"I…was hoping to see you."
"Just hoping? Is that all?"
She hesitated, and he lifted her chin. "Katie, I have bared my soul to you. The least you can do is to answer me. I'm a man. I can take no for an answer if that's what you want to say. But I do want to hear it from your own lips."
She bit her lip and then said softly, "The truth is I had always hoped, dreamed, that you… that we…" She swallowed hard as a little furrow creased her brow, and Nick reached out to smooth it away. "When I didn't see you last Christmas, I thought perhaps you'd found someone else. And then, when you didn't come home for the summer when I was there, I didn't think you were interested anymore. I kept telling myself it would be all right—you were just busy—there was a reason you didn't come." Her words were tumbling out now. "When I got Polly's note, I felt betrayed. I couldn't believe you had asked someone to marry you, and I hadn't even been aware of it!"
She tried suddenly to pull away from his hands, but they only brought her closer to him.
"I'm sorry, Katie," he said softly. "So sorry I didn't approach you last year to discuss this."
"I'm sorry, too. But it's not entirely your fault."
"It is my fault. We've lost a year. No, that's not true. We've lost more than that. The thing is, Katie, I wasn't sure anyone would want to marry me." He brought a hand around her neck and clasped her long curls in his fist, forcing her to look at him. "I know I'm a bossy man. I know I'm strict and may be hard to put up with at times. I don't think I was cut out of the Wellington mold." He gave her a sudden grin. "There are times I think I was adopted. My father is the perfect gentleman. Geoff, not quite as much. Me? I don't think you could say that about me at all. So, where does that leave us? I'd better give you the truth. I tend to react a little too quickly at times, although you likely already know that. However, I do admit it when I'm wrong. I won't put up with sass, and I won't put up with recalcitrance. And I certainly won't put up with you putting yourself in danger." He frowned, his eyes narrowing. "I wouldn't hesitate to spank you if I thought you needed it. The question is, could you put up with me?"
"I'd say that's quite an accurate description," she retorted. Immediately, she found herself pulled against his chest, and his iron hand landed on her bottom in a hard swat.
"Ow!"
"I'm still waiting for an answer."
"Well, I don't like being spanked." Her grin had vanished. "And I don't like being scolded."
"The scolding, I can work on. But the truth is, I quite like the feel of my hand on your luscious little bottom. I'm afraid you'd have to get used to that."
"You're mean."
"Hm. You think so? I'll make a concession. I do promise never to spank you in public."
Her glare at him was followed with wide eyes. The sensation that spread across her lower insides could almost be described as hungry. What was wrong with her?
"What do you think, Katie. Would you consent to be mine?"
Katie trembled at the way he said the word. His? Could she consent to that? And how could she not consent to that? She wanted him, and she knew it.
Slowly, she raised her arms and put them around his neck. "I would love to try, Nick," she whispered. "But I must take some time to think about it."
"Ah. I was hoping you'd at least agree to that." He held her by her hair, lifting her face, and his lips descended on hers in a powerful, assertive kiss. But when he raised his head, his eyes were hungry, and his voice a husky growl. "It's time for me to take you back to your room, young lady. It would be quite easy for me to get carried away."
He rose and drew her toward the door, turning back to kiss her forehead. "Wait." Opening the door to the hallway, he looked up and down for signs of anyone else. "Now, just one reminder. Don't leave the room without knocking three times on the wall. Do you understand?"
She nodded. "I understand."
But he continued to study her carefully. "I'll take you down to the barn tomorrow to see the lambs. But promise you won't go out there with anyone but me."
She nodded. "I promise."
With another glance out into the hall, he took her hand and drew her out behind him and to her door. A kiss to her nose was accompanied by a grin and a wink.
"Behave yourself, young lady." Her scowl at him resulted in a chuckle. "I'll be watching."
The Lambs
A knock on the door drew Katie's attention after breakfast the next morning. "That might be Nick," she said, answering it quickly.
