Shades of Gray (7 page)

“The pastor?”

“I have no
intentions of being any man’s kept woman.”  She emphasized the words, hoping he
heard her meaning.  “Unfortunately for me, Reece was adamant about
sampling
the wares before legalizing his side of our arrangement.”

Gray’s head
turned, and his eyes filled with an odd mix of compassion and anger.  “Did he.
. . ” he asked.  The words seemed to stick in his throat.

“No.”  Kat
touched a hand to her brow.  Although still tender, the swelling had receded
enough for her to see more clearly.  A meaty lid, hung low over her vision,
framing everything she saw with a fringed canopy.  She tilted her chin up to
get a better look at Gray.  He sat stoically as though gauging the depth of her
story.  Leaning forward, she provided a closer inspection of the evidence.  “He
did make a strong effort to ruin my reputation,” she said.

Gray’s
shoulder tensed and his fingertips curled under.  He looked as though he fought
the urge to touch her.  Large and strong, his hands had been tender when he
dressed her wounds.  She wondered how long it had been since he had needed to
show that side of his passion.  She slid her leg up and rested her chin on her
knee.  “You must know him,” she said.  “Do you think he had any intention of
being honorable?”

His features
tightened, and his skin drew taut across his cheekbones.  “Nothing about Reece
Mullins is honorable.”  Gray pulled the blanket away from her foot and leaned
forward.  His face remained emotionless as he examined her limb.  He nodded as
though content with its progress, and then pulled the cover back in place. 
Apparently satisfied with the answers she provided, he stood to leave.

“Do you plan
to send me back to him?” she asked.

He turned
toward her and slowly scanned her face.  “You have my word.  No harm will come
to you while you are here.”  His gaze dipped to the nightdress she wore.  “But
you should know that Reece isn’t going to give up.  He will try to force your
return to his home.” 

Tension shot
through her and temporarily blinded her.  She sucked in her breath, hoping it
would be enough to fill her lungs.  Gripping the blankets, she blinked and
swallowed hard.  The edges of the room softened to a cloudy focus, and she
looked past Gray to the door.  “Has he been here?” she asked, choking on the
words.

Gray stopped
at the door and turned in front of it.  He stood with his feet a shoulder’s
width apart.  His stance confirmed what she had suspected.  No one would enter
this house without an invitation.  All her protector needed was a shield and
sword to complete his intimidating pose.  She had witnessed his skill with a
gun, and fully believed he could master anything he put his hand to.  

“No,” he
answered. 

Responsibility
suited him, but he looked as though he had worn it for too long.  Did nothing
bring this man pleasure?  “If you don’t mind me asking, I have a question.” 
She didn’t give him a chance to object.  “When I arrived at Oak Willow, you
were on the porch and Reece was close behind me.  There wasn’t enough time for
you to come to this room and load your weapon before he reached me.  Yet, you
fired on him within seconds of me collapsing on your porch.”

Gray raised a
brow.  Did he have to look so much like a Greek warrior? 

“What I want
to know is, how did you get to your weapon so quickly and why did you fire at a
man you obviously recognized?”

“Would you
prefer that I not have reacted?” he asked as though she still struggled with
logic.

She shook her
head.  “No,” she said and narrowed her gaze.  “I wish you had been a better
shot.”

His face broke
into a small grin and Kat smiled.  Even Zeus couldn’t compare to Gray.  His smile
faded as quickly as it had appeared.  “You have no need to doubt my skill.  I
achieved my goal.” 

She stared at
him, not fully understanding everything that had happened in their discussion,
but at least she felt comfortable in his presence.  She nodded.  “Thank you,
Gray.”

He pulled the
door open and stepped into the hallway, pausing before he left.  Turning his
head to speak over his shoulder, he said, “You are most welcome.  Kat.”

Chapter 8

Kat twisted
the balcony handle and pulled the door open.  A warm breeze swept into the room
and surrounded her.  She closed her eyes and lifted her chin, turning her face
back and forth to catch every nuance of fresh air.  The bedroom she occupied,
while pleasant, had stifled her imagination.  Her dreams were now sketched in
drab brown and beige tones.  She may not have an artist’s eye, but the sunrises
that she remembered had always burst above the horizon with glorious shades of
yellow, orange, and red.  Using her crutch for support, she glanced once more behind
her.  She was certain that God had used more than a ninety-degree compass to
create the world.  While straight, right angles were a perfect fit for wall
structures and plumb lines, she needed to see the gentle slope of a rolling
hillside.  Even the sharp pitch of a steep crag mire would be a welcome sight. 

