Disclaimer:   This story features consensual sexual relationships between adult women, some implied m/m and m/f relations. If this bothers you, is illegal in the State, Province or Country you live or if you are the under age of 18, find something else to read. There are loads of general stories out there.

Language: There is some occasional strong language.

Violence: Yes, there is a bit of emotional and physical violence in the is fiction.

 

 

 

 

Hurt/Comfort: There is definitely some hurt/emotional discomfort in this one, and some brief scenes of trauma to be dealt with by the characters.

Acknowledgement: This story is for my friend Linda, who without her constant faith in my writing would never have gone further than my laptop.

Thank you to Betty for beta reading.

The children’s story is used with the permission of Julie Viridian and the lyrics are also used with permission.

Chapter One

Catherine Warriorson looked over the lush green fields of her ranch 'Destiny' situated on the South Island in New Zealand, and smiled. Her expression invariably fierce without the softening of the odd smile she gave now and again. Although, that only occurred when she was in her own home and perhaps to her only friends, her housekeeper and the ranch foreman. She wasn't a native New Zealander. Being English by birth, with an English father and a Greek mother, she was quite the cosmopolitan. Her reserve to the locals in particular, often proved many a point in the local pub that all the English had a natural affinity to being aloof and stoic as it just came naturally to them and to this woman in particular.

Anyone looking at the woman would see a beauty without a doubt. A lean well trimmed body with a six-foot frame and long shining ebony hair, invariably pulled back into a ponytail. The most distinctive feature however, were her ice blue eyes which looked at people with bored tolerance or impatience. All who knew her in the neighbourhood held her in the highest esteem for her unfailing abilities as an astute ranch businesswoman but they never approached her on a friendly basis. She just never let anyone inside her kingdom. 'Destiny' was definitely the Warriorson kingdom!

Catherine once again looked over her domain and smiled briefly, giving her eyes a glowing effect, had there been anyone else around to see it! A hand loosely held the reins to a powerful grey mare, which looked equally regal and aloof as her mistress. Catherine shifted her gaze to the movement on the next ridge. Unable to obtain a clear picture of the activities going on around her, and on one part of her property in particular, she reached into the saddlebag on the mare.

"Well, well, well Tralargon, I wonder what we have here my friend? Nothing to the good if I haven't heard about it, that's for sure!" Catherine had a smirk on her face that told its own story she would be having words with the person involved that was certain. Pulling out small powerful binoculars, she proceeded to view the activities around her and a sneer came over her face as she evaluated what she had seen. Pushing the optical aide back into it's home in the saddlebag, she mounted the mare with graceful and athletic ease and pulled the reins towards the adjoining ridge.

~ ~ ~

Jace Bardley looked harassed! Well, she knew that filming a short documentary about the old and new landowners was never going to be easy; not when one of the most powerful of them refused to even talk about it.

'Zeus knew that there would always be one fly in the ointment, and her fly just happened to be the largest landowner in this part of New Zealand, C X Warriorson! Why had Hudson added this particular country to the schedule? It made very little sense really, but she was the boss.'

Jace pushed back a lock of her blonde hair and smiled in compassion with her young film crew colleagues. They had to carry all the camera equipment up the ridge, because their contact person, who provided them with the information about the comings and goings of a certain recluse landowner, just happened to have another appointment unexpectedly as they arrived. He had hastily departed unpredictably with the all terrain vehicle they had used to get the equipment here. Now, to make matters worse, it had started to rain and the predominantly Californian film crew looked in disgust at the gathering dark clouds.

Peter Adamson, the director moved closer to Jace and looked directly into her sparkling green eyes. They never ceased to amaze him in their open appreciation of the world around her. Not even after five years around the Hollywood sets where she was Personal Assistant in charge of Publicity for Producer Clarissa Hudson, who was also the head of the film company.

"So Jace, what wonderful stunt do you think our little go between will spring on us now, heh?" He smiled at the small blonde, who hovered little more than to his shoulders.

"Oh, come on Pete! Salamon was trying to make money out of our recluse here! And we went with it! In those circumstances, his going belly up on us is all part of the story, don't you think?" Her eyes sparkled with laughter at the picture of the rotund Salamon who seemed scared of his own shadow, he had appeared so vulnerable and her compassionate heart had responded to this, has she had invariably in the past in other situations.

"Maybe...but what's the boss going to say?" Pete asked her and smiled as he recalled the numerous times he had tried to date the bubbly woman who stood inches from him. She never ceased to amaze him at her total lack of depravation from the society that she was affiliated with. Although, he'd tried, she'd rebuffed him on more than one occasion, never giving him more than her usual bright smile as she let him down gently at every offer.

"Hopefully nothing! Because I'm hoping you’re going to get your footage, and we are out of here and to Hades with the 'Warriorson Kingdom Recluse’! I'm not sure I want to meet him anyway; sounds a bit archaic to me. Anyone would think he was still running a ranch in the 1800's!" She spoke bravely and with a measure of conviction her size didn't always belie.

"Hate to say this Jace..." Peter almost stuttered over the words as he saw a cloud of dust appear within a mile of them.

"What! What do you hate to say?" She looked at the rest of the crew and focused on what they had apparently seen a large cloud of dust gathering ever closer.

"I guess you’re going to get to meet the Warriorson recluse after all." Peter shook his head and his tousled brown hair drop over his angular boyish face.

'This was definitely all up to Jace, she was their Publicity machine. Now, she had to come up with the words and actions to get them their story. Or, all hell would break lose with Hudson, she was a mean producer, that was for sure.'

"Oh! Hades balls, am I ever in trouble here!" Jace looked at the approaching horseman made even more intimidating by the powerful grey that 'he' was riding.

All eyes moved from the approaching rider, then to Jace and then back to the ever-closer oncoming rider. Although, it was a very amusing sight on the faces of all the onlookers, when the rider vaulted off the horse in front of Peter and Jace with supreme command over their body movements.

Catherine Warriorson paced slowly round the two people who obviously looked as if they were in charge of the film crew. Her stance communicating the impression of barely suppressed anger. She gradually stopped her stalking of the two people in front of her and with a low growl asked them what they were doing on this property.

Peter Adamson looked at the beautiful woman in front of him and released a sigh of relief. 'Thank God, it's only a lackey, but a hell of a beautiful one, and she looks breathtaking when she's angry.' He couldn't keep the admiring smirk from his face as he looked directly at her.

'Oh! Gods, who ever is up in the heavens, thank you! Thank you for not sending Warriorson.' Jace looked discreetly at the woman who was visibly bristling with anger. 'Maybe that's what Salamon was afraid of, not Warriorson, but one of his employees, this particular employee looked like she could scare the Hades out of anyone?'

"I'm sorry, but who are you? And what gives you the right to ask?" Peter was the first to break the silence he smiled his most beguiling smile.

"If I were you Mr...I would rephrase your answer!" Catherine wasn't used to being questioned and especially by someone who was trespassing on her property. Her anger now fuelled, she leveled him with a piecing gaze from ice blue eyes that looked ready to freeze the Arctic.

Jace watched the interchange between her friend and colleague and the very irritated woman in front of her. Marveling at her stature and her confident ease with every move she made, this was a woman you never, ever, misjudged or wanted to cross either if it came to that! Her eyes spoke volumes all on their own. ‘What must it feel like to have those eyes reflect back at you with warmth.’ ‘Did I really think that? Zeus I'm going crazy here, the woman wouldn't even notice me if she weren’t staring me in the face because she has too.' Although, something in Jace’s subconscious was telling her that wouldn't be true for some strange reason.

"I'm sorry, perhaps we can start again? My name is Jace Bardley and this is Peter Adamson. We represent Union City Pictures, I guess you've heard about us?" Jace looked up at the cold demeanour in front of her and tried another tactic.

"Then again, maybe you might not have! But, we have tried to get an interview with I assume your boss, C X Warriorson? Unfortunately, he's unavailable for comment, and we heard from a contact that it would be okay to film from here?" She smiled one of her most outgoing smiles and noticed the woman raise her left eyebrow virtually to the top of her forehead, if it hadn't been a serious conversation, Jace would have laughed.

'It was a start, she had listened at least to her plea.'

"Oh, you did, did you! I hope you won't mind me reminding you of ‘My Boss’s’ intolerance of trespassers on any of the properties, then will you?" Catherine snorted and glanced at the heavy clouds building in the sky, she wanted to be home before this storm raised its head. She had guests arriving for dinner, and she hated being late, or anyone being late for any appointment she was involved in. Although, she had been impressed by the way the young woman in front of her tried to wriggle out of the situation, those green eyes looked so innocent, it made her wonder just how innocent Jace Bardley was?

"Well, actually we kind of hoped that just this once, maybe we could get a couple of shots of the ranch area and get out of your hair. So to speak, that is?" Jace looked closely at the woman as she turned her head to the heavens and saw the darkening clouds, the rain already falling in persistent drizzle.

Catherine looked directly at the woman ignoring the man entirely and noted her strength of purpose and the friendliness in the green eyes that looked beseechingly at her.

"Ms Bradley, for your guile and hopefully fortitude, because sure as hell your going to need it. The weather is closing in, and you're on an exposed ridge with no protection. When you get your shots, by all means come and see the 'Boss' at the ranch house; I'm sure 'He' will have something to say to you too!" She turned around and strode towards her horse.

"Thanks, but hey, can't you help us get this equipment out of here?" Jace didn't have time to finish the comment, never mind get an answer. The woman had vaulted back on her horse and was heading back in the direction she came without a backward glance.

Pete looked at Jace, who was looking at the very wet film crew and held her hands up in a gesture of triumph? Acceptance? Or was it just what the Hades was that all about?

"Okay people, let’s move our ass’s or this small concession we seem to have gained will be ruined." He moved away from Jace and went to talk to the crew.

Jace continued to look at the retreating figures of woman and horse and she sighed, not really knowing why? Something about the woman-triggered elements in her sub-conscious, she knew that she dreamed weird events from time to time, but it never became tangible in her mind after she woke up.

'Well, guess we are going to meet the recluse after all!' With that thought she watched the film crew set up and considered her options, getting soaked to the skin was about the best one offered as far as she could see. Shrugging her slight shoulders, she moved to a large boulder and sat down and contemplated the recent events.

With that a loud crack overhead brought down heavier rains and lightning.

~ ~ ~
Chapter Two Catherine Warriorson led her beloved mare to the stables to be cosseted by one the ranch hands, she had to leave and prepare for her guests.

'The audacity of that film crew to assume she was a man! For god's sake didn't these people ever do any decent research? Obviously not! Mind you coming from that Production Company it would have been foolish to expect anyone from it to be professional. The guy was a waste of space that was for sure. The woman had something about her at least, she wasn't intimidated and that was always a good sign. Lord-a-Mighty she had the most wonderful and intriguing green eyes! Christ, I wonder where that thought came from? What will they think when they actually do meet C X Warriorson?' With that last thought came a fleeting smile as she walked away from the stables towards the large house, which was waiting with welcoming lights blazing and definitely drier than out in the open, especially up on Cutters Ridge.

Walking into the kitchen storage area at the back of the house, Catherine removed her boots and the leather jacket that had kept some of the driving rain from her inner clothes, but not much. She smirked as she thought of the outsiders up on the ridge getting totally drenched with each passing minute, no protection up there, that was certain.

Grace Thornton saw the approaching figure of her boss and friend, noticing her rain drenched clothes and the water literally dripping from her face.

She was a striking woman to behold and had circumstances been different in her life, maybe she would have looked happier too! Although, Catherine kept her private life very, very private!

Waiting until she heard the door of the kitchen area open and the thud of boots being removed, Grace snatched up a large fluffy towel, which she'd had warming on the radiator and walked into the area with it.

Stopping on the threshold, she smiled briefly at the partially drowned woman.
"I didn't think you would have stayed out quite so long, knowing the storm was brewing Catherine," pointedly handing her the towel.

Catherine looked up and briefly smiled at the woman in front of her, taking the proffered towel and releasing her hair, started to brusquely towel it dry.

"Thanks Grace."

Grace Thornton was in her late twenties and had joined Catherine's staff in the early days. Due to a car accident the year before she arrived on 'Destiny'; she had been unable to pursue the profession she had trained hard for, a policewoman. Her legs had been severely damaged and she now walked with a decided limp. No police force this side of hell was ever going to employ her, so she decided to get away from it all for a while, and took the job as housekeeper for the newly arrived Englishwoman, Catherine Warriorson. That had been five years ago and she had stayed. Although, she knew the reason she'd stayed, it was all to do with a tragedy, and lonely ice blue eyes that needed a friend.

"So, what makes you smile, if you can call it a smile?" Grace asked the woman.

"Actually it's more a smirk I think. If you think I stayed out so long, you should see the others that are still out there." Catherine smiled wickedly back at the woman.

Grace looked her over and heard the hidden cruelty in her tone. "Who, did you leave out in this weather? Must be a foreigner or they would have been prepared," she asked the woman, knowing that pushing for information from Catherine Warriorson wasn't always a smart thing to do.

Catherine looked at the brown haired, brown-eyed woman who was six years younger than she was and lifted an eyebrow in censure. Not expecting an answer after that expression, Grace turned away and headed back into the main kitchen area.

"Grace!" the voice spoke with authority and expected the woman to turn around and face her again.

"Yes." Grace dutifully turned and looked at the beautiful, but at times exceptionally intolerant woman, thus making her appear cruel to many people.

"I told you some film people wanted to carry out film footage here on the ranch and with me?' Not waiting for an answer, but seeing the faint nod of the head. “I declined. They arrived without permission, so now they’re getting wet. End of story!"  To Catherine that was explanation enough.

Grace on the other hand thought that was typical of her boss's attitude to people.

Not sure if she should proceed, Catherine came up behind her and they went into the spacious kitchen, brightly lit and the smell of interesting recipes being worked on by Grace and another girl from the local town.

'What the hell she can only ignore me and I'm used to that!'

"Catherine, how many did you leave behind and where?" she tried to ask indifferently, but Catherine raised an eyebrow acknowledging her 'friend’s' concern.

"Oh, come on Grace, surely you can't be worried? Hell, it's only Californians and they deserve a touch of reality, especially those from LA!" Glancing at the worry in the woman's face, Catherine conceded the point, just this once!

"About a dozen of them, up on Cutters Ridge." Then she walked out of the kitchen to her room, never glancing back to gauge the reaction from the other woman.

Grace let out a heavy sigh as she contemplated the scene on the ridge. Of all the places to be caught in a heavy storm, Cutter's Ridge was potentially the worse in this area at least.

Looking out at the worsening weather, she made a decision and picked up the mobile and dialed a familiar number. ‘I wonder why she hates Californians and in particular those from Los Angeles.’ Grace mused as she waited for the call to be answered.

~ ~ ~

Jace was freezing and soaked to the skin, her clothes just literally dripped as she stood and watched an equally wet camera crew film in torrential rain and windy conditions.

Peter Adamson looked decidedly grim as he motioned the final scenes he wanted to capture.

'Got to hand it to the woman, she certainly wasn't kidding when she said they needed some fortitude; Hades it's a potential for pneumonia here!' Looking at the track they had taken to arrive at the ridge, she noticed that it looked like a mudslide now. 'What on earth would they do about the equipment? Hudson would have both hers and Peter’s hide, if something happened to the expensive kit.'

Then her thoughts drifted to the woman who had left them defenceless on the ridge.

'I bet she's now home, warm and dry. Nothing short of laughing at our predicament as she explains our presence to her boss. Please, please, please someone out there take pity on us and send decent weather!' Knowing the weather change wouldn't alter the mudslide predicament they had, she knew it was a tall order.

Suddenly, she heard a roaring sound. It seemed far into the distance.

'Could it be a vehicle? Maybe it could be two vehicles? Or is it just my over active positive imagination?' Looking over at Peter, who also appeared to have heard the noises and getting closer too!

"Hey Jace, think we could be getting the cavalry?" He smiled at the obviously cold and wet woman, she would be feeling worse than the rest of the crew, as she had to just stand around.

"Zeus knows, but if it's anything that can get us out of here, I'm first in line." she smiled through the driving rain.

One of the crew pointed towards a peak to Jace's left and he grinned.

Both Jace and Peter turned and looked in the direction of the finger pointed by their cameraman. Smiles radiated from them both as they saw what they hoped wouldn't be an apparition.

On the horizon they saw a large olive green all-terrain vehicle, but it was a monster, looking like a cross between a tank and bus. Following it was a Land Rover also in olive green.

"Hey Jace looks like I was right the cavalry is here." He waved to the crew to get their equipment ready nobody wanted to be last in this god-awful weather.

"I wonder who sent the cavalry is more to the point?" Jace spoke softly, it would seem to herself, as Peter wandered off to marshal the people and the kit together.

The vehicles finally arrived and two men came towards them. Both men looked weather worn, obviously worked the land. They certainly had the physique to go with it, tanned and lithe, with the token duster hat and jeans and denim shirts. They smiled as they approached the crew, seemingly not to notice the ravages of the weather or feeling it either.

"You folks lost?" The older of the two asked.

"Actually no, we are filming a short documentary. Seems we didn't predict the weather though." Jace smiled and held out her hand to the first man that spoke and then to his partner.

"Ah, well Miss, you have to watch the weather carefully this time of year, especially with winter approaching." He smiled back at the young woman with the sparkling green eyes.

"Does anyone care for a ride out of here?" He smiled as he saw the relief on the faces of everyone.

Jace suddenly remembered what the woman rider had said, never a better time she thought. "Can they all get in that giant?" Jace asked pointing to the larger vehicle.

Colin Montgomery the ranch foreman smiled as he replied. "Sure, Why?" He asked in interest.

"I need to pay a visit to your boss, I assume, he obviously must have sent you?" Jace looked directly at him for any reaction.

Colin looked a little pensive, he'd done what Grace wanted by picking up the strangers, expecting them to want to go back to their hotel. But this was something else again! Jesus, the boss had dinner guests, not only that, she didn't know about this rescue, and would be ticked off when she found out, if she ever did that is. Although, the odds had tipped in her favour with the comment from the pretty blonde.

"I think the boss would appreciate it if you got yourself some dry clothes before you walked in there. Besides the boss has guests for dinner," he was trying to put her off.

"Ah, what better way to see him, especially as the woman said once we had finished, we must go and see 'him'!" Jace supplied, even though she secretly wanted nothing more than a hot bath, a glass of good wine and some dry clothes.

"Now which woman would that be Miss?" Colin asked, already knowing full well who that would be.

"Why the woman on the grey mare, she's tall, ebony hair and the most fascinating blue eyes I've ever seen. You know who I mean?" Jace blushed a little as she realised what she'd said about the woman.

"Oh! Yeah, I know exactly who you mean. Well, in that case guess I have no choice." He looked at the ranch hand with him and indicated the large vehicle and to get the passengers on board.

Peter looked at Jace and smiled a weak smile. "Do you want me to go with you?"

Knowing that Peter wanted to get the film developed and look at it as soon as possible, she smiled back at him and said she would handle it.

"Guess I'm with you Mr...?" Jace asked him quietly.

"Colin Montgomery, and you?" He politely asked back as he led her to the Land Rover and out of the rain.

"Jace, Jace Bardley. Thanks for coming, I guess she must have sent you?" As the soaked blonde looked out of the window and wiped the rain droplets from her face, not really expecting a reply.

"Oh, well let’s just say you would be surprised." He smiled and engaged the gear and they pulled off towards the path leading out of the ridge. Jace glanced at him but didn't comment any further.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Three

Catherine reclined in her chair as she listened politely to the local Reverend extolling the virtues of the sanctity of friendship and love. Tonight was the only evening of the year that she invited the local dignitaries to her home. They included the mayor, doctor, and chief of police, the vicar and smallholders who held some of her land on lease.

