Revealed (Intrigue Under Western Skies Book 3) Page 6

  Why would she bring that up? Hadn’t he always taken her to the dance and watched as she let every cowpoke in the place swing her around? He decided he’d rib her some. “I haven’t forgotten. We’ll both take Katherine. Introduce her to some of the respectable people her age.”

  Charley took him seriously. “Good idea—if we find any respectable people there. Just so long as you spend your time with me. I’m might get jealous, you know.”

  She must be joshing. Laugher rose in his chest, but he choked it down when he met her leveled stare. This was a Charley he’d never seen before. Her eyes narrowed. Darkening. Calculating. Warning.

  The direction of her hard gaze moved across the portico to where Carianne stood in the open doorway with a blanketed bundle in her arms, conversing with Katherine.

  She looked back to Colt, and her features softened to the old Charley as she reached to kiss him on the cheek. “You’ll help me with Cloud tomorrow?”

  Cloud was a silver Percheron mare with darker gray tail and mane. The color, markings, and the horse’s intelligence made her an exceptional show horse. In the ring, Charley and Cloud became one.

  He was helping her train Cloud for a new stunt. “I’ll be there in the morning.”

  ***

  A baby cried from somewhere above. Katherine rose from Mama’s bedside chair and cocked one ear to the ceiling. They’d settled in a spacious suite of two identical bedrooms with connecting door.

  One backward glance assured her Mama was asleep and her breathing normal. Surely it would be all right to go exploring. A desire to see her little nephew again put her feet in motion.

  She closed the door softly and pattered down the long hallway toward the wide staircase. No one was about. Resting one hand on the satin mahogany banister, she climbed the carpeted steps.

  At the top landing, the cries had turned to whimpers, and came from the right. The sound carried Katherine to the end of the hall where she judged to be directly above Mama’s room. The baby had quieted, and she stood a moment outside the door, contemplating what to do. Silence greeted her from all directions.

  She tapped lightly on the door, relieved when Carianne’s voice drifted from within. “Come in.”

  Carianne stood silhouetted in front of the window, holding the infant in the crook of her arm. As soon as Katherine crossed the threshold, she moved toward her, a welcoming smile in place. “Katherine, please meet the joy of my heart—little Davy.”

  Katherine touched the baby’s velvet cheek with the back of her fingers. His navy eyes remained fixed on his mother’s features, and when she looked down on him, his rosebud mouth stretched into a lop-sided grin.

  Awestruck, Katherine could only whisper, “He’s so beautiful.” She stroked his tiny hand, and he gripped her finger with surprising strength. A dart of love traveled to her heart.

  “Would you like to hold him?”

  She tore her attention away from the baby long enough to confirm Carianne was serious. “May I?”

  “Of course. Sit over here in the rocker. He loves to be rocked.” She led the way to a large rocker in the corner of the room. “I’m afraid we spoil him, but how can we resist?” She waited until Katherine was seated and lowered the little bundle into her arms.

  Katherine held her breath, afraid Davy would cry from leaving his mother, but he merely searched Katherine’s features.

  “I think I’ll go down and wait for Jack,” a woman spoke from behind Carianne. Katherine hadn’t even noticed she was in the room.

  “A good idea. You can have a long visit before supper. Lila, this is Katherine, my sister-in-law.” Carianne addressed Katherine. “Lila is Davy’s nursemaid, and one of my dearest friends.”

  Lila’s expression was unfathomable as the two women nodded to each other. She swept past them and closed the door with a soft thud.

  The baby punched his tiny fists in the air as he squirmed. Katherine had never held an infant before, but she surmised he was growing restless. She set the rocker in motion. “How old is he now?”

  Carianne didn’t even have to think. “He’ll be two months old tomorrow. I can hardly believe that, but they say babies grow fast.” She bent over to stroke the baby’s downy head covered with blond fuzz. “How is Arabella doing?”

  “I left her sleeping. I think she’s over this attack. They only last an hour or two, but when they’re happening, it seems like days.”