Holding her
bandaged foot in the air, she leaned on her crutch and hobbled her way onto the
balcony.  A chaise sat to the right of the opening.  She inched her way toward
it, scooting her bare foot across the rough wood grain.  Reaching the chair,
she lowered herself to the cushion.  Perspiration flooded her lip and brow. 
She never thought resting could be so laborious.  Propping the wooden support
against the wall behind her, she settled herself in, grateful for a place to
elevate her foot. 

Although Gray
had assured her that her ankle was only sprained, she questioned his medical
diagnoses.  She glanced down at the discolored bulge and wiggled her toes.  It
didn’t really matter if she suffered from a sprain or a broken limb; the
treatment would be relatively the same.  Why argue with someone who had saved
her life from a fate worse than cuts and bruises?

She leaned her
head back against the wooden slats and closed her eyes.  The air seemed heavier
than she expected.  She breathed deeply through her nose and tried to identify
the individual flora.  The scent of tarragon and soap coupled with an earthy
tone of grass and weeds.  Kat drew her brows together and considered her first
specimen.  Although not unpleasant, she had hoped for something lighter and a
little more refreshing.  Perhaps she would try a different location.  She
turned her head to the right.  A pleasant aroma of, she sniffed, a sweet and
tart combination.  She breathed in the fragrance, enjoying the sensation. 
Instead of guessing what the delicious scent was, she cracked an eyelid open
and peered out. 

Large, green
leaves skirting red, plum-sized balls filled her vision.  Apples, although
small, looked as though they had been delicately placed on each branch and left
to dangle from tender shoots.  The small globes would be hard and bitter if
eaten now, but in a month’s time, the fruit promised to taste ripe, sweet, and
delicious. 

“That’s
cheating, ya know,” a voice said from the doorway.  “Did you guess correctly
before you peeked?”

Kat sat
upright and blinked up at Laura.  She ran a hand over her hair, hoping she
didn’t appear overly disgraceful. 

Crystal
clattered as Laura carried a tray filled with a pitcher, glasses, and a napkin
covered plate.  She sat the dish on the table next to Kat and stretched her
back.  Panning the horizon, she appeared to savor the view.  Once satiated, she
sat down on a nearby chair. 

“I’ve always
thought this side of the house had the best view.  My husband, Mac, God love
his soul, favored the front of the property.  I think he liked to know when
someone entered from the road.  I can’t say that I blame him for his way of
thinking, but it did make interesting discussion when we tried to determine
where to place our bedroom.”

Laura poured
lemonade from the pitcher and handed a glass to Kat.

Kat smiled a
thank you and accepted the beverage.  She sipped from her tumbler.  Swallowing
the tart liquid, her jaws tightened and her cheeks drew taut.  “How did you
decide where to place your bedroom?” she asked through puckered lips.

Laura
swallowed a long sip and licked her lips.  Apparently, the concoction held the
right amount of sweetness for her.  “Well,” she said.  “A smart man will let
his wife have her way, especially when it comes to decisions regarding the
home.  My Mac was a little smarter than most.  He managed to satisfy me and
still get his way.  His compromise was to build our bedroom along the entire
side of the house.  This way, we both got the views we wanted.”

Kat laughed. 
“Sounds like a diplomatic man.” 

Laura sipped
again.  The tartness of the drink didn’t seem to be an issue for her.  “In
Mac’s case,” she said, “it was more stubbornness than anything.”  She smiled at
the apparent memory.  “Of course, that side of the house also gave him an
enormous view of the woodlands to the east.”

She motioned
with her thumb to the left, and Kat followed the direction she indicated. 
Without looking, she knew what lay to the east of the house and made a
deliberate attempt to not look toward the deep foliage.  Although she ignored
it, she was grateful that the woods blocked all evidence of the Mullins’
property.  She chose to concentrate on her health, and hoped to avoid any added
reminders of her time with Reece. 

