Through the Waters

by Emma A.

Picture #11 Bend in the Road

          Why do I have to watch over Andi and Melinda? Can’t Luisa do that? Or Mother. She has enough time on her hands. But I have to do it all because I’m the oldest girl. I ha--

“Katherine! Please come get Andrea. She needs a new outfit as well.”

Katherine Carter snapped shut her journal and stuffed it under her mattress. She rolled her eyes and moodily said to the buried diary, “See. I told you.”

Before exiting the room, Kate looked in her mirror. She smiled. How attractive she looked! And oh… her gorgeous dress fit her fifteen-year-old body just perfectly.

“Katherine!”

“Coming!” Kate scurried down the stairs. Her mother stood at the foot of them, her foot tapping impatiently.

“Kate, I’ve been calling you for the past few minutes. Why didn’t you answer?”

“I… I was busy.” Kate looked at her shoes. Mother handed her baby Andrea Rose then hurried to the kitchen to help finish supper.

Kate looked at her younger sister in disgust. Why did Andi have to soil her dress so often?

Kate held the two-year-old at arm’s length and marched back upstairs. Laying her sister down on the bed, Kate changed Andi into fresh things and sternly told her, “Use the bathroom and not your diaper.”

Andi smiled, her two dimples showing. “I will Kate.”

Kate’s heart melted a bit and her frown was not so fierce. “Good girl,” she said, hugging Andi. “Now how about we go find Father. He should be home by now.”

“Fader!” Andi cried, pulling her sister’s hand.

Kate laughed and followed Andi. They met Melinda in the hall, playing with her dolls. The seven-year-old looked up at her big sister and asked sweetly, slipping her hand into Kate’s, “Is Father home, yet?”

Kate squeezed the smooth hand. “We’re going to find out. Want to come?”

Melinda nodded and the three sisters trooped down making a pretty sight. They looked outside and saw no one. But they did see a storm cloud coming. Thunder shook the house and Andi screamed. Melinda huddled closer to Kate, who sighed. Might as well go back inside.

Kate turned around and was about to open the door when a loud voice boomed, “Well, well. So my little girls decided to wait for me, didn’t they?”

“Father!” three voices called out.

Warm arms wrapped around them. Father scooped Andi up and his beard tickled her. Melinda begged to be held as well, so Father bent down and lifted her.

Melinda and Andi squealed their delight. Kate watched silently. Father smiled at her and asked, “Would you want to be held as well? If so, I'm afraid there isn't enough room.”

Kate shook her head. She opened the door for her father then went up to her room. Sitting in the window sill she watched the approaching storm thinking hard. Tonight I will go out just like he said and….

She didn’t notice anyone entering her room. But there was Chad sitting next to her… what was he saying?… something about her being too stubborn and breaking Mother's heart?

Kate ignored him. She felt her conscience sting. Yes she had been a little too head-strong this month.

Suddenly both heard, “Supper!”

They rushed down the stairs, the lovely aroma of food wafting around the house.

Kate plopped into her seat and smiled at Justin, her eighteen-year-old brother.

Justin grinned back. Kate waited until Father had said the blessing then she dug into the meal, her mouth watering.

When supper was finished, Kate sidled to her mother’s side and said, “I’ll put Andi down for sleep and Melinda as well, if you’d like.”

Mother smiled. Maybe her daughter was finally reforming her wild ways.

Kate put her sisters to bed then slipped into her room to wait for everyone to turn their lights out. Of course Father and Mother would stay up late so she picked a book out and started reading.

At eleven o’clock she heard foot-steps go past her door. She peeked outside her door and saw her parents door close, a soft click locking it.

Kate smiled to herself, butterflies in her stomach. She threw on a nice dress, fixed her hair and chose a light shawl.

Kate took a deep breath and opened her window. She glanced down into the darkness and whispered, “Troy? Troy?”

A whisper came back, “Yes? I’m waiting. Just climb into the tree and come down. You know how to do it.”

Kate swallowed and reached out for a branch. She caught hold and knew that a thick limb would be right below it. She stuck out her foot and found it.

