“Focus on the work,” Dimitri said.
The couple ducked their heads and grabbed another fence post.
The line of posts was almost complete when Oksana texted Dimitri and the others that lunch was ready.
Kat groaned when she read the text. “I’m starving.”
Steven ditched the sledge hammer on the ground with a huff. “Me, too.” He scanned the stretch of posts. “Almost there. Hopefully only a couple more hours after lunch and this will be done.”
The three groups trudged toward the house and merged into one at the halfway mark.
Christopher eased toward Kat while she eased away from him. His shoulders tightened as they trooped into the house with Kat bringing up the rear. Just before they all entered, he grabbed her by the arms and pulled her around the back of the house.
“Hey! What do you think...?” she protested.
He cut her protest off when he pressed her against the house and crushed his lips to hers.
Her heart hammered in her chest. She almost gave in, but then pressed her palms into his chest and shoved him away.
“You have no right, Christopher!”
He stared into her eyes, his chest heaving. “Kat, I still love you. You love me. I know you do.”
Rather than betray her feelings with her physical reaction to him, she stared defiantly at him.
His finger brushed her cheekbone and she pulled away from his touch, but not his gaze. “I see it in your beautiful green eyes. You love me. Still.”
She continued to stare at him. Being so near to him did terrible things to her mind and body. His body heat and scent bombarded her.
He didn’t back down or back away. “I dare you to deny it, Kat.” A shadow passed over his face. “Even if you can’t forgive me, I know you still love me.”
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
He cupped the back of her head and moved until their noses touched. They shared the same breath. “I love you, my Kat. You will always be my Kat. Please, tell me the truth. You still love me.”
Kat’s chest ached. “I do love you,” she whispered.
He groaned and crushed her mouth with his again. When he pulled away, their foreheads touching, her cheeks shone with tears.
Kat’s voice was thick. “Yes, I love you, but I can’t forget that you...helped murder those people.”
Christopher gathered her in his arms. “I hate myself for that. I hate myself.”
Kat drew in a ragged breath. “I still need time. I can’t forget.”
A wave of agony rolled over him. He nodded and reluctantly let her go.
She hugged herself and dipped her head. Her face crumpled and without another word, she ran around the corner and into the house. She felt her family’s eyes on her as she hurried past them and up the stairs to her room, where she slammed the door and locked it behind her. She dissolved into a heaving, sobbing mess on her sleeping bag.
She must have fallen asleep because a hard knocking on her locked door jolted her awake. She blinked and looked around, disoriented. Moments before, she was sure she was back in Georgia running through the woods laughing while Christopher chased her. The ache in her chest reminded her of the ugly truth; that was a dream and no longer her reality.
Intense banging rattled her door. “Kat? Open the door.”
She flopped onto her back and groaned, “I’m coming!”
She rolled to a standing position and grimaced at the headache behind her eyes. She opened the door and found Robert standing there with his hands on his hips.
“Come on, Kat. We still have work to do.” His eyes softened. “It will take your mind off things.”
Kat cleared her throat and nodded. “I’ll be right there.”
He squeezed her arm and left.
Kat’s shoulders slumped as she trudged to the bathroom. Oksana waited at the bottom of the stairs when she came down.
She handed Kat a fat sandwich and offered a smile. “Eat.”
Kat accepted the sandwich even though her appetite had evaporated. “Thanks.”
Kat avoided looking at anyone when she joined the others already outside. She noted Christopher was already at work at the furthest point away from her. Her chest throbbed, and she swallowed a sob. Suddenly, a wave of anger surged inside her. She tightened her jaw and squared her shoulders.
She stomped over to where they’d left off. She glanced over her shoulder to be sure Oksana wasn’t watching and threw the sandwich as far as she could. The birds or other wildlife would eat it. Her stomach was so tightly knotted, there was no way she could gag anything down anyway.
Steven’s head popped up as she approached.
Kat thrust her hand out. “Give me the sledge hammer. I need to pound something.”
