The Price (8 page)

Just then Jesse released a piercing cry. His screams were heard all the way to the canyon, echoing off its walls and back to his mother’s ears. Kate’s head darted to her son, and within moments, she led her horse to the gate, dismounted and walked up to Dustin’s side.

“Here, I’ll take him,” she said, reaching for her son and cradling him in her arms. “You hungry my little man?”

She nuzzled him, laying kisses to his cheek. Taking the stroller, she walked to the picnic table and sat on the seat. She pulled out a green-like apron and draped it around her son. Marnie joined her daughter. She watched, as if in sheer horror, as her daughter maneuvered the baby to her breast and heard sucking sounds beneath the cloth.

“Aren’t you going to do that in private?” Marnie was aghast.

“Why?” said Kate. “No one can see?”

“But those two cowboys know what you’re doing,” said Marnie, looking at the rough-necked cowpokes who’d returned to caring for the horses in the corral. “In my day there was something called
modesty
.”

“It isn’t like they haven’t seen me do it before,” Kate laughed. “Besides, it’s not like I’m flashing my breasts at them. This apron hides everything.”

“Oh, Kathryn.” Marnie shook her head in disgust. “What has this place done to you? Have you thrown your common sense and education out the window?”

“No, of course not,” she said.

“And when did you learn to ride a horse, much less become a horse talker? If I can recall, you were always squeamish around horses.”

“I’ve learned to overcome my fears,” she said, thinking fondly of Black Thunder. “And it’s spirit talker, according to Indian legend.” She corrected.

“Please tell me you have not fallen prey to superstition,” gasped Marnie.

“No, Mother, I haven’t,” she laughed. “I helped free a wild mustang and since then the elders of our local tribe have been kind enough to gift me with the title. I don’t know if I have the gift or not, but out of respect for their beliefs, I have embraced it.”

“Oh dear God, you do believe it,” said Marnie with a frown. “It’s a good thing I showed up when I did. Someone has to save you from this town and that overbearing husband of yours.”

“Why all the concern, now?” she asked, feeling her joy balloon wither a little more. “You haven’t been a part of my life ever since my marriage ended with Paul. Now you show up out of the blue and rain your disappointment all over me.”

“Is that what you think I’m doing?”

“You tell me? Kate’s eyes narrowed just a hair. “It’s clear you don’t like my husband, and you think I made the biggest mistake moving out here.”

“Kathryn, you are in too deep to see the picture clearly,” said Marnie. “I know the kind of man Jack McBride is, and he will not make you happy.”

“So you keep telling me,” she frowned. “Why can’t you just be happy for me?”

“Because that man is going to ruin your life if he hasn’t already,” Marnie replied. “You don’t belong here. You belong in Santa Cruz, teaching, being a part of the community.”

“And being married to Paul,” added Kate.

“Yes, Kathryn,” she stated firmly. “You belong with a man like Paul, not some domineering cowboy who wants to keep you barefoot and pregnant.”

“I was miserable married to Paul,” Kate reminded her.

“It was all the hormone therapy that made you unhappy—not Paul,” stated Marnie. “And you drove him away with this obsessive need to have a baby.”

“Maybe I did,” said Kate, taking responsibility for her part. “But he still cheated on me and tossed me away like I was nothing.”

“He made a mistake,” said Marnie. “He wants you back.”

“It’s too late for that,” Kate shook her head and laughed at her mother’s audacity. “I’m with Jack now and I love him.”

“You think a man like Jack will remain faithful to you?” Marnie lifted her brow.

“Yes.”

“Oh Kathryn, I didn’t raise you to be a fool. Open your eyes. Your husband is a very physical kind of man. He will grow bored easily with a woman like you. What will you do then?”

“I know what you’re doing,” Kate’s voice mixed with angry tears. “It’s not going to work this time.”

“What am I doing?” Her mother remained calm.

“You’re trying to twist my mind.” And it was working as all the air in Kate’s joy balloon left. “You are not going to spin me in the direction of Paul like you did the last time.”

“Paul is a better fit for you, Kathryn.”

“Oh God, give it a rest,” she spat sharply and her son lifted his head, as blue eyes rested questioningly on hers.

