Chapter forty-one: James and the cold gun

Two days later,

Thomas stands in the doorway watching Kate. He has been watching her for almost five minutes and she hasn't noticed he's there. She's also been sitting in the window seat in her room for the last two days. She bites her lip before writing something down on her paper. The doctor was right, she's under a lot of stress and he hopes that she's able to get enough sleep with his reoccurring nightmares happening right at her elbow.

Kate lets out a sigh and peers out of the window. Another melancholic expression on her face. At that moment, he makes up his mind. He's got to get her out of here for a while. He heads towards the stairs and hollers down them. "Elton! Have my car readied!"

"Yes Sir!"

Thomas turns and enters her room, causing her to look up at him. She frowns. "Hi, what are you," he doesn't answer as he lifts her out of her spot and into his arms. She shrieks as she grabs a hold of his neck quickly. "What on earth are you doing?"

"I," he shifts her in his arms and heads for the bedroom door. "am taking you out for lunch."

Kate stares at him. "What has gotten into you?"

"You've, been working too hard." He carefully trots down the stairs.

"Don't drop me."

He shoots her a wounded look. "I've never dropped you yet."

"I know, but there's always the first time." The moment Kate says that, his foot slips out from under him a few steps from the bottom and he lands on his backside. Kate lets out a faint shriek, then a yelp as her foot hits the banister. Kate looks to him and then starts laughing.

He laughs as he adjusts himself and lifts her up. "Cute, Mrs. Shelby."

"I didn't cause that to happen." She protests, with a smile. He heads towards the door, grabbing his coat and hers. Kate's green eyes widen in surprise. "You're serious? You're actually taking me into town for lunch?"

"Yes." The chauffer has the back door open for him. Thomas, however, goes to the front and opens the passenger seat for her. After situating her, he takes the keys from the chauffer and climbs into the driver's seat. "Just you and me."

She looks at him suspiciously. "And what brought this about?"

"To be honest, you have." her face blanches, just slightly. "You've been working too hard and prior to your surgery; I used to take you places. Dinner, dancing, the movies, on picnics and other things."

"We were courting."

"And, we're just now leaving the confinement of courtship and entering into marriage. However, I figure I still owe you a few more outings."

Kate shakes her head. "No, really you don't."

"And, I probably owe you quite a few birthday presents. When is your birthday?"

"December 24th."

He nods his head. "Almost born on Christmas."

"When is yours?"

"October 7th."

Kate stares at him. "But…that was the day we got married!"

He smirks at her. "I know."

Kate shakes her head and snuggles into him. "Well, it could have been better."

He kisses her. "Trust me Kate, you're the best birthday present I've ever got. And I love you."

Kate smiles up at him. "I love you too, so very much."

"Promise me, that if you ever need to talk to me about anything, you'll let me know?"

Kate nods and holds onto him tighter. "I promise." Even with that promise, he still felt as if she were holding something back that was troubling her. He hoped that she'd tell him soon whatever it was that was troubling him. Maybe after she finished her shopping. Women always felt better after shopping.

Kate smiled as she admired the deep red satin gown in the three full-length mirrors. "This is lovely, but not for Christmas. However, it'll be perfect for Valentine's Day. I'll take it just the same."

"Excellent choice Mrs. Shelby."

"Shelby?" Kate turns towards a young salesgirl, her expression slightly hostile. "Any relation to Thomas Shelby?"

Kate nods. "My husband."

Kate inhaled sharply as the hot coffee soaked her new dress. The second saleslady and shop owner manage to restrain her, despite being white with terror. The salesgirl spits at her. "Shelby scum. Your husband crippled my father!"

In spite of feeling sorry for the girl, Kate felt sympathy wasn't deserved in this case. "Then you already know that my husband is a very dangerous man." she reminds her. "One time…a friend of his aunt's son was attacked in a bar. After beating the men…they burned the bar to the ground." the shop owner sank to the ground, face pale. "Now my father is Gilbert Kovach, so you really picked the wrong woman to throw coffee on."