  “Rhyan is searching for a nurse, though that will take time, especially someone to suit him. And it’s hard to convince people to come out here to work.”

  “I don’t mind nursing her, but I’m sure a professional nurse could do a better job.” Katherine understood Rhyan would want only the best care for Mama, but she was beginning to wonder what she’d do with herself with so much time on her hands.

  “I doubt that. Dr. Ulrich says Arabella has received excellent care, considering the climate she lived in.” Carianne straightened and stretched. “In the meantime, Emma can help with the nursing. She’s very good with sick people, and she knew Arabella from…before you were born.”

  Katherine shifted the baby, comfortable now with the feel of him. She laid him on her knees, and he pumped his chubby, little legs. How perfect he was—exquisitely formed, from the tiny fists that sought his open mouth to the miniscule fingernails. Her heart melted. Here was someone of her own flesh who welcomed her without reservation.

  “Emma is Colt’s mother, right?”

  “Yes, she’ll be over for supper. She wants to meet you and see your mother.” Carianne folded diapers at a side table and dropped her work to look up. “What do you think of Colt?”

  The baby’s eyes focused on Katherine’s face, and she cooed at him.

  The question surprised her enough to stop rocking, but she ought to be used to how abrupt Carianne was. And Rhyan. They were of one mind. Katherine had never seen a couple as close in their thinking so early in their marriage. Not even Mama and Papa after sixteen years.

  Was it too much to hope she would marry her soul mate? Or marry at all?

  She’d always seen herself becoming a spinster, living a solitary life, but that notion had changed. Nothing would fulfill her more than to have a little one like this to love and cuddle one day.

  Carianne had crossed her arms and waited for an answer. Katherine dropped her gaze. “Colt is…very nice. He’s easy to talk to, and I find it hard to talk to strangers.”

  “Very well said. Colt has a calming spirit.”

  Katherine turned that over in her mind. That must be what attracted her to him, not some foolish romantic idea. She’d been anxious about meeting all these new people, and Colt was the first one, the only one, to ease her mind.

  He was handsome and kind and genteel, but there was something else about him that excited her, though she didn’t know what. It didn’t matter. He could become a friend but nothing more. He already had a lady friend. Katherine recalled that look Charley gave her. It said plainly, “He belongs to me, so don’t get any ideas.”

  “Is Colt affianced to Charley?” Affianced sounded less nosey than “getting married.”

  “They do have an understanding, but Charley is only six months into a contract at the Western Gates.”

  The baby took Katherine’s finger, tugging on it and her heart. Would she be able to find a man to share her dreams? Who didn’t have an understanding with some other woman?

  Carianne dropped her arms to her sides, evidently satisfied—for the moment anyway. “I think Davey is ready for a nap. You can lay him down and come with me if you like. I’ll show you around the house.”

  She did want to see all of the house. It was so large, she feared it would take days to become accustomed to the layout. But giving up this chance to hold onto the little fellow who shared her blood—someone who wouldn’t judge her—wasn’t an option.

  Would she ever have the joy of holding her own baby? Women were still scarce in the West. Surely someone would offer her marriage. Carianne said the
y’d hold a ball on her birthday next month. She might meet her future mate then. The thought made her sigh.

  “If you don’t mind, could I hold him a little longer?”

  Carianne smiled. “Of course not.” She stooped to kiss Davey on the top of his head. “If you need me, I’ll be in the office at the end of this hallway. Have to get to work on the next Wild West Show since I have an appointment with Charley tomorrow.” She glided softly across the room and exited the door without a sound.

  What an interesting life Carianne led. Managing a Wild West Show, a library, a theater, a large household, and being a wife and mother to boot. Katherine couldn’t imagine such a busy life. Mama had her garden club meetings and the occasional parties to entertain Papa’s clients, but she was usually content to let others take the lead.

  If only Mama could regain enough strength to get involved with something that interested her. Maybe that would give her a reason to keep on living.

