Independent Brake (The Dominion Falls Series)

by Sarah Cass

  “Sure. When the games are yours toward the purpose of marriage, they’re just fine. When they’re mine toward the purpose of spending time with the man who has come to mean much to me, heaven forbid.” She rose. “I don’t leave for three days. I do hope that you’ll soften your opinions before then.”

  His jaw worked back and forth, and he kept his arms clasped against him. Not once did his hard gaze waver from the cold tea in front of him.

  She set her hand on his shoulder and leaned down to kiss the top of his head. “I’m truly sorry. This is something I must do. One day, I will return to Dominion Falls and stay. The timing just wasn’t right this time around.”

  When he didn’t speak, she left the telegraph office by the back door. Her heart was heavy and her feet dragged along the dirt road. Much as she knew what she needed to do, the execution of that act was far more painful in reality.

  At the very least, she knew her secret would be safe. Caroline wouldn’t tell, as Kat’s doctor she couldn’t, but she also understood why Kat didn’t want Cole to know. She was a passing fancy, a fun diversion, but Cole didn’t do family. The same way Kat herself didn’t do marriage.

  “What a tangled web,” she muttered. In the two weeks since she’d learned of her situation, Kat had been delaying the inevitable as long as she could. The time had come to leave, and so she’d managed to procure a ticket on the next stage, which was when she knew she’d have to tell Norman, rather than let him see it on the passenger manifest.

  Cora’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Kat. These were dropped off for you.”

  Kat grabbed the paper wrapped parcels with a whispered thank you.

  “Are you all right?” Cora stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

  “I’m fine. I just let Norman know I’ll be leaving on the next stage. An opportunity has come up that I must act on.” Kat sighed and clutched the packages close. “I’m afraid he didn’t take it well.”

  “I imagine he didn’t. This is awful sudden. Are you sure you can’t stay?”

  “I’m quite certain. Believe me, I wish I could, but this is something I must do.”

  “You’ll be missed.”

  “And I’ll miss Dominion Falls.” Once again she was leaving because of forces out of her control. Perhaps one day those forces would bring her back. She returned Cora’s half-hug before disentangling herself and darting up the stairs.

  The packages turned out to be the pants she’d had tailored, but she didn’t have the heart to try them on. Instead, she set them in her trunk.

  She sat on her bed with a sigh and looked out the small window over the town. “I’m sorry, Norman. The truth would be harder to take. One day, maybe, it’ll be time to tell. One day, maybe, I’ll come back for good.”

  * * * *

  The journey had been long and exhausting. Every inch of Kat’s body ached, and she only wanted to crawl into the soft bed she knew would be waiting on her. Unfortunately, one thing impeded her path to that bed.

  Or rather, one person.

  She hadn’t dared to message ahead that she was leaving, although she suspected Norman might have said something to cease the influx of telegrams. Of course, she wouldn’t know, because Norman hadn’t softened one iota in the time she’d been in Dominion Falls. There’d been no loving farewell, no more requests to stay. The stubborn man would hold onto his grudge until heaven knew when.

  “For at least a year, until I can safely travel again. Right, little one?” She set her hand on her belly and fought off a yawn as the carriage slowed to a stop. When the driver opened the door, she accepted his help out of the carriage, but didn’t wait for him to get her bags before rushing up the walk to the door.

  Much to her surprise Patrick opened the door before she’d even knocked. He lifted a brow high enough to disappear under his currently unruly hair. “There you are. You had me worried.”

  “Patrick. I was hoping—perhaps I might stay here a while.”

  “You’re always welcome, your room is prepared for you, but you know I must ask why. What happened? You were happy, and dare I say, in love?”

  “You could dare, but as it didn’t end well I’d rather you didn’t.” She accepted his help inside, and offered a wave to the butler, Loren as he passed to handle her bags. On the way to the parlor, she said little, but once she was seated the words spilled out. “I’m with child. No, it’s not Norman’s, it’s Cole’s.”

  “Oh, he wouldn’t care for that.”

