“You are lovely without makeup, Catherine,” he commented.
“Maybe, but I have a certain face that I present to the public.” She was inordinately pleased that he thought her beautiful. Finished, she settled into the chair opposite him, leaning her head on her hand, her elbow on the table. “We’ve got to make some battle plans,” she stated.
“Battle plans?” He smiled with amusement.
“Sure. We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves,” she replied.
“No, of course not.” Instantly sobering, he paid attention to her words. She outlined her plans for the day then said, “It will be worse for you, cooped up in here all day until I get back.”
“I will survive, Catherine.”
“Oh, wait a minute, I always carry books with me. They may not be to your liking but it will be something to keep you occupied.” She sprang to her feet, rummaged through her suitcase and returned with three books which she handed to him.
“Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations, and Jane Eyre. I haven’t visited with these ladies or this gentleman in a long time. It will be pleasant to become reacquainted with them again.” His eyes twinkled as she reseated herself.
“So, you read the classics?” This man continued to intrigue her.
“I think I have read them all,” he answered stroking them tenderly. Without raising his head, he stated, “Catherine, you do not have to do this. I can do this on my own.”
“No! I owe you, you saved my life. I owe you everything.”
“You owe me nothing.”
“Vincent, I promise I will do everything in my power to get you home safely.” She reached across the table and placed a comforting hand on his. With the first contact, a jolt of energy shivered through her. Her eyes grew large and she stared into his startled blue eyes until with a gasp he snatched his hand away.
“Um . . . I guess I better get going.” She hardly knew what she was saying and walked falteringly to the door. “Keep it locked and I’ll see you as soon as I can.” The last picture of him that she had was of him sitting there, staring at his hand, bewildered.
Outside, Catherine leaned weakly against the wall. What had just happened in there? Nothing like that had ever happened to her before and she knew that he had felt it, too. Never had she felt the fierce protectiveness for anyone that she felt for this man. Catherine straightened and pushed away from the cottage wall then hurried through the sun bright morning air to Tilly’s. She paused inside the entrance waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dimmer interior light. Deciding to sit at the counter she passed several sets of admiring eyes before she settled onto a stool at the counter. Pale blue shorts and tanktop revealed her superb figure and emphasized her shapely legs.
Tilly, busy at the cook stove, turned her head to greet her with a big toothy grin. “Mawnin’, miss,” she drawled. She noticed the unobtrusive bandage in front of her left ear.
“Morning, Tilly. Call me Cathy, please?” She reached for a menu.
“Ok,” Tilly nodded then placed a mug of hot coffee in front of her. “What can I get for you this mawnin’, Cathy?” Frying bacon called her back to the stove.
After perusing the menu for several minutes Cathy asked, “What do you suggest?”
Turning fully to her, Tilly replied, “Let me fix something special for you? There’s a paper at the end of the counter, if you want to read somethin’.”
Nodding her acquiescence, Catherine retrieved the paper and settled down to read it. Before she opened it, Tilly asked, “Go to the carnival last night?”
Carefully Catherine replied, “Yeah and it was really an experience.”
“Were you there during all the hullabaloo?”
“No, what happened?” She had to forcibly keep her hand from straying to the bandage.
“Seems the lionman escaped and killed one of the roustabouts?”
“Really? I saw him you know, and he looked so sad. Wonder what happened? How do they know it was he?”
“It’s in the paper. Front page news. Biggest story ever to hit this town.” Tilly finished Catherine’s breakfast and plunked it down in front of her. “My world famous you-name-it-it’s-in-there omelet.” The plate held a generous sized omelet, two slices of crisp bacon, and two slices of whole wheat toast. In addition, there was a large orange juice and freshly poured coffee.
Catherine took several bites while reading the news story. “This is excellent, Tilly, thank you.”
Grinning with pride, Tilly left to take care of her other customers while Catherine returned to the article. The sheriff had concluded that the lionman had run into the roustabout, Max Gregory, while he was escaping, had killed him, and was probably out of the territory by now. There was an APB out on him but the sheriff foresaw no difficulty in capturing him. A chill went through her as she read these words.
While she paid her bill, Catherine asked, “Where’s the nearest big town where I can do some major shopping?”
