"I found some old chairs to use for firewood. They're in a dilapidated state, but they'll burn if necessary. At least we should have enough wood in the house to stay warm until morning."
Katie turned to him, taking the edge of her cloak in her hand and wiping the soot from his face. "We aren't that far from town. Is there no way we can go back tonight?"
"Listen to me, Kaitlynne. There is most likely a whiteout outside. Would you rather be trapped in here with some warmth or out there, with wolves?"
She blinked. "Here. Will we be able to get back in the morning?"
"It depends on our visibility." He took her face in his hands. "I won't lie to you, Katie. We're in a predicament here. Any number of things could happen. The wolves could stay close by. The only reason they're this close to town is because the weather has been so bad lately and their food supply is limited. That's one thing. The blizzard could get worse. You're right; we're not that far from the nearest house in town, if we just knew where it was. Remember when you were outside the barn at the inn? You were probably no further than five or six feet away; you just couldn't tell where you were. I think I know where the nearest house is, but right now, there is no way I'd try to make it back tonight." He turned her shoulders so she faced him. "And I'm sorry, Katie, but it's too late to save your reputation. We've been gone too long, already."
"I don't care about my reputation. I only care about you."
"That's a lovely sentiment, sweetheart, but I do care about yours. You should know that."
Katie lowered her head and buried her face into his neck, and he held her fast.
"It pains me to say this is something I can't fix for you, but it's the truth. Since we're stuck here for the night, I suppose we'll have to make the best of it."
She looked up in disbelief. "Nicholas Wellington? Are you going to say what I think you're going to say?"
He raised a brow. "It depends on what you're thinking." He stared down at her, and her face became scarlet. He took the quilt off the wooden sofa and folded it inside out, laying it on the floor so it was wide enough for both of them. Putting Katie down the closest to the fire, he crawled down behind her and put the blankets over them, drawing her back against his chest.
"Don't think that you're out of trouble, young lady. You have a spanking in your near future for putting yourself in such terrible danger." His stern look caused her to lower her head. "But not tonight. And now, it's time to tell me exactly what Miss Watson said to you. No, don't turn away from me. I want to hear it."
She scowled and began to tell him what had happened. "I wanted to find you, and you were gone. Where were you?"
"I was at the Andrews' stable, feeding and grooming the horses. Gleason can't do it right now."
"Then you should have told me you were leaving."
Lifting her chin, he stared down into her eyes. "I've been taking care of them every day, Kaitlynne. Someone had to. Your only job was to obey me and stay upstairs. I'd have been back within a few moments, if you'd just stayed put." When he tilted her head back further, she scowled, and he continued. "I was on my way back to the church when I heard your voice. I followed your prints between the houses, and I saw the wolves and you, at the same time. I can't tell you how much it scared me."
"I'm sorry."
"It's understandable why you believed her. She's very convincing when she wants to be. I am, however, still upset with you. You knew better than to leave the church, regardless of what she said." He raised up on one elbow and looked down into her face. "You, Katie, have such a pure heart, and you expect that everyone else does, too. I wish I could say they did. Unfortunately, it just isn't so." He leaned down to kiss her and stared at her a moment longer. When she reached up with her left hand to caress his cheek, he shook his head.
"No, Katie. I can't take a chance on getting carried away with you here…with us alone. Not tonight. It would be far too easy. But what I am going to suggest is a way to spend the evening."
"How?"
"Telling each other stories. The rules?" He wrapped his arms around her, continuing. "We'll each pick something that happened when we were younger and tell the story of how it happened. First, it should be something both of us were present for. Then we'll see if we both remember it the same way."
Katie wiggled in his arms to face him, and he watched her animated face as she began to warm up to the idea. "You, first," she said, grinning.
He began, telling her the story about how he'd broken his wrist. When he finished, she shook her head.
"That's not the way I remember it."
He raised a brow. "Then tell me. How do you recall it?"
"You were riding Sentry, not Hunt. And I was riding Flame."
