The Road Not Taken

Chapter 28

June 17, 1974

Katie was going stir-crazy. Although she was much happier being at home where she knew her family would provide their love and support and wouldn't hurt her mentally or physically, she had been out from under this particular roof for several months. While she wanted to leave her most recent life with Chuck, she didn't want to trade it for going back to being the sole Beckett child at the farm. Currently Sam was there, but that would change soon enough when he went back to school.

Sam had said he needed to go into town for a few things and offered to have Katie join him. She jumped at the chance. Besides, she needed to get a few things herself, especially if she was going to go on vacation with Sam early in July. Chuck had limited what Katie wore, throwing out most of her clothes when she had moved into the house with him. He said she didn't need anything her parents had provided for her. He'd be the only one to provide what she wore.

The house was owned by Chuck's grandparents. They had moved to Florida the previous year and allowed the house to be rented out by Chuck's parents, who resided in Indianapolis where Chuck's father was a state legislator. After Chuck and Katie had eloped, the Parnell's had let them live in the home rent free as long as Chuck covered any other bills associated with setting up house. He'd indicated to her the need to keep things perfect. He wasn't going to have his grandparent's house trashed. He expected her to keep it spotless and in good repair. Once, when he noticed a scuff mark on the wall – Katie was sure it was there when they moved in – he'd smacked her hard enough to bloody her nose. She'd been afraid it had been broken but it healed okay.

Sam headed off to the music store where his recent order of some sheet music had arrived. He'd decided to delve into other formats of music after his concert at Carnegie Hall the previous year. Andrew Ross had pointed him in some directions that challenged his considerable skills.

Katie entered the Ladybug Shop, the little clothing store that had graced the small downtown of Elk Ridge for many years, when she heard a voice calling her.

"Katie Beckett! No it's Parnell now, isn't it? Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you for months. Nobody ever answered at the number you gave me." It was Elaine, one of Katie's best friends before Chuck had told her she needed to "lose those losers." He felt she needed no one but him.

"Oh, we had some problems with our phone," Katie lied. At that moment, she realized that she had changed. Being with Chuck had done that to her. Maybe she didn't have the brains Sam said she had after all. "I'll let you know when I have a working number again." She couldn't let Elaine know that not only had she failed at school but also as a wife and that she'd run home to Mommy and Daddy.

"Want some help picking things out, like we used to do?" Elaine asked hopefully.

"Uh, no, that's okay. I just wanted to see if anything new had come in." She glanced around quickly. "Guess not. Well, I really need to get back. I'll give you a call sometime."

Elaine was absolutely stunned at how Katie was acting. They were best friends, or had been before Katie had met Chuck. Then, slowly at first, Katie had pulled away from her. They just didn't talk anymore. She hadn't seen or heard from Katie since a month before her elopement. She was still miffed that she'd had to learn about that through other friends.

Thus Elaine has some heat in her voice when she finally spoke. "Katie, you obviously don't want to talk or get together. Just forget it." Katie cringed as her previous best friend turned and walked out the door.

Katie's face turned red. Why couldn't she have just started to mend the fences instead of pushing Elaine away? She felt even lower. Maybe she deserved what she'd been experiencing after all. Maybe she was just as stupid as Chuck said she was.

She looked around the shop again but any joy in finding new clothes had been effectively dampened. She decided to find Sam and see about going back to the farm. Right after passing the tavern on the way to the music store, she felt her arm pulled suddenly and roughly. She turned around to face Chuck. On the surface, he had a charming smile and a quiet voice. But the pressure on her arm was hurting. He'd obviously seen her leaving the small clothing store.

"Well, well. My wife is out shopping today. Find anything, darling?"

"Chuck, let me go. You're hurting me," Katie whined, trying to get out of his hold.

He shook his head. "Not a chance, honey bun. Why don't you come on into the Tavern with me? I've almost finished my beer. Then we can head on home. You know that's where you belong, Katie. A wife should be with her husband."

Noticing that there was no one around to hear, Katie made her plea. "Chuck, I want to come with you but I don't want to be hurt anymore."

With a smile befitting a great white, her husband answered, "Oh, baby. I won't. I promise I won't ever hurt you again. You know I was just under some stress. It'll be okay now. Just come home with me. You'll see."

