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. Grams, not your money' guy is that perfect. might have wedding jitters and everything would settle down after the wedding. misbehaved?" I get to see your beautiful face every day" Bed N' Breakfast and my guests." . I'm heading to bed. Night guys."
Ignoring the soreness from the long car ride I watched the Taxi slowly disappear down the road. Staring through the sheets of rain thinking that I made it, I finally made it to South Carolina. Just that one thought helped ease the bite of the wind that refuse to be cooperative.
This is the place where people showed up on the porch steps with flowers on birthdays, birth in the family, were the women bake goods to to help their neighbors on hard times, or a death in the family. This is the place where southern charm wasn't just a word but a way of living.
The down pour that was brutal on the way into town, was settling into a light summer drizzle making it easier to gaze at the old fashion homes; some had neatly trimmed gardens or lawn ordainments that decorated the yard, while others yards had bicycles abandon on their sides like their owners were in a rush, probably trying to make it inside before getting drenched or maybe in hopes of making it before the streetlight came on.
The colorful boutiques shops had plaques and signs that proudly declared their professions, big bay windows spotlessly clean. Old Victorian street lamps silently guarded the streets. Their light emitting a soft fiery glow that made the rain on the streets a cozy golden sheen.
Adele, South Carolina was exactly how I remembered it. Even though she stayed here only one full summer it was as close to a home as she ever had.
She remembered when her and her friends would drink from the hose that summer, or when it was a scorching hot day they raced to the creek were an old rope hung from a even older willow tree, or when they rushed home when the street lights flickered on.
Crossing the street I headed over to the towns park. It wasn't much of park, mostly filled with trees that were older than your great-great grandparents and a small pond that was home to a number of ducks, but it had enough swings and slides to keep the younger kids entertained and more than enough room for the older kids to play some football or tag.
Picking a wooded bench a few feet away that was settled under one of the oak trees, I sat on the harden wood while the coldness from the bench shot chills into my legs. Leaning back I took what it seems like my first breath of fresh air. Allowing myself to think about Grandma Lou, for the first time since my escape from Him
Even though she passed away after a year into my four year marriage to Reed, I could still hear her scolding and pleading with her vibrant southern drawl 'That Reed is just another rich thug who gets excited over pretty things he doesn't have, and once he has you, your old news honey bee. Or having a young wife, who one day is gonna be rich might also be a reason why he's so gung ho about marrying you.'
'He loves me
'Of course he does, he asked you to marry him after you told him you'll inherit millions from me!'
'Grams, I don't wanna fight anymore, please? I love you.'
'I love you so much I don't want nothin bad happin to you Honey.'
I didn't listen to her. Reed put on an impressive show. Courted me for almost a year- he may not have been around for the whole year because of 'business' but when work was done he would always come back bearing flowers with skillfully said compliments and dinner plans to the most romantic restaurants.
Believing if a guy who called you every night while away on business and who would travel across the U.S just to see you the next day, had to be a keeper right?.
I should have seen that as a big ass red flag waving in my face. No
Soon as Reed proposed and I said yes, things started to change.
The calls from him grew more frequently, being over obsessive in wedding preparations and his green monster seemed to always being hovering over his shoulder controlling his every thought. I couldn't even pick out my own wedding dress or bride maids for goodness sakes. It was so bad, I began to think he
I wished I believed Grams before I made the biggest error of my life. I wish I could tell Grandma Lou that she was right and that I was sorry, but as she always use to say with her sparkling deep green Scotland eyes that I inherited from her 'Catherine honey, why don't you put 'want' in one hand and 'shit' in the other and tell me which one you would feel first.' Without taking another breath she would launch into another speech telling me to get off my ass and out of this damn rain. Goodness gracious I sure do miss her.
Just thinking about her brought on another flood of tears. Hopefully the rain and the tears would wipe away the dirt and grimyness that resided there from my quick dash from California.
Heaving a sigh, I slowly rose and left the shelter of the oak tree, to set out to find the Bed N' Breakfast Grams use to take me to when we would go to The Bucking Bronc Rodeo fair when I was little.
