Forbidden Fire

by Bonnie K. Winn

  “I don’t have any canvas or paints.” Regret and longing flashed across the woman’s face.

  “Well, I’d intended to supply the materials in addition to the commission, of course.”

  “Commission?”

  “Your fee for the painting. I’d be willing to pay twenty dollars.”

  Minerva’s mouth dropped open, her jaw slacks. “Twenty dollars? Just for one painting?”

  “I think that’s reasonable.” Katherine paused, her gaze roaming over the panels once again. “Unless you think it should be more.”

  “Oh, no! Why, twenty dollars would buy…” Minerva’s voice trailed off as she seemed to consider all the possibilities. Katherine knew the woman’s lot was a difficult one. Sadie had told her that Minerva did everything she could to provide a few additional dollars for her large but poor family. In the spring and summers she took in washing. In the harsh winter weather, she dug through the snow to the sod cellar where the molasses she’d made was stored. Biting wind and bitter temperatures made it a painful task to fill pitchers with the chilled molasses. But she endured it because she sold the sticky substance for the few pennies she could earn for her family. Katherine was fairly sure that painting would be a more preferable way of earning a few extra dollars.

  “I don’t suppose you’d consider taking the commission?” Katherine asked quietly.

  “Me? Why, I’ve barely painted anything outside of these panels for almost fifteen years.”

  Katherine glanced at the hands twisting in the folds of Minerva’s skirt. They fairly itched to reach for the brush and canvas she offered. “I’d rather not have anything slick in appearance. I want something that looks like it came from this land, from someone who lives here and knows it.”

  “Well, I do know the land, all right.” The flush of excitement and nerves threatened to burst free as the woman’s face took on a rosy glow.

  “Good. Then why don’t I order the canvas and paints? They should get here soon after you’re through painting the sets for our play.”

  “That’d be right fine.” Minerva’s head bobbed so hard in agreement that Katherine wondered if she might lose the pins securing her hair in place. “I’m sorry I had so much to say about you directing our play and all.” The woman’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red. “I just didn’t know you then.”

  The apology was heartfelt if awkward, and Katherine accepted it at face value. “I’m afraid I didn’t know you, either. I’m glad that’s changed.”

  Minerva bit her lips, then smiled. “Me, too.” Scuttling off as though not certain what else to say, she took her place with the other ladies who were decorating the smithy and livery stable.

  Sadie approached, her grin uncontainable. “I think I have my lines memorized.”

  “Something tells me that’s not why you’re smiling hard enough to crack your face,” Katherine teased, glad to see the vibrant happiness on her friend’s face.

  “Oh, Katherine, I never dreamed Able could be jealous, but I really believe he is.”

  Wisely keeping her counsel, Katherine didn’t acknowledge that she’d recognized that emotion the first day Able had joined their troupe. “And why not? He should realize how attractive you are to other men.”

  Sadie blushed prettily, then whispered, “I think that’s why he didn’t want Morgan to have the part of the duke.”

  “Really?” Katherine fought to keep her expression even.

  “It sounds ridiculous, I know. But he acted, well, almost possessive.”

  So the man did have at least a grain of sense. “I’m glad to hear it. Sometimes we don’t know we want something until we see someone else reaching for it.”

  Sadie cocked her head, studying Katherine’s face. “That’s very wise.”

  “I’m not so smart. Otherwise I’d have thought of some way to avoid being in charge of Browning’s first Shakespearean production.”

  Sadie’s excitement started to fade, and concern filled her face. “Are you really unhappy doing it?”

  “No.” Surprised, Katherine realized it was true. She’d actually come to look forward to the time spent on the production. Getting to know people she was certain she would never have met otherwise had been an eye-opening and surprisingly rewarding experience. Not that she’d have believed it possible when she’d been shanghaied. “I’m happy to hear things are better between you and Able.”

  “He told me he liked dinner last night,” Sadie confided in a tone that suggested she was as pleased as though Able had presented her with precious jewels and a declaration of love.

