Even as he listened to the voice telling him to stop, Case moved his hands over her back, her arms, her waist, memorizing every curve with his touch. She locked her arms around him, pulling him closer still.
Breathless, they clung to each other, the forest around them speaking in hushed whispers as the evening darkness slipped in and around it.
“We have to go back,” Case finally managed to say, his voice deep and graveled from desire.
Katlyn sighed. “I know. But right now, I wish there was nothing to go back to.” She brushed her fingers against his cheek. “Because here, there’s every reason to stay.”
“It’s so dark, I don’t know how they can keep from stumbling,” Katlyn told Case, peering into the gloom to make out the children still playing in the pasture, oblivious to the fact the sun had gone.
Beside Katlyn, Case kept his eyes on his daughter. Emily giggled as she tried to master the art of jumping rope amid a group of young girls. “A few more minutes and they’ll have to call it quits. Look at Emily, I don’t know when she’s enjoyed herself more.”
“I know. She needs to do this far more often. She needs to be around other children.”
Katlyn had noticed Case’s little girl struggling awkwardly, trying to figure out the complexities of jumping rope. Katlyn had stopped herself from interfering, and simply stood by, rooting for Emily silently, remembering her own embarrassment from her ineptness at games and sports that seemed to be second nature to other children. Emily had to find her own way, though, or she would never feel at ease with her peers.
“She’s been wrestling so long with that rope, I can’t believe she hasn’t given up,” Case observed.
“She’s her father’s daughter, isn’t she?” Katlyn said, then caught herself, a flush creeping into her cheeks. Quickly she put her hand on Case’s arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s all right. I take that as a compliment. Besides, Emily is my daughter, in every way that matters.”
“Well, your daughter is precious,” a woman’s voice spoke up behind them. “She’s so well mannered, and has a lovely smile. You two should be very proud. She’s going to be a beauty.”
Katlyn turned to face an older woman’s welcoming smile. But before she could correct the lady, Case answered for both of them. “Thank you. But we are a little afraid she may never learn to jump rope.”
The woman laughed, the wisdom of experience in her voice. “That little girl will do anything she puts her mind to, mark my word. All you have to do is look at the determination in her eyes. Believe me, after raising seven of my own, I ought to know. And with a mama and daddy like the two of you, nothing will stop her.”
Katlyn and Case exchanged a look, his amused, hers disconcerted.
She admitted to herself the idea of she and Case and Emily being a true family sounded wonderful. But it wasn’t true and she waited for Case to correct the woman’s impression, knowing how important honesty was to him.
He said nothing, though, merely continuing the light conversation with the woman, ignoring her mistake as if it wasn’t a mistake at all.
“Well, it’s time to round up my grandchildren and head home,” the woman said finally. “You take care of that darling little girl of yours now, you hear?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Case said with a respectful tip of his hat and a charming smile that brought a blush to the woman’s face.
When she’d gone, Katlyn turned to Case, torn between exasperation and laughter. “Now, you’ve done it. You’re going to have everyone talking about us and what’s really going on under the roof of the infamous St. Martin. So much for respectability, Mr. Durham.”
Case shrugged. “A few minutes ago I would have agreed. But the idea of us as a couple, as Emily’s parents, seemed too right to refuse. Perhaps you’ve corrupted me, Miss McLain, because all I can think now is to hell with it. Let them talk.”
“I can’t believe you said that. I thought you hated deception. Why didn’t you tell her we aren’t married?”
Taking Katlyn’s hand, Case put it in the crook of his arm and led her toward Emily. “Because I found something about the image of us as partners more enticing than telling her we only work with each other. Besides, we haven’t done too badly in business together. Is it so difficult for you to think of us as more?”
Katlyn ignored his last words. They meant too much for her to consider right now. “I’m not really your partner. I’m just another employee with a louder voice than the others.”
Case stopped then, turning to take both her arms in his hands. “You’re much more than that. I respect your ideas and your spirit as much as I would any real business partner’s. You’re a resourceful, talented woman, whom I care about very much. Why is it so hard for you to believe that?”
