Subj: Chapter 8 Kate
Date: 4/30/00 2:42:08 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Karen

After Kate helped Julia to her room, she went downstairs in search of Mrs. Johnson. Kate found her in the kitchen, putting bread into the oven. Mrs. Johnson turned when Kate came in the door. "What can I do for you, Miss?" Mrs. Johnson asked.

Kate smiled and said, "I would love some tea, if it’s possible. I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more about Dr. Hoffman. She seems like a nice lady. Has she been here long?", she asked.

Mrs. Johnson smiled too and said, "Oh, my yes, Dr. Hoffman has been here quite a long time. For, oh I would say, two years ago at least. She is a nice woman, but she keeps such strange hours. She and Mr. Barnabas sometimes worked together on things." Mrs. Johnson stopped to put water in the kettle. Kate waited expectantly for her to continue. After Mrs. Johnson put the kettle on to boil for Kate’s tea, she went on. "I don’t know what they were working on, but it took an awful long time. Now, of course, she is busy with her work at Wyndcliffe Sanitarium. How that woman has time for sleep, I don’t know! A body can only take so much." Mrs. Johnson sighed. "I wish she would slow down. It worries me so!" Mrs. Johnson took out the teapot and prepared the pot for tea.

Watching her, Kate asked, "How did Dr. Hoffman come to be here at Collinwood? I would think she would live closer to the sanitarium. I saw the sign for it when I was driving to Collinsport. It’s about an hour away."

Mrs. Johnson looked up. "She came wanting to do research on a book about the Collins family. She never did finish it. Only we didn’t know she was a doctor then." Kate was intrigued. Mrs. Johnson went on. "Dr. Hoffman was a mystery at first, but now she is like one of the family. She helps everyone that she can, with doctoring or counseling. Lots of folks have been needing doctoring or counseling over the years. Dr. Hoffman has been very good to this family." Mrs. Johnson finished just as the kettle started boiling. Taking the kettle off the stove, she asked, "I will take the tea into the dining room or the drawing room whichever you want, Miss Kate" indicating that she needed to get back to her duties. Kate told her the drawing room and followed her.

After Mrs. Johnson left, Kate sat, drinking her tea. She looked at the portrait of Sarah Collins. She couldn’t get over how much she resembled the portrait. ‘I wonder what the rest of the family looks like? Any resemblance’s to my side of the Collins’?’ Her reverie was interrupted by a voice.

"Hello, who are you?", asked a boy about 12. The boy had longish brown hair and brown eyes. He was dressed unlike most young boys of Kate’s acquaintance. Dressed rather formally, the boy wore a vest over a clean white shirt with a nice pair of slacks. On his left hand, he wore a signet ring on his little finger.

"I am Kate Collins, you must be Roger’s son David. I am very happy to meet you, David." Kate offered her hand for him to shake.

David took it solemnly and said, "My father told me about you, Kate. You don’t look much like a gypsy to me."

Kate laughed. David looked a bit disconcerted. "Did I say something funny?" he asked.

"No, David, you didn’t. It is the description your father gave you. I am sure he thought I looked like a gypsy yesterday. I hope what I have on today will change his mind." Kate replied, still laughing.

David looked at her. Kate was dressed in a long sky blue skirt and blouse. The skirt went down to her ankles, where he saw a brightly colored ankle bracelet and sandals. She had a few bracelets on her wrists and several necklaces of colored beads. Her earrings matched her skirt. Except for being a bit bright, David thought Kate looked very nice and told her so.

"Thank you, David. You are most kind. What are you doing up this early? I would have thought a young man like yourself would sleep late." Kate caught the quick look of pride on his face when she said "young man". She went on. "Do you like the mornings, too?"

David rewarded her with a smile. "Yes, I do. I like to watch the sunrise. The best view is at Widow’s Hill. Do you want to come and see?" His eagerness made Kate smile. She stood up in answer and walked towards the door; David quickly catching up with her long strides.

Arriving at Widow’s Hill, David and Kate stood together watching the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean. As they watched, David told her about the legend of Widow’s Hill. Kate was saddened by the story.

"How sad, David. Those poor women, losing their men and their lives like that. It is a beautiful spot, though, isn’t it?" Kate asked.

David’s reply was interrupted. "David, Kate, what are you two doing up so early?".

They both turned to see Barnabas standing behind them. David smiled at his cousin. "We came to see the sunrise. What about you?" he asked.

Barnabas looked at Kate and said, "I came to see the sunrise today as well. What do you think, cousin?" He smiled at Kate, gazing at her as he had done the night before.

Kate looked at him and said, "It is the first time I have seen the sunrise on the Atlantic. It is beautiful. It’s a wonderful morning, don’t you think, David?" She turned to David, avoiding Barnabas’ eyes. David nodded and started to walk off towards the house. He looked at Kate, beckoning her to follow him. As she turned to go, Barnabas touched her on the arm. "Don’t go yet, Kate, I would like to talk to you." Barnabas pleaded. Without waiting for an answer, he said to David, "David, go on back to the house. I will escort Kate back safely."

David looked at Kate. She nodded and he took off, walking slowly, head down. Kate felt sorry for him. ‘He must be a lonely little boy.’, Kate thought. Turning to Barnabas, she asked, "What would you like to talk about, Barnabas? Couldn’t it wait until later this morning when I see you? I don’t like disappointing David."

Barnabas looked at her and said, "I understand. I just wanted to talk to you alone for a moment. I found a reference to Joseph in a letter written to his mother, Sarah Collins." Kate looked excitedly at him. "I thought that might get your attention." he said, smiling. "I am most anxious to show it to you. Can you come to the Old House earlier than we planned?"

Kate nodded her head. ‘Yes!’ she thought. ‘I knew that Joseph was a member of this family.’ To Barnabas, she said, "I will hardly be able to eat breakfast now. As soon as I finish eating, I will be right over." She started walking towards what she thought was Collinwood. Kate stopped and looked at Barnabas sheepishly. "I don’t know how to get back!" she lamented.

Barnabas smiled and held his arm out for her to take. "I would be most happy to take you back to Collinwood, Kate." he said. Kate took his arm and they walked back to Collinwood.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.