Stealing Time (30 page)

“He can get his own coffee,” Kate answered,
and the two women laughed.

“Can I join in?” Anna slipped into a chair
next to Kate. “I’m so glad Kathryn’s back! I missed her.”

“You two go ahead and visit. I’ve got things
to do.” Maya got up and left the kitchen.

“Kathryn, I have to tell you something.
You’re going to think I’m silly, but I feel like I know your
friend, Lindsey...like I met her before.”

“You did. At my wedding.”

“Well, maybe I’m not saying it quite right.
It’s like I know her. She seems so familiar.”

Kate smiled, knowing Lindsey would love to
hear this. “She’s just a friend from Ohio, Anna. I don’t think you
know her.”

“Well, it’s so...”

“Déjà vu?” Drew’s voice filled the room. Anna
looked at him quizzically as he walked to the stove to pour some
coffee. “The experience of feeling like something’s happened
before,” he explained.

“Yes, Andrew, something like that.”

“Or maybe you knew her in another life,” Kate
suggested, knowing it was true.

“Stop, you two. You’re making my head spin!”
Anna giggled as she held her head.

Drew headed back out of the kitchen. “I’ll
leave you two alone. Be outside if you need me, Kate.”

She knew there was nothing to lose so she
decided to tell Anna about the trip to New York. Confiding in her
wouldn’t change anything. History was already rewritten. “I need to
tell you about the trip to New York City.”

“Need? That sounds like it wasn’t a good
trip. Wasn’t that part of your honeymoon? I hope you enjoyed some
of the time you spent there.”

“Well...not exactly.” Kate began with the
train trip, describing the Pullman car, keeping the story light.
She told details of the limo ride, shopping at Saks and the opulent
décor of the Martin four-story townhouse.

“That all sounds wonderful, Kathryn. I don’t
understand.”

Finally she could hold back no more. “Anna, I
have to tell you something I’ll never tell another soul, not even
Drew.” She continued her story, and as it grew darker in nature,
Anna grabbed Kate’s hand. “Nicolas gave the order to kill...Jack
Woods. I heard it.” Kate almost said her father but caught
herself.

Anna gasped. “I thought Nicolas might be in
the mob but never the boss! Oh, Kathryn, what if he had caught you
in his office?” Tears filled her eyes.

Kate was relieved...like the weight of the
world was off her shoulders now that she told someone. That someone
had to be Anna. “He didn’t catch me, but if he could get his hands
on me now...” Kate paused. “I was literally a prisoner. It seemed
like someone was watching my every move. I felt like we had to
escape. With Jack’s help, we did. I don’t think I can go back there
ever again. Isn’t that terrible? That’s Drew’s home, his
family.”

“Don’t ever feel that way. That wasn’t just a
family squabble. It’s life and death. Are you going to warn
Jack?”

“No! And you mustn’t either. If Jack knew
it’d make him more curious, and he’d start upping his
investigation. I fear for his life. He’d probably brush it all
aside while trying to save his brother. Now that we’re back I hope
everything will quiet down. Promise me you won’t say anything.”

“I’m so glad you confided in me. You can
trust me. I won’t say a word.” Anna’s face still showed concern.
“Now, you need to find your husband and enjoy this week. Make up
for that horrible one you had in New York.”

Kate had wanted to talk to Anna for weeks,
thinking she’d never get to again. She was given a special gift.
She was able to tell her best friend about one of the most horrific
weeks of her life. “Thank you, Anna. I love you.”

“I love you, too. Now go.”

Kate ran out to the barn to find Drew
saddling up Canyon. “I’m ready!” She hadn’t felt this good in
weeks. They’d have the next few days to themselves with no
interference from anyone. One gift after another, this day was
continually improving. The next few days would be filled with love
and happiness. What more could a girl ask for?

* * * *

By Wednesday, Kate decided it was time for a
break from the cabin. She and Drew spent all their time riding,
going for walks, cooking together and just being with each other.
She could tell he was anxious to go to Kolb Studio, do a little
work and talk with the tourists. She encouraged him to go and
decided to visit the boardinghouse while he was gone. Maya was
still there, and a chat over coffee and cinnamon bread sounded
good. Carl Sr. had let Kate have Flicka for a few days, so she
headed to the barn, saddling up the horse for the trip.