  Chapter 6

  Colt tied Rusty’s reins to the rail hitching post at Sollano where three other horses turned their heads in unison to eye the newcomer. A white, a black, a sorrel. Jake came out of the stables. “Getting crowded, ain’t it?”

  “Rhyan have visitors?” Colt needed to see him, but by the looks of the white and black stallions with their fine saddles, these were important visitors.

  “Just some fellows wanting something from the Cattlemen’s Association. They wanted me to rub down their horses if I had time, but I’ve been cleaning out the tack room all afternoon. All they’re going to get is a drink and some oats.” Jake loosened the black and white. “Want to help me?”

  Colt untied the reins of the sorrel. “If they had a pale horse in the group, I’d say Rhyan got a visit from the Four Horsemen in Revelation.”

  “Revel…what?”

  Colt laughed and pulled the horse toward the stables. “The horsemen at the end of time. It’s in the Bible. Brother Hal is preaching about it this month. Real interesting stuff about what’s going to happen.”

  Jake followed with the other two horses. “Sounds like it. I’ll have to get around to the chapel one of these days. Trouble is he preaches on Sunday. I’m usually washed out by Sunday.”

  Colt settled the horses in their stalls. He’d have more success getting the animals to understand the importance of attending services than Jake. He was a young man intent on sowing his wild oats until every one was in the ground and stomped on.

  One day he’d have a long row to hoe up all those oats. “Where’s your stable boy?”

  “He quit.”

  “Quit?”

  “Well, his pa made him. Said I was teaching the boy how to gamble. All we were doing was playing poker for pennies. How much gambling can you do with pennies?”

  “Have you seen Clay lately? Does he know Maggie’s coming home next week?” Everyone knew Clay had been sweet on Maggie before she left, but she’d been a schoolgirl, and her pa wouldn’t let her start courting.

  “Yeah, he knows. The gals are planning a homecoming celebration at the next barn dance. That should give Clay a chance to sweet talk her. I heard you’re taking Charley.”

  Colt didn’t want to go there, and he expected Jake had heard that from Charley herself. “I’ll be taking both Charley and Katherine.”

  “Katherine, huh? Wonder what she’d look like gussied up.”

  Colt didn’t like the gleam in Jake’s eyes. He made a note to keep himself between Jake and Katherine as much as possible.

  They’d hardly got the horses settled when the sound of men talking grew stronger. Colt sent a glance toward the portico and sure enough, three men came into view. He recognized two of them as Charley’s cousins. The two grand horses must be from the show. He didn’t know the third man, but for sure, none of them were important.

  “Guess they’re ready to leave before their horses finish their oats.”

  He nodded to the men as they passed. They didn’t look too happy.

  Colt entered the foyer and found Rhyan half way up the staircase.

  Rhyan turned at the sound of the door opening. “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you until supper.” He spoke as he descended the stairs.

  “I came from town and stopped here on my way home because there’s something I need to talk to you about…if you have the time.”

  “After signing a contract for two hundred head of cattle, I have more time than money.” He led the way to the library.

  “You bought two hundred head from those fellows who just left?”

  Rhyan’s brows rose in confusion, then he laughed. “Winder Marston? He doesn’t own two hundred, one of the many reasons I can’t recommend him to the Association.”

  “I recognized Eros and Aries, the two show horses from the Western Gates.”

  “Yeah, Carianne lets them ride the horses to give them exercise.”

  Colt followed Rhyan t0 their customary positions in the library’s out of the way corner.

  He removed his hat and, placing it in his lap, studied the crown like he found something wrong with it. The ticks of the wall clock sounded in the silence. Now the time had come to bring up the subject, he couldn’t figure out how to arrange the words so as not to anger Rhyan, or maybe even cause an unnecessary problem.

  Rhyan noticed his hesitation. “Must be something serious.”

  Colt met his friend’s gaze and shifted in his seat. “Well, what I have to say might not even be worth mentioning…but, I thought you should know.”

