And Those Who Trespass Against Us (25 page)

Keeping her conflicting emotions in check, Katherine remained standing. "You still haven't answered my question. What are you doing here?"

"Calm down, you look more flustered than the first night we met. There's nothing sinister about my visit, if that's what you're thinking. I was up north when I heard of Alexander Pelham's death. I wanted to ensure you were all right and, of course, pay my respects to Catriona."

Unsure of how Catriona would react to the woman who had abducted her, Katherine stifled a laugh. "I know you mean well, but I don't think you'd be well received by her. I'll pass on your message. Now I think it would be best if you'd leave."

Mary eased out of her chair and headed toward Katherine, who retreated behind the tea chest of books, effectively placing a physical barrier between them. "What's the matter? Don't tell me you're afraid of being in the house with a desperado? Are you afraid I might ravish you or something?"

Katherine's eyes widened and her cheeks reddened when she remembered what had occurred between her and Catriona. "How dare you! Of course I don't think that." She struggled to regain her composure. "It's just, for someone with such a high price on her head, you're not very careful, are you?"

Mary laughed. "Life is one big gamble, Katherine. I've raised the stakes by following this profession. My time will come soon enough, and it's nothing I can run away from. There are many places I'd not feel safe in, but this isn't one of them."

Katherine studied Mary's easy manner thinking she was as bad as Catriona. They might be both strong and independent, but that could get a woman into a lot of trouble. She stopped herself, shocked at the realisation that she was comparing Mary to Catriona. What disturbed her more was that her comparison went beyond mere personality traits. Both Mary and Catriona possessed the ability to evoke a visceral response in her, which she seemingly had no control over.

She looked back at Mary, who was now quizzically staring at her. "If you insist on risking your own neck, the least I can do is offer you something to drink." Taking a wide berth, Katherine walked out the door toward the kitchen, not bothering to see if Mary followed her.

MARY TOOK A seat at the table while Katherine busied herself with making a pot of tea. Her brows knitted at the interplay of emotions which crossed Katherine's face, as if she was excited by her presence, yet she sensed a fear in her. Mary puffed up her cheeks, then released a breath of air. She didn't think Katherine feared for her safety. It was something else. Katherine sat opposite her, and the difference in her demeanour was more obvious, yet still something she couldn't quite put her finger on. "Is everything all right?"

Katherine clasped her teacup. "Aside from the fact I'm sitting down drinking tea with a bushranger?"

Mary smiled. "That's not what I mean, and you know it. You're being very evasive about something." She scrutinised Katherine's face as redness steadily crept up Katherine's neck. "You've changed somehow."

Katherine stood. "I'm sure we've still got some leftover cake in the pantry from last night's dinner. I'll get it."

Mary couldn't help but think Katherine was being very secretive about something. Her mind toyed with the possible reasons for Katherine's reaction. She stopped at the thought of Catriona. She hadn't met her, but she was still aware of the help Catriona had given to the less fortunate families. She'd heard of her kind-heartedness. Could it be possible that something more sinister lay beneath a veneer of such philanthropy?

She followed Katherine and stopped at the door to the pantry, boxing her in. "How's Catriona treating you? I know her brother's death hit her quite hard, and I've heard of her temper. She hasn't hurt you, has she?" Mary asked, surprised at the interplay of emotions on Katherine's crimson features.

Slowly the kernel of a thought took seed. Lips pursed, she creased her brow. She thought back to the night of Katherine's kidnapping, and her reactions to her questioning about Katherine and Catriona's relationship. She folded her arms across her chest and leant against the doorframe. "I think my last question should have been," a knowing smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, "what's going
on
between you and Catriona?" So pleased was she at Katherine's reaction that she nearly failed to catch herself when Katherine forcefully pushed her out of the way.

"How
dare
you!" Katherine yelled, her green eyes afire, her chest heaving in barely suppressed fury. "How dare you speak to me of such things? You may be comfortable to live your life in that manner. Need I remind you I'm a nun and answer to a higher calling? I won't have you discuss either myself or Catriona like that," she finished, her body now perilously close to Mary's.