'Don't know why I ever let Grace talk me into this years ago. Now, it's such a pain in the arse. Does this guy even know what he's talking about?' Looking around the room, it was the same old faces, and to be honest, she didn't so much hate them as she found them boring and uninteresting. Then her thoughts traveled to a blonde with green eyes, who at this moment was probably drenched from the torrential rain and cursing her very name. 'Well, if she had known her name of course, that would really be a slap in the face for the young woman when she found out.' Smiling at the thought, she turned to the Reverend, he was looking directly at her and obviously waiting for an answer to some ridiculous question!

"Yes, okay, no problem,” was all she could think of, her mind not on tonight's dinner but on the people on the ridge, well one person in particular.

The Reverend suddenly shouted to the rest of the room. "Ms. Warriorson has agreed in principle to join our battle to bring more love into the world!" Clarence Stott fairly beamed at his new recruit.

'Oh, God! This was something out of a Jane Austin novel. Jesus what the hell did he say? Grace! Grace! Where the hell is she? Surely she will know?'

Looking around at the interested and frankly astounded faces, she spied Grace lounging at the far end of the room talking to the local doctor.

"Grace, could you spare me a few minutes alone please?" Catherine barely forced the polite words from her mouth.

Grace looked over at her and winked, knowing Catherine would hate that, but what the hell! "Sure no problem, I need to check on something in the kitchen anyway. Excuse me Doctor Simpson, I will be back later."

Both women made a suitable and hasty retreat out into the hall and along the corridor to the kitchen. No one was around, as the dinner had been finished over an hour ago.

"For god's sake Grace, what the hell have I just accepted in there?" The force behind the words clearly underlined the woman's frustration.

Grace knew that for maybe the first time since she had met this woman, she might just have the upper hand. Although it would be interesting to find out why she hadn't been paying attention; that in it self was unusual, well unheard of really.

"Well, you know the vicar and his pet projects,' she noticed the other woman nod and grow even more agitated. ' It appears that he wants people to take on kids that have little or no chance due to circumstances in their life, and you my friend appear to have said yes to helping out." Grace looked at her boss and friend and couldn't help the smile that came across her face as she looked at the comprehension of her statement.

Thinking about the problem, Catherine suddenly smiled. "Oh, that's no problem then, only money. I can do that!" She replied smugly.

Grace didn't chuckle but she so wanted too. After four years of these dinners Catherine still didn't know how some of these people ticked, if she did any of them at all. "Well, actually it's time, not money that's the important thing about this project. You get the kid and it is a question of faith, love and friendship that gets the result! According to the good Reverend that is." Grace added hastily seeing the expression on Catherine's face.

"For god's sake why do these people even bother, the kids are probably way past any help, if I know anything about this sort of project!" Catherine was trying her damnedest to think herself out of this one.

"How would you know? It's not as if you have ever had to suffer any hardship!" Grace suddenly regretted her words at the changing pallor of her boss. "I'm sorry Catherine, that was uncalled for." Grace didn't know what to say to relieve the situation.

"What exactly did you mean?" Catherine said quietly, but with a tone bordering on savage as she pinned Grace with an icy stare from her blue eyes. There was no evidence of warmth there at all.

"I just meant...Well...I...For god's sake Catherine it's a child were talking about, not an adult! Maybe it will help you get over your own personal tragedy!" Grace knew she had over stepped the line and waited for the venom to pour from the angry woman.

Catherine swung round and came very, very close to Grace and it would have been difficult to decide if there was any space between the two of them.

"Never, ever mention my family in any context do you hear me!" Catherine spoke in a tone that frightened Grace. She had never heard it before and never wanted to again.

"Yes," was all she could muster, shocked at the vicious tone with which Catherine delivered her message.

"Tell who ever you have too, that we will participate. But my dear Grace, you are the loving influence in this household; it's all yours. I'm going to my study, say goodnight for me!" She walked off towards the study, leaving a very demoralised and upset housekeeper in her wake.

A knocking on the door a few minutes after Catherine left the room brought Grace out of her revere. She opened the door and saw Colin and a petite woman, obviously weather worn, Grace motioned Colin inside with the visitor.

"Sorry to disturb you Grace, but the lady here says that 'The boss' is expecting her." He looked at the woman in front of him and saw the tears that she had tried to hide. "You okay Grace?" he asked, wanting to kick the hell out of who had made her cry.

Looking into the grey eyes of the ranch foreman and accepting his concern. "Yes, yes I'm fine Colin. So, who do we have here?" She indicated the woman.

Jace looked at the woman and the obvious concern of the man for her and speculated their relationship. Moving forward a little, she answered the question. "My name is Jace Bardley and I'm from Union City Productions, I would like to see C X Warriorson." Jace answered confidently. Although, she realised it must be difficult to take her seriously when she looked like a drowned rat.

Grace eyed her speculatively, had Catherine made an appointment with one of them? Impossible! Especially when she was entertaining. Tonight was sure turning out to be a trial, in more ways than one. "Hmm, I'm not sure it's a good time. There are guests here at the moment. I find it difficult to believe that tonight was a firm appointment." Grace looked at the woman with concern at her appearance and how she had started to shiver.

"Look, I know it's strange turning up like this out of the blue, but his employee did say once we had finished on the ridge we were to come and see him!" Jace answered desperately. Perhaps it hadn't been a good idea after all.

"How about you dry off a little and tell me about the employee that set up the meeting?" Grace said gently and handed Jace a thick towel to help the drying process. "Tell you what, I'll get you something to change into, just in case you do happen to see the boss." She smiled and went into the laundry and brought a white shirt belonging to Catherine and a pair of shorts of her own.  Giving the items to Jace, she motioned her to change in the storage room and turned to Colin as she closed the door behind her.

"What the hell is she talking about Colin? Catherine never mentioned anyone else coming tonight!" Grace asked perplexed, not knowing what to do.

Colin looked at the toe of his boot and shrugged, and told her what Jace had said in the car. ‘So, Catherine is playing games is she? Wonder if she knows that some games backfire.’

Colin left shortly after and said he would see her in the morning over breakfast.

Jace returned as Colin left and looked sheepishly at the other woman who was probably a couple of years her senior.

Grace nodded approvingly at the dry condition of her unexpected guest. “Colin told me about the woman who said it was okay to come here to see the ‘boss’, seems she forgot to advise us here in the house.”

"Thanks for the change of clothes, guess I needed it. When can I meet the recluse?" She made the question appear like a joke, her green eyes alight with laughter.

"Oh, well I'd better check for you, give me a few minutes okay?" Grace left the room and went towards the study.

Jace looked around the well used but modern kitchen area obviously designed for convenience that was for sure. The smell of food was causing her to feel sick from lack of it. 'God I hope you’re in a good mood Mr. Recluse, because I don't think I can take much more today, it sure has been a long one.'

Grace walked back into the kitchen and motioned for the woman to follow her.

Now that had sure been interesting.

Catherine had started to bite her head off for coming back to see her. But once she explained why, the woman suddenly backed off and gave an odd look. An expression of interest passed over her stoic features, almost as if she couldn't believe it. "Better send her in Grace; she obviously wants to see me." Catherine finally spoke in a guarded voice.

"She thinks you're a man!" Grace said nonchalantly.

"Oh, I know that already, is she alone or with others?" Catherine asked quietly.

"She's alone, or at least that's how it appears." Grace replied as she went out the door.

Catherine smiled "Alone, well, well, things are looking up," she softly said to the closing door.

Grace led the woman to the study door and knocked waiting for instructions to enter. On hearing 'enter' from inside, which was muffled due to the heavy oak door, Grace opened the door and motioned for Jace to go inside.

Jace looked at her. "You're not coming in too?" For the first time feeling her bravado displaced by a feeling of trepidation.

"Sorry.  It's your appointment. I have other guests that need attention, please excuse me." Grace smiled in encouragement and left the woman hovering at the door.

Jace managed a deep breath and walked through the doorway into a dimly lit room.

The surroundings reminded her of her father’s study, yet it had a distinctly un-masculine feel about it. Although, it did smell of polished wood and leather, very like her father’s, only there was a definite fresh cologne smell, which seemed vaguely familiar. A large desk dominated the room, along one wall was a bookcase, which covered the full length and every available space was filled with books. Jace starred in wonder at the books stretched out, and she wanted nothing more than to look through every shelf, forgetting for a moment that she was in fact meeting the recluse C X Warriorson.

A movement of a large leather swing chair being pivoted in her direction brought her out of her wayward thoughts. Turning quickly to look in that direction, her face immediately paled as she recognised the person sitting watching her with interest.

Catherine Warriorson had watched the small blonde slowly enter the study. She didn't immediately look for the occupier. Instead, she looked the room over and seemed to take in its’ very essence. Particularly the bookcase, which had brought pleasure and pain since she had moved here. The woman was a reader that was for sure, her face glowed and she could see the hand moving towards the books, itching to touch them. Catherine had seen that look before, the very same expression, someone that loved books, all books. That's when she had moved the chair to announce her presence in the room, the unwanted memories bringing their own pain.

"So Miss Bardley, you managed to get your shots. And off the ridge without too much hassle I see." Catherine spoke in a low soft voice.

"I'm, I'm...not sure what's going on, but you said I would see C X Warriorson!" She spoke accusingly at the dark haired woman sitting easily in the chair.

A deep throaty laugh came from Catherine, the audacity of this young woman. Didn't she have any idea what was happening? Surely she wasn't that dense?  "Oh Miss Bardley, didn't anyone ever tell you assumptions can be very dangerous?" She smiled briefly, not transmitted to her eyes, which looked at her with sudden boredom. Maybe this woman didn't have the spark she thought she had seen earlier.

Jace looked at the confident woman and realised exactly what she meant.

'Oh, no! I can't believe we didn't get that information; what the hell must she think of us, of me particularly? Unable to articulate exactly what she felt, Jace looked at her feet, which wasn't exactly a good idea. She had decided to go bare foot and take off her sodden boots when she changed clothes.

Catherine glanced over at the spot the girl was nervously looking at, and noticed the bare feet and what was overtly a much larger shirt on the woman and shorts too. ‘Oh Grace had been doing her compassionate bit again it would seem.’ Looking at the blush and the obvious embarrassment of the young woman, she took pity on her state of undress and obvious discomfort. "I suggest you take a seat before you fall down, and we will discuss the matter of trespassing on 'MY' property as the opening gambit!"

Jace looked up with a start, and sat down heavily on the seat opposite the woman, now might be a good time to curl up and die. Wonder if the fates would be with her on that one. Already her head was beginning to pound and she was hungry, which was something she generally did not allow herself to forget, her meals!

~ ~ ~

Chapter Four

After some skirting of the main issues, it came down to just who had the audacity to let the film crew on Warriorson property.

"You must have had inside help on this escapade of yours. Did they do it for money, or just to get back at me? Not that it matters if you don't tell me I will find out soon enough. That sort of exploit you can't keep quiet for long in these smaller communities, a little like the States I should think." Catherine had been talking 'at' the girl for nearly an hour and they hadn't really resolved anything, mainly because the girl refused to tell who her contact had been. Yet she couldn't get angry with her, the young woman reminded her so much of Lucas...

Jace was tired. She was shivering from the combined cold of the day and the chill in the study, which wasn't affecting the other woman in any way. Coupled to that she was hungry and her stomach was growling impatiently at her. It was a wonder the other woman hadn't heard it over her softly spoken harsh words.

Suddenly Catherine moved around the desk and walked over to the young woman seated in the low-slung chair. She had noticed the continuing pallor of her visitor, and that she had suddenly started to shiver with the coolness of the room. Never complaining, it was now after ten in the evening and surely the woman hadn't eaten! "It looks to me that we will not resolve the matter today! You look like death Ms Bardley. Why didn't you say you were cold? Are you hungry?" Catherine spoke in a clipped voice as she looked down at Jace with little warmth in her eyes.

Jace couldn't believe the change in the conversation. Within minutes it had gone from a confrontation situation, neither giving an inch, to one with a little compassion. Maybe not with any real feeling, but at least Ms. Warriorson had noticed her deteriorating condition! Trying to get up she stumbled forward out of the chair and the tall woman quickly leaned forward and held onto her to stop a fall to the floor.

Catherine looked at the woman held in her arms and she felt a strange emotion that she couldn't quite fathom. For some reason Jace Bardley made her want to understand the younger woman to a greater extent. Looking into green eyes that held warmth in them even for her, it reminded her once again of someone she had lost and perhaps that was the connection? Whatever it was, she wanted to get to know this woman better. Only how did you do that when the only conversations they had, had been adversarial. 'Christ with my current record, I would be lucky to see the woman again after today.'

"Thanks," came the tentative overture from Jace as she acknowledged the woman's help in stopping her fall. Green eyes looked deep into ice blue and Jace attempted a smile, unsure that it would be returned. Suddenly she was given a look behind the stoic persona. A smile, however brief that went straight to the eyes and Jace felt a glow knowing she was responsible for that smile. Yeah, she sure was, and it made her feel good; making her forget that she was cold and hungry, well the cold at any rate.

"You’re welcome, let’s go and get you some food and warmer clothes." Catherine led the way back towards the kitchen, noting the silence in the rest of the house. 'Great,’ Grace had managed to get rid of the locals. Hell she hated that part of being the largest landowner in the area. But, Grace made her act sociable once a year, so it wasn't too bad, she would live!'

Walking into the kitchen behind the taller woman, Jace saw Grace watching them approach and smiled at Jace and gave Catherine a curious look for any instructions.

"Grace, I see you managed the guests with your usual charm and tact?" She smiled at the woman.

Looking a little surprised at the good mood of her boss, never having seen a total stranger bring the woman out of her shell before.

"Well one of us has to be around here. After you hit them with the offer to help. I think it was all hands to the project to see who they can give us." Grace smiled briefly.

Jace looked at the two women and could feel the tension between them.

Catherine looked around the kitchen and started to go through cupboards and then managed to find the refrigerator, muttering as she did so.

The other two women in the room looked at each other and smiled.

Suddenly Grace went over to Catherine and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Looking up perplexed, Catherine raised an eyebrow in question.

"How about I look for the food. It is food for Ms. Bardley that you want, I presume?" Grace couldn't help the grin that crossed her lips at the concentration of her boss on a task so alien to her.

Catherine saw the smirk, was about to rebuke her for it, and then looked over at a gently smiling Jace Bardley and nothing else was important.  "Yes, you presumed right Grace, guess I'm not much good in my own kitchen huh?" She allowed a small smile to play around her lips and then looked towards the laundry room. "Give me a minute." She left the room not waiting for any reply.

Jace looked in astonishment at the woman leaving the room and shook her head in astonishment. 'Was this the same woman who hours earlier had berated them on a cold and wet ridge and left them to fend for themselves and yet...now suddenly she was caring and dare she say the word...yeah, she dare 'friendly', which was the only word she could come up with for the current situation.’

"Uuh, I hate to ask this, but is she always like this?"

"Actually no!" Grace supplied her astonishment at the situation clearly imprinted on her face.

"It's something new, do you think it's catching?" Jace couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.

Grace laughed along with this small green-eyed pretty young woman who had in the space of an hour cracked open the shell of one Catherine Warriorson, whatever next! "Oh, let’s hope if it is, she keeps catching it and we don't lose it overnight, that would be fine with me."

Suddenly the door opened quickly and the party of their thoughts came blustering into the kitchen with some clothes.

"I think these will do, that is if it's okay?" Catherine raised blue eyes towards her young visitor and they reflected a tentative glance.

Jace couldn’t help the tender smile that came to her lips as she observed the woman before her. "Thanks, I need to get warm before I go back to the hotel."

"You could stay here tonight if you wanted? It's still very wild out there!"  Catherine responded quickly, unable to stop the words flowing from her lips.

Grace couldn't believe this was Catherine, no way! What the hell happened in that study? It was only an hour, right? "I can make up one of the spare rooms no problem."

Jace was tired, she could ring Peter and let him know and it would be an ideal opportunity to work on C X Warriorson for that interview. "I guess I'm tired. Sure, thanks for the hospitality. Can I make a phone call?"

Catherine gave a sigh of relief. She hadn't realised she was holding her breath for the answer. "Great, has Grace found you something to eat?" A smile clearly evident on her face.

Within an hour Jace was fed, a phone call made and a bed waiting in the ranch of the recluse C X Warriorson. Hudson was going to be so impressed with her. Nothing had changed, and yet in a subtle sort of way it appeared the recluse liked her. She didn't know why, but she wanted to find out. But what involvement did it have to do with her? And why, did it make the tall dark and quite simply beautiful woman change her total personality over it? Lots of questions and too late tonight to find any answers to any of them, except maybe one! "Hope you don't mind me asking, but what do the C X represent?"

Grace had gone to bed a few minutes before having to be up early for the breakfast routine, leaving the two women alone in the kitchen.

"Catherine," was the only reply she received.

"That lets me in on the C, but what about the X?"

Looking at her Catherine just shook her head. "If you ever get my complete trust, you get to know what the X means."

Jace smiled and shook her head in disbelief. "It must be on one of the public records, surely I could just go look it up?"

"You could try! Then again, maybe you can't get hold of it that easy. Are you afraid that you wont ever earn my complete trust?" Ice blue eyes bored into green ones.

The green eyes vied with blue and suddenly dropped to a spot on the far wall.  "Oh, I think it could be enlightening to gain your trust."

"Perhaps in more ways than you think Jace Bardley," Catherine responded enigmatically.

The response made Jace look at the recluse closely, “What did she mean by that?’ She wondered.  However, complete exhaustion had set in. Jace yawned and realised she was totally worn-out. The delicious food she had consumed, which had made the other women smile at the amount she had eaten at one sitting, didn't help the cause of staying awake.

"Time for bed I think."

Catherine glanced at the drooping eyes of the woman opposite her and smiled.
"Yes, I think it is time for you to turn in. Goodnight Jace Bardley. I'll see you in the morning." With that she motioned the young woman in the direction of the room Grace had prepared, and then turned in the direction of the study.

"Goodnight Catherine Warriorson." Jace spoke softly to the retreating back and headed for the door of her room.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Five

Catherine had too many questions buzzing in her head to contemplate, and sleep was the furthest thing from her mind at this moment.

Here she was thirty-five years old, independently wealthy, passably good looking to the eye and single, well, widowed at any rate. Living in an adopted country, but missing her own roots from time to time, with few friends, and a whole lot of emotional baggage that didn't ever go away entirely. It just disappeared for a while and then came out to smack her between the eyes at the most inopportune moments.

Now here she was thinking a green-eyed stranger could somehow alleviate the pain she went through from time to time.

“Hell what am I thinking, she's just a girl!” She said aloud to herself.

Catherine wiped her brow with her left hand and looked out of the large window overlooking the ranch yard. It was dark and therefore little could be distinguished, but she knew what was out there: The large hanging tree as she called it, because of it's shape. The small herb garden to the right of the house, where Grace would spend the odd hour or two. The large drive, housing her Land Rover and the Jeep that belonged to Grace. Beyond the drive were the ranch foreman's house and then the bunkhouse for the single men that worked on the property. It was very much an old fashioned styled ranch, but with all the modern conveniences, and the pay was good, or so she was told.

People didn't mind working for the Warriorson holdings, mainly because the woman who owned them left the day to day running of the ranch to Colin Montgomery and that kept everyone happy. He was a very capable man and was well liked by the men and also respected by his boss.  Somehow she had got lucky with Colin.

Then there was Grace! At times Grace would get on her nerves, almost to the point where she wanted to fire her, but always at the last minute, she stopped herself. Grace was all the things she wasn't, compassionate, happy and contented with her lot in life, or that's how Catherine viewed it from her standpoint. 'Is that really the case? Grace, are you happy here with me?' Sudden thoughts that came to her and she didn't have the answer, hadn't really considered how Grace felt. She knew that there had been times when the woman surely should have packed up and left.

