And Those Who Trespass Against Us Read Online Free PDF Page B

away. When he's here, we work as a team. Alexander looks a lot like me except he's older."
    "I can see their loss has deeply hurt you. I expect being here with your brother gives you great pleasure though."
    Catriona smiled at Katherine's attempts to redirect the conversation to a lighter topic. "It does. Even though we're siblings and he's a little older, we're the best of friends."
    "Is your brother conducting a social visit now, visiting a lady friend perhaps?"
    "No, he's not. In fact he's already engaged to someone, but not someone miles away. She lived in this town." Catriona brought her hands to rest on the table and looked directly at Katherine. "Her name was Coreen Watson, commonly known around here as Sister Coreen."
    Katherine shook her head, her face a study of disbelief. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand. A nun, when she's accepted into the church, marries God. She wears a ring." She held up her hand. "Like the one I wear. How could she have consented to marry your brother after already taking such vows?"
    Catriona rolled her eyes. "There you go, getting on your religious high horse. It's different out here. Things are not as cut and dry as they are in England, excuse me, Ireland . Do you honestly think Coreen came all the way out here for the sole purpose of breaking her vows? That's not at all how it happened." Catriona leaned across the table. "In life no one is perfect and nothing, excepting death, is permanent. There's room for mistakes in everyone's life and Coreen's mistake was marrying into the church. Surely your all seeing and all forgiving God can realise an honest mistake has been made and accept it must be rectified?"
    Katherine stood and paced the room, gesticulating at no one in particular. "I don't know what to accept. I come all the way out here from Ireland and arrive at a deserted train station, nearly die from the heat, spend yesterday afternoon saying the last rights of a father, find I've no real lodgings, and the sister who was supposed to help me settle has passed away. And, even if she'd lived, she wouldn't have been a sister for long because she was getting married? I can't help but wonder whether my coming to this town was all a mistake."
    "I'm sorry you feel that way. You're sorely needed out here. I hate to throw your religion back at you, but isn't your first duty to others and not yourself?" Catriona challenged, staring at Katherine. "Aren't you only thinking of one person at the moment?"
    Katherine sank into her chair. "I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to sound like that, but it's, oh, I don't know." She put her head in her hands. "The situation I've found myself in is not what I expected it to be."
    "I'm sorry I was so abrupt," Catriona softly replied. "I think I understand how you must be feeling. It's a long way to come and be met the way you were yesterday. I understand enough of your religious life to know it's centred on a set of common principles. At the moment I expect you feel as if those principles have been scattered to the four ends of the earth." Catriona's face softened. "But please don't let that prejudice your overall opinion of Sister Coreen, Alexander, or me. How about I fix us some breakfast and we can talk some more."
    Katherine's head remained in her hands.
    "Whether you believe it or not you're wanted and needed out here. I saw you working yesterday. You've a natural affinity with the people of this town. They opened up to you and, believe me, it's not something they do lightly. Don't go until you've at least had time to see the town in a better light. As for your accommodation, you're welcome in this house for as long as you wish. Please think about it while I make you some breakfast."
    No words passed between the two while Catriona prepared breakfast. She busied herself with frying up two generous slices of bacon, whilst searching her own thoughts. Why do I want her to stay? Is it because, recently, other than Susan and Coreen, she's the only other woman I've