Barri Bryan - Return to Paradise.html

by Return to Paradise (NCP) (lit)

  "You're a busy man." Kate was torn by conflicting emotions. Her head told her to keep her distance. Her heart welcomed the chance to spend more time with Hank. "Cody can teach me."

  Hank turned, and walked toward the bar door. "I'll be over about seven."

  "That's early. That's too early." Kate followed along after him.

  "Some one has to ride over to the north pasture. We can do that."

  "You're doing it again." Kate accused, as they stepped outside, into the bright sunlight.

  "Doing what?" Hank shut the barn door.

  "Changing the subject, twisting my words, confusing me."

  "You were confused long before I came along."

  The sun was a giant orange ball floating in the western sky. It occurred to Kate that she had lost all track of time. "It must be late."

  Hank glanced toward the sky. "About four-thirty."

  "How do you know that? You can't know the time by looking at the sun." Kate looked at her watch. The digital readout flashed, four-thirty-six. "You are psychic."

  CHAPTER SIX

  Kate thought that she had never witnessed a more domestic scene. Mamma was sitting on the end of the couch, her basket of yarn at her feet, her crochet hook flying. Cody relaxed in the overstuffed chair, his feet on a foot stool, reading the paper Kate had brought from St. Agnes. Lady was stretched out beside Cody's chair, with her head between her paws, and her ears back.

  Over supper, Kate had recounted most of the events of the day to Cody and Belle. She was careful to omit her encounter with Gina, and she didn't mention her conversation with Hank on the way home.

  Belle's concern had been about York's opinion of the contract Kate had signed with Hank. When Kate explained that York had put his stamp of approval on the document, Belle seemed satisfied.

  Remembering the tension that had permeated the air when York had read the agreement with Hank looking on, made Kate wonder anew, why these two men disliked each other so intently.

  Kate hadn't dreamed Hank would go into the bank, then insist on accompanying her to York's office. "That's not necessary," she told him when she realized his intent. "This will only take a few minutes. Why don't you keep Beatrice company?"

  "That gum-popping broad? No thanks, I'll go with you." And he did.

  York made no effort to hide his annoyance. He greeted Hank with a clipped, "Sinclair? I should have known." Then extended his hand toward the chairs in front of his desk. "Would you like to sit down, Kate?"

  Kate perched on the edge of one of the chairs, and began to explain. "You said if I ever needed your assistance, I should call on you."

  Uninvited, Hank sat down in the chair beside her, and glared at York.

  The tension in the room rose and crackled. Kate cleared her throat. "I'm taking you up on that offer."

  York pulled his eyes from Hank's slouching form, and smiled at Kate. "And I meant it. What can I do for you?"

  Kate explained, then handed York the contract.

  He perused the paper in tense silence, pursing his lips now and then, and once or twice shaking his head, as if to clear his mind.

  Through it all, Hank sat, silent and seemingly relaxed. Why then, did Kate have the feeling that he was as tense as a coiled spring, and just about as apt, at any moment, to unwind?

  After scanning the document for several minutes, York folded it and handed it back to Kate. "Everything seems in order, unless you think it's important that the duties you are to perform as a working hand on the ranch should be spelled out in detail." His words carried a suggestive slur.

  How could she detail duties when she didn't even know what a cowboy was expected to do? "That's not necessary." Kate was becoming more uncomfortable by the minute. "I'm ready to sign."

  York pointed toward the contract. "This document makes you, in effect, Sinclair's employee for the next five years." The words were accompanied by a sneering glance in Hank's direction.

  If York was hoping to intimidate Hank, he must have been disappointed. A tiny muscle that danced erratically along Hank's jaw line was the only indication that he didn't like what York was implying.

  Kate could feel the charged atmosphere in the room. She took the pen from York's desk, and hurriedly scribbled her name on the bottom of the contract."Thank you, York, for your time and your assistance." She felt like she was standing on a rumbling volcano.

  York came around his desk and helped Kate to her feet, then laid his arm around her shoulder. For no reason she could define, Kate found his gesture offensive, almost predatory. "May I say you look lovely today?" He stepped in front of Hank, and began to walk Kate to the door. "Perhaps I could take you to lunch?"