His sincerity touched her somewhere so deep, Katlyn found it difficult to speak.
“I want to believe it,” she said finally, the words coming hard and shaky. “You don’t know how much I do.”
“Then believe it. We can do anything, be anything together.”
“You deserve to succeed. You deserve to see your dream come true, more than any man I have ever met.”
Case caught and held her gaze, the intensity in his eyes both daunting and welcome. “My dream may be more ambitious than you know.”
“Daddy, Daddy! Katlyn! Look at me! I’m jumping! One, two, three!” Emily shouted at them with a gleeful joy.
“Hurray, Emily!” Katlyn cried back, clapping wildly. Relief flooded through her at the interruption. She couldn’t listen to Case telling her how much he wanted her, needed her. Not now. Not ever.
“That’s my girl! You did it!” Case strode over and swept Emily into his arms, spinning her ’round and ’round. “You didn’t give up, did you?”
Emily shook her curls wildly. “No, not once. Princesses never give up, do they, Katlyn?”
Katlyn stepped close, brushing her hand down Emily’s tumbled hair, her heart aching. “No, sweetheart. They never do.”
Chapter Fourteen
Katlyn walked back and forth across the landing by her mother’s room, fidgeting first with the sleeve of her dress, then with the framed sampler on the wall. It seemed like hours since Dr. Garrett had closeted himself in the room with Penelope. He’d asked Katlyn to be here today so he could talk to her after he finished examining Penelope, but Katlyn hadn’t expected the waiting to be so long and so unnerving.
It would have been easier if this once her mother had allowed her inside with the doctor there. Penelope, though, always insisted on seeing Dr. Garrett alone. Katlyn suspected it was easier for her to deny the truth of her illness without a witness.
At last the door opened and the doctor came out, carrying his bag. Motioning Katlyn to the far end of the landing, he faced her, his expression grim. “Your mother isn’t getting any better, I’m sorry to say. There’s not much else I can do for her here.”
“Is she well enough to make the trip to Las Vegas?”
Dr. Garrett hesitated. “Under other circumstances, I would say no. But if you don’t make the trip soon, the snows will make the trail from here down the mountain impassable. Otherwise, it’ll be spring before you can get there. By that time your mother is likely to have deteriorated to the point that the trip will be useless.”
Katlyn felt her heart constrict painfully. “I understand,” she said.
“I am sorry there’s not more I can do,” the doctor said, putting a hand on her arm.
“No, you’ve been wonderful to her. I—I just wasn’t expecting to have to make the decision to leave so soon. I don’t have enough money saved yet and…well, it doesn’t matter.” She faced the doctor resolutely. “I will get her to that hospital and soon. One way or the other. Please tell me what I owe you so we can settle before I leave.”
Nodding, Dr. Garrett patted her arm. Katlyn waited until he was down the stairs and out the front door before slumping against the wall. She felt like screaming and cryi
ng and railing against the choices she had to make.
But feeling sorry for herself wouldn’t change reality or help Penelope. Her mother depended on her. She had to make plans to leave Cimarron.
Once the thought of staying here had terrified her. Now she was more frightened of leaving because she knew when she left, her heart would stay here.
Penelope barely glanced at her when Katlyn let herself into the room. “I suppose that wretched doctor told you how hopeless it all is.”
“Oh, Mama.” Katlyn sat on the edge of the bed and took Penelope’s frail hand. “It isn’t hopeless. We just have to get you to Las Vegas. We’ll be able to leave by the end of the month, don’t worry.” She hesitated. “I’ll have to tell Case I’m leaving. And why.”
“What do you mean, why?” Penelope demanded, for the first time a spark of her old self coming through the dull apathy on her face. “Just tell him you got a better job. Tell him you’ve decided to go back to St. Louis and work for Luck. What does it matter? He doesn’t need to know about me. It’s bad enough Luck saw me like this. At least I convinced him I was only recovering from influenza. But if you confess, everyone will know I’m like—this.”