Undaunted and also thrilled by Katherine's reaction, Mary quietly laughed. Stepping ever closer to the agitated figure in front of her, she met Katherine's eyes with her own. "To paraphrase a great man, 'Me thinketh the lady doth protesteth too much.'"

KATHERINE WAS FRIGHTENINGLY aware of Mary's proximity, she was close enough to feel the rush of Mary's breath on her face. Her own breathing was laboured and, despite her indignant response, she felt warmth in the pit of her stomach, uncontrollably caused by the outlaw's nearness. "I think you should leave," Katherine said as levelly as she could manage. "You've
more
than outstayed your welcome."

Mary's eyes remained locked with her own. "If that's what you want."

"It is. Now please go." Katherine turned to move away from Mary's hypnotic presence.

Mary caught her arm in a vicelike grip and propelled her even closer to where she'd been standing only moments ago. Mary's other hand locked itself around her waist, drawing her close, until her lips were almost brushing Katherine's cheek. Mary trailed her fingers down Katherine's arm to reach her soft pliant hand. She leant forward until Katherine felt Mary's lips near her ear.

Katherine's body betrayed her, and she fleetingly melted into Mary's arms.

Mary laughed. "I see. Your protests
were
too great. Don't let that bother you though, for they have fallen on deaf ears." Stepping quickly out of their embrace, Mary was gone before Katherine could rationalise what had occurred.

Katherine groped for a chair and sat, willing her breathing to return to normal. She'd felt the same feelings in Mary's arms that she'd felt during that morning with Catriona.

Katherine placed her head down in her hands and wept. What was she doing here and what had she come to? She was a nun, here to do God's work. How could she possibly feel the same way for Catriona that Mary does for other women? But she must, otherwise why did she react the way she did just then? And why did she respond the same way with Catriona?

Her emotional turmoil raged throughout the afternoon while she sat, almost statuesque, at the kitchen table. The afternoon shadows lengthened and she at last she knew what she had to do.

KATHERINE'S FINGER ABSENTLY traced the frame that bordered the delicate watercolour above the mantelpiece in the study. She canted her head at Catriona calling for her. Lowering her hand, she turned when the parlour door opened.

"There you are. It looks like you bit off more than you could chew," she said, her voice laced with humour. "I swear this mess is much the same as the one I left you with this morning."

Katherine mutely nodded.

Catriona frowned as she quietly walked across the room. "Is everything all right?"

"I think you should sit down." She motioned her to a chair and took the one opposite. "I need to say something. All I ask is that you please let me finish without interruption. What I'm about to say isn't easy, but I've given it a lot of thought." She waited while Catriona took a seat.

"Catriona, you're the closest friend I have. You're considerate and funny, patient, and kind. What happened between us has never happened to me, and I can now admit it's shaken me." Catriona opened her mouth and Katherine raised her hand. "Don't misunderstand me. I'm not passing judgment on the way you live or who you are. In all honesty, I'm passing judgment on myself. I need space and time to think. While I stay here with you, I can't do this with any degree of clarity, not with you so close. I'm sorry, but I think it would be best for both of us if I lived in town."

Catriona's face fell and she slumped in her chair. "I don't understand. I haven't touched you, like I did, since that morning. But I feel a difference between you and I, and I know you must too. Isn't my word good enough for you?" She searched Katherine's face. "Don't you trust me?"

Katherine trusted Catriona implicitly--it was herself she didn't trust. "I trust you, but I need time and distance to put this in perspective. I'm sorry, but I can't do that here." At the anguished look on Catriona's face, Katherine instinctively leant forward to comfort her, but checked herself. "Don't get me wrong. Just because I'm moving into town doesn't mean I won't still visit you." She paused at the presumption of her final words. "
Does
it?"

Reaching forward Catriona clasped her hands. "It doesn't mean that at all. You'll always be welcome here either as a guest or an occupant, should you change your mind. I know you believe what you're doing is a reasonable course for you to take. But please don't ask me to openly accept your choice, because I can't. If this is what you want to do, then the decision is yours. Just tell me," she pleaded, "that you're not going to move in with one of the ladies' committee."