  Kate suspected York was doing this to annoy Hank. Again, he seemed to have failed. She could think of no good answer that would diffuse this volatile situation.

  From behind them, Hank spoke. "Knock it off Romeo. Kate's with me. 'I'm taking her to the auction." He took Kate's hand, and led her out the door, as a bemused York stared for a few minutes, then slammed his office door.

  "You did that to annoy York," Kate accused, as they walked across the parking lot.

  "One of these days," Hank vowed, "that SOB is going too far, and I will do worse than annoy him." Hank swung a fist into the palm of his other hand. "One of these days..."

  Kate had dismissed the incident from her mind, but now she found herself wondering anew, what old quarrels and grudges existed between these two men.

  Kate hadn't told Belle and Cody about the incident in York's office. Mostly because there was nothing concrete she could tell. All she had was an aggravating feeling of uneasiness that wouldn't let go.

  Kate had ended by telling Cody he wouldn't have to bother teaching her to ride a horse. Hank would be over in the morning to do that. "He's also going to show me the route I will be riding each day."

  "Is this your idea, Kate, or Hank's?" Belle didn't look too happy about this turn of events. "I hope Hank doesn't get pushy just because you work for him now."

  "It's Hank's idea, but I don't mind." And Belle was always chiding Kate for being overly protective of her children. "Sooner or later I have to learn where to ride. Maybe this way is best. It should save time."

  "When did Hank find out you can't ride a horse?" Belle's brow wrinkled into a frown.

  "I told him the truth today." Kate could hear the concern in her mother's voice. "It's all right, Mamma."

  Belle shrugged. "If you say so."

  The rest of the meal had passed without incident.

  Now, in the comfort of her easy chair, Kate stared into space and thought of the day's many events.

  Belle laid her crochet aside as she and Cody exchanged complicated glances. "A penny for your thoughts, Kate."

  "They aren't worth it, Mamma."

  In the flickering light of the gasoline lantern, Belle's head made grotesque shadows on the wall. "Are you worried about learning to ride a horse?"

  Kate picked up a magazine and flipped through the pages. "I'm too tired to worry about it tonight. I'll think about it in the morning."

  Cody gave his newspaper a shake. "The Atascosa Cattleman's Association is holding its annual Bluebonnet Festival next week. It sounds like a big event, with contests, and booths, and a carnival, and a big street dance that night." He laid the paper across his knees. "When we go into town tomorrow, Belle, I'm going to enter the Old Fiddler's Contest."

  Puzzled, Kate looked from Mamma to Cody. "You're going to St. Agnes tomorrow?"

  "I didn't know you were a fiddler, Cody." Belle laid her crochet in the basket at her feet. "I'd love to hear you play."

  "Why are you going to St. Agnes?" As she asked the question, Kate began to realize that she didn't have a clue as to what was going on here.

  Neither Belle nor Cody paid the slightest attention to what Kate was saying.

  "I'm going to get my fiddle out of my camper, and serenade you, Belle." Cody pushed his footstool aside, and stood to his feet.

  Lady waited
patiently for him to make his next move.

  "I'd love that." Belle crooned.

  "Damn it, will somebody answer me? Why are you going to town tomorrow?" Kate tossed the magazine on the table and glared at her mother.

  Belle smiled. "Don't swear, Kate. Cody got his social security check today."

  Cody and Lady were almost to the door. "I'll be right back with my fiddle."

  "That's not an answer, Mamma."

  "Yes, it is," Belle argued, over the slam of the screen door. "Cody wants to cash his check, and buy some electrical wire to connect the cook stove, and we want to shop for garden seeds, and we're going to buy some baby chickens, and..." Belle's voice faded to a whisper. "A few other things."

  An alarm went off inside Kate's head. Mamma was up to something. "What other little things, Mamma?"

  Belle smiled, her dimples lending her face an engaging look of candor. "Do you like fiddle music, Kate?"

  "You know I do, Mamma." Kate was too tired to engage in this verbal chicanery. "You didn't answer my question."