As Kate neared the boardinghouse, she could
see Carl Jr. on the porch. It appeared he was having an argument
with someone. As she grew closer, Kate realized it was Rachel. She
didn’t really know Rachel, only meeting her a few times. What she
did know, she learned from Carl. He still really loved her. Kate
knew this time period at the canyon was the most difficult for
him.

Surprised he was at the boardinghouse because
of his promise to stay away, Kate was unsure if she should approach
or not. She wasn’t a part of their story last year and determined
she shouldn’t be now. Turning Flicka toward the barn, she hoped
they’d be gone when she came out.

Carl spotted her and waved. “Kathryn, wait
up!”

Kate slid off the horse as he approached,
leaving Rachel on the steps of the house. “I thought you were
coming tomorrow. You know, in and out, just for Thanksgiving. I
think those were your words.”

“I was getting bored at home. You and Mom
were here. Renae’s not coming until tomorrow.”

“So you blame boredom. I get here and see you
fighting with Rachel. Good way to pass the time.”

“No, I knew I’d see her. Last year we had
this fight, and after we calmed down, I took her in the
barn...”

Kate held up her hand. “You can stop right
there. Too much information.”

“Let me finish. I was going to say I told her
as much as I could about myself. I didn’t give anything away like
she was four or five weeks pregnant, although I knew. But now, I
want to tell her. I want to let her know I found Josie in the
present, and we’re a family.”

“Carl, no! You can’t do that! Are you also
going to tell her you’re dating her great-granddaughter?”

“No, I don’t want to hurt her. I want her to
be happy and have the knowledge our story continues.”

“I won’t allow it. You can do too much damage
with that information.”

“How?”

“Well, let’s say she starts crying and
insists on marrying you instead of Thomas when she finds out she’s
pregnant with your child.”

“I’ll tell her two other children need to be
born.”

“So you’d fill her in on her life history
before she lives it?”

“Kate, you’re making this so complicated. It
doesn’t have to be. Rachel’s a very smart, level-headed girl.
She’ll be able to handle it.”

“If I found out I was pregnant and the man I
loved lived in another century, I think I’d stop thinking
rationally. It’s too much to absorb in one day. I gradually learned
about all of this and still get overwhelmed.”

“Fine! Then I’ll do what I originally
planned. Bring her to the present to live with me.”

“Carl, you’re messing with everyone’s lives
again. You can’t do that.” Kate was close to hysteria although she
hoped she was presenting a coherent argument. “We solved all the
problems last year. You can’t go back and open up all those old
wounds again. You have a wonderful girl waiting for you back home.
You want to throw that away?”

“Is that true, Joseph?” The name Carl used at
the canyon rang through the barn.

Carl shot Kate a look of fear and anger. “No,
baby. There’s no one but you.”

“Rachel...I’m sorry for taking up all this
time with Joseph. It looked like you were in the middle of an
important conversation.” Kate started for the door.

“To me maybe...obviously not to Joseph.”

“Kathryn, time to leave.” Carl placed his
hand on her back and led her toward the door. “I need to talk to
Renae.”

Kate balked when he said Renae’s name without
realizing it. Things were going from bad to worse, and he didn’t
know it. He needed to talk to Rachel, say his good-byes and not
change the script...but they already had.

Rachel turned and faced Kate. “No, Kathryn,
you stay. I’m leaving!” She slammed the barn door behind her as she
left.

“Look what you’ve done!” Carl put both hands
on top of his head, grimacing.

“Me? What about you? You called Rachel
another name!” Kate thought they sounded like two siblings arguing
over a broken vase in their mother’s living room when a piercing
scream changed her focus. “What was that?”

“Rachel! Stay here, and don’t come out until
I tell you it’s safe.” Carl slipped out of the barn while Kate
watched through a small window. She couldn’t believe what she saw.
Rachel was being dragged to a waiting car by two men...in suits.
Kate’s heart began to pound as recognized one of them.

“Sal,” Kate said aloud. “The second time
around he was sent to find us. He knows what I look like and would
be able to identify me much easier than some random mobster.”