  “Love works in strange ways, and if gravy and biscuits help it along…”

  “That and you putting him in the play. It’s almost as if he’s finally seeing me. Me. Not something he’d hoped I would be.”

  Remembering the portrait of the stern, square-faced woman who was Able’s first wife, Katherine thought the man should thank the fates for Sadie.

  “Katherine!” Lucinda Gates called to her from across the room, scurrying in their direction with a handful of costumes.

  Katherine shrugged her apology to Sadie as she dealt with the new crisis Lucinda saw with every costume change. When the others returned from their break, Katherine drew a deep breath. Still unaccustomed to her changed relationship with Jake, she acted like a nervous sparrow near a cat when they were together.

  The demands of other people drowned out her anxiety, however. The women of Browning took the play very seriously. Not as fortunate as their counterparts in the East, they had no culture in the raw town. No theater, galleries, or music academies. The women clamored for a literary society, recitations, and theater. And unlike densely populated towns in the West, tiny Browning couldn’t attract traveling shows or troupes. So its women were determined to produce their own form of culture.

  Now that some of them had seen Katherine on a weekly basis, they spent an inordinate amount of time discussing the cut of her elegant clothing. Even the meanest gossip admitted that her clothes were in excellent taste. Since Katherine ordered her clothes from Paris, they were a good ten years ahead of the fashions the other women sported. Ogled, reviewed, and discussed, she’d become the enigma of Browning, Kansas. It was a strange position to find herself in. She couldn’t openly acknowledge her relationship with Jake, yet she couldn’t stop the response he evoked or the magnifying glass they were now both under.

  “Daydreaming?” Jake asked as he dodged the crush of people around them to reach her side.

  Katherine’s breath came a bit shorter. “I’m afraid so.”

  “How much longer does this go on?”

  “Tired of being a star?” she teased.

  “Nope. Of having all these people around you every minute.” His voice deepened. “I want to see you alone again.”

  Her blood stirred, and she fought the rising heat she felt flooding her face. “I believe it’s time to start rehearsing.”

  “And I believe you’re looking for excuses.”

  Watching the now very familiar outline of his body moving away, she knew he was right.

  Turning about, she saw Sadie looking at them and she wondered if her friend had somehow guessed the truth about them. But before she could ponder any further, her attention was caught by Lucinda and a half dozen others who needed immediate answers to a bevy of trivial problems.

  Across the room, Sadie continued to stare at Katherine, her gaze shifting between her friend and Jake. There was definitely something different about them. She’d sensed an increased tension in their company, but until now it hadn’t dawned on her what the cause could be. Looking at Jake, Sadie saw that his eyes seldom left Katherine, and glancing back at her friend, Sadie saw that Katherine seemed enveloped by a soft, new tenderness.

  Something magical had happened, Sadie decided, glancing at her own husband. Despite Able’s gruff protests, she’d seen flickers of new emotion in his eyes when he looked at her, emotions she didn’t attribute to the role he played. Her heart see
med to swell as she tried to imagine a change in her relationship with Able.

  Even while dreaming of a true marriage, she was almost afraid to wish for too much. All the lonely nights she’d spent as a wife mocked her, nights spent staring at Able’s stern, uncompromising back. Was it possible to believe that could change? Looking at the currents that now passed between Katherine and Jake, Sadie cradled a seed of hope. Perhaps she and Able would be next.

  “I’m sorry, Miss Katherine.” Vance’s beefy stance was unrelenting as she shadowed the incriminating evidence.

  “It’s not your fault. I’ll simply have to be stricter with the shipper and remind Mr. Tremaine not to sign the invoices until he checks the supply.”

  Vance held his tongue, but his expression spoke for him.

  “Oh, and Vance. Don’t mention this to anyone.” Katherine stuffed the invoice in her pocket, not meeting her employee’s eyes.

  “You can count on me.”

  “Yes, I know. Thank you, Vance.” Slowly she moved toward her own office, trying to think of some plausible excuse for the altered invoice. As she walked down the wide hallway, she spotted Annette from the corner of her eye. Wondering what the girl was doing lurking around the supply room, she called out sharply. “Annette!”

