A Thin Line

by Tammy Jo Burns

  “Oh,” the thin woman with the dishwater brown hair and non-descript eyes wiped her hands on the apron tied about her waist, then held a hand out to Kala. “It’s nice to meet you. I just put the finishing touches on your cottage and left you enough to eat for supper and breakfast.”

  “That was very kind of you. I hadn’t really given much thought to a cook, and goodness knows I’m horrible at it.” The woman clucked softly. “Tommy here told me you are the best cook around.”

  “Tommy, were you carrying tales?”

  “No, mum. Everyone thinks you’re the best cook.”

  A blush spread across Mrs. Fisher’s cheeks. “Go find your brother and head home. I’ll catch up with you.”

  “Yes, mum. Nice meetin’ ya, Mrs. Smith.”

  “You too, Tommy,” Kala waited until the boy was gone before continuing her conversation with his mother. “Mrs. Fisher, would you consider cooking my meals until I can learn to cook enough to get me by?” The woman seemed to ponder the situation a bit. “I can pay you for your trouble.”

  “All right,” the woman nodded. “I’ll send one of the boys with your food for tomorrow.”

  Bless her for not asking about her lack of cooking skills. “Thank you. And perhaps sometime you can teach me the basics of cooking?” The woman nodded, shook hands with Kala once more, and left for her own home.

  Kala picked up her bags and carried them into the cottage. Whoever had built the cottage must have been slightly wealthy, because when she began to tour it there were more rooms than she had originally thought. You first walked into a large room that housed a sitting area, small dining area, and the kitchen. Down the hall, a bedroom lay on each side. A water closet seemed to have been added on. Kala found herself pleased with the idea of not having to use an outbuilding.

  She stood in the middle of the largest bedroom and saw the large bed, thinking how big and empty it looked. Instead of putting her bag down, she turned to the other bedroom that contained two smaller beds. She thought perhaps if she didn’t have as much room, she wouldn’t think so much about Gabe. After putting down her bag she wandered back into the living area. The cottage looked cozy enough for a small family. Kala, however, thought it huge and terribly lonely.

  Chapter 35

  The next morning, Gabriel woke asking for Kala. Judith soothed him, telling him she merely rested in the next room after having spent several long nights watching over him. She then quickly fed him laudanum-laced broth before he could ask any more questions. Once he had fallen back asleep, she paced his bedchamber, chewing on her thumbnail. She had not chewed on her nails since in the schoolroom. Not even when she had buried a husband, a son, and grandsons. But this was different. Judith had to tell Gabriel she had misplaced his wife.

  The bedroom door creaked open and she turned to see Hamlin peeking around it.

  “Hamlin, he’s asking for her. What are we going to do?” She stepped into the arms of the man she most trusted and cared for since her husband’s death.

  “We will find her, Judith,” the handsome, older man said, gently rubbing the back of the only woman he had ever loved. They knew they would never be able to marry, but these stolen moments were enough.

  “Easier said than done. Who might we contact?”

  “The young master would know.”

  “Yes, he would, but then he would know that she is not here.”

  “Could we contact her brother?”

  “Again, not a good choice. What are we going to do?”

  “Do about what?” A deep voice asked from the hall door. The older couple sprang apart, blushing. Judith turned to look at her grandson sleeping peacefully. “Grandmother,” the voice prodded. After many hours spent talking and sharing, she had coaxed Mack into calling her Grandmother and it thrilled her soul.

  “Mack, we have lost Mikala.”

  Why, Hamlin, you sly devil, Mack thought before his grandmother’s words penetrated his brain. “What do you mean?”

  “She has left.”

  “Did she leave behind a note?” Mack took the proffered paper from Judith’s hand.

  Mack studied the letter, noticing some of the words were smudged as if by tears. This had been hard for her to do, but it had also been very naïve of her. Did she really believe she could take on the man alone? One thing rang true, something had to be done before Gabe found out. Mack had a feeling that would not happen. One, they could not keep drugging Hawke. Two, he may be the only one that knew how to find his missing wife.