Being the only one out at seven thirty at night should have been eerie but oddly it felt like the most normal thing I've done since leaving. But no matter how relaxing it was, it seemed I'm always plagued with thoughts of the impending divorce from Reed or The Trial. Knowing Reed, he'd kick up one big dust storm once the FBI approaches him with the news of going to prison.
The Feds told me to come up with a good enough lie to convince Reed to let me go away for a couple days, but instead I would be finding a hiding place in the country. Then the FBI could actually start the procedure on approaching Reed.
With the divorce paper being sent to Reed any day now, if he hasn't got them already. He'd connect the dots between divorce papers and the Feds attention on him and probably realize I'm not really away at the charity convention. Instead, realizing that I was the one who turned over the shocking evidence that will put reed and his buddies in prison for their drug organization. Reed will be- taking a quote from grandma Lou, 'A pig fit to be tied'.
Before I left California the Feds wanted to know if I would be willing to testify against them, the case is strong because of all the evidence, but having me testify would be icing on the cake. I guess in a way I could react some kind of revenge when Reed sees me on the stand testifying against him, while I get generations of my family homes back in our divorce settlement, unless he refuses. If so then I take more than half of his money. No brainer which one he will pick specially when he probably would need all his money to bribe and pay people off to get into a nicer prison.
Thinking about the case and the trial, I almost missed the cursive, hand carved oak plaque, that hung on a fairy tale white picket fence. In a deep honey gold painted bold loops it said, 'Sally's Bed N' Breakfast'. Jackpot.
Facing the Inn I could see the top balcony that ran the whole width of the house with sunny yellow draped windows that looked over the quite street. While the bottom half of the house had a wrap around porch with a pair of rocking chairs that sat proudly in the corner. Light slipped through the lower level bay window announcing it was still open. Looking at the familiar soft pink grand house, a pang of longing for Grandma settled in the middle of my heart, refusing to let go.
Releasing a pent up breath that I didn't know I was holding, I opened the gate that made a happy creak, almost as if it was welcoming me. Making my way steadily up the brick path and slowly onto the wooden porch I stood for a moment to finger brush my hair, and straighten my jacket. I wanted to at least look a little presentable. As soon as I reached to ring the door bell the door was swung open. A small white hair lady stood in the middle of the doorway, being haloed by the light streaming around her.
Being knocked off guard I started, "Do you have a room open?" Realizing how rude it sounded as soon it came out my mouth.
Ignoring my comment, the old lady fixed her liquid blue eyes on me, "Would you like some hot coco and cookies, sweetie?" Holding out her weathered hand the lady asked so kindly, it brought a sheen of tears to my eyes, while gently pulling me into the house.
She looked like an all American grandmother with her baking apron on, so different from my shoot first ask questions later Grams.
No make-up tried to conceal her laugh lines at her eyes nor was their any attempts to die her hair, soft silver hair was still proudly shown. She had an aura around her that just made you want to be a five year old again eating chocolate chip cookies and listen to her telling you bed time stories until you finial drifted into sleep in her arms.
Finally finding my voice, "I would like that, Thank you Mrs...?"
"You can just call me Sally, no Mrs or any of the other gibberish. You can go on in to the livin room to your right and go snuggle up in one of those afghans. I just made a batch of cookies that are just heavenly. The washroom is down that hallway." Even though she looked petite, she said it with the power of a women in charge. With that Sally glided through a beautifully white hand carved arch way, maybe she isn't so different than Grams than I thought, I reflected with a smile.
Following her orders I began to walk down the sky blue hall leading to the wash room. I didn't get very far until I noticed that the walls was nicely packed with new photos since I last visited. Some were groups of people laughing together, or couples smiling grandly at the camera, and some were just singles shots of people fishing or walking on the beach but in every single picture everybody was smiling and was as happy as it was their wedding day.