It wasn't. Instead, it was the innkeeper's young wife.
"I heard you say you would like to see the lambs, dearie. If you want, I'll take you out while there's a lull between meals."
Katie turned toward Lizzie. "Want to go, Lizzie?"
"Not now. But don't forget to knock for Nick."
Katie walked toward the wall, raising her knuckles and rapping three times.
No answer. She looked toward Lizzie. "Where is he, I wonder?"
"I don't know. Sleeping?"
Katie knocked once again, harder. Still nothing.
Lizzie looked toward her. "I'd stay here until he answers, if I were you."
"But they're newborn! I can't ask this lady to wait out in the hall forever."
Lizzie only raised a brow and shook her head. "You know what will happen if he finds you gone."
Katie hesitated, but only for a second. Her mouth flattened, and she whirled toward the door. Smiling at the woman outside, she said softly, "Please let me get my cloak. I'll be right back." Ignoring Lizzie's frown, she grabbed her cloak and wrapped it about her shoulders.
Lizzie called out from behind her. "I'm not taking the brunt for you on this one, Katie. What am I supposed to tell him if he comes looking for you?"
Katie put her hand on the doorknob and looked back over her shoulder. "Tell him he should have been here. I don't like waiting."
"Oh, I'm sure he'll approve of that." Lizzie's sarcasm was not lost. But a second later, Katie was gone.
"I'm Katie," she said to the woman. "Thank you for thinking of us."
"I'm Ocie. My husband owns the inn. I hope you've been enjoying the meals."
"Yes, ma'am. We have. We've only had a few, but they were delicious. How did you get last night's roast so tender?"
Ocie let out a giggle, and Katie realized the girl's voice betrayed her. She was young, perhaps as young as Katie.
"Old family secret. I try to learn to cook like my husband's mother. She was a wonderful cook. This way. The barn is in the back. There is a rope between the back door and the front of the barn. Sometimes, the snow is so thick, you can't see the buildings. So, they are all connected with rope."
"That's good." Katie nodded. She could see the barn from the back of the house, but the snow was still coming down heavily. Vowing to herself to make this quick, she followed Ocie to the distant building. The horses would be in the barn; perhaps she could check on them while she was there. Then she would come back.
Ocie smiled as she tugged open the barn door and closed it again behind them. "The lambs are over this way."
There were windows on the sides of the barn that let in light, and Katie had to admit the barn was warm. Not as warm as she wished, but she felt good about the animals inside. There were dairy cows and a section that held the horses. She could see the horses that had brought them, but there were no signs of Isaac or Kimbrow. Ocie was far ahead of her now, and she stepped up her pace to keep up. They seemed to be going through a labyrinth.
Finally, Ocie stopped. "Here."
"Oh!" Katie clasped her hands together. The mama lamb was still cleaning up the two babies, who were nursing.
"Pretty, hm? Want to hold one?"
"If the mother doesn't mind," Katie answered uncertainly. "I really can't stay very long."
Ocie laughed. "Can't hold them long, either. They'll need to nurse to get strength into them." But she took a step down into the stall and lifted one of them up, passing it over into Katie's arms.
&nbs
p; She pushed her cloak and sleeves back to bare her arms. The tiny creature wasn't yet dry, but she didn't want to seem rude.
"Aren't you sweet, little one," she murmured softly to the tiny lamb in her arms. She scratched its ears and head, and it bleated for its mother. Then she turned toward Ocie. "Thank you, Ocie," she said softly. "It's precious, and I—" She paused abruptly.
The girl was gone.
Katie looked around and scanned the barn from one side of her to the other.
"Ocie?" she called. There was no answer and no sign of her. The little lamb in her arms became restless and she set it back down next to its mother. Katie wrinkled her nose. The baby lamb had left an unpleasant smell on her forearms, and she leaned down, picking up hay, to rub them dry. It was scratchy. Bringing her cloak back around her, she turned to try to find her way back out.
She heard the barn door as it closed but couldn't see it from where she was standing.
