Caterina: A Sweet Western Historical Romance Pendleton Petyticoats Book 2

by Shanna Hatfield

  Chapter Eight

  Exhausted from a busy day of helping Aundy and trying to block thoughts of Kade from her mind, Caterina fell into a fitful sleep, dreaming about the details of the day that so recently changed her life.

  She stood at the stove in Uncle Laz’s restaurant stirring a pot of minestrone soup and breathed in the rich fragrance. She turned to slice a loaf of bread, fresh from the oven, then drizzled olive oil and crushed basil over the warm slices. After placing two pieces on a plate beside a bowl, she ladled in a large helping of the soup.

  “Here, take this out to him,” Caterina said to one of the waiters, tipping her head toward the door leading to the dining room.

  “He’ll ask for you. You know he will.” The young man looked at her helplessly.

  “Fine! I’ll do it myself!” She whipped off her apron and picked up the plate along with the coffee pot.

  Carefully backing out the door, she spied Luigi sitting at his usual table with his back to a wall, not trusting anyone, even while he ate.

  “To what do we owe the honor of your presence in our humble establishment this evening?” Caterina asked, her smile in sharp contrast to the malice in her tone.

  “My dear, is that any way to speak to your best customer?” Luigi asked as she set down the plate and poured him another cup of coffee.

  “Best customer?” She raised an eyebrow his direction. Luigi was far from their best customer. That would be someone who came because they loved the food she and Uncle Laz created, not because it was a place to hold meetings with underlings or terrorize people with stony glares and veiled threats.

  For the past few years, Luigi insisted Caterina serve him personally. When he was in the restaurant, she would stop what she was doing, dish up his food, and carry it to his table. There, she’d feign interest in his bragging and blustering.

  Arrogant and pompous, Luigi was old enough to be her father and not at all what she wanted in a husband, even though he seemed determined they would one day wed. Luigi often teased and taunted her, but her uncle usually managed to act as a buffer between the two.

  Although he attempted to keep the man happy, Laz remained mindful of Luigi’s ties to the mafia, especially since they fronted him the money to open his restaurant. It was a fine line he walked between doing what he knew was right and staying in Luigi’s good graces.

  “Now, Rina, you know I’m your favorite customer.” Luigi tasted his soup and nodded his head in approval.

  “Sure you are.” Caterina turned away from the table and felt Luigi’s meaty hand grope her posterior, making her temper flare. She spun around, lifted the bowl of soup, and tipped it into his lap. To add insult to injury, she smacked the back of his head with the flat of her hand before stalking into the kitchen.

  It didn’t surprise her when he burst through the door, his face twisted with anger and neck a shade of bright red while soup stained the front of his pants.

  “Out!” he yelled to the staff in the kitchen, grabbing Caterina around the waist and pulling her to him. When they looked at Caterina, she tipped her head toward the door, hoping one of them would find Uncle Laz. He’d gone to pick up an order of fresh herbs down the street.

  As the staff quickly exited the room, Luigi gave her the choice of marrying him the following afternoon or finding out what happened when someone crossed him.

  Caterina landed a solid kick to his shin and struggled against him. He roughly yanked her hair then slapped her face. Reeling from the blow, she tried to fight him as he dragged her to the stove and began pressing her face down toward the sizzling hot surface.

  “I’ll make it so no man will ever look at you except with pity, Rina. I can make you mine right now, or we can wait until I put a ring on your finger, but you’ll belong to me either way.”

  She smelled his foul breath and felt his beefy fingers wrapped around her neck. Cold blackness reflected in his eyes as he pushed her closer and closer to the top of the stove. When he ripped the back of her dress open, Caterina screamed and thrashed wildly, trying to escape.

  “I won’t marry you, I won’t. Let me go,” she yelled. “No, Luigi. Stop, please. No! Let me go!”

  The rest of the dream was lost to her when she felt something cool on her forehead and opened her eyes to see Aundy and Garrett looking at her with concern. Aundy squeezed her hand, sitting down beside her on the bed.