  "I remember how we used to go to dances when I was just a girl. The fiddle was always the best part of the band."

  One of these days, Kate thought, her mother was going to drive her over the edge of reason. "You don't intend to tell me do you?"

  "Tell you what?" Belle asked with childlike innocence.

  "Mamma," Kate threatened. "Do you want me to scream?"

  "Do you want to?" Belle put her hand over her mouth, and frowned.

  Kate was seriously considering letting out a bloodcurdling yell when Cody came through the door, with Lady at his heels, and carrying a bow in one hand and a delicately carved violin in the other. "She's a beauty, isn't she? This fiddle belonged to my grandpa Carter first." Cody ran loving fingers down the sides of the violin. "He handed it down to my papa, and Papa handed it down to me."

  "It's a beautiful violin." Kate forgot her impatience with her mother.

  "Kate girl, this is a fiddle." Cody laid the violin on the couch beside Belle, and began to rosin his bow.

  Kate found herself being caught up in Cody's jovial mood. "Is there a difference?" "Maybe not, to some folks, but to me there is. I figure if you play Mozart and Bach, you play a violin. If you play Faded Love and Wildwood Flower, you have to have a fiddle."

  Kate could think of no logic that would argue against such a premise. "You're right. I bow to your better judgment."

  Cody lifted the violin, tucked it under his chin, and picked up the bow. "What's your pleasure, ladies?"

  Belle's face was alight with tenderness. "I would love to hear Amazing Grace."

  Cody slid the bow across the strings. The melody drifted out into the room, clear and sweet, and hauntingly beautiful, transporting Kate to another realm, a place that

  suspended time and beckoned melancholy remembrances. When the music stopped, there were tears on her cheeks. "That was beautiful, Cody."

  "Play something else," Belle urged.

  And he did, beginning with the lilting melody of Home Sweet Home, then moving to the plaintive strains of Red River Valley, and closing with a lively rendition of Turkey in the Straw. The medley left Kate awe struck. The man was a virtuoso.

  After several minutes of serenading, Cody laid his violin aside. "I think that's enough for one night. Let's sit on the porch, Belle, and finish making our plans."

  "You are a man of many talents." Belle's voice was soft with praise. "Your abilities amaze me."

  Cody replied, with a wink, "You haven't seen anything yet, Belle darling."

  It took Kate a few seconds to absorb what Cody had said. Her mouth fell open as

  Belle preceded Cody on to the front porch without a backward glance toward her daughter.

  Cody closed the door just as Lady's tail cleared the screen.

  Kate wanted to follow them outside, instead, she folded papers, fluffed pillows, and picked up magazines as she strained to hear what was being said. The words were

  indistinct, but pleasant.

  When there was no other task to busy her hands, Kate sat down on the couch and waited for Belle to come inside. Tired as she was, she was not about to go to bed until she had a little talk with her mother.

  But long after Kate heard only silence from outside, Belle remained on the porch.

  Finally Kate could stand no more. "Mamma," she called, as she opened the screen door, "are you going to come inside, or do you plan to spend the night on the porch?"

  "It's late." Belle's voice was as soft as a southern breeze. "Why don't you go to bed Katie baby?"

  "Don't start with the Katie baby bit, Mamma, get in this house. I want to have a little talk with you."

  "Don't go sassing me, Kate I'm still the mamma here."

  "Then start acting like a mamma. Get in here and let me talk to you." Kate stepped onto the porch, and listened. She heard only chirping crickets and a sighing breeze. "Mamma, are you out there?"

  "Come out and look at the moon," Belle invited. "It looks like a head of silver cabbage up in the sky."

  Only Mamma would think to compare that gorgeous orb floating in the star studded heavens to a cabbage. Kate walked across the porch. "We have to talk Mamma."

  "I know, Katie baby." Belle patted the space beside her. "Sit down."

  Kate sat, feeling the hard boards of the porch shove with unrelenting force into her tired backside. "I've heard the moon compared to many things, but never a head of cabbage."

  "But that's what it looks like." Belle pointed a finger skyward. "See those little squiggly lines all across the front? They look like cabbage leaves. And see how round it is? And it's about the size of a nice firm head of cabbage."

