Page 446 of Conveniently Wed
The hinges on the screen squeaked as she pulled open the door. “Ma?”
“In the kitchen. Getting supper on.”
Katie grabbed an apron from the hook beside the sink and fell into her old routine. She stood beside her mother, picked upa knife, and dug into the sack of potatoes. “I might as well help while we’re talking.”
“You haven’t been here in so long,” Ma said. “The girls keep asking about you.”
“I know. Life has been busy. Pa told me you and Amelia are going to Richmond to see Grandmother and Grandfather?”
“Yes, we leave next week.”
“I’d like to join you. After all these years of silence from them, I thought you might appreciate some moral support.”
“No.” Ma’s answer was immediate, and her voice quivered. “I want to see if they’ve really changed before I introduce them to my family.”
“But you’re allowing Amelia to go?—”
“Your place is here with your husband, not traipsing to Richmond. Maybe another time.”
Katie looked up from her peeling. Ma’s response didn’t make sense. There was none of the sternness she’d experienced growing up, more a desperate plea. “It would do me good to get away right now.” Why had she said that? She pursed her lips shut.
“Why? What’s happened?” Ma’s burning gaze penetrated the front she was working hard to maintain, and Katie shuddered.
She’d almost revealed the shamble of her life. How could she tiptoe around the truth without spilling the beans? She wanted distance, and lots of it, from Josiah’s coldness, from Colby’s warmth.
She turned back to the bowl and grabbed another potato. “Nothing. Josiah is just so busy with the ranch, and I’d like a change of pace. I’m sure he won’t mind. In fact, I’ll ask him tonight.”
“Go ahead and ask. I’m sure he’ll agree with me.” Ma’s no-nonsense voice was back in place.
She didn’t want to appear too desperate, so she let the subject drop. She was always the unwanted one. The burn of tears stung her eyes, so she slipped out of the apron and hung it on the hook. “All right then, I’ll do that directly.”
“You’re not going to interrupt the man in the middle of the workday, are you? Stay and visit a bit.” Both a tremor and a cajoling filled Ma’s voice.
“I have things to do. I have to go.” Katie swallowed against the lump in her throat.
Gracie came around the corner and squealed before leaping into Katie’s arms. “You just got here, aren’t you going to play with me?”
Katie swung her sister in a quick twirl, and Gracie giggled. “I can’t stay, but walk with me to the orchard’s edge.” She brushed a wayward curl from Gracie’s brow and kissed her silky-smooth skin. “I’ll come back tomorrow, and I promise to play with you then.”
She hugged her little sister tightly, pushing her body against the screen door to open it. An overwhelming urge to hold a baby of her own once again filled her being. She couldn’t stop the tears from brimming.
“Why your eyes so wet?” Gracie’s baby soft hand reached up to touch Katie’s face. “Are you sad?”
Katie pulled her close as the weight of sadness nearly smothered her, but she kept walking. If she’d given Josiah a child, maybe he wouldn’t have turned so cold. She had failed him there as well, although it was a little hard to have a child if one didn’t… Her cheeks burned hot at the memory of the last night they’d spent together. What had that been about? She had been so hopeful, and then so crushed.
Her thoughts unraveled and swayed between her fault, his fault, their fault. Around and around they spun until her headached. She shook the fog free. She had to get past the caring. It hurt too much.
She set Gracie down, and they walked hand in hand to the edge of the orchard. There, she bent down and planted a kiss on her sister’s rosy cheek. “Off you go now. I’ll watch how fast you can run back to the house.”
Gracie spun. The jiggle of her chubby legs, the floppy braids, and the shriek of delight brought a tinge of happiness to Katie’s heart, but the feeling faded as fast as it came.
24
“Colby, hand me the halter,” Josiah said.
“Sure thing, partner.”
The words bit hard, and Josiah flinched. They shared the business, they shared the work, and now he would give up his wife. Seemed too big a leap. Were there not enough women in the world that Colby had to fall for his wife? And yet he needed Colby. There was no way he could run a ranch this size without his expertise.
