Part 9 (1/2)

aBoy, youare good with animals. Maybe we can take those two out for a ride tomorrow.a I motioned to the chestnut mares in the last stall.

aThat would be wonderful. I forgot you do know how to ride. We havenat done that since last fall.a aThatas true. Then weall definitely take them out,a I said as we started back.

aYouave been rubbing your neck since Iave seen you. Whatas wrong?a she asked as we walked.

I realized what I was doing and quickly put my hand down. aI hurt it a few years back. This weather bothers it,a I said frankly and shrugged.

Though I was grateful she didnat pursue ita”it didnat matter. Now I was thinking about it and I felt my body tremble. Donat start now, I begged the G.o.ds above. The ringing in my ears started. I know Maggie noticed. She notices everything, which for some reason, unnerves me.

The G.o.ds ignored me as I felt my palms getting sweaty and my hands shaking. I quickly put them into my pockets and we walked to the stone wall.

Maggie looked out at the ocean. aMagnificent. Iave seen the ocean from both sh.o.r.es back home. This, however, isa”a she stopped and looked at me.

I barely heard her. My mind was back to five years before. I blinked and shook my head, but I couldnat get the b.l.o.o.d.y images out of my mind.

aKate, are you all right?a she asked me.

I looked at her and nodded. aFine.a My voice cracked and I sat on the stone wall. I wiped my forehead again and she sat next to me.

aCamon, letas go in,a she said.

I buried my head in my hands, the anxious feeling rippling through me. I felt like breaking into a dead run. aG.o.ddamit! I canat do this. Maybe you shouldnat have come. Youare better offa”a I almost lost it. I took a deep breath. I was on the verge of a real crying jag. I felt the tears coming as the sweat dripped down my back.

aKate, take a deep breath,a Maggie said firmly as she rubbed my back. I obeyed immediately. aAgain.a I took another and it subsided a bit. I put a shaky hand to my forehead. aSorry,a I whispered, feeling pathetic.

She reached over and took my shaking hand. I felt her soft hand caressing mine. I was amazed at how rea.s.suring it felt and how I was instantly calmed.

aBetter?a she asked.

I nodded quickly and took a deep breath. aThanks,a I whispered. I donat know why, but a feeling of shame swept through me. aI-Iam sorry,a I said.

aThatas the second time in three minutes youave apologized. For what, Kate?a aI donat know. I just, I donat know,a I said and felt awkward. My hands were still shaking and I didnat know what to do with them.

Maggie reached over and held them. I stopped shaking when I felt the warmth of her hands.

aWhat is it?a I heard the soft plea in her voice. G.o.d, I wanted to tell her, but I couldnat look her in the eye. aWhatever it is, Iall understand.a I looked down at my hands as she held them tightly in her own. aI can help you,a Maggie whispered. I barely heard her; my mind once again had traveled back.

aIall help you, Liz. We can get through this. It was an accident,a I said and gently shook her. She blinked and looked up into my eyes.

aYes, it was, wasnat it?a I heard the hopeful tone in her voice and pulled her close.

aYes, it was.a I pulled back and cupped her face. aWeall have to go to the police, Liz. Donat worry, Iall be there for you, always,a I said. I saw the doubtful look flash across her face. aI will be there for you.a Maggieas soft hand on my cheek brought me back to reality. aCamon, letas get back,a she said.

By the time we got to the door, my panic attack had subsided. I stopped and turned to her. aThanks, Maggie. With all this going on, Iam out of sorts,a I offered the lame excuse as I opened the door.

aYou know Iall listen if you want to talk,a she offered and winked. aBut letas do it inside. Iam freezing.a After dinner, we sat in the library and had a delightful conversation of murder and Bridgetas banshee.

Charlie raised an eyebrow and asked, aSo which room has the ghost?a Teri laughed. aNone,a she replied. aSo far.a aWell, which room did you give me?a Maggie looked at me suspiciously.

