Chapter twenty: The Red Shoes


An hour later, the driver pulled into Thomas's driveway. She grabbed what remaining money she had, close to 80 pounds and threw it in the passenger seat. "Go. Now!"

"Miss," the driver asked. "are you sure that you're-

"Keep the change and get out." Kate ordered. "Get out of here as fast as you can."

"Can't you call the police?" he asked. "I don't know what the trouble is-

"The police are useless! Go!" With that, Kate turned and ran up the stairs, clutching more of her torn skirt to her chest. She didn't even bother to knock. She just wrenched the front door open and ran in. "Hello!" She shouted. "Is anyone here?"

"Kate?" Arthur comes around the corner from the dining room. "F**king hell, you're bleeding!"

"I need to talk to Thomas!" She demands. "Where is he? It's a matter of utmost importance!"

"Kate?" Her head jerks up towards the stairs as she sees Thomas rapidly descending the stairs, pulling on his coat. His eyes flash and he moves down the stairs quickly. "What the f**k are you doing here?"

"She's bleeding Tom."

"F**k!" Thomas's eyes flashed as he gripped her around the waist before shouting at Elton, who now peered cautiously around the corner. "Fetch a doctor! She's bleeding bad!"

"Of course Sir!"

She shook her head. "No! It can wait!"

"Your chest is bleeding!" He declared as he picked her up and moved her to the nearest chair. By now, people began milling out of the dining room, fortunately, it appeared to be only family. At least she hoped, there were a few new faces unfamiliar to her. "Somebody get the-

"WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME!" She screamed hysterically. Everyone froze in place and stared at her. "This is an emergency!"

"Right, alright." Thomas said. "I'm listening, but you need help Kate. Please. Someone get some bandages!"

"Thomas, listen to me." She inhaled as the words started pouring out of her. "I'm not sure what you've been up to while I was in the hospital, but my father, Gilbert Kovach-

"Kovach!" Polly shouted at her in almost rabid fury. "Kovach is your father?"

"You've been f**king spying on us!" Michael accused.

"No." Kate shook her head and shouted back at them. "I have not!"

"Everyone," Thomas shouted. "shut up!"

"But she's-

"I said shut the f**k up Michael!" He turned to her. "You were saying?"

Kate focused directly on him. "I never told him anything about any of you! I didn't even tell him your name!" She inhaled sharply. "Apparently, you managed to upset my brother and insult my father, so he just authorized a hit on all of you!" Everyone began talking rapidly. Thomas, however, remained calm and in control, his eyes carefully studying her face. "I came here to warn you that he's coming here with several cars of men to kill the entire Shelby family! And trust me, when I say family that includes women and children." Her voice started breaking, but she wouldn't stop talking. "Then, he'll take care of the household staff so there won't be any witnesses. Instead interrogating me, please, get everyone to safety! I'm guessing they'll be here by 5:00!"

"And how the hell do we know this isn't a trap?" Gina demands. Kate lets out a groan; it's already 4:00. "They're probably waiting for us to come out and then gun us down!"

"No," Kate shakes her head. "no, I wouldn't do that to any of you!"

"You're a Kovach!" She spits. "Do you have any idea what your father did to my family?"

"Kate legally," Thomas states as he stands up. "had her name changed to Carter 10 years ago. She hasn't been associating with her father or brother until a few days ago. That was because she needed a place to stay for a bit."

"I spent most of my time in America," she explained. "so I don't know what he's been doing since I left."

"Oh, you can spin a fancy tale alright." Polly snaps at her. "Wouldn't put it past someone like Kovach to send you into a house, set a trap for people."

"Ease off her," a dark haired woman with a friendly face says as she approaches Kate with a glass of water. "she's here, bleeding like she's been shot. Her dress is torn and she looks like she's going to be sick." Kate takes the glass of water and hurriedly drinks it. Thomas's hand hovers near her shaking hand as she drains the glass. "She probably saved everyone's lives by coming here and warning us. Clearly at great risk to her health as you can see that she's covered in blood!"

"Thank you Ada." Thomas says gratefully.

"And Kate wouldn't betray us," Arthur stated. "she loves Charlie and Ruby to pieces. She wouldn't hurt neither of them."

"Oh God!" Kate nearly drops her water at the thought of her brother putting those two in danger. "I told you once before that I was bad luck." Kate stated. "I told you."

"You're not bad luck. But for now, everyone needs to focus." Thomas stands up. "Ada, if you have a spare dress, Kate needs it." The dark haired woman nods and Thomas helps Kate to her feet. "Kate, go upstairs and change."

