Part VI
He squeezed his eyes shut, begging, pleading with the universe to undo this. To let it have been a mistake. To let Isabelle live. He could not imagine her gone from his life. Her teasing words and unquestioned support, the joy she took in the smallest details of friendship, her scowls and her laughter, her soft mouth…it couldn't all be gone. He needed it. He needed her.
He was unaware that his hands were clenched into fists, and that tears were starting to flow down his cheeks. Please, God, please don't let her be dead, he whispered silently.
He heard Mauriri call his name, but he ignored it. What could he possibly say that would matter? Then another voice softly called to him.
"David, David, please open your eyes. It's all right."
His eyes flew open in shock. He stared at the apparition in front of him in complete and total amazement. It couldn't be. It couldn't possibly be. He had heard the gun go off, and it had been pointed at her. He had heard a body hit the ground. He lifted a shaking hand.
"Isabelle?" he whispered, his hand gently coming to rest on her face. It was real. She was real. The cheek was warm and soft under his hand. She leaned into his touch, her own hands coming up to hold his. She smiled and nodded. Joy suddenly burst sharply into his heart. She was alive!
"Oh my God!" he cried, and abruptly pulled her into his embrace. She was truly real and solid against him, her arms coming around to hold him tightly. He breathed in the scent of her hair, burying his fingers in her luxuriant dark curls. He drew back to stare into her lovely eyes, eyes that were sparkling with happiness and tears. Mindful of her split lip, he nonetheless placed his mouth squarely on hers and proceeded to kiss her thoroughly. She moaned into his mouth, her hands clutching fistfuls of his shirt as she pressed more fully into him. Finally he drew away, placing another gentle kiss on her forehead before grabbing her shoulders.
"How?" he asked her, his breath sounding harsh to his own ears. "I heard the gun, Isabelle, and he was aiming at you from so close. How did he miss you? Not that I'm complaining," he hastily added, one hand letting go of her shoulder to caress the curve of her cheekbone.
Isabelle smiled tremulously. David's show of emotion had shocked her, but at the same time had flushed her entire body with warmth. He really did care. It thrilled her, but now was not the time.
"He didn't miss, David," she said. Noting his confused, disbelieving look, she added, "He never shot in the first place. That was another gun."
Her head slowly turned back to where Barnes had been standing, and David followed her gaze. His jaw dropped as he took in the sight of Barnes lying facedown on the jungle floor, quite dead, blood still oozing from a bullet hole in his back. He looked up, his hands dropping from the loose embrace he had been holding Isabelle in.
He saw Katie, and saw the confusion that clouded her features. She was standing slightly behind where Barnes was. David took in her right arm, hanging limply at her side, and the still-smoking gun that was still held loosely in her hand.
She had shot him. It was Katie, not her cousin, which had fired the gun. It was Barnes instead of Isabelle lying on the ground in a pool of blood. The roar David had heard was Katie's gun going off moments before Barnes would have shot Isabelle. She looked at him, that confused look still in her eyes.
"I had to shoot, David," she said simply and softly. "He would have killed Isabelle, he really would have. I had to shoot…" Her voice trailed off as she looked down at the body. Her calm silence told David that she was in shock. All of a sudden her eyes widened and she gasped, the gun sliding from suddenly nerveless fingers.
"David!" she cried, her hands coming up to cover her mouth, her body starting to shake. She was coming out of the shock very quickly. David gave a quick nod to Isabelle, and she smiled briefly and pushed him towards Katie. In a few short steps, David had reached the girl.
"Katie?" he said, and gently put a finger under her chin. He raised her eyes to meet his. She stared at him, shock and confusion and terror filling the sapphire depths of her eyes. She clutched at him convulsively, her hands frantically crushing the cloth of his shirt.
"David, I killed a man!" she wailed, her body trembling as tears slid down her cheeks. "I killed him! I didn't even think, I just pulled the trigger, and shot him, and…and…David, his body jerked when I shot…I…I've never killed…" Her voice trailed off as she buried her head in David's chest.
