Four

CHICAGO;

'Nick, I have something to show you.' Sophie announced as she entered the office.

Nick was seated in front of the computer scanning some documents; she went to him and stopped.

'What is the problem?'

His partner; Sophie smiled at him. 'We are needed at the hospital, the autopsy has been done. He was poisoned.' she dropped the results in front of him.

He looked at her. 'Poisoned?'

She nodded as she folded her arms.

'Yes, poisoned and also the policemen found something.'

'What?' He sat up, after glancing through the results.

'A letter.'

He smiled. At least they were getting somewhere. He stood up.

'This case made more sense, now, let's go.'

'They have able to get his wife's new registered number.'

He smiled and took his phone and car keys. He was liking this already.

'Let's go.'

She smiled and walked out with him.

At least this will be able to help them find the murderer.

******

She looked at his face as he stared into the blue sky; she wondered what he was thinking, why he was thinking, what  could have made him this disturbed, was it her, Katie, who?

Presently they were seated on the bench but this time, they were not so far away from each other.

'Katherine is a very good girl, the present she gave me. How did she know I love animals?' He asked her.

She remembered when Katherine asked her to take pictures of beautiful animals so she could give it to someone as a present, although she hadn't asked her daughter why the pictures or whom she was giving it to, she did her work and really it was paying off.

'She loves animals too.' She said with a smile.

He looked at her. 'Who took the pictures?'

She looked at him. Why was he asking? Is it good enough?

'Is there a problem?' she removed the towel for her head. Her hair was damp from the water.

He shook his head and smiled again. 'The pictures were not taken by a professional, so my guess is you took the pictures, right?'

She shook her head. This man was something.

'I love taking pictures.'

'Do you do that for a living?' He asked her.

She shook her head. 'It is one of my hobbies.'

He lean his back on the bench and straightened his legs out. 'Which other hobbies do you have?'

She shook her head and looked away. Why did he want to know?

'Tell me, do you love animals?'

He nodded.

'It evident since you are surrounded by them anyway.'

He laughed; Pearl considered it magical to hear his laughter.

She stared him for a moment and didn't even know when she said; 'You should smile often and laugh more. It suits you. And it makes you even more attractive.'

She paused and looked away from him. Really, Pearl. When did she start saying her mind?

She just told him, he was attractive, seriously?

He flushed for a moment and stood up. 'It's almost time for lunch.' He said as he stretched his hand to her.

She looked at him for a second and wondered why all of a sudden, he was being nice to her or she was being nice to him, she took his hand and pulled her up; it felt like electricity, she quickly dropped her hand when she regain her sub-consciousness. What was she doing?

She watched him walked ahead of her and she caught up, putting the towel around her and her hair damp.

'Master William, I won't be teaching tomorrow.' She told him not looking at him; she wished he didn't hear her.

'There is no problem, you can rest.'

She turned at the mighty William, what was he saying? Is this the same man that would like to cut her head off if she didn't teach his son for a day that is letting her have a day off?

'Jacob and Katherine deserve a good time after their hard work and so do you.'

She blinked at him and almost tripped on a stone. Was he serious?

Well, for whatever reason it might be for him to begin to soften towards her, she would enjoy tomorrow, beside it might never happen again.

She looked at him.

'Master, I will like to ask.'

He stopped as he turned to her.

'Call me William, you are not my slave.'

She only nodded her head and continued what she was saying.

'Pardon me but what happened?'

He looked rather confused. 'What happened where?'

'I mean to you, what did you take? What did you drink?' she was talking about a few minutes ago.

She only saw him smile; was it because of her, he was smiling this much, he turned to her; she gazed at his handsome face for what seems like a long time.

'Sir William!'

They both turned as they heard the worker's voice.

'Leonard.'

Leonard ran to where they stood.

'Leonard, what is it?'

'The cattle are here.'

She noticed William's change of expression as he turned to her and gave her an apology with a  smile, then walked away with Leonard.

She saw them walk towards the fields; work must be done to survive.

She sighed and walked towards the house.

******

He picked up the hat, he left on the body of his horse and walked to the field; the cattle had indeed arrived and the workers were checking them.

'Any deficiency must be singled out, it is better treated.' He instructed them.

He watched as they took care of the cattle and then he remembered how this ranch was years ago.

'Dad, will the ranch grow bigger than this?' little William asked his father.

He watched his father nodded. 'If you are interested it will be the biggest, but if you are not we will have to sell it one day.

'What will happen to the horses and other animals?'

His father sighed. 'My young master, they will be gone but if your love for animals remains, you will do best.'

He remembered it; when you love something don't ever let go of it.

He watched as Leonard walked to him.

'Sir, there are only two with disease.'

'Did you check well?'

He nodded. 'Thoroughly, sir. What should we do?'

With a smile. 'Keep them in a separate fence and feed them like the rest.'

Leonard nodded and smiled back. He loves his boss for always doing the right thing.

He remembered the first time his dad brought him to the fields.

'Dad, so we have this kind of thing?'

He nodded.

'You will make it bigger than this, I trust you.'

He remembered the mutual relationship they had, although his father wasn't always around, he was always there when he needed him but could he be that kind of father to Jacob?

When he watched him a few nights ago, he had come into his room several times; he told him everything that happened with the teacher and how he and Katherine were working hard, they had played the game of chess and as expected William won, maybe he could always be that kind of father to him because he wanted to be part of his son's life.