I never noticed until now, that in my house down in Malibu didn't have pictures hung up anywhere. Not even of Reed and I on our wedding day. Most wives should have pictures of their wedding day everywhere in the house because that's a date almost every little girl starts to plan when they reach 6yr old.
Hearing the front door swing open and deep rumbles of laughter, I took a slight step back into the hallway but not far enough so I could still having a good enough view, I was shocked when I saw three enormously tall looking me tried to fit through the door all at once then dropping their damp jackets on the back of a chair and kicking off their boots while joking and teasing who'll eat more steak and potatoes.
"Hope you don't mind Aunt Sally, but me and the guys are in the mood of some of your mean mash potatoes." His voice was so deep it seemed to vibrate through out the house.
"You won't get a lick of my potatoes if you boys don't take off your hats. You kids know the rules." Sounding stern, Sally said while gliding in to greet the men. She went to motherly hug and kiss the guy who hollard first, then she made her way around the other two guys who immediately followed her order about taking of their stetsons.
"I have a guest this even'n and I want you gentlemen to behave yourselves." She spoke just as she finished hugging the last gentlemen.
"My darling Sally," A second guy said with some mischief in his light green eyes "When have we ever
"When you boys chased off my last house guest, just because you three hoodlums thought he was carrying a torch for me." She turned around and started walking towards me, she grabbed my hand and puled me amongst the three giants. "Now before you three wash up and eat, I want you to meet my guest and make her comfortable, while I'll go start the mash potatoes."
With a final pat on my arm she turned around and went back into the kitchen.
Having Sally gone and three pairs of eyes gliding from the bottom up, was pretty unnerving, but having an undivided attention of six and a half feet of good looking men was pretty daunting.
"I sure hope you like mash potatoes," Sally's nephew said with a grin, "I'm Conner Braden. Sally's favorite and only nephew." Conner stepping forward to introduce himself, breaking the silence that was taking its toll on my nerves.
When his hand touched mine for a handshake, a warm tingle engulfed my hand shooting its way up my arm and through my body. With a nervous chuckle I told him, "I do love mash potatoes. Nice to meet you Mr.Braden, I'm Cat." while gently pulling my hand away.
His cobalt blue eyes quickly shot to his hand then mine, convincing me I wasn't the only one who felt that weird tingle. Recovering way more smoothly than me he responded, "Nice to meet you Cat. You can call me Conner. Being called Mr. Braden reminds me of my old man." Conner said with a slow lazy southern drawl.
With a wicked grin and a suggestive twinkle in his expressive blue eyes, he leaned against an archway. Dark brown hair slowly dripped water on his shirt that was plastered onto his well defined chest. Arms crossed, his wet t-shirt was stretched across his toned muscles.
Pulling my gaze from Conner's alluring eyes I saw that the guy who teased Sally earlier about being perfect angles was already talking to me.
"Welcome to our town Miss Kitty. I'm Tyler Hayes the trust fund kid of Adele." Tyler said with some devilment in his spring green eyes and a jaunty smile.
Conner and the last man let out big rumbling laughs at Tyler's joke, both smirking and ending up flashing beautiful straight white teeth.
With Tyler's shaggy blond hair and easy party nature, I would have thought he would have been more at home on a Hawaii beach with a surf board under his arm, than a rich guy in South Carolina.
Still with some laughter in his voice the last of the three men, nudged aside Tyler and reached over to stretched out his hand and took mine in his, "I'm Colten Ford."
It was obvious that the three men had a special bond, but when you looked into Colten's silver watchful eyes, you can tell he was more reserved than Conner and Tyler. He didn't have Tylers easy nature or Coltens allure. But he seemed the one who you could trust with just about anything. He had strong wide shoulders that could hold up the worlds burden, long legs that made Levi jeans proud, and a heart stopping smile that probably got him out of trouble with his teachers back in grade school.
Having decided the introductions were over, Conner walked into the archway he was leaning on, Colten following close behind, while Tyler place his strong hand in the middle of my back leading me into the room with them.
The guys made their way over into an open spacious living room with high vaulted ceiling and a big bay window that admired the drizzling street.