He gently held her, soothing her maelstrom of emotions as best he could by stroking her tumbled hair and rocking her slightly. She shook in his arms as she cried. David spared a glance of disgust at Barnes' body. It was bad enough that the man had conspired to rob Katie of her business, and then threatened her, but even in his final moments he had found a way to do more damage to the girl. David knew how it felt to kill someone, and how the guilt could eat at you even if the killing was justified. He cursed Barnes silently for inflicting that kind of anguish on this gentle soul.
Finally Katie's shudders tapered off, and she stood silent in David's arms. He pulled away and bent his head to look at her. He placed a finger under her chin and raised her face until her eyes met his. She had stopped crying, but the look in those eyes hurt him. There was so much pain and sadness there, and an awareness that David had never thought he would see in her eyes. She was aware of what it felt like to have someone die of your own doing. He closed his eyes briefly at the unfairness of the universe, and then looked back at her.
"Are you all right to start back to the ship now?" he asked. Her eyes glanced down at his question, then carefully looked over at the others waiting patiently, before returning to David.
"It hurts, David," she whispered. "It feels like an awful pit in my stomach. He was a monster, but it still hurts."
"I know," he said, hugging her close again. He gently kissed her forehead and looked down at her again. She nodded her assent, and he started to guide her towards the others. Jack and Tah-mey had prodded the two pirates who were awake over to pick up their unconscious companions, and David noticed that Isabelle was holding a gun on them as Jack went over to get Barnes' body. Mauriri stepped up to David as he reached the group.
"David, we saw it all," he said. "Just in case Morlais asks." He looked directly at David, who nodded. He understood. Mauriri was saying that he wasn't to worry, that he would make Morlais understand why Katie shot Barnes, and why she should not be in trouble for it.
"Thanks, Mo," David said. In a lower voice that was tight with emotion, he added, "And thanks for coming after me."
Mauriri nodded his head once, and gave David a brief smile. Things were by no means settled between the two of them, but he wanted David to know that he would still stand by his friend. He took the gun from Isabelle, leaving her free to move to David and Katie.
"David, are you OK?" Isabelle asked. Her cuts had stopped bleeding, but David could see the ugly bruises that were starting to form on her cheek and jaw. He smiled at her concern. She had been treated nearly as roughly as he had been, minus one bullet wound, but she was expressing anxiety over him! He touched her hand.
"I'm fine, Isabelle, just a little worse for wear. Really. There's nothing that can wait until we get back to the Rattler."
She cast a disbelieving eye over the bandage freshly spotted with blood, but held her tongue. She turned to Katie and carefully wrapped the girl in a gentle hug. Katie clung fiercely to her, and it was several moments before she let Isabelle go. David turned and gestured to the men behind him, and they set off.
David walked with Katie on one side of him, holding tightly to his hand, with Isabelle walking on the other side of him, close enough for their hands to occasionally brush. Tah-mey was next, keeping an eye on the first pirate carrying his unconscious cohort, with Jack following, keeping his gun trained on the next pirate, and Mauriri brought up the rear as he dragged Barnes through the jungle.
They finally made it to the beach, where the Rattler waited, along with the Delphin, the ship Mauriri had borrowed. Morlais' man, who had been spending his time waiting by pacing back and forth, looked at the weary group in astonishment. He quickly recovered and went to take custody of the pirates. Mauriri and Jack pulled him aside and spoke quietly for several minutes. From the looks the man occasionally threw at Katie, David knew that his friends were telling the man what had happened. He finally looked up and spoke sharply to the pirates, telling them that they were under arrest, and directed them up on the Delphin. Tah-mey and Jack followed. Mauriri hesitated, and turned to David. He seemed to be struggling with words. David regarded him curiously, before Mauriri finally spoke.
"You don't look like you're fit to sail as well as tend to Isabelle and Katie, David. Why don't I come along for now and help you?"
David stared at him in astonishment. Mauriri wanted to sail with him on the Rattler, albeit for this brief trip to bring them home? It took a moment for him to recover his wits, but then he grinned at Mauriri and shook his hand.
