Prologue
The room was completely dark, except for one corner where three men sat at a round table. Their small candle offered just enough light to read the papers and charts that were scattered on the table top. It would have been better to turn on the lights, but their presence could not be known.
The leader of the meeting spoke in hushed tones, "Now, do you know what you two are to do?"
"Yes, Rich," one man replied, "We sneak over to the house, light a torch, and throw it in the window."
"Good," the leader replied, "Now, maybe our student can tell us a little about this house he chose."
The third man sitting at the table leaned forward so that his face was illuminated by the candle. He was only a young boy of seventeen years, but his eyes spoke of wisdom beyond his years. "This is a wealthy family with two daughters, one age six, and the other soon to be fifteen. I have known them all of my life."
"Why turn on them?" the leader questioned.
"Not them," the boy replied, "the daughter."
"What has she done to deserve this?" the other man asked.
The boy's eyes wandered away from the table and seemed to be looking at a far off place. "I pledged my life to her. I gave her my heart, and she smashed it!"
"Well, we will help you, Trent. The girl will see that you mean what you say. She will pay for what she has done," the leader said.
"We need to go, Rich," the other replied, "the sun is coming up."
The leader nodded. "I will see you two one week from tonight. This will be our practice night before we take our cause to America."
Soon, the candle was extinguished, and the three men went their separate ways.
Chapter 1:
The Party
Katrina Sloan, a pretty British red-head, sat on the dock that jutted out over the lake behind her home in Bristol, England. In her lap she held a letter from her uncle. Carefully, she picked up the envelope and broke the seal. The return address was LA California USA. Katie's heart skipped a beat as she pulled the letter out of the envelope and began to read:
To my beautiful Katrina,
I can hardly believe that you are going to be fifteen this week! I wish I could be there for your birthday, but you know how busy it can be at the hospital. I hope you understand. I pray that you will have a wonderful birthday.
Your mother sent me your school picture, and I added it to my collection in my office. You are growing to be a beautiful young lady. All of my friends have commented on the picture, and they all think that you are lovely.
Steve wanted me to tell you hello. He says that he would have written you a letter himself, but he couldn't find the right paper or pen. How much of that you believe is really up to you. Personally, I think it's just an excuse to not write to you.
I hope that you can come and see me soon. I want to show you the hospital where I want to make you a doctor some day. Remember, you can come any time that you want because you always have a home here in California.
Lots of love,
Uncle Mark
Katie folded the letter and placed it back into the envelope. She tipped her head back and allowed her red curls to fall down her back. Her gray eyes sparkled when she heard her father walking up behind her.
"Hello, Baby," Mr. Sloan said.
"Hi, Daddy! Guess what today is?"
"Well, it's Friday, June 25. Did I guess right?"
"Yes, what else?"
"I have no idea."
Katie frowned. "You mean you forgot that it's my birthday?" she pouted.
"Oh! That's right," Mr. Sloan laughed as he sat beside his daughter.
"I love you, Daddy. I knew you wouldn't forget," Katrina replied as she threw her arms
around her father. "I got a letter from Uncle Mark today."
"Good. I would have to hurt my brother if he forgot your birthday," Mr. Sloan smiled.
"Oh, he would never forget my birthday. Steve might, but not his dad."
"Yes, Steve can be absent minded. So, are you ready for your party? The guests will be here soon."
"Yes! I can hardly wait."
"Well, right this way m'lady," Mr. Sloan said pulling his daughter to her feet.
Katie took her father's arm and together they walked up to the house. When they entered, they were greeted by Katrina's mother, who held a beautiful emerald green formal out to her daughter. Katrina gasped as her mother explained where the dress had come from.
"Your Uncle Mark said that since you were a lady now, you needed a lady's dress. He sent it two weeks ago, but he didn't want you to get it until your party," she said.
"Momma, it's beautiful!" Katrina whispered.
"Mark thought it would be perfect since you're having a formal party. He also said that he wished he could dance with you and see you in it, but that Peter would just have to take his place."
Katie giggled and rushed up to her room to put on the dress. She was so excited that her fingers fumbled with the buttons. Once she had the dress on, she waltzed down the staircase, to show her family. Her six year old sister, Emily, clapped and said, "Katie, you are so pretty."
Mr. Sloan whistled and replied, "After tonight, I'll have to keep you locked up so I can protect you from the boys, Katrina. You look beautiful."
"Thank you," Katie replied.
"Let's go fix your hair and make up, Love," Mrs. Sloan said.
Katie hurried up to her room with her mother close behind. She walked over to her dressing table and sat in the chair. Mrs. Sloan plugged in a curling iron, and began to brush her daughter's red hair. "I hope you have a wonderful time tonight," she said.
"Oh, I'm sure I will Momma," Katie said.
"Well, I had better hurry," Mrs. Sloan said, glancing at the clock, "The guests will be here soon."
"Did you have any formal parties when you were young, Momma?"
"Are you saying I'm not young now?"
"No, but you know what I mean."
"Yes, I do," Mrs. Sloan laughed, "and yes, I had several formal parties. Your grandmother loved to give parties, especially for your Aunt Meg and I. There was never a dull moment at our home."
The pair was silent from then on, each lost in thought. Katie couldn't wait for the guests to arrive. She was sure that this was going to be a wonderful night.
The party was wonderful just as expected. Around ten o'clock, Peter Barry, Katie's sweetheart pulled her out to the garden. The two of them sat on a bench and began to talk.
"Katrina, you look lovely tonight," Peter said.
"Thank you," Katie blushed.