  “I will stay and tell him when he wakes up.”

  “No, Mack.”

  “He already hates me. Better to give him one more thing to dislike me about than for him to turn on you, but no more drugging him with laudanum. We are just prolonging the inevitable, and she is in more danger every hour that passes, and she is alone.”

  “Yes, Mack,” his grandmother replied, sounding subdued.

  “All will be well,” he said, accepting her hug. He still felt strange at the showing of affection she felt compelled to do. He gently handed her over to Hamlin, hoping the older man would know better how to take care of her.

  Mack settled in, ready for the fight he knew would be coming while the man that looked so much like him slept peacefully, unaware that his wife had left him.

  ***

  “She’s what?” Gabe yelled at his half-brother late that night when he finally came out from under the laudanum.

  “She’s gone.”

  “Why the hell didn’t you tell me sooner? I could have had people looking for her. I could have been looking for her. Dammit,” he tunneled his fingers through his hair, wincing as the movement pulled at his wound. He rang for his valet after an unsuccessful attempt of trying to find clothes to wear. His valet ran into the room quickly gathering everything Gabriel would need. He ignored the pain in his shoulder as he pulled the shirt on, all of his thoughts were on his wayward wife.

  “Hawke, she disappeared. She slipped out and no one saw her. Perhaps you and her brother taught her a little too well.”

  “You should mind your own business.”

  “Grandmother has made you my business.”

  “What did you say?” The words came slowly, incredulously.

  “She insists I call her Grandmother.”

  “Grandmother!” Gabe roared. The woman appeared at the doorway as if she had been waiting in the hallway.

  “Yes, dear?”

  “He is to call you Grandmother?”

  “He is my grandson and your brother. We are family,” she said stubbornly.

  Gabe shook his head and pushed off the bed, nearly collapsing. Mack rushed to help him, grabbing his hurt shoulder. Gabe yelled as Mack dropped him back onto the bed. “You did that on purpose.”

  “I’m not going to argue with you. You can believe what you like. Here is the letter your wife left behind.” Mack threw the letter at Gabe and it floated onto his lap.

  Dearest Gabe,

  By the time you read this, you will know I have left. Please know that I did not leave in anger, but rather fear. I cannot stay knowing I might be responsible for the death of the people I care for and love. Please don’t come looking for me. I will be careful and go where no one can find me. Promise me you will have men find Dewhurst and not put yourself in danger. I am well defended and can take care of myself. When all of this has passed, I will return, if you will have me. Never doubt my feelings for you.

  Always and forever,

  Pest

  “What the bloody hell is she thinking?” His hand trembled causing the paper to shake.

  “She loves you,” the gentle voice of his grandmother announced from the doorway.

  “She has a funny way of showing it.”

  “You haven’t given her many options. Every time she has tried to turn to you, you freeze her out. She fears your rejection, so she doesn’t tell you how she feels. How do you feel?”

  “I feel fine.”

  “You see, this what I am talking
about. I don’t care how you feel physically,” she paused as if arguing with a young child. “How do you feel about your wife?”

  Gabriel looked about the room. Three pairs of eyes stared at him—McKenzie’s, Grandmother’s and Hamlin’s. He felt trapped. “Do any of you have any notion as to how to locate her?” He refused to discuss his feelings for his wife.

  “I give up,” his grandmother said, throwing her hands up in the air. “Your wife is your new partner for Blackhawke Shipping.”

  “What?”

  “Your new partner. The soldier. He is not real. Mikala coerced her brother into creating a fictitious partner so that she could become independent and not have to rely on anyone to take care of her.”

  “But I will take care of her. She is my wife.”

  “I believe this developed before your sudden marriage. And then there were times when you didn’t give her much hope that your marriage would be a success. She did not want to be a burden.”

  “A burden! That’s ridiculous,” he scoffed.

  “Gabe, I had a premonition.”

  “Not now, Grandmother. If you will leave the room, I have to find my wife.”

