| Subject: The New World - Part #23 |
Author:
Wanda
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Date Posted: 06:08:34 06/11/03 Wed
PART #23
That afternoon about five o’clock the carriage pulled up at Collins’ Station. It had been a rather strained day. Catherine had been especially quiet. Joshua knew something wasn’t right, but she did not seem to want to discuss it. The driver took the horses to the stables, brushed them down, and gave them food and water. Joshua took Catherine’s arm, and they walked into the office of the station stopover for travelers. Joshua asked for rooms and a bath for each of them. Catherine also asked if it would be possible to deliver a supper tray to her room. She turned toward Joshua; and said, “I must apologize to you, but I am so very tired. I hope you won’t be offended if I eat by myself, and go to bed early.”
Joshua said, “Of course that will be all right. We will need to leave by eight o’clock in the morning. Catherine said, “I believe I will have a breakfast tray delivered as well. I will see you here in the morning at eight o’clock.”
Joshua picked up her luggage; and said, “I will carry this to your room.” Catherine said, “Really, that is not necessary.” He said, “Catherine, you just said you were very tired; please let me do this for you.” She smiled weakly and said, “Thank you Joshua, I do appreciate you doing this.”
When they got to the room, Catherine walked in, and was followed by Joshua. He set her luggage on the bed, and turned to leave. He walked over to her; and took her by the shoulders, and said, “Catherine, is something wrong?” She laughed slightly, and said, “My goodness, what could be wrong?” Joshua said, “I wish I knew, but you are so different today from what you were yesterday. I am afraid I may have offended you in someway. If I have, I humbly apologize.”
Catherine assured him everything was all right; she was simply tired. She had not been aware the carriage ride would be so tiring. He apologized again; and said, “I was really hoping you would enjoy it more.” Catherine was beginning to feel pricks from her conscience, but yet there was a nagging persistence within her that said, “There is something wrong with this whole picture.” Joshua had treated her with nothing but kindness and consideration since she had met him, and she was suspecting him of being involved in something shady.
She looked at Joshua, smiled sweetly, then said, “I am sure I will do better tomorrow after a good night’s rest.” He reached for her and kissed her, then walked out the door and down the hall. Catherine’s heart was beating faster as she heard the click of the heels of his boots walking away. She had to think, and it was much easier to think when Joshua wasn’t there with her. She walked around the room asking herself questions. “What do I know about the Monet? I know it was on the ship. I know Bowregard and his pirates stole the painting during the raid on the ship. How did the painting get into Joshua’s hands? She knew there was a connection between the two men. After all they were cousins. Did Joshua know about Bowregard’s acts of piracy?”
Catherine thought about the many paintings that hung throughout the main house of the plantation. Where did all those paintings come from? Had there been other acts of piracy that had supplied those paintings? Were her suspicions just a figment of her imagination?
At this point Catherine was extremely confused. She didn’t want to have these feelings, but they were there. She wondered what she could do to be absolutely sure of Joshua. She did care about him, but it was not too late for her to back away from the relationship. She thought, “I am not so sure I would have been able to back away from a future relationship if Bow had asked me to marry him.” “I must be a very foolish woman,” she thought. “How could I possibly care for two men at the same time?” She knew that Bowregard was a pirate. There was no doubt in her mind about that. Why would she be foolish enough to get involved romatically with a ruffian such as a pirate? But, what did she really know about Joshua? Joshua might be involved in acts of piracy too. Oh, if only he had not lied to her about the painting.”
The more Catherine thought about Joshua and Bowregard, the more confused and bewildered she became. Thankfully a supper tray was brought to her door, and she could think of something besides the two men and the Monet.
To be continued...
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