  “You’re safe, Caterina. We won’t let anything happen to you.” Aundy brushed the hair back from her face with a soft touch.

  “Did I wake you both?” Caterina asked, embarrassed she’d cried out loud enough for them to hear her on the other end of the house.

  “Don’t worry about it.” Garrett offered a reassuring smile he hoped help set her at ease. “We needed some excitement around here to liven things up.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Caterina covered her face with her hands and burst into tears.

  Garrett took that as his cue to exit, leaving Aundy to calm the upset woman. She shot him a withering glare over her shoulder that said she’d deal with him later, and then wrapped her arms around Caterina.

  “It’s okay, Caterina. Everything is fine now. Everything is just fine,” she said in a crooning tone while rubbing a comforting hand on Caterina’s back.

  Caterina cried out her fear, sadness, and loneliness before she leaned back and used the sheet to mop her tears.

  “Thank you,” she whispered to Aundy. “You’re such a good friend.”

  “You’re welcome.” Aundy rose from the bed and left the room. She returned a short while later with a glass of water and a handkerchief, handing both to Caterina.

  She felt much better after draining the glass, dabbing at her eyes and blowing her nose.

  “Do you want to talk about what upset you?” Aundy asked, expecting Caterina to say no.

  “I appreciate the offer, but the less you know, the better.” Reliving the awful experience with Luigi, even if it was in her dreams, left her badly shaken.

  If Uncle Laz hadn’t shown up, yanking her away from Luigi and shoving her out the door, the evil man would have burned her face or done worse. Laz convinced Luigi to have a meeting of families to discuss wedding details and set a date in the near future to give everyone time to prepare.

  It bought Caterina the time she needed to sneak away, even if one of Luigi’s hired men managed to follow her. She knew Luigi wouldn’t give up, but she hoped he’d never think to look for her in Pendleton. If she couldn’t be with her family, she thought she could build a future for herself in the close-knit community with good friends to surround her.

  “Just know if you ever want to talk, I’m ready to listen and what you say will be kept in the strictest confidence.” Aundy gave Caterina a consoling hug. “Try and get some sleep. Everything will look better in the morning.”

  “Thank you, Aundy.” Caterina blew out the lamp Aundy lit once her friend left the room then scooted down in bed. As she rested on the soft mattress, she willed herself back to sleep.

  “Did she tell you anything?” Garrett asked his wife when she returned to their bed.

  “Not a thing.” Aundy settled her head against Garrett’s shoulder and wrapped an arm around his waist. “Something awful must have happened to give her nightmares like that. I heard her say ‘I won’t marry you.’ Do you suppose someone tried to force her into marriage? You don’t suppose someone forced her…”

  “No need to imagine the worst.” Garrett smoothed Aundy’s hair away from her face and kissed the top of her head. “Just give her some time. When she’s ready to share her past, she’ll tell you.”

  “I know, Garrett, but I worry about her. Something or someone drove her away from everything she loved. Kade thinks she was a cook in a restaurant and you know she talks about her family all the time. It’s perfectly clear she misses them terribly.”

  “A cook? That explains the food.” Garrett recalled of some of the delicious things Caterina had made since she’d been staying with them. Not
immediately liking the idea of sharing his house with a stranger, especially since he and Aundy were newlyweds, he had to admit Caterina’s contributions to their meals had more than made up for any inconvenience. She’d taken on a lot of the cooking responsibilities and housework so Aundy could be out learning the business of ranching.

  “What about the food?” Aundy asked, raising her head from his chest.

  “It’s really, really good.” Garrett’s mouth watered at the thought of the meal they’d eaten for dinner.

  “How good?” A note of warning filled her voice.

  “Almost as good as your cooking, honey.” He rubbed Aundy’s back, hoping he hadn’t gotten himself into trouble. Keeping his wife happy was one of his top priorities. When she was, it resulted in a multitude of benefits he greatly anticipated and enjoyed.

  “That, Mr. Nash, is a very good answer.” Much to his pleasure, Aundy kissed him full on the mouth.

