Shades of Gray (5 page)

Grayson
disappeared behind the curtain covering the pantry doorway. 

“Son, did
Reece…”

“I don’t
know.  She didn’t say,” he answered, cutting off her question.  Neither of them
wanted to hear the words aloud.  He reappeared from the storage closet, a
ceramic jar clutched in his hand.  “When she collapsed on our steps, she was
next to dead.  Reece and his hounds were right behind her.  From the condition
of her wounds, she must have led them on some chase.”

“Do you know
anything about her?” 

“From what I
was told in town, she is Reece’s fiancée.” 

“His fiancée? 
I wasn’t aware he was betrothed.”  Laura took the salve from his hands.  “If
the girl is his intended, she can’t stay here.”

Grayson moved
to the stove, levered open the fire box, and tossed a chuck of wood in among
the flames.  Grabbing the stoker, he poked the log, pushing it to the middle of
the raging embers and then closed the door.  Returning the stoker to its hook
on the side of the oven, he lowered a large copper pot from the shelf above the
stove.  “Where else is she to go, mother?  Back to a man who will surely kill
her at his earliest opportunity?” 

Laura touched
her hand to his arm.  “I know what you’re thinking,” she said, “but this woman
is not Daria.  You have no claims on her, but if she is his fiancée, Reece
does.  The law will be on his side.  You know that.  Reece will bring the
magistrate here and force that girl to return to him.  You will not be able to
save her.”

“Reece had no
claims on Daria, but that didn’t stop him?”  He shouted, slamming his fist on
the counter.  Hitting the edge of the saucer, the teacup flew off the counter
and shattered on the floor.  He stood amidst the broken pieces.  “What else am
I to do?  You know what will happen to her if she returns to him.  Besides,” he
shrugged, “Reece won’t report anything to the magistrate immediately.  He will
give her time to heal.  When he does show up, he will make certain there is no
proof of abuse.”

“And when she
is well?  What happens then?” Laura asked.  This was not the first time Grayson
had fought this demon.  It had cost them both dearly, leaving them with only
bits and pieces of their former lives.  She glanced at the sealed pot in her
hand.  There was no amount of salve that could restore her son to the man he
had been.  “Knowing Reece the way you do,” she said, “will you be able to send
his fiancée back to him when she has recovered?”

“As you have
said, I will have no choice.  If it is her desire to return to him, I will
stand aside.”

She narrowed
her eyes and shook her head.  He spoke with the same conviction he had used
five years ago when he tried to convince her that he would not seek revenge. 
He was no more convincing now than he had been then.

He pulled her
in his arms and spoke over the top of her head.  “If it will ease your mind,
when the girl awakes, I will ask her if she has family nearby who could take
her in and care for her.  Would that erase the worry from your brow?”

Laura nodded. 
She pushed back in his arms and looked up at him.  “If she is to stay with us,
she’ll need attention.  We can plan her security later.  First, let’s see that
she lives long enough to need it.  Bring in a pail of water, and I’ll tend to
her wounds.  Once her bandages are changed and she has eaten, we can move her
to another bedroom.”

“She stays
where she lies,” Grayson stated matter-of-factly. 

This tone
wasn’t new.  It usually meant his decision was made and he would entertain no
arguments on the issue.  She backed away from him and folded a few towels to
bring upstairs.  Apparently, he didn’t know where he had acquired that
obstinate trait.

“There are
eight bedrooms in this house,’ she said.  “Why must she stay in your room?”

“She has been
through enough.  I don’t want her disturbed any more than necessary.  Besides,
I want to be close by if Reece tries something.  I’ll sleep in the adjoining
room.” 

Laura widened
her eyes, certain she had misheard him.  “You plan to sleep in the nur. . . You
haven’t gone in there since. . . ”

He lifted the
water bucket off of the hook.  “It will serve my purpose.”

She held the
back door open and called after him.  “If you plan to leave her in your room,
it will need a thorough cleaning.”  At least something good would come of this
day.