"It'll be good to have you there, Mo," he said. Mauriri mumbled something and strode over to inform Jack and Tah-mey of the new arrangements. He couldn't help the small smile on his face.
David, turning back to the women, felt his smile fading as his eyes found Katie standing slightly apart, staring out at the sun slowly rising over the water. Her face was so lost. He gestured for Isabelle to proceed onto the Rattler, and then walked over to Katie. He grasped her arm and gently guided her to the ship.
Once they were underway, David left Mauriri at the helm and went down to the cabin where Isabelle and Katie were waiting. He found Isabelle finishing checking on the lump on Katie's forehead. The bandages tossed into a small box were evidence that Isabelle had checked the wound on Katie's back. Katie looked at David, and without a word passed him to go up on deck. He watched her leave with a worried look in his eyes.
"She'll be all right, David," Isabelle said, startling him a little. He turned to her and she sighed, rinsing her hands in a small basin of water. "She just has a lot to think about right now. She needs a little time to herself."
David took in Isabelle's ragged appearance and smiled inwardly. Even cut and bruised she was beautiful, made even more so by the care she expressed for his little "sister." He walked over to her and took the basin from her hands, dumping it out into a small bucket on the floor and filling it with fresh water. He turned back to Isabelle.
"Now it's your turn. Come on, Isabelle, sit down and let me have a look at those cuts. We have to make sure they're properly taken care of."
"And you're just the man to do it, huh, David?" she teased lightly, one eyebrow raised. He grinned at her and directed her to one of the bunks. She grudgingly accepted and sat down, turning her face up for his inspection. He carefully wet a cloth and gently cleaned the cuts, doing his best to keep from adding to her pain. Even so, she still hissed a few times during his ministrations. He shot her an apologetic look, and she accepted with a tiny nod. When he was done, he examined his handiwork critically.
"Looks like those will heal up nicely. Shouldn't leave a mark," he said, knowing that Isabelle liked to use her formidable attractiveness to give her an edge in business. She rolled her eyes at him and he grinned. Nimbly she hopped off the bunk and faced him.
"All right then, David, it's your turn. That shoulder needs to be looked at." She started to reach for the basin, as he had, but his hand on her arm stopped her.
"Thank you, Isabelle," he said, his face all seriousness. "Thank you for taking care of me and Katie. You were great out there, dealing with us and those pirates. I'm glad to have a friend like you."
She squirmed slightly, embarrassed at David's words, and, to her surprise, a little hurt. A friend. Only a friend. That was how David saw her, no matter what she felt for him, no matter what she thought had passed between them on Raiatea. She could not help the flash of disappointment that crossed her face.
"You're welcome, David," she said. "I was glad to do it." She avoided his eyes and again tried to reach for the basin.
David frowned. He knew as soon as that last sentence left his mouth that it was not quite right. And he had seen that look cross her face. He had no doubt that he had caused it, but he wasn't entirely sure why. He was sure that he wanted to know. Isabelle was complicated enough that he didn't want to guess. He touched her arm again.
"Isabelle?" he asked in confusion. Her eyelashes briefly swept up, and he knew that he didn't like the expression in those silvery green eyes. "Isabelle, what did I say? I really do admire you, you know. I'm sorry if-"
"It's nothing, David," she cut in hurriedly. "I'm just tired, I guess. Now really, we need to look at your shoulder."
This time he grabbed her arm.
"Isabelle-" he began, only to be cut off as Mauriri stuck his head into the cabin.
"David?" he said. "Katie has the wheel, and I-oh, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." He felt his face color slightly. He knew he had walked into the middle of something.
"No, you weren't interrupting, Mauriri," Isabelle said, with a tone in her voice akin to relief. "I was just telling David to let me have a look at his shoulder.
