Chapter Four

Cyrus and Patrick were chasing a young goat around the yard when Samuel eased into the circular drive at the front of the manor. A very dirty Charlotte was clapping her hands and giggling uncontrollably.

Eleanor shook her head. “Kathleen, welcome to our home.”

Samuel got out and rushed around to open their doors. “Kathleen, make a run for the front door with Eleanor, and I’ll try to keep the goat and the giggling heathen from getting you dirty.”

Martha Patrick, the head housekeeper, met them in the front hallway. “Saints preserve us! Did I just see a goat chase you in?”

Eleanor sighed. “Yes, you did. It seems Charlotte has been up to mischief again.” She turned to Kathleen. “Charlotte is Mae and Edward’s daughter. She loves to turn the animals loose and then be entertained by her uncles trying to catch them.”

Martha shook her head. “Here, miss, let me take your wrap. I have tea on, and Cook has some lovely-looking tarts cooling in the kitchen.”

“That sounds wonderful, Martha. Is Mae in the back parlor?” Eleanor asked.

“Yes, ma’am. The doctor told her to go rest, just before he drove out to the village to check on the new little one.”

Eleanor smiled at Kathleen. “Come along, dear. We will have a few minutes’ peace and quiet before Samuel has Charlotte presentable and brings her in.”

Kathleen followed Eleanor through the wide hall. The manor was much larger than she had expected. It seemed such a grand place, and it had been a little disconcerting to see young men chasing animals on the front lawn. This family was certainly a lively bunch.

They entered a large sitting room at the rear of the house, and Kathleen’s gaze was immediately drawn to the stately piano at the back of the room. It was a beautiful piece. It was only after taking it in that she noticed the dark-haired woman reclining on a sofa.

Eleanor stopped beside the sofa and spoke softly. “Mae, are you asleep, dear?”

“No, just enjoying the peace and quiet.” The woman sat up and smiled. Then she caught sight of Kathleen. “Good golly Moses, why didn’t you tell me we had company?”

Kathleen smiled. “Please, don’t get up on my account.” It was plain to see the woman was pregnant.

Mae shot a questioning look at Eleanor. “Mae, this is Kathleen Campbell. She is a friend of Samuel’s.”

Now she had Mae’s full attention.

“Oh, no, we’re not friends, I mean…we are…I mean, we just met.” By now Mae was really interested. The woman was blushing a very becoming pink and seemed to have run out of words.

Eleanor took pity on Kathleen. “Kathleen’s sister was our schoolteacher, dear. She is going to finish out the year for us. Samuel took her shopping at the Emporium today, and I find no reason for her to be sitting in the cottage alone all day, when she could come and be entertained by goat-chasing farmers and curly-haired heathens.”

“Oh, no!” Mae exclaimed. “Did Charlotte turn the goat loose again?”

Martha answered from the doorway as she entered with the teacart. “She most certainly did. Her favorite uncle has her in the kitchen right now, lecturing her on what is and is not acceptable behavior for a little lady, all while he is attempting to wash a half acre of dirt from her hands and face.”

Eleanor was trying to hide a smile. “Kathleen, please have a seat. The show has only just begun.”

Mae nodded her agreement. “I could probably call this a circus and sell tickets.” She grinned ruefully.

“Kathleen, as you can see, we are very informal. Please help yourself to a cup of tea and a fruit tart. Cook makes the best mayhaw tarts for fifty miles in any direction,” Eleanor said. She passed a cup of tea and a tart to Mae.

Mae waited until Kathleen had tea and tart in hand before she asked, “Kathleen, have you been a teacher long?”

“No, I graduated from Simmons College for Women two years ago. My sister, Mary Elizabeth, left home almost five years ago now, and our mother had a very hard time accepting that. So once I graduated, in order to stay closer to home I took a position as tutor to the daughters of a vice president of the Porter Motor Company. They were sweet girls. This past September, I escorted them to New York, where they will be attending the Finch School. It is a finishing school for young women. Their father wanted them to be prepared properly for marrying into society. I had only been home from New York City a couple of weeks when we received word of Mary Elizabeth’s death.”

“Your sister was a dear woman. I spoke with her at length one afternoon when she was shopping in the Emporium. I was working on convincing her to come visit with my girls, at the village. I was hoping to have her come out every other Saturday and teach history.” Mae took a sip of her tea.

“History and geography were her favorite subjects. She loved tracing the roots of different areas; how they were settled, and by whom.”

Before Kathleen could continue, a now almost-clean Charlotte burst through the parlor door.

“Mama, I clean now. Can I have a tart and milk? Please, please, Mama?”

A grinning Samuel was right behind her. He had a smudge of dirt on his left jaw and another on his shirt pocket.