Penelope’s voice had steadily risen in pitch, ending on a note of panic Katlyn well knew. Katlyn took her mother’s hand and tried to be both gentle and firm.
“Mama, I have to tell him. I owe him the truth, at least.”
“Why? Why? You can’t ruin everything for me now, Katie. Not after all this time. You can’t!” Penelope eyed her with sudden suspicion. “Why is the truth suddenly so important? Oh, Katie—what have you done?”
“Nothing. Only pretended to be you.” Katlyn abruptly got up and paced to the window. She stared unseeing at the street below.
“I may not be the best mother, my dear, but I know when you’re upset and when you’re lying. You get that tight little look on your face. You’ve never been any good at hiding your feelings.”
“I’m not upset, Mama. Just—tired. We’ve been busy at the hotel, with the new show and all the renovations.”
“What renovations? What new show?”
Katlyn cursed herself for slipping. She’d never told her mother about the disaster the rustlers had caused, lest it give her mother reason to worry.
She glanced away. “Oh, Case is doing some remodeling to make the hotel more desirable to wealthy guests. And we’ve worked on adding material for the shows in accordance, that’s all.”
Turning back to her mother, she forced a smile. “I wish you could see the show just once before we leave. I’m not you, but I think you would like it.”
“Yes, I’m sure I would. Don’t try to distract me, my mind isn’t gone yet,” Penelope said sharply. She hitched herself up in the bed and frowned at Katlyn. Then her face cleared. “You haven’t gone and fallen for that man, have you?”
“Of course not. Here, let me adjust those pillows for you….”
Penelope caught her hand and squeezed it tightly. “Please, Katie,” she said, her mouth trembling. Tears welled in her eyes. “Please, don’t tell him. Let me pretend for a little while longer. No one will be hurt.”
A pain welled up in her so keen that for a moment Katlyn couldn’t speak. Oh, Mama, it’s too late for that.
Kissing her mother softly on the cheek, she made herself smile. “Don’t worry about anything, Mama. I’ll take care of you, I promise.”
Before Penelope could say anything else, Katlyn got up and bustled around the room, making her mother comfortable, tidying up a bit, fetching a tray of tea and biscuits for Penelope—anything she could think of to stop more questions from her mother about Case.
She couldn’t tell if Penelope believed her when she denied any feelings for Case. Small wonder if she doesn’t, I don’t believe myself.
Which made telling Case the truth so much harder.
And she had to tell him soon, at least that she was leaving. Except then he would demand to know why.
Despite Penelope’s pleas, Katlyn didn’t know if she could stomach leaving Case with yet another lie. It was bad enough she was deserting him when he and the hotel needed her most. Didn’t she at least owe him the truth?
The truth…the idea of telling him twisted her up inside. All during the short walk back to the St. Martin, Katlyn tried out several approaches, but none seemed right. They all ended with her confessing her deception, and how could she do that, knowing she would be breaking her vow to her mother?
And knowing the pain it would cause Case. How could she watch the shadow come down over his eyes, separating him from her forever, as the realization dawned in him that she was no better than his wife? That she, too, had lied to him, had pretended to be someone she was not.
The image of Case withdrawing from her tortured her heart and soul as she pushed open the door of the hotel, Katlyn nevertheless made up her mind she had no choice but to tell him. Now, before she changed her mind.
“Oh, Katlyn, finally!” Sally rushed up to her, out of breath and looking unusually ruffled. “Maybe you can figure out what to do.”
Katlyn tossed off her hat and shawl, her dilemma temporarily set aside. “What’s the matter? Is there—”
Before she could finish, a loud scrape and thud came from the dining room.
“We’ve got five new guests staying, they came in unexpectedly and nothing was ready. And there’s going to be another six for dinner, as well,” Sally said in answer to Katlyn’s raised brow. “Tuck is all out of sorts because now there’s not enough chicken for dinner, and Mr. Durham and Jack are trying to rearrange the tables so there’s room for everyone and the piano. And then Becky accidentally broke the lamp in the big bedroom when she was cleaning. That odious Mr. Miller left with two of our blankets and a clock, and his friend threw up on the rug this morning. Oh, and, we’re running low on wood and—”
“I get the idea,” Katlyn said. She hurried into the dining room, stopped short by the chaotic scene there.