  Kate studied the night sky. "Mamma, why don't you tell me? And don't ask what. I don't know what."

  "You never did know what's what."

  "Mamma, damn it, don't start!" Kate's little annoyance was growing by leaps and bounds. "I want an answer."

  "Cody and I are going to see a doctor tomorrow when we go to St. Agnes." Automatically, Belle added, "Don't swear."

  A thread of panic began to unwind in Kate's stomach. "Is there something you haven't told me? Are you sick, Mamma?

  "Yes and no."

  "Yes and no? Mamma, will you give me one straight answer?"

  "How can I when you asked two questions?"

  "Dear God, Mamma," Clutching her hands into tight fists, Kate fought to hold on to her temper. "You are a past master at answering a question with another question."

  "Am I? You're swearing again, Kate."

  "Yes, you are, Mamma. And that, along with your absurd analogies, will someday drive me right up the wall."

  Belle shook her head from side to side. "I hope you can manage to hold on to your sanity until after the sixth of next month."

  "The sixth of next month," Kate mocked. "Now am I supposed to ask why?"

  "Do you really want to know?"

  Kate's tone was ominous. "Mamma."

  "I want you sane for my wedding." Belle announced with a shrug of her thin shoulders.

  Kate vaulted to her feet. "Your what?"

  "I don't want an insane matron of honor when I marry Cody the sixth of next month." Belle leaned against a porch post and watched Kate's reaction to the bombshell she had so casually dropped.

  "I take it back, Mamma." Kate laid her hand over her heart. "Long before I am over-the-wall crazy, you are going to send me into cardiac arrest."

  "Sit down, Kate. You're shouting at your mother."

  Kate pressed a sweaty palm to her forehead, and sat back down. "Mamma, you have known Cody less than a week. How can you even consider marrying him?"

  "I'm in love with him," Belle announced. "That's the only reason I would ever consider marrying any man."

  Kate jumped to her feet again. "Three days ago, you threw a fit on McDonald's parking lot because I wanted to ask Cody to come here. You suspected he was a criminal -- a serial killer, I believe, was your exact expression."

&n
bsp; Belle frowned up at her daughter. "You're making me nervous, Kate, jumping up and down like a jack-in-the-box."

  Kate sat back down, and let out a long sigh. "And you are making me crazy, Mamma. Do you want to explain what this is all about?"

  "Didn't I just do that?"

  "Maybe you'd better explain your explanation. How do you know you're in love with Cody?"

  "I knew the minute I looked across the table and into those polished pewter eyes." There was a tear in Belle's voice. "It's always been that way for me. That's why I didn't want him here at first. I was afraid."

  "Of what, Mamma?"

  "Of myself, of feelings I thought I'd never have again." Belle reached to catch her daughter's hand. "I looked across a crowded room and saw your daddy, and I said to myself, Belle, that's him. I was only eighteen years old, but I knew."

  Kate covered Belle's hand with her own. "Go on. Mamma."

  "I loved your daddy, Kate, with the kind of love only a very young, innocent girl can have for a man. Daddy was older, and experienced. Sometimes he treated me like a little child, but we had a very special relationship. Then he died, and I was sure I'd never love anyone else. I moved to San Antonio and got a job, and tried to put the pieces of my life back together."

  Kate squeezed her mother's hand. "I know about losing someone you love, Mamma."

  Belle smiled through her tears. "It happened the same way with Mark. I glanced up from my desk, and there he stood. I looked into his eyes and the magic I thought had died with your daddy, was there again. I was different, older, and I thought wiser. When I learned Mark was married, it broke my heart."

  "Why didn't you just walk away, Mamma?"

  "I wanted to, I tried. So did he, but we couldn't do it."

  "So?" Kate questioned.

  "So, we had an affair. Mark was a religious man. Every time we made love, he died a little inside. I could see it happening. Then one morning I walked into the office and my supervisor told me that I was in line for a promotion, if I was willing to relocate. I thought maybe Mark's angry God had decided to show a little mercy by giving me a chance to bow out gracefully."

  Tears puddled in Kate's eyes. "Mamma, how terrible."