Accepting the letter being held out toward her, she gave a small smile. "Thank you, Mr. Taylor."
The Post Master grinned broadly as he nodded. "You're very welcome, Mrs. Crane, and might I say, that's a mighty fine little girl you have there."
Glancing down to her daughter, who was bundled in her arms, her smile widened. "Thank you. She's such a joy."
"Mr. Crane must be proud."
Her smile dimmed slightly. After their argument earlier in the morning, she'd not seen Ichabod again. He'd been absent all day and her hope that he would return had finally worn out, leaving her to once again avoid visiting her father. In an attempt to distract herself, she and Kahlan had ventured into town for a few errands rather than sit around and hopelessly wait for her husband to make an appearance. "Yes, he's very proud. He spends half the night hovering over her crib."
The man chuckled. "Well, enjoy these days. They pass by far too quickly."
"I will," she promised.
The old man glanced to his left and gestured to a box. "I have a package for your husband. Perhaps you could inform him? I'm afraid it would be too much for you with your little one to carry."
"I-"
"I can carry it for her," came a voice from behind her.
Turning, she found Abraham standing a few feet away, his hands held behind his back and a bright smile on his face. "Oh, Abraham," she began, with a shake of her head. "That's not necessary. Ichabod can come for it at a later time."
Her words fell on deaf ears as he was already reaching for the package. "Nonsense, Katrina. Your house is on my way home."
"I don't wish to be any trouble."
She honestly just didn't want Abraham's company, especially with Ichabod not present. Since Kahlan's birth, she'd been avoiding him. Upon reflection of the day Kahlan was born, she inwardly cringed every time she thought of how much she'd had to depend on him. Of course, then, she would think of how he'd helped bring her little girl into the world and couldn't help but be grateful. That, however, didn't stop her discomfort when in his presence, which was how she was feeling now.
Unfortunately, he gave a smile and replied, "You're no trouble at all."
Defeated and out of excuses, she gave a tight smile before once more thanking Mr. Taylor and exiting the building.
"Did you have anything else you needed before you return home?"
Glancing to Abraham as he fell into step beside her, she shook her head. "No, this was my last stop."
They continued in light conversation, that of which she did her best to pretend to care about, until she reached her house. As she gestured to the table inside the parlor for Abraham to set the package on, she moved into the sitting room and gently lowered Kahlan, who was contentedly sleeping, into her small crib.
"What's her name?"
Slightly startled, she turned to find him moving to stand beside her and answered, "Kahlan."
He raised an eyebrow. "Kahlan? That's not a name I've heard before."
With a look to her sleeping daughter, she smiled. "Ichabod chose it. He put a great deal of thought into it and, I must say, I fell completely in love with it."
"Well, she's beautiful...like her mother."
The feeling of discomfort filled her again at his intense gaze as she returned her attention to her sleeping little girl. "Thank you for helping me with the package."
Hoping he'd take her hint and leave, she was disappointed, however, when he leaned over the crib and brushed a finger over Kahlan's cheek, setting every nerve she had on edge. She couldn't place just why he always made her so uncomfortable. He'd been nothing but kind and generous since he had returned to Sleepy Hollow, but still...the feeling would not leave her.
"Looking at her, I can't help but imagine..."
It wasn't lost on her what he meant and the thought turned her stomach. "I'm sure you'll have one of your own in no time. All the women seem to trip right over themselves in your presence."
He smiled as his gaze continued to sweep over Kahlan. "Sadly, desperation is not the most alluring quality in a woman. Besides, I'm sure my money has a bit of influence in the matter." His eyes met hers. "You were never like that."
"Money never mattered to me." She glanced back to Kahlan. Her little mouth was open slightly, her balled fists twitching in her sleep. "She's always been my greatest desire. Love. To look at her is to know I've achieved it. My love for her is so pure. It's unlike anything I've ever experienced."
"Does Ichabod feel the same?"
She turned back to him with a frown. "Of course, he does."
Abraham held up his hands in surrender. "Forgive me, I simply find it odd that he's never here."
Her frown deepened as she attempted to figure out what he was alluding to. "He's here."
Abraham's gaze fell to his boots as he released a heavy sigh. "He spends the majority of his days at my home, Katrina."
"At your home?" she asked incredulously.
He nodded. "He doesn't speak about you or her, he just...he talks with me of politics and the war." His eyes came back to hers rather apologetically. "I mean, if I had a wife like you or a newborn as precious as your daughter, I'd spend every moment at home basking in all I've been so blessed to be given. Instead, he's preparing to return to camp-"
"To camp?" she cut him off in confusion. "He's not returning for another two months."
Abraham's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, I thought you knew."
"When?" she whispered quite unable to believe what she was hearing.
"Tomorrow."
Feeling her emotions beginning to spiral out of control, she collapsed to the sofa. "Tomorrow?"
Gaze darting about the room, she began blinking rapidly in an attempt to hold in her building tears. He was leaving her. How many ways could he possibly find to do that? It would seem her dream was finding new ways to haunt her.
"Katrina, I'm so sorry," Abraham said, taking a seat beside her. "I would've thought he would have told you."
