The Bond Unbroken

by Bond unbroken (NCP) (lit)

  "A Texas Ranger and a Pinkerton Agent," Richard said as he pushed his plate away. "And here I thought you were ready to settle down," he added, directing his comment to Mitch.

  "Actually, Richard, I'm seriously considering it." Mitch responded. "Now that I'm going to have a wife, returning home and taking over the old man's business feels like the right thing to do."

  Mitch's unexpected plans received more of a shocked reaction than Katlin's Pinkerton fabrication. Why?

  "You’re not serious," Rick challenged. "You hate the business."

  "I think we both know it wasn't the business I objected to," was Mitch's calm reply.

  "Even so, after the challenge of the work you both do, I can't see either of you being satisfied with a quiet life in the forests. There's no excitement in the logging business."

  The logging business? Mitch's father was in lumber? Katlin had just been handed her motive.

  The research she'd done on the Westfield family history had revealed their original fortune had been made from Texas timber and contracts to supply rail road ties for the tracks which would soon spread throughout the southwest and extend to the west coast.

  With both Mitch and his father out of the way, the Westfields had somehow managed to get their hands on the Cameron timberlands.

  Mitch was beginning to think he was the only one who thought returning home to Texas to the family lumber business was a good idea. True, he hadn't yet discussed the idea with Katlin. He'd only just reached the decision himself, and there hadn't been time. Even though Katlin's carefully controlled features gave the impression of absolute agreement with his plans, her hand, still resting on his thigh, gripped him so tightly he was certain he'd find the imprint of her nails on his flesh when he removed his jeans.

  He was surprised Richard and Rick had such strong opinions on the matter but he didn't particularly care what they thought. Kat's wishes were the only ones that mattered to him. They'd discuss it, and, if she didn't like the idea, they'd find something that would make them both happy.

  "Sarah, are you sure you're all right?" Katlin asked with concern dripping from her voice, jerking Mitch's thoughts back to the conversation. All eyes turned toward Sarah who acted as if she didn't know what to say.

  AI really wish you'd go up and lie down like I suggested earlier," Katlin added, hoping Sarah would catch on to what she was up to and play along. Bless her heart, it would appear that Sarah was a quick study in the art of subterfuge.

  Sarah's hand went to her swollen abdomen in a protective gesture, and a martyred expression settled over her pale features. "Honestly, Katlin, I'm fine. I'm sure it was nothing."

  "And I'm sure you're right," Katlin conceded with forced reluctance. "Still, I don't like the pain you were having earlier. I'd never forgive myself if you went into premature labor because you overdid it cooking supper for us in this heat." Katlin cast a pleading look in Rick's direction, the expression in her eyes a silent plea for his assistance. Rick took the bait, hook, line, and sinker.

  Turning to his wife, he demanded, "Damn it Sarah, why didn't you say something? You know I don't want anything to happen to my baby."

  Sarah winced slightly, not from physical pain but from Rick's thoughtless words. You'd think she'd be used to them by now. He didn't give a damn about any discomfort she might feel, his only concern was for his baby.

  Obviously realizing how callous he'd sounded in front of Mitch and Katlin, Rick quickly changed his tactics. "Maybe Katlin is right. You should go up and rest. You don't want anything to happen to our baby. Do you?" For good measure, in an effort to show his concern, Rick reached over and placed his hand on his wife's stomach.

  Again Katlin saw Sarah flinch, and she suspected it was a natural reaction to the touch of a man she could barely tolerate. "That settles it," Katlin said, raising to her feet. "You are going to bed, Sarah. I'll give the men dessert, then I'll bring you up a piece of pie and some ice cream."

  "All right, you win," Sarah agreed with feigned reluctance. "I’ll agree, only if you promise to have dessert with me. We don't have guests often, and I miss having another woman to talk to."

  "You've got a deal." Katlin cast a meaningful look down at Mitch. "Under the circumstances, I'm sure the men won't mind cleaning up."

  "Hey, I don't mind," Mitch agreed. "After Sarah cooked such a wonderful meal, it's only fair. Besides, it won't be the first time we've been stuck with kitchen duty. Right, buddy?" Mitch added, addressing his final comment to Rick, who had no option but to agree or he'd have looked like an insensitive ass.

