A Good Man for Katie by Patrick Marie

Author:Patrick, Marie [Patrick, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Western
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2012-10-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Kathryne’s fingers stilled in the midst of brushing her hair as a rush of warmth whispered through her. Two days had passed since she and Chase had made love and yet, her body still tingled with the memory. The taste of his mouth on hers, the tenderness in which he touched her, the pure rush of bliss as his body filled hers had the power to make her knees buckle, her face flush.

She let out a long sigh, trying to push the memory from her mind, and finished brushing her hair. She pulled the heavy mass away from her face with a ribbon that matched the dark green skirt she wore this morning. She heard the children in the yard outside the schoolhouse and frowned. They should be inside the building, keeping warm, not waiting for her in the cold. Snow still covered the ground from the last storm and she’d noticed the heavy clouds above threatening more when she’d let Sarge out earlier this morning.

She glanced out the window. Something wasn’t quite right. The children were gathered around the door, some stomping their feet to stave off the cold, a few of the younger girls huddled together for warmth. Sarge wasn’t chasing the children as he normally did. Instead, he sat in front of the door and didn’t move. Even from here, Kathryne could see how rigidly he held himself. He wouldn’t let anyone get close to him, not even Joe or Walter, whom the dog adored.

Kathryne grabbed her shawl from the hook beside the door and wrapped it around her shoulders then left the house without her reticule and cup of coffee. Her pace quickened as she crossed the little bridge, her stomach clenching as a feeling of dread wavered through her. Cheeks rosy from the cold, the children disbursed so she could pass through. “Why aren’t you all inside where it’s warm?” She glanced at them, one by one, their breaths coming out in plumes of white. “Where are your gloves, Nancy?”

“I forgot them.”

“Then put your hands in your pockets. Paul, button your coat.” Both children quickly obeyed her command as her gaze alighted on Walter. “Where’s the scarf your mother made you?” The boy made quick work of pulling the scarf out of his pocket and wrapping it around his throat.

She approached Joe, standing on the steps, his ears and face red from the biting cold. “No hat, Joe?” Kathryne instantly adjusted the collar of his coat to cover his ears. A smile crossed her lips. Hadn’t Chase reprimanded her a few days ago for the same reasons?

The boy said nothing, although his face reddened a bit more.

“Why aren’t you all inside?” she repeated.

“Sarge won’t let us in,” Joe said as he gestured to the dog stationed in front of the door like a sentinel. “I was gonna start the fire in the stove, get it nice and warm inside, but he just won’t let me.” The boy shook his head and grinned, as if Sarge’s behavior were some sort of strange game.

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