'Maybe it's time I found out! But what will I do if she isn't happy here? Would I really care? YES.'

'Why now? What is it about the young woman that has me thinking on these lines? I haven’t been particularly nice to anyone in years! Is it because Jace Bardley had the look on her face when she saw the books in the study that reminded me of Adam? Is that the only reason? Or is it her gentle smile that radiated in a room and filled it with sunshine, even though it was dark and raining outside, just like Lucas my brother.' Shaking her head she tried to clear the thoughts of her family. It still didn't make sense to her. Why she had been left behind and the good part of her family had been tragically taken away. Every morning she woke up, she asked herself the same question.

'Why them, shouldn't it have been me?'

The day always mocked her and somewhere in her head a voice answered her. 'Your time will come. When it does, don't expect to meet them on the other side; they have gone to a better place. You need to find redemption before you can follow that path.'

Always the same answer and didn't she know it, and what had she done in the last five years about that redemption? NOTHING! 'Hell, if anything I have made things worse!'

As her fingers touched a leather bound novel that looked like it had been read on numerous occasions, she thought of her family and how everything had begun.

Her mother had been a descendant of a Greek gypsy line. She had believed in the after life and fortunes and the fates. Even down to premonitions, which had often amused her and her younger brother Lucas.  Although there were times when it appeared their mother had been right! Elena Xianthos had been a singer in a nightclub in London, when she met Catherine's father Stewart Devonshire. He was a young publisher and had recently acquired the rights to a book by an upcoming author Adam Warriorson.  Several months later Elena and Stewart married and Adam had been their best man. Two years later the book 'There Can Only Be One Soulmate,' was a best seller and making both men a lot of money.

Catherine had been born earlier that year and five years later Lucas came along.

For the first ten years of her life Catherine had the love of both of her parents, but only the time of her mother, as their father was just so busy making the family fortune, or so he said!

Unexpectedly their mother contracted cancer and she died within six months. It wouldn't have appeared so hard except their father wouldn't or couldn't release his emotions over his wife's death. Instead he moved the publishing house to America and left the children in the care of his wife's sister Constantia in London.

For the next ten years Catherine went to all the best schools and received the finest education that the private system in England could offer. She was a very intelligent girl, but apt to be wayward and disruptive for no apparent reason. Unable to gather any true friends, she went through the University because she had to or her father would dispense with her allowance and that she wouldn't forego. It gave her the freedom to take drugs, alcohol and whatever else she could lay her hands on. She also moved around Europe in a daze most of the time, not caring much about anything except her brother, who had just started his final year at school before going to the University.

Lucas was a happy young man. He loved life, even if it hadn't been entirely easy in terms of parental love for him or his sister. He made the most of all the opportunities his father's money could offer him. He wanted to become a doctor and had the intelligence and compassion to make it happen.

When Catherine turned twenty-two, she ended up in jail. Not only had she been taking drugs, but she had been pushing them too. For a year Catherine was held in a medium term prison and alienated her self with not only the inmates but also the prison staff as well. It was a very long year, and one she wouldn't forget. She had the scars both emotional and bodily to prove it.

A month after she was released from prison in Germany, she was called home.

A drunk driver had killed Lucas in a car accident. He was only eighteen, on the brink of life. The driver had been to an all night party and was only twenty. He died two days later from injuries sustained in the accident.

Catherine was devastated and didn't know where to turn, her Aunt had disowned her and her father wanted nothing to do with her either.

Adam Warriorson came into her life. He was twenty-five years older than she was, a contemporary of her father, and also his close friend as well. He helped her kick the drugs and alcohol and made her look inside herself for a reason to live beyond the rage she felt. They drifted into marriage. He loved the beautiful young woman, who had a heart ready to give so much love, if only she could find it within her self to let it out. She wanted stability and security in her life, Adam offered her both. Love was never an option.

A year later Lucas was born, this event allowed Catherine to remove barriers she had set up within her heart to stop the anguish of loved one's leaving suddenly.  The marriage was relatively happy, Catherine loved Adam, although she knew deep down she wasn't ‘in love’ with him. Adam was as ‘in love’ with her as any man could be, and he watched her give a part of her heart to their son, but never to him, it broke his heart.

When Lucas was two, Stewart Devonshire died of a massive heart attack. Catherine knew she was his only living child, but had long since surrendered any thought of her father leaving the business to her. She hadn't exactly been his favourite child, after her prison term anyway.

Catherine Warriorson surprisingly became the new heir to the 'Xianthos Publishing Corporation' and all that entailed. It became the ultimate challenge her life as a wife and mother wasn’t.

Within six months she had left her London home, her husband and son and headed for New York and the lure of power!

Catherine became ruthless, devious and a down right bitch in the company she had inherited. It was obvious she derived great pleasure from seeing others fail and loved to bait them and if possible defeat her corporate enemies in bitter boardroom battles and takeovers.

Adam Warriorson waited for his wife to come to her senses--she never did. He had decided to buy a ranch in New Zealand, where his parents had been reared.  Obviously, he wanted to raise their son away from the stories of his mother and her zealous dealings. He had everything ready, the house, furniture and his numerous books. All he needed was Catherine's permission to leave the country with Lucas.

Catherine had made noises about coming home more often, but it never happened, and now she wanted to see the new family home merely as a gesture. In Adam's eyes, Catherine was still the most beautiful woman he had ever met, and he loved her, but she now had a cold and calculated look. He never wanted his son to ever come into contact with that element of his mother’s personality.  She gave her permission and as she left the ranch house, Adam passed her a book.

"Catherine, when you have time, please read this and let me know if our relationship ever felt this way to you?" he passed her a leather bound copy of his first novel 'There Can Only Be One Soulmate’.

"Fine Adam, I will, when I get time!" She told him curtly and left him looking at her back as she strode off to the waiting car.

A week later she flew back. Her husband and son had been killed in a light aircraft accident on their way to the ranch from Christchurch.

What had been left of Catherine Warriorson's heart died that day? She buried them on the ranch, overlooking a beautiful mountain pass with a steady stream winding along its path.

Adam had named the ranch 'Destiny'. For Catherine it was a most fitting possession for her to have. Love and happiness weren’t part of her deal in this life. She was destined to be denied the pleasures and feel only the pain that life had to offer. But hadn't she deserved it for her excesses?

"I'm sorry Adam, but how could you ever have been my soulmate, I never even loved you! Then again, I'm not even sure that I believe in the existence of one." Catherine closed her eyes and let a single tear roll slowly down her cheek.

She hadn't wanted to think about the past, but it had come to her waking this time, not in sleep as it usually did.  Her finger stopped its spiraling movement over the leather bound book and she placed it on the desk. 'Wonder if Jace Bardley had bad dreams? No, how could she, she's only a kid and a happy looking one at that!'

Catherine turned off the light and left the study.

Moonlight streamed into the window of the study and bounced on the carved out title of the book resting on the desk, illuminating it as if in answer to a question crying out to be answered.

~ ~ ~

 

Chapter Six

Catherine was up at her usual 5.30 a.m. and walked into the kitchen area, showing none of the traits of only having two hours sleep, but she had slept and that was unusual.

Grace glanced up from her preparation of breakfast for Catherine, Colin and herself and this morning for a certain young guest also! Although she doubted Ms. Bardley would see the light of 6 a.m. Smiling she motioned Catherine to her seat at the head of the large oak dining table that was central to the room. Approaching Catherine with a fresh mug of tea for the strangely serene looking woman, "Our guest hasn't stirred I see." Grace said more as a statement than a question to her employer.

Catherine quirked her eyebrows and frowned, "Actually, I never told her our breakfast hour. Sorry."

Grace once again glanced back at her friend who had never apologised before for not doing something. "No problem, I'll feed her when she does get up. She kind of looked all worn out to me last night. Did you two stay up long after I left?" Not really expecting an answer from the other woman, she carried on with the breakfast preparations.

Catherine gathered her thoughts and softly said. "No, she went to bed a few minutes after you did. She was very tired."

Grace was astounded, this was the most communicative that Catherine had been in the five years they had lived under the same roof and shared this daily routine. ‘Wonder what else she's going to surprise us with today?’

"What about you, did you sleep well?" Both women knew that she didn’t sleep well; they just had never discussed it, after Catherine had nearly bounced her off the ranch for asking once in the early days.

Catherine wanted to snap at Grace for what she considered prying, but instead something overrode her usual privacy mode and she answered. "I had a lot on my mind, didn't go to bed until 3 a.m. But when I did, I slept."

Grace turned round to face her friend, "I'm glad," was all she said as she put the eggs on the griddle. Colin would be here soon.

Over breakfast Catherine would discuss the ranch and its smallholdings with Colin and Grace. If ever Catherine were away Grace would help Colin with any decisions. It had been a very good solution to running the ranch.

Although Catherine no longer lived in the city, she still held the reins of the Xianthos Publishing Corp. from afar via her computer, linked up several hours of the day to certain strategic world locations. Today she wanted to discuss a certain 'Union City Productions' with her New York Vice President, Paul Strong. He had taken over her figurehead role in the Corporation with ease and professionalism and he was doing a very fine job. Few people knew that she had the final decision on all the major policies. They had assumed she had just run away from it all after her personal tragedies. No one had cared if she was dead or alive, they were just glad that they didn't ever have to be confronted with her again! Ms. Devonshire had made an impression on people, but not a happy one.

Twice a year she would have a meeting in Sydney to discuss with the Vice Presidents of each of her global operations, problems and tactics for the coming months. Paul Strong was by far the most senior VP and he would be the ear for all the other VP's in the event of a crisis in their operations as Catherine wasn't available. Catherine was due at such a meeting in three days, and by then Paul would have all the information she needed.

"So Colin, how do you see the ranch progressing, now we have the livestock and the employees?"

Colin blushed a little, although he was sure of his abilities, the beautiful woman in front of him always made him self-conscious, so he looked at Grace for support. She smiled at him to continue. "I...I guess, it's just up to us now to get the profits you need to buy up more land and make this the biggest ranch in New Zealand," he stuttered.

Catherine smiled at him. She had a great respect for the man and his abilities and knew that she un-nerved him, although she hadn’t figured out why. "Good! Somehow I thought you and I would be working to the same ends. Although, 'Destiny' was never bought with that objective in mind," Catherine speculated absently.

Grace looked down into her mug of coffee, and Colin cleared his throat nervously. "What objective was it bought for, Ma'am?" Colin asked respectfully.

Catherine looked at the downcast head of Grace and the nervous movements of the man opposite her. Smiling briefly "Adam my husband bought it as a sanctuary for our son and himself." She spoke quietly.

Grace looked up at the last words spoken by her boss and she noticed the faint lines of strain around the eyes. "Whom did they need sanctuary from?" She couldn't help herself she just had to ask.

Catherine gave a weary laugh, and got up from her chair and walking by Grace, she put a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed it. "Would you believe ME!" and walked out of the door to her study.

Colin looked at Grace; neither of them had any words to counter that statement, both deciding some things were better left unsaid, for the moment at any rate.

Grace decided when she glanced at the clock and realised it was 9 a.m. that maybe their guest would be a little hungry.

Walking towards the room they had given to Ms. Bardley the previous evening, Grace heard faint moans coming from within the room. Knocking on the door she opened it cautiously just in case the woman would be upset at the intrusion. Not hearing any protest from within just the louder moans coming from the bed, quickly Grace went over to the prone figure in the bed and pushed back the covers.

The first thing she noticed was the flushed face of the younger woman and the small moans coming from her. Slowly touching her forehead to check her temperature, Grace gasped at the heat and realised they needed a doctor; the woman was certainly ill.  She gently patted Jace's cheek to get any response and the eyes fluttered open briefly but didn't focus at all on her. Making sure she was fully wrapped up, Grace left the room and literally ran down the hall to the study.

Without even knocking she pushed open the large oak door and was glared at by Catherine who was talking on the phone.

Noting the agitation of her housekeeper, she realised that something was terribly wrong. "Look Paul, it appears I have an emergency here, can you get the information for me, for the meeting?" She listened intently to the speaker on the other end, but her eyes never left Grace's face the whole time. 'Shit, what the hell could be wrong?'

"Great, knew I could trust you on this one. Have a good journey to Sydney and I'll see you there. Bye." Putting the phone back on its’ cradle she raised an eyebrow for Grace to continue.

"Ms. Bardley’s ill!" Grace shouted at the woman in front of her.

"I'm not deaf Grace! What's the matter with her?" Catherine spoke patiently, but her gut did a somersault and her eyes glazed with concern few had ever seen from her.

"I went to her room, it was getting late, thought she might want something to eat. Well, I heard moaning and she has a fever, her eyes are unfocused, she's got a high temperature, she..."

"Okay, okay Grace, I get the picture! Get hold of Doctor Simpson and I'll go and see her myself." Catherine said gently to the concerned woman.

"Yeah...yeah, I will." She turned to leave.

"Grace do it here." Walking towards the woman and the door, she lifted Grace's chin and looked into her brown eyes and smiled. "It's going to be okay Grace, hopefully this error of judgement I've made again, doesn't kill someone this time!" She left Grace to ponder that particular comment.
 

Catherine strode off in the direction of the room that her guest was staying in. 'Of all the stupid things to do, I've gone and done it again! My bloody pride and arrogance has had a detrimental effect on someone else again. Will I ever learn? Obviously not’.

Opening the door she saw the state of the younger woman immediately, the covers were strewn all over the floor obviously kicked off by the sick woman. Closing the distance between the door and the bed, she noted the sweat running down the small body and the fever she was held in. Picking up the covers she put them back over the body in front of her, although that only served to agitate the woman more.

Using her not in considerable strength, she placed her hands over the covers and held them over the small body on the bed and stopped the struggling woman from kicking them off. "Hey Jace Bardley, this is for your own good here. Come on now, help me out and let me tuck you in." Catherine softly said into the ear of the thrashing woman.

Something, somewhere, must have registered within Jace, because as the words were spoken she suddenly stopped moving around so much. "Hey, that's my girl." Catherine smiled at the woman she had pinned down.

From out of her fog of pain and fever, Jace tried to open her eyes.  Looking into the ice blue eyes, she knew that they touched something deep within her soul. Just why she didn't know, but she wanted to stay like this forever. Whatever it would take to see those eyes looking at her with warmth. "I...I don't seem to remember you?" A distinctly fearful look in the green eyes peering into blue.

Catherine looked a little shaken by the remark, but smoothed the hair from her eyes. "I'm Catherine, you stayed the night! You have a fever, the doctor will be here shortly, just take it easy."

Jace knew she had a massive headache and was having difficulty breathing, her body felt heavy and ached in every bone she could think of and then some she couldn't. 'I stayed the night! Why?' "I'm very tired..." Jace closed her eyes to the pounding that was going on in her head, but wanted so much to open them, and see the concerned expression from those blue eyes again.

"Hey, go to sleep, I'm here, its going to be okay." Catherine meant every word.

Jace mumbled, "Please don't leave me?"

Catherine looked at the now sleeping woman and put a hand over her own tired eyes. 'Somehow I couldn't leave you Jace Bardley even if I wanted too! Now what would you think of that Adam, some slip of a girl has managed to get under my skin?' She sat down in the chair opposite the bed and waited for the doctor.

Doctor Simpson had never been called to the ranch house before. Previously it had been just the employees of 'Destiny' that he'd attended, but this summons was rare and he didn't want to miss the opportunity.

He was shown into Catherine's study.

"Take a seat Doctor." She indicated the large chair that Jace had occupied the previous night. 'Had it only been those few short hours ago?'

"Thanks." He sat in front of the woman who hid behind the recluse exterior she portrayed to everyone. Now she concentrated her ice blue eyes on him full of concern.

Blue eyes looked directly into his grey ones. He noted again what a beautiful woman she was and how the warmth in her eyes, made her almost glow. "Will she be okay?"

Doctor Andrew Simpson could have been as cold to her as she had portrayed to him and his fellow neighbours in all the years she had been in the area. But something had changed here, and he wasn't one to hold a grudge.

"She needs to be kept warm, have the medication in exactly the dosages I've said and rest for as long as it takes!"

Catherine raised her eyebrows at the statement. "Can she be moved?"

Andrew was taken aback by the remark; it wasn't something he had thought would be a problem. "Well, I wouldn't take that chance if I was you, she could develop pneumonia if she's not careful over the next few days. Is that a problem?" he enquired.

Catherine turned her back on him and gazed out of the window. "It's my fault she's in this state. When she's able, she might want to move back to town and her colleagues. I thought I'd better ask."

Andrew saw the tenseness of her body and shook his head and moved out of the chair towards the person standing very rigid at the window. "She didn't exactly want you to leave earlier as I recall." He spoke quietly to her, as they both looked out on the rain soaked drive.

Catherine thought about that. No, Jace had clung to her hand like a leech, when she moved to leave the room with the doctor. In fact, the girl had whimpered and Catherine had knelt beside the bed and whispered to her that she would be back as quickly as she could. It had for some unknown reason worked!

"I suppose she didn't, but she's suffering a fever at the moment. Jace said earlier that she didn't remember me! Guess that's a good thing in the circumstances, wouldn't you say Doc?"

For some strange reason Andrew Simpson recognised a need emanating from this woman, that she wanted the younger woman in the other room to want to stay. He again shook his head of the fanciful thoughts. This woman didn't need anyone, or did she?

"Oh, I don't know about that, I think you should wait and see what the next few days bring, before you think about moving her out." He walked back to the chair and picked up his bag and went on towards the door. Glancing back, he noticed Warriorson hadn't moved, but she did look as if her posture had relaxed a little.

"Thank you Doctor. Just let me know what the bill is and Grace she will take care of it immediately." Catherine spoke absently to the retreating figure.

"My pleasure.  Ms. Thornton is one of my favourite neighbours, it will give me a chance to talk to her again." He smiled at the thought.

"Does she know that?" Catherine turned around suddenly.

"Does she know what?" He asked at her sudden attentiveness to their conversation.

"That you like her, maybe more than like?" Catherine turned her profile towards him her left eyebrow raised in question.

"No! No, she doesn't know that I like her and like her a lot." He smiled wryly at her.

"Guess, I'll be seeing more of you at 'Destiny' then Doctor?" Catherine replied, never taking her eyes of the blushing physician.

"If that's an invitation, you might never get rid of me." He chuckled.

"Oh, well at least you have a profession we can use around here. It wouldn't be a hardship, now would it," she flippantly replied.

Andrew Simpson was bowled over. This woman could charm a snake if she ever let herself go. It made him wonder just what kind of person could ever make her see anything other than this life of a recluse she obviously had adopted.

"I'll be seeing you again Ms. Warriorson." He nodded his head as he opened the door to let himself out of the study.

"It's Catherine. Yeah, I suppose you will." She turned back to her observation of the ranch yard.

~ ~ ~

Grace was walking back to the kitchen having taken away the bedding and now held the clothes of the young woman. The doctor arrived at that moment and she smiled.

"How did it go?"

He looked at the vision in front of him. For more than four years he had tried unsuccessfully to get a date with Grace. Now he had a chance and as unbelievable as it might seem, the reclusive Catherine Warriorson had made it possible.

"Great! In fact, she's said I can come over any time and to cap it all I get to call her Catherine."

Grace looked at him, her expression one of astonishment and wonder. 'This was turning out to be quite a day!'

"Well, I guess that's good. Catherine huh, wonder what brought that on?"

"Ha! Well, I did say that I wanted to see a certain favourite neighbour of mine more often and she kind of agreed." He smiled openly at her.

"She did? Now who would that be, I wonder Doctor Simpson?" Grace asked him nonchalantly.

"Yeah, she did! You, my dear Grace are by far the most favourite neighbour I ever think about. Can I interest you in dinner one evening soon?" He waited with baited breath for her reaction.