“It’s really heavy,” Steven cautioned.
Kat reached over and snatched the handle from him. “Good.”
Steven lifted his hands, palms out, in surrender. “Go for it.” He looked at Anastasia and she gave him a look as if to say, Let her go.
Kat gripped the handle and lurched the heavy tool over her shoulder, squinted at the tip of the fence post and let it rip with all her might.
The sledge hammer landed a foot away with a thud. Twice.
With a groan, she heaved the tool back over her shoulder, adjusted her aim and took another whack at it. This time she hit it dead center. A small smile of satisfaction crossed her face. She repeated the action until the post was deep enough, then the trio moved on to the next post. They worked in silence for the next hour, by which time all the posts had been placed and they were ready to place the sight board horizontally along the top. Once that was accomplished, they would string the barbed wire fencing along with the electrical components. Their goal for today was to finish installation of the barbed wire, then hook up the electricity the next day.
Kat dropped the sledge hammer on the ground with a grunt and stood there, every muscle quivering, her hands curled into quivering claws.
Anastasia clapped her on the back. “Take a break, Kat. Did you get it out of your system?”
Kat’s breath came in huffs and her knees were weak. “For now.”
Anastasia gave her a sympathetic look. “Take a break. Go eat.” She poked her index finger into Kat’s chest. “And don’t you dare tell Oksana you threw her sandwich away.”
“I’m not hungry.” She turned and lurched not toward the house, but through the fence posts which stood like sentries in a wide circle. She walked about fifty yards away, then sat down hard on her bottom. She drew her knees up, wrapped her arms around them, and rested her forehead on her knees. The only sound was her breath moving in and out. She closed her eyes for several minutes. When she opened them, she lifted her face and rested her chin on her knees while she gazed at the landscape. The mountains rose majestically in the distance while a gentle breeze rustled through the short scrub brush and wild grass of the plain.
A laugh carried on the breeze reached Kat’s ears – Claire’s? – and Kat ignored it. Her thoughts turned to Christopher and her heart thudded in her ears.
Could she forgive him? Should she forgive him? Every one of those people had been somebody’s son or daughter, husband or wife, mother or father, brother or sister. They were innocent and used as pawns. That chain of events also cost her family their home. The Barotkoffs were evil. Perhaps part of Christopher was evil, too. But how much was the question that gnawed at her.
Still, she loved him. Hearts are fickle and not to be trusted.
A groan escaped her, and she pressed her fingers to her temples. Her head pounded harder. Kat didn’t know what to do. So, she sat there for as long as she could and tried to clear her mind. Eventually, however, she had to return.
Resigned, she blew out her breath and scrambled to a standing position. She swatted the dirt from her behind and walked slowly back toward the house. As she got closer, she realized everyone was inside rather than working on the fence. She frowned and picked up the pace. When she pushed
through the back door, she heard low voices coming from the front of the house. Several of her family members were gathered in the kitchen, but nobody said a word. Christopher leaned against the wall near a window; he had been watching her. She glanced at their faces before she hurried down the hallway.
As she approached the front of the house, Kat heard her uncle’s voice.
“Thank you for stopping by, Sheriff. We’re very happy to have met you.” Dimitri’s tone was polite but reserved.
Kat peeked around the corner and saw a police officer facing Dimitri. Anna stood next to Dimitri while Peter sat in a wingback chair along the wall. Her cousin’s posture was relaxed, but his eyes were wary. Kat’s back stiffened. Anna’s gaze flitted to her.
The sheriff touched the tip of his hat with two fingers. “It’s a pleasure to meet you folks, too. I wanted to make sure I made your acquaintance. It’s not often we get new folks up here, you know.”
Dimitri chuckled. “I don’t see why not. This is beautiful country. The views are unending.”
The sheriff grinned. “I agree. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.” He nodded at Anna and Peter. “Well, I best be on my way. Don’t hesitate to call if you ever need me, and I hope you never do. Crime isn’t much of a problem here. We tend to look after each other.”