“Cookie?”
Laura asked, holding a plate out to her.

Coin-sized
biscuits lay carefully arranged on an ivory colored platter.  Tiny islands of a
deep red jelly filled the center divots.  It had been a long time since Kat had
enjoyed an afternoon tea or a woman’s conversation.  She accepted both and
nibbled on the treat.  Flakey bits of cake crumbled into her mouth.  Not overpowering,
the jelly added the right amount of moisture to the dry pastry.  

A cool wind
blew in from the tree line and brushed a lock of hair across her face.  She
pulled it to the side and popped the last of the cookie into her mouth. 
Chewing the morsel, she looked beyond the rail.  There was no denying Laura’s
claim.  The view was beautiful from Gray’s room.  Dark blue, horizontal curves
stretched skyward.  The distant arches looked as though an invisible seam
connected the mountains to the clouds.  Lush and green, smaller hillsides
rolled toward her like a banner.  Surely, all these lands didn’t legally belong
to the Gregory family.  No matter who owned them, no one could forbid other
people’s enjoyment of the view. 

A natural
meadow opened in front of her.  Filled with clover and sweet grass, this field
provided an ideal pastureland.  Not to encroach on optimal grazing for the
family’s livestock, a large barn and corral anchored the side corner of the
pasture.  A young horse frolicked within the wooden fence line.  From the way
the pony kicked and galloped, she seemed perfectly content with her adequate
confinement.  Kat scanned the area once more.  It seemed odd that all activity
seemed skewed to the right side of the house.  The entire east quadrant lay
unoccupied and fallow. 

A cold chill
blew through the air and Kat shivered.  Although the afternoon temperature was
still warm, clouds blocked the sun.  Growing darker, the sky looked as though
it stockpiled rain.  At the edge of the meadow, a bunny nibbled on a fluffy,
yarrow plant.  The hare seemed to be unconcerned about an approaching storm. 
There was little to do but seek shelter when the drops fell.  Until then, Kat
and the bunny continued to enjoy the setting.

“Your home is
beautiful,” she said and then sipped from her glass.

Laura nodded
and walked to a stone pot in the corner of the balcony.  She pulled at a
handful of dead weeds hanging over the lip of the vase and flipped them over
the ledge.  “I agree.  Even in its present state, there is no place I would
rather be.”

Kat couldn’t
help but notice the sadness that dimmed the otherwise cheerful light in Laura’s
eyes.  Drinking in the scenery, she seemed to draw strength from the
landscape.  She breathed in, squared her shoulders, and turned toward Kat.  A
fresh smile spread across her face.  “When you’re able to walk more
comfortably, I’ll ask Grayson to show you around.”

Kat’s glass
rattled on the tray as she sat it down.  She tucked a strip of loose hair
behind her ear, pushed herself up in her seat, and waved off Laura’s offer. 
“I’ve been enough of a bother.  I wouldn’t want to inconvenience either of you
any more than I already have.”  

Laura ignored
her comment and kicked a few broken twigs off the deck.  “While you’re sitting
out here, I should get to your room.  I want your bedding changed before
Grayson returns.”  Without waiting for a comment, she disappeared from the
balcony.  A corner of a blanket floated into the doorway.

Kat shifted
her gaze from the felled spread to the woods and concentrated on the thicket. 
“Gray isn’t here?” she asked.  The comfort she had felt vanished faster than
the sunshine.

“No, but he
should be back in a few days,” Laura said, her voice faded in and out as she
spoke.

Kat leaned
toward the open door and tried to peer around the corner.  She pulled her head
back as a pillow landed on top of the pile.  “Where did he go?”

The sound of
fabric being snapped in the air, crackled in the room.  The cotton must be
heavily starched.  Kat frowned at the thought of sleeping on
crispy
sheets. 

“Grayson
didn’t leave a note, but if I were to guess, he went to Crest Ridge,” Laura
huffed.

Kat scratched
her jaw.  “Is that far from here?” 

Laura stepped
into the doorway.  Bending at the waist, she scooped up the pillow and locked a
corner of the pad under her chin.  She shook the linen case open and squirmed
the feather-filled bag into the covering.  “There’s no need to worry,” she
said.  “Grayson wouldn’t leave if there was any danger.”