In a matter of minutes she was down on the ground beside Troy. He smiled at her and whispered, “Come my little flower. You look so beautiful. I can tell by the moonlight on you.”

Kate blushed. Oh how she loved Troy. But her parents had forbidden them to meet or talk together so they had done it in secret; so far no one noticed it.

Troy caught her hand and they began to run. Soon they were in a nearby field where no one could see them.

After talking for a while Troy asked, “What do you think about running away and marrying me? You know your family hates you because you’re so stubborn but I find it as a charm in you. I love you Katie. Wouldn’t you want to trade your old life for a new, better one? Think it over and tell me tomorrow night. If you say yes, we leave in three weeks. But your family mustn’t suspect anything, okay? Be as good as you can be.”

Kate nodded. She loved Troy and would want nothing more than to marry him. But to run away from her family? That would take some thinking.

The next night, Kate slipped out to meet him. Placing her hand in his she said, “Yes, Troy. I’ll leave with you.”

Troy smiled and clasped Kate to his chest. “You made the right decision. Why waste your beauty on a family who hates you? But oh Katie, we’ll live so happily together.”

Over the next three weeks Kate was on her best behavior. But on the day when she was supposed to run away from home something happened. Somehow Father found out about the plan.

He sent her to her room, outraged that his daughter would try to do such a thing.

But Kate had other plans. She picked up the bundle of precious things she wanted to bring with her. Kate included her journal and pen, along with a few baby things that she would bring for future children. She wrote out a note saying,

 

Father and Mother,

I’ve run away with Troy. You all hate me but Troy loves me. You will never see me again nor do I want to see you ever again. I have a right to run my own life. Troy will give me the life I’ve always wanted but you’ve held back with me. Good-bye. I leave with no regret.

Katherine Carter Swanson

 

Writing her last name as ‘Swanson’ sent a thrill through her. Because yes, by the time her family read this note, she will have married Troy.

She tossed it onto her bed. Then she waited until darkness fell over the ranch. She knew her father would come up anytime to talk to her so she made her escape quickly.

Out the window she went into Troy’s waiting arms.  He lifted her onto a horse and hopped on behind her. Together they rode towards town. At the train station they boarded. They were headed for Chicago where they would be married and live.

  

~A year later~

 

Sixteen-year-old Kate Swanson shuddered. Everything had gone terribly wrong. Last month, Troy had told her he was a thief, swindler, robber and many other titles. Katherine had tried to tell him to give it all up. He had struck out at her, knocking her unconscious. It didn’t help that she was eight months pregnant with her first child.

Kate jumped when she heard the door slam shut. The whole shack shook as did Kate. She knew who was about to appear.

Troy grabbed Kate and slammed her against the wall, “Why isn't my supper on the table?”

A wave of pain overcame her, gripping her stomach with unexpected fierceness. She dropped to the ground gasping.

Troy instantly forgot about his anger and knelt beside her, his face a mixture of worry and surprise. “Is…is it… the baby?”

Kate nodded, her hand grasping at his shirt. “Don't leave me Troy. We can’t afford a doctor and all our neighbors are busy. You have to stay with me!”

Kate cried out, her grip tightening. Troy lifted her up and laid her on the pallet. Hours passed as Kate struggled to give birth to her baby. As the sun was peeking over the horizon, a little boy was born.

Kate dropped back exhausted. Troy wiped the baby and handed it to Kate. She cuddled her little boy and whispered, “His name is Levi Joseph.”

Troy looked on quietly. Now he had a wife and son to support.

   Kate looked after her little son with all the love she had in her pain-filled life. Troy may have tricked her but she wasn't going to let her son grow up like his father.

   Three years passed and Kate had Elizabeth named after Kate’s mother. After another three years Hannah was born. By then Kate had had enough with her husband. She knew she had to go back to her family and ask for forgiveness. She saved up a year's worth of money then booked a train ticket, all without Troy knowing.

  

Whoosh!

   The train pulled into Fresno. Kate hiked Hannah up onto her hip and grasped Betsy’s hand. “Levi! Stay close.”