  The smell of something sweet and yeasty filled the air and awoke them the next morning. Quickly dressing, Garrett and Aundy entered the kitchen where Caterina fried balls of dough in hot oil.

  “Oh, good morning,” she said, looking over her shoulder at them with an apologetic glance. “After disturbing your sleep last night, I thought I should at least make a special breakfast.”

  “Caterina, you didn’t need to do that.” Aundy stepped close to the stove to see what the girl fried. “Don’t give it another thought.”

  “Well, maybe one more, at least long enough to finish cooking breakfast.” Garrett smiled encouragingly, anticipating another delicious meal prepared by the talented cook.

  “For that, you can gather the eggs this morning.” Aundy gave Garrett a push in the direction of the kitchen door.

  He narrowed his eyes and frowned at her, but grabbed his hat from a peg by the door and went down the back steps. Aundy watched him greet the men as they walked out of the bunkhouse. Garrett ruffled Nik’s hair before stepping into the chicken coop with a bucket of feed.

  Through the open window, his admonishment to Napoleon to behave or become supper floated back inside, making both Caterina and Aundy giggle.

  “You really should get a new rooster,” Caterina said, frying the last of the dough then coating the pastries with sugar. She set the platter on the table then pulled a casserole of eggs mixed with bits of ham, leftover boiled potatoes, and some herbs from the oven. “He’s an evil little bird.”

  “That he is.” Aundy laughed, recalling the morning Caterina decided to gather the eggs. The girl ran out of the hen house screaming so loudly, all the hands came rushed to see who’d been mortally wounded. From then on, she stayed far away from the chicken coop and Napoleon.

  Swiftly setting the table, Aundy poured a cup of coffee for Garrett while she made tea for herself and Caterina. “That looks wonderful, Caterina.”

  “Smells good, too,” Garrett said as he walked inside with the eggs, removed his hat, and washed his hands. After seating Aundy at the table, he pulled out Caterina’s chair, then asked the blessing on the food. Eagerly, he awaited their houseguest’s explanation of what she prepared for breakfast “What are we eating this morning?”

  Caterina smiled. Garrett liked to know what he was eating before he dug in. Between her Italian food, Aundy’s Norwegian dishes, and Li’s Chinese offerings, it was getting to be quite an international culinary experience at Nash’s Folly.

  “Zeppole,” Caterina said, taking a piece of the fried dough and placing it on her plate along with a helping of cinnamon laced whipped cream. “It’s fried dough, kind of like a doughnut, yet different. You can eat it like it is, coated in sugar, or dip it in the cream. It’s also good with jam.”

  Garrett didn’t have to be told twice, since cinnamon was one of his favorite treats. Helping himself to a generous serving of the casserole, he ate contentedly while the women visited. When the conversation came around to Caterina opening a restaurant, Garrett offered his enthusiastic approval of the idea.

  “We’ll help you get started, Caterina. Just tell us what you want to do.” While he’d miss her cooking for them on a regular basis, he did like the idea of having his house, and his wife, back to himself.

  “I would like to open a restaurant, but I can’t borrow your money. I just can’t. You’ve given me far too much already and it would be wrong to take further advantage of you.” Caterina looked from Aundy to Garrett. “I’d like to approach the bank and see if they’d be willing to give me a loan. My hope is that you could perhaps make an introduction and offer a reference about my cooking.”

  “I think we should go with you to meet the banker and if he acts the least bit interested, we can invite him for dinner. After he tastes one of your meals, I don’t see how he could refuse a loan.” Garrett helped himself to his third round of the fried pastries. Aundy poured him another cup of coffee, shaking her head at his obvious pleasure in the meal.

  “That’s a wonderful idea.” Caterina looked to Aundy for her approval. When she nodded her head and smiled, Caterina set down her fork and got to her feet. She hurried out of the room and soon returned with several written pages, placing them near Garrett’s plate. “I’ve been working on a plan and estimating expenses to start a restaurant. Would you mind reading it and letting me know your thoughts?”

  “I’d be happy to.” Garrett leaned back in his chair, took the papers in hand, and read them. Nervously, Caterina played with the remaining food on her plate while Aundy finished her breakfast.