Teri laughed. aYouave got the room next to Kateas. Charlie is next to ours. So at least weall be together if anything happens,a she said.

As I walked into my room, the connecting door was opened and Maggie and I stood there looking at each other. aI didnat know this was a connecting door.a I reached over and started to close it. aIam glad youare here,a I said and winced, knowing I had said that several times now. I looked down into those blue eyes, which Iave searched so many times before.

Maggie stood there for a moment. aThank you. So am I. Good night, Iall see you in the morning.a I stood there looking at the closed door. Visions of the previous autumn flashed through my mind as I remembered meeting this feisty woman and just how much I enjoyed Dr. Winfieldas friends.h.i.+p... But d.a.m.n those blue eyes sparkled.

Chapter 13.

The thunder and lightning was horrific and I lay there looking out at the show. Sleep did not come easy, so I sat on the window seat and watched the storm. I froze for a moment and held my breath when I heard the door creaking; it was Maggie standing there in her robe.

aWhatas wrong, are you all right?a I asked quickly, my heart beating like a drum. Why must this happen every time I see this woman?

aI hate thunder,a she said in a shaky voice. She was s.h.i.+vering, and as the thunder boomed, she quickly walked over to me. I met her halfway.

aCamon, sit, weall watch the storm,a I whispered. I grabbed the extra quilt off the bed.

She sat on the other side of the window seat facing me. The lightning flashed, and for a moment, I saw her face. She looked sad. I handed her the quilt and she wrapped it around herself. She brought her knees up to her chest. I inched closer and tucked the quilt around her feet.

aThanks,a she said.

aYouare welcome. I didnat know you hated thunder,a I said softly.

Maggie snuggled into the blanket. aWhen I was a little girl and it stormed, my mother would always let me climb into her big bed and hold me. I felt so safe and protected. When she died, I no longer had that feeling. Oh, Aunt Hannah was always there and she did her best. Buta”a aIt wasnat your mom,a I finished for her. My heart ached when I saw the tears welling in her eyes. aI am sorry, Maggie.a She sniffed and wiped her eyes. aI feel like a big baby. Iam a doctor, for chrissakes,a she grumbled and let out a nervous laugh.

aIt was hard for you growing up after Miranda died, wasnat it?a I asked and reached over and tucked the blanket under her feet again. It was perfectly fine; I just needed contact with her, I suppose.

aOh, I was fine. I was justaa she stopped and looked out the window and watched the rain.

aLonely,a I whispered and she nodded without looking at me. I didnat want her to be lonely anymore. However, I didnat consider myself the best candidate to comfort her.

aYou know, thereas quite a bit we donat know about each other, Kate. Why is that?a she asked and stretched her legs and put her feet on my lap. I smiled slightly and adjusted my legs.

aHey, your feet are freezing, even through these wool socks,a I said and rubbed her feet, avoiding her question. She knew it and repeated.

aWhy is it that weave known each other all these months and weare still strangers?a For some reason, that cut right through me. Were we strangers?

aWeare not strangers, we know each other. Iave been traveling and youave been at the hospitala”a aAnd now? Iam done with my interns.h.i.+p. Soon, Iall be taking over for Doc at the clinic. Then what will be our excuse?a she asked and I didnat have an answer. G.o.d this woman was direct.

She sighed and looked out the window as the lightning flashed. aMaybe you and I are not... Youave got something on your mind. I know it has to do with your P.I. business years ago. Something happened to you. Iam your friend, and Iad like to help. You canat go the rest of your life carrying this in your heart.a She said this quietly, but the truth rang loud and clear.

I ran my fingers through my hair as I listened to the heartfelt concern in her soft voice.

Why not? Suddenly, I felt the inexplicable urge to tell her everything. Perhaps the soft worried voice eased my heart. Perhaps it was the fact that we were sitting in the darka”I felt safe there. And perhaps after so many years, it was time.

aI do want to tell you about this. I suppose now is as good a time as any.a I looked over at her and I could tell she was shocked.