"Do you need any help?" Mauriri asked. He found a fresh bandage at Isabelle's direction, and held the pad in place as she wound the cloth around David's shoulder. David, for his part, was irritated. He felt that a few moments more and Isabelle might have told him what was troubling her. However, he knew better than to push right now, and gratefully accepted their aid. When they finished, Isabelle shooed them out of the cabin, reminding Mauriri that he should tend to the ship, and David needed to check on Katie. She sighed in relief when they left. She wasn't sure if she would have been able to hold off David's questions, and she didn't want to admit her feeling when he did not share them.
David stepped out on deck and took a deep breath of fresh sea air. He noticed that Mauriri was handling the wheel with remembered ease. He looked around the deck for Katie and found her sitting against the base of the mast, her head tipped back and her eyes closed. He noticed with some concern that her eyes were dark-shadowed, and her posture was one of utter weariness. He grimaced slightly. In the last couple of days, she had been pushed to the limits of her physical and mental endurance. She had run all over an island, had come through a storm, had watched a member of her own family murder several innocent men, had been shot and watched her friends being beaten, and to top it off, she had been forced to kill that selfsame family member. David wondered that she was able to hold it together so well and not be off in a corner indulging in some well-deserved hysterics.
He stepped closer to Katie and stood looking down at her. They were silent for a long moment, and then Katie sighed.
"I can hear you breathing, David. What is it?"
David shook his head, and then settled himself next to Katie, leaning back shoulder-to-shoulder with her against the mast. Katie opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. In spite of the brightness of the morning, shadows turned her eyes nearly navy blue.
"How are you feeling now, love?" David asked.
Katie cocked her head at the casual use of the endearment. David had used it frequently when she had first known him, and it felt nice to hear it again, like coming home to find a long-lost brother. She took in a deep breath and let it out in a noisy gust of air. She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs.
"I can't exactly say better, David. I don't think 'better' will be here for a little while. But I'm calmer. I'll be all right."
"I'm so sorry about this, Katie. I wish it hadn't happened, not to you."
Katie let out a throb of laughter that was perilously close to a sob.
"I'm no more or less special than anyone else, David. Bad things can happen to me just as easily as they can happen to you. Do you know what helps? It's that you're here, David."
David, somewhat stunned by Katie's faith in him, reached out and gripped her shoulders warmly, reassuringly, pulling her tightly to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed, and they simply sat there watching the clouds sail by. She would be OK, David surmised. She would be terribly sad for a bit, but she would be OK.
They made good time, and reached Matavai Bay about an hour before sunset. David and Mauriri had traded places, and David carefully steered the Rattler to the dock. He saw that the Delphin was already there and had disembarked. He grinned as he spotted Lieutenant Morlais grilling the first man in the line of pirates, loudly enough for the irritated tones to drift to David's ears.
Lianni, Lavinia and Clare watched anxiously as David finished. Lianni in particular had been anxious. Mauriri had given her only sketchy details before setting off after David. The worried look abruptly cleared as she saw Mauriri clamber down and complete the Rattler's docking. He turned and saw his wife beaming at him, and quickly swept her into an embrace, spinning her around as she laughed. He kissed her briefly but soundly, and then released her to hug Lavinia and Clare in turn.
David watched with a small stab of longing. He found himself wondering what it would be like to have someone waiting just as anxiously for him to come home. He turned to see that Isabelle had existed the cabin and was watching Mauriri and Lianni with a look on her face that seemed to mirror his own feelings. She caught him watching her and turned away to speak to Katie, who was just behind her. David frowned. The past few hours Isabelle had exhibited an uncomfortableness around him that he didn't like. He was bound and determined that after they talked to Morlais, he would sit her down and find out what was really wrong.
Isabelle preceded him down the walkway, only to be swept into a jumble of hugs from Clare, and, more surprisingly, Lavinia. David was amused by the startled look on her face. He saw that Isabelle really wasn't aware of just how much the opinions of the people around her had changed. Clare started talking a mile a minute, drawing Isabelle away, and David followed Katie down and was met by Lavinia. She smiled and gave him a tight hug, which he returned without reservation. He didn't notice the pained look Isabelle darted at him.