  “You’ve told me things in the past not worth mentioning, but most of it’s been good advice.” Rhyan’s smile meant to encourage him.

  “It’s about Katherine.”

  “Katherine?” Rhyan’s smile disappeared. “You’ve spent about as much time with her as I have so far. What should I know?” His tone took on a serious note, and anyone who knew him knew they’d better have their facts straight.

  “It’s just that Katherine insists Gerald Levinson is her legitimate father. I don’t think she accepts the fact her parents weren’t legally married.” Knowing how much Rhyan loved his mother, it was hard to speak of the sordid details. “She insists her name is Levinson. Now, I’m no lawyer, but if she introduces herself as Katherine Levinson, people are going to believe…” he coughed. “They’ll believe the story’s true Arabella ran away to live with another man, and, well…” He trailed off and let Rhyan fill in the rest while the uncomfortable silence returned.

  “Katherine’s confused. You’re right about her not understanding Levinson and our mother were never legally married.” Rhyan stretched his long legs in front of him and steepled his fingers under his chin. “We never think of how important a name is. It defines who we are, who our antecedents are, what we’re entitled to from a legal standpoint. What society thinks of us.”

  He leaned forward, elbows on knees. “I’m not a lawyer either, but I’ve hired one to check into Katherine’s legal status. If she deserves the Cason name, there’s a sizeable estate involved, and she deserves her share. My father died without a will. Jonathan and I came to an agreement, but we didn’t know about Katherine.” He shrugged. “But if she is Levinson’s legal child, she shouldn’t be denied what’s hers from his estate either.”

  “Do you know who her…natural father is?”

  “There were rumors that Mother was expecting a child when she left, but no one would know that except her, and I’m not going to bother her with the problem while she’s so sick.”

  If Arabella knew who the father was herself. “What about Katherine’s reputation?” Colt asked.

  “Naturally, I want to keep this as quiet as possible. I know people will talk, but they don’t know for sure Mother lived with Levinson or ran away with him. All they know is she left and apparently had a child shortly afterward. She could have met Levinson after Katherine was born.”

  That was true. As far as Colt could remember, no one in Westerfield, even Ma, knew who Arabella ran away with. “Well, you’d better let Kath
erine know to keep it quiet.”

  “I will.”

  Colt combed his hair back with his fingers and positioned his hat on his head. Both men rose. “I’d better get on home so I can bring Ma for supper. She’s looking forward to it.”

  Rhyan walked with him to the door. “You might want to mention this to Emma, too. She knows more than anyone what happened back then. No need for her to…complicate matters.”

  ***

  After changing her dress for supper, Katherine hung the rest of her meager clothes in the tall cedar wardrobe in her bedroom.

  She should do something about her hair, but it was so unruly, she balked at the thought of removing the two dozen pins that held it in place in a tight bun at the nape of her neck. Back in her other life—before Papa died—she’d had a lady’s maid.

  An English maid attended Carianne, and she’d offered Katherine her services, but she didn’t want to be a burden on the poor woman. Harriet, her name was, if Katherine remembered correctly. She still got names mixed up. As far as she observed, the staff was short-handed for a house as large as this. The dearth of female servants put Maria, the housekeeper, in a bind. Carianne, too, kept in a whirlwind of activity.

  Katherine didn’t want to add to the workload. Besides, she’d have plenty of time if Emma, Colt’s mother, helped with Mama.

  Carianne brushed her concerns aside. Neighbors helped neighbors out here, and Emma, had volunteered to help with Mama’s needs until a nurse could be found. If she did, Katherine’s time would be freed to help Carianne.

  A glance at the little French clock on the fireplace mantel reminded her it was almost time to sit down to supper. She’d noticed few of the bedrooms had fireplaces, as most of the house was heated by a furnace, though that wasn’t necessary in this summer weather.

  Despite the outside heat, the interior of the house was surprisingly cool, probably owing to the thick stone walls. Katherine took in the fine furniture and furnishings of her room. Going from pauper to rich man’s sister was going to take some getting used to.