Unveiled (42 page)

There was something odd in her voice. John Sweeney frowned, then shrugged as he envisioned the money she surely carried beneath her cloak. “I can’t do that, me darling,” John said, reaching out to touch her cheek. For once, Katie didn’t move and he took that as a good sign. “You know I can’t do that. You’ve found your fortune, love. I still need mine.”

“I’m begging you,” Katie whispered, her voice breaking. “Go away from here. Don’t ever come back. Please. Don’t make me—”

“Make you what?” John laughed. “Tell your husband? Go on, tell him. I have a feeling that when you do, you’ll lose everything. You think so, too, love, or you would have told him by now.” His brow furrowed as another thought occurred to him. “Of course, if he divorced you, he would have to pay you a nice settlement. We could live on that, Kate. You, me, and Sean.”

Horror filled her as she stared at the man before her. He meant it. John Sweeney would stop at nothing to get rich, even if it meant destroying everyone else. He would ruin her son, ruin his chances, make him just like himself, a liar, a blackmailer, and a thief. Helplessness seized her, and she withdrew the weapon from her pocket, unable to think clearly.

“Please.” Katie’s brogue deepened as emotion filled her. “Don’t make me do this. Don’t make me kill you.”

John Sweeney stared down the barrel of the Colt.

T
WENTY
-N
INE

C
hristopher awoke, an unsettled feeling within him. Outside, it was dark, but the full moon gleamed eerily over the landscape, lending it a ghostly hue. Turning in his bed, he saw the dented pillow and the empty place beside him.

Katie. She was gone. Puzzled, Christopher got to his feet. Sometimes in the night she felt ill or had to use the convenience. She was still shy about displaying such personal needs before him, so he wasn’t too alarmed to find her gone until he searched the house.

She was nowhere to be found. Standing at the backdoor, Christopher fought the uncertainty that filled him. Surely she didn’t plan some clandestine meeting with a lover while he slept beside her? That was beyond the realm of belief, but still, it was the middle of the night and she was gone.

Voices came from the garden, and he glanced outside. Maybe that was it. Maybe she saw something and went to investigate. Putting on his coat, he moved stealthily outside, hushing the door closed behind him.

Katie was there. He could see her clearly in the moonlight, standing beneath the gazebo. Her voice sounded tearful, full of pain and pleading, but it was to the other person that his gaze quickly went and his breath stopped.

A man stood beside the garden gate, young and handsome even from a distance. Christopher froze, all of his doubts rushing back to the surface.

Katie had taken a lover before him. She never talked about the man, but it had always made Christopher uneasy. Did she feel the need for another lover, someone else to satisfy her? Was the child she was carrying even his?

Blood rushed madly through his brain and he approached the couple, barely able to think. The idea of Kate with another man nearly drove him insane. Could she have fallen in love with someone else? Was that the reason for her unhappiness and weeping? Was she just using him?

“…Please leave me alone. Don’t make me do this. Please, John, if you feel anything for Sean, leave us.”

She had a gun. Stunned, Christopher saw his wife pointing the weapon at the strange man, saw his shock and disbelief as she pulled back the trigger, her hands shaking.

“Kate!” Christopher called to her. She turned instantly, and in that moment the other man attacked her, knocking the gun from her hands. Gasping, Katie turned, her face full of fright, but Christopher grappled for the weapon and retrieved it before the other man could. Harmlessly the revolver discharged, and Christopher thrust the smoking weapon into his coat.

“What the hell is going on here?”

“She tried to kill me, that’s what,” the other man replied, still looking at Kate in disbelief. “You saw it.”

“Kate, who is this man?” Christopher questioned his sobbing wife, knowing the answer before he heard it.

“John Sweeney. He’s Sean’s father. I’m sorry, Christopher, I couldn’t tell you. He’s been taking money from me for months to stay away from Sean. I couldn’t let that happen, and I couldn’t tell you.”

Nodding, Christopher turned toward the man who stood arrogantly before him.

“That’s right, I’m the boy’s real father. I have rights, and I just wanted to get my fair share. I didn’t think she was crazy enough to pull a stunt like that.”

“Get out,” Christopher said between gritted teeth. “And don’t come near my wife or son again. Ever.”

“Well, now, there’s something to say about that.” Recovering from his fear, John Sweeney grinned insolently. “I’m the brat’s father. How do you think that would make him feel? And what about your fancy friends? I’m a bit of a nuisance to get rid of, but two businessmen like ourselves can surely come to an agreement. I’m not unreasonable.”

Blindly Christopher struck him, his fist connecting neatly with John Sweeney’s jaw and bringing the other man to the ground. Shocked, John Sweeney stared up in a red haze of pain as the gentlemanly-looking lad before him wrenched him to his feet and hit him again.

Struggling, John swiped back, but Christopher’s rage was so intense that he didn’t stand a chance. Again and again John Sweeney got to his feet; again and again Christopher sent him back to the ground. Katie sobbed as John became more bloody, and finally he collapsed to the hard earth.

“You come here again and you’ll think that was a tap dance,” Christopher said, breathing hard from exertion. “I have your police records; they have enough on you to see you hanged. If you ever cause my wife or son trouble, even speak to them in the streets, I’ll have you put away for good.”

John Sweeney got to his feet like a doddering fawn, wiping at the blood that streamed into his eyes. “You’ll pay for this!” he swore, then stumbled off toward the road.

“Anytime,” Christopher promised. “Come back and see.”

“Christopher, I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?” Katie touched his hands, soothing away the pain while Christopher shook his head.

“No. Not from him.” Lifting her face toward his, Christopher looked at her seriously. “Katie, don’t ever keep anything from me again. Do you understand?”