  “No, he wouldn’t. Norman wouldn’t, either. He’d say he’s too old to raise a child. He’d certainly not care for the fact that my child is Cole’s. I have to say, Pearl’s message came at just the right time.”

  Patrick sighed and set his hand on hers. “Are you all right?”

  “I don’t know. The way Norman and I parted, I don’t think he’ll ever forgive me.”

  “He’s the one that told me you’d left and when to expect you.” He offered a weak smile. “He’s also the one that has been concerned that you didn’t arrive sooner.”

  “My train was delayed. Another up the line had trouble we had to wait on. It caused us to be sitting there a full extra day.” She felt a flutter of hope bloom in her chest. “He was worried?”

  “Yes.”

  “I suppose there’s hope, then.”

  “There always is. Now, what are we going to do about this child?”

  “What do you expect we’re going to do? I’m going to raise it, it is my child. I imagine Uncle Patrick is going to be spoiling the thing until it is rotten.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you.”

  “I do enjoy the sound of that. Uncle Patrick.” He grinned. “Come. We’ll have Loren move your things to the room next to mine. It has an adjoining bedroom you can use for the baby. Oh, and we’ll have to start looking for a governess now.”

  “I don’t require a governess.”

  “Of course you don’t; it’s for the child.”

  “You are going to spoil him.”

  “Or her. And yes, I am.”

  Home

  Five years later again, and Kat had returned to Dominion Falls for another visit. After Cindy had been born, she’d come back at least twice a year to visit. This time, something was different.

  Even Patrick, as cool and collected as he usually was, had reservations about her departure this time. At the train station he’d held Cindy’s hand and tried to convince Kat to stay. He had told her something this time made him think she wouldn’t come back, except to get Cindy.

  It was ridiculous, of course. Nothing had changed. She still didn’t want to get married, and the longer she stayed in Dominion Falls on each visit, the more Norman talked about her staying on and marriage all over again.

  From her first return visit, Norman had been too happy to see her to remain upset with her. She’d been just as happy to see him. Every return visit was a treasure, but they all only lasted a month—six weeks at most—she had a daughter to return to, after all.

  The only thing distinctly different this visit was the buzz around town about some woman that had taken up with Cole, much as Kat had done years ago. Norman had regaled Kat with stories of the woman’s amnesia and the mystery around her. Of course, the buckets of scandal the woman had managed to cause had the old biddy’s buzzing with all the gossip. Truth be told, the woman sounded right up Kat’s alley.

  While that was interesting enough, Kat had also caught a glimpse of Graham Cooke with a Chinese woman. She’d been so amused by the idea of the large buffoon coupling with the miniscule Linh Moon, she’d made the mistake of joking about it to Hammy. Of course, from there word had spread like wildfire and left the mess in front of her.

  Shouted words came from inside the saloon, and the crowd outside leaned in to hear Graham shout at the blond woman that had followed none other than Sheriff David Schaffer and a handsome deputy inside. Kat made her way through the crowd, ignoring the destroyed property outside the entrance. />
  Just as she reached the door to right the misconception that someone else had said something about Graham’s affair, the blond woman toppled over a turned table, and the sheriff and deputy attacked the beast of a man that was Graham.

  David called out, “Jane, are you all right?”

  The woman on the floor blinked. Her movements were slow, but she lifted a hand in a small wave. “I’m fine. I just need a minute. Keep doing what you need to.”

  “Good,” David grunted. “Bastard is fighting us half asleep. Daisy! We need something to calm him down.”

  Daisy, or as Kat had once known her, Dr. Caroline Pearson, brushed past her with hardly a word. Since Cole’s prediction had once again proven right, and Caroline had become Daisy the whore, she hardly spoke to Kat when she returned. Maybe because she was embarrassed, Kat couldn’t be sure.

  Kat shrugged off the thoughts and turned her attention back to the woman on the floor. She walked up and grinned down at Jane, even though her eyes were closed. “Sure you’re fine?” Truth was, she’d feel guilty if the woman was hurt, but Kat hoped she really was all right.

  Jane cracked open a bright blue eyes, then blinked them both at Kat’s ankles. With a shake of her head, Jane lifted her gaze up to Kat’s. A slow chuckle lit her features into a warm smile. “You must be Katherine.”