The furniture was place strategically making the large stoned fireplace the focal point in the room. One long couch with an afghan folded neatly on the back, was facing a matching love seat and on the walls hung stunning oil paintings of rolling hills and meadows covered in every different color dahlias. In one corner their was a big mahogany open bookcase stocked with books, a well used divine close by for people to read their books on rainy days just like this one. Maybe, If I'm still here the next few days, I can sneak down here and read a couple of books while curled up in a afghan and maybe I can have the fire going. Yeah that would pretty damn near perfect.
"So did the Almighty let one of his angles on vacation or you staying for The Bucking Bronc Rodeo Fair?" Tyler ask while settling into the seat on the couch closest to the fire.
"Before you start askin' the lady questions, you should at least let her sit down. I thought you've went to finishing school Ty." Conner remarked while sitting down on the love seat.
Standing back up with a apologetic smile Tyler offered me a seat on the couch closest to him and sitting back down when I sat. "Sorry for my behavior Kitty. If I keep hanging around these Yankees all the time, more of their bad manners are gonna rub off on me." Tyler jokingly said.
"You guys are not from around here?" I asked in general.
"New York for me." Offering no more than that Colten turned back around to stare out the window.
Standing back up, Conner went to stand next to the blazing fire. "Nope, Ty is the only true Southern gentleman here. I own a ranch down in Texas but from Montana. The only state where the sky can out run the land." he said in that deep drawl voice that all Texans seem to have.
Just listening to him talk had those tingles racing back and warming me more than the fire. "How come You and Colt are in South Carolina now?"
"When we were younger, both our families came down here in the summers to vacation. We eventually all started hanging out every year and they became my brothers. Now I'm just visiting my Aunt Sally and Ty. I roped Colt out of his office to come with me."
Colten who was remote through the conversation was watching the peaceful drizzle of the rain, he turned around and asked "How about you Cat? Where you from?"
"Oh... Well I'm really not from anywhere in particular. I've moved around a lot with my grandmother when I was younger"
"So your from everywhere and nowhere, huh?" Colten asked.
"That sums it up pretty good" saying it with a light shrug.
Leaning forward Tyler wondered for the first time why a beautiful woman like her, would show up in a small town alone in the middle of a rainy night. "You gotta be from somewhere Kitty. Even grumpy Colt here is from the big N.Y." Tyler didn't know that his thoughts were running similar to Conner's.
"I guess you can say I'm from Texas, I've spent a lot of time their as a kid" Catherine hedged.
"Were at in Texas?" Colt said with a friendly smile but with a gaze of a hawk tracking its prey.
For being such a reserved person, Colten sure was nosy and dense, clearly he can see I don't want to talk about it.
Looking at Tyler then Conner for help but only seeing that they both were waiting for an answer too. "Cant really say. Iv spent some time in a lot of cities their" I said.
"Come on." Colten coaxed. "What city did you like best?" Refusing to get the hint, Colten asked. "I was in San Antonio last month visiting my folks and Conner. My folks got tired of always having to beat people with their umbrellas for a cab back in New York so they moved down their."
Conner looked at Tyler and than at Colt, who was leaning against the window watching Cat with hooded watchful eyes. I could tell he was uneasy about Ms.Hale. His every action was thought out and three words would be too many when two would do, seeing him actually stringing words into more than one sentence was pretty obvious to us that Colt was curious about our house guest.
"New York is such a upbeat and lively place. San Antonio is pretty special too, I enjoyed going down to the River Walk. Have your parents had the chance to see it?" Ms.Hale smoothly and neatly avoided the question.
"You visited New York before?" seeming to be tired of dancing verbally with Ms.Hale Colten asked bluntly. "When?"
Even though I could tell she was reluctant to answer Colten and he knew they were being rude and they should make her comfortable again, but the whole situation seemed odd. The only information she was willingly part with was her name.
Before I could come up with another way to dodge their question, Sally swept into the room bringing in sunshine that seemed to follow her. Exhausted, I was so thankful that Sally was back I let out a breath of air and sunk into the couch knowing I didn't have to watch out for Coltens strategically worded land mines anymore.
