Part 9:
Miss Beckie settled herself in her chair, looking at Lance and Cassie. Cassie was absorbed in studying the rug. Lance was glaring at her from across the room. "Well, Cassie, do you want to tell him or should I?" Cassie said nothing. She didn’t look up. It was almost as if she hadn’t heard. Beckie sighed. "I suppose that means I get to do all the talking. Now, Mr. Bass--"
"You know who I am?"
"Honey, I know who everyone in this town is. Especially when they’re as close to the mayor and his wife as you and your sister are. It pays to know who has the power. Now, as I was saying, Cas--" Cassie’s head shot up and Beckie paused, smiling reassuringly before going on. "Ah, Miss Blake has a very good reason for being here, and a very good one for keeping it a secret."
Katie was sitting on the couch in Miss Beckie’s room. She’d been there for nearly an hour by the time Beckie came in. "I’m sorry that took so long."
"Why was she here?" Katie asked.
"Well, you get right to the point, don’t you?"
Katie crossed her arms and stared at Beckie. Beckie sighed and sat down. "Cassie’s my sister. I was the one that told her they were looking for a new teacher last year, before she ever came to town. I was the reason she came here." Katie was staring at her in disbelief, mouth hanging open. "Yes, Katie, I said sister. That’s why I can tell you for a fact that she doesn’t hate you. In fact, she’s rather fond of you . . . and she IS NOT after your father."
Katie couldn’t think of anything to say. It was too much to take in. Beckie smiled. "I know, it’s a shock, huh?"
"You didn’t tell her I . . . I mean she doesn’t know what I said about her, does she?"
"I’ve told you before, you can trust me. I keep my promises." Katie nodded and sighed in relief. "Now, Miss Chasez, you need sleep. I don’t want you wandering the streets at this time of night. You stay here and we’ll get you up in time to go home." Katie nodded, unable to fight back a yawn. Beckie handed her a pillow and blanket and she curled up on the couch. She was asleep by the time Miss Beckie turned around. "Sleep well, Sugar," she whispered softly. "You have no idea how much you mean to me."
Josh held Sarah, rubbing her back. After she had calmed down enough to speak, she sat up, wiping her eyes. "I can’t do this anymore, Josh. It has to end, all the secrets and the lies. They have to stop."
"You’re right," he said softly. "Oh, Sarah, I’m so sorry. I stopped thinking long ago about what this must be doing to you. I will never forgive myself, and I won’t ask you to, either."
"Josh, you know I’ll forgive you. I love you too much not to."
"I love you too, Sarah. Til death do us part . . ." he said, punctuating his words with a long, slow kiss. She melted against him and never thought of resisting as he pulled her long white nightgown over her head and dropped it on the floor beside the bed. He eased her back gently, kissing her softly as he moved over her. "Look at me Sarah," he said. He held her eyes, never breaking their gaze as he thrust into her. She wrapped her arms around him. In those few precious moments, they were the only two people in the world.
"It’s been a long time since I saw you," Nick said, studying Anna.
"Yes . . . things have changed a lot in that time. I have changed. Nick, I’m a bounty hunter of sorts now. And the quickest draw this side of the Mississippi. I came here tonight for a reason." She said it all in a rush, wanting to get it out before she lost her nerve and got lost in his eyes.
"And that reason is?" he said, sounding much cooler than he was.
"I’m sure you’ve heard about Justin Timberlake. Rumor has it he spends most of his time in or near Sweetcreek."
Nick nodded. "Curly Kid, right?" he said, refusing to comment further until she told him the rest of her reason for coming to town.
"Yes . . . I’ve come across some information that might clear him of the so-called crimes he’s charged with, but I need help. I have to find him, and convince him to go back with me."
"Back where?"
"Back home . . . his home . . . someone set him up, but I can’t prove it unless he goes with me."
Nick listened, an ache in his heart. She was so passionate about helping Justin. He had to wonder why. Just what was Justin to her?
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