  When he finished reviewing them, Garrett placed the papers on the table. He took a drink from his coffee cup, picked up his fork, and resumed eating.

  Caterina glanced at Aundy with an expectant look. Aundy leaned over and smacked Garrett’s arm, nearly making him lose the bite on its way to his mouth.

  “Hey, be careful.” He took the bite and winked at Aundy.

  “Quit teasing her.” Aundy playfully kicked at her husband beneath the table.

  “Only if you quit beating me.” Garrett caught Aundy’s hand and kissed her fingers before turning his silvery gaze to Caterina. “You’ve got a sound plan, well thought out, and I don’t see any reason why the bank would deny you.”

  “Really?” Excitement and hope filled Caterina’s chest as she released the breath she’d been holding.

  “Really.” Garrett offered some suggestions and adjustments to a few of the costs she had listed then praised her for putting together a sound proposal. “I should have time to run into town this afternoon if that works for you lovely ladies. We can go to the bank and see what Grant has to say.” He sat back in his chair, looking full and content as he drained the last of the coffee from his cup. Rising to his feet, he strode across the kitchen and picked up his hat to leave.

  “Thank you, Garrett,” Caterina said, beaming at him as she gathered the dirty dishes and carried them to the sink.

  Aundy walked Garrett out the door to the back porch, kissed his cheek, and gave him a pleased smile. “Thank you. This restaurant means a lot to her.”

  “I know it does,” Garrett whispered, pulling Aundy against him and kissing her neck. “The sooner she gets it going, the sooner I get you back all to myself.”

  “Oh, you.” Aundy blushed at his teasing. He took the back steps in one long stride and jogged to the barn. When she returned inside the house, she studied Caterina a moment as she cleared the table.

  “What do you think of baking those delicious little cookies you made the other day? You know the ones that just melt on your tongue?” Aundy asked as she started washing dishes while Caterina dried.

  “The wedding cookies?” Caterina was glad to know her friend, who was an excellent cook in her own right, thought her cookies were delicious.

  “Yes. Why don’t you make a batch and we could take them to Grant when we go to the bank this afternoon, as a preview of things to come if he’s willing to discuss giving you a loan.”

  “I like the way you think.” Caterina grinned at Aundy. The woman had a sh
arp mind and often came up with clever ideas. No wonder Garrett looked at her with a mixture of wonder, love, and awe.

  More than a little in awe of the capable woman, she admired how Aundy carried herself with poise, confidence and strength. She didn’t let her emotions get the best of her. Caterina thought it would serve her well to be more like her steady and calm friend.

  Caterina baked cookies while Aundy washed laundry and hung the clothes and sheets on the line to dry.

  Later that morning as they worked together in the garden, Aundy found some peas ready to pick. She’d never grown a garden before but Caterina’s family always put in a few plants in a space behind their store, near the small barn where they kept the delivery horses.

  Caterina had already planted the herb seeds her mother sent with her in Aundy’s garden. Even if she did get a loan and opened a restaurant, by the time she got it up and going, it would be too late in the year to plant anything.

  “Do you suppose any of the potatoes are ready?” Aundy thought of how good fresh peas creamed with new potatoes would taste.

  “I don’t know, but we can find out.” Caterina began digging her fingers in the dirt beneath a plant and pulled out a large potato. “Look at that.”

  Aundy grinned at Caterina, taking the potato in her hand like it was a prize. “It’s beautiful.”

  “It’s a potato, you silly girl. You are pazza.” Caterina laughed at her friend, digging enough potatoes they could enjoy them for lunch.

  “Pazza?” Aundy asked, holding her apron out so Caterina could dump the potatoes into the makeshift basket.

  “Crazy.” Caterina stood and brushed off first her hands, then her skirt. She snatched a potato from Aundy’s apron and held it out in front of her like it was a rare treasure. “My beloved potato. You are so beautiful. You’re the most wonderful thing I’ve ever seen. I think I love you.”

  Caterina waltzed around with the potato, making elaborate hand motions that went along with the dramatic expressions on her face.