Raine and I had a nice time eating brownies and catching up on things. Her mention of Maribel asking about curses grabbed my attention. It was nonsense, of course, but at the same time it meant Maribel disliked Donna enough to fantasize about bringing her harm. It didn't connect her to the actual murder, but it placed Maribel solidly on the list of people who had a strong dislike for Donna Garten. On top of that, Maribel had dreamt of becoming the Thornbridge chef, a dream that was now in reach. Unless the hotel was shut down for safety concerns. That would be bad for Carlton, his staff and the town. The Thornbridge drew visitors to Firefly Junction.
I'd made myself hot tea and stepped out onto the front stoop to gaze at the full moon. It was so bright, the surrounding countryside was in clear view as if it was early morning instead of late night.
"We used to call it a harvest moon," Edward said from behind. "Farmers counted on its glow to harvest crops well into the night."
I turned to look at him. "I'm sorry if I was cranky tonight. It's just that sometimes—"
"Sometimes you just want to be with your human friends, and I'm an intrusion."
I sighed. "Something like that. Thomas and I hardly spoke of you. Well, that's not entirely true, but he admired you so much."
Edward drifted to the front of the stoop, to the endpoint of his small world, and gazed out at the marvelous shadows being created by the moon. "I assure you I was not worthy of his admiration."
"Ah, see, there's that humble Edward Beckett that I love." As I said it his face spun my direction. The sudden movement created its own small weather system, a burst of cold air.
"The people in this time period use the word love too frivolously," he said, agitated. "It should only be used to convey deep feelings for someone."
"I was conveying feelings," I said. "Just not the ones you're thinking of."
He stared out at the landscape again. That lost look swept across his face.
"Are you thinking about Kat?" I asked. "The woman you loved." I probably said it too often, but he was in denial. He didn't think he was capable of love. He never truly loved Bonnie. I thought she was the reason he'd stayed behind. It seemed it might have been heartbreak that kept him in between worlds after all. Only it was Kat who broke his heart.
His shoulders sank some. "Thinking about the past has stirred my memories again."
"Oh good." I sat down on the top step and cradled my tea. "Tell me another story. A sweet anecdote about your life in Firefly, and by that, I mean your time with Kat."
"Shouldn't you be off to bed?" he asked.
"Not tired yet. Raine and I spent so much time laughing it energized me." I peered up at him. "Please, pretty please. It makes me happy to hear about Edward Beckett." I fluttered my eyelashes at him. "Please."
"Good lord, was that your attempt at being a coquette? I'll tell you a story. Just don't do that odd thing with your eyes again. Frightening."
I reached out and smacked the top of his boot. My hand slipped right through the cool air to the wood floor. "Darn, it's frustrating that I can't at least give you a good rap on the foot or shoulder when you deserve it. Now, tell me. You owe me after that insult about my flirting technique."
"I will tell a story."
"Yay." I turned and rested against the column on the front stoop. I stretched out my legs and crossed them at the ankles. "I'm ready."
"Edward? Where are you going?" Bonnie had pressed on more rouge than usual. It didn't suit her powdery white complexion.
I pressed my hat on my head. "I'm taking a ride to town."
She stared up at me pleadingly with her big kitten eyes. "But the ladies are coming for tea. I promised them you'd join us. At least for a few minutes. You know they always look forward to seeing you." She placed her soft hand on mine. It happened more and more, an accidental brush against me, a finger reaching up to move a hair off my face, her hands nearly covering mine as she handed me a cup of tea. I was tempted. More than tempted. But Cleveland Ross would have my head, stuffed and hung over his mantel, if I touched his young bride. Lately, she'd asked me to stick around for her ladies' social events, parading me about like a prized horse. I couldn't sit through one more tea party of senseless chattering and polite giggles. One moment, I was trotting around the streets of London, attending all the grandest balls and all the dankest gaming halls. The next I was the centerpiece at a woman's tea. It was too much to bear.
"I won't be staying for your party, Bonnie. Please give my regards to your friends." I made haste to get clear of the manor before she could plead with me to return. The stable boy had my horse ready. I pulled up into the saddle and set off at a quick trot.
Admittedly, the weather in Firefly Junction was more pleasant than London. It rarely rained. On this particular afternoon, there was not a cloud in the sky. In London, there was so much smoke, fog and clouds one barely recognized the sky when smudges of it appeared.
Arrow and I had melded together perfectly. I hardly had to use my hands or leg cues. The horse knew what I wanted almost as if he could read my mind. It was always that way with me and horses. Mother would chide me that I was far more connected to my horses than to my family members. In that, she was correct.
I was just about to push the horse into a gallop when I heard a voice. Not just any voice but the one I looked forward to hearing. There were few bright spots in my forced life abroad, but Miss Kathy Garfield had become like the North Star to me.
"How did you manage this, Franklin?" Kat's voice came from somewhere up above. "If I tear my dress, I will never forgive you."
Immediately, my muscles tensed, and I clenched my teeth tightly. Once I laid my hands on the blackguard attempting to tear Kat's dress, I would rip him limb from limb.
"Now, move closer you terrible, terrible boy," Kat said.
I jumped off my horse. Was it possible she invited the scoundrel's advances? I marched toward her voice feeling a mix of rage, jealousy and every other emotion I could muster. Kat had that kind of effect on me. It irritated me plenty. I'd never allowed any woman to take that kind of hold over me. She'd managed with just a few well-timed smiles and a casual touch of her hand.
I marched into a copse of trees, batting stray branches out of my way. Debris crunched under my boots. I stood under a cluster of branches and surveyed the area. There was no sign of her, at least not until a flurry of leaves rained down on me. I took off my hat and shook the leaves from the brim.
