Subj: Chapter 4 Kate
Date: 4/15/00 11:37:54 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Karen

Chapter 4

At the sound of the voice, Kate and Elizabeth stood up and looked toward the door. In walked a tall man with blonde hair and an arrogant air about him. "Liz, who is this person? She looks like a scarecrow with those outlandish clothes and all that hair!", Roger said to his sister.

Elizabeth looked embarrassed. She turned to Roger and said, "Roger, this is our cousin, Kate Collins. She has come all the way from Oregon to find out about us and to stay with us. Please mind your manners. Kate will not have a good impression of us now."

Elizabeth put her arm around Kate, as if to protect her from Roger, but there was no need. Kate stood as tall as she could; which was a lot since she was almost 6 feet tall. She returned Roger’s stare and said to him, "Hello, cousin Roger. I hope we will become better acquainted very soon. I may look like a ‘scarecrow’ to you, but where I live in Oregon, this is considered the height of fashion!" She smiled her most winning smile. Roger did not smile back.

"How do we know you are related to the family? Just because my sister believes anyone who comes here to be family, doesn’t mean you are. I need proof before I accept anyone into this family." Roger said with an arrogant glare. Elizabeth started to protest, but Kate forestalled her.

"It is difficult to take people at face value, but I am who I say I am. I am the great-great-great-great-grand-daughter of Joseph Collins, brother to Joshua Collins. Joseph apparently ran away from home when he was 15, never to see his family again. Joshua told him if he left the family, he would an outcast and struck from the family records. From your attitude, I must conclude that it is true. If you need more proof, just look at the portrait on the wall. Your sister feels there is a great deal of family resemblance between me and Joshua’s mother. What do you think?" Kate stopped and pointed to the painting. Roger looked at it and sighed.

"I suppose there is some passing resemblance, but it doesn’t prove a thing. Liz, I must speak to you alone.", Roger said. Elizabeth looked at Kate with resignation.

"That’s okay, Elizabeth. I can bring my bags in and the letters for you to read. That way I will have time to unpack and get settled. I will see you later this evening.", Kate said. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Roger. I will see you again, I am sure." With that, she walked out of the room and out the front door.

Watching Kate walk out, Elizabeth turned on Roger. "Roger, how dare you insult that sweet girl? Sometimes I wonder about you. Must you be suspicious of everyone who walks in the door? Really!" she scolded.

Roger looked at her with a wounded expression. "Liz, you know that I only have the family’s interest at heart. We don’t know anything about this girl. Look at how she is dressed! All those beads! No self-respecting person would wear pants with hearts and flowers on them like that. And her toes! Did you see the rings on her toes? Disgraceful!". He shuddered to think about it. "And why is she here? What does she want? Well, she won’t get any money or a job if I have anything to say about it, I can tell you that!".

Elizabeth looked at her brother with something like disgust. "What Kate wants here is to learn about a family she never knew existed until 6 years ago. I don’t think she wants money. Kate didn’t even want to stay here, she was going to the Collinsport Inn. I told her I wouldn’t have her staying there when there was perfectly good room for her here." Roger snorted. Elizabeth went on, "Remember, Roger, this is my house and I can have whoever I wish stay here. It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe her; I do , that is what is important here. You will welcome Kate to our family, whether you like it or not! Do you understand me, Roger?". She looked at him, almost expecting him to say no.

Roger bowed his head in resignation. "All right, Liz. I will welcome this person into our family. I still want to know what she really wants, but I will be polite."

Roger walked out of the room and headed for the stairs. He met Kate coming in with her bags. He took them without a word and walked up the stairs with them, indicating for her to follow him. Kate wondered what had transpired between Elizabeth and Roger. ‘She probably told him to be nice’, she thought. Kate smiled to herself and followed Roger to her room.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.