  "Nonsense, that won't be necessary," Richard interrupted, leaving Katlin to fear their performance had bombed until he instructed, "Rick, go down to the bunkhouse and have Cook come up to the house to clean up."

  "Yes!" Katlin thought to herself, tempted to ball her hand into a fist and punch the air in a victorious gesture. It couldn't have worked out better if they'd had a script to work from with everyone knowing their assigned parts in advance.

  "While you're out there, Rick, have one of the men bring our horses up," Mitch added. "We need to be heading back to town soon if we hope to get there before nightfall."

  * * * *

  Katlin entered the bedroom at the top of the stairs carrying two plates of apple pie and ice cream, closing the door behind her with a flip of her hip.

  Sarah, who was sitting up on the bed, her back supported by a mound of pillows, covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her giggles. "Oh, Katlin," she chuckled, "I can't remember the last time I've enjoyed myself so much."

  Katlin joined Sarah's soft laughter as she walked to the bed and handed Sarah her plate. She then settled herself at the foot of the bed Indian fashion. "You did good down there my friend. I was so proud of you," Katlin said sincerely. "In fact, I do believe Sarah Bernhardt herself would have envied the performance we gave."

  "I feel so decadent sitting in bed in the afternoon, eating pie and ice cream, leaving someone else to do my work for me."

  "Hell, Sarah, play it for all it's worth. You deserve a little pampering for a change," Katlin encouraged between bites. "I’m just disappointed Rick didn't end up over the sink doing the dishes in that hot kitchen. It would serve him right." Sitting here with Sarah reminded Katlin of the sleep-over she'd had with girlfriends in high-school. They'd sat on the bed eating junk food and talking about boys half the night. Of course, the sleep-overs were always at someone else's house. Her friends didn't feel any more comfortable in her home with her father than Katlin had felt.

  "The baby is fine you know," Sarah found it necessary to point out. "I’m as healthy as a horse."

  "I know," Katlin responded with absolute certainty. "You’re going to have a fine, healthy boy."

  "You sound so sure it's going to be a boy."

  "I’m positive."

  "But how . . . ?"

  "I know, just like I know your grandmother was proud of her gypsy heritage. Just like I know what is going on in this house. Just like I know your husband and possibly your father-in-law are behind the death of Mitch's father and the bounty on Mitch's head." That much said, Katlin sat back and waited for Sarah's reaction.

  "You have the gift of sight," Sarah responded, appearing to accept the impression Katlin had given her without question or unease.

  To add credence to the notion, Katlin shared a bit of truth about her own family history. "My family, on my father's side, were of Celtic descent. It's rumored one of my ancestors was hung as a witch during the witchcraft hysteria in the seventeen hundreds. Does that bother you?"

  "Bother me? It infuriates me that people back then were so ignorant, so frightened by something they didn't understand they persecuted innocent women."

  Then, as if what Katlin said earlier had just that instant sunk in, Sarah's eyes widened, and her hand went to her throat. "Did you say that my husband and Richard are involved in the murder of Mitch's father? That they have hired someone to kill Mitch?"

  "That’s exactly what I
said."

  "Oh my God," Sarah gasped. "But why? They're friends. Mitch's father was Richard's oldest friend."

  "And Cain and Able were brothers," Katlin reminded her. "With friends like that, who needs enemies?"

  "Why, Katlin? Why would they do something so despicable?"

  "Greed," was Katlin's simple answer. "Unless they are stopped, Mitch will die, and they will gain control of the Cameron lands. If that happens, Sarah, they will amass a great fortune. " fortune will perpetuate a cycle of greed, corruption, and violence that will continue for generations to come. Sons who learn from their fathers. Sons who rape, abuse, cheat, steal, and murder without conscience."

  Sarah had gone chalk white, and Katlin feared she was going to be sick. "Never! I'll kill Rick myself before I'll allow him to turn my son into the same kind of monster he is."

