The Devil's Good Intentions (67 page)

"Pennington!" She shrieked out. "What are you doing here?"

"I would ask you the same thing, my Dear."

Tongue tied, she couldn't think of what she could do or say. They were blocking the only exit out of the cabin and she was certain they wouldn't just let her leave.

"Your husband and his friends are very naughty" he continued on. "They should know that money can buy loyalties." He chuckled out.

Katherine had no idea what he was talking about.

"No matter, their plan failed and I am still alive."

She knew that they would go after him, and also knew that they were justified in whatever they had planned for him. But she had no idea as to how they planned to go about it; that was something they always kept from her.

"I have no idea what you are taking about." She admitted, her voice shaking with fear.

"I do believe you. Assassination is not something a man would discuss with his wife, I suppose."

He took another step forward and the man behind him closed them in. Katherine gave out a whimper as Pennington approached.

Grabbing her by the hair, he pulled her to her feet. Katherine cried out at the assault and reached behind her to try and loosen his grip.

"Is it true?" He growled into her face.

Her reply was merely another whimper.

"Are you carrying that mad mans child?"

Her lips trembled and she tried to squirm out of his grip as his other hand splayed across her stomach, none too gently.

"No!" She cried out "Don't hurt me or my child!"

He threw her back onto the cot and snorted in disgust as he took a step back. The other man placed the lantern on the table beside them, brightening the room and illuminating their faces. She had never seen the second man before and she was thankful that he looked disinterested in the turn of events.

"Katherine, you have something that I want. If you give it to me, I will allow you...and your baby to live."

Katherine scowled at him but said nothing.

"Where are the recipes?" He finally asked after a long moment of silence.

Her mind reeled. How could he know?

"I know your Father had never learned of them, he would have sold his soul had it been worth anything." He sneered. "But you, my Dear Katherine, would know of their whereabouts...wouldn't you?"

"Is this why you had me kidnapped? Why you wanted to marry me?" She spat at him, letting her anger get the best of her.

"What's yours becomes mine. And of course you would have been a nice perk." He chuckled out evilly as he took the chair and sat it down in front of her.

Taking his seat, he continued.

"My grandfather was obsessed with those recipes. He insisted they held the cure to his disease. When he approached your family, they turned him away at the door. They were actually going to let him die to preserve a secret! Isn't that tragic?"

Katherine diverted her eyes. Although she had no recollection of that, she would have not turned someone away. The recipes were there to be used, not hidden.

"Yes Katherine, he knew of their existence and passed all that he knew down to me. Perhaps he had an idea that I too would contract the same illness as he had, but he was certain that the cure lies within your family."

Katherine gasped.

"Where are they? I sent Clair back to the estate to search every nook and cranny, but your blasted husband relieved her of her duty before she could get her hands on them. She almost had them too had he not entered your room."

"You put me through hell so you could get to the recipes? Do you even know what I went through! And how could you use Clair like that!"

"That is none of my concern and as I have stated before, anyone can be bought."

She was starting to see red. Had he simply asked her for the journals and explained his situation, she would have helped him. But for the first time in her life, she wanted to see this man suffer. She still had nightmares about what Pennington and Sebastian had done to her - although she would never admit it to Salvador,

She could still feel them touching her sometimes when it was indeed Salvador's gentle ministrations. Every time he tried to be gentle with her, it would remind her of Sebastian. She would urge him to make love to her harder and of course he would comply.

"It should be your concern! It's because of you that I still have nightmares!" She cried out. "Sorry Pennington but I can't help you."

She screamed when he stood up abruptly and kicked the chair away.

He dashed for her, but she was quicker. She managed to escape his reach and move away from him and the cot. But she had been so wrapped up in Pennington that she had forgotten about his partner. As she backed up into him, his arms came around her and he held her in place.

Pennington had the look of murder in his eyes as he slowly approached her. The strangers hand cupped her throat when Pennington stood before her.

"You were saying?" He managed to ask calmly.

"I don't care anymore. I have lost my husbands heart and find no reason to live." She sobbed out.

"Not even for your child?"

Tears were streaming down her cheeks and her body was shaking with the waves of adrenaline that had consumed her.

"He will marry again and have another child. I doubt he wants this one tainted with my blood."

He was silent for a moment. Watching as she broke down and cried her heart out.

"I'll ask you one more time, and consider carefully Katherine for your death will not be a quick one. Where are the recipes?"

Before Katherine could answer, the door burst open. There stood her husband who looked more like a raging bull at the moment.

The man who was holding her loosened his grip for just a moment and then tightened it again, only this time he moved his hand away from her neck.

"My business is not with you Salvador, leave now and I will spare you." Pennington stated arrogantly.

Salvador ignored Pennington and instead took a step towards Katherine and the stranger.

"Take your hands off of my wife. NOW!" He raged.

