Chapter sixteen; Violin


"That's my boy." Kate murmurs as she presses a kiss to the horse's black nose.

"That's Monaghan Boy." She turns around to see Thomas standing there in the stable entryway. His expression is somewhat wary. "He doesn't like anyone to touch him."

"Similar to his owner, I see." She says, trying to keep the pointed tone out of her voice.

"What are you doing down here?" he asks. "I thought you were right behind me earlier. Polly made me go out and look for you."

"Sorry about that." Kate shakes her head as she ducks under the rope. Monaghan snorts at her and Thomas grabs her elbow. She reaches up and scratches Monaghan behind his ears. "Well, as you said you were fine. So, I didn't see the point of insisting that you let me check it."

"That's a first."

She chuckles and turns back to Monaghan. "He's a beautiful horse Thomas. And if answer to you earlier question; I often come and sit in here. It's a good place to think and I do enjoy horses."

"I always wanted to work with horses, before the war." He reaches for her arm and pulls her towards him.

"Will you stop pulling on me?"

"Kate, Monaghan doesn't like strangers in his stall. You're making me nervous just being in there."

"You could have just said so." She snorts as she ducks under the rope. "Besides, he's a sweetheart. Do you really think this is my first time petting him?"

His brow arches for a moment before stating. "We've got our first legal racetrack pitch today."

"Congratulations." She says simply.

"But you don't care." He says.

"No, I'm sorry, I really don't."

"Why?" she ignores him and turns to walk away. "Sit down."

She shakes her head. "It's late, I should be going back."

"Just sit down." He orders sharply. "It's late and I'll have to walk you back anyway."

"Sorry to be such a chore." Kate stares at him and he stares back. After debating for a moment, Kate decides to sit beside him in the pile of hay. She exhales and leans back in the hay, ignoring the fact that she'll probably have hay all in her hair and on her dress.

"Look Kate," he exhales. "you're washed up in a place you don't belong, for whatever reason." Kate inhales as she blinks and looks away. "All I know about you is that your name is Kate, you're a nurse who pulled a bullet out of me in France and you've managed to nearly make the whole of Birmingham fall in love with you, my family included."

She nods. "And?"

"I want to know more."

"Like what? And why?"

"Well, you've managed to weasel your way into family meetings and I still know nothing about you. I know you're also running from a past that hurt you." he lies on his side and studies her face, for a moment. "What's your last name?" she bites her lip. "Are you ever going to tell me?"

She's silent before saying. "I don't want to."

"Why's that?"

"Because every time people find out, they change." She looks up at him. "I don't want things to change. I don't want people to look at me differently."

"I won't tell anyone." he assures her. "I give you my word; I'll keep to myself until you're ready for everyone."

Kate bites her lip, debating for a moment before stating. "My full name is Katherine Elaine Kovach." No reaction from him. "My father is Gilbert Kovach."

Thomas merely nods. "I see."

"You see? Is that all you're going to say?" he chuckles slightly at her reaction. Frankly, she can't tell if it's because he already knows or he has no idea who her father is. "Or are you thinking about what a pretty valuable asset I am? Maybe I'd be a good hostage."

He rolls his eyes. "I'm thinking nothing of the sort."

"Then what are you thinking about?"

"About what Kimber would have done had he known you were the daughter of the biggest gangster in England and Ireland."

She's silent before stating. "Kimber does know. How else do you think I got out of his place unviolated? I told him father had me investigating you and if he interfered with my mission, I'd tell my father that he raped me."

Thomas's brow arches. "And no man wants your father coming after him, especially after an accusation like that."

"Truth to be told, my father really couldn't care less about what happens to me." She shakes her head and flops back onto the hay. "I grew up with a man who, was into all sorts of illegal activities. You name it and my father did it, he even used me when I was a child to get into a building to kill everyone inside!" She sighs. "So, I don't want to get involved in illegal activities, now that I'm finally free, I don't want to get sucked back into the very thing that I ran away from."

"I see."

"I do like your family though, nothing like mine." She says. "Everyone's so nice."

"Including me?"

Kate laughs. "You have your moments, I'll admit it." she coughs and clears her throat. "How's John doing? Did he decide about his marriage to Lizzie?"

"No idea." He shrugs and looks away; she barely catches the hint of guilt in his eyes.

She studies his face for a moment before asking. "You've been seeing Lizzie, haven't you?"

Thomas's head whips towards her. "Did she tell you that?"

