The Gentling (11 page)

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They arrived at the Cawleys' front door promptly at eight, to the sound of heavy, discordant rock music issuing from the house at a volume that threatened to shatter the walls. Darting Trace an uncertain glance, Katy reached out to ring the doorbell. The melodious chimes didn't make a dent in the orchestrated bombardment.

Amusement crinkled Trace's eyes. "I think a firmer approach is called for." He practically shouted the words in her ear while reaching around her to pound on the door with the side of his balled fist.

A moment later it was opened, and Frank grimaced apologetically as he motioned them in. Miming for them to follow, he marched into the room where Jason and John lay sprawled on the floor in front of the stereo and turned the volume down.

"Hey! What did you do that for!" they squawked in unison, turning identical, outraged faces toward their father.

"I don't think our guests would care to go deaf before dinner," Frank replied with a complete lack of concern. "If you two think you can manage a vertical position for five minutes I'd like you to meet Katy's fiance. Trace, these two juvenile delinquents are our sons, Jason and John. Boys, meet Trace Barnett."

"Trace Barnett!" they squeaked together. "You mean the guy who owns Green Meadows Farm?"

'"Fraid so," Trace admitted laconically.

They stared at him for a moment, goggle-eyed, then Jason gave Katy a broad wink and nudged his brother in the ribs. "Boy, I'll say one thing for you, Katy"—he snickered—"when you do something, you do it up brown."

Katy was spared the necessity of answering that because Jane walked into the room, followed closely by Martha.

The Cawleys' eldest was dressed in purple jeans and a pink T-shirt. The lurid message scrawled across her breasts made Katy do a quick double take, then hurriedly turn away, her cheeks a bright pink. She was profoundly glad when the girl sailed right on past them.

"Sorry. Can't stop to chat now," she called over her shoulder, taking the stairs two at a time. "My date will be here any minute."

Jane's mouth twitched. "Revolting, isn't it."

"Absolutely," Katy agreed, rolling her eyes.

Jane laughed, then switched her attention to the man at Katy's side. "Don't panic, Trace. I guarantee it won't be like this all evening."

"That's right." Frank added his assurances. "Tweedledum and Tweedledee here are going to the movies, and Martha is going out with her latest heartthrob."

"Heartthrob! Yuck! That word went out with the biplane," John groaned. He clutched his stomach and staggered toward the door. "I think I'm gonna be sick!"

"Yeah, me too," Jason agreed as he trailed after him. "And the only cure for it is a giant box of popcorn and a root beer."

"That's quite a family you've got," Trace said, laughing, when the door closed behind the two boisterous teenagers. "Is it like this around here all the time?"

"No, not always. Sometimes it's worse." Jane waved her hand toward the sofa. "Why don't we sit down and have a nice, relaxing drink before dinner. I don't know about the rest of you, but believe me, I need one."

Frank had no sooner handed out the drinks and taken a seat than Martha came bounding back down the stairs. "Hi, Katy. Sorry I couldn't stop earlier, but I'm going out with this fabulous new fella, and he gets absolutely furious if I keep him waiting." She quickly eyed Katy's rose silk dress and sighed expressively. "Gee, you look terrific."

"Thanks. You look pretty good yourself." Katy was relieved to see that the jeans and T-shirt had been exchanged for a bright yellow and green sundress with a matching jacket. The petite brown-haired girl was the image of her mother, all pixie charm and bouncing enthusiasm. On her, the brilliantly patterned dress looked perfect.

After introductions were made, Martha, with a directness that rivaled her mother's, studied Katy and Trace intently, her head cocked to one side. For a moment her eyes darted back and forth between them, then she shook her head, as though slightly dazzled by her discovery. "Boy, are you two ever going to make good-looking babies together," she stated with a bluntness that brought instant silence to the room.

Becoming suddenly aware of the four stunned faces staring at her, Martha swept them with a disgusted look. "Well, they will!" she insisted defensively. "It's all in the genes, you know. We learned that in Biology I, for heaven's sake!"

