Chapter 33

33

J osiah safeguarded himself for another few days, forcing himself to be in that woman's presence through supper and every evening to support Katherine. Tonight was no different.

He got up and stoked the fire, then seated himself close to his wife on the settee. He draped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in. She looked his way, and he smiled, bending his head close enough to whisper. "Relax." She sank into his embrace. It was killing him to be this close. The smell of her hair. The feel of her body melting against his. Her open smile and warm embrace.

Emmaline's shockingly low dress, the bright red lipstick, and the fourth glass of wine in her hand made his stomach turn. He ignored her chatter and spoke sweet nothings into Katherine's ear. She giggled and gave a smile that would warm a winter's day.

Emmaline huffed. "It's rather rude to conduct yourself in that manner in front of others."

"You'll have to excuse us," Josiah said. "We're not used to endless company. We've been more than hospitable, but to be honest your visit has been quite lengthy."

Emmaline's eyes popped wide, and she let out an exaggerated gasp. "Well, I never?—"

"The evenings are our private time," Josiah said. "I fear I've neglected my wife something awful." He stood and held out his hand to Katherine. "Come, my love. Obviously Emmaline prefers we go elsewhere."

She shot him a tentative smile and placed her hand in his. She was not taking this to heart, was she? They still had a mountain between them.

"Good night, Emmaline. Feel free to enjoy the fire while my wife and I search for some much-needed privacy."

His arm encircled Katherine's waist, and he guided her across the hall to his library. His head dropped to kiss her full on the mouth while he slowly shut the door behind him. He made sure Emmaline had plenty of time to view the cozy scene.

Katherine's giggle erupted beneath his lips the minute the door closed, and he pulled back. They both started laughing, their hands to their mouths to stifle the noise.

Katherine pressed her other hand to her chest. "Did you see her face and how she looked at me? She was jealous."

"I told you."

Katherine's expression sobered. "I wanted to believe she cared to get to know me. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to figure out she's only here to cause more trouble."

"You needed time to make sense of your past. I know how difficult it's been with your ma, and I was hoping I was wrong about Emmaline, that she'd realize what an amazing daughter she has."

She reached up and touched his face, and he froze. "Thank you." The look in her eyes warmed his insides.

His eyes closed, and he enjoyed the featherlight feel of her fingers caressing his cheek. He caught her hand in his to stop the agonizing, yet wonderful, sensation, and turned it toward his lips. He kissed the inside of her wrist. The intake of her breath urged him to fold her close.

She pressed her body against his, and it was his turn to take a sharp breath.

Her hands circled his neck, and his heart kicked into a gallop. The soft brush of her fingers along the clipped hair at the nape of his neck nearly undid him.

He gave into the temptation and brushed her lips with aching tenderness. Without hesitation her mouth opened to his caress. He was lost. He dug his fingers into her hair, crushing his mouth against hers. A blaze ignited inside him.

The creak of the library door opening frustrated him beyond words. Lost in the pleasure, he did not want to be interrupted. But he pulled back and they both turned to Emmaline's head peeking in.

A glower belied her upbeat words. "Just wanted to say good-night." She stepped back and slammed the door shut.

A knot of anger curled in his gut. "Can you believe that woman?"

Katherine pulled out of his arms, leaving his body missing her warmth. He wrapped a hand around the back of his neck to keep himself from dragging her back into his arms. "She has the audacity to intrude upon our privacy. Unbelievable."

"That was good she saw us." Katherine still sounded a little breathless. "I'm certain she witnessed the opposite of what she thought she would see. We haven't exactly been affectionate in her presence, and she's thinking tonight a ruse." The flickering candlelight danced across her face, and her eyes smoldered in the shadows. "I wish we were more," she whispered. "Like we used to be."

He hung his head and turned away. He was so confused. The changes in her were undeniable. In every way she was loving. But could he take on another man's baby? Could he accept being second choice?

He never wanted to face the pain of that kind of rejection again.

Katie didn't want their closeness to end. She would be willing to put up with Emmaline indefinitely if it meant she could go on holding Josiah's hand at will or snuggle as they sat together in the evening. She loved taking the opportunity to drop kisses on his cheek or place her arm around his waist as they walked from room to room. She had a few more days, and she would make the most of it.

"Ah, Josiah, you're first to supper. Such a wonderful improvement from days gone by." Katie smiled up at him as she moved in close.

She wrapped both arms around his neck as his eyes darted around the dining room.

"Where is she?" he asked.

"I don't much care." She pulled his head down to meet her.

An immediate response was her reward. His lips moved over hers, while his hands held her close.

"Um-hm." Emmaline stood in the doorway.

They jumped apart, and Katie smoothed her hands down the front of her dress.