"No. The look on your face did earlier today made me suspicious. The look right now, confirmed it... I'm not judging, you. I just happen to know when a man's see what you've seen, you go looking for comfort wherever."

Thomas blinks in surprise. "And how does a lady like you know about such things?"

"I was a nurse, there isn't really much I don't know. Harry told me when I arrived here that you've not wanted or been with anyone since France."

That causes Thomas to laugh. "Really?"

"Yes. Lizzie appeared to be your type."

"Not my type just…available." He studies her carefully. "She hasn't serviced me for months." Kate bobs her head. "Does nothing ever faze you?"

"Like what?"

"I mean, we're talking about illegal dealings and prostitutes here," Kate laughs lightly. "not quire the conversation for a lady of your standing."

"I'm not that much of a lady Thomas; after all, a lady wouldn't be over in a field hospital, or driving an ambulance."

Thomas shakes his head. "Still can't believe you did that." Kate laughs as she rubs her arms. "Cold?"

"A little bit." Thomas pulls off his coat and drapes it around her shoulders. "Thank you." He scoots closer towards her, draping an arm around her shoulders, causing her to inhale sharply at his closeness.

"So," he grips her shoulder firmly. "do you have any other siblings, apart from your brother?"

"No." she says hoarsely. "I don't."

He smirks down at her. "You've gone all croaky Kate."

"Well," she glances at his arm. "this isn't exactly proper."

He laughs. "I'm keeping you warm, not seducing you." she flushes as she shifts slightly. "Here." He sits up, pulling her up with him, only to bring her back down into the hay. His arm is under her head and he tugs her towards him, so she's lying on her side, while he's on his back. "Better?"

Not really. "I guess."

"It's perfectly harmless Kate. I spent many a pleasant conversation with a lass in the hay."

"Really?" She chuckles. "Things are very different down here. I got in trouble for holding Emmet's hand when we were on a walk in the park!" Thomas snort as she laughs lightly. The atmosphere is almost too relaxed and light between them. "I hope Grace enjoys horses, otherwise, you'll have to find another spot than a haystack."

He frowns. "Why should it matter to Grace?"

"Well, you two are courting." Thomas doesn't respond, he just keeps looking up at the ceiling. "Hopefully, she won't mind us having one discussion in the hay."

"Why," he turns towards her. "do you always bring Grace up?"

"Well, she is your girl Thomas." she points out. "Why wouldn't I bring her up?"

"Grace isn't my girl." Thomas says firmly.

She frowns. "Well, you've been a bit more chipper, so it's either a new girl or a new horse that's caught your fancy." He says nothing. "If it isn't Grace, then who is it?"

"Oh God," Thomas rubs the bridge of his nose, his eyes closed. "you really have no f**king clue."

"Watch your language, and no, I don't." Kate frowns. "I could say Lizzie Stark," Thomas lets out a groan. "but you've not seen her for months. It must be someone I haven't met yet." Thomas suddenly rolls on top of her, causing her to let out a surprised shriek. "What are you-

And that's when Thomas kisses her deeply on the mouth. The moment his mouth covered hers, a thousand thoughts hit her at once and each one of them terrified her. Kate let out a whimper and he broke the kiss. Kate stared up at him, her heart pounding in her chest as he stared down at her, exhaling deeply.

"It's you Kate."

Kate stares up at him, panic welling up inside her chest. "No." she shakes her head in panicked disbelief. "No, it can't be."

"Kate-

"No!" Kate jumps up from the hay and runs out of the barn.

"Kate!" Thomas calls from behind her. "Wait a minute!"

She doesn't stop and she doesn't look behind her. She can hear him behind her, but something causes him to pause for a moment, giving her a head start. She zigs and zags through a few streets until she's certain that she's lost him. Kate inhales sharply as she leans against a brick wall, tears run down her cheeks.

She can't understand why she's scared to death at his attentions towards her. If she dares to surrender to him, will she be hurt as badly as she'd been by Emmet's death? Thomas was in the same risky line of work as her father. She can't love anyone like that, she refused to do so.

In that moment, Kate made up her mind. Once she got back, she'd pack up her stuff and get out. She has feelings for him, but she needs to get out of Birmingham before those feelings become concrete. Every time she winds up caring for someone, they get hurt and she doesn't want him to get hurt. She doesn't want to feel that kind of pain when you lose someone ever again.


Idcam: Well, Thomas finally did something, but he could have given her a warning first!