Chapter thirty-two: Coffee homegrown
An hour later,
Kate yawns as she steps out of her room, toweling her hair. Proper or not, all she wanted to do was lounge around in her silk pajamas and robe. She'd taped her nose up, applied some cream to her swollen lip and was now in search of some much needed ice for her cheek.
As she heads down the stairs, the phone rings. Elton answers it. "Shelby Estate. Mrs. Shelby Sir? I believe she's upstairs."
"Elton?" he turns towards her. "Who is it?"
"Here she is Sir." As he hands her the receiver, he whispers. "It's Mr. Shelby."
Her eyes widen as she grips the phone. "Thomas, are you alright?"
He chuckles. I'm fine. Your father hasn't poisoned me or anything.
"Where are you?"
In the library. By the way, you were right about the drinks behind the books. He has an impressive whiskey collection.
"A man after your own heart." She says dryly. "But, I'm glad everything's ok."
I'm actually calling because your father wants to talk to you. I'm checking to see if you're up to it. She hesitates. If you don't want to talk to him, that's fine.
"No, it's ok. Put him on."
Right.
Katherine? Her father sounds worried. Is it true? You actually married this Thomas Shelby.
"Yes I did. I married him that day I ran away. Didn't Anton tell you?"
He snorts. Your brother told me nothing. All he said was someone had tipped Shelby off, so, he was going to wait a few months.
"You don't think," she hesitates. "he's behind this entire attempt to kidnap me?"
He better not or I'll shoot him myself.
Kate rolls her eyes. "You wouldn't."
We may have our differences, but you're my daughter. The image of my darling wife. I won't have you in danger.
"So, you know who's behind this?"
I do. Your husband and I will be going to check in on them.
"No fighting." She pleads. "I want him home with me tonight."
Katherine, you never learned to be a wife. His tasks come first, you come last.
"Well, we don't have that kind of relationship. I'm his equal."
For the moment, but in time, he'll bring you to heel. She snorts and rolls her eyes. Don't you disrespect your father like that!
"I'm not a child anymore, I'm a woman." She grips the phone tightly. "You never want to listen, you constantly correct me. I've had enough of people walking over me and it's because of him. He's made me a stronger person. Now, put my husband back on the line."
In a moment.
"Put him on the line!" she shouts, probably deafening the operator. "Now!
You don't get to, hey! You don't-
There's a brief scuffle with the phone and Kate strains to listen to the conversation. Then, she hears Thomas's voice. Kate? What is it?
"I'm fine," she assures him. "I just didn't want to talk to him anymore. Are you going to be getting home late?
No. I'll be leaving heading back in 15 minutes. There's more noise in the background, causing Thomas to snap. Shut up. Sorry about that Kate.
"Let me guess, a husband shouldn't hurry home to his wife?"
Considering the circumstances and we now know who it is, I'm coming home.
"Good. I'm making dinner tonight."
Silence for a moment. You're making me dinner? What is it?
"You've never had it before. Chili con carne."
What is that?
"You'll see when you get back here." Kate laughs. "I'll see you and Arthur soon, alright?"
Right. I love you Kate.
Kate grips the phone tightly. She wasn't sure if he said it for her or her father's benefit, but it did her heart good. She was silent for a moment before saying. "I love you too Thomas."
Thomas's heart soared in his chest at Kate's admission. Now, you hurry on home to me.
"I'll be there shortly." He promises. Moreover, he meant it, he wanted to get home, take her in his arms and kiss her breathless.
Goodbye.
"Goodbye." He hangs up the phone and looks towards her father, who's glowering at him. "You and your son have a bad habit of irritating my wife."
"She was always such a headstrong girl and my wife indulged her. She fancies herself an equal to a man."
"In my house, she is equal to me." he states. "Now, about that man I brought you."
"I will be killing him myself in a moment." he studies Thomas, a dark disapproving look on his face. Her father was a tall, silver haired man who appeared to still be in perfect health for his age. There was a harshness in his eyes that reminded him of his own father. "You, however, I don't like."