"Alright kids, Dinner's ready." With a cheerful smile Sallys gaze swept everyone in the room seeming to be oblivious to the tension in the room.
Tyler who was pretty quite through the integration, hoped up from the couch to walk toward Sally. "If I didn't have to worry about getting beat up by Conner ma'am, I would marry you in a heart beat just so I can have your steaks and potatoes and
"Oh you devil." With a knowing smile she lovingly patted Tyler's arm, "If I didn't know better, I would think your trying to charm me out of making you your favorite cookies."
With a conspiracy wink and a kiss on the cheek, Tyler headed across the hall and into the kitchen.
Following Tylers lead, Colten looked at Cat and said, "Did you know for a Southerner to pick the biggest steak before other gentlemen decide which one they want is against the rules of southern etiquette?" Colten said aloud enough to reach Tyler ears in the Kitchen.
"It's not against the rules when there's no other gentlemen around!" Ty jokingly fired back.
With a small endearing chuckle Sally told Colten he better hurry. When he disappeared into the kitchen she turned around and asked me if I minded steak and potatoes for dinner tonight.
"If you don't mind, I'm really not hungry tonight. I'd just like to go on up, take a shower and head to bed." and no more dodging poison darted questions.
"Are you sure, you feeling OK? You look a little pale."
Aunt Sally was right, Cat looked pretty fragile. Looking more closely at her, I could see that her clothes looked new but pretty rumpled and beneath her eyes, she had light violet shadows.
"I'm alright" Ms.Hale said again in her honey voice. I don't know who she was trying to kid, Sally or herself. "I'm just really tired."
"Well... alright then. Just head up those stairs in the hallway and you can pick any bedroom you like. Just call me if you need anything sweet heart."
"Would it be OK If I pay cash?"
"We can do all that in the morning when your rested up."
Standing up on tired legs I started to walk towards the door but turned around to say good night to Sally, only to catch Conners heated gaze that chased away all the chills and the coldness in my body replacing it with a warm secure feeling. More tired than I thought, I forgot Conner was still in the room, otherwise it would have been near impossible to have forgotten him.
With a slight nod to Conner, I gave Sally a quick goodnight and dashed up stairs, already knowing which bedroom I'd pick- the one Grams and I always used. I can't wait to welcome the oblivious in sleep.
After changing into my PJ'S, I crawled into the queen size bed and wrapped my self in the robin egg blue comforter. The last thought that drifted into my mind before I was dragged into sleep was if I'll get to see Conner again.
Back down stairs Sally whirled around and her once liquid blue eyes froze into cold hard ice cubes that shot ice lances at her nephew.
In public Sally is the Belle of the South, in her charity events she's a general in a floral skirt, in front of family she's the adored monarch with a backbone of steel, her word was a law not to be broken or toyed with.
"When I left that girl into your boys hands I thought you would have made her welcome, instead I came back into this room and she looked like she would rather take her chances with this rain."
"We just asked her a question. That was all."
"Well, what was the question?"
"Just where she's from."
"And?" was said with a no nonsense tone.
"We asked her where shes been. Its not like we asked her social security number for a background check."
"Do not sass me, young man. Did she willingly part with that information, or did you three dragged it out of her?"
"Aunt Sally, you have to admit, a beautiful young woman like her, showing up here alone in a rain storm is a little off." I said trying to convince her in the simple logic of my statement.
For several strained seconds I thought Sally finally understood the boys and mine view about the whole Cat situation, but I was wrong. Aunt Sally didn't see it our point at all because within a bat of a eye she fired off questions after questions, each one asked in a more angrier voice than the question before.
"Did you not see her pale face? Did you not think that she might have been lost and this was the only place she could find? Did you not think she might have came here to get some peace and not get question like a criminal?"
"Aunt Sally just listen to what I'm saying-"
Rolling right over my words she continued with her rant.