The pain in Catriona's eyes was almost too much for Katherine to bear. "No, not at all. I was going to ask Susan if she'd mind if I stayed with her for a while."

Catriona choked back a laugh. "How ironic," she murmured, her head lowered.

"Pardon?"

Catriona dismissively waved her hand. "It's nothing you need to worry about. How are you going to explain this to Father Cleary?"

"I expect it'll be hard for him to understand. I'll use the same reason for living with Susan that I used with you. My circumstances won't change. I'll still be tending to the ill and poor of the town. Something tells me that, while my tending to the less fortunate and having them able to visit me bothers the town's ladies, if I've read her correctly I don't think this will bother Susan."

"Why now?"

Katherine stood. "I know this is very sudden, I--I need time." Katherine closed the study door behind her.

Catriona put her head in her hands and released an exasperated breath. "I wonder if you'd be so keen to move in with Susan if you knew what
her
circumstances are." She knew Susan wouldn't turn Katherine away and maybe what Katherine was doing was for the best. Maybe the distance between them would allow the time Katherine needed to realise how she felt about her. But what happens if she doesn't?

IN A MATTER OF days arrangements had been made. A slightly confused Susan graciously welcomed Katherine into her modest abode above the store, despite the fact that Catriona was obviously less than wedded to the new arrangement. Susan showed Katherine to her room, explaining the house's other occupant, Me Lin, was currently visiting relatives in Sydney and wasn't expected to return for a few weeks at least.

The absence of any great amount of space meant Katherine stored her books at Catriona's. For this Katherine was glad. She at least had a reason to visit Catriona. For, despite the change in living arrangements, she was adamant their friendship wouldn't suffer.

Father Cleary had been somewhat confused by the turn of events but was surprisingly accepting of Katherine's request.

The only person not altogether accepting of what had transpired was Catriona, who was again left with only the echoes of an empty house to keep her company.

WITHIN A COUPLE of weeks, Katherine settled into her routine at the store. While she was still a willing aid to the families of the district, at least twice a week she conjured a reason to pay a visit on Catriona. When this wasn't the case, Catriona's second home had become the store, all of which was playing on Susan's progressively stretched nerves.

Susan whistled a tune while she counted the stock on her shelves. She was grateful to have the store to just herself and her customers. She thought of Katherine's current appointment and snorted. Another mind-numbing afternoon tea with the ladies' committee. This, of course, meant Catriona was also nowhere to be seen.

As she silently made a list of the provisions she needed to restock, the door of the store opened. Susan glanced up to see an exceptionally well dressed yet dust-covered woman enter. She's clearly arrived on the stage, Susan thought, while the woman took time to rid herself of some of the dust of travel.

Susan silently appraised her. She was the same age, if not slightly older than Susan, with raven hair that cloaked the delicate features of a handsome face more familiar with English drawing rooms than the Australian countryside. Her well-proportioned features were complemented by a dress which could have only been the latest fashion. As if aware she was being scrutinised, the woman raised her violet eyes and gazed at Susan.

Susan's heart lost a beat. Who was this woman, and what was she doing here?

"Good afternoon. I'm wondering if you can help me?" said the woman, smiling while her eyes keenly examined Susan's body.

"I'm terribly sorry. I've temporarily misplaced my manners." Susan extended her hand. "I'm Susan Crosier, the owner of this store. If you don't mind me saying you're obviously not from around here, are you?"

"Yes and no," the woman replied as she took her hand. "I used to live here, but it's been a few years since I left. I'm looking for someone by the name of Catriona Pelham. You wouldn't know her, would you?"

Any response Susan tried to form was frozen on her lips.

The woman continued to hold Susan's hand. "I'm sorry, how rude of me. I haven't introduced myself. My name is Adele Cooper."

Chapter Twelve

"I'M SORRY, WHAT did you say your name was again?" Susan attempted to buy precious time to gather her thoughts. She knew quite well who Adele was. She was more than sure only one other person would register greater surprise at her return, and that was Catriona.