Kate gave him several quick pats to the back until he released a burp then placed him in the stroller. She removed the apron, tucking it by the infant’s feet.

“Go home, Mother!” said Kate, holding back the tears from releasing, not wanting to give her mother the satisfaction of seeing her cry “I don’t want you here poisoning my family.”

“That’s not what I’m doing,” said Marnie. She stood and placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “I always have your best interests at heart.”

“No, you have your best interests at heart—not mine.” She shrugged her mother away. “It was a mistake calling you. I wish to God I never made it.”

Kate left her mother by the picnic table and made her way back to the main house. How did her mother know how to pick away at her confidence until all her insecurities were exposed raw? She needed to get far away before her mother had time to crumble what little stability she had left.

The pooled up tears released, falling upon her dry cheeks, and she hid her face by looking down at the ground when Mark passed her and greeted her. Kate barely got the word
hello
from her lips without them quivering. She was grateful to make it to the house, climbing the porch stairs with the stroller and entering the foyer. She picked up her son and cradled him in her arms, then headed upstairs to their bedroom.

Kate changed Jesse and sat in the rocking chair, cradling him to her chest as she wept. What she was crying for, she didn’t fully know. An unsettled feeling formed in the pit of her stomach, and she felt like she wanted to throw up. It couldn’t happen again—not with Jack. Or could it? Did her mother have an uncanny knack of foretelling her future, seeing the destruction that she was too blind to see until it was too late? Kate held her son tighter, continuing to shed distraught tears.

Jack finished the tour and headed back to the main house. He felt a little guilty leaving Kate the way he did. Saturday’s were meant for family but after his latest run in with his mother-in-law, he thought it best to get far enough away from her meddling before he said something he would regret.

He wasn’t the kind of man to run from confrontation, but for Kate he would do just about anything. The last thing she needed was for him to lose his temper. She was sensitive enough having her mother visit and to mix that with her fluctuating hormones, could have been a recipe for disaster.
No
, Jack thought,
it was better that I left and cooled down before tackling the remainder of the day with Marnie St. Claire.

Jack checked the kitchen first but found no Kate. He climbed the stairs, heading for their bedroom. He didn’t make it half way down the hall before he heard Kate’s sobs wailing through the hallway. It was a familiar sound as of late, and with an inward pause he geared up to handle what he considered a
female-emotional-melt-down
behind the bedroom door.

It wasn’t that he was unsympathetic; he was just never good at the
feeling stuff
. But with Kate he learned fast. In the year they’d been together, his world had turned upside down and for the better. One look, at that pretty blond hair and ocean blue eyes, and he was hooked.

“Kate, what’s wrong?” asked Jack, standing in the doorway of their bedroom.

“Nothing’s wrong.” She looked up with red eyes and nose.

“You just blubbering for the fun of it?” he teased, then gave her one of his famous grins hoping to bring her out of her mood.

“No,” she said, through muffled sobs.

Jack walked to her side and took the sleeping infant from her arms. He gently placed him in the bassinet then took Kate’s hand and led her to the bed.

“You want to talk about it?” He asked, sitting her on his lap.

“Why did you work today?” She continued to cry. “Saturday is always our day, and you left me.”

“I know it is.” He brushed her hair back behind her ear. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re getting bored with me, aren’t you, Jack?” Kate sobbed harder.

“Oh baby, you are reading more into it than what it is.”

“Then what is it?” She took him by the shirt. “TELL ME … Jack. Why didn’t you want to be with me?”

“Aren’t
we
intense this afternoon?” he grinned and almost laughed.

“TELL ME!” She raised her voice, not seeing the humor in it.

“I thought you wanted some time alone with your mother,” he lied, not wanting Kate to worry further about his dislike for the unwelcome visitor.

“You know I didn’t want to be alone with her,” she bawled. “She twists my head in all kinds of directions and gets me confused.”

“Is that what this is all about?” The smile left Jack’s face. “What’s she saying to make you doubt me, Kate?”

“Nothing.” It was Kate’s turn to lie. She didn’t want another confrontation between Jack and her mother.

“Why is it I don’t believe you?”

“You aren’t going to get bored with me, are you, Jack?” She pleaded with tear-stained eyes.

