The Root of All Evil

A/N: Is it bad to say that I already have ideas for part 4?

Chapter 3

He was sitting on the top step when she made her way out the door, staring out into the dark night. It was late and a flicker of worry made its way through her at the thought of everyone making it back to town okay. But they would be fine. The miners may be loud and obnoxious but they weren't vicious. They wouldn't hurt anyone.

She placed a hand protectively— instinctively— over her belly as she took the couple of steps to the stairs and sat down beside her father. He was silently staring out into space and she stared out with him, watching everything and nothing in the evening sky. A firefly flickered in the distance, dancing over the grass. She smiled. Summer would be here soon. That meant picnics and swimming in the creek. Not that she would ever admit that she still liked to do those things, of course. She might just have to sneak off, pulling Rick along behind her, as they wandered off for a day. Her smile faltered and she shook her head. She could make plans for summer later, when she was finished being angry.

"You should have told me, Katie," he father started softly.

He was still staring straight ahead, no other motion. No indication that he had even said anything except for the words hanging between them.

"I was going to. I promise. I just wanted to tell Rick first. I didn't know he was going to announce it. Stupid, foolish man."

Jim let out a snort in response. "You have your hands full with that one. He's just excited, though. I don't blame him. Come on. I have something to show you."

He pushed himself off of the step and walked steadily down to the path. Kate watched him for a moment, a small curious smile on her face. He had been doing so well since the winter. His pneumonia was gone and he was almost back to his old self. The warmer air was definitely doing him well. After another second she followed him down the path to the barn, pausing to pick up the lantern from the bottom step.

"I've been working on this for a while. It's not done yet, but I think it looks pretty good already," Jim introduced as he pulled open the door to one of the empty stalls.

Kate glanced in and let out a little laugh as she saw the half finished cradle sitting on the floor, woodworking tools scattered around it. She turned to her father, flinging her arms around him in a tight hug; her head nestled into his shoulder.

"You knew?" She asked as she pulled back, her eyes wide.

"Oh, Katie, of course I knew. You're not exactly the most discrete pregnant woman. I was just upset that you didn't tell me," Jim stated and Kate wrapped her arm around him, leaning into his side.

"I'm scared, Papa."

Jim smiled at the childhood name she used only once in while now. "I know, but everything is going to be fine. Lanie is the best midwife around and Rick is going to be waiting on you hand and foot. I can already tell."

Kate let out a small laugh, bringing a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose. "That man."

Jim chuckled. "That man loves you and is excited. You can't fault him for that."

Kate shot him a look, mouth pinched, eyebrow raised.

"Okay, you can fault him for that but you shouldn't. What you should do, is go back in there, tell him you're sorry and that you really do want to get married because we both know that's the truth."

Kate let out a sigh and glanced over at her father one last time.

"Okay, well you don't have to apologize but at least let him know that he's not in trouble."

Another look.

"Not too much trouble?"

Kate let out a light laugh and bent back over to pick up the lantern as she nodded in agreement.

"Fine," she grumbled as she led the way back to the main house.

Jim shook his head as he followed his daughter's path. "That poor, poor man."

"Hush, I'm not that bad," Kate admonished.

"Oh, darlin'," Jim retorted. "You don't even know."

The room fell silent as they walked back through the door and Castle's chair nearly fell over as he rushed to stand in greeting. Kate took one look at him, the worry and apology etched on his face, and let out an exasperated eye-roll before sitting back down in her chair and spooning another helping of cooling stew onto her plate.

Her eyes drifted up and she let out another sigh as she saw him watching her, cautiously pulling his chair back up to sit down.

"What?" She snapped. "You wanted me to eat didn't you?"

He continued to stare at her wide-eyed and nodded slowly as she let out another huff and brought a spoonful to her mouth. Alexis made a sound somewhere between a giggle and a snort and Kate schooled her features, not allowing herself to crack a smile. Sometimes it was too easy to mess with the man.

He eyed her one last time before turning to Alexis, seemingly dropping the topic of his big mouth for the moment. "Where's Laura? I thought she would be joining us tonight?"

Alexis perked up a little bit, a smile flickering across her face. "Laura is on a cattle drive. Her friend, Olivia, is a ranch hand on her father's farm. She and her brother Beau do the drive every year. Laura went along to learn the ropes. She really likes working with the animals. She's talking about learning to be a veterinarian but she also said that she isn't to keen on going back east for school, so she might just stay on and learn on the farm. They should be back in a couple of weeks."

Castle nodded and his face broke into a small smile at his daughter's enthusiasm. It was good to see her adjusting so well to life in Colorado Springs. She did seem more at home in the west than she ever had in New York.

The couples started to drift out after a few more minutes and Ryan volunteered to drive them all back to town in the wagon he had started taking around since Jenny could no longer comfortably ride a horse. Esposito scooped Kate up in a hug before shooting Rick a glare and turning towards the door.

