Chapter Eleven: Someone I Used to Know

Katherine felt hot. It wasn't the good type of hot either like the kind of hot that you feel after an orgasm or after lying down lazily in the sun. This was the fever type of hot. The not so good kind of hot.

The one that required doctors and hospitals and could possibly result in death if she was not careful. Doctors, when she heard that word the first person that she thought about was Elijah with his handsome smile and deep, brooding eyes. Thought she doubted that he would like to help her now, especially since she had been kind of a bitch.

Katherine rearranged her necklace around her slim neck, was it weird that she could still feel his hands on her breasts, how he had caressed them and then he had kissed her so gently. "Are you all right?" Caroline chirped. She had been so annoyingly cheerful ever since she had slept with the sheriff and Katherine had no idea why. Katherine had been under the impression that Caroline hated his guts. Maybe she had been wrong.

Elena meanwhile looked depressed and looked like she wanted to mope around. Apparently, her date with the rich rancher hadn't gone as well as she had hope. Kat had no idea why she was making such a big deal about it. He was a customer. What had she expected?

"I'm fine," Katherine said. Even though Caroline and Elena had tried on more than one occasion to offer friendship, Katherine wasn't having it and she seemed more closed off than ever. Caroline and Elena exchanged looks, before Caroline excused herself.

A few seconds later she came back with Madam Pearl in tow, Katherine was so annoyed that she wanted to throw her ribbons at her. Caroline didn't seem to care though, in fact the tiny blond seemed to give her a well-you-asked-for-it-look.

Madam Pearl pressed a cool hand on Katherine's forehead. "You won't be working today," she said in a clipped voice. "You're running a fever. Go to bed. You should have told me."

"I didn't think it was a big deal." She said glaring at Caroline. The blond pretended not to notice. "My pussy doesn't have a fever. Why does it even matter?"

"Don't argue with me Katherine," Madam Pearl said as she pointed towards the room. "Go to bed now." Katherine didn't bother arguing. She knew that Madam Pearl wouldn't budge. She stomped her foot and headed back to her bedroom and untied her corset. She felt that she could finally breath when she finally let loose the corset strings, not that she would ever forgive Caroline for costing her a full day's work. She settled into her nightgown, her head pounded and she felt that everything was spinning. She wanted to argue. She wanted to fight against everything, but instead her eyes closed and she fell asleep.


Burning. Everything was burning. Everything was hot and painful. She tried to push the covers away from her, but someone always pulled them back. She heard Caroline's voice, and Madam Pearl's. Someone was stroking her brow with cool water, was that Elena?

She heard another voice, but she couldn't tell who it was. Everything was spinning again. And then the world seemed to stop.

When Katherine first opened her eyes for once everything seemed to make sense again. She was lying in bed wearing a sweat covered nightgown, but she didn't care. She was just glad that she world had finally stopped burning and spinning.

"You're awake," she hadn't noticed Elena standing there.

"What?" Katherine croaked, but Elena didn't bother explaining. She simply said. "He will be so glad?"

"He?"

"The doctor." Elena said. "He has barely left you side and he's so handsome too. He was worried. He's been staying in Madam Pearl's spare room while you were sick. Do you want something?"

"Water," Katherine choked out and Elena handed her a glass. "What happened?"

"You were sick," she said. "You had an infection because your wounds hadn't healed. He said that your father had whipped- "she flushed. "Anyway, let me go get him. You rest up. Oh, Caroline will be so glad. She's been so worried."

She nodded. "Elena, thank you." For the first time since Elena had slept with the wealthy rancher she smiled. "Oh, you're welcome."

A few minutes later Elijah came in holding his little medicine bag. He looked tired and there were dark circles under his eyes. "How is my stubborn little patient?"

"I'm not stubborn." Katherine said. "What happened? Elena just gave me a little information."

"I don't want to upset you."

"The truth won't upset me, now spill."

Elijah sat at the edge on her bed and started listening to her chest with a little instrument. "Since you left and you didn't let me give you the rest of the medicine and the salve your wounds got infected. It didn't help that you were working in a place like this." He said with his tone full of disgust and Katherine couldn't help, but be a bit offended. "Why didn't you tell me that you were working here?"

"Here?"

"At the brothel."

"You can say it whorehouse," Katherine said with an eye roll. She let out a shiver and Elijah placed a blanket around her. "But I'm all right now, right? I won't die."

"Of course, you won't." Elijah said. "Not when you have me to take care of you. Now roll on your tummy."

"Why?"

"I need to take your temperature." Katherine still looked confused. "In your bottom."

Katherine blushed. "No, you don't have to do that."

"Katherine."

"Elijah- "

"I won't argue with you," Elijah said. "I really don't want to force you. Now come on, be a good girl." Katherine blushed and at first she didn't move, but then she laid down on her tummy and Elijah lifted her nightgown. It was the first time that she realized that she wasn't wearing drawers.

He pulled her cheeks aside and let a cool dollop fall on her bottom hole, Katherine flinched and tried to pull away, but Elijah steadied her by gripping her hip. "Relax, it will be over soon." He inserted the thermometer slowly and Katherine whimpered when she felt the instrument enter her bottom.

Elijah rubbed her back and tried to make her relax. "Relax, baby." After a few seconds, Elijah removed the thermometer. "You have a light fever, but not too bad. It should be gone in the next few days. Now sit up, I want to talk."

Katherine did as she was told, her face hot with shame. "Why didn't you tell me that you were working in a whorehouse?"

"It's none of your business." She said cagily.

Elijah ignored her remark. "I offered to take of you. I apologize for kissing you and making you uncomfortable, but that is no reason to run away and work in a whorehouse."

"I was hardly a virgin when I started working here," Katherine said sarcastically. "I don't need someone to take care of me, Elijah. I need to take care of myself. I'm a survivor."

-End of Chapter Eleven-

Thanks for your reviews!