The man was shaking. He kept looking to Pennington for support but Pennington was busy staring Salvador down.

He obviously made his decision and pushed Katherine towards Pennington.

Because he was not expecting it, he faltered for only a moment, giving Katherine the chance she needed to avoid his arms. She dropped to her knees and rolled out of reach.

Salvador grabbed her by the upper arm and hauled her to her feet, never taking his eyes off of his prey.

"Go now." He ordered her as he pushed her towards the door.

"Salvador..." She started to say but was cut off when he screamed at her to leave.

Finding her feet again, she dashed out into the night, shrieking when a strong pair of arms wrapped around her and hauled her to the side of the cabin.

"Shhh, you're safe now." She heard Ed whisper into her ear.

"Quiet, ok?" He whispered again.

She nodded her head in understanding.

She could hear muffled voices in the cabin and was scared to death for her husband. She gave out another silent gasp as Peter came into view. He winked at her and blew her a kiss, then disappeared again. The argument inside became heated. Ed jumped to his feet when a loud clang came from inside.

"Stay here. If you move, I will personally tan your hide!" He threatened her and then disappeared before receiving her acknowledgment.

She worried her bottom lip as the fight grew louder. She wanted desperately to know that her husband and brothers were safe, but she also knew that Ed was serious in his threat. The scuffle continued and her anxiety grew to a new peek.

Just when she was about to throw caution to the wind and go to them, there was silence. She buried her face into her knees and prayed to God they were ok.

She screamed when she felt a hand touch her head then blacked out.

Finally she was safe. He arrived before any harm could come to her and was able to secure her and their unborn baby to safety.

He hadn't left her side since he carried her home. Peter had gone to fetch a doctor and after careful examination, it was determined that both she and the baby were in perfect health. The doctor explained that stress can sometimes overcome a person resulting in blackouts. Until Katherine opened her eyes and convinced him she was indeed fine, he would continue to worry.

When Pennington's goon charged him at the cabin, all he could think about was Katherine. He needed to apologize to her and convince her that he loved her and that he would do anything for her. He needed to see her again. Right away he got hold of the man and snapped his neck. Pennington looked as though he was out of his mind. He had pulled out a pistol to ward of Salvador, that's when Peter arrived. Pennington tried to bargain with them, swearing that all he wanted were the recipes, but his fate was already sealed. When he realized that no amount of talking would convince them to hand over the recipes, he cocked the pistol and aimed it straight at Salvador's heart. Luckily the bullet was a dud. Peter and Salvador charged at him and to his credit, he did put up a good fight. By the time Ed had arrived, they had finally gotten him pinned down. Pennington made a nasty comment about Katherine and that's when all three of them beat him to death. He was grateful that Katherine did not have to see that.

He had ordered a bath into the room and bathed both himself and her. Still she had not woken. He feared for her greatly and blamed the whole thing on himself. And now, she lay there looking like a broken angel. Even in her deepest sleep she had scowled. Tears ran down her cheeks and she made small noises that sounded like tortured pleas.

Lost in thought, he didn't notice at first when her eyes opened. When he did, he remained silent. They looked at each other, each with a tortured expression. Finally he could not stand it anymore. He grabbed her to him and cried into her hair. All of the feelings he had held back from her, everything he ever wanted to say to her came out like a tidal wave. He declared his love for her and her baby. He told her that he could never let her go, that she was the only woman he could ever love. That he would lay down any and all weapons if that’s what it meant to gain her trust back.

When he was through he felt like an empty shell. All emotions and words had drained out of him at once. When he pulled back to look at her, he expected her rejection and to be dismissed. Instead he saw hope in her eyes, love and adoration. But he didn't want to hope. He needed to hear her say that she forgave him.

"I was certain I lost you" she whispered out after a long moment of silence.

"How could you think that?" He asked gently rather than accusingly.

"I saw you with that woman on the dance floor. I thought you moved on." She whispered again, eyes focused on the crumpled up sheet in her fist.

"No my Love, that was a business deal. I could never consider another woman."

"Business deal?" She repeated out loud.

"Yes, I have done business with her husband; she was trying to secure more business."

He could see the understanding in her face but still she looked broken.

"I am so sorry that I left your side. I should have been there for you. Can you ever forgive me?"

He needed to hear her say it. Needed to know that everything was going to be alright. Instead it was her turn to breakdown. He held her to him and rocked her back and forth in a soothing manner as she cried her heart out.

"I forgive you Salvador! How can I not when it was I that pushed you away! I'm so sorry! Please forgive my spiteful words!" She burst out.

"No need to forgive you, you did nothing wrong. I love you Katherine and I told you I would never let you go." He declared boldly.

"I love you too Salvador and I swear I will never push you away again."

With her deceleration, they broke out into a bruising kiss and continued to spend the night declaring their love for each other with more than just words but with a passion that has never had an equal.