of here before you get hurt.”  Kat looked down at her sprawled on the
porch.  The girl reached under her skirts and pulled a long silver dagger from
her stocking.  She got up and crouched as if ready to spring at Kat.  The
dagger held expertly in her hand.  Kat looked into her eyes.  “Who are you?” 
Kat’s whole body alert and ready now.

“I’m
Susanna. Thomas and I were to be wed before he was put in jail for killing his
parents.  I made the mistake of leaving with a worthless man but I am back and
I am ready to take my place at Thomas’ side as soon as you are out of my way.” 
She lunged at Kat again but with the dagger this time.  Kat avoided it easily
and turned it so it plunged deep into Susanna’s belly.  She fell lifelessly to
the porch floor.  The horse pranced and snorted.   He turned and galloped
recklessly away from the danger.  Kat checked the girl to see if she were still
breathing but found she was not.  She could hear hoof beats but thought it only
the frightened horse returning for its owner.