Lavinia turned to Katie and laid a hand on the girl's shoulder. After the Delphin had docked and Jack had given Clare a hug and kiss that left her blushing, he told them an extremely condensed version of the events, as far as he knew them.
"How are you, Katie?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.
"Calm," Katie said, throwing a glance at David, who smiled understandingly even as Lavinia seemed confused. "Really, I'm all right. I'll be fine, thank you."
Morlais interrupted them, asking the whole group to head over to the jail to at least give a preliminary statement while the details were still fresh in their minds. He was aware of their need to rest after their ordeal, but he didn't want anything important to be forgotten while they slept.
Though he tried, David couldn't manage to get close enough to Isabelle on the walk to the jail to talk to her. Once there, Morlais asked them questions about the events, exhibiting a gentleness that surprised David. Obviously Katie's appearance and Isabelle's condition were working in their favor. Once they were done, he excused them and asked the men to recount their memories of the past couple of days. David kept an eye on the door, where he could see Katie's profile as she presumably talked to Isabelle.
When they finished, promising to return the next day to give a fuller statement, David quickly went outside. He was most irritated to find Katie talking not to Isabelle, but to Lavinia.
"Where's Isabelle?" he asked, not quite hiding the exasperation in his voice. Lavinia cocked an eyebrow in amusement. So Katie's impressions had been right-something had happened between David and Isabelle on Raiatea.
"She went home, David," Katie answered. "She was very tired, and it's getting late. She's going to be at the jail tomorrow, just like we are. David, could we go to Lavinia's now, please?"
The tremor in her voice dismissed all of David's ideas to go and talk to Isabelle, in spite of the hour. He took a good look at Katie. She was very pale, and her hands were trembling.
"Of course," he said, smiling at her and tucking her hand into the crook of his arm. He escorted her back to her room for some much-needed rest. Once he had said good night, she quietly asked Lavinia to keep an eye on Katie. He could only imagine the nightmares she would face. Lavinia nodded solemnly and promised to check in on Katie regularly.
The next morning dawned bright and clear. In spite of the nightmares that had troubled her sleep the night before, Katie's eyes were clear and her face calm when David arrived to take her over for their interview with Morlais. She was still too pale for his liking, but she was composed.
She requested that David be present when Morlais questioned her, both to add to or correct the details she remembered as well as for emotional support. David winced slightly when Isabelle arrived. The bruises on her face were not as swollen, but they had colored her skin in a way that he knew she found most annoying. She spared him only a brief glance when she arrived, and went in to speak. David was worried about her state as well. He paced as they waited. Katie watched him with some amusement.
When they were called in, David was startled. Isabelle had not exited! Then he saw the second door where she had to have left from, and frowned. She was definitely avoiding him, and for the life of him he couldn't imagine why! Was she angry that he couldn't protect her? Ashamed of kissing him? Upset that he kissed her? His preoccupation was noticeable to Morlais, but he put it down to the stress of the past few days. Katie, however, was not fooled. She too had noticed Isabelle's behavior, and she could see that it was upsetting David.
By the time they finished, Katie was limp and drained. Retelling the things they'd had to go through had taken its toll on her. David was in better shape, but the anger he felt at Barnes' actions came through quite clearly.
Morlais cleared his throat. He stood up and faced the two.
"It seems quite clear, Mr. Grief, Miss Leighton, that you acted in the best way possible to keep yourselves alive and make sure that Mr. Barnes did not get away with what he was planning. As much as I appreciate your actions, I have to advise you to never, EVER, do it again! If I hear that you have gone after criminals without my knowledge, meaning that my trained men cannot do what is necessary, I will have no qualms about throwing both of you in jail for your behavior! You are NOT the police! Have I made myself clear?"
Katie and David mumbled an affirmative as they fidgeted in their seats. Morlais sighed, sat down, and with a wave of his hand dismissed them. David helped Katie up and escorted her back to the bar. Halfway there, Katie started laughing.
"Did you see his face, David? I thought he was going to burst! He was so torn between wanting to say good job for catching those pirates and wanting to wring both our necks for breaking so badly with protocol!"