   Kate decided to leave her luggage at the depot in case her family didn’t want her and sent her back to face Troy’s fury.

   She looked around town for a place to rent a buggy. She found Blake’s livery and rented one there.

Herding the children into the buggy, Kate slapped the horse’s back with the reins. They jerked forward and set towards Circle C.

An hour later, sweaty and tired they all climbed out and the children gaped at the mansion. Kate didn’t see any ranch hands around, so she tied the horse to a post and slowly went up the front porch steps.

She gingerly knocked. What if her family refused her? What if they shamed her? What if--

The door opened and a beautiful, silver steak, blond headed woman looked out. “Can I help you?”

Kate burst into tears. “Mother! I’ve come home.”

The next few minutes were a blur.

 

Someone took Kate’s kids. She was pretty sure it was Melinda. Then Mother was crying and holding Kate tight, telling her how happy she was to have her daughter back.

Mother and daughter sat in the parlor, Kate telling her story, occasioning sobbing.

But the best part was when Mother held her hands and whispered, “Sweetheart, I’ll always love you even when you do wrong. Life has consequences but when we come to see how wrong we are when we find happiness. Especially when we are forgiven.”

Kate nodded and blinked back tears. She timidly asked, “I need to see Father. I need to ask for forgiveness.”

Mother’s eyes clouded and she whispered, “You didn’t hear?”

Kate shook her head. “Hear what?”

“Your father passed away seven years ago. He was trampled by a horse and died immediately.”

Kate sat in shock for a moment. Father? Dead? It couldn’t be! Then she fell into her mother’s arms and wept.

Once she had calmed down Mother took Kate’s hand and kissed it, murmuring, “Oh darling! You don't know how I’ve missed you.”

Someone cleared her throat and said hesitantly, “Uh… Mother? You wanted to see me?”

Mother looked up. “Yes. Andrea, this is your sister, Katherine.”

Andi reeled back. Kate bit her lip. This was Andi? The little, bubbling girl who was only two-years-old when she left? And how must Andi feel at having to meet a prodigal sister of hers?

Kate smiled slightly and said, “Hello Andrea. You’ve grown quite a bit since I saw you last.”

 The girl stood in shock. Then before Kate could do anything, Betsy burst into the room followed by Levi. Kate watched in horror as Levi attacked Andi and his fist made contact with her jaw.

She leapt up, as did Mother. They pulled everyone apart and Kate scolded her son. “Say sorry to Andi.”

Levi stared sullenly at her. Andi backed out of the room and ran away. Kate felt tears rising. Her own sister probably thought her children were brats. And what's more she didn’t seem to accept the idea of an older sister.

Kate caught her mother’s eye and turned away. She must be strong. For her children’s sake.

 

~ten years later~

 

   Katherine Swanson stepped swiftly across the street and faced towards the looming walls of the prison. She opened the front door and a guard looked up. “Can I help you, madam?”

“Yes. I’m here to see Troy Swanson.”

The guard opened the roll book and thumbed through the pages. He shut it and nodded. “Yes. Your name please?”

Katherine Carter Swanson.”

“Oh yes. You're the wife of that horrible man turned good. Why, I even heard he became a Christian.”

Kate’s eyes widened and she could only pray the man was telling the truth.

The man led her down a series of halls and stopped in front of X158. He unlocked it and stepped back. “You have ten minutes ma’am.”

Kate threw herself into Troy’s arms. “This is your last day in prison. Finally you can come home to the kids and I.”

Troy kissed her tenderly. “Yes, as a better Christian man.”

“Oh! I hoped what the guard said was true! I’m so happy for you.”

They talked for a bit before the guard ushered Kate out.

The next day she was in her living room when she heard a knock at the door. Standing up she called, “You needn’t open it Celia. I’ll get it.”

Kate rose and opened the wooden door. Troy stood before her in a new suit. Kate stood there in astonishment. Levi, Betsy and Hannah stood around her watching their mother’s reaction to having a free husband.

Kate opened her arms and with a bright smile said, “Come, my darling. Welcome home!