Katrina’s Sight
Regency Romantic Suspense
By: Marie Higgins
Previously Published as “Amazon Sunset”
Copyright © 2014 (revised 2017) by Marie Higgins
Edition License Notes
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Katrina's Sight (The Gifted, #2)
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES
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The gift she never wanted...
Since Katrina Landon was a young girl, she has always had the gift of forewarnings. Usually this sight has never disrupted her life. Until now. The wealthy father she has never known wants to meet her, but she has to travel from the slums of London through the Amazon rainforest to his plantation in order to get an inheritance. But her premonitions are warning her of the dangers ahead. If only her gift could tell her more about the handsome guide, Mr. Knightly, who immediately stirs her temper...and her interest.
Felix Knightly isn’t looking forward to escorting a spoiled rich girl through the jungle no matter how much her father pays. Yet when he meets her, he finds Katrina’s distracting innocence and charming demeanor unsettling. He’s not certain what to think about the sudden forewarnings she keeps giving. He’d rather fight off the fire ants, howler monkeys, and crocodiles than risk losing his heart to her, since he’s never met a wealthy woman who is honest.
As they delve deeper into the shadows of the rainforest, they discover they weren’t just wrong about each other, they were wrong about the dangers of the jungle. Someone wants them dead and they have to find out who and why before it’s too late.
ONE
Macapá, Brazil
BRAZIL WAS JUST A POLITE word replacement for welcome to Hades.
Katrina Landon dabbed a white, lace handkerchief at her moist neck for the umpteenth time, uncomfortable with the smoldering heat in this country. Why people lived in temperatures that were so blasted hot, she certainly didn’t know.
In the two days she’d been here, she’d seen women wearing light weight clothes. At first, she thought it scandalous, but now she wished she could trade places with them just long enough to cool down. Even the shoes she wore seemed too stuffy for her feet.
She and her mother had been walking for at least ten minutes after leaving the inn where they were staying. Walking in this heat nearly suffocated her. She’d already had enough of this country and she wanted to return home to London. If not for her frail mother who grasped Katrina’s elbow tightly as they moved down the cobblestone road, she would have insisted they return home and forget about this place.
Unfortunately, Katrina couldn’t do that. There were two reasons she was here. One, to meet her father, and two...to try and stop the terrible tragedy that would happen soon.
“Where did the innkeeper say that building was?” she asked her mother. Katrina scanned both sides of the busy street, but she couldn’t see any building that was fancy enough to be a solicitor’s office.
Her mother paused, and placed a hand on the bodice of her baby blue day dress, and took a deep breath. Fatigue from the walk was evident on her pale face and the way she struggled for her next breath. If the innkeeper would have told them the solicitor’s office was this far away, Katrina would have hailed down a hackney for them to travel in.
She gently patted her mother’s hand. “Are you going to be able to make it?”
A weary smile tugged on the corners of her mother’s mouth. “Allow me to catch my breath first.”
Katrina took another quick glance at the nearby buildings. One was a milliner’s shop. “Look.” She pointed to the store. “Let me take you there. I’m certain they will have a place for you to sit. I can look for the solicitor’s office—”
“I won’t hear of it.” Her mother’s voice was strong considering how ill she appeared. “We shall go together. All I need is another minute or so to collect my strength before we move on.”
Leaning her slender body against the nearest tree, her mother patted a shaky hand to the coiled bun her hair had been tightly pulled into. A few strands of light brown hair, lightly streaked with gray, had fallen loose from their walk. In the past ten years, their lowly situation had taken its toll on her mother, which caused more wrinkles on the mid forty-year-old woman’s face. She had been a very handsome woman in her youth.
Katrina wished she could convince her mother to hire a hackney, but they were very low on funds. She didn’t dare argue with her mother for fear it would take too much of the older woman’s energy. Once more, Katrina took in their surroundings. The buildings were not as close together as what she was used to in London. Some were even slightly nicer here in this small town.
It surprised Katrina that more of the Brazilian people didn’t gape at them as if they’d accidentally walked into the wrong country, especially since they wore more fashionable gowns in London than in this country. She dabbed the handkerchief at her neck again. For certain, the material of her day dress was too thick. She shouldn’t be wearing this in such scorching temperatures.
Laughter from children pulled Katrina’s attention to across the street. Three little girls, who she suspected were between six and eight years of age, were kicking a beige leather ball back and forth to each other near the main road. It appeared they were trying to keep it in their circle as they moved slowly up the street.
Katrina’s first urge was to smile, but then memories from her lonely childhood resurfaced, reminding her that she didn’t have many friends, and the acquaintances she had were adults. None of them took the time to play kick ball. Then again, they were too weary for childish games after a long day of serving ale.