“I did the best I could. At least her hands and face are passable, now.”

Charlotte ran to the sideboard and took out a linen tablecloth. She returned to her mother’s chair and spread the cloth on the floor.

“See, Mama?” She smiled sweetly. “I be careful. No tart on the chair.” She promptly sat on the cloth, crossed her legs, and smoothed her dress over her scuffed knees before folding her hands and waiting patiently for someone to serve her.

Mae rose from her chair and handed Charlotte a tart and the glass of milk that Martha had included on the cart. “All right, little missy, you know the rules. You must stay on the cloth, do not interrupt the grownups, and clean up after yourself. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” was the sweet answer, and the child stuffed a piece of tart into her mouth as soon as the words were out.

Samuel had taken the seat beside Kathleen. “I promised you would not be intruding. When I’ve finished my tea, I’ll show you around. I assure you the goat has been secured.”

Samuel turned to Mae and asked about Cyrus’s plans for next year’s garden. As they spoke, Kathleen was free to look around the parlor. Her eyes kept straying to the piano in the corner. It looked like an early Baldwin model. She had learned to play on one of those. She was so intent on the instrument that it took her a moment to realize Samuel had spoken to her.

“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”

“I said do you play the piano?”

“Yes.” She smiled tentatively. “I’ve had some training.”

He smiled broadly. “Then you will have to play for us after supper.” He drained his teacup and stood. He held out his hand and smiled down at her. “Come, we’ll take a walk around the grounds. You can tell me about Boston.”

Charlotte jumped up, knocking over her glass that, fortunately, she had drained. “Wait for me, Unc’ Samuel!”

Mae grabbed her as she darted by. “Oh, no, little missy, you have to have a real bath, and a nap, before your papa gets home, or else you won’t be able to sit in his lap when he reads to you.”

Charlotte loved her uncle, but she adored her papa.

“Yes, Mama, I needs a bath.”

Samuel presented Kathleen with the sweater she had given over to Martha earlier. Eleanor and Mae exchanged a look.

“I may take Kathleen over to see the village. We’ll be back by suppertime.”

Samuel opened one of the French doors and led Kathleen out toward the lake.

“So.” Eleanor grinned. “What do you think of that?”

Mae shook her head slowly. “I’m not sure what to think. Is that my same brother who left here this morning? That is the most talkative I’ve ever seen him.”

“I couldn’t believe it when they showed up at the shop. And then when we got her home, he refused to let her decline the invitation to supper. I think our Samuel is very interested.”

Mae shook her head in wonder. “She is a beauty and seems very nice. Oh! My gosh! I forgot all about it,” Mae exclaimed.

“About what?”

Mae turned to Eleanor with a look of disbelief on her face. “The dream,” she said. “I dreamed Samuel was sitting on the front porch of a little house. He was holding a beautiful little girl with the curliest red hair I had ever seen.”

Eleanor was still for a moment. She began to chuckle, then laughed until she had to use her napkin to dry her eyes.

****

Kathleen stood looking out toward the lake. “This is a beautiful spot for a home.”

“The lady who left it all to Mae had a great love for this land. Mae has tried to keep that same feeling alive in her village. She tries to keep the place warm and welcoming to all the women who pass through.”

“What part did you play in this village?” Kathleen turned those clear green eyes on Samuel.

“Oh, I made a few pieces of furniture for the houses. Not much, really,” he replied.

“Somehow I doubt that. You seem very close to your sister and her family.”

He did not want to remind her of her loss, so he changed the subject. “Come, let me show you what is important to me.”

Samuel led Kathleen to the barn. They entered through the side door, and she could immediately smell lemon oil.

Samuel led her to a large piece of canvas spread on the floor of the barn. There was a two-drawer escritoire standing in the middle of the canvas. It had thin, dainty legs with carved vines running up to the drawers. The drawer fronts had carved roses. The piece was made of red maple, with a beautiful sheen from the oil Samuel had applied in light coats, massaging the oil into the delicate carvings.

Kathleen raised questioning eyes to Samuel. “Good heavens, did you make this?”

Samuel tried not to look too pleased. “Yes, it’s what I do to relax. Since I was a small boy, I’ve loved the feel of wood in my hands. And it didn’t hurt that my father owned a sawmill.”

“Oh, Samuel, this is beautiful. You obviously have a gift,” Kathleen almost whispered.

“Give me your hand.”

Kathleen looked at him questioningly as she held out her hand to him.

Samuel paused while holding her hand. He marveled at the softness of it, and was distracted for a moment. He looked into her eyes and asked, “Do you like surprises?”

She answered him softly, “I guess that depends on the surprise.”

