Subj: Kate Chapter 21
Date: 5/13/00 7:53:51 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Karen
Willie walked over to Collinwood, grumbling to himself.
"Why doesn’t Barnabas just get Kate himself? Why do I have to do it?" he whined
under his breath. "I am busy with all these plans he has for the Old House.
Man, oh, man, he burns me sometimes!"
Willie continued in this vein until he reached Collinwood. He went around by
way of the garden (Willie had been trying to convince Barnabas that roses would
look "real pritty" in the garden of the Old House). As he entered the gate,
he spied Kate sitting on a bench, crying.
Willie didn’t know quite what to do. He hated to see women cry, but Kate looked
like she wanted to be alone. Willie stood motionless, trying to decide what
to do. Suddenly, Kate looked up and saw him. She wiped her face with her shirt
and beckoned him to her.
"Willie, what you are doing here? Did you need me for something?" Kate asked.
She looked horrible, she knew; but she guessed that Willie had stared down Barnabas
many a time when Barnabas was a vampire. He had seen worse; at least she hoped
so.
"Uh, Barnabas sent me to find you, Kate. He, he wants you to come right away."
Willie said quietly. "If you don’t want to go right now, I’d sure understand.
Why were you crying, anyway?" He stopped when he saw the stricken expression
on her face. "Okay, okay, it ain’t none of my business, I guess. It was just
that you look so sad, I wanna help ya." Willie put his hand on Kate’s shoulder
as he said this.
Kate looked up at him. Willie’s concerned face stared down at hers. She felt
his goodwill emanating from him. Kate stood up and hugged a very surprised Willie.
"Willie, I appreciate your concern. You are so sweet." Kate whispered in his
ear.
Her warm breath tickled Willie’s left ear. It felt good. Kate’s body was warm
and soft against Willie’s. He felt desire race through his veins. Kate smelled
delicious, too. Exotic, and very sexy. Willie pulled out of Kate’s embrace before
he embarrassed himself.
Turning bright red, Willie said, "I think you should go see Barnabas, Kate.
He has something to show you, he said. Gotta go!" Willie abruptly walked, no,
ran, from Kate.
Kate watched Willie, puzzled. What brought that on? she wondered. I suppose
I had better go to the Old House. It’s now or never.
****************
Barnabas paced back and forth from the window to the door. Patience was not
his strong suit. Willie had been gone a long time now. Surely he had seen Kate
and delivered the message, Barnabas thought.
Kate had to come to him. He had so much to show her. The plans for the renovation
of the Old House; bringing in electricity, hot and cold running water, modern
appliances in the kitchen for Willie. Barnabas hated to think how his house
would look with bright lights. He supposed they could keep them dim in the evening.
His mind filled with plans of Kate and his future together. He had to convince
her to stay. Where was she?
As if in answer, Kate walked in the living room. She fought the urge to rush
into his arms. If she did, she could never say what she wanted to.
Barnabas looked at her curiously. He held his arms out, waiting for her embrace.
"Kate, what is wrong?" he asked. "Tell me, but first come here so that I may
give you the welcome you deserve, my love."
Kate could feel the tears prick her eyes. "I only came to tell you, tell you..."
Kate started weeping uncontrollably. She slowly sunk to the floor, hugging herself
tightly.
Barnabas watched as Kate sat on the floor. He rushed to her side, sitting next
to her. He held her in his arms while she wept bitter tears. Kate tried to move
away from him, but Barnabas held her on to her. He rocked her in his arms as
he would a child; stoking her hair and whispering to her not to cry, everything
would be all right.
They sat there for about 20 minutes before Kate finally stopped crying. Barnabas
gave her his handkerchief. She took it and wiped her cheeks and eyes. After
she had blown her nose, Kate put the hankie in her pocket. She leaned into Barnabas’
body, feeling safe and secure.
Barnabas broke the silence. "What did you come to tell me, my love?" he whispered
in her ear. "It can’t be so bad it brings tears, is it?" Barnabas felt Kate
stiffen in his arms. "I know you are leaving, Kate. There is nothing stopping
you from coming back, is there?" Barnabas stopped and held his breath for a
moment.
"Oh, Barnbas, I don’t want to go, but Julia has given me her diary. I must help
Ryan!" Kate said breathlessly. "He and Stephen are counting on me. You do understand,
don’t you." It wasn’t said as question, but as a statement.
Barnabas nodded. "You will come back, won’t you? I can hardly bear the thought
of never seeing you again." he said passionately. He held her more closely to
him.
Kate reluctantly pulled herself from his embrace and stood up. She walked to
the window, looking out at nothing. Barnabas sat for a moment, then got up.
As he walked towards Kate, she put out her hand to stop him.
"Please, don’t come any closer, Barnabas." she pleaded. Seeing the hurt in his
eyes, Kate continued. "Please, I am sorry. I don’t belong here. You know that.
What we have shared in a short amount of time... I will carry the memory with
me always."
Barnabas gazed at Kate, the hurt mingled with deep love. He knew she would have
to go back, but why can’t she come back? She belongs here with me! he thought.
"I have made plans for the house, Kate, just for you. electricity, running water,
appliances in the kitchen, a special room for you to do research, anything your
heart desires will be yours. Just come back to me." Barnabas pleaded.
Barnabas’ deep, rich voice flooded over Kate. The love he felt for her was strong,
maybe too strong for her to resist. She needed to. She had to. She must resist
Barnabas’ sensuous, masterful personality. But Kate could already feel her resolve
failing her. Panic rose in her throat as Barnabas came closer to her. He touched
her cheek with his hand. As she did the first time he touched her, Kate turned
her head to kiss the palm of his hand.
That was all the invitation Barnabas needed. He took her in his arms and kissed
her passionately. Kate felt his strong arms around her, his tall, lean body
pressed against hers. She tried to protest, but Barnabas kissed her words away.
Kate could feel her body slowly melting into his. Barnabas held her, caressing
her body; breaking any resistance she had left down.
Suddenly he picked her up in his arms, whispering, "One last time, then, my
sweet." Kate answered him by kissing him hard on the mouth, tongues mingling.
Barnabas carried her easily up the stairs to his room. Opening the door, he
entered, lay Kate on the big bed in the middle of the room and lay next to her,
tracing her body with his hands. She kissed him again, feeling his tongue in
her mouth, fighting with hers. As he started to undress her, Kate let out a
moan from deep in her throat. She heard his answering growl and succumbed to
the inevitable, the sweet inevitable.