Chapter 5

Katherine lay
on the flat of her back, her legs and arms tangled among the sheets, securing
her in place.  She worked her hands, grasping for anything to free herself. 
Breathing heavily, she opened her eyes and tried to blink away the darkness. 
Indistinguishable shapes and shadows surrounded her.  Although nothing seemed
familiar, she relaxed her struggle.  Instead of scrambling for the door, she
inhaled and filled her lungs with a stale muskiness, finding comfort from an
unknown source.  This smell had been the last thing she remembered from the
previous night.  That and strong arms lifting her from the ground. 

Someone had
stepped between her and Reece.  In that moment, she had relaxed and put her
trust in a stranger to protect her.  He had spoken only three words, but that
had been enough.  The soothing sound of his voice made her believe him, and for
the first time since she had come ashore, she felt safe.
 
  

Garbled voices
sounded in the distance, and she strained to recognize at least one of the people
talking.  Her heart pounded, and she hoped it was not Reece’s voice she heard. 
While unable to distinguish what was said, at least nothing resembled her
fiancé’s tones.  Katherine listened closer.  A steady thumping punctuated the
voices, and drew nearer.  She jerked to free herself from the bedding.  Pain
shot across her shoulders and down her arms.  A tingling sensation burst into
her fingertips like a lightning strike. 

Soaked in
sweat and aching, she slowly managed to disentangle her arms and legs from the
generous supply of sheets and blankets covering her.  Every muscle reconnected
to the frayed nerve endings in her body, reminding her of what it had taken for
her to arrive in this room.  Her ankle held stiff.  She bent her knee and ran
her hand down her leg.  A gauzy bandage covered her lower leg and foot. 
Someone had clearly tended to her wounds.  Tears slid down her face and she
cried out, finally releasing the apprehension and pain that had fortified her
fight. 

****

The bedroom
door cracked open, and Laura pushed her shoulder against the wood.  She thought
she had heard the girl cry out as she neared the room.  Hopefully, she hadn’t
fallen out of bed and landed on one of Gray’s organization attempts.  A shadow
on the bed shifted positions and Laura moved in that direction.  She slid her
tray onto the dresser top, and pulled open the curtains.  The girl turned her
face away, cringing against the light. 

She lay
uncovered.  Her foot was wrapped but needed attention.  The skin was red and
puffy, and pressed against the wrap.  There was no option, the bandage would
have to be cut from her.  From this angle, it appeared her other leg was
unharmed.  Laura continued her quick inspection, sweeping her gaze upward.  The
girl was dressed only in her slip, exposing every bruise and blemish.  She held
her back away from the headboard, favoring her left shoulder. 

Gray had used
salve to treat her wounds.  He would need more than the little pot he found in
the back of the pantry to make her well.  Glancing up at the girl’s face, Laura
bit back a gasp.  She thought she had seen the worst of her wounds when looking
at the purple and swollen calf muscle.  Cuts and bruises were the least of her
woes.  The girl’s right eye was completely closed.  Hopefully, this injury
would prevent her from registering the shocked expression Laura knew was
projected on her face. 

Laura said a
quick prayer.  With a little care and a lot of time, the girl’s injuries would
heal.  If Gray was right about Reece not wanting his abuse to be a matter of
public record, she would be safe until the evidence of his cruelty was no
longer evident.  What would happen to her after that was a concern for a later
time.  Grayson was her main worry.  She glanced out the window.  He carried a
bucket from the well and would undoubtedly come to this room within minutes. 
She knew what it took for him to care for this girl and why he insisted on
staying in the adjoining bedroom.  She hoped he was prepared for what lay ahead
of him in order to honor his commitment.

The girl
pulled at the blanket, trying to cover herself.  Laura took the hem from her
and brought it up to her chest.  “There.  Are you more comfortable now?” she
asked.  The girl nodded her answer.

“My name is
Laura Gregory.  My son told me that you arrived last night and would be staying
with us.”   