His voice was so firm, so threatening, that Katie nodded quickly. “I won’t. I just thought—”

“Do you realize what could have happened to you? My God, he could have killed you and our child! Kate, I’m strong enough to help you, no matter what the trouble. But if I ever find out that you’ve kept something from me again, so help me—”

“You won’t.” Katie hugged him fiercely. “Christopher, I love you. I wanted to protect you and Sean. You don’t know what he’s like.”

“I know exactly what he’s like,” Christopher said, returning her embrace when his anger eased. “Kate, you and Sean and our new baby mean everything to me. Do you think I’d ever let John Sweeney hurt you?”

Katie shook her head in the negative. “No, you’re right.”

“Then no more secrets?”

“No more secrets,” Katie promised. “But Christopher.” She gave him a wan smile. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“It doesn’t matter, Kate. I love you and will always be there for you. Do you believe me?”

She nodded. She did believe him. And always would.

They walked back into the house, barely aware of the lights or the commotion as people, aroused by the sound of shots, appeared at the house. Eunice was waiting, her handkerchief knotted between her hands, and Sean looked worried until he saw Kate. He ran into her arms, trembling, while Eunice spoke in a demanding tone.

“Are you both all right? What happened?”

“We ran into a bit of trouble,” Christopher said, acknowledging their neighbor, Mr. Armstrong, and his groom. “Everything is fine, though. Thank you for your concern.”

“I heard the shot through my hedge.” Mr. Armstrong looked genuinely concerned, his normal bravado gone. “I rushed over immediately. Are you certain you don’t need help?”

“No,” Christopher reassured him. “Katie thought she saw something and fired the gun prematurely. She gave herself a bit of a scare.”

Mr. Armstrong glanced at Kate, who nodded apologetically as she soothed her son.

“I’m sorry to have disturbed you.”

“It’s nothing.” Mr. Armstrong tucked his robe about him and accepted the coffee Eunice offered. A smile came to his stern features and he winked at Eunice. “It reminds me of that hunting trip in India. Did I ever tell you…”

Katie smiled as Eunice listened attentively. The older man joined Christopher’s aunt in the parlor, obviously delighted to be there to comfort her. Katie wondered if there was more than a casual interest between them as Eunice laughed, enjoying his stories. She honestly hoped that there was, and that Eunice could find some happiness, even late in life.

“Is that what really happened?” Sean asked quietly. His arms were still tucked around his mother and he looked up at her, his freckled face full of trust.

Katie wanted to reassure him, to tell him not to worry, but Christopher’s glance caught hers. She had almost cost them everything tonight because of deception, even in a good cause. Taking a deep breath, she faced her son and spoke directly.

“No, Sean. I didn’t want Mr. Armstrong to worry. But I think you need to know the truth, even though it may be hard. Your father was outside tonight. The man called John Sweeney.”

Sean’s eyes widened and he looked to Christopher for verification. Christopher nodded, then Sean turned a confused face to Kate. “And you were shooting him? Why?”

“Sean, how can I explain?” Katie choked, but bravely continued: “There was a time when I loved your father. He was a good man then, but he’s changed. He wants to cause us trouble, Sean. He is wanted by the law for committing crimes. He doesn’t belong here. I was afraid of what he’d do, especially to you. Do you understand?”

Sean nodded, hugging his mother tighter. “Will he come back?”

“I don’t think so,” Katie reassured him. “He has no reason to now.”

“Sean.” Christopher rose and took the little boy’s hand in his own. Sean stared at the man who’d been more of a father to him in the past few months than any blood relative, and he accepted Christopher’s hand. “Sean, I want to be your father, in more than just name. You may never see John Sweeney again, but I want you to know you’ll always be my son and always have a place with me. The child that your mother and I are having will be your sister or brother. I know I cannot take the place of your father completely, but if you will let me, I will do everything I can to make up for the loss. Do you understand?”

Sean nodded, then reached out and hugged Christopher as well. Katie’s eyes stung with moisture and then they lifted and met her husband’s.

She had never expected this, to find a love that would make her feel so tremendously complete. She was sure now that God had forgiven her, and fate had done its part, too. Trembling with emotion, she silently whispered, “I love you.”

Christopher smiled in response, his eyes full of emotion. They were a family, and nothing would come between them, ever again.

E
PILOGUE

^“
K
ate, are you sure she’s all right? She’s not moving.” Christopher poked at the sleeping infant with his finger while Katie glared at him in exasperation.

“Christopher Scott! Will you please leave that baby alone! It took me an hour to get her to sleep, and you’re going to have her awake again!”

Her tone was scolding, but Kate smiled as she spoke. Christopher’s fascination with his daughter was wonderful to see. He just couldn’t believe that he’d helped to create this tiny, perfect human being with her jet-black hair and ivory complexion. He had insisted on calling her Ella, a name that Katie heartily agreed was appropriate.

Momentarily chagrined, Christopher finally relented and left his daughter’s side to stand next to his wife. “She just looks so helpless like that. I’m afraid she isn’t breathing.”

“She is,” Katie assured him. “All new parents go through this. You worry about everything.”

“Is that right?” Leaning down, he kissed her forehead, then his expression grew serious. “At least we don’t have to worry about John Sweeney anymore.”

Katie nodded in agreement. John Sweeney had been arrested on several charges and was in jail for a good many years. “But what happens when he gets out?” she wondered out loud.

“I doubt if he’ll be any trouble.” Christopher grinned. “I don’t think he wants to spend the rest of his life in prison. The man isn’t that stupid.”

Katie smiled, nuzzling against him. “Thank God we have him out of our life. Sean is doing so well and is so happy. He’s number one in his riding classes and all of the boys really like him.”

“There hasn’t been any trouble with the gossips?”

Katie shook her head. “The Scott name is an impeccable one, it seems. Ever since you adopted him, no one asks a thing. And you are so good to him.”