Grace toyed with saying No! She liked Andrew Simpson; he had a good sense of humour and seemed to appreciate people around him. It would be good to go out for a change." Sure, it's a day for trying out new things around here I think. I would love to go."

He looked as if someone had handed him a million dollars.

"Excellent! You don't know what that means to me Grace. How about Friday?" He suddenly hugged her as they entered the kitchen as Colin Montgomery walked in from the side door.

Grace noticing Colin quickly disengaged from Andrew, but couldn't help the blush that stung her cheeks.

"Can I call you later to confirm?"

Andrew looked at her and smiled. "Sure, no worries, talk to you later." He breezed out of the side door, almost knocking over Colin in his exuberance.

Grace looked over as Colin came further into the kitchen.

"What was that about?" He couldn't keep the slight frown from his forehead.

"Oh that! Well, Ms. Bardley is ill, so the doctor was over checking up on her." Grace answered the question, but not really answering the underlying question that had been asked.

"I see." Colin looked back as the doctor pulled out of the ranch yard area.

"Do you?" Grace whispered.

Colin looked back at Grace and said he needed to see Catherine. Holding up his hand he strode past her and said he would go straight to the study.

~ ~ ~

.

Chapter Seven

Jace felt disorientated

She looked around the room, which spun if she glanced around to fast.

'Hell my head hurts.'

The doctor had been nice as well as handsome also! Although not her type, he did have a very good bedside manner.

She remembered Catherine Warriorson now! Her current health crisis was in part her fault, but she couldn't find it in her heart to blame the woman.

All she wanted was her back here in the room and looking at her with those ice blue eyes that held warmth that she would gladly drown in.

'She'd said she would be back! Why hasn't she come back yet!' Jace was being impatient, it had only been minutes since Grace had helped her with clean clothes and washed her to make her more comfortable.

The doctor had given her an injection to help with the symptoms she was suffering from.

'Would Catherine want me to leave? She might. It isn’t pleasant having a sick person around the house, especially one you didn't even know! Oh god, I hope she doesn't! I need...I want...hell I don't know, but she holds all the keys.'

A deep shudder went through her body as she thought of Catherine rejecting her.  Suddenly it was all too much and she broke down in tears, soaking the crisp freshly laundered pillow under her head. Her eyes dropped and she slept as the fever and the drugs rapidly gained control over her body.
 

Catherine watched her ranch foreman pace around the front of her desk. He was obviously distracted over some dilemma. He had discussed the problems he needed her approval on concerning the ranch. She had expected him to leave, He hadn't!

He was a tall man around six feet five she guessed, knowing herself to be six foot, so he had an advantage over her. Looking into his worried face, which looked tanned and a little weather worn. To be expected in his chosen career she supposed. He wasn't exactly handsome, but had more a rugged look about him. She'd heard that he was popular with the local women, but none had captured his heart.

"You going to tell me what else is bothering you? Or are you going to wear a track on the polished floor here?" Catherine finally asked him, knowing that she'd promised Jace she would be back shortly.

He looked at her and blushed at her regard and comment. "I...I need some advice! But I'm sorry Ma'am, I shouldn't be bothering you with my problems." He walked towards the door with a dejected look.

Catherine was wondering what else was going to get her to open up today, because sure as hell she was doing more talking in the last twelve hours than she'd done in years.

"Colin, before you tell me what advice you need, there's something you need to stop doing, okay?"

He looked at her stunned. "What would that be Ma'am?"

"Exactly that! Don't call me Ma'am, all right? I'm not the Queen of England and never bloody likely to be. My name is Catherine use it!" She didn't much care how that came out, it had been bugging her for years his subservient attitude and the man was better than that.

Colin Montgomery was totally floored by the remark. She had never said anything about it before; when in fact he could have sworn she hardly ever listened to him most of the time. "Yes, Ma...Catherine," he smiled shyly at her.

"Glad we got that settled then. So what advice do you need?" Catherine Warriorson looked at the man and saw him debate his reply.

"I'm not sure if I can say it." He looked around the room, his face carrying a hurt look.

"Do I have to guess then, because I'm not good at guessing games, I usually leave those to Grace, she's better..." Catherine noticed the hurt move to his eyes as she said Grace's name.

‘Ah, maybe I'm better at this than I thought.’ “Colin take a seat!" It wasn't a request it was an order.

Colin complied, due entirely to not knowing what else to do.

"So, you finally worked it out that you’re in love with our Miss Thornton?" She asked him gently.

He looked at her and noticed instead of the usual ice in the eyes, they held a warmth and compassion that literally made her glow. 'Hell, she was a beautiful woman, why didn't someone come in on their white charger and take her away from all this past she tied herself too! She was way too young to hide away forever. He would, had he not fallen head over heals for Grace.'

"Yeah, I guess I did."

"So, what you going to do about it?"

"What can I do? The good Doctor appears to have taken the opportunity to court her and I can't blame her, she gets lonely here at times." He looked over her shoulder out of the window.

Catherine noticed the tensing of his body as he spoke and that he looked out of the window as a way out of his problems. 'Guess we all look out of this window for inspiration.’

"Have you ever asked her out yourself?"

He looked aghast at her question.

"Colin it's something you have to do if you want her to know you're interested. How would she know any other way?"

"I guess she wouldn't,” as Colin laughed self-consciously.

"Is that all the advice you need Colin? Because I made a promise that I want to keep if possible, I need to get going."

Colin stood up and held out his hand; Catherine took it and chuckled silently.  They shook hands and Colin disappeared through the door as quickly as he'd appeared. Smiling briefly she looked at the leather bound book on her desk and touched the title gently. 'Maybe for someone Adam, just maybe your sentiments might well work out,' she mused as she left the room to go and see her sick guest.

~ ~ ~

Grace couldn't believe it, now she was in a dilemma. 'For the past six months she'd been toying with leaving 'Destiny'. Things had been okay, but she wasn't exactly challenged. Now suddenly things had gone from the old boring routine to nothing being sacred anymore. Guests turning up uninvited, Catherine's complete change in attitude, the doctor asking her out with permission from Catherine! Then there was Colin! Oh, yeah Colin, he'd looked so upset when he went to see Catherine, wonder what was wrong there? Now she didn't know what to think, going out with Andrew Simpson was a good idea, she liked him. Catherine was finally thawing or was she? Ms. Jace Bardley had brought that about, she was positive! How? Was a question that she wouldn't mind getting an answer to in the near future? Time would tell that's for sure and in this household at the moment it was being turned upside down and who knew when it would right itself.'

She looked around the large kitchen, her domain!

'She loved living at 'Destiny' it was home. She hadn't felt like she'd had a home for years until she came here, and then it hadn't been immediately. The place just kind of grew on you and the people too! What would she do if anything happened to Catherine? She loved Catherine as a friend, if only the woman would let her in and maybe together they could heal some of her pain. Although it looked like it wasn't something she could do for her friend, but could Jace Bardley? Would she want to more to the point! ‘I hope you know what you're getting into Catherine, because I get the feeling that you haven't opened up to anyone in years, if you ever truly have!’

She walked out of the kitchen and sat on the bench overlooking her garden and drank deeply from her coffee cup. 'Wonder what's up with Colin?' She looked over her garden and a peaceful look gave way to a pensive one as she thought about her friend.

~ ~ ~

Catherine walked quietly over to the bed that held the sleeping, if a little fitfully Jace Bardley. Looking down at her flushed face and the obvious discomfort of the fever, she pushed away a stray lock of damp hair from the girl's forehead.

"I wonder why you hold my fascination Jace Bardley? It's not as if you would ever have been part of my usual crowd of so-called friends, even back when I was a student. Hell, you would have cursed me no doubt for my activities way back then. Though wouldn't you have cursed me when I took over from my father, I was even more of a devious devil than he had become. You don't look the insensitive type at all, you have such wonderfully expressive green eyes, and I wonder if you know that? Would you have wanted to meet me back then? Or would you have looked at my many vices and given up as so many have done! Except one! Yes, there had been one, and eventually two people in my life who cared about me, but I turned them away from me in the end."

Catherine noticed the heavy breathing of the younger woman and moved closer to her and noticed the pallor, but she appeared to be stable. 'Hell, had she just spoken all that crap aloud, just as well the girl was asleep, she would wonder what was going on, some demented recluse, huh?’

Her thoughts went to another person who this girl reminded her.

'I understand in my heart why you didn't want our son ever to be involved with me Adam. I applaud your courage in standing up to me. You were never the strongest man I ever met, but you had a heart that had the courage of a lion. I never gave you the opportunity to show that side of your personality to me, until it was way too late for both of us.'

Catherine Warriorson stood up from her cramped position by the bed and wandered around the room, noting the books and the pictures on the walls. It was simply decorated, but held a welcome to anyone staying in the room. 'I have Grace to thank for that!’ All the rooms had been decorated over the past three years.

All except the study, that had been left the way it had been taken over, as Adam had wanted it to look, Catherine didn't mind, somehow it gave her a link to her late husband that she hadn't had in life. The only thing she had never really resolved was her pain over their son, who had been nearly five years old when he'd died.

She hadn't even seen him the last time she saw Adam, he hadn't thought it a good idea and she'd been too busy trying to get away, back to New York and her schedule. All she had now were pictures Adam had sent her of Lucas when he had turned four from the last birthday party at their home in London. He had been a happy child, bestowed with his father's personality, but definitely her looks. He would have broken so many hearts had he lived. He was such a charmer, even then. Had she been too busy again? Yeah another take over, another boardroom brawl another WIN! Now where had that been? There had been so many, it was impossible to remember them all.'

Yet her mind mulled over the time as she sat and watched the young woman in front of her, breathing heavily with the infection Jace had contracted. Her mind suddenly recalled the place. 'Santa Barbara! California had been hot that time of year; it had been a push over really, the local publisher being ousted by the large corporation, just another take over. Can't remember the name of the guy who owned it, it hadn't been an issue to her; she needed a place close to LA, but not in LA. She got it, simple as that! What about all those take-overs, now she had no one with whom to leave the extensive business. She was never likely to have another family. Adam had shown her that much about her self, she wasn't someone that could turn off the emotional cripple she had become over the years. Subjecting anyone to that now was out of the question! No matter if they did love her, she didn't have the capacity to return anyone's love, there again where the hell would she ever find anyone that gutsy enough to even try?'

Grace looked in at that moment and noticed the pensive look crossing over Catherine's face. "Do you need a coffee?" She asked tentatively.

"I'd love a cappuccino, if you don't mind making me one Grace?" Looking at her friend in gratitude, her thoughts were haunting her badly today.

Grace smiled at the request. It would usually have been given as an order.  "Sure, do you want some company for a while before I start lunch?"

"I'd like that Grace, more than you know," Catherine replied softly.

"Okay then, two cappuccinos coming up, heavy on the milk if I remember rightly?" Grace went out of the door smiling, Catherine’s idea of a cappuccino more like a café latte, but she never questioned the terminology. Although Grace often speculated what Catherine thought when she tasted external cappuccinos.

Catherine smiled at the retreating back. 'Maybe it isn’t so bad to talk once in a while.' She then sat back down in the chair and gazed at the fevered face of Jace Bardley.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Eight

Grace had been good company for the hour they had been chatting, mainly about her visit to Sydney and what to do about Jace Bardley should she want to leave earlier than the doctor ordered!

“It’s entirely up to her if she wants to leave before I return Grace.”

“Yes, I know, but she would be foolish to do so, it’s bad enough she’s fallen ill because of the weather here!”

“Aren’t you forgetting something Grace?” Catherine raised that ever-formidable eyebrow.

“No, I don’t think so! What do you mean?” Grace asked the woman who sat closely observing their feverish guest.

“It’s not because of the weather, although in a way it is. It’s because I left them out there on an exposed ridge in bloody terrible conditions. God only knows if there are others feeling the same way?”

Grace knew that plagued the woman sitting only a foot away from her. She looked so dejected, which was not something you associated with Catherine Warriorson.

“Well, I don’t think she will blame you for leaving them Catherine. She did come back to see you after you laid down the challenge, didn’t she? Does that sound like someone who is blaming you for her predicament?”

Catherine looked up at Grace and noticed her frown slightly.

“You know something Grace, for the first time in years, it’s important for me to put this situation right. Though just how I’m going to do that is beyond me at the moment.”

Grace once again looked at the small woman in the bed, totally ignorant to the conversation going on around her, and the restless woman who was gently pushing back the soaked tendrils of hair from her forehead.

“Maybe if you just do what you’ve been doing in the last few hours, it will work itself out. Ms. Bardley will still be here Catherine, trust me.”

“I’m going to hold you to that Grace.” Catherine got up from her seat by the bed, and moved towards the door. “I need to make a couple of calls, will you stay here for a little while longer?”

“Sure, it’s no hardship.” Grace smiled at her boss.

Catherine left the room and Grace turned her attention back to their guest.

‘What hold do you have on her, Jace Bardley? As sure as the sun goes down everyday, something in you has awakened some powerful emotions.  I sure hope you can handle it, and she lets you!’

~ ~ ~

Jace woke up from a very haunting dream. It was elusive to say the least, but she was sure it held someone with the most hypnotic blue eyes she'd ever seen in her life.

Opening her eyes, she noticed a small bedside light switched on at a table close to the bed. A tall woman was seated close by and was reading a book, a leather bound volume that looked like it had been well read over a number of years.

With the little movement in the bed, the woman looked up from her reading and Jace held her breath as she gazed into the hypnotic blue eyes from her dream.

“Hey, how do you feel?” A low gravely voice asked, the eyes never leaving her face.

Jace couldn’t answer. She was trying to decide if it was the fact that her throat hurt and felt dry, or the concern in those eyes that held her captive.

Catherine noticed Jace had difficulty answering and suddenly realised she might need a drink. “Do you want a drink?” She went over to the tray that held water and the pills the doctor had prescribed.

Taking a glass and a couple of the pills she walked back over to Jace and knelt beside the bed. Never taking her eyes from the small vulnerable woman huddled in the bed, she gently motioned for Jace to take the glass.

Unsuccessfully Jace tried to sit up, but the room spun and almost made her sick. Noticing the sudden change of pallor in the younger woman, Catherine put down the glass on the floor and reached for the woman in support.

“Hey, it’s okay, I’ve got you!” Catherine spoke softly into the nearest ear.

Jace starred into the beautiful chiseled features of her host and smiled briefly as a wave of nausea came over her again.

Catherine held the slight woman in her arms with Jace’s head gently lying on her broad shoulder. Noticing that Jace was shivering again, she gently laid her back in the bed.

“I’m going to help you drink this Jace. It might be uncomfortable, but you need to get some fluids back into your body and the medication the doctor left. Okay, you ready?”

Jace’s green eyes looked trustingly into warm ice blue ones.  Nodding her head, she waited to be pulled back into that strong embrace.

Catherine held Jace securely on her right side and put her head on her shoulder again, balancing the weak and weary woman as she put out her left hand to retrieve the glass of water.

‘Damn how am I going to get the pills, they’re in my right hand?’

Gently placing the glass next to Jace’s lips she tipped the glass back slowly and saw Jace take her first sip. Eventually, with care, she drank enough to satisfy Catherine. Placing the glass back on the floor, she removed the pills from her right hand and looked back at the drowsing face held close to her shoulder.

“Sorry Jace, but you need to take these pills too!”

Jace grimaced but opened her mouth a little for Catherine to pop them into her mouth, and then reaching for the glass of water she placed it back to Jace’s lips for her to take another drink. “Hey that’s my girl. You did well.” Catherine smiled as she congratulated Jace on getting the pills and water down without difficulty.

“How about we both did well?” Jace replied quietly, looking back into the blue eyes, which she never wanted to stop looking into.

“Oh, I don’t know about that! But, let’s lay you back down, get you comfortable, then let you get more sleep. You will feel better for it.”

Catherine smiled back at Jace, something was definitely pulling her towards this woman and for the life of her she didn’t understand it at all.

Jace pulled a face as Catherine laid her gently down and replaced the covers back around the slight form.

Noticing the change in Jace’s face, she couldn’t help herself; she needed to know what the woman was thinking. “Hey, what’s the face for?”

Jace blushed as she tried to look away from the piercing glance.

‘Christ I don’t know how to answer that! I know what I’d love to say, but she definitely wouldn’t be expecting that.’

Catherine saw the blush and that puzzled her. “You going to answer me?”

“I guess I was more comfortable in your arms than laying here in the bed.” Jace closed her eyes as she spoke.

Catherine almost choked as she spluttered, “What...what do you mean?”

Jace opened her eyes and saw that Catherine Warriorson looked really uncomfortable and wasn’t that a blush seeping over her face?

“I...I was having dreams when I slept earlier, but when you held me, I felt safe and secure. Weird I know, I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed you.”

Catherine digested this piece of information and briefly smiled.

“Are they bad dreams?”

“Not sure, they are sort of elusive when I wake up, but they sure tire me out. I don’t feel rested at all.”

“Do you often have dreams?” Catherine continued.

“Sometimes, but last night and today they just seem so persistent.”  Jace wanted to say that they all had one thing in common ‘hypnotic blue eyes’ Catherine Warriorson’s eyes!

Smiling briefly and looking away from Jace towards the window and the darkness outside, “Well, if you have any more dreams and I can help out, you just tell me okay?”

Jace smiled tiredly and closed her eyes at the pleasant thoughts that drifted through her mind.

“Thanks Catherine, I might just take you up on that offer.”

Catherine looked out of the window and noticed Colin Montgomery pacing outside he looked none too happy.

Turning back she noticed that Jace had fallen back into a somewhat more restful sleep pattern.

‘Let’s hope she stays like that! Not sure what Grace would make of me being used as a pillow for the young woman. There again, when did I care what people think about me! Must be getting soft all of a sudden.’

She quietly left the room to find a mug of tea.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Nine

It was close to midnight and Grace had gone to bed, the house had been secured for the night and only a light shone under the door of the guestroom inhabited by Jace Bardley.

Anyone looking into the room would notice the outline of a small person in the double bed, which was the centrepiece of the room. To the left of the bed was a bedside table with a small lamp illuminating the room with a soft glow. Beside that a large comfortable chair was tucked next to the bed, residing on the chair was a tall figure, reading a book.  The room was peaceful and anyone not knowing otherwise would think it a fairly normal scene it looked so comfortable.

An hour earlier Grace had said she would spend the night looking out for Jace, as Catherine had to leave later in the day to travel to Sydney and she needed to get some rest, not having much the previous evening.

“It’s okay Grace, I don’t sleep for long anyway. What’s the difference if I sleep those short hours in a chair? Better one of us gets some rest, and you will have to take the watch once I’m gone.”

Looking at Catherine and knowing the logic behind the statement she backed off. “I’ll get breakfast for the usual time then?”

“Yeah, sounds good to me, I need to leave by nine in the morning, so it will be ideal. Hopefully, our patient will be sufficiently improved by then.”

“I hope so, guess it will be a day or two before she feels well enough to cause you too much hassle around here.”

Catherine laughed at the comment from her housekeeper and friend.  “Oh, I think Jace Bardley attracts trouble Grace, it’s a feeling I have about her.”

“Is that good trouble or bad?” Grace laughed along with her boss.

“Depends who goes to her defense I guess.”

“Would you?” Grace looked directly at Catherine and noticed she blushed slightly at the comment.

“Maybe, then that would be bad trouble wouldn’t you think?” Catherine grinned wickedly at Grace.

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that, I get the feeling you two together would make quite a team!”

“You do huh? Now, why would that be exactly?”

Grace smiled wryly at her and walked towards her tall employer, who in the space of twenty-four hours had willingly let down some of her defenses. Placing a hand on the woman’s shoulder she gently squeezed it.

“Because I think you have found a friend Catherine, however remarkable that may be. It might just be your destiny, don’t define it; just let it happen. Maybe it will bring you some measure of happiness.” Without waiting for a reply she left the room.

