Now and Always (10 page)

“Wait until you can live up to it before you thank me.”

She knew he didn't expect her to be able to stick with it, but he was in for a shock.

When Katie approached the barn, she heard Clara's voice still talking to one of the horses. The thought that tough Clara had an ounce of kindness in her brought a smile to Katie's lips.

“Hang in there, old boy. We're alike, you know. Tough old birds. We hurt; we heal. The world can't keep us down for long.”

The politician's voice floated to the open doorway.

“Wounds heal, but it's the inside pain that's hard to deal with, isn't it? Who'd have thought Neil would turn so physical — so malicious. Twenty years I've spent with this man, supporting him, upholding him, up before dawn with only a few hours sleep, shaking hands at the polls, handing out doughnuts and coffee to steel workers, kissing babies, shaking hands, eating more dry chicken at stuffy fund-raisers than I can bear to stomach.” She chuckled mirthlessly. “I thought I knew him. But when I tried to tell him that what he's doing is wrong, he turned on me. Struck me, then struck me again, and then it was as though all the pent-up anger he harbored toward the world came out — ”

Katie cringed when she knocked over a rake and disturbed the therapy.

Clara's eyes jerked to the barn entrance.

Smiling, Katie set the rake beside the door and entered the cool barn. “Sorry to disturb you.”

The politician visibly withdrew. “The animal seems to like sugar. I brought him a cube, but I'm finished feeding him.” She indicated the stalls. “The horses seemed to be doing better.”

“Most are. There's still one I worry about. I think I'll hitch up the trailer and take her to see a vet.”

“What did you say happened to them?”

“Accident. The person hauling the horses had bought them illegally and was taking them to the slaughterhouse.”

A carefully drawn brow shot up. “Slaughterhouse? Why would they do that? The horses are beautiful.”

“They were intended for slaughter, and the meat would have been sent overseas. Some people consider horse meat to be a delicacy.”

“That's awful. Why doesn't someone do something?”

“We're trying to stop it. There's a bill pending — ”

“The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. I remember now.”

“How do you plan to vote on it?”

Clara shrugged. “I haven't won reelection yet. If you look at the polls, I'm behind.”

“You don't appear to me to be the kind of woman who gives up easily.”

“I should be out there shaking hands. You can't win an election hiding away in a battered women's shelter.”

Katie sensed a softening, brief but noticeable. “Then why are you here?”

Clara's face went absolutely expressionless for a minute. Then something very close to anger flashed across her taut features. “Why is any woman here?”

“Would you like to talk about it?”

“No.” Her chin rose. “I have a request.”

“Oh?” Something outlandish probably, but she hadn't asked for favors prior to today. “What is it you want?”

“There are certain things I'm used to, like caviar and Ca Peachio's crackers. They available here?”

Peach crackers? If they were, Katie hadn't heard of them. “I don't know.” Her tastes were a bit more plebian. And caviar had never been on her list of must-tries.

“Check on that for me, won't you? I simply love them.”

Katie cleared her throat. “Caviar is very expensive and the crackers . . .”

“Ca Peachio.”

“I've never heard of the brand, and I have no idea where I might find them. How about a box of Ritz or Town House — they're good.”

“No — Ca Peachio. That's what I want. I should be allowed a few luxuries.” Her tone had risen sharply, and Katie wondered if she was near breaking. No one could be this cold under the circumstances.

Caviar was a big deal on Katie's budget. A really big deal.

“Sorry, but I can't supply your request.” Katie turned and headed for the house wishing she could comply. Maybe a little extra attention would bring Clara around, soften her turtle shell.

Then again, maybe not.

Katie drove into town that afternoon and stopped by the grocery store. “Hey, Jack, do you carry these items?”

He glanced at the list. “California-farmed white sturgeon caviar and Ca Peachio's butter flavored crackers? No, but I can order them. The shelter girls developing a gourmet taste?”

“Looks that way. How long will it take to get them?”

“Give me two or three days, and I'll have them for you. Going to cost you though, since I have to order such a small amount, and I don't aim to get stuck with them. There's not much demand for fish eggs and fancy crackers in these parts.”