"Please," the owner begged. "I need my business."

"Now, I won't say anything to either of them," she turned to the owner. "if this girl is dismissed immediately."

"She's fired!" the owner said assuredly. Two other salesgirls grabbed the girl and dragged her out of the room. "No pay either!"

"I need a letter of reference!" she pleads. "I need this job!"

"You get nothing from me!" the woman screamed as another saleswoman helped grab her. "You jeprodized my company and all of my employees. Get her out of here!" the owner turns to her. "Again, I am so sorry. I had no idea that she had a-

"Listen," Kate says gently. "I'm not like my husband. I won't say a word to my husband, I promise." The woman exhaled in relief. "And if he does find out, I won't let him do anything to your shop. I swear it. I love your shop and attire. Now," she smiled gently. "since this dress is ruined, my I try on that lovely white velvet dress in the window?"

"Yes, it'll be on the house."

"I'm not like my husband." She shakes her head. "I'll pay 50%, ok? You have to make some money."

Her smile was wobbly. "You really aren't like your husband."

"No. I'm not going to deny that he can be a ruthless man at times and I can't make excuses for him." She exhaled. "All I will say is he had a hard life growing up and then the war didn't do him any favors."

The woman nodded understandingly. "My husband came back a different man. He is now finally accepting help and he's becoming the man he was again."

"Mine won't take help, so, it's a constant struggle."

The owner actually feels bold enough to rub her arm. "You just hang in there. They're doing wonderful things since the war."

"Thank you." Kate exhales before asking hesitantly. "Do you have anything new in nightwear?"

The woman nods at her before smiling. "Yes." She turns to the two salesladies' and snaps her fingers. "Go fetch the white velvet dress in the window for Mrs. Shelby. Also, the blue French silk cape and dress by Jean Patou." She turns to Kate. "once you're in the white velvet dress, I shall bring you what you asked for. I believe I have just the thing for you."

"My husband is going to be surprised. I said I was only going to try on one dress!"

"Husbands are used to that sort of promise." The owner adds with a laugh. "And they should know by now that one means one dozen and he's got a bill to pay!"

Fifteen minutes later, Kate was walking towards the car with her several bags of clothing. Thomas smiles approvingly from his seat in the car. "And, you're smiling." He drops his cigarette into the street. "Did you have fun shopping?"

"Wait till you see what I bought." She puts her bags in the back. "I love this store, the owner has such-

Suddenly, Kate goes flying backwards as someone grabs her by the hair and knocks her down to the hard pavement! "Hey!" Thomas shouts as he jumps out of the car. A sharp blow to her ribs causes her to instantly cover her stomach. Kate's first concern is for her baby. She catches a few more well aimed kicks, she manages to block her face.

"Get your hands off my wife!" Thomas shouts. The female attacking her stops, obviously not expecting him to be there. Kate sits up into a sitting position with a sharp inhale as Thomas hits the girl in the face with his hat. The girl lets out a scream as she grabs a hold of her bloody face!

"Thomas!" Kate calls. He's angry, she knows, but she needs to get to doctor. "I need you!" He kicks the girl in the stomach one last time as he kneels down beside her. "I need to see the doctor." She stated firmly. "Now."

"I got you." he carefully lifted her up from the ground. She let out a cry of pain. "What hurts?"

"It's my rib. I think it's broken." Tommy kicked the girl in the stomach one more time before hurrying to his car. She inhales sharply as he opens the door and carefully sets her inside. He slams the door shut, running over to the driver side and starting the engine. Kate holds onto her stomach as Thomas heads down the street. He reaches for her hand and grips it tightly as she prays that her baby is safe. If she miscarried now, how was she going to tell him that she lost their baby before he even knew they were going to have one?

Idcam: That's the million dollar question, isn't it? Is he ready yet?