Ma'iitsoh

Chapter 2

Kathryn had not seen Harry in almost a fortnight. One cold February morning he came to the tea room dusting snowflakes off his hat and snow jacket.

Prescott was transformed into a winter wonderland. The dusty streets were covered in snow. Rooftops and trees seemed almost beautiful with their white halos.

"Morning, Harry." Kat's heart thumped madly within her chest. "What can I get you?"

Harry sat down, looked at the menu, looked at Kathryn and said, "An apology to start with then the breakfast special, please."

There was no light nor laughter in his face. Kat swallowed and dumbstruck went to place his order. As she placed his coffee down in the table she had to say something, she really made a dent in this man's pride.

"I am sorry, Harry, you caught me off guard and to be honest, no man has ever kissed me. "

Before Harry could see her blush she escaped to the kitchen. Kat stood trembling, collected her composure and took Harry his breakfast. As she approached the table, she saw a women sitting opposite Harry. She was attractive to say the least, fiery red hair, green eyes, a flawless fair complexion and dressed in a knee-length woven prairie skirt, a suede jacket and knee-high boots.

"Kathryn, meet my fiancé, Elizabeth Ashley. Liz, this is Charles' daughter, Kathryn."

Greetings were exchanged. Kat offered Elizabeth anything to eat or drink, she declined by waving her beautiful white hands as if to say this place was beneath her. Harry would glance at Kathryn from time to time. The woman opposite him seemed to have his full attention.

Harry paid and greeted Kat coldly, he placed a jacket around Elizabeth's shoulder and left. Sarah came over to Kat,

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, Sarah. I had to see this coming at some stage. I do wish him happiness and Elizabeth is an attractive woman."

"Do you think he loves her?" Sarah asked in her sweet voice.

"I don't know, Sarah. Maybe it is for the best that I don't know."

Kathryn wondered if Charles knew or he was shielding her from the pain. The truth was, Charles never had an inclination that Harry had asked Kathryn to marry him.

The weeks passed quickly. Early March, the snow melted and lemon, orange and grapefruit trees blossomed all over Prescott. The air seemed to be filled with a constant rich fragrance. Harry married Elizabeth on the twentieth of March. Nearly the whole town attended except for Linn-Anne. After the wedding, a huge celebration was held in the new Town Hall. Elizabeth looked breathtaking in a white lace and floral wedding dress. Kat tried not to look at Harry. Charles in all his enthusiasm, took the roll of Best Man with ease. Once the speeches were over Kat left. She had to get away. She sat by the fire next to Linn-Anne for hours reading about Prescott. The only time Linn-Anne spoke was to ask Kat if she's like a cup of tea. Kat declined, her tummy felt in knots. Kat tried to concentrate on the article she was reading.

The town was named in honour of the historian William. H. Prescott. In eighteen-sixty four, seventy three lots were sold at auction. By the end of that year two hundred and thirty two lots had been sold. A united community rose from the dust. The court house building and other important buildings undertook expansion.

Charles added a bath house to their own home. Linn-Anne withdrew completely from society, spending her days cleaning and knitting.

One morning in May, Kathryn hurried to open the Tea Room when she saw her father leaving the newly built hotel. She ran and peeked out from behind the saloon and saw her father embrace and kiss a lady she had never seen. Kat had to find out who she was. Now she understood why Linn-Anne stopped cooking elaborate meals. Did she know? Of course she knew. Kat pulled her head back, closed her eyes and prayed Charles would not see her. She continued to walk.