He kissed her nose. "Are you sure?"
"I'll never forget how you looked on him. I'm quite sure."
"Hm. I'll take your word for it. Your turn."
It was surprising how many things they remembered exactly the same way.
"Now," he said. "I'm changing the rules. This time, you are to tell stories I was not present for."
They took turns. Some of Katie's stories were harrowing. He frowned at her, kissing her forehead. They talked into the night as Katie relaxed in his arms. He tried to make her as comfortable as he could; there was no laudanum available to give her tonight, and he knew she wouldn't complain, even if she was hurting. After a lull in the conversation, Katie looked upward over her shoulder, eyeing him.
"Nick?"
"Yes?"
"If…" She paused. "If you wanted to—you know—"
"No, Katie."
The look in her eyes held hurt, and he ran this thumb gently along her cheek. "Listen to me, my darling. I have every hope that we'll make it back to the church, tomorrow. Until then, I want you to be as pure when you get back as you were when you left. Regardless of what the whole town thinks, there is no way I'm going to take advantage of you right now. Father Michael will likely demand to perform the sacrament of matrimony the instant he sees us, but you'll remain a virgin until we marry. Do you understand?"
She sighed. "I guess so."
"And," he added. "If you wiggle your delightful bottom against me one more time, I'm going to take the rungs off one of those chairs and spank you with it. Hear me? It's hard enough as it is to keep my hands off you."
"I hear."
"But you're disappointed; I can hear it in your voice. Don't pout."
She chewed her lower lip. "Yes, sir."
He chuckled and leaned back down behind her, pulling her against him.
A moment later, she whispered, "I'm sorry, Nick."
He tilted his head, waiting.
"I shouldn't have believed her. I was just so afraid of losing you…" she said, faltering.
Nick tucked her head under his chin, hugging her to him. "There's no way you could lose me, sweetheart. I'll be here forever." He paused. "Unless you keep this up."
She looked over her shoulder uncertainly, and he smiled.
"You've scared me out of another life," he said in a deep voice filled with emotion. "Now I'm down to six."
Awakening to Kisses
"Katie?"
She blinked, feeling feather-soft kisses across her face, and opened her eyes. The room was bright with sunlight. Smiling, she wrapped her left arm around his neck and pulled his face to hers.
"Do you hear that?"
She paused. "No?"
Nick grinned and kissed her again. "That's what I mean. The snow has stopped and the sun's out. It's still early. You and I need to get back to the church and appear before Father Michael."
"Oh." Her expression changed. "Nick, you don't have to marry me."
"What?"
"I mean, I want to marry you. Very much, but I don't want you to marry me because you feel like you have to. I want you to marry me because you want to."
"Oh, no, you don't. There is nothing in this world that would keep me from marrying you, Kaitlynne Adams. Hear me?"
A small sm
ile appeared. "Yes?"
"Good. Let's go."
Her arm hurt; her head hurt. But Katie's heart sang with joy as he helped her up to her feet. She moved toward the window and looked out.
He was right. The room was growing cool, and the fire had all but gone out during the night. Nick turned her to face him, pulling her cloak tightly around her and her hood up. They stood there a moment, staring at the soot on each other's faces, and began to laugh.
"Come, my girl," he said.
There were no traces of the wolves, this morning. The snow had left another foot during the night, but they could see the houses in town and the spire of the church ahead. Katie's skirts dragged down in the snow, and Nick ended up lifting her into his arms and carrying her most of the way.
Outside the church, he set her down on her feet. "Are you ready for this?"
She nodded.
Taking her hand, he helped her up the steps and opened the door. It was quiet inside. Gleason was out of his cot but leaning on one arm and asleep on the edge of the pew.
They crept past him and quietly opened the door to Father Michael's office.
He was down on his knees, praying.
"Father Michael?" Nick's voice was a whisper.
At first, there was no response. Then, finally, as if he didn't believe what he was hearing, he looked up.