Katie swallowed and placed the order. She was a pushover and she knew it, but an idea had occurred to her. If Clara won reelection, she might be influenced by her brief stay at Candlelight. Katie didn't know what she had to offer a woman like Clara Townsend. But maybe if she upped the ante, provided a few luxuries, when it came time to vote on the Horse Slaughter Act, Katie could remind Clara ever so gently that her vote was crucial to pass the bill.

Payola. She believed that was the correct term.

Longer life, a horse would say.

Two days later the phone rang and Katie answered. Jack was on the line. “I got the items you wanted, Katie. When do you plan to come get them?”

“Today, I guess. Why?'

“Caviar is a perishable item. It won't keep forever. As much as
you're paying for it, you don't want it to go out of date.”

No, she certainly didn't want that.
“I'll be there within the hour.”

Funny, she hadn't seen Clara this morning. She wasn't at breakfast, and her bed was made up. Maybe she would be more responsive now that her order for caviar and crackers was about to be realized.

When Katie reached the grocery store, Jack held up a finger cautioning her to wait. He went to the back and returned with a tin of caviar and a box of crackers. “This what you wanted?”

“To tell you the truth, I don't know much about caviar. My income puts a damper on luxuries.” Though she doubted she'd eat fish eggs if someone gave her a batch.

Jack grinned. “Mine, either. I've tasted it though, and I'm not all that high on it.” He figured up the bill and gave Katie the amount.

“How much?”

He repeated the total. “I told you it would cost.”

“I know. I guess I hadn't realized how much.” Enough to pay the phone bill. That's how much. Was she out of her cotton-pickin' mind? Warren would have a cow. “Fifty dollars an ounce for caviar?”

“That's right. Of course you could have ordered Iranian royal beluga at a hundred seventy an ounce.”

“No, that's all right. This will do.”

“Had to order a case of crackers. They come to thirty dollars, plus ten for shipping.”

Katie mentally gulped and whipped out her checkbook, praying the check wouldn't bounce. Maybe she could talk the phone company into giving her an extension. When she walked into the kitchen and took the items out of the sack, Tottie shook her head when she read the can. “There's a new one born every day.”

“Meaning me?”

“You know what I mean. Why did you do this? We can't afford to feed ourselves, let alone buy things like this.”

“I have a plan.”

“And I don't want to hear about it. I've got dinner to fix.”

Clara wandered into the kitchen.

Katie motioned toward the table. “I've got a surprise for you.” Instead of the gratitude she expected, Clara barely glanced at the high-priced goodies.

“I don't feel well. My stomach is upset, and I think I'm running a fever.”

Katie smile fell. She was sick? Was it contagious?

Clara sat down at the table and opened the container of caviar. Using a spoon, she dipped out a generous helping and spread it on a cracker. One bite and she was on her feet, disappearing into the bathroom. Katie stared at Tottie. “Does she have a stomach virus?”

Tottie nodded. “All morning.”

“Great. Let's hope the others don't catch it.”

Meg entered the kitchen and noticed the open container. “What's that?”

“Caviar.” Katie figured they might as well eat it. Now that it had been opened, it wouldn't keep long.

Meg spread some on a cracker and stuffed it in her mouth. “What is it?”

Ruth had entered the kitchen behind her. She picked up the container, and read the ingredients. “It's fish eggs.”

Meg's mouth dropped open. “Yuck!”

“Fish eggs. That's what it says here.”

“Cooked?”

“Doesn't say. I'd guess not.” She took a sniff and jumped back.

Meg looked a little green around the gills. “Why would people eat something like that?”

Janet had joined them, and she and Ruth sampled the delicacy. Both wrinkled their noses, and Janet spat hers out into a napkin. Katie decided that was good. She wanted to sample it herself. If she liked it, she and Tottie could finish it off.

She turned around to find Cleo, Tottie's cat, in the middle of the table polishing off the open jar.

After dinner, Katie ventured to the barn to check on the horses. The lot gate was standing open and Sweet Tea was gone. The gate to the pasture was closed. Katie ran for the jeep. If Sweet Tea was out in the road, she could be hit by a car. Katie drove a couple of miles each way, but saw nothing. She was about to give up in despair when her cell phone rang.