"Did you not think at all! You boys should be ashamed. And one more thing, When have you ever been in charge in who can stay here and who cant? Conner Braden this is my
Aunt Sally whole body shook more than a rattle snakes warning, but her eyes never once wavered from mine.
I don't think I have ever seen her this angry. Not even the summer when Ty, Colten and I were young and put toads in the toilets through out the house, along with letting a couple of snakes loose. We just wanted to see if the snakes could find the frogs, but things didn't work out like we planned. Their was a convention going on in town, so the house was more crowed than usual. Some of the guests came across the snakes and frogs and ruin the whole experiment. The women were screeching as if the animals were gonna eat them alive, their men tried to calm their wives down while trying to hide their amusement and theirs kids were as crazy as the whole situation. Too put it simple, everything was chaos and putting it mildly, Aunt Sally was pretty upset.
She broke the heavy silence, only saying, 'Bless your little damn hearts Conner,' then turning around sailed right out the door leaving me to my thoughts.
Sitting back down on the love seat I thought over the whole Miss Cat Hale problem. Who names their daughter Cat anways? Is that even her real name? For goodness sake the only thing we know about her is her 'name' and that shes been to New York and Texas. She could be a thief for all we know... a thief that has such beautiful green eyes filled with such much sadness that it tugs at your heart.
Heaving out a sigh, I got up to walk over to the window. Maybe Aunt Sally was right...again. Just because she didn't want to talk about herself doesn't mean she's a bad guy. Hell, even Colten doesn't like talking about himself and I trust him with my life.
Hearing a noise behind me, I turned around hoping it was Cat so I could apologize. Instead seeing it was Tyler and Colten standing in the doorway both looking remorseful, Well Tyler looked remorseful while Colten looked a little guilty.
"We were wrong guys," I told them.
Nodding their heads in agreement, they both went to sit down on the couch.
"I know this is gonna sound kinda weird guys, but I think I remember her from somewhere," Tyler said looking at both Conner and Colten.
"You probably remember her from one of your wet dreams," Colten teased Tyler.
"Hell, your probably right, she gorgeous. Did you see her legs? They freaking went all the way up to her chin."
"Nope, I was to busy looking at those curves. She has more curves than a damn mountain. What do you think Con? What did you like?"
Conner knew he could always rely on these boneheads to drag him out of a pre brood. "Uhuh I'm not gonna talk behind a ladies back, that's ungentlemanly
"Spoil-sport" one of them muttered while he was heading out the door.
Walking slowly up the stairs he wondered if she would still be here in the morning. If she was I owe her an apology. And while I'm apologizing I could see if she might want to go have breakfast or something.
Chapter Two
hair that looks like a family of rats lived their.
Rolling over on my side I looked out the open curtain window. It was a pretty morning with the sun shinning, and a light breeze made the lush green leaves dance on the oak tree outside my window. On one of its branches was a small plump Blue Jay that was singing its heart out; listening to its musical chirping everything felt right in the world.
Snuggling deeper into the covers, I was prepared to doze off but a slight knock at the door had my back stiffening and reality came to chase off that rare peaceful moment.
A childish plan of pretending to still be asleep danced acrossed my mind, taking a quick glance at the alarm clock on the stand next to the bed it read 10:30, too late to be sleeping.
Hearing a slight tap on the door again got me jumping out of bed and moving toward the vanity table. Taking in my reflection I knew I was a lost cause. Apparently from looking at my hair, I cant pull off the sexy just got out of bed look, unfortunately. But at least the shadows under my eyes were a little less noticeable, thanks to a good night sleep.
"Yes?" I asked, picking up a brush on the vanity table.
"It me...Conner."
Shit, "One second Conner."
Out of everyone in this house, it had to be Conner? Of all the people to see me with morning breath, wrinkled Pj's and
"I just... I was wondering if I can talk to you for a minute" Conner muffled voice said through the door.
Brushing out the last tangle I took a deep calming breath and ignored the urge to take one last look in the mirror knowing it was hopeless to look any better went to open the bedroom door.
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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 19.08.2011
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