A muscle in Josiah's cheek jumped. He ground out an angry breath and leaned close to whisper in her ear. "Please talk to her tonight. She has to go." He grabbed his hat and crushed it on his head. "I'm no longer hungry." He strode from the room.

Katie's gaze followed him out. Was he angry at her for kissing him? At himself for his obvious reaction? Or at Emmaline for the interruption? She had no idea.

"You two are sure acting different than when I arrived." Emmaline took her place at the table. "A tad too unbelievable, if you ask me."

Katie's face grew hot. "First, Emmaline, our marriage is none of your business. And second, we both think it's time you go."

"Why dear, whatever have I done?" She dabbed at the corner of her eyes with her handkerchief, though no tears were visible.

"You've spent a lifetime manipulating situations, just as Ma warned. What is it you want? A free place to live, money?—"

"I care about you."

Anger boiled in her throat. "You don't care about me. I'm not sure you have the capacity to care about anyone. Sad to say, I had hoped you would." Her heart ached knowing her birth mother would never fill that lost piece in her history.

"Josiah—"

"And every time we're together," Katie said, "all you want to talk about is Josiah, as if you have some fixation on him. You're making him very uncomfortable. I've insisted you stay because I believe you need Jesus, but?—"

"Jesus? I'll never believe in that nonsense, and neither will your husband."

"You talked to him about it?"

"Of course we did. And a whole lot more." She arched brows, her voice dropping low and sultry.

"He wants you gone." Katie swallowed to keep her voice from wavering. She needed to show confidence.

Emmaline patted her arm as if comforting a dullard. "He doesn't want me to go. Let's be honest, Katherine. He feels obligated now that you're with child. He's torn. You see the way your husband devours me with his eyes."

"I see no such thing." Katie stepped away. "You're delusional, Emmaline. It's time to pack your bags. We'll arrange to get you to the train station in the morning. Help yourself to dinner. I'm no longer hungry, either."

As she walked out of the room Emmaline spoke in a low tone. "You're the delusional one. Just you wait and see."

Katie woke to sounds coming from Josiah's room. Another nightmare. She jumped from the bed, pulled on her wrapper, and opened the adjoining door. The smell of her favorite perfume scented the air, and a figure leaned over her husband—a woman with raven black hair spilling down.

Katie stood in a daze as her stomach pitched and rolled. Was that Emmaline draped over her husband? Had Josiah been tempted all along? A tremble took to Katie's limbs. Had he not begged her to get rid of Emmaline? It was not natural the way they'd been apart for way too long. Could Josiah have succumbed?

No . Tentacles of fury spread like fire through her veins. The scream that filled her lungs came from deep inside her body. "Josiah, what's going on?" Her voice pitched high with the anger pulsing through her.

He sat up and pushed Emmaline so hard that she flew off the bed and landed in a heap on the floor. He rubbed his eyes, looking from Emmaline to Katherine.

Emmaline stood, draped in a white dressing gown. A shaft of moonlight revealed the very gown Ma had made for their wedding night.

Katie gasped. "You stole my clothes and perfume?"

"These are yours? He asked me to wear them." She stared Katherine down without flinching. "Now, you can see with your own eyes what I tried to tell you earlier."

"Out!" Josiah yelled the word with a booming voice and pointed toward the door, his eyes shooting flames at Emmaline.

The woman's own eyes widened. She scurried to the door and slammed it shut behind her.

Josiah jumped out of the bed and turned his attention her way. "Katherine?—"

She held her hands up. "I can't talk now. I can't." The shock made her voice jittery. She had to make sense of what just happened.

"I was asleep. I thought I was dreaming, and you came to me like you did long ago…"

She backed into her room and slammed the door. The turn of her lock clicked loudly in the dark. Bile rose up her throat, and she raced to the bowl sitting on the stand. She stood shaking, holding onto the edge of the basin as she worked to keep her insides from spewing. Tears slipped down her cheeks, and deep wracking sobs shuttered out of her.

He hammered on the door. "Please, Katherine, let me in. We need to talk."

For long minutes he kept knocking and pleading, but she held herself steady. At last, the knocking finally subsided, and she stumbled to the bed. Maybe Josiah was right, but she needed time to process.

Her body curled to cradle the little one moving inside her. "It's all right, wee one. Mama will take care of you. Even if it's just you and me in this world, I'll never leave you." Tears spilled down her cheeks.

And I will never leave you. The still small voice of the Spirit washed peace over her.

God, tell me one thing. How can I have a mother so evil, a marriage so tortured, and still feel Your peace?

I am with you.

The tears diminished, and she stretched out on her back, rubbing the mound with gentle strokes. The one thing she did not question was the truth of these words. God was with her.