“About a ninety minute drive to the east is Oklahoma City. You can do some major, major shopping there,” Tilly replied giving Catherine her change.
“Thanks. I may not make it back in time for dinner but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
***
After being assured by Phil that her car would be ready by 10:00 a.m. the following morning as he was sure the part would be in this afternoon, she was on her way to Oklahoma City. There she bought three sets of clothing for Vincent, two pairs of boots, a lightweight jacket, pajamas, socks and underwear, and a duffle bag. She blessed her mother for always saying, “A well-prepared woman always carries a tape measure in her purse.” Finding clothes to fit Vincent was not easy as he was a big man, but buying for him was more enjoyable then she thought. Before leaving Oklahoma City, she bought several trinkets and souvenirs as cover if it was ever necessary.
Just before coming into Arapahoe, she stopped and bought a large pizza at the local Pizza Hut. She used her key to let herself into the bungalow and found it dark and empty. Oh no! Her heart sank. He was gone. He’s broken his promise. Just then she heard a sound behind her and the pizza went flying as she spun around. She found him flattened against the wall, his arm raised to deliver a felling blow.
“Catherine,” he gasped.
“Oh,” she breathed.
“Why didn’t you tell me it was you?” He had been so wrapped up in his feelings of going home that he had not sensed her.
“I didn’t want to call attention to myself,” she replied as she took his hands in regret. Once again that same unknown feeling swept through her and she could see the answering shock in his eyes. Hastily, they dropped their hands.
“I’m sorry if I frightened you.” He sagged against the wall unable to move for the moment.
“I wasn’t frightened when I saw it was you. You would never hurt me,” she said, assuringly.
“You can’t be sure of that.” He shook his head in wonder at her bravery.
“Oh yes, I can,” she stated decisively. She locked the door, turned on the lights and retrieved the pizza which had landed face up on the floor. “Come on, I’m starved. Let’s see what we can salvage from this poor, abused pizza,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.
Vincent smiled faintly and followed her to the table. Resolutely, they ignored what had just happened, he because he was chagrined and frightened at what had almost happened and she because she felt his pain and fear. How could she make him understand that she was totally unafraid of him and trusted him completely? What was there about this unique man that drew her to him?
After the pizza had been polished off, she brought in all the bags and packages and watched his wondering reaction to all that she had gotten for him. He examined every article of clothing, fingering the texture of each piece. The Reeboks claimed his attention for a full five minutes. Finally, he raised tear bedimmed sapphire eyes to her fascinated green ones and in an awed voice said, “I have never had new clothes before. You bought all these for me? Why? I don’t deserve all this.”
In an instant she was beside him and had his hand in both of hers. “Vincent, you deserve anything I can do for you. Allow me the joy of giving to you.” At his startled look she nodded toward the bathroom and then his clothes.
While he was dressing,
she put water on to boil. After filling the cups she sat at the table
waiting for him to come out. She was curious as to what he would
look like completely dressed and she was well aware that he had a magnificent
body. The bathroom door opened and he stepped reluctantly into the
larger room. Her eyes danced over his powerful figure as he neared
the table. Yes, he was magnificent. The shirt and blue jeans
clung to his body accenting each part of it. He
sank into the chair
opposite her and shyly ducking his head he thanked her.
“I’m glad I could do it, Vincent. Now . . . tomorrow I will get my car back. I’m going to trade it in on a larger one that you can ride in easily. It’ll take all morning so I’m going to stay all day and say that I prefer to drive in the coolness of the night after my breakdown on the freeway.” Fiddling with the cup, she yawned uncontrollably.
“You’re tired, Catherine.” Vincent took the cups to the sink and rinsed them.
“I am. I think I’ll get ready for bed.” A few minutes later she emerged from the bathroom in a cream satin nightgown and peignoir.
Vincent was soon out of the bathroom stretched out on his pallet on the floor. “Good night, Catherine.”
“Night, Vincent.”
He lay awake debating whether he should let her continue her efforts to get him home. His head said he shouldn’t but his heart told him it was important to her and would be of benefit to her. In the end he listened to his heart, turned over and was soon asleep.
Catherine, knowing that he had his doubts about her assistance, listened to his agitated breathing. Knowing she would do anything to stop him from leaving, she finally succumbed to sleep when she heard his breathing become deep and even. He would not leave this night.