"You and me, hombre, we have some things to discuss," he stated quietly before Lanie tugged on his arm and gave him an exasperated sigh.

Castle gulped slightly and Kate took pity on him, squeezing his hand gently. The poor man had been through enough for one day, no need to add idle threats to the mix.

"I've got him under control Javi," she reassured and Castle shot her a relieved look. "I'll let you know if I need back up, though."

Esposito eyed him for another moment before nodding in ascent and allowing Lanie to guide him towards the door.

Castle turned to look at Kate as the last of their guests left, leaving Jim, Alexis and them alone in the house.

"Does this mean I'm forgiven?" He asked quietly.

"Not even close," she answered as she sat back down and continued eating. "If you're lucky, I will give you a blanket so you're not cold sleeping in the loft tonight."

"The loft?" Castle squeaked. "With the hay and the horses?"

Kate nodded as she chewed, shooting him a questioning look. "Where did you think you would be sleeping?"

Castle opened his mouth to say 'with you' before snapping it back shut again, catching a glimpse of Jim and Alexis staring at him with arms crossed over their chests, staring at them from the other side of the room. Instead he bent down to whisper in her ear.

"We're getting married tomorrow."

She turned to him with a raised eyebrow and he stuttered in response, amending his last statement. "As long as that's okay with you, I mean."

A small smile slipped out and she tilted her head to give him a soft kiss on the cheek. "Tomorrow."

Kate whistled as she jogged up the steps to the post office. She was in a good mood. She had slept the entire night and hadn't woken up to a bought of nausea. All in all it was starting out as a beautiful day.

She paused to run a hand through her hair and picked out a piece of straw. A slight blush tingeing her cheeks. Rick, for all of his grumbling about having to sleep in the loft, had greeted her very well when she had gone into the stables to brush Whisper earlier that morning. Their good morning kiss had ended up taking up the better part of an hour. She had considered going in for round two when Alexis had run the bell announcing breakfast. Kate had to admit that she liked this symptom of pregnancy a lot better than the nausea.

They had split up when they had gotten to town, Rick going to talk to the minister while Kate headed to the post to see if any packages or telegrams had arrived for them. A hand shot out as she reached for the doorknob and she looked up to see a tall man grinning down at her.

"Hello," he nodded in greeting, his tailored vest, pocket watch and pressed shirt announcing that he was an outsider.

"Good morning," she responded warily, nodding her head slightly as she placed her hat back on her head.

The man pulled open the door and Kate stared at him for a moment before walking through, cocking her head slightly to watch as he stepped in after her.

Will, the telegram operator, called out to her in greeting and Kate nodded back, her attention still on the mysterious man beside her. Her stomach began to gnaw and she took in a deep breath, willing the nausea to stay at bay. She glanced up at him again. There was something about him that she didn't like. Something small. His smile was too wide, his confidence too full. There was an air about him that made her gut twinge.

She pulled the ginger root out of her pocket and bit off a tiny piece to chew.

"You're Kate Beckett, right? The sheriff?" The man began and Kate nodded slowly in confirmation, her eyes narrow.

"I have to say that is something, I have never met a female sheriff before."

Kate stared at him for a moment longer.

"You're not big on talking, are you? Well, my name is Demming. Tom Demming," the man continued, holding out his hand.

Kate reached out and took it, shaking it firmly, her eyes still glancing him over, trying to get a read on him. Her face neutral; no emotions, just steel. "Nice to meet you Mr. Demming. What brings you to Colorado?"

"The mine, of course. I'm a lawman myself, you see. I have some clients with a vested interest in this mine and I have been brought in to make sure that everything goes smoothly. I think we could work very well together." Demming's face broke into a wide grin as he took a step closer to Kate.

Kate took a step back. "I'm sure we would Mr. Demming, but my deputies and I have been taking care of this town just fine by ourselves for years. I'm sure we can handle it on our own."

Demming let out a light chuckle before taking a step back and placing his hat on his head. "We'll see about that."

Kate watched as he made he way back out the door before turning back to Will, her bottom lip drawn between her teeth as she chewed on it softly. Confusion and concern etched on her features.

"What was that about?" Will questioned from his spot behind the counter and Kate shook her head.

"I have no idea," she mumbled before shaking her head and giving Will a smile. "What do you have for me today?"

Will handed her a couple of large packages and a stack of letters. "These came in for you on the train. Oh, and I almost forgot…"

His voice trailed off and she watched as he shuffled through a stack of papers, pulling a telegram out from the middle. "This telegram came in for you from Washington."

She nodded at him, mumbling a 'thank you', and turned towards the door, reading the telegram as she went. The stack of packages nestled under her arm.

The People vs. Ethan Bryant trial verdict. Stop. Cleared of all charges. Stop. Release date April 13. Stop.

Kate stopped in her tracks and the packages fell to the ground as the world went black.