Chapter 9: School's done

-1957-

After the events of her father's attack Katy moved on from her father and become the girl she wanted be. The next day after her father was been arrested the Hewitt's had gotten complete guardianship over her. She was their responsibility now. Thomas had been ecstatic that she would never leave again. They have become closer in the years even more so than before. Tex went home a week later after the incident with her father. He was in prison and has been for three years. He won't ever get out. Katy continued her studies while Thomas didn't he thought it was better if she went alone but he would sit with her while she worked on her homework.

He loved watching her work. She would tell him things once in a while. He would do anything to keep her next to him. Thomas would start work at the Slaughterhouse soon after Katy graduated. She would be with him. She would be packing the meat, while he butchered it. It wasn't good pay but it was something. Katy only days left of school which was where she was now. He missed her while she was in school, but she always said that she was getting her education for them to be the first in her family to finish school.

Katy sighed she was on the last problem and the last one to finish the test. She answered got up and handed it into the teacher and sat back down in her desk. She waited for the final bell that would signal that she would be free of the hell of school forever. The ring came and all the seniors stood up and rushed out of the building. She couldn't wait for the test results to come in the mail. She had only days before graduation. She knew she passed, but she still loved seeing the smiles on her family's face when they saw. The Hewitt's were especially proud of Katy. She was the only one who finished school.

The moment she had her bag she ran out of the school and to the tree she knew Thomas would be waiting for her.

"Hey Bowen," Katy looked around and saw the familiar face of Bobby Nichols. The one person other than the Hewitt's who actually cared about her.

"Hey, Bobby" She said slowly her step. Her pace soon matched his and they walked to the tree together.

"Thomas coming to walk you home?" He asked her she nodded. "Never mind that was a dumb question of course he is. Thomas is way too protective of you Katy." He told her.

"I know, but he cares about me. He just doesn't want anything to happen to me not like what happened with my father," She spoke. Nobody really understood why she liked Thomas so much. She didn't care he was everything to her and she loved him. "I love him, Bobby," She smiled as she said it. She did and she will always love Thomas.

"I don't get it. I will see you next week Katy" he said when they came to the tree.

"See you," She said leaning against the tree to wait for Thomas to appear after Bobby disappeared. Thomas has never trusted anyone around only their family. When Bobby was gone she stepped away from the tree and looked down the road for Thomas. Who had yet to appear?

She sighed and leaned against the tree once more. "Where are you Tommy?" Just as she asked herself that a large hand gripped her shoulder causing her scream and jump. The hand quickly left and she heard retreating footsteps. She turned around and saw Tommy retreating from her. She quickly let the fright go before chasing after him.

She may be small, but her body tired easily. "Thomas, I am sorry you just startled me. I am not afraid of you" She said breathlessly as she grabbed his hand and pulled. It was an impossible task considering he was so much bigger and stronger than she was. "Tommy, please turn around" She pleaded he was basically dragging her along with him as he walked.

He stopped and she fell forward, but did not hit the ground her books however did hit the ground. Two big hands caught her and stood her up straight. She looked up at him and saw the hint of hurt in his eyes. She did not mean to scream he just startled her is all. She reached up and touched his face. "I am sorry," She said, he leaned his face into the palm of her hand and she grazed his cheek with her thumb. "You just startled me, is all."

He groaned and moved his large hand to her face. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. His rough hands touching her soft tanned skin. Her red hair was askew and laying in strands over his hand. She smiled and let the moment take flight.

There was nothing anybody here in Travis County, could ever say that would make her change how much she loved him. He was the only one who truly knew her and she was the only one who cared about him except mama.

After a few more moments, they pull apart and he bends over and picks up her books. He gathers them under his one arm and with the other he takes her hand. The two start the long walk home. They would be home in time for supper. She couldn't wait to see Mama. She liked school, but there was no feeling like being home with family.


The two of them stepped onto the gravel driveway and in no time the house grew closer. The big house she had called home for more than six years. They walked up the stairs and found Uncle Monty sitting outside. She smiled at him and walked over.

"Hello," She spoke to the old man. He looked up at her a ghost of a smile appeared on his face.

"Katy, you should go in the house and help Mama finish up with dinner," he told her. She was the only one who get a ghost of a smile on the old man's face. She nodded and walked into the house with Thomas close on her heels.