Catherine was stunned at the comment.

‘My destiny! A friend! Yes. Maybe, I could in time call Jace Bardley a friend. We sure seem to have rapport. Happiness isn’t in my realm of things to look forward to; but, a small piece of my heart is reaching out to touch the tender thought, a need so overwhelming it hurts.’

Suddenly Jace started to thrash around in the bed and Catherine moved quickly and silently to the small body, obviously in distress.  Pulling the covers aside she noticed that Jace was soaked with perspiration and her clothes really should be changed.

Walking over to the dressing table, she opened the first draw and noticed nothing that would be useful. The next draw proved equally as unsuccessful. So she quickly arranged the sheet over the woman and left for her own room. Rummaging around she found an Old University T-shirt and a pair of toweling shorts.

Getting back to the other room as quickly as possible she noticed the sheet on the floor of the room, having been kicked off by Jace and her thrashing around the bed.

‘Hell, she’s going to hurt herself if she doesn’t calm down.’

Gently taking Jace’s shoulder she tried to wake the woman from her restless slumber, noting the fever had begun to take hold again.

“Hey Jace, I need you wake up for a little while. What do you say?”

Not really expecting a response, she thought that maybe she would have to wake Grace to help her with the younger woman.

‘God, Grace will be asleep now, it’s not fair to her. Surely I can do this alone!’

Taking the bottom of the shirt Jace was wearing she gently eased it over her head and carefully wrapped the sheet around her as she picked up the T-shirt and shorts she had dropped on the table when she came back in the room.

This woman was so slight in her arms Catherine felt a slight tremor in her hands as she removed the sheet and noted the all over tan that Jace had acquired, obviously in California. It certainly enhanced the beauty of the woman she held. Closing those thoughts she carefully pulled the shirt over her head and down her body, it was so big it covered to her knees.

Not sure if she should bother with the shorts, she placed them at the end of the bed and gently laid Jace back down.  The thrashing didn’t stop and Catherine pondered that problem.

Only one thing for it!

Taking off her shoes and her jeans she climbed onto the bed and took Jace back into her arms. Her left hand gently stroked the blonde hair falling over her eyes, and her right arm snaked round her waist and held her tightly.

“I’ve got you Jace, just hang in there. Tomorrow it’s going to be better, wait and see,” Catherine whispered into her ear.

Jace feeling the comforting arms around her, put her head down on Catherine’s shoulder and the thrashing ceased, arms that had been pulling the bedclothes apart, suddenly moved to clasp the tall woman closer and a sigh came from the laboured breathing of the smaller woman.

Catherine hadn’t really known if her action would be welcome, but it sure seemed to be working. Being a very private woman, she wasn’t particularly comfortable with the closeness of Jace. It was something she’d always had difficulty with, especially after her mother had died. Now here she was with a near stranger, in her home, in her guest bed and being used as a giant pillow. Within minutes her eyes started to close and she felt very tired, she had become in a short space of time, comfortable! Giving in to her body’s craving for sleep, she closed her eyes and dropped off into her own dreamscape.

~ ~ ~

Jace woke up and felt rested and secure, her senses telling her she was in a safe haven and that hadn’t happened before.

Her head although still rather fuzzy, didn’t have the percussion instruments doing a warm up in her head, well for the moment at any rate. She then glanced at the warm pillow she was nestled into and almost jumped out of her skin.

‘Hades, how did this happen?’ she thought as she noticed the even breathing of the sleeping Catherine Warriorson. Her face looked younger somehow in sleep. Although the tension she seemed to carry around with her in her waking hours, wasn’t far away; Jace felt it as she lay still against this beautiful woman.

‘God’s this is a nightmare!’

Then a voice inside her head told her she was being foolish.

‘You’re right, it’s a dream and a wonderful dream, if I never ever get to experience this again, I will always cherish this moment. She is so lovely and so lonely.’ Jace couldn’t help the final thought filtering through.

Moving her right hand she gently pushed the ebony hair away from her lips, its length making Catherine almost eat it, as it had broken away from its usually restrained ponytail.

That gentle brush of her hand across Catherine’s mouth woke the woman up. Looking around her, distracted for the moment, she then realised her position and looked into Jace Bardley’s tender green eyes.

Smiling briefly, the blue eyes warming as she locked her gaze with the green one. “Hey, how you doing?” Catherine’s voice was almost a growl, and to Jace, whose senses had slipped into an almost sensual haze, sexy was the only word for it.

Jace swallowed several times and smiled. “A little better thanks.”

“Great, do you need anything?”

Jace knew then and there that she was in love! Her heart was telling her and her head for once wasn’t overriding the emotions.

“I would love some water.”

“Okay, wait right there I’ll get it.” Catherine slipped out of the bed, walked with fluid movements to the water jug and she filled the glass, bringing along a couple of the pills.

Jace had a chance to watch this spectacle and it had her heart pumping ten to the dozen.

‘If I die now, looking at those legs and that toned body, I know I’ll be in heaven.’

Catherine turned around suddenly and saw a look on Jace’s face that under normal circumstances, she would have said held desire. But the woman was ill, so the flush and the glazed expression in her eyes were probably more fever induced than anything else, although it made Catherine’s stomach tighten a little at the thought. ‘Christ I must be more tired than I thought, this kid is getting to me.’

Walking back to the bed, she held the glass for Jace to take a drink and then passed her the pills. Taking them and then another drink, Catherine placed the glass back on the tray and went towards the chair, picking up a blanket along the way.

Jace was gutted, she thought that Catherine would come back too bed. A tear slowly rolled down her cheek at the loss, her heart tightened in her chest and all she could feel was pain.

Catherine suddenly looked at Jace and noticed the tears now tracking down the pale face.

“Jace, what’s wrong?” Catherine went quickly towards the bed and touched the trail of tears on her cheek.

“Nothing, nothing I’m just tired I guess.” Jace said tearfully.

“Is there anything I can do?” Catherine asked tentatively, not knowing really what to do. Sensitive stuff was way beyond her. It had always been that way. Even Adam had been the one to talk to their son when he had hurt himself or something had upset him.

Jace just looked wearily at her and something in her eyes must have given a message to the concerned blue ones above.  “How about I get back into the bed, and you use me as a giant pillow and get some rest, you need it Jace.”

Had the gods been smiling on her this trip or what!

“I’d appreciate that, but are you okay with this?”

“Sure, would you believe it’s the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years. But don’t you go telling anyone that I’m the next best thing to a giant teddy bear okay?” Catherine winked at the young woman and chuckled at the thought.

Jace grinned at her and the tears stopped flowing.

“I promise you that no one will hear it from me.” Jace was so happy she wanted to burst with the sheer joy of having this woman close to her.  Settling back down on Catherine’s shoulder she let out a deep sigh.

“Hope that’s a good sigh Ms. Bardley. Can’t be letting me think that my powers as a human pillow are waning now can we?” she laughed softly.

“Oh, it was happy.” Jace silently thought, ‘I’m so happy Catherine Warriorson, you have no idea how happy you make me, now to find a way to get you to stay in my life.’ With that Jace closed her eyes and fell into a deep healing sleep.

Catherine looked down at the head resting on her shoulder and wondered about this woman. ‘Has it only been a little more than twenty-four hours since we met? For some reason I feel that the small blonde in my arms has been in my life so much longer than that! Yet how could that be?’ Nothing had ever felt this good to her before, caring for this woman was something she was happy to do and her heart welcomed the challenge.

Yet....her life couldn’t be complicated by this friendship. ‘What had Grace said? It was my destiny. Don’t define it! I guess only time will tell on this one, but will I have the time?’

Closing her eyes as sleep once again claimed her from her thoughts, she considered that what she’d said to Jace was true. ‘It had been years since she’d slept that well, and no bad dreams either!’

Both women slept peacefully held in each other’s arms.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Ten

Grace Thornton started the day much as she usually did. She went straight to the kitchen and put on the coffeepot and the kettle for tea. One thing never changed in this house, Catherine’s two mugs of tea every morning when she got up. If she had to do without for any reason, she was grouchy all day and a grouchy Catherine Warriorson was a very mean woman to be around. Not least was the fact that instead of a cup, which you would expect a woman of her up bringing to be used to, a very large mug was her preferred utensil and woe betide anyone who made a comment about that. Setting the oven to automatic she made a pot of tea and poured a mug for Catherine and went in search of her boss.

‘Probably she’s curled up as uncomfortable as hell and grouchy with it on that damn chair!’

Quietly opening the door and going in, she nearly dropped the mug as she saw where her employer was sleeping.

There sleeping peacefully with her arms around a small blonde woman Catherine Warriorson looked relaxed, a small smile played around her usually tense features. The blonde was snuggled so far into Catherine’s shoulder; you would think she was a permanent fixture.

This was a sight that made Grace happy. She wasn’t too sure if it was going to make Catherine happy, but something about Jace Bardley might just make it work.

‘Something tells me you’re going to run from this Catherine. But, oh I wish you wouldn’t; you are so right together!’ With that thought firmly entrenched she quietly exited the room, shutting the door softly behind her. Seconds later she made a loud knocking noise on the door to emphasize her presence to her employer.

Catherine heard the knocking on the door and woke up suddenly and realised that her position in the bed did look a little compromising, although Grace probably wouldn’t say anything. Mind you what was there to say! She was only comforting the girl, right? Right!

Gently disengaging herself from Jace’s hold, she moved quickly to the chair and dragged the blanket over her and called for Grace to enter.

Grace almost couldn’t stop the smirk from coming to her face as she saw the flush on the face of her boss and her discomfort.

“Ha! Tea, what a mind reader you are Grace. I was just thinking about coming down to the kitchen and getting a mug.”

“Oh, well glad I could help. You sleep any in that chair?” It was a hard battle to stop herself from laughing.

“Funnily enough, I slept really very well, surprised the hell out of me!” Catherine glanced at the still sleeping Jace and a smiled played around her face. ‘My young friend I have you to thank for that.’

Grace looked at Jace and went over to touch her forehead.  “She’s not got such a high fever this morning, did she have a good night?”

“Actually I had to change her clothes at one stage and she likes making mincemeat out of the bed clothes. But, all in all, I think she got some rest.” Catherine looked at Jace and saw the more regular breathing and felt relief at the change for the better, especially as she was leaving shortly.

“That’s good then, so the fever might have broken. Doctor Simpson will be over later today to check up on her, so when you ring from Sydney, I can update you.” Grace spoke almost absently.

“Is it Jace, or you the good doctor is coming to see?”

Grace laughed “Probably both, think I might invite him for dinner, if it’s okay with you that is?”

Catherine laughed along with her friend. “Hey, go for it Grace. You never know when the chance might arise again. Anyway, I’m away and while the cat’s away as they say.”

“Somehow, that expression doesn’t quite cover our relationship.” Grace turned to leave the room.

Catherine heard a change of emotion in the comment. “Grace, that comment wouldn’t cover me at anytime. I don’t go in for relationships, we both know that.”

Grace looked back and her eyes strayed to the bed and the blonde asleep and once again innocent of the conversation around her.

“Maybe if you found the right person you might change your mind.” A wistful look came across her face.

Catherine locked her blue eyes on the brown ones of her housekeeper and friend. “ You’re too good for me Grace, do you know that,” trying to lighten the emotional charge that was being created in the room.

Never letting her eyes leave Catherine’s face, she walked over to her and gently put out a hand and stroked the high cheekbones.

“Oh, Catherine you are way to hard on yourself. Love can come knocking on the door, even if you don’t want to answer it. But, once you do, it’s very powerful and a wonderful feeling. I hope you let it in one day.”

For once Catherine was at a loss for words. Then she took the hand that had caressed her cheek and held it in her own. “Has it been knocking at my door long Grace?”

Jace Bardley took that moment to open her eyes and move around in the bed. Although she hadn’t opened her eyes earlier, she had listened to the conversation between these two women and something in her subconscious didn’t want to hear the end of this conversation.

Both women looked at Jace and Grace quickly exited the room for the second time that morning, saying she would get breakfast ready.

Catherine was relieved in a way that Jace had awaken when she did, the conversation she was having with Grace had taken a turn into a scenario she had never considered.

‘Christ, her only real relationship had been with Adam, well maybe there had been one other person, but she chalked that up to the drugs. She hadn’t considered the possibility of being ‘in’ love with another woman. Grace was a friend nothing more!’

‘I know that, hell I haven’t got it in me to let love into my life, not now, not ever! Then to further complicate it by falling for a woman was not an option, not in this lifetime anyway!’ Looking directly at Jace, she smiled. “Hey sleepy head, do you want anything to eat? You look a little better this morning.”

Jace wanted to do nothing more than watch this woman all day and all night, but hearing the earlier conversation, it wasn’t going to be easy to stay in her life, never mind try to get a relationship going.

“I think I could eat something, I do feel better this morning. Thanks for being a great shoulder to sleep on.”

“You’re welcome, just don’t mention it to too many people, or they might want to try it.” Catherine chuckled.

“Oh, okay then, our secret. So the shoulder is my private pillow then?” Jace didn’t realise she had asked such a loaded question, until her words sunk in and she caught a guarded expression on Catherine’s face.

Catherine considered the question and realised Jace was just playing along with the banter, or was she?

“Well, I guess you could say that, but only if it involves a bad dream, okay?”

Getting up from the chair, she picked up her shoes and jeans and made for the door. ‘Hell, I hope Grace didn’t notice the discarded clothing.’

“I need to get a shower and a change. I’ll get Grace to prepare you something to eat and I’ll be back before I leave.”

Catherine was out of the door before Jace could answer. In a very small voice she whispered, “You’re leaving?”

The room never answered her.

Grace came back in to see Jace about ten minutes after Catherine had left her. “So, you want some breakfast? What can I make for you?” She asked cheerfully, then noticed the tears that the younger woman tried to hide. “Jace, are you okay?”

Jace couldn’t believe the woman in front of her. She obviously loved her boss; yet, she was being so gentle with her. Then again Grace didn’t know that Jace loved the woman also. “I’m fine, really. But I think I’ll skip the food. Suddenly I’ve lost my appetite,” she trailed off unhappily.

Grace pondered this for a moment and then sat on the bed and looked at her. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain Ms Warriorson, leaving later this morning would it?”

Jace was poleaxe at the direct and so obviously correct assumption.  “How did you know that?” She couldn’t keep the incredulity out of her voice.

Grace smiled and placed a hand on the woman’s arm. “Because she told me that she’d just mentioned it as she was leaving your room. Guess you weren’t expecting it and you like her, I suspect.”

“Yes. I like her. When will she be back?” Jace hoped her voice didn’t reflect the yearning she felt in her heart.

“She has business in Sydney and will be back in three days; it usually goes pretty fast.” Grace tried to make light of it.

“Will she be expecting me to still be here when she gets back?” Jace wanted to know that above anything else.

“Oh, I think if you weren’t here when she got back, she would be very angry.”

“You really think so?” Jace started to think that maybe keeping Catherine in her life wasn’t going to be as hard as she thought.

“Oh, yeah! Doctor Simpson said you needed to stay here until you felt better; or you might have a relapse or something. Catherine wouldn’t be happy about that!”

Jace looked crestfallen at that admission.

“I see. So it’s really because of the doctor’s orders.”

Grace saw the sadness in the eyes of the younger woman.

“No, no I think she likes you also, and wants to get to know you better, if she can. Although the doctor did say you need the rest. So, when she’s back you need to feel much improved and maybe you two can become better acquainted.”

“Thanks Grace.” Jace replied a little happier.

“You’re welcome. So what do you want to eat or Catherine will have both our hides?”

“I’ll have toast and a boiled egg if that’s okay.”

“Sure, I’ll be back later with it. Or better still, I’ll feed Catherine and then send her in with it, how does that sound?”

Jace Bardley’s face fairly beamed at the last comment.

“Guess I know which choice you made there.” Grace laughed as she moved away from the bed and out of the door, almost colliding with Catherine on her way back to the kitchen.

Catherine looked at Grace and raised her expressive eyebrows. “Everything okay?”

“Oh, yeah, everything’s fine. I was wondering about getting a door bell here; just might save the door knocker.” Grace muttered with a smirk on her face as she went into the kitchen and Catherine diverted to the study.

“Doorbell? Doorknocker? What the hell sort of comment was that!” Catherine shook her head and went inside the study to make sure her papers were all together before placing them in her briefcase.

~ ~ ~

Catherine had her breakfast with Grace and Colin as usual and they went over final instructions for the next three days.

Colin was a little agitated, but Catherine, knowing the reason, ignored it as best she could. Although she noticed Grace kept giving him interesting looks from time to time.

Then she proceeded to take Jace her breakfast. They didn’t talk much, but it felt comfortable to them both just being together.

“Why do you go to Sydney?” Jace suddenly asked in between eating her toast and eggs, thinking it strange.

“Oh, it’s business that doesn’t have anything to do with the ranch holdings. I have other interests; so, twice a year we get together to discuss the next few months.” Catherine volunteered as she absently checked her watch. It was nearly nine and Colin would be coming to take her to the airfield for the trip to Christchurch.

“What is your other business?”

“Publishing.” Catherine answered without thinking, and then looked at Jace. That wasn’t something she wanted anyone to know about. Even Grace didn’t know anything about her other business dealings.

“Publishing? Isn’t that a little different from ranching?” Jace wanted to know as much as possible about this woman.

“Yes family interests. Look I have to go, Colin’s on his way over. I’ll see you in a few days, okay? Don’t give Grace any trouble and I might bring you a present. Get better Jace.” She then absently bent down and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Jace was upset at Catherine’s preoccupation but she felt better with the feather light kiss she received, it was a start.

“Safe journey Catherine, I’ll miss you.”

Turning back from the door Catherine locked her blue gaze into a green one and smiled a warm happy smile.

“Thanks, I’ll see you when I get back.” With that she left the room and within minutes the car was pulling out of the drive heading for the local airport.

Jace Bardley was without a shadow of a doubt, hopelessly, head over heels in love with the woman who had just left the house. How on earth was she going to manage three days without seeing her. It would feel like a lifetime.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Eleven

Catherine arrived in Sydney as scheduled. She had taken a private helicopter from the local airport to Christchurch. Fortunately, she only had to wait an hour before her Qantas flight took off. The flight itself was six hours and she went first class. Wealth had its’ advantages, and travelling first class was one she definitely indulged in on the few occasions she travelled these days. It was worth the money to get extra legroom and the wider seats. Those factors and the improved service on board made it all the more beneficial.

During the flight, she had indulged in orange juice and reading the financial times, her mind drifted to the events and conversations with the two women currently in her household.

‘I can’t believe that I slept the night holding a virtual stranger in my arms and it never bothered me, well only initially. For some reason it was familiar to me. Odd, so very odd! I know that we’ve never met before, I would have remembered wouldn’t I? Yet, when she touches me I crave the feel of the contact...I look into her eyes and see...what?’ Glancing pensively out of the window Catherine was reluctant to answer the questions she posed to herself.

‘I need to get a grip on this before something happens that neither of us wants. I know she’s the friendly sort, maybe a little to friendly, but haven’t I encouraged that also! Grace said she was upset that I was leaving, but why? Hell, I don’t know what to think of this situation. I’ve never come across it before! God, there never had been a time that anyone had actively pursued her friendship, quite the opposite in fact.  Now, here was a young woman who must be at least ten years her junior, not only looking towards a deep friendship, but possibly more...or was that her over active imagination. I hope it is, because Jace, I can’t be that person for you! That is something I’m very sure of.

No! The reclusive Catherine Warriorson is afraid to answer her own heart! Adam would have smiled and maybe he is smiling at me now. But, I still don’t believe in your soulmate theory, that is way to over the top for me.’

