Read Online Catalina's Caress by Sylvie F. Sommerfield - Free Book Online
Authors: Sylvie F. Sommerfield
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?"
"Come to think of it, Seth, I've had that impression, but I can't see what it could be. I have never met him, have you?"
"Not before this incident but... It's just a feeling."
"Well, let's forget it Well see Travis this afternoon and return his money. Then tonight you can meet with Copeland and finish this affair."
"Good. Now let's go down and join Aunt Charlotte for breakfast. You know"—he laughed—"she'll want to know everything we've been saying to each other."
"And she'll find out too, so we may as well just tell her. She has a way of getting what she wants."
"She's a lovely old girl, and I appreciate how much she cares for us."
"Let's go tell her so." Cat threw back the covers and rose. "Now get out while I dress. I'll be down in a few minutes."
❧
During breakfast Charlotte watched Seth and Catalina tease each other and laugh. When she inquired about their immediate plans, they told her they were both on the way to see Travis at his hotel
"I want to return the money to him and thank him as soon as possible," Catalina said.
"Then, after I bring Cat back from there, I'll go on down to the Belle ," Seth added. "But I'll wait until we've had dinner."
"What will you do next?" Charlotte asked.
"Then comes the hardest part," Seth admitted.
"Your father?"
"My father. This is going to hurt, but it has to be done."
"Your father is not an ogre, Seth."
"You say that because he's never been mad at you."
Charlotte laughed. "He will get over his anger," she declared gently, "but he will never get over the renewal of his pride in you. You deserve it"
"Thank you, Aunt Charlotte. That means a lot to me."
"Well, let's send for the carriage," Catalina said. "I'd like to get this money returned."
It was a little over a half-hour's ride from Charlotte's home to Travis's hotel, and Travis was more than surprised to find both Catalina and Seth at his door. His surprise turned to well-camouflaged anger when he learned the reason for their visit. He hid his disappointment, however, when Seth handed him the satcheL
"You mean he refused all this money?"
"Yes," Catalina replied. "He did."
"He wanted more?"
"He said I didn't have enough money to buy the Belle . I guess it's really the boat he was after to begin with."
"What are you going to do now, Seth?" Travis questioned.
"After dinner tonight I intend to pay him a visit. It's time he was taught a little lesson. Then Cat and I are going home. My father expects me to meet him with the Belle in Memphis. I will go there and tell him what's happened. Whatever comes of that, the problem is finished. Cat and I just wanted to thank you."
"Yes, Travis," Catalina added. "I appreciate what you tried to do. Even though we didn't use the money, you provided it and I'm grateful."
"Cat," Travis said gently, "you know there is not much that you could ask of me that I would not try to provide. Might I join you for dinner tonight? I would like to provide the champagne for the celebration."
"I'm sure Aunt Charlotte would be pleased," Seth said, unaware that Catalina's silence indicated that she would have preferred to end the relationship between herself and Travis.
"Good. What time shall I be there?"
"About seven-thirty. Aunt Charlotte is prompt."
"And I will be."
Seth and Catalina returned to Charlotte's home only to find that Charlotte had been driven into town. She had left a message which said she had some business with her banker and that she would return later in the afternoon.
Seth went to his room to lie down for some much-needed rest and Catalina went to hers, assuring Seth she had the same intention. But she did not touch her bed. Instead she went to the window and looked toward the docks, wondering if she truly had seen the last of Marc Copeland ... and why she still couldn't wipe the ghost of his touch away.
❧
Charlotte sat across the desk from a man she considered one of her dearest friends. He was influential in New Orleans, possessing more wealth than
"Come to think of it, Seth, I've had that impression, but I can't see what it could be. I have never met him, have you?"
"Not before this incident but... It's just a feeling."
"Well, let's forget it Well see Travis this afternoon and return his money. Then tonight you can meet with Copeland and finish this affair."
"Good. Now let's go down and join Aunt Charlotte for breakfast. You know"—he laughed—"she'll want to know everything we've been saying to each other."
"And she'll find out too, so we may as well just tell her. She has a way of getting what she wants."
"She's a lovely old girl, and I appreciate how much she cares for us."
"Let's go tell her so." Cat threw back the covers and rose. "Now get out while I dress. I'll be down in a few minutes."
❧
During breakfast Charlotte watched Seth and Catalina tease each other and laugh. When she inquired about their immediate plans, they told her they were both on the way to see Travis at his hotel
"I want to return the money to him and thank him as soon as possible," Catalina said.
"Then, after I bring Cat back from there, I'll go on down to the Belle ," Seth added. "But I'll wait until we've had dinner."
"What will you do next?" Charlotte asked.
"Then comes the hardest part," Seth admitted.
"Your father?"
"My father. This is going to hurt, but it has to be done."
"Your father is not an ogre, Seth."
"You say that because he's never been mad at you."
Charlotte laughed. "He will get over his anger," she declared gently, "but he will never get over the renewal of his pride in you. You deserve it"
"Thank you, Aunt Charlotte. That means a lot to me."
"Well, let's send for the carriage," Catalina said. "I'd like to get this money returned."
It was a little over a half-hour's ride from Charlotte's home to Travis's hotel, and Travis was more than surprised to find both Catalina and Seth at his door. His surprise turned to well-camouflaged anger when he learned the reason for their visit. He hid his disappointment, however, when Seth handed him the satcheL
"You mean he refused all this money?"
"Yes," Catalina replied. "He did."
"He wanted more?"
"He said I didn't have enough money to buy the Belle . I guess it's really the boat he was after to begin with."
"What are you going to do now, Seth?" Travis questioned.
"After dinner tonight I intend to pay him a visit. It's time he was taught a little lesson. Then Cat and I are going home. My father expects me to meet him with the Belle in Memphis. I will go there and tell him what's happened. Whatever comes of that, the problem is finished. Cat and I just wanted to thank you."
"Yes, Travis," Catalina added. "I appreciate what you tried to do. Even though we didn't use the money, you provided it and I'm grateful."
"Cat," Travis said gently, "you know there is not much that you could ask of me that I would not try to provide. Might I join you for dinner tonight? I would like to provide the champagne for the celebration."
"I'm sure Aunt Charlotte would be pleased," Seth said, unaware that Catalina's silence indicated that she would have preferred to end the relationship between herself and Travis.
"Good. What time shall I be there?"
"About seven-thirty. Aunt Charlotte is prompt."
"And I will be."
Seth and Catalina returned to Charlotte's home only to find that Charlotte had been driven into town. She had left a message which said she had some business with her banker and that she would return later in the afternoon.
Seth went to his room to lie down for some much-needed rest and Catalina went to hers, assuring Seth she had the same intention. But she did not touch her bed. Instead she went to the window and looked toward the docks, wondering if she truly had seen the last of Marc Copeland ... and why she still couldn't wipe the ghost of his touch away.
❧
Charlotte sat across the desk from a man she considered one of her dearest friends. He was influential in New Orleans, possessing more wealth than
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