Before anyone could find his tongue, the doorbell rang. Martha let out a squeak and ran to answer it in a flurry of skirts and long, shining hair, her startling observation immediately dismissed from her mind. "That'll be Phillip. See you guys later."

There was a brief, taut silence after the door slammed, then three voices burst out laughing. Katy closed her eyes and turned beet-red.

Her flush deepened when Trace leaned close and whispered, "You see, darling. There's one more reason for us to marry."

"I'm sorry, Katy," Jane sputtered helplessly. "But you know how Martha is. She just says whatever comes into her head."

"Yes. Like someone else I could mention," Frank drawled pointedly.

"Well, subtlety never was my long suit. At least with us Cawley women you always know where we stand." Jane stood up and motioned for Katy to follow. "Come on. We'll give these two a chance to get acquainted while we finish dinner."

The meal went smoothly. Jane had prepared everything in advance so that it could be served with a minimum of fuss—a simple, well-planned menu of green salad, a dish of veal and rice, and broccoli in cheese sauce. For dessert there was a light chocolate-mint pie.

The table conversation was pleasant, sometimes bantering. Trace fit easily into the relaxed atmosphere of the Cawley home, joking and laughing with her friends as though he had known them for years. By the time they retired to the living room for after-dinner coffee, even Katy had relaxed somewhat.

"Tell me, Trace. When is the wedding?" Jane asked interestedly, as she handed him his cup.

The unexpected question brought Katy's head up, and she found that Trace was studying her thoughtfully. She looked away quickly and took a sip of coffee to cover her nervousness. She hadn't yet adjusted to being engaged. The thought of actually fixing a date paralyzed her with fear.

"We haven't discussed it, but I'm hoping it will be next month," Trace said quietly, his intent gaze fixed on Katy's downbent head.

The long curtain of black hair swung outward in a rippling arc when Katy's head snapped around. "Next month! But that's too soon!" The china cup clattered against its saucer, and Katy bent over to place it on the coffee table. Clasping her hands together tightly to stop their trembling, she turned to Trace with wide, troubled eyes. "We can't get married that quickly, Trace. I—I"—her mind groped for an excuse, any excuse to delay—"Th-there's so much to do before a wedding. I can't possibly be ready in time."

Smiling, Trace ran a finger lightly over the curve of her cheek. "All right, darling. Six weeks. But not one day longer. In three weeks we'll have an engagement party, and three weeks after that we'll be married."

"An engagement party!" All thought of the wedding vanished with the introduction of this new threat. "Oh, do we have to? I don't know the first thing about giving a party like that. And . . . and I don't know any of your friends or relatives. I'd make a hopeless mess of the whole thing."

"Don't worry about it, sweetheart. Saundra can handle the party, That's the one thing she's good at," he said with a caustic bite. "Just give her a list of the people you want to invite, and I'll see that she takes care of the rest."

"Speaking of Saundra," Jane drawled in an elaborately casual tone. "How did she take the news of your engagement?"

Mild surprise flickered over Trace's rugged features. "Actually I don't suppose she's heard about it. She went to Dallas to visit friends while I was gone, and she hasn't returned yet."

Probably because, like herself, she hadn't expected him back this soon, Katy thought in a sudden burst of angry cynicism. The mention of Saundra deepened her growing sense of dread. Like a fool, she hadn't given the woman a thought, but there wasn't a doubt in her mind that Saundra would be livid when she heard the news. Suddenly Katy's stomach muscles tightened into a hard knot. She didn't think she could deal with Saundra's vicious anger on top of everything else.

"Will Saundra continue to live at Green Meadows after you and Katy are married?"

"Jane! That's none of your business," Frank ground out warningly. "You have no right to ask questions like that."

Jane tossed her head defiantly and shot her husband a quelling look. "I know that. But Katy has a right to know. After all, it affects her future. But knowing her as well as I do, I'm fairly sure she would never ask. So I'm doing it for her."