~ ~ ~

After the lunch was served and eventually cleared away, Catherine mused over her relationship with Grace. ‘I know she’s a friend, she offered me her friendship from the first day. We kind of drifted into an easy superficial friendship. Nothing too deep, no secrets have ever been exchanged between us, we’ve only indulged in mutual companionship and she is good company. I couldn’t think of living on the ranch without her. Yet, might that soon be a possibility? Hell, she’s got two men after her now and I think I know which one she will chose, or is it just that it’s more convenient for me to think that way? This morning’s conversation had been strange, almost a confession of something buried between us. She would have answered me honestly if Jace had not awakened at that time. Would I have been equally as honest with her?  No! I doubt I would have shared her honesty.’

When she finally got through the customs procedures, always a chore in her eyes, but something even she couldn’t get out of. She picked up her small suitcase, briefcase and laptop computer and put them on a luggage carrier and moved out of the airport arrival’s lounge to the taxi stand.

Half an hour later she arrived at the Hilton Hotel, which was situated in Sydney harbour and had a wonderful view of the bridge and the mooring of an old sailing boat, the replica of the Bounty, which was used in the movie ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ starring Mel Gibson.

Going towards the concierge, she was greeted by one of her Vice Presidents Gareth Cuthbert, who was in charge of European operations and liked to wield his power at every available opportunity.

“Ms Devonshire, how nice to see you again.” He held out his hand, which she took and immediately knew one of the reasons she didn’t particularly like the man. He had a very sweaty handshake something she couldn’t abide. But he was good at his job and she didn’t have to do this more than four times a year. She would survive!

“Nice to see you also Cuthbert, is everyone else here?” She motioned for a porter to take her luggage.

“Yeah, Paul Strong arrived about an hour ago, he was the final VP to get here. Now you’re here, do you want to start early or wait until the schedule tomorrow?” He was never one to miss a chance at making brownie points with the great Ms Devonshire. It was legend that she loved the power she held, even if from a distance.

Closing in on the front desk she turned her blue eyes without any warmth and pinned him with a stare that would have had most people intimidated, but he knew her too well to worry about that, at least he hoped he did. “No, that’s okay, keep with the schedule; but, Gareth good call.” She turned away from him and spoke to the head clerk.

Within ten minutes she was kicking her shoes off and lounging in a soft leather two-seater pale blue sofa, waiting for room service to bring her tea.

Looking over the room, which was decorated in pastel shades to go with the furniture, which consisted of two, two-seater sofas and a coffee table. Along one wall was a large entertainment system and the other wall had a desk with the phone and the modem ports. The next section of the suite held a dining table and eight chairs with a drinks cabinet. This led directly onto the bedroom area, which housed a king-sized four-poster bed, a dressing table and another smaller TV set. A walk in closet was to the left of the bed and to the right was the bathroom, with a large sunken bath and an independent shower, bidet and toilet. She had also noticed in the hall was another restroom. Everything she needed, well more than she needed really, but it was useful if she needed to see any of her people alone.  Right now Paul Strong was the favourite candidate.

Picking up the room phone she dialled his room, having obtained his room number from reception.

“Hello, this is Strong, can I help you?” A familiar masculine voice answered.

“Hi Paul, glad to see you made it early. How about a drink before dinner in my suite, say five o’clock?”

Paul Strong smiled when he realized the identity of the caller. ‘I bet she hasn’t even been in the room ten minutes.’

“Sure, anything you say.”

“Great, see you then.” She didn’t wait for an answer and put down the phone. Room service had arrived!

Paul looked at the receiver in his hand that had a dead tone. He laughed. She hadn’t changed, that was for sure.

~ ~ ~

Grace had helped Jace to bathe and change her clothes; she was far too weak to endure the task on her own.

Settling back into the now clean laundered bed, she watched Grace limp around the room, collecting the used glasses and water pitcher and making sure the furniture was back in its usual places.

“Grace, do you mind if I ask you a question or two?” Jace looked pensively at the woman who had turned from her task and was looking directly at her.

“If I can answer I will, go ahead, ask.” Grace eyed her speculatively.

“I know it’s personal, but how did you injure yourself?” Green eyes looked at her with sympathetic interest.

“Well, I could say I’ve had the problem since I was born,” Grace saw the sudden flush of embarrassment and waved her hand at Jace. “No, I was in a car accident, my fault actually. Lucky to get out alive they say, but it left me less than whole. You can’t count your chickens too much in this life.”

Jace nodded her head in understanding. “Have you always worked as a housekeeper?”

“Hell, no! I was a rookie policewoman before this happened, it sort of stunted my chances. I needed a change of scenery before I did something stupid, so here I am.” Grace looked at Jace to check her reaction it was reflective.

“Interesting, you don’t come across as cop material.”

“Is there such a thing as cop material? Jace, I’m surprised at you! Didn’t realise you had specific boxes for people to fit into.” Grace laughed at the thought.

Jace looked embarrassed. “I didn’t mean it like that exactly! Only I figured you for a more gentle career, sorry.”

“Ah, I see. So, have you always been a Publicity PA?”

“Yes, from college. Although I had plans to join my father in the family publishing business, when I couldn’t, I opted for this role instead,” Jace answered quietly.

“What happened to make you give up your dream?”

“How did you know it was a dream?”

“Oh, just the way you said it.”

“In my final year, he was taken over by a giant in the publishing business.”

“It happens, so why not work for them or someone else for that matter.”

“Never! It was too painful and Xianthos never gave us a chance.” She almost cried in remembered pain, recalling the situation vividly when her father told her they had lost the business.

“Xianthos? I’ve come across that name before, but for the life of me I can’t remember; obviously it can’t be important.” Grace shrugged her shoulders.

Jace decided it was a good time to change tack. “Catherine left a book here called ‘There Can Only Be One Soulmate’. I’ve kind of glanced over it, but I noticed the name of the author. Is Adam Warriorson a relation to Catherine?” Jace looked down at the bedclothes and held out the leather bound book to Grace.

“It’s okay Jace, I’ve read the book. I’m surprised she left it here though. She’s going to be upset when she finds out that she doesn’t have it in her luggage.” Grace absently said before answering her question.

“Why?”

“Oh, the book is very special to Catherine, she must have read it, and god knows, maybe a hundred times! Adam was her husband.”

It was a simple enough statement by Grace, but it caused Jace to suck in her breath as if in pain. She realised that maybe her dream of getting to know Catherine would be limited to a very long distance friendship. ‘Hell, why did I think it could be anything else, she never gave the impression she was anything other than a very private person who would and did wield enormous power.’

Clearing her throat from the sting of tears she could feel welling up.  “You say was? Are they divorced or something?”

Grace smiled slightly. “Oh, well you certainly didn’t do any research on this part of your trip did you?” came the gentle enquiry, not wanting to sound harsh to the still obviously sick woman.

“We didn’t have time to do much research for this slot, Clarissa added it suddenly, and even Peter the director was shocked that we had to come here to film.”

“So, when did you arrive in New Zealand?” This had piqued Grace’s interest, and had Catherine been here she would have been intrigued, well she would let her boss know about this later.

“Oh, about a week ago. We got some good footage of the surrounding area and some other ranches and their owners, but we had difficulty with this one, as you know. We didn’t have the details of this area or of Catherine, just the name C X Warriorson, guess we look kinda foolish to you all I suppose?” Jace said sheepishly.

“To me a little naïve maybe, but foolish no! Catherine on the other hand wasn’t impressed with the situation. She had refused the permission and once she says no, she sure as hell means no!”

“Yet, she let me in, and even put me up for the night, and gods she’s been so friendly, I don’t really know what to think. But you haven’t answered my question Grace, what’s happened to her husband?”

Jace wasn’t even sure if she really wanted the answer, but it mattered and oh how it mattered to her.

“Adam died in a plane crash along with their son Lucas, five plus years it will be now. Adam had just bought the ranch for him and the boy, but they never had the chance to live here.”

Grace noticed the look of compassion on her face when she mentioned Adam’s death, but when Lucas was mentioned the sadness was profound. Grace continued.

“She actually likes living here I think. But with Catherine you cannot really tell; she keeps so much inside herself; one day it’s going to be just too much for her to handle alone.” Shaking her head she moved towards the door.

Jace thought about the comment, ‘But, you’re not alone Catherine, I’m here and going to be for as long as you want me!’

“So Adam was a writer, was he a good one?”

“Why don’t you read it for yourself and make your own mind up. One thing’s for sure, he was a dreamer and that makes you wonder how they ever met. Because Catherine is logical and practical down to her little finger.” Grace opened the door and as she pushed it shut she heard Jace’s reply.

“Yeah, good idea. A dreamer, oh well, I’m a dreamer too!”

Grace smiled as she heard the comment and thought. ‘Oh Catherine, you’re going to have your work cut out for you avoiding this situation head on, that’s for sure.’

~ ~ ~

Chapter Twelve

Paul Strong arrived at his boss’s suite at five prompt, you never, ever kept Ms Devonshire waiting, that was the first rule you learned and quickly just as soon as you became an employee.

Paul had worked for the Xianthos Publishing Empire, for close on twenty years. He had a degree in English literature and thought it would be adequate in a publishing house. Well, in most it would have been but Xianthos was different, from its very foreign name to its roots and finally it’s original owner Stewart Devonshire.

Paul recalled the man as being obsessive about the company, but never about his family. He’d heard that his wife was dead, and that an aunt in England was bringing up his two children. Quite common for lots of wealthy parents, but something in the way Devonshire spoke about his children defied that he never saw them. It was just another oddity of a very English gentleman, and Devonshire was that all right!

When he’d died, everyone wondered what would happen, there had been no natural successor and with his only son dead and his daughter definitely the black sheep of the family after her continuous trips on alcohol and drugs to finally end up in prison. Not that that particular event had been given much publicity. Devonshire had managed to keep it under wraps to a degree, and he only knew because he’d been part of the clean up team that went to Europe to pay people off. Who would be the person to handle the vast and lucrative empire Stewart had built?

Then that question had been answered, and if they thought Stewart odd, well at least he’d been a gentleman! Ms Devonshire arrived on the scene within six months of her fathers death, and proved the old saying ‘better the devil you know.’

She had taken Xianthos to greater heights within the space of eighteen months, what she didn’t do to get them the numerous take-overs, were to say the least what legends are made from. Then her personal world had fallen from under her, quite suddenly! No explanations, she was just gone! Many thought she had killed herself after the tragedy of the deaths of her husband and son, but she hadn’t, she’d decided that it was time to remove herself from the world arena. Within three months she had left him the largest role in the world operation and he had never let her down. Although, his methods did not have the harsh backlash that hers had, as she made enemies and kept them.

Now five and half years later she had asked a question that he hadn’t expected, he’d thought the situation buried with her father, obviously not!

Knocking on the door, he was directed to enter.

Paul saw one of the most beautiful women he would ever meet, she had always fascinated him but she had never tried her charms on him, she valued him in the company far too much for that! Although he was glad, it could have turned nasty for him.

“Good evening Ms Devonshire.” Paul said, pleased to see her.

Catherine looked at the man who must be what? Maybe mid-forties, very handsome in a subtle sort of way, he had dark brown hair, greying at the temples, but that didn’t detract from his masculine attraction.  He dressed well too! Not ostensibly expensive, but very good quality.

She held out her hand. “Great to see you Paul, thanks for doing the research for me.” She lifted her eyebrow, knowing full well that he wouldn’t have ventured near her if he hadn’t.

Paul looked at the tall woman and noticed that she was dressed in a black leather skirt that fit snugly to her hips and reached just above the knees, with a white plain but obviously expensively cut blouse.  She was the epitome of a wealthy, beautiful woman but without the need to prove anything to anyone.

“Yeah, as always, my pleasure.” He smiled at her.

He handed over a folder, she took it, glanced at the ownership rights and smiled. “Would you like a drink Paul?”

“Sure, Scotch and water thanks.”

She motioned for him to sit and she prepared the scotch and water and a mineral water for her, speed-reading the documents enclosed, a particular skill of hers that always annoyed a lot of her business associates.

“Right, so we still have sixty percent holding in the company and ‘She’ has the other forty.” It was an almost absent one-sided conversation, something that Paul had never experienced before or seen to his knowledge.

A little perplexed he answered, “Yeah, just as your father willed it.”

Catherine looked up at the remark and suddenly realised she’d forgotten that Paul was in the room with her.

“Sorry about that Paul, I must be getting used to my own company too much obviously.” She laughed and the sound not only surprised him, but also made him aware that she was human after all.

“We still invest heavily, as my father wanted?”

“Well, to the tune of twenty million dollars as of the last financial year. Do you want me to drop the level?”

“No! Not yet at any rate, the bitch is up to something and I want to know what.”

Paul looked at her with some concern; he didn’t understand the conversation. “I’m sorry, but I guess you’ve lost me.”

“I still have the right to veto everything from the original idea to the final tape and the staff right?”

“Oh, sure. We never have so far! It hasn’t been worth the time, and you made it clear that you didn’t want any of our resources to have anything to do with the project. Is that still the case?”

“To put you in the picture Paul, the good Ms Hudson, decided to set the hounds on me and dig me out of hiding. Done not very subtlety I might add, but effective nonetheless. She sent a kid to do a grown up job and maybe she punched to many of my buttons this time around. She’s going down this time Paul. To hell with my father and what he wanted, now she gets this particular Devonshire in her bed, and believe me it won’t be the happy ride she had with Daddy! Oh no, not this time. This time she’s going to have to fight to the death!”

Paul looked shocked, he knew that she wanted her life now to be reclusive; he’d always thought and secretly wanted her to come back. This situation was interesting to say the least.

“I thought your father made it plain that you couldn’t interfere with her or the shares he’d given her, unless she chose to sell them to another party?”

“Well, there’s more than one way to skin a cat Paul. I thought you would know that by now, especially if someone crosses me!” She quirked that expressive left eyebrow at him and smiled a very wicked looking smile.

“Sorry, guess I’m getting out of the habit of having you around to remind me.” He took a chance on her mood and wasn’t wrong.

She smiled openly this time, and motioned her hand to the bar. He accepted the gesture.

“So who is the kid she set on you?” He asked more out of trying to find conversation than any real interest.

Catherine gave him a veiled look and she quirked her lips.  “Well, not just the kid really, a whole crew to be precise. Peter Adamson is the director, have you heard of him?”

Catherine hadn’t particularly been interested in any of the other members of the crew that she’d seen on the ridge. Jace Bardley had been the only one with guts to call her at her own game. Now she was interested in where this Adamson guy fitted.

“Actually, yes I’ve heard of him. He’s a very good documentary director, very professional and this doesn’t fit his profile somehow!” Paul frowned at his thoughts.

“How come you know so much about him?”

Paul appeared discomforted by the question and looked down at the rug at his feet. Not quite sure how to answer her, but knowing that he would have to eventually.

Catherine watched him gulp down the second drink, now that was unusual! Not only did he seem nervous, he looked embarrassed, god knows why?

She walked over to the drink’s cabinet and got him another drink, guessing that might settle his nerves.

“You going to answer me?” she grinned ‘that particular retort was becoming a habit.’ What was happening to the people around her?

He looked up at her as she walked right up to his chair and offered him the drink, taking the empty glass away without any comment.

“I have a friend...” Paul spoke the word almost as a caress.

Now Catherine knew why he wasn’t to pleased at the turn of the conversation. Obviously it could drop his ladylove in the cart.

Funny she had never asked or even been remotely interested in his personal life, even way back when she often took executives to her bed.  Her mind drifted to a pleasant feeling of holding a very small soft body close to her all night! ‘Christ get those thoughts out of the gutter Warriorson, she’s just a kid and you can’t go there, not now, not ever!’ Although she continued smiling at the thought of Jace, she realized it had become impossible for her not to now.

Paul noticed the change in her facial expression and he could have sworn that she was thinking good things; maybe she had finally found someone at last!

“He lives in LA, and knows the film crowd very well!” Paul waited for the penny to drop with his boss and awaited the outcome. He had never been sure if she had any feelings either way about the sexuality of anyone, but as with everything else about her, she was so hard to find anything out about at all.

She had been married and had a son. She loved the boy that had been obvious to anyone. His picture had been on her desk and it changed as soon as she got another. He always recalled her expression; it softened to tenderness without prompting. Adam, well that had been another story altogether. Although, he couldn’t remember any rumours flying of her taking a woman to her bed, plenty of men, but women no!

Catherine wasn’t sure if she was supposed to learn something from the fact that it was a man! Suddenly she realised what it was all about, as the penny finally dropped, and this caused her to laugh outright.

Paul saw this as a derogatory comment on his choice of mate. He got up from the chair and coolly walked towards the door.

“Well, if you’ve finished with me now, I’ll see you at dinner Ms Devonshire.”

Catherine was stunned ‘what the hell have I done to bring on this reaction? Oh, shit I laughed. But I wasn’t laughing at him! No, I would need to laugh at myself with the thoughts that went through my mind a few minutes ago about Jace.’

“Wait! Paul hold on there! I’ve not finished, sit!” It wasn’t a request it was a demand. He did exactly that!

Catherine walked over to the chair that was directly opposite the one Paul had dropped into at the demand; she sat and directed a very powerful ice blue gaze at his grey eyes.

Several seconds later, she released his eyes and smiled. “You know something Paul, I know absolutely nothing about you other than what you do in the company for me. Guess that’s a little remiss of the boss wouldn’t you say?”

“In the circumstances no! You’re a very busy woman,” he wondered where the questioning was going.

“Paul you know more about me than anyone else I know! Maybe you think you don’t, but let’s face it, I’ve no family. Well none that want anything to do with me! I’m a virtual recluse, in a country that has taken me in without question. Although, I suspect my money is the leading factor there. I frighten the hell out of my neighbours, my business associates and probably most of the people who meet me! Do you know how that feels? No scratch that, I never wanted to belong anywhere anyway. Hell, I’ve experienced most of what the world has to offer, especially in my sordid past. So, are you going to tell me a little about your personal life?” She wasn’t sure if that had been the right approach, but recently she had put her reclusive nature on hold and opened up a little to the world.

Paul looked at her and a faint smile crossed his lips. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing the mighty Ms Devonshire was actually interested in him! Not on her personal level, but on his!

“James Thompson, that’s my partner.” He blushed as he said the phrase, looking shyly at the stoic woman in front of him and seeing the slight smile he carried on. “We’ve been friends since you found out about your fathers other passion. I’m sorry I had to mention that.”

Catherine shook her head in acknowledgement.

 “We met when you sent me to LA to sound out the company. He had worked for Union City Productions and gave me some of the low down you needed. Guess we just clicked. But, although we can’t be together all year round we have built a life together. He knows Clarissa very well. Peter is a friend of both of ours, we met him at a charity ball about five years ago. He has a thing about the Publicity Guru at UCP.”

Catherine knew just whom he meant when he said the Publicity Guru. Not wanting to sound eager but needing the information desperately.

“So who’s the Publicity Guru, certainly way off track if they come looking for me?”

Paul had been with this woman for the last eight years and knew when something was important to her and this certainly was!

“Jace Bardley.”

“Would you believe she’s the kid sent to help track me down?” Catherine looked at him closely for his reaction.

“Oh, that’s a surprise, Jace is a good kid. She’s great for the studio. Since she became Clarissa’s aide, the studio has most definitely received better publicity and people really like Jace. James says she’s the brightest star in that place, if I didn’t know better, I would be jealous.” Paul laughed and then noted the closed expression on his boss’s face.

“I’m sorry if I offended you?”

Catherine was trying to decipher all the messages going to her brain at once.  ‘Jace was being courted by the director, hired by her enemy, and sleeping in her house! Could it get much more complicated? So what did she feel about it all? ‘Nothing! Oh, get real Catherine! That isn’t a word you can remotely use in this situation. No way, you feel! What do I feel? I haven’t let anyone into my heart ever! Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration there was Mother and Lucas, but that’s family.’ Then there had been Adam, even if that had been for different reasons and her greatest achievement and failure, Lucas her son. Now she was thinking about Jace being added to those that she cared about! ‘Get a life Catherine, everyone around you dies! It’s a fact of your sordid life, did you think for one moment that you wouldn’t have to pay and pay for the rest of your life! Don’t let that bad old heart of yours convince you otherwise, it’s way too late for you, accept it!’