Her laughter was music to David's ears. He understood that part of the reason she was laughing was release of the tension she had been under, as well as sincere amusement at Morlais, and he was glad to hear that sound again. He couldn't help grinning. His grin stayed all the way to Lavinia's bar, where Lavinia informed him that Isabelle had stopped by about an hour before to ask Lavinia to tell David and Katie that she was leaving for a few days on a trading trip to Papeete.
David stopped grinning. He scowled. He had been looking forward to having some time alone with Isabelle. He was determined to get to the bottom of her recent behavior. He wanted to know just what he had done to upset her. He abruptly excused himself, muttering something about checking over the Rattler.
Katie watched him go and sank down into a chair, sighing. It was early enough for the bar to be relatively empty. Lavinia settled down next to her, handing Katie a glass of water. Katie thanked her and took several long swallows.
Lavinia propped her chin on her hands and watched David walk towards the harbor, his back stiff. She shook her head.
"So, Katie, what do you think? Is David upset about something Isabelle did to him or something he did to her?"
Katie smiled. She appreciated that Lavinia chose not to ask about what had happened to her on Raiatea, and instead picked a safer topic. "So you noticed too? About him and Isabelle?" At Lavinia's nod, she turned to watch David disappear around a bend in the path, and continued.
"I could see there was something between them. It's the oddest thing. It's as if they don't want to admit it to themselves. But I'm certain something happened on that island. David got very red and skipped over that part when the lieutenant questioned him. After Mauriri arrived, I left with him to go back and get the others, and left David and Isabelle alone. They were alone for a few hours. Whatever it is that's bothering Isabelle, it happened then. And whatever David did to upset her worse, it happened later."
Lavinia shook her head. "Those two. You know, for the longest time David and I were something of an item. We were lovers."
"Yes, I know," Katie interrupted. "David wrote about you in his letters. He cared for you very much, and if I'm not mistaken, still does."
Lavinia raised an eyebrow at that. "Yes, we still love each other, but we fell out of love quite a while back. We were good with each other, but there was..I don't know, a spark of something missing between us. When Isabelle first came here, I wanted to blame her for David and I parting ways, but it wasn't her. We were on our way out before she showed up. It was just easier to blame her. But she's changed so much, for the better, and she's good for David." She smiled wryly. "I do have to admit that she probably understands him better than I do. And can you see how much she cares for him?"
"She loves him," Katie said quietly. "It's so obvious. She loves him so much. And I think maybe David could love her too, if he could get past his stupid idea that she's not right for him!"
Lavinia nodded. "He's afraid. The affair with Jenny really scarred him. I'm not sure if he thinks he can trust someone with his heart again. But you're right. Isabelle loves him." She gave an unladylike snort of derision. "And you'd think that what happened on Raiatea would make them understand how fragile life is, and how you can't take anything for granted. But those two! They're enough to try the patience of a saint!"
Katie grinned. "I know. But enough about them for now. I'm going up to my room to rest. Could you please fetch me for dinner? I don't think I can stomach lunch."
Lavinia agreed, and watched Katie walk up the stair. She admired the young woman's fortitude. David had told her much of what had happened, and she didn't know if she would be taking things as well as Katie was. She only hoped that Katie really was taking things well.
Four days later, Lavinia approached David. She watched him exchange awkward pleasantries with Mauriri. In spite of the fact that Mauriri had rushed to help David out on Raiatea, they were still not as comfortable with each other as Lavinia had hoped. They were oddly formal around each other, and David had yet to clap Mauriri familiarly on the shoulder or even visit Lianni and the kids for dinner. At least Mauriri had softened somewhat. Lavinia knew that he'd accepted David's offer of a short run around Matavai this morning to pick up some supplies. She only wished that there were some way to lock the two of them up until they had to air their grievances…She sighed and put that thought aside, waiting until David had bid Mauriri farewell.
He turned and saw her coming toward him, and smiled. She smiled back and hugged him.
"How are you this morning, David? How's the shoulder?"