"Nicholas! Katie—but look at you! What happened?"
Nick softly closed the door behind them and told him, with Katie putting in pieces of the story. The priest sat back in his chair, shaking his head with relief.
"My children, despite the truth of your story—and I do believe you—you realize that there is only one thing that can be done."
Nick nodded. "Yes, Father. Do you need witnesses for our Sacrament of Matrimony?"
Father Michael looked toward them, deep in thought. "I realize your family is all probably at Pembroke, Nicholas. However, Katie, your grandmother is down stairs and your grandfather is just across the street. Shall we go and get them?"
"Yes, sir. Please?"
Nick added, "Send Gleason across for Katie's grandfather. He may want to be a witness, himself.
Father Michael's eyes were sparkling. "Indeed. I'll return shortly."
Nick turned to Katie, lifting her chin and kissing her, soot and all. "I wish I could give you the option of changing your mind, Kaitlynne. But under these circumstances…"
"I don't want to change my mind, Nick. I've waited for this all my life."
He drew her into his arms. "So have I."
The door flew open, and Katie's grandmother stood there, eyeing them furiously.
"Where have you been, you two? We worried to death the entire night for you!"
"Trapped in a cabin, outside town by wolves, ma'am," Nick responded.
Marilyn rushed to Katie, enveloping her in a hug, and then to Nick. "It's not you I'm angry with," she said. "When Miss Watson found out that you both were out there somewhere in the night, she confessed what she'd done. I'm just irritated I didn't know you were both all right. Cinderella and Betsy sat up the whole night, unable to sleep. We couldn't even tell anyone else—the Wilder sisters would have spread it—" She wandered over to the window, shaking her head. "Oh, God. What a mess."
Father Michael was back. "Gleason has gone across the street to get Otho, Mrs. Thatcher."
At that moment, Katie's grandfather burst into the office, with Gleason behind him, demanding to know what was happening. Voices between her grandparents and Father Michael created a cacophony that filled the room as Nick pulled up a chair and dragged Katie into his lap, grinning at her. When she looked up at Gleason, he had one side of his mouth raised in amusement.
"Is anyone listening to me?" It was Katie's voice, uncharacteristically firm, for her.
They all turned to look at her, surprised.
"Speak, child," Father Michael said softly.
"I thought Nick was out looking for me because Miss Watson told me he was. He heard me calling out at the same time he heard the wolves approaching. He got us to safety inside the old shack and built a fire. And I wanted to make love, but he wouldn't. He wanted me to stay a virgin until we were married. Does that answer everyone's questions?"
Her voice had grown louder with each sentence. Her grandfather's face was growing a distinct shade of red, and Father Michael's amusement was deepening. Her grandmother's face, however, looked satisfied. Gleason was chuckling with mirth.
"I think," Nick confirmed, looking from one to the other. "My darling bride-to-be has stated the situation perfectly. If you are ready, we'd like to get on with this? We did want both of you to be present, however. And Gleason, it's a delight to have you here, thank you. Father, would you be so kind?"
Father Michael's grin answered him.
Nick reached for Katie's hand, and she put hers instantly in his. Switching hands so that he was holding her left one in his and had his right around her waist, he drew her closer into his embrace as they stood before Father Michael with one grandparent on each side of them.
He watched her face as the ceremony continued. It was still smudged with soot, but her beautiful big blue eyes sought his, full of love. Never, since the time he'd first known her, had she looked more beautiful.
"Nicholas?" It was Father Michael's voice.
Nick looked up. So did Katie.
"The vows? Do you want me to start them again?"
Nick chuckled. "Perhaps you'd better, Father."
This time, he paid attention. But he turned her to face him as it was time to say them.
Katie had as much trouble as he did. When Father Michael pronounced them man and wife, he lifted her off her feet in front of both grandparents and kissed her soundly.
