THE GILTER

CHAPTER THREE

Cathie sat solemnly on her bed, she will be leaving for London tomorrow for school, she did not the like idea, but luck is not on her side this time. Sarah would be coming for her soon for the shopping they’d be doing.

A sound knock sounded on her bedroom door.

’Yes?’ she knew it was Sarah, speak of the devil----- she thought.

Sarah opened the door and popped her head in ‘get ready, I will be waiting for you downstairs,’ she said ‘five minutes.’

‘Okay, Sarah’. Cathie answered irritably, few minutes later Cathie came down the stairs she met Sarah at the foot of the stairs who looked at her with venom in her eyes.

‘’Where did you think we are going? ’’Sarah asked.

‘’Shopping!’’ Cathie said looking down at her outfits A riding outfit with a cowboy hat.

‘’Am sorry, Sarah’’. She whispered with apology.

‘’Good girl’’, Sarah said ‘now go back to your room and wear something feminine,’’

Cathie went back to her room and came down minutes later wearing a three quarter gown and a scarf which met Sarah’s approved.

They went outside and into the van, Sarah started the engine and they drove toward the exit of the ranch.

‘’you told me ladies don’t ride vans,’’ Cathie said ‘’you said ladies ride fancy cars.’’

‘’yes,’’ Sarah said ‘’that’s true.’’

‘’But, you are a lady too.’’ Cathie protested.

‘’Yes, an old one,’’

‘’So?’’

‘’Look, guys don’t get attracted to girls who don’t wear nice clothes, who drive old vans and never care about their appearance.’’

‘’I don’t want to get attention from any guy,’’ Cathie said shrugging ‘’just allow me to be who I want to be.’’

‘’Never, naughty i***t, ‘’Sarah said sharply ‘’you are a lady, and must behave like one, dress like one and speak like one. Okay?’’

Cathie nodded her head.

She was silent the rest of the way to town she gaze out the widow, people were busy, shops full of the of goods and people. She idle wondered what will became of this town in years to come.

The van stopped, she opened her door and jumped down.

‘’Follow me,’’ Sarah said as she headed in the opposite direction where she could spot rolls of shop full of clothes.

Cathie signed, she knew she would be so embarrassed of herself by the time they were through with shopping.

And she did feel embarrassed, Sarah made sure. They bought clothes Sarah claimed would be suitable for a university girl, from trousers to short skirts to tops. Fancy bras and pantaloons pants.

She couldn’t contain her happiness when Sarah finically said ‘’I think that will be all mrs. Smith, it was nice shopping here.’’

‘’Its my pleasure,’’ Mrs. Smith said smiling as Sarah paid her in cash ‘’the ranch must be going well’’

Of course.’’ Sarah said curtly

‘’Catherine, you are so beautiful,’’ Mrs. Smith said again ‘’you look so much like your mother .’’ Cathie flushed ‘’thank you .’’

‘’What a nice girl, you would make a good wife, I wish my son is here,’’ Mrs. Smith said holding one of Cathie hand ‘’But he went to Army.’’ Not knowing what to say, Cathie smiled sheepishly at her.

‘’We would be on our way,’’ Sarah said sharply ‘’my regards to your son.’’

Cathie quickly followed Sarah out, she wondered why they shopped in Mrs. Smith’s shop because she suspected Sarah did not like the woman.

When they were on their way back to the ranch, Cathie cleared her throat.

‘’I wondered why we shopped at Mrs. Smith’s shop.’’

Sarah looked at her with the corner of her eyes and said ‘’she’s one of the people that sell the best clothes.’’

‘’hmmmm.’’ Cathie hummed ‘you don’t seem to like her.’’

‘’You’re smart, aren’t you? Sarah said smiling ‘’you want the town to know about something, you don’t have to go to the media, Mrs. Smith is enough.’’

‘’That’s what you call big mouth,’’ Cathie laughed.

‘’Humph ‘’Sarah smiled ‘’though she had nice kids, her daughter married six month ago, and her son Andrew went to Army. He’s such a sweet boy.

Cathie looked at Sarah with the corner of her eye this time, she pushed her mouth out and seated. She wondered why Sarah told her about Andrew, she shrugged, whatever notion Sarah had, she didn’t care. She’s only seventeen she shouldn’t be thinking about marriage.

Cathie looked around her room, she going to miss her bed, her room, infact she’s going to miss everything. She knew she would come home for breaks and holidays but most of time now would be in school for four years. She’s chosen business management so that her time at the university won’t be for nothing, at least she would be able to manage the range when she’s through with her studies. With that in mind, she opened her door and headed downstairs.

Her father and Sarah were at the fist of the stairs, she went straight and hugged Sarah

‘’I am going to miss you ‘’she whispered

‘’I will miss you too, ‘’Sarah said smiling at her ‘’Be a good kid over there, okay?’’

‘’Okay,’’ Cathie said, still hugging her.

Russell cleared her throat loudly ‘’your things are in the van, we should be on our way if we don’t want to miss the plane.’’

Cathie nodded her head, she release Sarah and looked at her father, blinking several times to clear the moist in her eyes. She held her father’ hand and they headed outside.

Cathie and her father were silence half of their way to the airport Cathie gaze through the window lost in her own thought

‘’I am going to miss you, honey Russell finally said ’are you angry

‘I taught you would not miss me ,you so wanted ma gone; Cathie said jovially ‘and no am not angry not anymore.” she going to work on ranch with what she learned ,there is noting to worry about or get angry of.

Russell sighed ‘I wonder how I will live the rest of my life when you finally married “he said.

I will never leave the ranch, which means I will never leave you” Cathie said, seriously Russell was very silence.

Russell was silence for some time then muttered

‘Only Time Can Tell.’