Laura glanced
to the floor.  A nightdress lay at her feet.  Covered in blood and torn in
several pieces, she kicked the garment under the bed.  There was no need for
the girl to have a fresh reminder of her torment.  Without looking in a mirror,
she might not realize how severe her wounds were.  She would remove the
tattered nightdress from the room with the rest of Gray’s things later today.

“My name is
Katherine,” a timid voice from the bed offered.

How could
anyone harm someone with such a kind voice?  “It’s very nice to meet you.  My
son, Grayson will bring water up shortly.  I thought you might like to freshen
up a bit.”  She moved from the bed to the window.  Raising the glass, she tied
the curtain to the side of the jamb.  Picking up shirts and socks, she tucked
them under her arm and reached for a stray towel.

“I’m sorry to
be such a bother,” the soft voice confessed behind her.  “I will leave if I am
too much of an imposition.”

Laura tossed
the dirty objects on the floor at the foot of the bed.  “Good Heavens, child. 
I have been itching to give this room a good going over for weeks.”  She
matched a pair of Grayson’s boots and stood them next to his armoire.  She
turned her attention back to Kat.  “Besides, where will you go?  Do you have
family nearby?”

Katherine
shook her head.  “I have no one, but I don’t want to cause your family any
trouble.”

“The only
trouble I foresee is if you aren’t partial to tea and scones.”  Laura moved the
tray from the dresser to the bed.  “I made these last night but they are still
fresh.  I hope you like strawberry jam.  If not, there is butter and honey.”

Katherine
broke off a corner of the biscuit and slipped it into her mouth.  She held a
hand to her jaw and chewed as though her teeth were sensitive.  If Laura had
known the girl’s condition was this severe, she would have brought porridge
instead of a pastry.  She decided she would make her an omelet for her mid-day
meal.

Grayson
stepped into the room, a bar of soap in one hand and a bucket in the other.  A
clean towel hung over his shoulder.  “Mother, have you met our cat?”  He
smirked and then set the bucket near the wash basin.

Katherine
sipped from her cup.  Her brows pulled together. 

“Her name is
Katherine,” Laura corrected. 

“I don’t mind
if you call me Kat.” 

She looked at
Grayson as though he had just saved her from a burning building.  Laura glanced
at her son to see if he had noticed.  He busied himself with his dresser.  A
hairbrush and ribbons were placed atop a stack of breeches, shirts, and
leggings.  From the pile he made, he should have no need to return to his
bedroom until after Kat departed.

Laura pulled a
few of the blankets from the bed and folded them into a neat stack.  “I doubt
you’ll need all of these, but if you do, I’ll leave a few of them in this
chest.”  She lifted the lid of a maple trunk at the foot of the bed and placed
the brightest colored coverlets inside the box.  The room still needed to be
dusted, swept, and mopped, but that could wait until she had seen to Kat’s
bandages.  She gathered the supplies she needed and sat on the side of the
bed. 

A few bites
were missing from the scone but the teacup was half empty.  Laura held gauze
and bindings in front of her.  “Kat, if you will permit me, I would like to
dress your wounds.”  She tugged at the loop around the girl’s ankle.  Picking
at the knot, she spoke under her breath.  “Grayson did a nice job, but the
salve needs to be reapplied.  Finish your tea, and I’ll have you all cleaned up
before you know it.”

Kat cast a
nervous glance in Grayson’s direction.  Did she think he would deny her medical
care, or maybe she hoped he would personally attend to her as he had done last
night?  “Grayson, are you almost finished with what you need?” Laura asked as
she snipped the knot free.  Slipping the scissors back in her apron pocket, she
glanced over her shoulder and waited for his answer.

“Yes.  I’ll
put these things away and then will take care of Crowning Glory.  She was
limping yesterday.  I’ll walk her around a bit and see if the liniment is
working.  I’d hate to put her down after the investment we’ve made.”