******

'Mom, I will like to go up to the mountains.' Katie told her mother as she dropped her half-finished book by her.

Pearl looked at her as she changed from her wet clothes

'When will that be?'

Katie looked at her mom. 'You're not teaching us tomorrow and I have been looking at the windows in my room, the mountain looks beautiful, please, let's go mom, we can even bring Jacob along, if you want to.'

Pearl turned to the blabber mouth; who looked away avoiding her eyes.

'Katie, what are you saying?'

She didn't talk back.

She shook her head and sat beside her daughter.

'Mom.....' Katie looked at her and held her hands.

'Honey, we can't go.........'she stopped and looked at Katie; who waited for her response.

'We can't take Jacob with us.'

Katie turned to her. 'Mom, please, Jacob and I are making plans.'

'Plans?' What was Katie.....?

She nodded with a smile. 'Yes, mom, Jacob said that he would get me ride his horse.'

'What!'

Katie kept quiet and looked away.

'What are you talking about?' she didn't understand when her daughter started making plans outside school affairs with Sir William's son.

'Mom, I just want to go and see how the mountain is like, please.'

Pearl let out a big sigh. She wondered what other plans they made in her absence.

She wanted Katie to make friends but couldn't they do anything academically.

******

At lunch time, everyone was seated round the table; Pearl, Katie, William, Patrick and Molly. They ate in silence until Jacob raised a question to his father.

'Dad, I will like to go up to the mountain.' Jacob told him as he finished his meal.

'Why?' He asked him looking at his eight year old son.

Pearl watched as Jacob quickly exchanged glance with Katie; she wondered what kind of plan is this. Thinking about it, she couldn't wait to hear his response.

'I will like to learn how to ride a horse.'

She watched as he smiled at his son showing he was proud indeed.

'I will go with you.'

Pearl dropped her fork and picked the glass of water and gulped it down. So this was a family outing, how will Katie fit in, she wasn't part of their family.

'Okay.' Jacob answered with a smile.

Did this man know she and Katie was going to be there, did he know they would probably be at the mountain too, why couldn't Jacob just tell William the truth; that he wanted to teach Katie how to sit on a horse. What was so hard in that single sentence?

'William, Elizabeth will be coming back on Friday, she said she has something to discuss with you.' Molly told him as she emptied her plate.

He nodded his head. 'Yes, I saw her this morning.'

'How efficient!' They heard Patrick.

'What is the problem?' William asked his younger brother.

He didn't say, he just faced his meal as Molly continued.

'I think she going to make that offer again.'

Pearl looked at them as William dropped his spoon waiting for Patrick to finish his sentence.

'She is your fiancée; I don't know why she is making that offer.' Patrick added.

'Maybe she is sent by her father.' Molly contributed in Elizabeth's favor.

'But the man is rich, isn't that enough.' Molly added.

William shook his head and looked at his sister. 'Nothing is ever enough in this life.'

'What will I do then?' Patrick asked him.

'What are you talking about?' Molly asked him.

Patrick lean back on his chair. 'Molly has something to do, the teacher does something, you are in charge but I don't do anything, I can't sit at home doing nothing, William.'

William looked at him disbelieving his sudden love to want to engage in anything.

'You want to do something with your time?'

Patrick looked at his brother for a second;but perhaps he wasn't thinking before he spoke. He didn't answer.

'Find ways that can help you and your manners.' William told him before continuing with his meal.

While Patrick started to say something, Pearl noticed; Molly stepped on his feet to keep him quiet from making their brother angry.

Patrick didn't say anything to William, he needed to talk, his lips were shaking and his head filled with thoughts he needed to express, he turned to the teacher.

'Ms Jackson?'

Pearl looked at him; if this guy wanted a piece of her, she would give him.

'Yes?'

'You say you are divorced, right?'

She nodded.

'Please, tell us why?'

She looked at him, then at William; she wondered why he was suddenly unto her now.

'If you don't want to talk about it, don't bother.' She heard William say apparently he also encouraged the discussion.

She nodded. 'I'm okay.'

She turned to her daughter; who was looking at her face with no words.

She turned to the others on the table

'It didn't work out; we wanted different things, we had different vision for ourselves, the relationship was never meant to happen.'

Patrick smiled and nodded. 'What was his name again?'

She bit her lip as she said that lie and thankfully; Katie was talking with Jacob that she didn't hear she just lied about getting divorced when she was still married and she just lied about his name. 'Damien Harper.' she said with a nod.

Pearl watched as William turned to him. 'Why this sudden need to know about her life, Patrick?'

He shrugged. 'It is getting more information on whom or what we live with, she could be faking everything.'

She didn't believe he didn't believe her but she was sure William didn't believe it too.

'What are you talking about?'

'Jackson could just be a farce, she could be lying....'

She looked at this guy then at his brother who was probably defending her; William appear calm; she didn't understand why.

'Is it because, your relationship was a charade.'

It was Patrick's turn to look rather confused. 'What are you talking about?'

William shook his head. He won't give too much detail. 'You look very pitiful.' He said and stood up.

'Molly, when you are done, please come see me.' He said and walked out.

Pearl looked at Patrick as he looked at his brother with disgust and irritation; who was this guy? Then she turned. Great! The children had gone without her knowing, wasn't that efficient?

She was going to ask for a divorce from Richard but he hadn't show up yet and she was wondering what was keeping him.

Patrick looked at the teacher, what have she been telling William about him. Something was fishy and he wouldn't let it lie.