"I can't. I made him promise not to, so I can hardly go against my own wishes."
"I think you should try," said Nell encouragingly.
Kate looked at her, trying to figure out why it was suddenly important to do what Nell wanted. She could use a friend right now, another woman to talk too. She had never had that.
"We had a deal," Kate said giving in. "My father died leaving the place with so much debt, I didn't know which way to turn. Magnus had been trying to buy us out, but it's my home, and some of the staff have been here since I was a little girl. I couldn't bear to sell out. I offered him water rights instead because that was all he wanted the farm for anyway." Kate looked into the horizon, not daring to meet Nell's gaze. "He counteroffered. Somehow he got hold of the figures that the bank had showing how in debt we were and shoved them in my face. I was shocked. I never knew what my father had done. He gambled away everything and took out loans against the farm that we had no hope of paying off."
"So how does that affect you and Magnus then?"
"He offered me money for the water rights, quite a lot actually, so long as I became his mistress as well."
"What? You're kidding me, aren't you?" Nell protested.
"No," Kate whispered, suddenly regretting her forthrightness.
"That scum bag. You wait till I see him, then," she growled. "And you just played along with him. Kate, what were you thinking?"
"Saving my farm, what else? People rely on me, Nell. I might not have the big city sophistication that you have, but I care about my staff, and if that was what it took to keep their home and jobs, then I was prepared to do it."
"You fell in love with him, didn't you?" Nell asked, brushing her fingers over Kate's hand.
Kate hated the sympathy she saw in her eyes. "So what? I won't be the first to fall for someone that's not available, will I? One of those things that promises to make you stronger. I'll survive."
"Anything else you want to share before I head off home?"
"No, Nell. I'll be fine, honestly. I'll get over him, and I'm sure he can find another mistress if that's what he wants. But thanks for listening. It was kind of you to come over. You didn't have to, you know."
"Yeah, I did. You know how nosey I am, and Magnus isn't talking. Now I know why. He should be ashamed of himself for the way he's treated you. Water rights be damned. I'll tell him what I think of him now," Nell said.
"No, you won't. I want you to leave it alone, Nell. It's between him and me, no one else. Promise me, please," Kate begged, panic making her breathing race.
"Sure, if it upsets you that much."
"It's okay, I just don't want him to get mad at me, and if you say anything, I can imagine he will. We may need more money when the lease expires," she said. "I don't think I could stand a confrontation with him right now."
Kate watched as Nell drove away. She sighed, and her hands cupped the small swell of her stomach.
"Did you tell her, then?" Tilly asked coming up behind her.
"No."
"Why ever not? She seemed nice enough."
"She is, but it's not her business," Kate said turning back to the house.
"No, it's his, and he's not doing anything about it," Tilly snapped, picking up the broom and taking her mood out on the pathway as she briskly brushed it.
"Nothing is ever what it seems, Tilly. Just remember that," Kate said so quietly that she wasn't sure if Tilly had even heard her.
Chapter 7
Magnus worked himself as hard as he could, trying to erase the memory of Kate from his mind, but his body would not let him forget her. She was the only women who had made his blood rush with desire, the only one who he could make love to without feeling as though his checkbook was taking a beating. Even though she had signed on as his mistress, she never acted as though she was being paid. She gave herself to him willingly it seemed and lost herself in her passion. He had never had as much fun with anyone else as he did with Kate. She made eating a home-cooked steak together more exciting than the flashiest restaurant with world-class chefs presiding over his meal.
So why did he feel that she was out to trap him and take him for all she could get? Why else would she have gotten pregnant if not to bleed him for more money for her damned farm?
When he had picked up Rolf and Nell, his best friend had tried to talk to him man-to-man, but Nell would have none of it. She rounded on him as soon as they arrived at the farm and she found that Kate wasn't around. Now that she had visited Kate to make sure she was okay, she was on the warpath. He knew better than to try and get away from her.
"I bet my bottom dollar that girl is pregnant," she said, glaring at him over the dinner table.
"That is none of