  Guiltily the girl started and turned around. “Yes?”

  “Did you need something?”

  Annette’s face closed. “No. I’m just going to the kitchen.”

  The kitchen was nearby, but this hall was hardly the most direct route there. Looking as though she were concealing something, Annette edged away.

  “Isn’t it time to be changing your clothes for the evening?” Katherine asked, keeping her voice even.

  “I guess so. I’ll have my snack later.” Sliding away, Annette escaped the hall and headed upstairs.

  Katherine stared at the space she’d vacated, a niggling suspicion growing. There was no reason for Annette to be anywhere near the supply room, unless she was concealing something. Katherine started to pull the invoice from her pocket and look at it again.

  “Hey, there.”

  Katherine spun around, surprised to see Morgan lounging close behind her. The last she’d seen him, he and Jake had gone off to spar. Jake had sent her an apologetic glance after the rehearsal ended when Morgan had suggested the sparring match. Even though she and Jake had planned to spend time together alone, they both wanted him to repair his friendship with Morgan.

  On closer inspection it was apparent that they’d just finished boxing. Morgan’s shirt clung damply to glistening skin, and his hair looked mussed.

  “Hello, yourself,” she answered, pushing the invoice deep into her pocket.

  “What are you doing in the hall?” Morgan asked casually.

  She glanced downward for a moment. “Just coming from the supply room.”

  “Oh.” He wiped his face with the towel looped around his neck.

  When he didn’t comment further, she pressed a bit. “I saw Annette hanging around the door when I came out.”

  He seemed unconcerned. “Maybe she was thirsty and heard we kept a lot of booze around the place.”

  “Maybe.” Katherine forced an answering laugh.

  Morgan frowned. “You sound like you don’t think so.”

  She shrugged. “Just seemed peculiar that she was outside the supply room. I asked her about it, and she said she was going to the kitchen.”

  “Maybe she was.”

  “Sort of a roundabout way to get there.” Katherine was unable to let the subject drop.

  “You looking for trouble?”

  Katherine ran a hand over the furrow in her brow. “Of course not. I simply thought it was odd.” Tell me, Morgan. Tell me what’s going on.

  “No need to go borrowing trouble. We have enough of our own.” He motioned to his disheveled clothes. “Think I’ll go up and get in the tub.”

  “Hattie’s heated some water.”

  “Thank God.” Passing her, he walked up the stairs.

  Katherine watched until he, too, disappeared from sight.

  Unable to shake her suspicions, Katherine lingered as she took her own bath and prepared for evening. Dawdling over her choice of a gown and jewelry, she kept replaying the scene in her mind. If she hadn’t been in the hall just then, would Morgan have intercepted Annette? Another thought struck her. Had that been their plan? Had she inadvertently interrupted them?

  A few hours later, after finally dressing, she made her way hesitantly down the stairs. Surveying the saloon, she was caught short by the sight of Annette and Morgan, their heads close together. Sickened by her suspicions, she resolutely moved down the stairs, heading toward them both.

  “Morgan, Annette.”

  Greeting Katherine, Morgan draped a casual hand around her waist while Annette smiled frostily. “So, Katie. What are you going to sing tonight?”

  She started to answer when she caught sight of Jake coming through the swinging doors. Heading in their direction, he seemed determined to make his presence known. Katherine groaned inwardly. The man was impossible. When he drew closer, she watched his eyes drift down toward Morgan’s arm, where it rested at her waist. His gaze sharpened as it moved upward to meet hers.

  “Jake,” she greeted him faintly.

  “Katherine, Morgan.” Jake dug in his pocket, unearthing a gold cuff link. “You left this at my place.” He handed the bit of gold to Morgan, who held it for a moment in his palm.

  “Thanks.”

  “I saw the initials, thought maybe it was a special piece.”