  Kat nodded and grinned broader. “You got me. You still didn’t answer my question. Are you sure you’re fine?”

  “A little sore, but I guess it’s better than being trapped under that beast.”

  “Makes you wonder how Linh managed, doesn’t it?” Kat held out her hand to help Jane to her feet. “Come on.”

  Jane took her hand and accepted the help to her feet. After she’d stretched out with a groan, she nodded to Kat. “I’m Jane, by the way.”

  “Good to meet you. I’m sorry he blamed you. I was the one that blabbed.”

  “Even if he knew that, he would have blamed me.” Jane sighed as Graham was dragged past them, unconscious. She rubbed the back of her neck as she scanned the building. “They just had to rebuild a few months ago, thanks to the renegades. Now this.”

  “They’ll manage. Always do.” Kat set her hands on her hips and pursed her lips. Guilt over her part in the chaos nagged at her. “But I guess I should help clean up. It’s appropriate penance for causing it.”

  “You really blabbed?”

  “Yes. I found it amusing and shared it with Hammy.”

  “That was your first mistake.”

  Kat didn’t bother to contain her laughter. She already liked Jane, the woman had a good sense of humor and understood several of the townies already. “Oh, so true. He’s a bigger gossip than my sister.”

  Jane’s cough didn’t quite cover a giggle. She sighed. “I’m sure your sister had plenty to say about me.”

  “She sure did. Didn’t seem to like you much in general, but was appreciative of your attempt to help once she was in jail.”

  “Feeling’s mutual. We tolerate civility.” A blush burned bright on Jane’s cheeks. “Not that she’s not a good person. She let me stay in the boarding house. She—”

  “No need.” Kat held up her hand to stem the rambling. If anyone knew the sort of person Martha was, it was Kat. “She’s judgmental. A bit of a hypocrite, really. She’s my sister, I know. However, that’s how I knew I’d like you.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Really.” After all, anyone her sister could work up the venom to dislike, had to be someone Kat would love. She brushed some dust from her bodice. “Well I’d better get to work. See if I can’t get some of those lousy drunks to help.”

  “I’ll help.”

  Kat stopped short in surprise. While she’d heard of Jane’s torrid affair with Cole, she also heard they’d parted ways quite certainly, to the point of ignoring each other. “Why?”

  Jane didn’t meet her gaze, instead bending to right a chair. “I have a sick need to keep helping Cole.”

  “Oh. We’re going to get along just fine, Jane. Just fine.”

  *To Be Continued*

  (In the Dominion Falls Series)

  About the Author

  Sarah Cass’ world is regularly turned upside down by her three special needs kids and loving mate, so she breaks genre barriers; dabbling in horror, straight fiction and urban fantasy. She loves historicals and romance, and characters who are real and flawed, so she writes to understand what makes her fictional people tick. And she lives for a happy ending – eventually. And enough twists to make it look like she enjoys her title of Queen of Trauma Drama a little too much.

  An ADD tendency leaves her with a variety of interests that include singing, dancing, crafting, cooking, and being a photographer. She fights through the struggles of the day, knowing the battles are her crucible; she may emerge scarred, but always stronger. The rhythms to her activities drive her words forward, pushing her through the labyrinths of the heart and the nightmares of the mind, driving her to find resolutions to her characters’ problems.

  While busy creating worlds and characters as real to her as her own family, she leads an active online life with her blog, Redefining Perfect, which gives a real and sometimes raw glimpse into her life and art. You can most often find her popping out her 140 characters in Twitter speak, and on Facebook.

  http://authorsarahcass.com

  Twitter

  Facebook

  Goodreads

  Amazon Author Page

  Other Books by Sarah Cass

  The Dominion Falls Series

  Changing Tracks

  Derailed

  Dark Territory

  Runaway Train

  The Lake Point Series

  Santa, Maybe

  Deep-Fried Sweethearts

  Stalled Independence

  Witch Way

  Stand Alone Novels

  Masked Hearts

  Leap