Josiah hadn't slept a wink since he woke to find that vile woman in his room. The bed felt defiled, and the first thing he did when morning finally came was rip the sheets off. Even though nothing had happened, the thought of her in his bed made his skin crawl. What would he say to Katherine? Would she believe his innocence? As if they didn't have enough problems in their relationship already.

He found her that morning in the parlor with her knitting sprawled across her lap. His stomach twisted into a knot.

The blanket, which had a blue background and white birds decorating it, was almost done. She looked up from her work. "Good morning." Her face wore a look of peacefulness, not at all what he expected considering the night before.

"Not so sure what's good about it." He plunked himself down on a chair across from her. "You have to believe me. At first, I thought I was dreaming, and you had joined me like…like you used to. Next thing I knew, I heard your voice from across the room."

She set her needles down on her lap and looked at him, waiting.

"She was wearing your perfume and your gown." He let out a curse. "She's trying to destroy our marriage."

"Do we have a marriage? Seems you've been talking to her about me?—"

"I most certainly have not." What had that woman been saying? He tamped down his rage. Katie didn't deserve to feel the brunt of it. "I've stayed as far away from her as I can. I haven't trusted her from the day I met her. But she's your mother. Who was I to deny your relationship?"

"I wish you'd told me you felt this strongly."

"I hoped I was wrong. I'm so sorry about what happened. You've got to believe me. Last night, I thought it was you." He raked a hand through his hair.

"I do believe you."

He stood and paced. "Just like that, you believe me?" Maybe he shouldn't question her, but how could she extend such grace?

"I had time to think and pray, and I believe you."

"How could you, after…after how I treated you when you told me you were having a baby."

"I've chosen to forgive you because I'm confident in the truth. But as for last night, we have ourselves to blame. And I take as much responsibility as you."

"What do you mean?"

"If we had been living like a married couple, I would've been lying in your arms, not in another room. She picked up that things were rocky between us, and I took too long in telling her to go. I longed for some sort of connection between us, but what I found is that she's more wicked than I could have imagined." Katie breathed out a sigh and leaned forward to place her knitting back in her basket. Then she rose with grace. "I'm certain Emmaline has nothing and nobody. I pity her, and I don't want her to be homeless."

"After what she did last night?"

"I've prayed about this and I can't leave her destitute, not when we have so much."

"I sure can. We owe her nothing." He rubbed his hand over his trimmed beard. "How can you even entertain the thought of helping her?"

"Because it's what Jesus would do. He says to turn the other cheek, and if someone wants your tunic, give them your cloak too."

He gave her a pointed look. "Your Jesus is far too kind."

"Please, Josiah." She moved closer and placed a hand on his arm. A charge of energy shot up to his shoulder. He would do anything when she looked at him the way she was now, her eyes so blue they swallowed him up. As much as he longed to retaliate with not an ounce of compassion, he would do as Katherine asked.

"You need to stay right beside me," he said. "We need to present a united front and finality in dealing with her."

Katie nodded. "I'll get her. She's in the kitchen having a morning tea, as if last night didn't happen." She left the room, and a moment later, Emmaline followed her back into the parlor.

Emmaline ducked her chin in a penitent look. "Josiah, I?—"

"Quiet. Not one word."

Her mouth formed a perfect O as she lifted a gloved hand to her lips.

Katie crossed the room and stood beside him, and her presence infused him with strength.

"Let's get something clear," he said. "I have neither liked nor trusted you from the first day. You're a spiteful tart, and those are your good points. You'll pack your things directly, and Abe will take you to the nearest train station."

She paled.

"The only reason you've been here as long as you have is due to Katherine's kindness, which I've respected. Had it been up to me, the minute you batted those devil eyes at me, you would have been gone. And after last night… You don't want to know what I would do if not for my wife holding me in check."

A spark of panic flashed across Emmaline's hardened face.

"We know you have no money and nowhere to go, but that's not our problem."

Her hand flew out. "Josiah, please?—"

"Don't Josiah me." He locked his jaw to hold in the less kind words trying to force their way out.

She bit down on her lip.

"Out of regard for my wife's wishes and because her heart is soft, I have agreed to give you enough to last for six months, if you choose a frugal lifestyle."

Her eyes brightened.

"That should give you ample time to find honest work or another sucker. I don't much care which. However, the money is given on one condition."

She pulled her shoulders back and lifted her head with a jut to her chin. "And what might that be?"

"You never—and I mean never —show up here again. Am I clear?"

She nodded, and her lips pursed tightly.

"Funny how the promise of money can seal your lying lips, isn't it? Now go pack."

She turned without a glance backwards.

After Emmaline left the room, he looked at Katherine to find tears misting her eyes. He did what his heart wanted and opened his arms. She walked into his embrace and he clung to her.