Katie started faltering, moving closer to him. He lessened the grip he had on her. "You promise, Chuck? It will be like it was at first?"

Chuck continued to grin. "Of course, honey. Didn't I always say I'd take care of you?"

Suddenly, a hand reached up and caused Chuck to lose his grip on her arm entirely. "Get away from her," came the command.

"Oh joy, it's your brother." Chuck voice was sarcastic and the look in his eyes showed pure hatred. He turned to Sam, narrowing his eyes. "Why don't you mind your own business?"

"My sister is my business." Sam was pulling Katie around so that he would provide a shield for her.

Katie tried to come to the front, but Sam was blocking her. "Sam, it's all right. Chuck was just apologizing."

Sam turned and looked at Katie, pain in his eyes. "Don't you remember what the counselors said, Sis? They said he'd try that. I don't want you to be hurt anymore."

She pulled herself up, the top of her head just above his chest. "I can take care of myself, Sam."

"Yeah, Sam." Chuck said his voice with a sneer. "You shouldn't meddle in married people's lives."

Several of the town's people had stopped to see what was going on as they noticed the three people outside the tavern. Chuck reached back suddenly, obviously planning to slug Sam. As his fist flew towards Sam's face, it was blocked and Sam grabbed his arm and pulled it around his back. "Katie, go to the car."

"But Sam…"

"You heard me. Go to the car."

Chuck was livid. He struggled to get free but grimaced as he realized that in that position, he wouldn't be able to. Sam had too strong a grip on him. "Let me go you jerk. You can't keep me from my wife."

"She won't be your wife for much longer," Sam barked back.

Chuck snarled, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that an annulment is in the works, you bastard." Sam tightened the arm against the man's back, causing Chuck to grimace.

"I'll never agree to an annulment. She's my wife and I'll see that she's returned to me."

Sam said clearly but with heat in his voice. "You're not coming near her again, you hear me?! I'll make sure of that! You try coming within an inch of my sister and you'll pay dearly."

Sam looked over to the car and noticed that Katie was in the passenger side looking very uncomfortable, almost in tears. He released his hold on Chuck, backing away from him with his hands splayed as the man glared at him. He noticed that people were staring at the two of them.

"You'll regret this, Beckett. I guarantee this isn't over!"

Sam didn't say a word in response. He slipped into the driver's side and turned over the engine. He pulled the car away from the curb and headed out of town.

Katie looked over to him. "Why did you do that, Sam? He was apologizing. He promised he wouldn't hurt me anymore. I'm his wife."

Sam looked at Katie, sorrow streaming from his eyes. "Katie, you can't go back to him. He's still drinking and he'll say anything to have you return. Don't you remember how miserable you were? Haven't the counselors told you what happens with these abusive types? If you go back, you'll regret it."

Katie nodded her head down. "But Sam, who else would ever want me? I'm such a loser."

Sam realized that his sister still had a long way to go before recovering from her time with Chuck. "You're not a loser, Katie. There is so much to love inside of you. You'll find someone, I promise. Someone who will treat you like the beautiful, sensitive woman you are!" Sam couldn't believe that the little sister he'd always known could be brought down this far by the man whose lies she'd chosen to believe.

They reached the Beckett home quickly and Katie left to go into the house. She barely said hello to her parents but, rather, rushed up to her room.

Sam walked in, noticing the looks of confusion on his parent's faces. "Chuck was in town."

His mother and father looked to each other and back to Sam. "What happened?" asked John.

"Um, we got into a little verbal altercation and I pulled his hand off Katie and put it behind his back. The people in town sort of noticed something going on." Sam's voice began to rise just a bit as anger tinted his words. "I can't believe how much he's brainwashed Katie. She thinks she's a loser and has nothing to offer anyone!"

"That's crazy, Sam!" His mother was shocked at this epiphany. "Katie's a wonderful girl."

"I know that, Mom and you know that. But Katie doesn't believe it." Sam went over to the phone book and started looking for a number.

"What are you doing, Sam?" his father asked.

"I'm calling the police. We need to get a retraining order. Keep Chuck away from her."

The three of them looked at each other and nodded as Sam dialed the number.