Suddenly she heard Carl’s voice, but couldn’t
see him. “I don’t think Mrs. Martin is here in Arizona, sir. I
believe my cousin Maya told me she’s spending time with her family
back in Ohio.” His voice sounded louder than usual. Kate realized
he was trying to warn her. She dove into a pile of hay and crawled
into the very corner of a stall. “Look around all you want, but
just leave us folks alone. Rachel’s here for a visit. She don’t
even know Miss Kathryn.”

Why is Carl talking like that? He could
outsmart those mobsters at their own game. Wait, that’s what he’s
doing. Acting like he doesn’t know much. Good job, Carl.
Kate
scooted as far back as she could in the pile of hay.

“Isn’t she that restaurant cook’s
girlfriend?” Kate recognized Sal’s voice. They were inside the barn
now.

“Don’t really know. I’m just visiting.”

“Well, that cook is friends with Andrew
Martin. His girlfriend could know something. Like where they
are.”

“If I understand correctly, you’ve been told
where they are.”

No, Carl, you’re sounding too much like my
brother and protector!

“So you know something?”

“No, just passing through on my way to
California. Stopped to say hey to my cousin Maya.”

The barn was being ravaged by the sound of
it. The men continued to talk while things were tossed aside,
bouncing off the walls. Kate flinched at every sound.

“Give me that pitchfork.” Kate heard Sal’s
demand and cringed. The sound the fork made as it hit the hay grew
closer and closer. Holding her breath, she waited for the final
blow. Feeling the edge of the pitchfork hit the side of her hand,
she bit her lip trying not to scream out in pain. Most of the hay
was now spread out in front of her, almost giving away her hiding
spot. Kate could see out into the room and knew it was just a
matter of time before she was found.

Just then the door flew open. Carl Sr. stood
in the doorway with a shotgun pointed at Sal. “I think you’re done
here. Tell your friend in the car to release the girl, and get away
from my boy. There’s no one in here but my horses. Get back to
where you came from, or you’ll get more than a barrel of a shotgun
aimed in your direction.”

Sal threw the fork down and raised his hands
to shoulder level. “I’m leaving. I think I’ve seen all there is to
see here.”

“Be on that train tonight.” Carl Sr. told him
as he followed him out the door. The shotgun remained level on his
shoulder.

Kate was holding her breath the whole time,
fearing she’d give herself away. The pain in her hand throbbed, but
she was afraid to move. Waiting a few minutes she burst through the
hay and out of the stall.

“Carl!” She was surprised to see him still in
the barn.

“Your hand! Are you alright?” Carl looked
around the barn for something to wrap it in. Finally he torn a
piece of his shirt and used it to bind her hand. “My mom will fix
this up much better, I’m sure. How does it feel?”

Kate threw her arms around him and cried.
“Thank you for saving my life!” Carl squeezed her tightly. “Don’t
worry about my hand. I’m sure it’s fine. What about you? You’re
fighting with Rachel one minute, and suddenly mobsters are dragging
her away the next...thanks to me and Drew.”

“How can you say that? No one expected them
to show up here.”

“They were here once already and beat up my
father. Didn’t Maya tell you?” Kate hung her head. “Don’t you see?
Drew and I changed history when we stayed in New York too long. We
made this happen.”

“Kate.” Carl sat on a box by the stall that
had been her hiding place. “Don’t you think Drew’s dad eventually
would come looking for you? No matter what? He wanted Drew in New
York to learn the business...couldn’t do it long distance.”

“You’re lucky to have a father like Carl Sr.
Drew’s father is the complete opposite.”

“Makes me all the more grateful. Did you hear
my dad?” Carl looked up from box he sat on, tears streaming down
his face. “He said ‘my boy’.”

“Yeah, I did. I think in his heart he knows
you’re his son.” Kate sat down next to him, hoping he finally got
some closure.

Carl first came to the canyon to see his
father, changing his name so Carl Sr. wouldn’t be suspicious. He
was desperate to come, and Kate encouraged it. “Did I do the right
thing when I had you come here last year? You’ve been in so much
pain because of it.”

“The right thing? It was the most unselfish
thing someone’s ever done for me. You put up with all my antics and
always defended me. Now because of you, I got to hear my father
call me his boy one more time. You gave me time with my father I
never thought I’d have...extra time.”