The light breeze was a welcomed friend as he walked up the path toward the von Brunt home. A couple of weeks had passed since he'd made the dreaded journey to Sleepy Hollow and he now found that the dread he had previously felt at staying at the residence was gone. His time spent in the old home had been quite peaceful. No war or gunfire attempting to tear him apart. No worries save simply finding things to pass the days.
Thomas was having a wonderful time, having gotten the chance to flirt with numerous young ladies about the town. He had to admit that the boys skill was improving, if not still annoying. While in his company, he found that the young ladies actually responded to the boy and it was completely befuddling to him how Thomas managed it.
Other times, he was with William and Cassie as they pulled him around on many adventures slaying dragons and saving damsels. Though, Cassie had insisted they save a prince a few times as well. His daughter's outspoken nature reminded him quite a great deal of his adventures with Katrina as a child, following her around helplessly as she led them into battle. Cassie's independent nature was always overpowering his and William's weak wills. He found it was nearly impossible to refuse her anything, a quality she no doubt acquired from her mother.
When they escaped Cassie's big blue eyes, William, who had grown quite attached to him, would often pull him about to show him the various animals in the barn. His son had a soft nature and his excitement over caring for the animals never failed to set a permanent smile to Ichabod's face. The boy's patience when caring for the creatures was nearly as impossible to tear his eyes away from as Cassie's sweet smile.
With a shake of his head, he pushed open the gate to the house as he considered Katrina's pregnancy and how it had him completely confused. With every day that passed, he found himself attacked from every angle as her appetite was unyielding. He'd simply be walking down the hall when he'd suddenly be pulled into a room, her mouth covering his immediately and quite ferociously. The barn had seen their visits as well, the poor animals falling witness to their passionate acts.
Abraham was rarely home as he was always busy with something or another. Katrina said it was usually someone rather than something that kept him occupied. She never went into great detail on the man's various adulterous activities other than saying it was better another endured him than her, but it had been enough to make him want to strangle Abraham.
When Abraham was home, he insisted Ichabod accompany him to all the business meetings and parties in town. While he would have much preferred to remain behind with Katrina and his children, he'd accepted upon the occasions that he was able to decipher Abraham's business meetings and parties were legitimately such and not outings involving taverns filled with temptations too much for his friend to resist. He had the overwhelming feeling that he would not be able to contain himself when it came to keeping his fist out of the man's face.
This fact, however, did little to ease the guilt he felt when in his friend's presence. No matter his opinion of the man's qualities, he didn't deserve what they were doing to him. Here he was, opening his home to him, and yet every chance he got he'd find himself doing unmentionable things with his friend's wife, taking more pleasure from her than anyone should be allowed. However, there was no refusing not only the fulfillment of burning desire, but also the joy he experienced while in her presence. She made him so happy in those moments where it was simply the two of them, reminiscing about their adventures or discussing how much of them there was in their children. It was such bliss to simply be with her.
As he entered through the front door, his smile faded as he suddenly found that he'd stumbled upon an annoyed Abraham and furious Katrina.
"That's exactly what they are Abraham. Children! They don't know any different."
Completely at a loss for what to do, he wasn't sure if he should continue through the house, or backtrack to the door.
"I will not have my son be raised as someone who clings to his mother. You're making him weak!"
"He's a child!" she nearly screamed, throwing her hands up in frustration.
Abraham pointed a finger at the stairs. "And children need to learn. It's time for him to grow up. I've had enough of his lack of communication and constant refusal to speak to me."
"You expect too much of him," she answered with a shake of her head. "He's afraid of you. All you do is yell at him or scold. What do you really expect him to do, Abraham?"
"Anything!" he yelled. "He'll never amount to anything." He slung his hand to the stairs again. "He has no skill. He's completely useless! He has nothing of me in him."
Katrina let out a harsh laugh. "And I thank God for that every day."
Abraham raised his hand as if to backhand her when Ichabod quickly stepped forward into the room. "Abraham!"
Startled, Abraham whirled to him as Katrina's face turned away from him. With a last glare at Katrina, Abraham walked past him. "Never marry, Ichabod. Wives will drive you mad. It's not worth it."
Once Abraham was out the front door, he sighed and looked to find Katrina gone. The banging of pots through the kitchen door, however, alerted him to her location. Upon entering, he found her cutting vegetables rather heatedly. Hesitantly, he moved to stand beside her, quietly taking in her frustrated mannerisms and angry expression.
"Don't you have servants to do that?"
"I sent them away," she muttered out lowly.
Nodding his head, he picked up a knife and joined her in cutting, though much more calmly.
"I hate him."
Not surprised by her statement, he offered softly, "I'm sure he was just tired from his late night."