“Never.” He smiled and wiped the tears from her cheek.

“Are you sure?” she pouted, wanting to believe him but still hearing the doubt, whispering in the sound of her mother’s voice.

“How could I get bored with you?” he stated. “You’re like a roller coaster. You always give me a hell of a ride.”

“What if the ride becomes the same?”

Her intense, blue eyes stared into rich green, desperately seeking an answer.

“Well then we’ll just have to mix it up a bit,” he grinned.

“How?”

“Hell Kate, I don’t know.” He shook his head. “We’ll do it on our heads.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She continued to pout, but he ignited a little spark in her eyes. “We can’t do it on our heads.”

“Want to make a bet?”

There was mischief in his eyes, and before Kate could object, he slung her over the bed. Her back fell into the plush mattress while her head dangled over its edge. She released a playful squeal, pressing her hands against the carpeted floor so not to fall off the bed. Jack fell on top of her, lifting her shirt over her belly and breasts.

“Oh I like this, baby,” he said in a husky tone, as he nipped at her satin bra, tugging it with his teeth.

“Jack,” Kate laughed. “Let me up!”

“Not a chance.”

His mouth moved over her belly. He planted both lips on her flesh and tickled her, blowing into her navel.

“Stop!” Kate let out a full-blown laugh, as her body started to slide from the bed.

“Where do you think you’re going?” He grabbed her by the hips to prevent her from falling then continued his assault on her belly.

“No, no…no…not there,” bellowed Kate, feeling him move to her sides.

“Say we can do it on our heads, Barbie doll,” he continued.

“Okay—okay—we can do it on our heads,” she giggled profusely.

“Are you sure?” asked Jack, burying his head into her side one last time and tickled her flesh.

“Yes, yes, I’m sure,” she pleaded loud.

“KATHRYN!” A strong feminine voice bellowed by the door.

Both Kate and Jack looked up at the same time.

“Hello Mother,” exclaimed Kate, upon seeing an upside-down maternal frown as her head dangled over the bed.

“Don’t you both have any
propriety
what-so-ever?” Marnie scowled. “I could hear you carrying on downstairs.”

“Oh, sorry,” she said, and lifted her head.

Jack reached out and grabbed Kate’s hand, lifting her back on to the bed.

“The least you could do is close the door,” her mother continued.

“So why don’t
you
close it on your way out?” ordered Jack.

“I beg your pardon?” Marnie’s eyes squinted into tiny blue-grey slits.

Kate cringed, and burrowed deeper into the mattress, in order to prepare for the oncoming explosion.

“You heard me,” said Jack. His back pricked. “I said close the door on your way out. This is my house, and I want to be alone with my wife.”

“You may order Kathryn around like some domineering God but not me,” stated Marnie. “I know men like you, and I won’t be pushed around. Now Kathryn, you and I have some unresolved business to discuss. I’ll meet you downstairs in fifteen minutes.”

With that said, Marnie spun on her heels and left the room, leaving the door wide open just to spite Jack.

“Shut the fucking door!” Jack hollered out. He jumped from the bed and went to slam the door.

“Shut the door yourself!” Marnie hollered back, as she carried herself across the hallway to the staircase.

Jack slammed the door closed and glared at Kate, twisting his face into knots.

“Your mother is a…is a-”

“Don’t say it, Jack,” she cringed. “You can think it, but don’t say it!”

“Oh, I’ll say it all right,” he said, shaking his finger at her. “She needs to leave!”

“She’s leaving tomorrow. We have one more night to put up with her.”

“I don’t think I can, Kate,” said Jack, as he ran his fingers through his hair. “That woman is going to be the death of me.”

“I told you it was a mistake to call her,” Kate reminded him.

“Maybe it would have been better if we waited and gave her Jesse’s graduation invitation instead,” he frowned.

Kate couldn’t help but giggle.

“It’s not funny,” he growled.

“It’s kind of funny.” She giggled again. “She really ruffled your feathers.”

“That woman could piss off the pope,” stated Jack, and he walked over to Kate to join her on the bed.

He gave her that “not-too-happy” look and Kate covered her mouth so he wouldn’t see her laugh. Jack shook his head as all the anger left him. A grin formed on his face, and together they both laughed.