  "Sarah, I'm so sorry," Katlin apologized. She sat her plate aside and took both of Sarah's cold hands in hers. "I didn't want to upset you, but I believe you are a stronger person than you think you are. You have to know what is at stake here. You have to know what will happen unless we can change it."

  "Can it be changed, Katlin?" There was such abject misery in Sarah's eyes it broke Katlin's heart that she was responsible for putting it there.

  "I have to believe it can. I believe I was given the knowledge for that purpose." Katlin proceeded to explain why she believed some people turned out like Rick Westfield. Despite all she had witnessed throughout the years, Katlin refused to believe anyone was born inherently evil. "Men like Rick aren't born that way. " child's character is developed by those who have the most influence upon their lives. Cruelty, greed, and dishonesty are learned traits, as are love kindness, respect, and honor. The sad fact is, adults who were abused as children often abuse their own children. Men who grew up in a home where the father abused the mother, more often than not, will abuse their own wives. It's a cycle of violence which can be broken."

  As Katlin watched, Sarah began to change. Something within her which had nearly been destroyed began to reassert itself. In her eyes, sorrow was replaced by anger, resignation was replaced by determination. "s Katlin had suspected, hidden beneath Sarah's demure exterior lurked the heart of a lioness who would snarl, scratch, and fight to save her young from a fate she considered worse than death.

  "What can I do to help you stop them?"

  "Right now, I don't know. I know what they've done, what they will do, but I don't have the proof to back me up." With a mirthless laugh, Katlin couldn't resist adding, "Somehow, I don't think Wild Bill Hickok would be extremely receptive if I told him he had to arrest Rick and Richard because I had a vision they were bad men."

  Katlin's last comment had the desired affect, and Sarah's lips curved into a reluctant smile. "Fortunately, times have changed, and they don't hang witches anymore. But this is Abilene, where anything goes, and, knowing some of the pious idiots in town, I wouldn't put it past them to give it a try," Sarah responded with a grimace of distaste for people with small minds and an intolerance for things they couldn't begin to understand.

  "And Mr. Clarence Peabody would be leading the lynch mob chanting, "Hang the witch!", Katlin added with a groan of disgust. The instant the words were out of her mouth, Katlin's blood ran cold. In her mind she saw just such a scene. She felt a sensation of panic, the sensation of being hopelessly trapped as a mob of angry villagers closed in on her holding flaming torches high as they surrounded her shouting, "Hang the witch?"

  "That sanctimonious little hypocrite?" Sarah responded. "Katlin? Katlin, are you all right?"

  Hearing the sound of Sarah's voice, Katlin forced her wayward thoughts back to the present and the problem at hand. Not wanting to know what the unsettling image was all about, Katlin pushed the frightening impression to the back of her mind where she prayed it would remain.

  "I’m fine, Sarah," Katlin reassured her. "My mind just wandered for a moment." Katlin then proceeded to describe in glorious detail what had transpired between herself and the pious Mr. Peabody.

  Despite the seriousness of the topic they'd been discussing, Sarah found herself laughing helplessly. "You didn't?"

  "Afraid so," Katlin answered with a "What-can-I-say?" shrug.

  "Katlin," Sarah began, returning to the subject at hand. "I have an idea. Since Richard's stroke, he rarely leaves the house, but, I believe he will go into town tomorrow for the wedding. "s much as I'd love to be there, if I continue with the impression of not feeling well, I could stay behind. It would give me a chance to go through their papers. Maybe I can find something to incriminate them."

  It could work, but Katlin suspected Sarah would be watched in the men's absence. "I don't know if that is such a good idea. I don't want you to take any chances which would put you or your baby at risk."

  "I have to do something," Sarah insisted. "I've played deaf, dumb, and blind for way too long."

  "What you have to do is keep yourself safe. Unless I miss my guess, I believe you have the most important role to fulfill in all of this mess."

  "Me? What can I do?" Sarah asked.

  "It will be up to you to reshape the destiny of your family, Sarah. I can't think of a more important responsibility than that." Katlin gave Sarah's hands a reassuring squeeze, pleased to note they were no longer quite so cold. "I’d better go. We don't want to give Rick time to start wondering what we've been talking about. "s it is, I suspect you'll be in for quite an interrogation after we're gone."