Grandmother Thatcher hugged both of them as they finished and smiled. "Both of you, listen to me," she said softly. "Our house is empty. It's easy to heat. Your grandfather had a boiler installed, so you won't have to carry water for bathing. I'll go down and fix you a good breakfast, and after that, you should go to the house. Katie, you know where the guest room is. Use it."
Gleason was grinning from ear to ear as he shook Nick's hand and hugged Katie. "Do you have any idea how jealous your father is going to be when he realizes I attended your wedding and he didn't?"
"Don't tell him," Nick answered as he threw his head back, laughing. Katie's grandmother went downstairs to make them breakfast, and her grandfather congratulated them before going back across the street.
"Wait here, sweetheart. You can close your eyes if you wish. I'll wake you when she brings breakfast upstairs."
"I'm not sleepy," she chirped, excited. But as he waited, watching her, he felt himself falling asleep. He barely heard the footfalls when Mrs. Thatcher brought the plates up to them, overflowing with food.
Grandmother Marilyn's voice awakened Katie as she set the plates of food down. "Wake up, both of you. You can't fall asleep on your wedding day."
Nick sat up with a sudden jerk, and Katie burst into laughter. "Nick was awake most of the night keeping us warm and keeping the wolves at bay," she explained.
"Don't laugh at me." He glanced down at the plate of food in Mrs. Thatcher's hands. "Oh, my. Thank you, ma'am. I think you'll have to give your granddaughter lessons."
"I intend to. But, Nick, let me tell you. The ladies downstairs are intent on going home as soon as possible. I know we got more snow last night, but they wished me to ask when you thought it would be all right for them to go back. Except for Mrs. Billings. She'll be going to the dormitory to stay with Louisa."
"I'm so happy about that," Katie whispered.
"I think we all are, sweets. But she seems the happiest of all. So, Nick, what shall I tell them?"
Katie watched Nick's face as he frowned. "Tell them tomorrow. If they truly want to go home, they may; we'll get them there. However, they should realize that the snow has melted and frozen several times since they've been in here. The layer underneath is extremely slick. They also need to be re
ady to come back if this happens again. It's early in the winter; who knows how much snow we'll have between now and spring?"
"I'll tell them. Is it possible for you to come back, tomorrow afternoon, and help some of them get home?"
Katie observed Nick's face. "Perhaps. Again, it depends upon the weather."
"I'll tell them. And one more thing. I'm quite proud of you both. Katie, are you still doing a vow ceremony on the twenty-third? You realize your mother will be extremely disappointed if there isn't a wedding she gets to attend."
Katie looked at her, shocked. "But I thought—"
"Of course, we will." Nick interjected. "I think the whole town will be disappointed if they find out they've missed it. Won't they, Katie?"
She looked up, tight lipped. "Yes," she murmured softly.
"Then I'll tell everyone downstairs you've gone home for a bit. I won't tell them you're in town or where. Gleason, put the dishes in the dumbwaiter when they're through and start it down? I'll get it at the other end." She reached the top of the stairs and turned back. "And I won't tell them you're married."
Gleason approached as Grandmother Marilyn went back downstairs. "I'm taking care of the stables today, Nick, you and Katie need to go, now. If the ladies find out you said they can go home, they'll have you stopped before you get out the door."
By the time Grandmother Marilyn had reached the bottom step, she and Nick had made it out the front door and were on their way down the street toward her house.
In a Hurry
"Don't take it too fast, sweetheart. Remember what I said about it being slick." Nick put a restraining arm around her as they started across the street.
"I know, but I don't want anyone to see us until—" She stopped, and her face turned a delightful shade of pink.
Nick grinned. "You mean you don't want anyone to interrupt us."
"Well, that, too."
He began to laugh at her embarrassed expression. "Kaitlynne, do you have any idea how transparent you are?"
"No?" Her face was rueful.
"I told you never to lie." He switched hands and put a strong arm about her waist to steady her. "Especially to me. I can see right through you."
Katie's Maverick (Strasburg: The New Generation Book 2) Page 18