In an instant, her mind opened up, taking her away for a moment, and she saw the three girls again. The older one with pigtails kicked the ball hard, making it roll into the street. The younger girl darted after it. Not far up the street, an out-of-control wagon surged toward the girl. The young girl looked up to see the vehicle, but froze...
A loud commotion shook Katrina from her premonition as a wagon raced down the street. People who’d been crossing the road scampered to get out of the man’s way. Immediately, she looked toward the girls. For now, they were safe, but her forewarning let her know that might not be the end result.
Holding her breath, she switched her gaze between the girls and the speeding horses pulling the wagon. Suddenly, the older girl kicked the ball into the road. The youngest girl scampered out, chasing the toy. With arms outstretched in front of her, the girl’s attention was only focused on the ball as her long, black locks of hair bounced around her shoulders.
“No!” Katrina shouted as her heartbeat quickened. She rushed out after the girl. Katrina’s mother’s voice pierced the air, but she ignored the older
woman. Although it placed Katrina in danger, she must try to save the little girl.
Not worrying about the toy ball, Katrina hurried after the child. The wagon came closer, and the girl finally noticed. Just as what happened in Katrina’s forewarning, the girl’s body froze as she watched the approaching wagon. Quickly, Katrina scooped her up in her arms. Her speedy footsteps didn’t falter, and she was able to deliver the girl on the other side of the road before the wild horses could run them over.
Katrina expelled a gush of air as she set the child down. The girl’s big brown eyes were wide with fright. She looked at Katrina, and then toward the wagon moving along down the road. The girl muttered something in her native language as a smile of gratitude touched her mouth. Katrina couldn’t understand the words, but the child’s expression said it all.
“I’m glad you’re safe.” Katrina nodded to the girl. “Just stay away from the road and you won’t get hurt.” She pointed to where the girl’s friends stood, both with wide eyes and mouths agape.
Sighing again with relief, Katrina moved back across the street toward her mother. More color had evaded the frail woman’s already pale cheeks. Inwardly, Katrina groaned. She didn’t mean to worry her, but the child had to be saved.
“Thank the Lord you are all right,” her mother said in a rush, grasping Katrina’s hands.
“I am, and thankfully, so is the little girl.” She shook her head. “Mere minutes before it happened, I received one of my...sights. That’s why I knew I had to act quickly.”
Her mother patted her cheek. “You have such a caring heart.”
Katrina stared at her mother for a few seconds longer. She still didn’t know if her mother truly believed she had these strange sights of what was about to happen, only because after she had them, her mother patted her cheeks and told her what a caring heart she had. Or, her mother told her what a precious girl she was. Katrina was rather tired of hearing this phrase from her parent.
Wiping off the moisture from her forehead, Katrina moved her attention back to the child who was now walking with her friends up the street. Out of the corner of her eyes, a sign caught her attention, and the solicitor’s name stood out in bold letters—FRANK JAMISON, LAWYER.
“There’s the building we’re looking for.” Katrina wrapped her mother’s hands around her elbow before leading them across the street.
“Oh, finally.” Her mother sighed. “I just want to get this over and done with. If it were up to me, we wouldn’t be here at all.” She aimed a blaming gaze toward Katrina. “Have you forgotten that your father has never contacted you this whole time?”
Inwardly, Katrina groaned. “Honestly, Mother. We have been over this several times already. I haven’t forgiven that man for not wanting to be my father, however, because of the premonition I received after getting his letter, I felt that coming here was urgent.” She tapped her mother’s fingers. “Besides that, I’ll be receiving an inheritance. Do you not think we should be able to finally get some of his money?”
“I suppose.”
Her mother’s stone expression let Katrina know she didn’t want to talk anymore on this subject. To be quite honest, neither did Katrina.
The awful heat from this country had dampened her spirits considerably. It was nice to be able to receive some money from his solicitor in order to obtain new gowns for her and her mother, and passages on the ship to get them here, but Katrina knew she had to save her father. He was in great danger. If she didn’t save him, she wouldn’t get her full inheritance, and she had gone twenty-four years without money. It was high time she was rewarded.
“Let’s hope the attorney is in,” Katrina said in a tight voice. “I’m not sure I can tolerate this heat any longer.”
“Yes, I’m sure we’ll get it soon. Before you know it, we’ll be heading back to London.” Her mother’s shoulders straightened. “Just promise me that you’ll be on your best behavior.”
Shock washed over her. Best behavior? Had she not been that way since they walked off the ship? “Mother, exactly how do you wish me to act? Have I not been docile this whole time?”
Her mother huffed and shook her head. “I know my daughter well. I realize how upset you have been over this ordeal with your father, but you must put those hostile feelings aside. I don’t want to give the solicitor any reason to deny us your inheritance. I can only imagine what your father has told this man about us, and so we must present ourselves as well-bred ladies.”