"Nevertheless, you shouldn't . . ."

"That's all right, Frank. I don't mind answering Jane's question." Trace looked at her and shrugged, his features screwed up in a rather self-conscious grimace. "Actually, I've never given the matter a thought. Saundra has lived at the farm for so long that it just never occurred to me to ask her to leave. But I wouldn't worry about it too much. She'd always enjoyed being mistress of Green Meadows. Once Katy and I are married and she has to relinquish that position, I doubt she'll stick around very long."

Katy was appalled. Weren't things bad enough without this additional complication? She had no desire to be pitted against Saundra in an open confrontation. Did he really expect her just to walk in and wrest control of the household from that spiteful, vicious woman? Or perhaps he didn't. Perhaps this was all lip service. Her eyes narrowed in sudden suspicion as she studied him through the veil of her lashes. Maybe he didn't believe she could win in a battle of wills with his stepmother. Maybe he didn't want her to win. She couldn't believe he was unaware of Saundra's interest in him. He might not want to marry his father's widow, but he certainly didn't seem averse to having her around.

The progression of her thoughts made Katy's stomach churn, but she was powerless to stop it. That could explain why he was so unconcerned about the physical side of their marriage. No doubt, Saundra would be quite happy to satisfy his male appetites. It was even possible that she was already sharing his bed, if rumor were to be believed.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Lost in her own thoughts, Katy sat back and let the conversation flow around her. She was puzzled by the violent emotions that tore at her. Even if her suspicions were correct, why should she care? She didn't love or want Trace. She should feel relieved that he might turn to another woman for physical satisfaction. Shouldn't she?

During the ride home she remained quiet, trying to come to grips with the confused jumble of emotions that plagued her. She had the strangest sensation of being swept along on a tide of events over which she had little or no control. It was very disturbing.

It was only when Trace brought the car to a halt in the drive beside her home that Katy's mind came back to the present. When he switched off the engine and turned to face her, the sudden quiet seemed oppressive and threatening, and she blurted out the first thing that came into her head.

"I'm sorry if Jane's questions embarrassed you."

"I wasn't embarrassed," he said with gentle amusement. "They're very nice people, and they care for you very much. I'm glad of that." His voice deepened to a husky caress. "I want only your happiness, Katy. I happen to love you very much."

She turned to look at him then, her blue eyes wide and searching, probing his face intently. "Do you. Trace?"she asked doubtfully. "Do you really?"

He seemed surprised by her skepticism. His brows rose sharply, and he looked back at her in blank astonishment. "Do you doubt it?"

"Oh, I don't doubt that you think you love me." She shrugged one shoulder. "But I can't help but wonder if you're not just reaching out for a fantasy."

Instead of becoming angry, as she had half expected, Trace merely looked at her broodingly for a moment, then smiled. "You're a very perceptive lady," he said softly. "I'm only human, Katy. I have all the same weaknesses and needs as other mortals. I won't try to deny that you epitomize all that I've ever longed for. Not only are you beautiful, and the most exquisitely feminine woman I've ever known, but you've also had the advantage of a loving upbringing by parents who were totally committed to one another and to you. That makes you all the more special, Katy. I want what only you can give me. I need it." His voice hardened to a soft violence that made her skin prickle. "I'm going to have it."

His words did not erase her doubts, but deepened them. Katy stared at him apprehensively. Her fear was reflected in her eyes, and seeing it, Trace frowned.

He paused, as though considering his next words carefully, then asked, "Have you ever wondered just exactly what love is, Katy? Have you ever tried to define it, to put it into words?"

She shook her head mutely, staring at him with wary-eyes.

"I've always thought love was finding that one someone who could fill a need in you that no one else could." His mouth curved in a self derisive grimace. "Everyone has those needs, those desperate longings, that incomplete feeling. When you find that one person it's like finding your other half, and she fills the emptiness, completes you like the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle. To me, that's love."