"So, do you still want to be a doctor in the United States with your uncle?"
"I think so, but that would mean that I would have to leave you."
"Oh, you can still raise our kids there," Peter laughed.
"So you are already planning our wedding, are you?"
"Of course."
"I'm only fifteen, Peter, and you're only sixteen!"
"So, I can still start planning."
"Trent wouldn't agree with you," Katie sighed.
"Is he still seeing you?" Peter asked.
"No! I mean, I try to avoid him, but he still insist on calling every once in a while. I'm good friends with him, but I could never marry him."
"Have you told him that?"
"Many times. Besides, he's seventeen now, and, well, I don't know what I'm trying to say."
"He's not the type of guy for you?" Peter finished.
"Exactly. Peter, he scares me. He's so set on marrying me when I am old enough."
"I won't let that happen, Katie. Peter said."
"Why can't he take no for an answer?" Katie asked, "and, Peter, why can't you two stop fighting over me?"
Peter didn't seem to hear Katrina's question. He looked up to see Trent Moslee enter the garden, and head toward them. "I'll be right back, Katie," Peter said. He stood, and stormed past Trent.
Trent walked up to Katie and pulled her up to him. "You said you would stop seeing him, Katie," he hissed.
"I never said that," Katie shot at him.
"Katrina," Trent said as he backed her against a giant oak tree, "I'll give you one more chance, say you'll be mine."
"No," Kate said.
"I will have you. Make no mistake of that." He grabbed both of her wrists as she tried to squirm away.
"Trent, please stop. That hurts."
He loosened his grip, but did not release her. "You will be my wife, Katie." Trent bent down and kissed Katrina just as Peter returned. Trent looked at Peter, and replied, "I will have her, Peter," then he turned back to Katie, "Darling, I had a lovely evening. Thank you, but I have to go now. I feel I have overstayed my welcome."
Trent left the garden with a smile of satisfaction on his face. Peter ran to Katrina and held her in his arms. "Did he hurt you?" he asked.
"No. I'm fine, but you have to stop this fight!" she hissed.
After all of the guests had left that night, Katie sat in the kitchen talking with her mother about the party.
"Would you change anything about the night, Katrina?"
"Well, I suppose I would have tried to stop Peter and Trent from fighting over me. Momma, I don't know what to think. The two boys used to be such good friends, but now, they both fight for my love. I'm only fifteen!"
"Well, which boy do you love more?"
"Oh, I couldn't just pick out of the air like that! Both of them have wonderful qualities, but they both have their faults. I just don't know what to do."
"Just continue to pray about it, Katrina. That's all we can do."
Katie sighed, "I know, I just wish I knew what I should do."
"Well, Love, God wants to teach you something through all of this. I only pray that he will make you into a beautiful woman some day. I don't know how He will do that, but I know if you will be willing to do all that He asks of you, God will change you into something even more beautiful then you are now. He already has done a great work in you, and I have enjoyed watching His plan unfold in your life. I may not be around to see the end of that plan, but what I have seen is truly wonderful."
Katrina smiled. It was true that God had done a great work in her heart and life. She wondered what He was going to do in the future. Would she be willing and ready to let Him continue to change her? She hoped so.
Later that night, Katie lay in bed remembering all that had occurred that night. She tried to think about the party, and all of the fun she had, but that was all overshadowed by the time she had spent in the garden. Katie didn't want to think about who she was to marry, but she did have two boys fighting for her affection. Questions flooded Katie's mind. Who should she marry? How would she know which boy was the right one?
The answers that Katrina was looking for would not come quickly. In fact Katrina's life would change in many ways before she would know whom she was to marry. Later she would recall that she never would have chosen the plan that God had for her life if she had known all that it entailed. Through all that would happen to her, however, Katrina would emerge from the fire and trials as a beautiful vessel in the Master's hand.
That summer passed by quickly, and Katrina started her eleventh grade year with her best friend Mary O'Neil. Together the two girls continued to learn and grow both mentally and spiritually. Katie still struggled with questions of who she was to marry, but Mary convinced her to worry about such things later.
One day after school, Katie and Mary were walking out of the school gate when they heard a loud car horn behind them. Katrina turned to see Peter sitting in the drivers seat of a brand new Mustang convertible.
"Where did he get that?" Kate asked.
Mary turned and starred at the car. "I have no clue."
Peter pulled his car up beside the curb and the girls stopped. "My dad got it for my birthday. He ordered it from America, but it took a while for it to be delivered. This beauty has only one hundred miles on it."
"Well, your steering wheel is on the wrong side of the carriage, Prince Charming," Mary giggled.
"Mary!" Katrina said slapping her friend's arm.
"Well, he's only trying to show off to you, Katie."
"For your information, Mary O'Neil, this is the side that the American's have all their steering wheels, and they all drive on the opposite side of the road than we do," Peter retorted, ignoring the girl's comment about showing off.
"Are we still on for our picnic tonight, Peter?" Katrina asked.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," he said.
As he drove away, Katrina sighed and began to walk down the sidewalk. Mary rolled her eyes, and said, "I hope you two won't be like this all year."
Unfortunately for Mary, that's exactly what happened. The relationship Katrina and Peter had continued to blossom throughout the school year. By the time exams rolled around, they were considered to be going steady, although they both denied the fact.
Neither Peter nor Katie ever noticed Trent Moslee during that time. He took in everything that was going on, and aloud his anger to grow. He vowed to repay the man that had stolen Katrina from him. Slowly, Trent's anger took hold of him, and the only thought that consumed his mind was revenge.