She shook her head, desperately attempting to regain her control. "He never tells me anything, anymore. He barely even looks at me and when he does..."
Abraham's hand rested on her arm. "I'm so sorry. You don't deserve this."
Glancing to him, she shook her head again. "Yes, I do. This is my fault. He hates me."
He gave a small smile. "I doubt anyone could ever hate you. You're beyond perfect." His thumb slid back and forth over her arm, drawing her gaze. "You deserve the world."
About to protest, she brought her gaze back up just in time to find him completely leaned into her, his mouth covering hers. Shock filled her as her mind rapidly tried to process what was happening. When his hand slid to cup her cheek, she pulled back abruptly. "Abraham-"
"Katrina?"
Quickly turning to the room's entrance, she felt her breath catch. "Ichabod..."
He was standing stone still, his stare causing her heart to drop. It took her a moment to realize just what he was staring at, but as she followed it, she found Abraham's hand still on her arm. Abruptly standing, she fought for words. "Ichabod...I wasn't-I didn't-"
His eyes meeting hers halted her words in their tracks. They were full of loss and betrayal and...hate. Finding words lost to her, she flinched when his eyes darted to Abraham's, narrowing in the process. She was sure if he could touch Abraham, the man would be dead. "Get out of my house, Abraham."
His words were laced with barely contained venom, something she'd never heard in him before. She heard Abraham stand behind her, but make no move to leave. Confused, she turned to find him staring right back at Ichabod, his defiance practically seeping out of him.
"I'm not leaving you alone with her," Abraham bit out more heatedly than she'd expected.
Still at a loss for words, she turned back to Ichabod to see his fists clenched. "If you do not this leave this house immediately, I swear to God, I will kill you."
From his tone, there was no disputing his intention to do just that. Swallowing down her nerves, she stepped away from Abraham and more towards Ichabod. "Abraham, you need to leave."
His eyes found hers. "He doesn't deserve you, Katrina." He threw a hand at Ichabod. "And you said it yourself, he doesn't even love you. The way he speaks to you, I would never do that."
Ichabod's boots clicked against the floor as he stepped further into the room and she turned just in time to catch his arm before he pummeled into Abraham. "Ichabod, please, not with Kahlan here."
His body tensed, his eyes darting first to her, then to their still sleeping daughter.
"Abraham," she began, her hand firmly holding onto Ichabod before looking back to the man who was still resolutely standing in her sitting room. "Get out of our house, now."
"Katrina-"
"I love Ichabod," she said to which Abraham's jaw clenched. "I am his wife and the mother of his child. Regardless of how he feels about me right now, I love him with all of my heart, a feeling I have never, not once, expressed toward you in any way." She shook her head. "Now, please, get out." He didn't move. "Abraham-"
"She said to get out, Abraham," Ichabod gritted out.
Abraham stood taller. "I could offer you everything, Katrina. I don't understand how you could stay with him." He threw a hand toward the window. "He's voluntarily returning to war just to get away from you."
Though, she tried to deny it, his words buried themselves in her heart and would not release her. Desperately trying to control herself, she felt Ichabod's body jerk at Abraham's reveal.
Abraham continued, "You have a new daughter and he'd rather face death than be here with her." His gaze coldly turned to Ichabod. "Some father you are, Crane."
How he moved so quickly escaped her, but by the time she found her voice, Abraham was being thrown over the table in the center of the room, his body hitting the floor with a loud thud as the table toppled with him and broke in half.
"Ichabod!"
He paid her no mind as he fell to the floor beside Abraham, his fists connecting with Abraham's face. The commotion woke Kahlan, who was now screaming at the top of her lungs. Torn between her distraught daughter and stopping her husband from killing Abraham, she at last turned to Kahlan and gently lifted her up. As she brought Kahlan close, she once again faced the two men who were now trading rather heated punches to the face.
"Ichabod, Abraham, please stop this!" They, however, did not heed her words as Abraham's fist connected with Ichabod's jaw, throwing him to the floor. At their separation, she rushed to stand in front of Abraham and held up her free hand to stop him from moving forward. "I said to stop!"
His eyes, one bleeding, found hers as he wiped at his mess of a lip.
"Abraham, if you don't leave this house immediately, I will have you detained."
He shook his head defiantly. "I'm not giving up, Katrina."
She frowned at him incredulously. "There's nothing for you to give up as I am not a possession to be handed off between men. Abraham, I don't love you. I could never love you."
He threw a finger at Ichabod who was pushing himself up from the floor. "If he hadn't been here, you would have! He seduced you and stole you away from me!"
"No," she whispered. "I wouldn't. Our engagement was arranged and when my father told me what he'd done, I pitched a fit." Shaking her head, she sighed, "I never wanted you and that had nothing to do with Ichabod. He can go back to war and die tomorrow, resulting in my complete and utter heartbreak, and I still would not have you. My heart is, and always will be, his. No other shall ever lay possession to it."
Abraham huffed before picking up his hat and limping to the parlor. Before he actually exited, however, he turned with a last longing look. "I love you, Katrina. This isn't the last we will discuss this."
With that, he walked out the door, leaving her with her screaming daughter and rather angry husband.