Samuel guided her hand to the rose on the top left side of the drawer. He used the tip of her index finger to stroke the flower and a petal slid aside to show a small recess in the flower.

The look of surprise and delight on her face was like a balm to Samuel’s heart. He had no idea why it was so important to him to make her smile. His heart just wanted to see those eyes shining with joy.

“How did you do that?” she asked.

Samuel smiled slowly. “A man can’t be expected to give up all his secrets the first time a woman asks, now can he?”

Kathleen laughed out loud. “It’s not like I’m going to steal your trade secrets.” She sobered and said, “But truly, you are a gifted craftsman. This is a beautiful piece of work.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you like it. Now, let’s go have a look at the village.”

They drove out to the main road, and then another mile to the west. Before Kathleen was a group of four neat homes. Each had a friendly-looking front porch with rocking chairs, and potted plants hanging from the railings. There was a larger central building, and a little, blonde girl and two older boys playing under an oak tree at the edge of the lawns. As soon as the children heard the motorcar, they jumped up and started running. Samuel barely made it out of the vehicle before the three threw themselves at him. Kathleen smiled as the little girl wrapped herself around one of his long legs. He grabbed a boy up under each arm and swung the giggling bodies around. Kathleen had to laugh; this man drew children like flies to honey. She let herself out of the vehicle and started around it.

A little gray-haired woman stepped out onto the porch of one of the houses and yelled, “Samuel Hinton, those boys just had a big lunch. Don’t be wallerin’ them all over the place unless you want ’em to share it with you.”

Samuel started peeling off children as he called back, “Yes, ma’am, I promise I’ll behave.”

He turned, held out his hand to Kathleen, and introduced her to the children before he added, “Come, there’s someone else I want you to meet.” She paused for a second and then placed her hand in his as they walked toward the little woman.

“Mrs. Peters, this is Kathleen Campbell. She is our new schoolteacher in town. Kathleen, this is Mrs. Peters. She makes the best pies and cobblers in four counties.”

The little woman blushed like a schoolgirl. “Samuel Hinton, how many times have I told you not to exaggerate?”

Samuel and Kathleen spent nearly an hour visiting with Mrs. Peters. She had been the Hinton men’s housekeeper when Mae left for Tallahassee. She was full of stories of the boy’s shenanigans that kept Kathleen laughing.

Samuel found he could face the embarrassment of the stories as long as it kept that smile on Kathleen’s face. He finally stood, extended a hand to Kathleen, and said, “All right, enough of that. None of those stories can ever leave here. I have a reputation as a hard-nosed officer of the law to keep up.”

Kathleen was still smiling, as the “hard-nosed lawman” hugged the little woman and promised to come back soon.

He made eye contact with Kathleen as they drove away. She was still smiling. “All right, don’t make me regret taking you there,” he growled.

“Oh, I’m afraid the secret is out now. The big tough lawman is mush inside,” she teased.

Samuel just shook his head. They returned to the manor and spent another two hours with the Hintons and the Finches. After supper, they all moved to the back parlor to relax. Kathleen asked Mae, “Do you play the piano?”

Mae shook her head sadly. “No, it belonged to Lady Wellington. When Charlotte gets a little older, I hope to have lessons for her, though. How did you learn to play?”

Kathleen smiled. “My mother was a music teacher in her younger days. Both Mary Elizabeth and I have played since we were Charlotte’s age.”

“Oh, would you please play for us? We would love to hear something.”

At everyone’s encouragement, Kathleen walked to the piano. She sat still for a moment, closed her eyes, and then started to play.

Samuel was hypnotized watching Kathleen. She swayed a little, as her slender hands danced over the keys. Her eyes stayed closed, and Samuel wondered what memories whispered through her mind as she filled the room with such beautiful sounds.

When she had finished the haunting melody, there was a deep silence in the room, finally broken by Charlotte’s little voice, “Do it again, please? Do it again!”

Everyone laughed, and then begged for another song. Kathleen blushed sweetly, but Samuel could see that her eyes held tears that were threatening to spill.

He stood and said, “We’ll have to have her play for us another time. Right now I have to get her back to town.” He already had Kathleen’s sweater in hand.

She thanked everyone for welcoming her, made her goodbyes, and Samuel had her out the front door in no time.

He got her seated in the motorcar, then gently placed a thin quilt across her lap. After sliding in behind the wheel, he turned to Kathleen. “Are you all right?”

She gave him a weak smile, and he could see that one of the tears had escaped, leaving a trail down her cheek. He gently cupped her chin in his large hand and wiped the tear away with his thumb. “It was the piano music, right?”

She nodded. “That was one of Mary Elizabeth’s favorites.” She took his hand in hers. “Thank you so much for today. You have a remarkable family, and their love for each other is so apparent.”