  “It is too late for you to go searching about today. Besides, Mack has men investigating. You are going to sit there and listen to me. I keep seeing Mikala covered in blood. I can never tell if it is her blood or someone else’s, but I know she is in danger. You must rest tonight and then you can look for her tomorrow, and take Mack with you,” she said as an afterthought.

  “I do not need help in finding my wife.”

  “He is your brother.” Anger made Judith’s voice shake. She pointed a finger to Mack, making certain Gabriel knew to whom she referred. “He is part of this family and I will no longer pretend he does not exist. He can help you and you do not know what you will be facing. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” Gabe muttered feeling like a child that had been chastised.

  “Good. Rest and we will talk more in the morning.”

  “She loves her family,” Mack said as he watched their grandmother leave the room.

  “Yes.”

  “Her and Hamlin have feelings for each other.”

  “What?”

  “Saw with my own eyes.”

  “Good for them.”

  “Your mother has been sent away.”

  “Where?”

  “One of your country estates you rarely use. The woman that first watched over Mikala upon losing her sight has been hired to watch over your mother.”

  “That is the best.”

  “McGregor will not be happy with how you have been moving your arm about.” Mack watched his brother shrug his healthy shoulder. “I have men visiting every solicitor in town until we find the one that worked with Mikala.”

  “I have to find her. I can’t lose her,” he unwittingly voiced his thoughts aloud.

  “We’ll find her.”

  “Thank you, McKenzie.”

  “You’re welcome, Hawke. I will be downstairs, should you need me.”

  Gabe nodded and stared at the piece of paper clutched tightly in his hand. He read it through once more. Kala’s unruly handwriting glared up at him, smudged. She had cried when she wrote this. The stubborn woman wanted to protect him when he should be protecting her. As soon as he found her he would tell her how he felt, kiss her senseless, and take her over his knee—and not necessarily in that order.

  ***

  Kala alternated between sleeping and roaming around the small cottage for the first few days. She missed Gabriel with every fiber of her being. She prayed every moment she spent awake that he was healing properly and did not have a relapse. Mrs. Fisher left behind several thick slabs of bread with butter for her to eat for breakfast. Mikala missed the coffee she usually had for breakfast. She had forgotten that most people still were not familiar with the stronger drink. Her brother and Gabe had been because their assignments in exotic locations had given them a taste for it.

  After eating toast, she wandered outside. She scared off two little rabbits playing when she turned the corner and saw the Fisher lads carrying her lunch. Her stomach rumbled noisily. “Thank you, Tommy and...”

  “Nate, ma’am.” The boy pulled at his forelock as he nodded to her. He appeared to be a few years older than Tommy with hair a darker brown than his brother’s.

  “Thank you once again. Can I tempt you boys to join me?”

  “Oh no, ma’am. We’re joinin’ some others at the gorge.”

  “The gorge?”

  “Yes’m. There’s a gorge not to far from here with hidden caves and underground rivers and lakes. It’s great fun,” Tommy paused and looked worriedly from Nate back to Kala. “Please don’t tell our mum, miss. She’s always saying how dangerous the gorge is, but we’re always real careful.”

  “How ‘bout I make a deal with you?”

  “What’s that?” Nate asked suspiciously.

  “How ‘bout I don’t tell your mother if you two promise to take me on a tour of the gorge?”

  “I don’t know,” Nate drew out the words as Tommy nodded enthusiastically. Nate elbowed his brother before continuing, “You don’t look much like one to take on the gorge.”

  Kala put her hands on her hips, “I might not look it now, but I could keep up with my brother and husba—I mean his best friend,” Kala couldn’t believe she was begging a ten-year-old to allow her to tag along. “Please. I promise I won’t be in the way. I just need an expert guide of the area to show me the way.”

  “All right,” Nate nodded reluctantly. “But not today. There’ll be too many others around today. Tomorrow, Tommy and me will meet you here after breakfast and we can go then.”