Shaking the desperate thoughts away, she answered the pensively waiting VP. “No, no you never offended me Paul, quite the opposite in fact, you made me evaluate a few things in my life at the moment. So have you met the very bright Ms Bardley?”

Paul sheepishly nodded.

“Oh, so what do you think?” She hadn’t wanted to sound to eager, but she couldn’t help her sudden interest. Here was someone she did trust and he knew the woman who was making her re-evaluate her life.

Paul immediately knew from the stance of the woman and her piercing gaze that this was important and not for business reasons.

“She’s all that people say, but she has integrity, is totally honest and that’s something in Tinsel Town. How she manages to keep her sense of humour working for Hudson is beyond most people, but she does. Jace is Jace, you just have to love her.” His eyes never left the gaze that he was held in.

Catherine didn’t want to hear that, she wanted Paul to give her some reason why things couldn’t possibly work out! He hadn’t, He had just told her all the things she had wanted to ignore.

“A paragon then?”

“Oh no, not Jace. Hell, she is so naïve sometimes it hurts to think that one day someone like Clarissa is going to debauch her; and with Clarissa that could be trouble!”

“What about someone like me?” Catherine didn’t know what to expect, she was just trying it on for size.

Paul looked at the suddenly tense woman and a thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly dispersed it as absurd. “You! Well, if she had you in her corner, then I guess she would remain naïve from most of the hurt in this world, if you could possibly do that!”

Catherine wasn’t expecting that! In fact she had convinced herself she was worse for Jace than Clarissa.

“What makes you say that?” Her heart was screaming for answers.

Paul looked her squarely in the face.

“Because you care! Unfortunately for some they can’t see that depth. If you ever wanted to, you might just convince them. Anyway, if Jace had you in her corner, I know she would be okay.” He smiled and then looked down at his watch it was almost seven. “Guess we have to go.”

Catherine looked at her watch and noticed that for once she might even be late. “Yes, better go ahead Paul and let them know I’m coming. I have a call to make.’ Just as he opened the door, Catherine softly said. ‘Paul, thank you. When we are alone call me Catherine, okay?”

Paul blushed at the comment.

“Yeah, no problem, my pleasure. Catherine.”

He walked out of the door to the elevator and thought ‘Jesus, just wait until James gets a load of this; the great Ms Devonshire has all the symptoms of being in love and with guess who? That is the shocker!’ He entered the elevator smiling.

Catherine saw the door close and picked up the phone and dialed home.

~ ~ ~

Jace had fallen asleep after reading the first three chapters of the book, which under normal circumstances she would not have been able to put down.

‘Now, why hadn’t she ever come across this book before? It had ‘classic’ written all over it! Yet, it was something that had been written over thirty-five years ago and left on a shelf until someone found it by chance. Well, this chance opportunity was one she wasn’t going to miss!

One thing she had noticed, which made her grimace in disgust was the publishing company, none other than Xianthos! It’s a wonder they ever had the brains or sentiment to discover such an author. Time was a great healer they say, but the pain and bitter taste hadn’t gone. She hated Xianthos and its’ owner the ever-resourceful Ms Devonshire! That woman shouldn’t ever come into close contact with decent human beings, because sure, as hell she wasn’t decent; certainly not in her business dealings at any rate.

Now how did you meet this man, Catherine, because it certainly must have been some match? Wonder if Grace can fill in any of the gaps? Maybe not, I should just keep my nose out of it right? Oh, right!’

Grace looked in on her charge later in the day and noticed that she held the book close to her chest, obviously doesn’t want anyone to remove the book and loose her place. She must find it very enlightening as I did.

Anyway Jace did look better and that’s all that mattered.

Now, she had to think of something to cook for the good doctor. Oh well, that shouldn’t be too hard. Smiling she left the sleeping Jace to her dreams.

Around five the phone rang and she knew who it was, as ever Catherine would be checking up! “Hello the Warriorson ranch, how can I help you?”

“Grace how is our patient?” Catherine almost growled at her housekeeper.

“Well, thanks for the greeting Catherine, but Jace is sleeping and looking much better.” She couldn’t help but smile.

“Hey, I’m sorry Grace, how are things with you too?” She answered sheepishly.

“Fine, Andrew will be here at seven, so everything’s on schedule.”

“Hell Grace, I didn’t know you put your love life on a schedule; Christ what next?” Chuckling at the other end.

“I’ll have you know working for you all this time, means my whole life is a schedule; so, what do you want to do about that!” Grace was also smiling the banter from her boss, most unexpected but welcome.

“Oh, give me a couple of days and I’ll work it out. So she is really on the mend then?”

“Yes, Catherine. You’re worse than the doctor, she’s doing well, but you’re not going to like something.”

“What’s that?” taking the defensive at her end of the line.

“You left the book behind and a certain Ms Bardley can’t get enough of it!”

There was silence at the other end.

“Are you still there Catherine?”

“Sure, I didn’t realise I left it behind. It’s the first time, guess my mind was preoccupied.” ‘Yeah with a small green eyed blonde that you had just slept through the night with.’

“Is it okay for Jace to read your copy, I can get it back and give her the paperback I have?”

“I didn’t know you had a copy Grace, why didn’t you mention it. You could have read mine anytime.”

“That’s okay. I thought maybe it was a family heirloom or something.”

“In a way it is, but...I would have let you read it Grace. As for Jace, let her read it, I’ll be interested to see what she makes of it.”

With that the doorknocker on the ranch sounded and Grace excused herself for a few minutes, knowing her discussion with her boss hadn’t been completed.

A motorcycle messenger held out a box, measuring around three foot long and two-foot wide. “For a Ms Bardley, can you sign?”

“Sure, thanks.” She closed the door on the retreating back of the messenger. Putting the box down she went back to the phone.

“So what’s going on?” Catherine asked.

“A box has arrived by messenger for Jace, wonder what it is. It’s from Christchurch.”

“Well, when you take it to Jace, I’m sure you will find out. Now what else is new?”

Grace informed her of the conversation with Jace as Catherine listened intently but refused to comment. Details about the ranch were soon completed and Catherine wished Grace a good evening.

“Hey, don’t go doing anything I wouldn’t okay?”

Grace laughed loudly “Oh, does that give me plenty of rope then?”

“Oh yes! Believe me you would hang yourself hundreds of times over. Got to go, see you in a couple of days.”

Hanging up the telephone, Grace wondered about the remark, but smiled as she noticed the box. Well let us get this show on the road. She picked up the box and went towards the guestroom.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Thirteen

Catherine was weary after her dinner with her five VP's, although the meeting earlier with Paul had been enlightening. For once, she had taken the opportunity to find out some personal details about her senior executives, which had totally floored them, well all except Paul of course.

Who noticed that his normally stoic boss was actually taking the time out to make small talk? This was really turning into an interesting meeting.

Gareth Cuthbert her European VP, had been married to Victoria for ten years and had the usual two point four children, oh well that's how Catherine viewed it at any rate. He was quite happy to push them into a boarding school as soon as possible, so that he didn't have to worry about his image. Now where had she come across that before? This more than anything else made her dislike of the man credible in her eyes! He was a pompous arrogant English middle class bore, wanting to elevate himself to the next rank. ‘What the hell, he could be a pompous arrogant upper class bore, for all I care, just so long as he does the job and does it well!’

Eduardo Forencio was her South American VP. He was swarthy, good looking and single, loved to flirt with the ladies, but always managed to keep out of the final reaches of any one of them. He managed to stop himself from making a fool of himself, by coming onto her as she asked him about his personal life. In Catherine’s eyes it was amusing and she enjoyed a little flirting, well she had years before at any rate. Come to that, in the old days she would have done more than flirt herself, he would have been a prime candidate for her bed! Funny how things change, now she found it laughable.

Tito Yashimo her Asian VP, a small compact Japanese, always listening but rarely was given to any mad spurts of creativity. He had a wife and son and appeared happy with his lot in life. She’d always had difficulty making small talk at the best of times and with the Japanese she found it impossible. It was a straightforward list of facts. Oh well, better than getting your ear bent.

Constance Waverly she was the African VP, African descent with a touch of European blood in her heritage. She was a small bubbly woman, who was happy to be single, although she was somewhat cagey about whom she dated. Catherine hadn't wanted to pry, but she was interested in the VP possibly because she was the only other woman at the table. She knew that to have advanced this far in the organisation meant that a private life for a woman was virtually impossible. Although, why she should think like that when she had the power to do something about it was a matter of indoctrination, she thought, weird.

Paul Strong was by his own admission happy in a gay relationship that had lasted about eight years to date. He got looks from all around the table when he mentioned James and was being scrutinised by Constance at regular intervals.

All in all, it was a very regular crowd, nothing to write home about, as they would say.

Now she was glad she had a few hours without the constant boardroom niggles. That was one part of not going to a regular office that she hadn't missed, the ‘in fighting’.

Letting herself into the suite she glanced around the room and noted it's elegance and style, but something was missing. Something that she hadn't realised she needed until yesterday and that something was companionship. Sitting down on one of the sofas she tugged her shoes off and wondered if Jace was awake? It was after all only ten in the evening at home, probably the good doctor was still around as well! Maybe that would cause too many questions. When had that ever mattered to her! Yet, she didn't want to make Jace feel uncomfortable in the house, no far from it!

'Guess I'll leave it until I get back then,' she mused and then suddenly grinned as she recalled the earlier conversation with Grace.

~ ~ ~

Jace couldn't believe it!

Here she was recovering from a virus in the home of the reclusive C X Warriorson and being waited on by her staff. Not only that, but around late afternoon, Grace had arrived with a parcel and a relatively large one too!

"What's this Grace?" Jace asked as the woman put the parcel on the bed.

"Well, you better tell me, because it's just arrived and it's addressed to you personally and by direct messenger as well."

"But who, other than Peter and the crew, knows I'm here?"

"I don't know would Peter have sent you a get well present?"

"Does he even know I'm ill Grace, I've not told him?"

"Yeah, Catherine sent a message to him at the hotel. She told him to cancel your room for the rest of the week. So yeah, he certainly knows." Grace remembered the phone call she overheard last evening, between the Director and her employer and it hadn't been cordial. To her ears it sounded very hostile. Anyone would think they had purposely got Jace ill, or did he think they were kidnapping her or something.

Anyway Catherine had finally agreed that Peter could visit tomorrow and she guessed he would certainly do that, pity Catherine will still be away.

"Maybe it's from him." Jace answered her own question absently. For some strange reason she felt lonely. Without the presence of Catherine Warriorson the place just wasn't home! 'Oh no, did I say 'home' what on earth is happening to me? If she finds out she's going to run me off the place, being ill won’t stop that.'

"How about you open it and see? Do you want me to leave?"

"That's okay, Grace please stay. You never know, it could be alive in here." Jace smiled at the friendly woman, who sat gently on the bed and helped with the unpacking.

Jace reached inside the box and her hand touched something, very soft and wonderful to the touch, grasping further inside she pulled at the object and out tumbled the largest Tasmanian Devil she had ever seen.

It had a wonderful mischievous grin on its face and held in one of its paws a screwdriver and the other a hammer. It had covering its body a light blue shirt and black trousers, with a red and grey tie hanging loosely round its neck. A caption on the shirt said ‘I can fix anything!’ Nothing on the toy was made of anything other than soft materials. It was the most huggable toy she could have ever wished to own. Her tears ran unashamedly down her cheeks and Grace had to laugh at the sight of her small guest, being almost enveloped by this huge toy that portrayed one of the most devious characters in the ‘Looney Tunes’ camp.

"How about I get you some tea Jace, while you rummage in the box for a card or something."

She left the happy, but obviously emotional woman to look for more clues to the identity of the sender. However, Grace had a really good idea who it could be, and it had nothing to do with a film crew!

Jace couldn't believe it, she was overwhelmed and in her heart she knew the identity of the sender. "Catherine I'm betting on you. I hope I'm right," she whispered into the ear of the giant Taz.

Finding what appeared to be a card towards the bottom of the box, she extricated it and hardly dared look.

Made out in a strong bold script, it read:

Jace,

Sorry, I had to leave you to your bad dreams for the next couple of nights. I'm hoping this cuddly toy can be my substitute. He appears to be in the position to fix things if you wake up in trouble. Although, I suspect he could wipe you under the table on the food issue given the chance. But given his reputation, I would think again about giving him that chance!

Anyway, sleep well Jace, and let your dreams be good ones.
Catherine

The tears that she had shed previously came again in a flood and it wasn't until Grace came back with the tea that she tried to stop them.

Grace had seen many tears in her lifetime and she knew that these were the products of someone who was happy.

"So, you found out our mystery toy sender?"

Jace looked up and choked back another sob; it really was too much this crying for no reason business.

"Yes."

"Well, you going to keep me in suspense?"

"Catherine sent him to keep me company during the night." Jace answered, not wanting to look up and see the hurt, which the words could possibly inflict on the other woman.

Grace started to laugh heartily. Jace looked up astonished.

"So the old recluse does have a heart after all." Grace merrily said. “Strange choice in a night time companion though, don’t you think?” Chuckling at the sight of Jace giving the giant Taz a sympathetic hug.

"It doesn't bother you, that she's sent me a present?"

"Why should it? Hell Jace, I love the woman as a friend! If you have finally got through where so many of us have tried and failed; then the best of luck to you." Grace watched the emotions pass over Jace's face and she smiled.

"I want to be her friend! I need to be her friend! Something inside me can't seem to stop thinking about her! Does that make any sense to you, because it sure doesn't to me? It confuses me the emotions she brings out in me Grace. I'm just hoping I don't do anything stupid. At times all I want to do is hold her hand and just be there!"

Grace pulled the woman into her arms for a short hug.

"Hey Jace, watching you with Catherine is a gift, one that I hope she doesn't decide to be stupid about. There is nothing in your feelings for Catherine that can be anything but honest, and from the heart. Just give her some time to reconcile herself to having you around. But don't push her to hard Jace. Something this fragile could break so easily and there would be no coming back for a second chance with her. There again, she sure isn't the same lady who woke up at the start of this week, that's for sure. Looking at that present though, maybe she still is our Catherine under there. It sure wouldn’t have been my first choice, more a Pooh bear."

Jace hugged Grace harder and sniffled into her shoulder.

"She helped me sleep last night, when the fever got too bad and I was dreaming." It was an explanation of sorts.

"Yeah, I know. You look pretty cute together too!" Grace couldn't stop the smirk from appearing on her face.

"How...I mean when...does she know you know?" Jace stuttered through the sentence.

"Actually no, she doesn't. For now it's our little secret okay? I get the feeling Catherine wouldn't want the fact known that she's a big mushball under that entire stoic ambience she gives off to the world. What do you think?"

"Just what she said herself." Jace laughed and wiped her errant tears away.

"Great, so Andrew will be here in about an hour, think you can eat something for dinner?"

"Yeah, I'm starving, all this emotion is certainly giving me an appetite," Jace answered enthusiastically.

"Why is it, I think you might just have always had a large appetite?" She left the woman alone with that rejoinder.

"Wonder what she means by that Taz, I'll have to ask her when she comes back later." With that Jace settled back down into the covers and snuggled up to the soft toy, it wasn't Catherine but she had sent him, so it was better than having no one in the bed at all. In a strange way, he gave off a feeling of safety.  ‘Now don’t go using that hammer on me at any time will you Taz, or you might just have to explain yourself to a certain tall, dark and beautiful woman and we know how you would react to that!’ She smiled and her eyes dropped in fatigue.

~ ~ ~

Grace watched Andrew Simpson drive away from the property and waved as he passed by the ranch houses at the bottom of the drive. It had been a good evening all told.

Andrew was very entertaining and had enthused over her cooking abilities and organizational skills administrating the household. He'd pronounced that Jace was doing very well and his first assumption that it would be a week for a full recovery was now muted to another day in bed and she should be in a position to leave, if she wanted.

Jace had looked at Grace with an air of someone who had just been given a death sentence instead of being told they were actually fighting back an illness quicker than anticipated. "Don't worry Andrew, Jace has a date with my indomitable employer and woe betide her if she doesn't keep it! Right Jace?"

Andrew looked amused at the colour that seeped into Jace's cheeks at the comment. "Yeah, well I guess... It's not a date, but she said she would see me when she got back..."

"Okay, sounds good to me, has the good Reverend told you who you're getting in our little community programme yet?" Andrew changed the subject quickly noticing how uncomfortable the conversation was making Jace.

Grace laughed, and smiled at Jace. "No, but I figured he'd send someone up here if she's away. What better time. So, give Doctor Simpson or I might just have to do something drastic to make you talk." She teased him.

Jace watched the inter play and smiled. Grace really was a great person and if she wanted the doctor it looked like she just had to crook her little finger at him.

Andrew smirked. "Oh, now that sounds like a challenge, I might just take you up on my dear Miss Thornton." He looked at her as she patted him on the cheek.

"Maybe another time, so come on, who are we getting?"

Jace was puzzled what on earth were they talking about.  "May I ask what you’re talking about?" Not sure if she would be let into the conversation, she was after all a guest, even if maybe a little unwelcome at first.

Grace and Andrew looked at each other and smiled. "Ah yes, I forgot it was the night you arrived, so you won't know what were talking about, sorry Jace." Grace looked apologetic.

"Ms Warriorson, has agreed to take part in a local community project," Andrew volunteered.

Jace still looked puzzled.

"Yeah, but the project is about kids who have had a bad time and people who have the means are taking them in and trying to offer them a new life. The Reverend believes in friendship and love in a very positive giving way." Grace supplied the rest of the information.

"It doesn't sound like something Catherine would volunteer for, not that I know her that well. It just kind of wars with her reluctance to interact with other people." Jace spoke softly.

"No, it's definitely not Catherine. She unfortunately said the wrong thing at the right time or vice versa, which ever you want to call it. She has passed on this task entirely over to me. So, really it's my friendship and love the kid is going to get." Grace smiled sheepishly.

"But if she agreed to it, why shouldn't she get involved with it!" Andrew said in a mildly irritated tone.

Grace put her hand on his arm to settle the conversation. "She was pre-occupied at the time and the Reverend got lucky, I guess. So, Andrew who am I getting?"

He smiled at the woman who he imagined would always defend her boss, no matter how wrong she was. "You heard that the Patterson's got killed in a car crash three months ago?"

"Yeah tragic for the family, although hadn't they both been drinking at the time and someone else died also?"

"Mmmm, so you do keep up on the local news?" He was surprised.

"Hey, just because Catherine wants her privacy, doesn't mean the rest of us live the same lifestyle. Don't judge others by one experience, that would be very dangerous, especially around here!" Grace flashed him an angry look.

Andrew saw the look and almost thought he'd blown it with this wonderful woman, who he'd lost his heart too, she was just so easy to love. "I'm sorry Grace, I didn't mean it the way it sounded." He looked shamefaced at her.

Never one to let things fester, she smiled. "Carry on, the suspense is killing me."

"Anyway, yes Joan Simoen died too. She was a wonderful woman.” He sighed at the thought; she had worked in the town as the seamstress for over six years, after her husband had been killed in a freak accident at work on this very ranch. “The Patterson’s had a son Jacob, he's ten years old and very wild. No relatives to speak of, and even those that are related don't want him, too much trouble they say."

"Okay so we are getting wild Jacob Patterson, great! Catherine is going to love the local people that much more out of this little episode. Not!" Grace pulled a face. "So, when do I have the pleasure of meeting young Mr. Patterson?"