Samuel squeezed her hand gently. “If it suits your fancy, there could be many more days like today.”

Kathleen was glad dusk had descended and her face was in shadow. She wasn’t sure it was seemly for a woman to be so transparent. This man evoked feelings in her that only one other had been able to stir. Kathleen considered this as they drove in silence.

Several men had courted her. Her father was a wealthy, established businessman, and while a dowry was an old-fashioned idea, some had approached her with the intent of bettering themselves. She had attended soirees and church suppers with first one and then another gentleman. She had never encouraged any of them until James Sheridan entered her life. Sheridan was her father’s right-hand man in Boston. He was educated, handsome, and a heart breaker. Maybe she’d been a little naïve to think a man of his caliber would be so taken with her charms that he would defy her father. When her father learned she had lost her heart to an underling, he had offered James a position in the London offices, and the man had jumped at the chance. It had taken Kathleen quite some time to regain her self-esteem after losing out to a big office in London.

Admittedly, sometimes her tongue was sharp, and she did not suffer fools gladly. But Samuel, to put it simply, was different. She was used to men who were formally educated, who moved in society’s upper circles, and who had ambition. While Samuel showed none of these qualities, he showed deep insight into others, without being arrogant. He seemed to be comfortable with the position in life he had created for himself.

They reached the cottage, and Samuel said, “Give me your key, and I’ll get the door and light a lamp.” She handed him the large key and waited in the motorcar until the windows filled with light. When she entered, Samuel was kneeling at the hearth, lighting the logs he had just placed in the grate. How could the simple act of lighting a fire arouse her so? A warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with the fire.

Samuel stood. “That should take…” He had been about to say the fire would take care of the chill, but when he saw the look on Kathleen’s face, he lost his voice. Their eyes locked, and he was at her side in three long strides. He reached past her shoulder and shoved the door closed.

Kathleen wanted to speak, but her mind had shut down.

Samuel placed a hand on each side of her face and slowly lowered his mouth to hers. Her eyes closed long before their lips met.

Samuel raised his face and whispered, “Kathleen, open your eyes. I want to see your soul.”

She was so weak with longing for something unknown that she leaned into him to keep from falling. Her eyes opened, and she had the look of a drunkard. “Please,” she whispered.

“Please, what?”

She closed her eyes again, and as she slipped both arms around his firm body, she said, “Please don’t stop.”

Samuel groaned as if in actual pain as he buried his face in her hair and wrapped her in a crushing embrace. “Good golly Moses, woman,” he moaned. “What are you doing to me?” He placed searing kisses on her throat as she clung to him.

She whimpered, and suddenly Samuel stopped. “Oh, Lord, Kathleen, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

He took her by the shoulders and put space between them. He couldn’t let go of her—she was too weak to stand on her own.

She finally opened her eyes. They slowly filled with tears. “No, you didn’t hurt me. It was just so… Samuel, what is happening?”

He gave a tortured laugh. “Honey, I was fifteen feet from a lightning strike once and wasn’t this scared. Here, sit down, and I’ll get you a glass of water.” He lowered her to the settee and strode to the kitchen. Through the doorway, she could see him brace himself on the edge of the sink and take several long, deep breaths. His hands seemed to tremble as he tried to grip the handle of the pump.

When he got back to the front parlor, Kathleen was right where he had left her. She had both arms wrapped around a plump embroidered pillow. He knelt by the settee, slowly took the pillow from her hands, and replaced it with the glass. “Here, love, drink this.”

Kathleen drank deeply, and the cool water helped soothe her nerves. She took a deep breath and met his eyes.

“Better?” he asked, smiling weakly.

Kathleen nodded yes, but answered, “No. I’ve never had this sort of reaction to a kiss before. I’m not a schoolgirl anymore, and I have been kissed by several men.”

Samuel stood slowly and breathed deeply for a few seconds.

“I don’t want to hear about any other kisses you may have known, but maybe you should give it some consideration. I mean, why it’s different this time. I’m going to go now and give you some time to think.”

Katherine stood quickly—a little too quickly, and had to close her eyes to still the spinning room.

Samuel extended a hand to steady her, but was careful not to get too close. Perhaps he, like herself, had already used just about all of his self-control.

She slowly opened her eyes. “Thank you, that’s better. I’m sorry, I…”

Samuel placed his fingertips on her soft lips. “Shh, don’t apologize. I’m the one who should be sorry for taking advantage of your emotional state. But I can’t seem to say ‘sorry’ for something that seemed so right. So I’m going home, and you are going to lock this door behind me, get some rest, and do some thinking.”

Kathleen wanted to talk about this thing between them, but he turned and closed the door behind him.