"Franklin, you won't get even one drip of cream from the cow this evening unless you come closer. I can't reach you." I peered up into the tree. The light rose color of her skirts blended well with the autumn foliage. Kat had not heard me. I stayed still long enough to watch the amusing scene overhead. Her kidskin boots clutched at the tree as she straddled the gnarled branch above me. A good meter away from her outstretched arms, a fat and entirely satisfied orange tabby cat with a sardonic grin sat watching the woman.
"Franklin is going to have quite the story to tell his friends this evening," I said.
Kat gasped and looked down so quickly she lost her balance. The branch bounced, leaves dribbled down and the woman followed, with a squeak and another gasp. I caught her in my arms.
"Well, this is fortunate," I teased. "Do I get to keep the prize if I catch it, or will I have to throw it back?" Having her face, her pink lips so close to me was testing my fortitude as a gentleman. The floral scent of her perfume was intoxicating.
After my wry comment, I half expected her to slap me, or, at the very least, try and wriggle out of my grasp. Instead, her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Sir, are you comparing me to a fish? Because if that were the case, and I truly did resemble a fish, then I am sure that darn cat would have come to me when I called it." We both had a hearty laugh.
Just as quickly, the silly banter stopped. We stared into each other's eyes. At that moment, I didn't care about anything, my banishment from the family, my lack of fortune, my loss of rank in the ton. All I cared about was the woman in my arms. "Kat." Her name drifted up from my throat before I could stop it. I'd called her Kat since our second meeting, a brief but entirely memorable meeting in town. She didn't seem to mind that I called her Kat and she—she could have called me anything she wanted. I would have answered to anything as long as it came from her sweet lips. I had every intention of kissing those very same lips one day.
"Edward," she said softly, and I melted like butter.
"Yes, Kat?"
"Do you think you could put me down? I think the danger from the fall has passed."
"Are you certain?" I asked with a grin.
"There's only one way to find out," she teased back.
Reluctantly, I lowered her feet to the ground. She stared down at her boots, then smiled up at me. "It seems I'm standing so all is well. But there is one more thing, Edward."
"Anything," I said it far too enthusiastically. It made her smile. She knew she had me. She knew I was willing to follow her off the ends of the earth. Still, she kept her distance. I hated that my reputation always preceded me. The small, gossip riddled town had formed an opinion of me long before I reached the eastern shores of America.
"Could you get my cat down?" She added in another smile.
I looked up into the tree. Franklin peered down at us, a twinkle in his green eyes. "Now I wish I had caught a fish. It's been a few years, quite a few years, since I've climbed a tree." I handed her my top hat and pulled off my coat as well.
I reached up and grabbed the branch above my head. It was sturdy enough to hold my weight. I hauled myself up onto it, then reached for the next, the one where the cat sat. It wasn't as strong as the first branch, but I was sure it could withstand my weight for a short amount of time. I steadied myself and stared ahead at my target. Any other animal would have been terrified to see a man coming for them in a tree but not Franklin. "Your cat seems to be silently laughing at me." I peered down at Kat and momentarily forgot where I was when I saw her face. My balance shifted. Kat gasped and leaves fluttered down from the tree. I managed to stay on top of the branch.
"Thank goodness, Edward. I don't think I could have caught you," she said with a laugh. "I promise I would have tried."
I scooted along, feeling far less gallant than I imagined when I first pulled myself into the tree. As I made my way toward the cat, my shirt sleeve caught on a small branch. The fabric ripped. "Bloody—"
"What's that?" Kat asked.
"Nothing. Almost there." I was an arm's length from the cat. I hadn't quite figured out how to climb down holding a stout cat, but I'd taken it this far… I reached for Franklin. He scooted easily back on his haunches, then spun around, dug his claws into the tree's thick trunk and exited the tree as easily as a squirrel.
"Franklin, you bad boy," Kat cooed as she picked up her cat. "I guess he wasn't stuck after all."
I lowered myself to the bottom branch and dropped to the ground.
"I feel silly for asking you to go up there when it seems Franklin could have come down on his own. Still, it was rather heroic of you." She smiled to let me know she was teasing. Kat was never one of those simpering, dramatic women. She was real, honest and witty. How had I gone through my entire life never meeting anyone else like her?
Kat put Franklin down. "Thank you very much. Your bravery will be rewarded." She moved closer. The only reward I wanted was a kiss.
Kat turned her face up to mine. I held my breath. Every muscle in my body tensed. I'd kissed many women, but I felt awkward, nervous as if I was kissing one for the first time. I leaned only slightly forward.
Kat patted my chest. "I'm going to make you an apple pie." She backed up a few steps. My mind raced to try and read the situation. Had I imagined her wanting the kiss? Why had she moved so close? Why had she stared up at me with that gaze that always rendered me helpless? Why had I hesitated? Why didn't I just take her in my arms and kiss her? It was a string of whys that would irritate me for the rest of the day and possibly even the rest of my life.
I stared up at Edward. "I can't believe you didn't kiss her." I pulled up my legs and sat forward. "You kissed her at some point, right? Don't tell me this whole narrative is going to end without the required kiss?"
"Yes, I kissed her," he said, rather curtly. "But it doesn't come with the happy ending you seem to expect." He swept through the front door and disappeared inside.
I followed him in. (Opened the door first, of course.) He was nowhere in sight. "I'm not expecting a happy ending. I know how your life ended. I know that Kat married another man. But I need to hear about the kiss." My voice echoed off the entryway walls.
There was no response.