"I don't care for you either. I'd put a bullet in your head without a second thought," everyone in the room straightens up, their hands near their guns. "but you're my wife's father. So, out of respect for her, you'll live."
"The same for you." he studies him carefully before ordering. "Everyone, leave the room. I will talk to my….unfortunate son-in-law, in private." Arthur glances at Tommy and he nods at him. Thomas sits down in the chair opposite Mr. Kovach. Kovach grabs another bottle of whiskey from the bookcase and tops off his glass. "Kate must love you; she told you every weakness in this house."
"Well, she figured to make my job easier. Less chance for anyone getting hurt."
He rolls his eyes. "That girl, you'll have your hands full with her."
"Believe me," Thomas reaches for his glass. "I don't mind having my hands full of her."
Her father shoots him a dark look. "That's my daughter."
"And my wife." Thomas shoots back. He leans forward, placing his glass down. "We're going to have certain boundaries in place here. You can call her once a week, to see how she's doing."
"Once a week!"
"You two haven't spoken in years." He reminds him darkly. "Be glad I didn't offer once a month."
Her father glowered. "Fine. But when she's pregnant, I want to call more than once a week."
"Kate will decide that. Anton isn't allowed on my property, ever."
He snorts. "Why on earth? What did my son ever do to you?"
"It's not what he did to me. It's what he did to Kate."
Her father's eyes narrow. "What did he do to Kate?"
"Ask him." Thomas states. "Ask him why I shot Phillip Nash, not that he'll tell the truth."
Mr. Kovach jolts. "Nash is dead? Anton said he had a family emergency in America."
Thomas glowers at him. "I shot him dead. Clearly, your son lies to you."
"And am I to believe that you didn't shoot his ears off?"
Thomas chuckles darkly. "I wish. Your daughter did that." Kovach drops his glass of whiskey. "Believe me; she almost shot his balls off."
"Why…the hell would my daughter do that?" he demands. "What is it you know that I don't know?"
Thomas stands up. "Your son Anton paid Phillip Nash, a tidy sum of 8,000 pounds to kill Emmet Weber at the altar."
Mr. Kovach goes white in a second. "No."
"He did, he admitted it." Thomas states with a growl. "I suspect you knew about it to a degree and covered for him."
He shook his head. "No. I'd never do that to her. I-I hated the boy but….I would never put her through that." he sinks down in the chair. "Are you sure of this? Anton…he really did that?"
"Follow the money. 8,000 pounds…that's a lot of money. Find out where it went."
"You better hope you're right."
"Or what?" he demands as he leans towards Kovach. "You'll shoot me too?"
He shakes his head. "Because I may have to kill my own son."
Thomas shakes his head. "Kate doesn't want him dead."
"I have to make it up to her."
"Then you make sure that she's allowed to live as peaceful life that she can. She's happy there with me, make sure nothing happens to jeprodize that. Kate's mine…no one, is taking her away from me."
Her father hesitates. "Then again…maybe now, I see why she chose you. Is she really happy?"
Thomas nods. "Very. She has my children and me. You raised a strong daughter, far better than either of us deserve. I give you word…I'll give her everything she ever wanted with Emmet and more."
"Amen." Kate looks up at Polly, Charlie and Ruby's faces and laughs. "It probably looks unusual to you three, but it's delicious, I promise."
"It smells weird." Ruby says as she reaches for her buttered bread first.
"It's the spices." The front door opens and Kate jumps as she turns towards the entrance of the dining room.
"They just started eating Sir." Elton says.
"Thanks." Kate stands up from her chair and heads towards the entryway as Thomas and Arthur enter. "Hey."
"You're home." Kate reaches for him and hugs him quickly. He exhales and buries a kiss in her neck. She smiles, desperately wanting to talk to him in private, but knows it has to wait. "How'd it go with my father?"
"It went well." Kate keeps her hand on his waist as he separated enough to examine her face. "Your brother hadn't told him yet that we'd married. He was rather shocked, to say the least."
Kate snorted. "Obviously, he thought no man would ever be stupid enough to marry obstinate little me."