Dimitri saw him to the door. “Thank you again. Be safe out there.”
The sheriff ducked outside and called over his shoulder, “Will do. Take care, folks.”
Dimitri closed the door behind him and let his breath out.
“What was that about?” Kat asked.
Dimitri narrowed his eyes at his niece. “Kat, you look terrible, sweetheart. Please go eat and rest.” He brushed past her and went into his office. “Thank you, Anna, for your help.”
“My pleasure.” Anna glanced at Kat with concern but kept her thoughts to herself.
Kat followed her uncle into his office.
Peter followed behind Kat. “Do you think they’ve already found us?”
Dimitri shook his head. “No. I think it’s purely coincidental that the sheriff stopped by. You heard what he said when Anna shifted him.”
Kat gaped at Anna, then stared at her uncle. “What did he say?”
“I asked him why he was here,” Anna answered. “He said he thought it was interesting that this property finally sold because it’s been on the market for over a year and suddenly we pay all cash and take possession in days.”
“That’s it?”
“Yup.” Peter turned to his father. “Dad, we can’t let our guard down.”
“I agree.” Dimitri looked pointedly at Kat, then turned to Anna. “I’m so glad you and Christopher are here. You’re both an asset to our family.”
Kat’s gut clenched. She swallowed hard, turned on her heel, and walked out.
THE FENCE WAS COMPLETED the next day. Peter and Dimitri, however, remained in the house watching the global markets. The frenzied dance the markets were doing got wilder, and the men were concerned enough to leave the fence installation to the others. Peter researched global news headlines while Dimitri stared at graphs and spreadsheets until his eyes wanted to cross.
Kat wandered inside for a break and heard her uncle and cousin’s low voices laced with stress. She took a glass of water and strolled into the office.
Peter pointed to the screen. “Why is inflation creeping upward while the interest rates are low?”
Dimitri scrunched up his face. “There’s a definite pattern here.” He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “It’s not good, but I can’t find the source. Have you discovered anything?”
Peter sighed. “Not specifically. I still suspect Europe. There’s a lot happening at the United Nations.”
Dimitri’s eyebrows rose. “Oh?”
“The European oil market is doing strange things. There was a vote in the UN recently that blocked a Russian company’s ability to buy the controlling ownership in a European oil pipeline. That happened right before the global market volatility occurred.”
“What’s going on?” Kat asked.
The two men glanced at her.
“Crazy markets, Kat,” her uncle replied.
Peter nodded. “Europe gets the vast majority of its oil from Russia.”
Kat sat down in a chair and sipped her water. “What does this have to do with us?”
“Nothing, except that our financial holdings are affected, and we need to understand why so we can protect our assets.”
“Oh.” Kat had never had an interest in any of this, but the worry she saw in her uncle’s eyes distressed her. “Are we going to be all right?”
Dimitri gave a slight smile. “We’ll be fine. How’s the fence coming?”
“We’re done. All that’s left is to get the electrical parts hooked up.”
“Excellent work.” Dimitri glanced at Peter. “Take a break and see to the fence, Peter.”
Peter rubbed his eyes. “Okay. I could use the break.” He stood with a groan, stretched, and walked out.
Kat sipped more water.
“How are you doing, Kat? You still look terrible.”
She gave him a wry look. “Thanks. I’m fine.”
“No. You’re not.”
She stared at the floor.
Dimitri faced her and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Kat, I know what happened. Christopher told me everything. He did what he had to do. You must forgive him and move forward. It’s the only way.”
Kat stiffened. “Is it? Is it the only way, Uncle Dimitri?”
Dimitri didn’t even blink. “Yes. What’s done is done. It can’t be changed.”
Kat stared at her now empty glass. Her hands shook. “I don’t know how to get past it.”
“You need to figure that out.”
She thought for a moment and when she looked up, her uncle’s face was blurred through tears. “Tell me how,” she whispered.