Katrina snorted an unexpected laugh that left her throat. “You have got to be jesting. We are not well-bred ladies, or have you forgotten?”
Her mother scowled. “Katrina, you know I’m quite serious. I have raised you with manners, and I have shown you how to dress and act like a lady—even if our circumstances didn’t allow for us to show it very often. However, we are here now, and we will act like refined women. Is that understood?”
“Indubitably,” Katrina replied as she lifted her chin, trying her hardest to sound more educated this time. “I suppose my performing skills are well developed since I’ve been acting most of my life.” She struggled to smile since the real feeling running through her right now was not contentment. Far from it, in fact. “Shall we proceed inside now, Mother?”
Her mother patted Katrina’s cheek. “That’s a good girl.”
Katrina followed her mother inside the stuffy building. Several chairs and desks were in the main hall, but nobody occupied the area. The nearest office door was closed. From inside came the deep voices of arguing men.
“Apparently, Mr. Jamison is with another client,” her mother stated while walking to a chair and sitting.
Her mother cleared her throat a few times before a fit of coughs shook her chest. Katrina quickly reached into the sleeve at her wrist and pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her mother. The older woman placed the cloth against her mouth until her coughs subsided.
Katrina frowned. Her mother’s ailment had been going on for too long and becoming worse by the day. She needed a doctor soon. Hopefully, Katrina would get the money promised as stated in her father’s letter that had arrived a little over two months ago. Then they’d be able to pay for her medicine.
The day the letter arrived was so clear in her mind. The tavern had been slow, which meant she and her mother hadn’t earned a lot of money. Mother had stepped into the kitchen for a moment when a delivery boy brought in a missive addressed to Miss Katrina Landon. Curious to see who would be sending her correspondence, she quickly opened the paper and read...and then almost fell to the floor in shock. The very man who had abandoned them even before Katrina was born, wanted her to come to Macapá, Brazil. He was sending funds for some new dresses and for traveling expenses. The letter stated he wanted to give Katrina the money he’d set aside for her inheritance, and he wanted to meet with her before he died.
Thinking it was a hoax, Katrina nearly threw the letter in the fire, but then she’d received one of her forewarning visions. She could picture a man with some odd-looking dart being shot into his neck as he stood in a thick jungle. She couldn’t see a face, but the man collapsed. The next thing she saw was a house on fire. The trees around the house appeared to be the exact ones that were in her jungle vision. Deep down inside, she knew this was about the letter—about her father. He was in danger.
The very next day after she’d received the letter, a solicitor arrived at their doorstep, explaining he was taking her shopping. It had been a dream-come-true. Still, Katrina was leery of it all. Why would the old man want to give her anything now when he had never acknowledged her as his daughter before?
A bead of sweat ran down her neck, and she swiped her fingers to remove the moisture. Underneath the lacy edge of her bodice, her skin itched. The blasted humidity made her clothes so bothersome.
Across the hall inside the solicitor’s office, the men’s voices lifted again—one, louder than the other. Obviously, someone wasn’t very pleased. She glanced at her mother who was also staring a
t the closed door.
“If that man doesn’t hurry,” Katrina stated, “I’ll be melted into a puddle by the time he’s ready to meet with us.”
“As will I, dear.”
From her lips to God’s ears... Within moments, the door opened and a man stormed out. As soon as he saw Katrina and her mother, he came to a sudden stop. Probably in his early thirties, the man’s black bushy eyebrows drew together in a scowl. As he ran his steely blue gaze over Katrina, his upper lip curled in distaste. Huffing, he clamped his hat on his head, and quickly exited the building.
“I wonder what got his breeches in a twist?”
“Katrina dear,” her mother snapped, “watch your language.”
She threw her mother a confused stare. “What are you talking about? I was watching my language.”
From the office door, a man cleared his throat. Katrina whipped her attention to the rotund older man with thinning white hair. She quickly stood as did her mother.
“Good day. You must be Mrs. Lucy Landon and Miss Katrina Landon?”
His smile appeared forced as his gaze moved over both of them. Obviously, he was assessing them to see if they fit the description Katrina’s father had probably given. Still, she truly didn’t care what her father—or his solicitor—thought of them. She was afraid that if she didn’t approve of the lawyer’s words, her temper would snap and then her mother could indeed scold her for not watching her language.
The man inhaled sharply, and slowly blew it out between his thinned lips. His tailored clothes and haughty demeanor confirmed his wealthy upbringing. His degrading holier-than-thou attitude greatly offended her. Being raised in the slums of London, she was used to this treatment, but for some reason this man made her feel lower than usual.
The foul names Katrina wanted to call him hung on the tip of her mind, and she tried desperately not to say them—even to the point of clamping her teeth on her tongue. Apparently, this man knew about their dire situation and what type of women they were, thanks to Henry Landon’s neglect.
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