  Katherine focused on the cuff link. It was part of a pair she’d given Morgan when their first saloon became a success. She hadn’t realized he still wore them. He’d been able to afford better ones for quite some time. It occurred to her suddenly that perhaps he’d placed more importance on the gift than she had.

  “Drink, Reverend?” Annette asked.

  Not doubting for a moment that the girl would serve it and then drape herself all over him, Katherine refrained from glaring at her with an effort. Still filled with suspicion, she didn’t trust the woman not to try to snare Jake.

  “No, thanks. I’m not thirsty.”

  Annette eyed him in a fashion that indicated it was his loss, while inching a bit closer to Morgan.

  “Since you don’t want a drink, why don’t I walk you out, Jake?” Katherine suggested, taking his hand and moving forward without waiting for him to agree.

  Disregarding Morgan and Annette’s twin stares, she walked beside Jake until they were out on the rough boardwalk of the street.

  “You were in a hell of a hurry to get out of there.”

  She turned to him, her eyes deliberately oblique. “Was it that apparent?”

  “Only to me.” He paused. “Oh, and Morgan. Probably Annette, too.”

  Dragging in a draft of the clear night air, she searched for the right words, not finding them. Even though she was full of misgivings about Morgan and Annette, too much loyalty to her partner remained to reveal them.

  Jake provided the words to fill her silence. “I didn’t see any of my church members inside, Katherine.” When she didn’t answer, he gently gripped her shoulders and turned her to face him. “And in case you’re interested, I didn’t plan to take Annette up on her offer.”

  “Of course not.” It was better that Jake thought she was jealous, rather than know the mistrust growing in her heart.

  Meeting his gaze, she saw that he wasn’t entirely convinced, but he let the matter drop. “Nice evening.”

  Katherine glanced upward at the star-filled sky. In fact, it was a magnificent display.

  “Do you have time for a short walk?” he asked.

  Nodding, she allowed him to take her hand as they strolled down the dark pathway. His thumb caressed her skin as they walked. She felt the comfort and strength in his hand. Sensing that he was passing on that strength to her, she paused for a moment. “I missed you today,” she admitted.

  “Didn�
�t relish talking with thirty other people around?”

  She laughed finally, the easy sound coloring the night air. “I didn’t see you breaking through the ranks, either.”

  His voice deepened. “I wanted to.” He bent his head toward hers, and she was surprised when he pulled back abruptly. “Mr. Applebaum,” he greeted the man moving toward them.

  The man tipped his hat in their direction. “Reverend. Miss.”

  He moved on, and Katherine swallowed the lump of regret in her throat. Despite what had transpired, she was still on the outside looking in. It wouldn’t matter how many plays she directed or the amount of people she reached out to, she would always be an outcast. What in the world was she thinking, believing the minister could court her? Without speaking, she turned and rushed back toward the saloon.

  “Katherine! Wait!”

  But she didn’t pause. It was time to seek safe harbor. Nearing the saloon, she spotted Morgan and Annette moving together across the floor. Her heart seemed to split as she realized the saloon was a place she no longer trusted, either. Glancing into the darkness surrounding her, she saw Jake approaching on the boardwalk. There was no where to turn. And no way out.

  Chapter 25

  The weeks of rehearsal had been worth it, Katherine decided. Today they were completing last-minute details, and tomorrow was the performance. The players were doing their best. Not everyone had learned their lines, but it was a small thing to have them read from their books. Their enthusiasm more than made up for any lack of talent.

  Avoiding Jake’s direct gaze, as she had done for the past several weeks, she approved the final costumes that had just been completed. At the same time she listened to the rehearsal dwindle toward its conclusion. Feeling the heat of Jake’s frustrated and angry glance, she concentrated on the tasks at hand, knowing he wouldn’t make a scene in front of his church members. It was an unfair diversionary tactic, she knew. But after realizing that she was deceiving herself while ruining his credibility, she’d seized every tactic, fair or otherwise.

  The afternoon drew to a close, and now she had to head back to the saloon and change for the evening. Purposely waiting until Jake was surrounded by a gaggle of excited women, she slipped away.