Dimitri rose and gathered his niece in his arms. “Oh, Kat. Forgive him. It will tear you both apart if you don’t.” He lifted her chin with his finger. “Let it go.”
Kat squeezed her uncle tight. He held her until she pulled away.
She wiped her nose across her sleeve. “Thank you, Uncle Dimitri. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He kissed her forehead. He watched her leave, her shoulders still slumped. He hoped she would make the right choice but knew her path was her own to take.
Kat mulled over her uncle’s words as she trudged toward the stairs. Granny’s hooting and hollering caught Kat’s attention, so she headed toward Granny’s room instead. She found the old woman sitting in her chair, bouncing up and down with glee. Well, she was bouncing as best she could anyway.
Kat stepped just inside the doorway and smiled as she watched. Stanley lifted his head from his day bed and watched Kat. Kat put her finger to her lips and the dog rested his chin on his paws. Sweetie barely gave her a passing glance. Her tail swished back and forth once before she resumed her nap on the windowsill.
“That’s right! That’s right! Git some!” Granny hooted when an explosion filled her large screen. “No. Granny’s got your back, Wiz. Watch the flank!”
Kat leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. The battle went on for several more minutes before Granny threw up her hands and cried, “The battle may be lost, but we’ll fight another day!”
When Granny put her controller aside and reached for her keyboard, Kat stepped forward and cleared her throat.
Granny glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “Hey, there! Have you been lurking for long?”
Kat sat on the edge of Granny’s bed. “No. Just a few minutes. Sorry you lost your battle.”
“It’s all right.” Granny tapped the keyboard and messages popped up on the screen. “It’s good to be back in the game. I missed my tribe.”
Kat grinned. She read some of the messages. “It looks like your tribe missed you, too.”
Granny beam
ed. “They’re good kids, Kat.” She leaned toward the screen. “They’ve been busy helping us. They’re still causing headaches for the sheriff’s department in Georgia. They’ve blocked all their attempts to find us or investigate us further.”
Kat watched as Granny tapped furiously on the keyboard and muttered about how proud she was of her gaming buddies. Kat sat farther back on the bed and swung her legs back and forth absently. A single bark erupted from Stanley and Kat frowned at the creature. He frowned back. The two continued to stare until Kat broke off the strange confrontation.
“Did you need something, Kat? I love your company, but I’m sure you have more important things to do then sit here with an old woman.” Granny lifted her controller. “Unless you want to try your hand at the Battle of the Bulge?”
Kat shook her head and stood up. “No. I heard you making noise and came to see what was going on.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “I was on my way to shower.” She leaned down and kissed Granny’s cheek. “Love you, Granny.”
“Love you, too, Kat.”
Kat left Granny’s room and sighed. The weight on her shoulders was becoming too heavy to bear. She agonized through her entire shower until she felt like she would either implode or explode. Either would be preferable to her current state of being. After she dressed, she hurried downstairs and found her uncle still in his office, brooding over the screen and spreadsheets.
“Uncle Dimitri, I need to go for a ride. Can I borrow a car?”
He looked up from the screen. “Where are you going to go? You don’t know the area.”
She lifted her shoulders. “What’s to know? I go this way, or I go that way, then turn around.” She waved her hand back and forth in front of her. “It’s not like I’ll get lost or something. I just need to clear my head. Would you rather I go for a run instead?”
Dimitri drummed his fingers on the desk and squinted at her. “Take my car.” He tossed the keys to her. “Take your new cell. Don’t be gone longer than an hour.”
Kat caught the keys easily. “Thank you.”
Her uncle nodded. “You’re welcome. Figure things out, Kat.”
“I will,” she called over her shoulder, then took the stairs two at a time to retrieve her cell and wallet. She tried to sneak over to the car without being noticed, but the lack of trees on the property made that impossible. One specific person hurried toward her as she turned the engine over.
Revelations: The Shifter Series: Volume Three Page 14