  “I’ll pack a picnic for lunch, how’s that?” The boys nodded their agreement. Tommy waved as they ran off to meet their friends. Kala took the food inside, ate a quick bite, then went back outside to weed the plants around the cottage so they would be ready for the spring. She worked until the sun started to descend in the sky and the air chilled. Kala stood and stretched her sore muscles, her back twinged at the movement. She walked around her plants and surveyed her handiwork for the day.

  Kala walked into the cottage, grabbed a cloth and pitcher, and then turned back outside. A brook ran past her cottage. Once she reached the brook, she laid the pitcher down and then went down on her knees. Kala dampened one end of the cloth and wiped clean her face, neck and arms. She plunged her hands into the cold water and rubbed them vigorously, washing away the dirt and grime.

  She reclined against a tree and enjoyed the peacefulness surrounding her. A fox came up to the water a few yards upstream and drank, followed by some deer and rabbits. Gabe would have enjoyed the solitude and peace of the moment.

  Kala grabbed the pitcher and filled it with the cool water and stood. When she stood, her back pulled taking her breath. She bent over, attempting to get relief. After it passed, she hefted the pitcher into her arms then picked her way slowly and carefully back to the cottage. Once she entered the cottage, she laid down the items in her arms then lit the lantern. She lit the firewood before turning to the food brought to her earlier.

  After she ate, she closed everything for the night. Kala made her way down the small hallway to the bedroom she was using and began to strip off her clothes. As she lifted her arms, her lower back spasmed painfully, causing her to pause and bend over until her breath came back to her. Tired, and hoping a good night’s rest would soothe her back, she crawled into bed. An hour later she found herself still awake.

  She couldn’t keep her mind from thinking about Gabe. Had the fever truly been gone or had it come back? Had infection set in? Had they told him she left? Had he read the note? Would he look for her? Did he hate her? She rolled onto her side and looked out the window through the sheer curtains. Moonlight streamed through just as another sharp back spasm hit her. She must have pulled something as she worked in the yard. Mikala would see if the boys could take her the day after tomorrow, and she would
spend tomorrow resting. That night, she very much wished Gabriel was with her.

  Chapter 36

  “I have someone you will be interested in speaking with,” Mack announced two days after Gabe had found out his wife had left him. Gabe carried the letter around with him, would take it out and read it to remind himself she had not left him forever. No one would allow him to leave the house, so, instead he stayed inside, pacing and snarling at whoever crossed his path. “Mr. Bates, this is His Grace, the Duke of Hawkescliffe. Hawke, Mr. Bates, Solicitor.”

  “Do you know where my wife is?”

  “Yes, Your Grace. She is renting a small cottage near Cheddar, with the hopes of purchasing it at some point.”

  “Cheddar? Where is that?”

  “Somerset, Your Grace. Some believe the area to be the home of King Arthur.”

  Gabriel sank weakly onto the nearest chair. “How far from Glastonbury Tor?”

  “Not so very far. Her cottage is a bit outside of Cheddar itself.”

  “We have to leave now,” Gabe said, desperately looking at McKenzie.

  “We can’t travel tonight. There isn’t even a full moon to light our way. We will leave at first light.”

  “You don’t understand. Arthur, Glastonbury, Mikala.”

  “Gabe, I am your Director. I understand perfectly, but we cannot leave tonight. Mr. Bates, if you will hand over the directions on how to get there, it would be greatly appreciated. Did she say how she would be traveling?”

  “I believe she said something about checking the routes of the mail coaches.”

  “Thank you for your help and assistance.”

  “My pleasure,” the man mumbled as Mack showed him to the door.

  When Mack walked back into the room, he saw Gabe staring into the pitch darkness through a nearby window. “Gabe, we will find her.”

  “I pray it is in time.”

  ***

  Kala awoke two mornings later feeling stiff and achy. The day of rest helped her back feel better than it did yesterday; however, her stomach churned precariously and sweat beaded on her face and neck, threatening her outing with the Fisher boys. Her stomach lurched as she stood, but she took deep breaths to win the battle. She walked to the kitchen and brought a small fire to life in the fireplace.