"You can't trust that Kovach bitch!" Gina shrieks.

"I don't see why you're not upset about all this Tom." Polly stated firmly. "I warned you she was trouble and you-

"Because I f**king already knew that her name was Kovach!" He snapped, causing everyone to start in surprise.

Even Kate stared at Thomas in shock. "How did you-

"Kate, I'll tell you everything you need to know later." He says calmly. "But right now, we're pressed for time and I need for you to go upstairs and get changed." He pressed a kiss on her cheek. "Ada, look after her for me."

Ada nods and takes Kate's arm. "Come on, I'm Ada by the way, Tommy's sister."

"Nice to meet you, though, I wish under more pleasant circumstances." She added in a lower voice. "And thank you, I really care about Thomas and his family. I would never allow any of you to get hurt."

"That's obvious." Ada shook her head. "I apologize for my family."

"Right," Thomas orders. "family meeting in the library."

"Family meeting!? This is all that woman's fault!" Polly shouts. "I knew I should have shot her the moment she set foot in this house!"

"Enough!" He roared, causing Kate to turn on the steps. Ada gripped her by the shoulders, taking care that she didn't lose her balance. "In the library and I need to call Jeremiah." That seemed to get a reaction out of everyone; even Ada and she had no idea why. "I will not hear another f**king word about Kate! Understood?"

Ada placed a hand on her back and continued to move her up the stairs. "Come on, let them sort this out."


10 minutes later,


Kate was walking down the stairs with Ada beside her. Ada had lent her a pale blue, knee-length dress. Kate preferred longer skirts, as they made her look taller, but she'd admit, this dress looked nice on her. The bleeding had fortunately stopped. Ada had helped her clean her wound and bind it tightly. Ada didn't say anything, nor did she react much. She simply gave her a hug after she'd gotten dressed and they went down the stairs together. Kate knew that she and Ada were going to be friends in the future.

Thomas stepped out of the library and glanced up at the stairs. Everyone shuffled out behind him. their faces were dark, angry and sullen. He gestured to her. "Perfect timing Kate. Come in here please."

She nodded, keeping her head high as she walked past a group of unfriendly looking face. Well, Arthur's face was friendly, he smiled at her as she passed by him.

"Whore." Michael hissed as he shoved passed her.

"What the f**k did he just say to you?" Thomas demanded.

"It's nothing." She states, heading straight for the couch. "There's enough drama going on. I'm not going to add to it."

Ada, however did. For she drew her hand back and slapped Michael's face. "You deserved that." She says sharply. "Don't ever call her that again."

"You're going to regret this Tommy." Polly states. "Mark my words."

"I know what I'm doing!" He slams the door shut. He turned to her, tugging his coat into place. "Is there anything else about you that I need to know?"

"No, you know everything about me now." She inhaled as she sits on the couch. "I am so sorry Thomas. I didn't want to associate with my family and now this happened. If I'd have told you who I was from the start-

" I'd still have meddled in your father's business. I'm glad that I did know you, had you not moved in, all of us would probably be dead in 30 minutes." He exhaled. "I did find out who you were a few months ago, but…I wanted to see if you'd tell me."

"I would have, given time." She promised. "I swear it."

"I know. I could tell you were getting close. You were already giving me little clues. But, back to the subject at hand." He inhaled and studied her carefully. "Now, I have a man coming who's going to stop this whole this whole thing. His name is Jeremiah…he's a minister."

She nods as her stomach churns violently inside her. "Yes, I'll marry you." she didn't mean to blurt that out, but that's where she figured he was heading.

His brow arched. "Sorry?"

Heat blossomed in her cheeks. "You said he's a minister and you're bringing him in here, we're the only two people present." He was silent for a moment. "Did I misunderstand your intentions?"

"No." He nodded. "I figured, I just…wasn't expecting you to agree before letting me propose."

"I'm sorry, I think it's morphine wearing off and the stress." She held his gaze. "Is this is going to be a marriage of convenience?"

He nods. "It'll be convenient."

She inhaled and repeated. "I mean…will we be…having relations, like in a real marriage? Or, is this a marriage for show?"

Thomas was silent for a moment, his face an expression that she couldn't read. At that moment, her worst fear came true. It had all been a game to him. She'd gone and fallen in love with him, and now, she was going to be married to a man who probably cared nothing for her. How appropriate, she'd fallen into the same plight Lizzie had. She was going to be in a loveless marriage.