"Don't make excuses for him," she bit out with a slam of her knife into an unsuspecting carrot. "You just caught him at a time where he wasn't upholding his facade of an existence. He pretends to care about us, but behind closed doors..."
He frowned, taking in her shaking hands. He recalled her mentions before, calling Abraham a monster as well as his scolding glares. He'd done his best to put it from his mind as he knew he'd kill the man with his bare hands if he ever discovered Abraham had laid a hand on her. "Katrina, does he...?"
"Yes," she said, continuing her cutting. Pretty soon there'd be nothing left of the poor vegetables to use.
Taking a deep breath, he gripped the counter, an overwhelming anger taking him over at the thought of Abraham hurting her. What went through that man's head was beyond him. Katrina was everything a man could want.
"It doesn't bother me. It's rare and I can handle him doing whatever he wants to me, but he's so hard on William. I can't stand for him to even touch them."
As she brought her knife down again, it slipped and sliced her hand.
"Katrina!" Grabbing a towel, he applied pressure to it.
"It's fine," she said shortly.
"It's not fine. Let me see."
Dabbing at the blood, he found it to actually be very slight. As he applied pressure to her wound, he observed her darting eyes as she looked everywhere but at him. Once the bleeding stopped, he set the towel down and pulled her to him, her head resting against his chest.
"He simply doesn't understand, William," she whispered, her fingers clinging to the back of his shirt. "Nor does he care to. You've spent a couple of weeks with William while Abraham has had years and already you know him better, have spent more time with him." She pulled back to look at him. "He loves you so much. They both do."
"They do?" he asked, surprise rising in him.
She reached up to cup his face. "Of course, they do, my love. Cassie said she hopes you never leave."
He couldn't help his smile. However, it didn't last long. "I received a letter today."
"From who?"
"General Washington," he answered slowly. "Apparently, they found the Hessians that were shadowing them with the help of your coven. They've been dealt with."
He saw understanding flash across her face as she quickly pulled away from him and turned back to her vegetables.
"They'll be making camp near here again in a week's time," he continued as he stepped next to her. "Katrina, my love, it's for the best."
Dropping the knife, she glared at him. "It's best for you to leave me? Us? I'm going to give birth to your child. You wanted to be here for that."
"The longer I stay here, the harder it will become to leave. Katrina, we're having an affair. In the past, I've looked at others who've done that with contempt."
"We're not like others, Ichabod. If we'd had any choice at all, we wouldn't be having an affair. We'd be married."
"I know. My love-"
"Someone's coming," she said abruptly moving away from him and turning back to her vegetables. Not a moment later, Cassie stepped though the door.
"Mama."
She inhaled a deep breath and turned to their daughter with a clearly forced smile. "Cassie, what is it, sweetheart?"
Cassie ran to him and reached up toward him. As he lifted her up, she answered, "The Reverend's here to see you."
Sighing, Katrina tiredly wiped her hands and tossed the cloth to the counter. "Thank you, Cassie."
He watched her go with slight trepidation.
"What happened to the carrots?"
Glancing from the destroyed carrots to his daughter, he shrugged. "Your mother got a little carried away."
"Good, I hate nasty carrots," she said with a scrunched nose.
With a chuckle, he tightened his hold on her and then made his way out to join the others.
Alfred smiled broadly when he saw him. "Ichabod, wonderful. You're here as well."
"Alfred," he replied with a nod.
Alfred cast a glance to Cassie before looking back at Katrina, who sighed. "Cassie, why don't you go find your brother and see what he's doing."
His daughter gave a frown. "He's in the barn."
Katrina stepped forward and reached for Cassie before lowering her to the ground. "I still want you to go."
With a huff, Cassie ran out the front door.
"The Four have sent word," Alfred said as soon as Cassie had cleared the room. "They have information for us concerning the Hessians. They've asked that we meet them tonight. I've come for your consent, Katrina."
"Of course, Alfred. Did they give any more information?"
"I'm afraid not."
Nodding her head, she spoke as she fidgeted with her hands. "Very well."
"As the Witness, Ichabod should attend as well. The Hessians were most likely looking for him, after all."
"We'll both be in attendance," she answered quickly with an annoyed breath. "Was there anything else, Alfred?"
She was obviously agitated and not even trying to hide it, clearly leaving Alfred confused from the frown that came to his face.
"No, that was all," the man said lowly.
"Good, I'm sure you can see yourself out."
Without another glance, she took to the staircase. As soon as she was out of sight, Alfred turned to him with a curious expression.
"The pregnancy," he offered. "It seems to be having quite the affect on her."
Alfred nodded before giving his farewell, leaving him torn over whether to venture up the stairs after her or give her some space. Considering just how upset she seemed, he decided on the latter and made for the barn to spend what might possibly be his last day with his son and daughter.