Investment? 
Laura supposed time and sleepless nights could be considered an investment. 
Born breech and arriving early was enough of a hardship for a newborn, but the
foal’s mother had rejected her, refusing to let her nurse.  Laura had always
thought the coupling between the mare and the stallion was an ill match. 
Apparently the mare had agreed.  Although the stud was the envy of every
corral, the horse seemed resentful to carry the stallion’s heir.  Once
delivered of her burden, she had refused any acknowledgment of her offspring. 
Laura wondered how much of the animosity had been transferred to the fetus.  The
foal seemed to struggle to reach each milestone.  A failure to thrive was how
Grayson had recorded it in the estate records.

Determined for
the newborn to flourish in spite of her mother, Grayson had devoted himself to
the filly, providing her with every opportunity to achieve.  Practically living
in the barn, he had fed and cared for the foal until she seemed to be out of
danger.  The limp was an unexpected setback.  Grayson gathered his clothes,
left the room, and closed the door behind him.

“My son does
like a pretty face, and wait until you see Crowning Glory.  She is a beauty.” 
Laura smiled as she patted Kat’s leg, feeling for fever under the guise of a
jovial gesture.  The limb was warm, but not hot.  She decided to leave her
ankle unwrapped while she took care of the minor abrasions. 

“I guess
that’s true about most men.  I suppose, a girl as pretty as yourself hears
compliments at every turn.” 

She eased
Kat’s shoulder forward and sat behind her.  Several of the marks on her back
were deep bruises.  Although sore and colorfully unattractive, they would heal
on their own.  She pushed the strap of Kat’s slip down her arm and concentrated
her attention on the deep gash across her shoulder blade.  Prodding softly
around the jagged perimeter, it had already begun to fester. 

“If you don’t
mind my asking,” Laura said and cast a quick glance at the adjoining bedroom
door.  Not knowing how Kat would respond, she thought the girl would be more
apt to answer her questions if Grayson was out of earshot.  To Laura’s relief,
the door remained closed.  Gaining strength from the concealed space, she
probed more than the wound.  “Why did you agree to marry Reece Mullins?  Did
you know anything about him?”

Kat flinched,
and Laura was certain it wasn’t from her ministrations.

Laura sucked
air between her teeth and grabbed for a clean cloth.  A pocket at the base of
the wound burst open.  Liquid oozed down Kat’s back.  She dabbed the clear
fluid and reached for the pot of salve.  “This will take the sting away and
speed the healing process.  It should scab over within a few days.  There could
be a scar, but we’ll do what we can to prevent that from happening.”

She applied a
few more dabs of salve to the gash on Kat’s forehead.  There wasn’t much that
could be done for the eye.  Laura had cleaned the area and removed all flecks
of debris.  It was only a matter of time before they would know if there was
any damage to her vision.  As for the ankle, Kat would not be able to walk
without support for several weeks.  Laura made a mental note to look through
the attic for an old cane.  There was no need to confine the poor girl to four
walls until she could maneuver on her own. 

Laura glanced
at Kat’s foot.  Propped on two pillows, the color didn’t worsen.  Content with
her care, she moved to the bureau.  “I think it might be good to let some air
get to your leg.  I know it isn’t pretty to look at right now, but I’ll dress
it this afternoon.”  She yanked a piece of fabric from the back of the bottom
drawer.  With the pink material clutched in her grip, she held it over her head
in triumph.  She snapped it open, inspecting it with a wide smile.  Looking
over the ruffled neckline, she looked at Kat.  “Do you like this?  I thought
you might be more comfortable in a different garment.  I know I always feel
better when I can rest in a clean room and have a fresh nightgown to wear.  You
don’t have to decide this minute, but it’s here if you choose to wear it.” 

She gathered
up the pile of dirty clothes, making sure Kat’s nightdress was buried deep
within the wad.  “Is there anything else I can do for you before I tend to
these?”

Kat shook her
head in answer.

“Fine then. 
I’ll be back to check on you later.  If you need anything before then, just
call out.”

Laura backed
out of the room and closed the door.  Leaning her chin on a towel, she glanced
across the hall.  Perhaps she should send for the magistrate before the girl’s
wounds healed.