"That girl," he mumbled to himself. She was too cheery for the life she previously led. He guessed it was better than going around moping.

Katy and Thomas went different ways. He went to put her things in her room while she went to the kitchen to help Mama with supper.

"Mama, anything you need done" She asked the woman. Luda Mae Hewitt turned around and smiled at the young girl.

"You can set the table dinner should be ready any minute and if you would please get Thomas to wash his hands before dinner. He spent the whole day in the basement with those animals" Mama said. Katy sighed and nodded. She knew what he did down there, but she never said a word. It made him happy so she left him to it. She grabbed the bowls and spoons and went to the dining room. She placed a bowl and spoon in everyone's place.

She left the dining room and headed to the basement. She knew he went down there after dropping her books off upstairs. She never liked the basement. It was just not somewhere she wanted to spend her time.

She opened the sliding door and took a few steps down before stopping when she spotted Thomas' dark head pop in her sight. "Mama said you need to wash your hands before supper" She said to him. Thomas nodded and soon made his way toward her. She exited the steps and let him pace. His apron was still on and it was covered in blood. She cringed and backed away as he stepped past her.

Thomas knew she didn't like to the sight of blood. He should have taken the apron off down in the basement only Mama had told him to bring it up so she could wash it. Katy followed him to the bathroom and watched he took the apron off. He set it down and proceeded to turn the water on.

After dinner Katy and Thomas headed outside. The dishes were washed and Mama had said it was alright that the two of them go out for a short walk. Katy held tightly onto Thomas' hand. She always did. She has this fear that if she let go for too long he would disappear and that was the last thing she wanted to happen.

Even after the years passed of her father's brutal attack on her she still feared that he lurked around the corner though he was locked up in prison and she was safe. Thomas had the same fear. He held onto her just as tightly. He didn't even like it when she went to school.

She stopped walking and jerked forward when Thomas stopped a few steps ahead of her. She stood before him and looked up his tall frame to his face. It was covered with the animal skin mask. He had started making them when they were thirteen.

His face was getting worse, but it didn't stop Katy from accepting him. According to her family she was the devil's daughter with her eyes and hair. He knew it wasn't true she was the kindest person that Thomas has in his life besides Mama.

He watched as she stood up on her tippy toes and reached a hand up to his face. She grabbed the edge of the mask and pulled it down. She ran her hand over the rotten flesh on his face. He bent down giving her easier access to his face. She was the only one he let see his true face.

Katy leaned in and pressed a kiss to his left cheek and then his right. She then made her way to his lips. She pressed her soft pink lips against hard and rough ones. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. Every kiss they shared got more and more passionate. He didn't know what the feelings were that stirred within him every time she touched him like this.

He tangled his hand in her dark red hair and subconsciously pulled her closer to him. Kissing her harder. There was nothing in the world he would rather do than let this beautiful girl kiss him and make him feel this way.

Katy pulled away and he felt himself growl in response he didn't want her to stop. He liked kissing her. "We should go back in," She told him. She didn't want to stop either, but they had to stop before they did something that would shame them both.

Thomas pulled his mask back up this was the first kiss they had shared in a long time. Thomas always kept her a distance when it came to his feelings for her. He still couldn't believe Katy had kissed him three years ago and then again tonight.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him back up to the house. They walked in the house and found Uncle Monty reading the paper she had gotten on her way to school this morning with Tommy. Only now she would only have that reason to get his paper now that she was done with School. She walking into the living room and bent to his level and kissed his cheek.

"Night Uncle Monty" she said patting his shoulder before going back to Tommy. She grabbed his hand and led him to the stairs.

"Night Girl" Monty shouted to her she smiled and climbed up the first step. Thomas didn't follow her instead he pulled away and let go of her hand. She knew he wanted to go back down to the basement to finish what he had been working on before dinner.

"Alright I will see you in the morning" She said kissing the leather of the mask. She touched his cheek and headed up the stairs.

Thomas watched until she disappeared and he heard her door close. Katy Bowen was too much for him sometimes but there was just something she did to him. When they were younger than they are now the feelings he had for her didn't exist, but he didn't know what he was feeling. He didn't how to explain how when she touched him his heart started to race or when she would dress up for church his heart would stop.

He walked to the basement and walked down the stairs after closing the door. Katy was the only person besides Mama who genuinely cared about him and he liked that. He just wished he knew what he felt about Katy.