"Well, it's a good thing I told him that you proposed to me." Kate let out a laugh as she swats him. "Believe me, that nearly caused him to pass out."
"It sounds like a delightful story, but fill me in later, ok?" she smiles. "You two men must be hungry."
"Starving." Arthur states as he sits down.
"You're just in time." She states as she sits down next to Thomas. "Our cook was very generous in sharing the kitchen with me. She's expressed an interest in learning a few of my favorite dishes, so, I can have them on occasion."
"You really should have taken it easy Kate."
She nods. "I tried, but, I couldn't relax." He reached for her face, gently touching the bruise. She gripped his hand firmly. "I'm fine, I promise." Her voice petered out at the end, causing her to fear that her expression betrayed the true feelings of her heart. Thomas held her gaze, his face studying her carefully.
"I don't like it." Ruby mumbled, causing everyone stared at her.
Kate stifles a moan inwardly as she turns to ruby. "I know, I didn't like new things either," she stated calmly. "but I had to eat them anyway because I was a child and my parents knew what was best for me."
Ruby pouted, but began to slowly eat her chili, with a face that told everyone she hated it. Thomas arched his brow, signaling he was impressed with her before taking a bite of his chili. Everyone eyed him as he chewed it and swallowed. He nodded approvingly at her. "It's good Kate."
She grinned. "I told you so." She reached for the onions and cheese in front of her and dumped it in her bowl. "I love this recipe. I did go light on the spices, for I don't think you all are used to spicy things."
"How'd you learn to cook?" Polly inquired.
"My father lived in Mexico for a few years and my mother loved cooking. She taught me several American and Mexican dishes before passing away."
He studied her for a moment. "Do you like cooking?"
"I like it on occasion." She studied him back. "Are you going to forbid me?"
Tommy glanced over his wine glass at her, his brow cocked. "I doubt I could forbid you to do anything you didn't want to do."
Kate clears her throat. "I was thinking that we need to convert one of the rooms upstairs into a medical room." All heads go towards her in surprise. "Considering your line of work on the side, we should have a supply of medicine, syringes, ether and most necessary medical supplies."
"No one here really gets hurt though." Polly states.
"Judging by today, it was a possibility." Kate explained. "The doctor could come here and have all the handy supplies and you needn't worry about getting tampered medical equipment." Thomas nodded. "In addition, a copy of everyone's medical records should be here for safe keeping."
"Once a nurse, always a nurse. It's a good idea Kate." He takes another bite. "You can convert the sun room."
"Thank you." Ruby suddenly leans out of her seat and vomits. Kate gets up and goes around the table. "And in incidents like this, it'll be good." She feels Ruby's forehead after carefully avoiding the vomit of the floor. "You're not feeling well?"
Ruby shakes her head. "I'm tired."
Kate exhales as she picks her up. "Right. Let's get you upstairs and into bed." She turns to Thomas. "I think she's got a fever." Ruby's eyes widen. "Don't worry sweetie, it's getting close to winter and you're bound to catch a cold at some point."
"I don't want a fever!"
Kate laughs. "Ruby, I was a nurse. Trust me, you'll be better in a few days." Charlie suddenly starts retching and she exhales as she heads over to Charlie. "Alright," she turns towards Charlie and sighs. "both of you have a cold." She turns to Elton. "I'm sorry about this, but I'm going to need some ice, water and juice if we have any."
Elton nods. "Of course."
"And clean sheets for their room please."
"Here," Thomas stands up and reaches for Charlie. "come on my boy. Let's get you upstairs."
"How long have you two been feeling unwell?" she asks as they exit the dining room. Ruby sneezes on Kate, spraying her face. "Cover your nose Ruby, next time."
"Two days."
"Why didn't you say anything?" she asks as Thomas hands her his pocket-handkerchief. "Thank you."
"It weren't too bad." Charlie explains. "Now, I've got these chills."
"And you're sore?" Kate asks.
"Yes."
Kate sighs and looks at him. "I think it's Influenza."