"Ocie!" Her voice was as loud as she could make it.
She was panicky, suddenly. How had they gotten to this spot? She looked around for the horses. They were the first thing she'd seen. But she didn't see them now. How could a barn be this big?
"Stop it, Katie," she said to herself. "Don't panic. The barn can't be so big you can't find your way out." Telling herself she should just keep circling the structure until she was familiar with its design, she began to study it. Then she'd take the rope back to the house.
A roar of wind picked up outside, and she looked up toward the few windows that were above her head. There were just enough to let in a bit of light for the animals, but when she stared upward, her eyes became round and frightened. All she could see was white. She glanced around at the animals. They hesitated with their feeding but only temporarily. She told herself if they weren't afraid, she shouldn't be, either. She only wished she could make herself believe it.
Katie forced herself to move slowly about the barn. But the wind still made noises outside. Why would Ocie have left her in here alone? It seemed that someone should be out here with the animals in the storm.
Inside her cloak, she was rubbing her arms, trying to provide courage as well as warmth, but her breathing was uneven. Her chest tightened, and her mouth became suddenly dry.
She passed the pig sty in a corner, and once again, her nose wrinkled. Pigs were stinky creatures, but she had to admit, she did love the taste of pork belly. They were a necessity. But as she looked up, she noticed the barn door. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it. Now all she had to do was make sure the door was closed behind her and make her way back to the house. Ocie would surely be in the kitchen working and sorry she'd left her.
Wrapping herself once again into her cloak, she brought the hood over her head and opened the door.
Katie was unprepared for the sharp, icy wind that struck her face. She shielded her eyes to try to see the back of the house, but she was surprised. She could see absolutely nothing but white. Quickly, she stepped out and closed the door behind her, pushing the latch to. She felt for the rope and breathed a sigh of relief when her hands closed around it tightly.
The wind was terribly fierce. Her cloak billowed out behind her, and her hood blew backward. She squinted into the snow to look for the back of the inn, but without success. Her heart began racing even faster. She had not been prepared for this! But she was even less prepared, when the ferocity of the wind and the snow suddenly ripped her hands from the rope and threw her to the ground.
She cried out, as loudly as she could, as she landed on the snow-covered ground. She tried to stand and reach for the rope again, but it eluded her searching hands and she was thrown down again. Dear God, what if she didn't find it again?
She'd heard of people becoming disoriented and freezing to death within just a few moments of being in a whiteout. Rising to her feet slowly, she reached up, trying to remember exactly which way she'd fallen. Her face felt numb, along with her hands.
Stupid. Stupid, she'd been! Nick would be extremely angry when he found her.
If he found her. Suddenly, she realized coming out here had been a very bad idea. One step in the wrong direction and she would probably never be found until it was too late. She turned in a circle, arms outstretched, praying to find the rope, but the winds were blowing her backward with a gale-like force. When she didn't find the rope, she lowered herself to the ground and brought her hood up over her head and her hands inside the cloak, huddling to the ground and praying with all her might.
Nick sat comfortably in the tavern, having coffee with Isaac and Kimbrow. The girls should be safe in their rooms, and he raised his head when what sounded like a gale was heard outside the windows. The footfalls of Lizzie were the next sounds he heard, running down the stairs. He looked up in alarm when he saw her.
"Where's Katie?"
"That's just it," she panted as tears welled up. "She went outside to see the baby lambs, and the weather has turned bad—Nick, I'm worried!"
He hurried to his feet, along with Isaac.
"This way!" Kimbrow shouted, as all three of them disappeared toward the kitchen.
"Stay here, Lizzie," Nick threw over his shoulder.
He stopped long enough to see Ocie, who was coming out of the pantry. "Have you seen the little dark-haired girl who is with us—Katie?"
Her face blanched a dreadful white. "She—she's not back yet?"
"Where is she?"
"The barn, with the lambs." She started for her heavy cloak, and Isaac put up a hand. "We'll find her, miss. How long has she been out there?"