Case and Jack, tables and chairs haphazardly bunched around them, stopped as she came into the room, Sally behind her. Perched on Jack’s piano stool, Emily smiled and gave a small wave.
“Ah, reinforcements,” Jack said. He grinned at her, motioning to the chair he was trying to squeeze into place between the wall and table. “Be prepared to sit on my lap tonight, Katie.”
“Oh, I’d never come between you and your keys.” Katlyn briefly glanced at him, but her eyes fixed on Case. She suddenly felt as tongue-tied as she had the first moment she’d met him in her newly assumed role as Penelope.
Case put down the chair he’d been moving and came over to her, frowning. She’d gone pale and when he touched her arm, a tremor went through her. “Are you all right?”
“Y-yes. Yes, of course.” With an effort, she seemed to regain control over herself. “Sally says we’re going to have a full house. How can I help?”
“You’ll be singing. That’s enough.” Concerned by the look of her, Case was about to suggest she go to her room to rest before the dinner show when Sally broke in.
“It’s everything, if you ask me. Before she came, I was getting worried about how I was going to feed my boys, but the way Katlyn sings, we can’t keep people away. You sure knew what you were doing, Mr. Durham, bringing her here.”
“Katlyn is a princess,” Emily piped up from behind Case. “She came to rescue us, Daddy says so.”
Katlyn smiled at their praise and gently caressed Emily’s cheek in thanks. But Case saw how stiffly she held herself, as if she were afraid moving would break something inside her.
“Becky said she was going to need some help moving one of the dressers upstairs,” he said, looking sideways at Jack. “And I’m not sure if she was quite finished with the feather duster.”
“Oh, your favorite, Emily,” Sally said, taking the hint along with Jack. He was already heading toward the door, and Sally took Emily’s hand, leading her out behind him. “Let’s go see if we can make some dust fly.”
<
br /> Katlyn gave him a rueful smile and walked a little away from him. “You didn’t have to send them all away.”
“I want to talk to you. What’s wrong, Katlyn?”
“I want to talk to you, too.” She stopped, biting her lower lip.
Case felt a prick of uneasiness. It wasn’t like Katlyn to be hesitant about speaking her mind. He reached out a hand. To draw her back to him or to offer her reassurance? He didn’t know which.
Before he touched her Tuck marched into the dining room carrying three limp chickens. “Don’t ask me where I found ’em, but at least we won’t be servin’ beans and biscuits tonight. Glad you’re back, Miss Katlyn. I was gonna ask you to help with them radishes and carrots again.”
Katlyn nodded and as Tuck pushed his way into the kitchen, Case turned back to her to ask his question again.
“Daddy?” Emily poked her head into the dining room. “Jack got the dresser stuck in the door.”
Case sighed and Katlyn shook her head, smiling. “I’ll be there in a minute,” he said to Emily. He took Katlyn’s hand when the little girl scampered off upstairs again. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
“It’s not important right now,” Katlyn said softly. “We both have things to do, we can talk later.”
Instinct told Case it was important. But he wouldn’t find out what it was now, with them likely to be interrupted at any moment. “We will talk later,” he promised.
Pulling her closer to him, he leaned down and kissed her. She responded instantly but with an urgency that surprised him. It touched off a warning in him even as he took her in his arms and deepened his kiss.
Katlyn fought an upsurge of panic that became a desperate need to be with Case and forget everything but the way he made her feel—soft, hot, hungry, alive.
When he held her like this there was no denying her feelings. She loved him, heart and soul.
And when he discovered her deception, she would be the last woman on earth he would want.
Katlyn slammed her hairbrush down on her dressing table, causing Becky to jump. “I’m sorry. It’s just that my hair is hopeless tonight. You’ve been trying, I’ve tried, and it just won’t work!”
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