Kat looked
once more at the only barrier between her and Reece.  Trees swayed back and
forth and wind whistled through the branches.  At least the view from Gray’s
balcony didn’t include the Mullins’ home.  She didn’t need a constant reminder
of his impending presence.  In the short amount of time she had been in his
home, he had given the appearance of a well respected man of position.  It
wasn’t until they were alone that she saw the monster he harbored beneath the
respectable persona. 

Reece had
entered her room uninvited.  The devotion and loyalty his servants held for him
was evident.  It was possible that they feared for their own safety and
position.  She shook her head in response.  He had beaten her and no one had
come to her aid.  She would never have acted so cowardly. 

She twisted
her mouth to the right.  Perhaps Laura knew if a merchant in town was in need
of an assistant.  Kat touched her hand to her neck, remembering the lace
collars that were attached to the dresses she left in her satchels.  She didn’t
mean to boast, but her needlework skills were second to none.  Maybe a tailor’s
shop in town would have a need for her services. 

She glanced to
the woods.  Reece had chased her from his home to the Gregory’s threshold.  If
the community learned that she had jilted him, justified or not, a wayward shot
would not stop him.  It would take a direct blast to keep him from protecting
his reputation.  There was no point in seeking employment until she felt safe
and unthreatened.  

The sound of
furniture being shifted in place drew her attention back to Laura.  Kat tilted
her head and pursed her lips and then absently tapped her finger against her
mouth.  People generally knew something about their neighbors.  She reached for
her crutch and levered herself to a standing position.  Limping back into the
bedroom, she hoped Laura would have a few suggestions on how she could dissolve
her relationship with Mr. Mullins. 

Laura spread a
patchwork quilt on the bed and swiped her hand over the center.  She appeared
to flatten a non-existent wrinkle.

“This isn’t
necessary,” Kat insisted.  She shuffled her feet to the dresser and leaned her
shoulder against its side.  A small thump sounded on the wool doilie.  She
would tend to it in a minute.  Her foot throbbed and needed to be propped up. 
With all the work Laura was doing, she would wait until she was alone to care
of it.  For now, she rested her sore ankle against her crutch. 

Finished with
the bed, the grey haired woman stood erect and surveyed the room as though she
plotted an attack.  Her blue eyes seemed intent on finding a lost object. 

Kat waited
while Laura searched for another chore.  A miniature frame lay face down on the
chest next to a hairbrush, its support collapsed onto the stiff back.  Kat reached
across the dresser top to the overturned portrait, and sat it upright.  All
ambient noise faded as she studied the subject.  From inside the frame, a woman
smiled up at her.  Kat pulled the painting closer.  There was something
intriguing about the subject’s expression.  An amorous glint lit her painted
eyes.  Feeling as though she intruded on a private moment between the woman and
the painter, Kat placed the frame back on the dresser.  The subject seemed to
have a personal attraction to the artist.  Her half turned smile seemed to
indicate an intimate trade in form of payment. 

“Come.  You’ll
be more comfortable with fresh bedding,” Laura called from the side of the
bed.  She turned down the blankets and motioned to Kat.  

Kat leaned
heavily on the crutch and limped toward the invitingly restful area.  “Who is
the woman in the portrait?” she asked as she sat down.

Laura glanced
from Kat’s face to the dresser.  Recognition flickered and then pain filled her
eyes.  “I thought he had hidden this away.”  She walked slowly to the frame and
opened the top drawer.  She folded the support and then slid the portrait under
a stack of pressed shirts.  “This is of no importance.  You should rest now,”
she answered. 

Kat glanced
over Laura’s shoulder to the bare spot on the dresser.  This must have been
what Gray had looked at the night she arrived.  When he had seen it, his face
had the same pained expression as Laura’s, but instead of turning cold like his
mother’s, Gray’s features had softened.  At the time, Kat didn’t understand the
odd mix of emotions.  Laura’s thoughts were not as convoluted as her son’s. 
She had clearly come to terms with her grief.  This divided heartache could
also explain why Gray hid the frame behind sundry bottles.  The young woman in the
portrait must hold a special meaning to him.