"I-I don't know…"
Nick was already out the door.
"The rope!" Isaac called after him.
He found it, holding on tightly, until he reached the barn. "Katie? Katie, call out if you hear me!" He paused just long enough to listen. Uncertain if he'd be able to hear her voice over the sound of the wind, he jerked open the barn door and hurried inside.
"Katie! Where are you? Answer me!"
Behind him, Kimbrow and Isaac closed the door to shut out the wind, calling for her.
Nick was frantic. He found the horses, running from area to area until he found the lambs. The mother was feeding her babies, who were dry now.
"Katie!" he shouted.
He was running his hands through his hair when Kimbrow found him.
"Nick, there's another door in the back. You don't think—"
Nick looked toward the back and began running. "Stay here," he shouted backward. "And keep shouting to me."
"No—wrap this around you!" Kimbrow handed him a rope, and he tied it around his waist quickly. "In case you lose your hold on the rope between the buildings, tug on it. We'll—"
Nick was gone. He reached up, finding the rope attached to the barn and began to pull himself away from it, shouting Katie's name furiously. He held on to it hand over hand, calling for her every few feet. When he reached the next building, his heart sank. The roar of the blizzard was all he could hear. Nick stood there a moment and opened the door to the next building, putting his head inside and shouting, "Katie!"
Suddenly, he heard it—the sound of a voice, weak and frightened. It wasn't far away. He stood a moment, to make sure it wasn't coming from inside the building. "Katie?"
He heard it again. She was weeping.
"I'll find you, Katie! Keep calling!" He closed the door and started back toward the barn. He heard her voice again. It was closer this time.
"I'm coming, Katie!" Call me again!"
This time, when he heard it, he knew he was almost there. Shielding his eyes, he let go of the rope and went slowly toward the sound. He almost tripped over her before he saw her, and dropping to his knees, he reached down and lifted her into his arms.
"Hold on to me." Nick had unfastened the front of his jacket. "Put your arms inside my coat, and I'll warm you."
She was shaking so badly, it took her a moment to obey. He tugged on the rope around his waist and turned, trying to follow the direction to
ward the barn that Kimbrow was pulling.
"N-N-Nick?" Her teeth were chattering so hard she had difficulty speaking.
"Quiet, Katie. You'll be all right. I've got you."
"B-but—"
"Shh. No talking until we're inside."
This time, she obeyed. When Nick looked back down at her, she had turned her face into his chest, but her lashes and hair were covered with snow. He sighed with relief when he finally reached the barn with her. Once inside, he pulled out her hands and rubbed them brusquely, looking down into her face. Her lips were blue, and he shoved her hands back inside his coat and held her close.
Kimbrow insisted on getting to the back of the inn, taking the rope with him and then hauling them toward it. Nick agreed. There was slightly more visibility now. He could see what he suspected was the kitchen door from the barn. The wind was still gale-strong. He could hear weeping coming from inside long before he carried Katie through the kitchen door.
The innkeeper was lecturing Ocie as they went through the kitchen toward the dining room and the stairs.
Lizzie saw them and ran to her brother. "Is she all right?"
"She will be," he growled. "Once we get her warm."
Lizzie's face turned crimson, and he rushed toward the stairs. "Have them make her some hot soup to eat," he said. "And bring it to the room. And see if you can locate a warming pan. I'm taking her to your room."
Lizzie pressed the key into his hands and ran to do as he'd asked as her brother disappeared up the steps. Isaac and Kimbrow sat down at the booth she'd occupied and let out relieved sighs, thankful she'd been found.
"My God, that was close." Isaac shook his head as they stared at each other.
He brought her inside, and she whimpered as he set her down on the chaise by the window and went to turn back the covers on the bed. Then, he whisked her into it and tucked the covers around her tightly. "Don't move." His voice was a growl.
Katie's Maverick (Strasburg: The New Generation Book 2) Page 4