Chapter 5

Flashback: Silverside, Mississippi. A young couple sat on the banks of the river. A small quiet place on the south side of the farm at Silverside Acres. Charlie and Katie had been dating for months now and it was their 6 month anniversary.

Small red rubies sparkled in the sun as a small black box was slowly opened. "What in the world?" An innocent strawberry blonde asked. "Oh, Jimmy it's beautiful!" The young girl exclaimed as the necklace was gentle laid around her neck.

Charlie smiled, "I saw it in the display window and knew it would look beautiful on you." He admitted as he fastened the clip.

She started to tear up, "I don't deserve this, Jimmy." She looked down and ran her fingers across the strand.

"Are you crying?" Charlie turned her to face him, "I don't deserve you, Kaitlyn Peters... but I got ya." He wiped away a falling tear and kissed away the next before it could fall. He smiled.

Katie chuckled as she wiped away another tear, "I'm not..." She ducked her head.

Charlie sighed and placed his hand under her chin, "Katie, sweetie, we've already talked about this. I don't care about your past, where you came from, or how much money you have. My family has enough for both of us. Soon I'll be appointed to take over the family business and run Silverside Banks. You'll never have to work, and I'll take care of us and hopefully someday our children."

Katie nodded and forced a slight grin, "but..."

Charlie shook his head, "No buts." He smiled, "Do you love me, Miss Peters?"

Katie pouted, "You know I do." and smiled.

"Do you trust me?" Charlie asked.

"Jimmy... It's not that... It's... It's... It's my mother." Katie forced.

"Oh, horse feathers!" Charlie stood up and reached for Katie's hand as a horse drawn carriage made its way down the wooded trail. "I'm not worried about that old bag of bones." Charlie teased, "We can take care of her too."

Katie laughed, "You're too good for your own good." She stood and heard the beat of horse hooves, "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise!" Charlie teased.

"I thought the picnic was the surprise!" Katie looked back to the blanket.

"No, silly. The picnic was to insure we didn't famish." Charlie smiled and reached for her hand again, "Come on!"

Charlie helped Katie up. He check his back pocket. The small black box was still there. He smiled and climbed in behind her.

It was getting dark and it was time for Katie to get home. She was already late. She hated leaving her charmed fairy tale with Jimmy to return home to her mother. Her happiness of being engaged to someone she actually loved, this time, helped ease the sorrow she knew would be waiting on her. Charlie and Katie sat in silence on the ride home. Charlie looked out the window, thinking she was asleep. He had his arm wrapped around her tight and her head rested on his shoulder. She looked down at her left hand and ran her right over the glistening diamond. She sniffled.

Hearing the concerning sound, Charlie quickly focused his attention to her, "What's wrong, sweetie?"

Katie didn't want him to know she was crying. Or that she would have to tell her mother she finally landed the ring. This time was different. She usually didn't actually fall in love. The con with her mother had become strictly business; cold and heartless... She quickly wiped away her thoughts and tears, "Nothing. I'm just so happy." She forced a smile.

"Ok good." Charlie smiled as the carriage came to a halt. "I thought you were having second thoughts or something."

"We're here, Mr. Edwards." The driver called out.

Katie scoffed. She looked up and smiled, "Not on your life."

Charlie climbed out and helped Katie to the ground. "I shouldn't be gone for long. I just have to sign a few thing for dad and the Army. Fort Dodge should be a quick trip." He brushed the fallen hair away from her face, "Then we can start planning things when I get back." He brought her arms around his neck.

"I love the sound of that." She laced her fingers and brought him down for a kiss, "I truly love you, James Edwards. Don't you forget it." There was no tease in her voice, only sincerity.

Charlie smiled, "I'll keep it close to my heart, I promise." He kissed her sweetly. "Good night." He decided to sit next to the driver for the ride back home, "I'll send word when I arrive at Fort Dodge."

Katie nodded. They shared another smile as she watched them ride off into the darkness. She let out a sigh and turned to a rundown shack. Her mother didn't even leave the torch burning. The front was dark and her only path was shown with help from the moon.

She silently made her way on the porch and slowly opened the front door. She was 22 years old when she was with Jimmy, but she was only a child when she was anywhere near her mother. The door creaked open, "Mama?" She quietly called. For a moment no answer. Her first thought was her prayers had been answered. Hopefully her mother had gone or died... she didn't care.

"Where have you been?" An elderly sounding woman called from the ghostly dark living room. She stood and walked toward Katie with a kerosene lamp.

Katie cringed. Then closed the door. "I told you Jimmy and I were celebrating our 6 month anniversary."

With no warning, a hand from the darkness landed it's sting across her face, "I told you no smartin off!" The smell of whiskey was overpowering.

Katie grabbed her face and dropped her head, "I'm sorry, mama." She could feel the tears beginning to surface, "I thought you knew."

"Never mind that you little filly." The angry old witch greedily demanded, "Did you get it?"

"Mama, I told you..." Katie tried straightening back up.

The old woman grabbed Katie's upper left arm tight enough to make a bruise, "Don't make mess that face up again. That's the only thing ya got to save ya, remember that."

Katie could see the redness of her mother's eyes, "Yes ma'am." She helped raise her left hand.

"It's perfect!" Evil thoughts stirred in the old woman's mind, "We should get a pretty prize for this one." Then the necklace danced in the candle light, "Oh! ... and a necklace! You did good this time, Katie Kat."

"I don't want to steal and sell anymore, Mama. Jimmy said he would take care of us and..."

"And what? He loves you?" Lorraine Peters raised her voice. "They all say that! They never mean it! They say they will take care of you, but they want you to take care of them... or they'll find someone else to take care of them and their needs and leave you alone to rot."

Katie started crying, "Jimmy's different. He cares... he..."

"He's a liar! Just like your sweet ol daddy, cupcake." Lorraine turned back toward the living room and sat back in her chair. Katie followed and sat next to the fireplace. It was quiet for a moment. Lorraine took another sip of whiskey and looked at her daughter, "You plannin on a date already, aren't ya?" Then looked back in the fire.

Katie nodded silently. Then looked up at her mother, "He's leaving for Fort Dodge, Kansas in the morning. He has to pick up a few things at the base and sign some paperwork and pick up..." She paused.

Lorraine looked up quickly, "Pick up what?..."

Katie let out too much, "Nothing, mama... just some stuff his father left him."

"Money for the Banks of Silverside... isn't it?" Lorraine was money hungry.

"No, mama... just..." Katie couldn't lie, especially to her mother.

Lorraine stood and drew her hand back, "Don't lie to me!"

Katie shielded her face, "Gold!" She whispered, "Gold for the banks."

Lorraine sat back down. She thought in silence for a few minutes. Katie thought she had passed out. After a few moments Lorraine mumbled, "We'll just have to kill him... in Dodge." Then fell silent in slumber.

Katie looked up. Hoping she didn't just hear what she thought she did. Not again. She stood and took the glass from her mothers hand. She placed it on the table and then covered her aging mother up. She picked the glass back up and turned to a photograph on the mantle. It was a young, beautiful couple in their 20s; a handsome black headed man, dressed in the finest from head to toe Southern Mississippi; a blonde headed beauty with clothes to match, holding a newborn baby girl with fleece white hair. Katie smiled at a memory she couldn't remember. She looked at her the picture of her father and mother, "I miss you, daddy." She turned to the once southern belle of beauty that let her self go, "I miss you, mama."

With that she turned up and finished the last swig of whiskey and walked upstairs.

TBC