He flexed his arm experimentally. "Much better, thanks. It's healing up nicely. The doctor took the bandage off yesterday, and says other than stiff muscles for a few more days, I should end up with nothing worse than another interesting scar."
"Good." She broke off, hesitating, and David urged her to continue. "David, I wanted to talk to you. It's Katie."
Alarm flared in his eyes. "What happened? Is she all right?"
"No, no, she's fine, David. Physically that is. It's just that, well, I'm worried about her. She gets up very early and goes to bed very late. She's pushing herself too hard, David. She's lost a couple of pounds, and she has a hollow look around her eyes. So far, except for that first night, she hasn't woken me up with nightmares, but I don't think she's sleeping, either."
David frowned. He too had noticed something off about Katie, but she had brushed it off, telling him that she'd just been keeping busy.
"What should I do?"
Lavinia rested her hand on his arm. "Go talk to her, David. You're like family to her. You're probably the one person she feels really comfortable enough with to talk about it. It's like a festering wound, David. It's only going to get worse if something isn't done now."
He nodded and leaned over, kissing her cheek. She smiled and playfully swatted his arm.
"Now, none of that, you flirt. Get going and see to your 'sister.'"
"Thank you, Lavinia," he said with a serious face. "I really do appreciate what you're doing for Katie. What did I do to deserve a friend like you?"
She laughed. "Oh, one of the gods probably took pity on you. Go, shoo!" He chuckled and headed off towards the bar. She watched him go. She hoped he could help, because she really was worried about Katie. At least, she reasoned, David would do no more harm to the girl.
David found Katie inside the bar, poring over a sheaf of papers in front of her. Inventory lists, from the look of them. Most likely they were records from the ships that had been attacked. The pirates had been surprisingly helpful, urged on no doubt by Morlais' threats of immediate hanging if they didn't cooperate. Though a great deal of the cargo of the raided ship had been lost, enough was being recovered to make the losses suffered by Leighton Shipping much less severe.
He sat down next to her and snatched the papers away. She let out a cry of protest, and David was shocked by her appearance. Lavinia was right. Her eyes were lost in the dark shadows that surrounded them, and her skin was so pale she looked ill. He put the papers down and grabbed her hands, scooting his chair closer to her.
"My God, Katie, look at you! You look like Death warmed over!"
"Nice to see you too, David," she muttered sourly. She tried to tug her hands away to no avail, and gave up. She sat and glared at him.
"That's my business, David. I have to check on those inventories. I have to account for everything-"
"Not to the point of making yourself sick, Katie. When was the last time you ate? Slept?" She squirmed, refusing to look him in the eye. Knowing that they needed more privacy, David stood and pulled her with him out the back door. Still holding one of her hands, he used his other hand to raise her chin until she looked him in the eye.
"Can you talk to me, Katie? Lavinia is worried. I'm worried."
"What do you want me to say, David? I'm fine. I just have to work hard."
"No," he contradicted. "This is not fine. You are not fine. Please, Katie, talk to me. I love you. I only want to help."
"You can't," she snarled, pulling away hard enough to make him release her. She stood a few feet away, arms crossed defensively. David simply watched her struggle to find the words she wanted.
"You can't take away the nightmares, David. Every time I close my eyes, I see his face. I see the blood. I watch him fall. I can smell the smoke from the gun and taste the sweat in my mouth. I watch him be shot and fall over and over again. God, David, how can you help with that?" Her tone was full of pain.
David stepped closer and took her shoulders in his hands. "I can be here, Katie. I can listen. I can understand."
He watched her face crumple, and she started to cry. He led her to a small woodpile and sat her down. For the next half hour he made good on his word and listened to her pour out her fear and pain. Sometimes his heart ached, but he controlled his reactions and just let her talk. Finally she ran out of words and they just sat there for a while. He watched her face. She still looked tired, but the lines of pain had faded, and her clear eyes were just a little bit bluer.
"Thank you, David," she whispered. "I needed that."
"You're welcome, Katie. You know, I think I needed that too. I've been feeling so helpless about what happened to you, and wondering what I could do to help."