“Hey, Katie! This is Doug Harper. Your Appaloosa missing?”

“She sure is. I'm driving the back roads looking for her right now.”

“Well, she's at my place. I've got her shut up in the barn.”

“Is she all right?”

“Fine as frog hairs. I'll keep her safe until you get here.”

“I'm on my way, and Doug, thanks.”

“No sweat, Katie. You'd do the same for me.”

Yes, she would. So would the rest of their neighbors. She was blessed to have friends who would help anytime help was needed. Only one thing puzzled her. How could Sweet Tea get all the way over to Doug's? It was a good five miles to his ranch. Why would the horse drift that far from the ranch?

Doug offered to haul the horse home for her, and as soon as Sweet Tea was safe in the lot again, Katie brought out a chain, wound it around the gatepost, and fastened it with a lock. Once the lock was secure, she leaned on the fence railing to study the Appaloosa.

Sweet Tea didn't open that gate by herself.

Returning to the house, Katie picked up the land line and called Ben. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself. Anyone been following you lately?”

She'd reported the strange incident of being followed — or thinking she was being followed, and Ben had taken the report seriously. He'd promised to double up on the shelter's security, but because she hadn't taken down the sedan's license plate number, there was nothing more he could do at this point to enhance the women's safety. Katie kicked herself a hundred times for not noting the plate, but hindsight was always better than foresight.

“What's happening? Blue moon?” asked Ben.

“You can't claim that I don't call you often enough,” she accused. “Seems like I'm reporting trouble every day or two.”

“Trouble, yes. I'm thinking one of these days you might call and say, ‘Hey, Ben. I'm hungry for one of those chicken fried steaks the café is noted for.' ”

“Yeah, well, I suppose it could happen. But not today.”

“No problem.”

“Listen.” Katie briefly explained Sweet Tea's adventure and the sense that someone was watching her.

Ben's tone sobered. “You think you're being stalked?”

“No, not that. Just . . . watched.”

“You're sure one of the women didn't accidentally leave the barn door unlocked?”

“Positive. That's the last thing I check at night.”

“I'll drive out and take a look around. I need to talk to you anyway.”

“About what?”

“Seems the owner of those horses is getting antsy. She wants to reclaim the animals the moment they can be safely transported.”

Katie's heart sank. “Why? I'm taking good care of them.”

“Don't
know. I just got a call earlier today that said she'll be moving the horses as soon as they can be moved.”

“I don't get it, Ben. Why would the woman suddenly change her mind? If she cares about the horses, she won't risk moving them for weeks.”

“I'm not a mind reader, Katie. I just do my job, and my job is to inform you that the horses are going to California as soon as they're healthy enough to make the trip.”

Katie hung up more puzzled than ever. Why would the owner change her mind and so quickly?

Eleven

The illuminated bedside clock read four-thirty. Katie was awake, ears tuned for some sound to indicate that one of the women was stirring, maybe in the bathroom. But all was silent. Apparently she was the only one awake. She had a vague recollection that she had been dreaming about something, but after trying to remember what, she gave up and threw back the light blanket. Enough.

She got out of bed and went into the bathroom, thankful to find it unoccupied. Maybe no one else would catch the stomach bug, or so she hoped. She paused at the top of the landing, listening. Silence. The women were sleeping. She was just jittery over the day's illnesses and Sweet Tea wandering loose.

Back in her room, Katie stepped to the window to look out. Moonlight shone brightly, although the large pine tree on this side of the house threw the yard into shadow. The stars were out, glowing pinpricks of light against the black curtain of the night sky. A flicker of movement caught her attention, something out of the corner of her eye. She pivoted to stare at the patch of moonlight on her right. Had she really seen a moving figure, or had she just imagined it? Nothing there now, but she returned to the door, stepping out in the hall to pause and listen. Moving quietly, she checked the women's rooms and found that they were all accounted for, sleeping soundly. She didn't think the other three women would go outside at night. But Clara might decide she needed a smoke, and a little thing like rules wouldn't stand in her way. But Clara didn't feel well, and she was tucked snugly in her bed.