  "I know, but it's been so long since I've had someone to talk to, I hate to see you go."

  Katlin rose to her feet and collected their plates and utensils. "I have a feeling we'll be having a lot more talks in the future. After we've put all this behind us. In the meantime, play it cool and don't give Rick any reason to suspect anything has changed."

  "That won't be easy."

  "You’re forgetting that I've seen an example of your acting skills. You'll pull it off."

  "I don't have any choice. Do I?"

  "No, Sarah, I'm afraid you don't. Neither one of us has a choice in this." Katlin had just stepped out the door when Sarah's voice halted her. She glanced back over her shoulder, and the two women's eyes met.

  "Rick had my father killed, didn't he?"

  "I think you already know the answer to that question."

  * * * *

  The men were on the porch smoking foul smelling cigars when Katlin joined them. It was on the tip of her tongue to warn them that smoking was bad for their health, especially for someone in Richard's condition, but she kept her opinion to herself. In Mitch's case, Katlin knew herself too well to doubt she'd be compelled to recite the Surgeon General's warning on the effects of smoking at some future date. Where the Westfield men were concerned, God forgive her, Katlin had no objection to anything which might speed them on the road to their just rewards a little bit sooner.

  Taking note that their horses were saddled and they would soon be on their way back to town, Katlin walked to Mitch who pulled her in front of him, her back to his front. He wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

  "How is Sarah feeling?" Rick asked, as if he cared.

  "She was practically asleep when I left her," Katlin lied. "I think she'll be fine, but she really should get plenty of rest in this kind of weather. Extreme heat depletes fluid in the body, and that isn't good for the baby." Katlin didn't have a clue what she was talking about, but it sounded good, and she hoped her explanation might gain Sarah a little long overdue consideration from her husband. Rick might not give two figs about Sarah's well being, but he was concerned about, as he saw it, his baby. As such, Sarah had some insurance on her side which should keep her safe. At least until after the baby was born. Hopefully, it would all be over before then.

  Chapter Eleven

  Mitch and Katlin put some distance between themselves and the Westfield ranch before Mitch pulled his mount to a stop. "s she had before, Katlin reined her horse around and rode up beside him
so they were facing each other.

  Noting his tight-lipped expression, Katlin wasn't surprised when he said, "Damn it, Kat, I don't know whether I should shake you or kiss you. What the hell were you hoping to accomplish back there?"

  "I should think that was rather obvious."

  "Of course it was obvious. What I want to know is why?" he snapped, his frustration and concern for her safety making his words appear harsher than he'd intended. "Why did you find it necessary to set yourself up as a potential threat to Rick?"

  Katlin hesitated, phrasing her reply carefully. "If you believe Rick has reason to consider me a potential threat, you must have suspicions about his activities yourself."

  Removing his hat, Mitch raked his hand through his perspiration dampened hair. With an exasperated groan, he muttered, "God, what a mess."

  "I’m sorry, Mitch," was Katlin's heartfelt response. "I’m afraid this thing is about to get ugly."

  Mitch felt like they were in the path of an avalanche which was picking up speed and momentum as it roared down a mountain toward them, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He couldn't even slow it down.

  "Nothing and no one. is going to stop us from being married tomorrow," Mitch insisted with such grim determination Katlin didn't know if he was attempting to reassure her or himself.

  Katlin was so moved by the depth of his emotion she had to swallow a lump in her throat before she could speak. She reached out and stroked away a wayward curl on his forehead as she'd been so tempted to do when they'd first met. "We won't let that happen, Mitch. More than anything, I want to be your wife . . . in every sense of the word."

  The explicit meaning behind Katlin's words and the sultry tone of her voice immediately stroked him to rigid attention. Unfortunately, not the most comfortable condition to be in while sitting astride a horse. "I think you do that on purpose," he accused.

  "I think I'll plead the Fifth Amendment on that one." No, she didn't deliberately arouse him with her words, but she couldn't deny the ability to do so gave her a heady sense of power.