"You did the right thing, David. So we're both a little better now."
He grinned. "Well, you are. I'm afraid I may still be just as much a scoundrel as before."
His words had the intended effect, and she laughed. Then she hesitated, biting her lip.
"David, may I ask you something?"
"Of course."
She took a deep breath. "Do you know that Isabelle arrived here last night?" At his cautious nod, she continued. "Have you talked to her yet?"
He looked down, suddenly very interested in the wood grain beneath him. "I don't imagine that we have anything to talk about. She obviously doesn't want to be around me," he mumbled, unaware of the frustration in his voice.
Katie heard it. Now it was her turn to help. She got up and moved until she stood directly in front of him. He looked up at her.
"David, you need to talk to her. You can't let things go worse."
"Why not?" he countered. "She hasn't tried to talk. Why should I want to fix things between us?"
"Because you fit, David. The two of you fit so perfectly. I can see that so clearly. Why can't you?"
David was, for once, completely and utterly floored. He and Isabelle fit? Perfectly? And Katie could see this? He thought about it. He certainly admired Isabelle, both her magnificent looks and even more magnificent mind. She was a good partner and a hard worker. He didn't want to even imagine her out of his life, but this? Did they really fit? Katie's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"David?" When he looked at her again, she continued. "David, can you answer one more thing? Don't even think." When he raised his eyebrows, she went on. "David, do you think you could be falling in love with Isabelle?"
David was too flustered to even try and evade the question.
"Yes." His admission obviously startled him, but as he mulled it over in his mind, it became easier to say. "Yes, I think I could be falling in love with her. She's the most exasperating woman I've ever met! She drives me crazy. Of course that makes her perfect for me."
Katie swallowed a smile. She grabbed David's hand and pulled him to his feet. She hugged him tightly, and then turned him away from the bar.
"Then you go and talk to her, you big idiot. And, David, thank you for being here."
He touched her cheek, still bemused by her questions. She smiled, and then determinedly shoved him in the direction of Isabelle's stables.
David allowed himself to be moved, hearing the back door close behind him as Katie went into the bar. He continued walking as he tried to process what he had said. In love with Isabelle. Surprisingly, it wasn't as disturbing a thought as he imagined it would be. He was so lost in his thoughts that he was nearly at Isabelle's stables before he registered the fact that he had been walking. He stopped abruptly, debating whether or not to go in. Just as he had about convinced himself that this was not the right time, he spotted Isabelle coming out of the stables and heading for her office.
He squared his shoulders. David Grief was many things, but coward wasn't one of them. He headed off after Isabelle.
He caught up with her just as she reached the stairs.
"Isabelle!" he called.
She turned in surprise, and he got a good look at her face. The bruises had faded, and only the cut on her cheek stood out against her fair skin. He was taken back by the irritation in her face as she caught sight of him. She sighed.
"What is it, David? Can you make it quick? I have things to do."
He didn't allow her to dissuade him. "I heard that you were back and just wanted to drop by and see how you were doing. How are you doing?"
She rolled her eyes. "Obviously fine, David. Anything else?"
"How was Papeete?"
"Hot."
"Did you get all your trading done?"
She sighed again and reached out to grab his arm. "Come on, David. As much fun as it is to stand out here and chat, I really do have things to do. We can talk while I make a cup of tea, and then you can go."
He followed her up the stairs until they reached her office. He allowed her to go ahead of him, and stopped with his hand resting on the doorknob. Now or never. He thought he knew of the one question that he very much wanted to ask her, a question that had been plaguing his mind for days. He waited until she turned towards him, her arms crossed and the slender fingers of one hand tapping out an impatient rhythm on the opposite arm.
"Isabelle, do you remember that question I asked you on Raiatea? If that kiss we shared meant so little to you? I'd like an answer."
Isabelle's arms and mouth dropped in shock as she stared at David, eyes wide. She had not been expecting that question. She was unable to do anything but watch helplessly as David moved further into her office and shut the door behind him.