Andrew smiled. "Actually that's not the only thing.” He noticed both women look at him, one in interest the other with, was it evil intent? “Because you have the resources you get two of them?"

"What? Two of what?" Grace almost shouted at him.

"Kids."

"Come on tell me, it can't get any worse now can it!"

Andrew sort of edged for the door. "Lisa Simeon, she's seven and definitely has no family." He held the doorknob in his hand ready to move quickly if he could.

Both women looked at him in astonishment. Maybe it just did get worse!

"That sounds like a bit of very insensitive planning to me Doctor," Jace said in a very small voice.

"Yeah, I know, but the Reverend insisted, said it was the best for both kids and Ms Warriorson too."

Jace looked at him. "Do you believe that?" She asked gently.

He shook his head and looked anywhere in the room except at the two women.

Grace let out a breath that she hadn't known she held. 'Jesus, Catherine was going to go ape when she found out, and who could blame her. I somehow don't want to be the person that tells her, but guess it's going to have to be me.'

Jace looked at the drawn face of Grace, who had visibly sagged at the information. "Tell you what Grace, how about I tell Catherine? I'm not going to be here much longer, and well, if she gets mad, she gets mad at me."

Grace glanced at the younger woman, knowing that Jace didn't want Catherine to have any thoughts other than good ones about her. The offer was tempting. Oh, so tempting. "That's okay Jace, thanks for the offer, but I think I'd better do it. Although, I might need the support."

"Anytime." She glanced at Andrew who had lightened up a little at their conversation.

"Go and sit on the porch or something you two, I want to read some more of this book." She smiled at them as she settled down, with the book and Taz snuggled next to her.

"Good idea." The two left her to it.

After that they had discussed just about everything under the sun except the new visitors. Now here she was at midnight, contemplating Catherine's reaction to the new additions to the 'family', it wasn't a pleasant thought. Her eye's strayed towards the foreman's house and she noticed a dark figure outlined against the white decking of the veranda. She looked away and considered her options. Tomorrow was another day and today had been exciting enough as it turned out. She wasn't prepared for any more problems. Problems?

~ ~ ~

Chapter Fourteen

Catherine was winding up the two-day session with her VP’s; the business was doing very well; her influence hardly needed these days. Her reputation just worked for her that was all.

It was time to consider some changes though and her assessment of her executives although veiled had been very thorough.

"Well, another session has come to a close. I'm very pleased with the way things are developing around the world. In two months time I'm going to want some changes in my VP's, can't let you all get to complacent in your roles, now can I?"

All faces turned to her in shock, they hadn't expected it and to at least two of them it wasn't something they wanted to do.

"I'm going to change all of you around, so if you’re not happy with that, I suggest you start getting your résumés out in the market place, because it's going to happen! Is anyone around the table against the idea?"

Paul Strong had been as surprised as anyone at this change in events, but he could see the logic. Now who was going to be the fall guy between Gareth and Tito?

Gareth moved around in his chair and looked a little pale around the gills. Tito looked upset. Constance smiled, and Eduardo just took it all in his stride.

Tito got up from his chair and addressed the chairwoman of the company. "You just said we had done wonderful things with our different market places, why?"

Catherine looked at the little man and knew he was nervous. She smiled, but the smile never went to her eyes. "Don't you think it's a good idea, wouldn't a VP posting to New York for instance, be a good move for you Tito?"

"I...I think it would be, yes it would, but my family?" He stuttered and ended on a weak note.

"Guess your looking to quit the company then? Oh well, you win some you lose some." She starred at the other people round the table. "Does anyone else have something to say?" Silence.

"Well, that's wonderful. I wish you all a pleasant journey back to your own parts of the world, and I'll be in touch personally." She got up to leave, then turned around.

"Paul, before you go, I need to speak to you. Say in ten minutes?" She left the room without an answer to her question.

Paul looked around the room and realised they thought he knew something. "Hey guys, I don't know what's going on, maybe I'm going to be the first transfer, who knows." He shrugged his shoulders.

"I think she's right, we are becoming complacent in our own backyards. What we need is change, she's giving us the opportunity before she has to replace us." Constance spoke decisively.

"Oh, it's okay for you! Your piece of the world is shit, if we didn't bail you out every few months, you would be on your arse out of here," Gareth said with venom.

"Well, if you think like that Gareth, guess Paul might just mention it to Ms Devonshire that you could do better in my role! I wouldn't mind a piece of Europe for a change of scenery." Constance had never let the European VP score points off her. He was always ready to stick the knife in someone's back and it was not going to be hers. She hated his existence. One day his time would come! He was a pompous ass, who still thought there was a bloody British Empire, arrogant bastard!

"Wonder where she will send me!" Eduardo chipped in, not really that interested, anyway it would give him new opportunities with the women.

"My family will not move Paul. So, I guess I'd better consider tendering my resignation," Tito said sadly.

Paul knew what it meant to Tito, 'Hell he was going to have to talk fast with James on this one, maybe he would need to find another position also!'

“I have a meeting people, I hope everyone has a safe journey home.” He left the room and heard the squabbles from the hall.

Arriving at the suite, he noticed the door was ajar, so he tentatively walked in.

"Oh! Paul, great, my bags have just gone down. They are getting me a taxi to the airport, so I'd better make this quick."

"Fine, no problem." Paul was surprised at her swift exit from the hotel. She usually spent a couple of hours winding down, by walking along the quay.

"I want you to consider taking over as World President, it's a new role, more money, and you will be in charge of the rest of the VP's. I don't need the answer now, but by this time next week, okay! Then you get to sort out the other VP's I hope, if not I will! You get to choose your base of operations also! If you have any questions just e-mail me, or call me in a couple of days. I have to go Paul, safe journey." She walked by him and smiled. "See you soon."

He watched the retreating back of his employer and wondered what had hit him.  He sat down heavily on one of the sofas.

"I think she just asked me to take over the empire!"

~ ~ ~

Grace watched as the hired car arrived up the drive and a very nervous Peter Adamson got out of the car.

"You must be Mr Adamson, Jace's friend, welcome to 'Destiny'" Grace held out a hand and smiled.

Peter didn't expect this cordiality, especially after his altercation with Catherine Warriorson, what next! "Thanks, yeah, I'm here to see Jace, how is she?" He deposited the luggage that Jace had left at the hotel on the porch steps.

"She's doing really well actually. She got out of bed specially for your visit, so please come this way." Grace eyed the luggage in some amusement.

He followed her into the house, which was in a traditional style, but with all the conveniences that modern technology could offer. They walked to the study, where she opened the door.  Jace was seated in one of the large armchairs.

"Hey, Jace how you doing?" He smiled, happy to see her basically in one piece, although she did look pale.

"Peter I'm fine, thanks for coming to visit, how's everyone?"

"They’re good, and want to know when you will be back with us? You know you're the life and soul of the party Jace." He sat opposite her as Grace left them to their chat.

"She seems nice?" He indicated Grace's retreating back.

"Yes she is," Jace answered softly.

"They treating you okay Jace, if you want out of here, I will take you, no problem. That bitch Warriorson can't keep you if you want to go!" Peter blustered.

"NO! No it's not like that at all. They have been marvellous to me Peter. I couldn't have been in safer hands." Jace responded with gusto.

He looked at her and shook his head not understanding why she was so...protective. "Well, if you change your mind you know where we are staying and the number."

Jace smiled and they talked about the footage and what Hudson wanted, and briefly when she would be ready to leave. The filming group had planned to leave on a Sunday flight back to the States and had tentatively booked her a seat.

Jace looked down at her hands, which she clasped together tightly. "That's in four days time. I guess I will be taking the flight Peter."

He noticed her subdued reply. "You don't sound very sure about it. Have you got a reason to stay here?" Had she met someone in such a brief period of time?

"I'm sure," she replied.

"Oh, well that's good then; can't have my best girl stranded here in this out of the way country now can we?"

'If only he knew that this out of the way Country as he called it, would forever hold my heart.' Jace winced at the words that flowed in her head. It sounded so melodramatic, like a lovesick teenager.

They talked for a little over an hour. Then Grace noticed that Jace looked tired and scooted her back to bed. She ensured Peter that if he needed to come visit, to just let her know, as she couldn't see a problem with another visit after Jace had rested for a while.

"Thanks, I appreciate you looking after her."

"No problem, we all like Jace here."

"Even the recluse!" He couldn't help the sarcasm in his tone. Something about the woman just set him off.

Grace laughed "Yeah, even the recluse." And as he walked away she thought. 'If only you knew, the recluse might actually more than like her.' She walked back into the house and her schedule.

~ ~ ~

Grace was pacing.

Definitely pacing.

Jace smiled wryly at the somewhat awkward pacing with Grace's limp. She had been up a couple of hours, chatted briefly with a very subdued Colin Montgomery. 'Now what was wrong with him? He had seemed so happy that first night she arrived; now, he looked like his best friend had died!'

Something was very wrong here, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it, maybe Grace might open up a little. Then again, she had almost bitten her head off earlier, so perhaps not...!

Going over to the coffeepot, she noted the time at ten and knew that Catherine was due back around ten in the evening, twelve hours and she would be home! 'I just can't help that feeling of finding my home when she's around, could that be such a bad thing? What would Catherine say? There again she was never likely to find out. I'm going to be leaving the day after tomorrow. Maybe that's for the best, for both of us!' Her heart begged to differ.

"Grace do you want a cup?" Jace offered quietly.

The pacing woman looked up in surprise, she hadn't really noticed that Jace was in the room with her. "What? Sorry you asked me something?"

"Yes. Would you like a cup of this excellent coffee that a certain party I know makes really well?" Jace bantered back to try and alleviate the tension in the woman.

Grace smiled briefly, 'Jace was a really good woman. Pity she hadn't been here from the beginning, maybe things would have been different. Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk.' "Thanks. Yeah, I would love a cup." She watched the younger woman silently make the beverage.

"You want to talk about why you're so up-tight?" Jace prodded her shamelessly.

Grace laughed outright at the attitude of this woman who she had met, what was it four days ago? "Yeah I think I do! Thanks."

"No problem. Is it Catherine?"

"Some of it yeah. But it's those kids we’re getting after lunch. I think it's immoral that they should be put together. Hell, his parents were responsible for her parent's death and they want them to live in harmony, and to cap it all off, under Catherine's roof. God knows she doesn't want anything to do with this herself; yet, I know she won't be happy about this situation."

"Why do you believe she won’t accept this responsibility?" Green eyes looked into brown in question.

Grace snorted. "Something in her past I guess. She was really mad when she found out about what she had let herself into. Can't blame her really, now that we have the facts. But I could do with her support and somehow I don't think that's going to happen!"

Jace looked into the coffee cup she held and sighed. "Maybe she will come round to the idea, Hades she came around to me!"

"Oh, come on Jace, this is different."

"How? Tell me."

"You know her husband and son are buried on the property?" Grace looked directly back into the green eyes, which suddenly took on a shadowy effect at the mention Catherine's deceased family. ‘Of course she didn’t know you dummy! She didn’t even know Catherine had been married until I mentioned it.’

"No I didn't. Is it far away?" Jace asked in quiet interest.

"Actually it's Cutter's Ridge. She wanted to have them see the best of every dawn and sunset that was on the property for eternity. There is no better place than that particular spot."

Jace gasped at the sheer thoughtfulness of Catherine Warriorson. It was like something out of a gothic romantic novel; so you do believe in romance after all! "How do you know that?"

Grace sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. "She got drunk one night; I'd been here about a couple of weeks and she was way over the top, told me it would have been what Adam, her husband would have wanted."

"No wonder, she wasn't happy that we were filming there. But, I don't recall seeing any evidence of a burial place?" Jace was unhappy that there would be footage that ultimately might upset the woman she cared about.

"Oh, Catherine wouldn't have been happy about you filming any place on the property. Unless you know where to look, it's a hidden place. Only Catherine, Colin and myself know for sure; other than the local burial agency and the Reverend that attended the final placing of them to rest. The Reverend is now deceased and the others, well they don't divulge that sort of detail, bad for business," Grace spoke matter of factly.

"Does she go there often?"

"No, only on certain dates, which I surmise to be anniversaries of some kind. Catherine hasn't been that forthcoming and she kicked the alcohol binges over three years ago."

"Guess she wont be happy that I know about this then?" Jace was upset at the thought.

"Oh! Jace haven't you realised yet? That for the first time since I met her over five years ago, she has actually done something for someone and thought about that person beyond her own needs! Nothing, do you hear me, nothing you find out about her will harm her, you will see to that!"

Jace got up from her chair and went over to the other woman and simply hugged her. "Do you know what that means to me?" Jace asked tearfully.

"Oh, god Jace, your not going to cry on me again are you? Whatever would people think?" Grace said flippantly.

"Not much around here I guess." Wiping her eyes, she smiled at the other woman.

"Well you're not wrong there!"

Getting up from her chair, she hauled Jace along with her. "So any ideas, what do kids eat?"

Jace laughed loudly and punched Grace playfully on the arm. "Do you have any cookbooks, preferably with desserts in them?"

"Oh way to go Jace. If I didn't know better I would think you were a kid yourself." She joked back as she went to retrieve a cookbook.

~ ~ ~

Catherine was waiting patiently for her personal flight from Christchurch to her local airport to be approved and she would be on her way. She was early! It was only three in the afternoon and usually she arrived way after midnight. That's exactly what Grace would expect. Although, at this rate, she might be home by dinner!

'Funny I've never really wanted to get home this fast. Wonder what has gotten into me this time?' A demon voice that she knew too well prodded her to answer her own question. 'Yeah, I know, I know, Jace!' She sighed in resignation.

'Although wouldn't she be going home soon and wasn't home to Jace, the most hated place that Catherine knew in the world. Hell, I've run from that place for years, and now it comes and pays me back a hundred times over. Guess you just can't tempt fate too much, huh?'

She hadn't contacted home since the first evening; so, she didn't know how Jace was doing or how she had received the gift she'd sent.

Catherine you're going soft! She smiled to herself at the thought.

'Hell she hadn't bought a soft toy since Lucas was a year old! Then she had been relatively happy in a complacent sort of way. Adam had given her the stable lifestyle she had wanted when her brother had died. He had also given her security in not only his love, but also his home and little did she know his business interest too! They had been happy those first two to three years, as happy as she had ever been, since her mother had passed away.

Then her father died!

That had been a shock; he can't have been more than fifty-eight if that! She then learned through the lawyers in New York that Stewart Devonshire had passed all his possessions over to his one surviving child, subject to a couple of minor details that she had to uphold.

Well one of them had been easy. Adam, she then found out was a shareholder in the Xianthos Empire, a third shareholder no less! She wasn't to try and oust him in any way and she had to consider any of his suggestions, just has her father had done in the past. They had argued long into the night on many occasions once she had taken over the reins about that part of the will.

Then there had been his involvement with Union City Productions and the young and very shrewd Clarrisa Hudson. Oh, that was one fight she had run away from, not because she was scared, but more because her father had wanted it that way. Hudson had made no bones about the fact that she was willing to let Catherine into her life on much the same terms as her father. Only, she wasn't her father, and the thought of sharing anything, never mind her bed with someone as totally devoid of emotion as Hudson, was definitely not an option.

She had done to the letter what her father wanted and in many ways her frustration at that fiasco and any other that transpired was heavily aimed at Adam! He hadn't deserved it, hadn't understood her change in personality, but had it been a change? Wasn't it something she had always been, but he had tried to soothe the image and create a person he wanted rather than what she was! Then her son had become a pawn in the game, games she never lost! But she HAD!

One day she literally turned her back on her family and had done exactly what her father had done all those years before, what did they say ‘like father, like daughter! She had closed her heart to feeling and held everyone she loved at a distance.

Now she was considering, well she was certainly thinking about a certain Jace Bardley more than she should, that was for sure. What the hell, it was only a toy!”

She closed her eyes and blinked back the solitary tear that threatened to fall.

A movement to her left made her open her eyes and she noticed the pilot of her personal helicopter coming closer, he looked relaxed. 'Good, that means we are getting out of here.'

She cocked her head to one side as he spoke.

~ ~ ~

Grace watched as the Reverend’s car drew up the long drive. She was standing next to Jace on the porch. Both women were a little nervous.

Jace for the life of her didn't know why? For the day after tomorrow everything would be all over, and she wouldn't see the ranch or its occupants again she assumed.

The Reverend got out of the vehicle and went around to the front passenger door and opened it. He spoke at length towards the occupant of the front, and then a young boy jumped out of the vehicle. He looked to the entire world as if he had been dealt a lot of difficulties in his young life.

Next the Reverend went to the passenger door in the back of the vehicle and was handed a doll! That made Jace smile. Next a small girl crawled out of the vehicle.

Grace watched in fascination. She was now the responsible adult for these two children and hell she didn't have a clue.

Jacob Patterson, was a gangly ten-year-old, obviously grew out of his clothes quick from the look of his worn and short attire. He had black hair and a sullen face, although his hazel eyes looked more mischievous than wicked.

Lisa Simeon on the other hand was the totally opposite. She had bright red hair and a smile that shone out of her pale blue eyes; in later years she would set many a hearts a flutter that was for sure. She looked delicate because of her size, but her stance gave the opposite view. She looked like an eight-year-old handful!

Jace looked at Grace and grinned. "Guess this is it, better go meet them Grace."

"Yeah, okay." She swallowed hard, and then moved off the porch towards the Reverend and his charges.

Within a couple of short hours, they had retrieved the personal possessions of the kids and shown them into their respective rooms. Neither child had much by way of personal items; it was plain to see that they had been brought up without the luxuries of life. One because his parents were irresponsible it would appear and the other because that had been all her lone parent could afford.

Both children looked a little scared and intimidated by the ranch and the women who they had been introduced.

Lisa had held onto her rag doll as if it was a lifeline.

Jacob had looked sullen the whole time and just scuffed his feet, which, hadn't gone down to well with Grace on her polished floors.

When the Reverend left, Jace went to make some drinks so that Grace could get better aquainted.

Something inside of Jace wanted to welcome these children too! It was after all Catherine's home, but she was herself an interloper, what could she possibly achieve by confusing the kids even more. 'Oh Hi, I'm Jace but don't get too friendly because I'm going the day after tomorrow.' It would be like a slap in the face, not only for them but for her too!

She went towards the next room, peaking inside she saw the three figures, all with very tense body language, taking a deep breath she went inside.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Fifteen

Catherine steadfastly drummed her fingers on the arm of the seat that she occupied waiting for one of her ranch hands to collect her from the local airfield. She'd called Colin directly on her cell to give him an e.t.a. They were late!

'Perhaps something was wrong at the ranch? Hell, she'd been waiting almost an hour! Surely Colin hadn't forgotten? He hadn't mentioned anything in particular being wrong, although he had seemed somewhat subdued on the cell phone Catherine had put that down to the connection. Grace would have called her if things had taken a turn for the worse with Jace. Wouldn't she?'

Catherine elevated herself from the chair and strode around the small waiting room. One of the operatives at the desk looked pensively at her and seemed to want to make conversation but thought better of it; Mrs. Warriorson didn't exactly look in the best of moods.

Catherine scowled at the weather, which appeared to be moving towards stormy conditions much in league with that of earlier in the week. A smile flashed briefly across her profile as she thought of the outcome of that particular storm, and what or should she say whom it had deposited at her front door.

Turning back towards the chair she heard a vehicle approach, and glanced out of the window to observe a green Land Rover stop immediately outside the building as close as possible to the door.

She took in the tall appearance of her ranch foreman. 'So, Colin opted to come himself, interesting.'

Colin walked swiftly to the door and as he entered shook off the droplets of rain that had landed on his hat. He walked towards Catherine's bags and nodded to her.

Catherine was amazed! He would normally have been bending over backwards to explain why he was late, but not this time, this time he just looked grim.

"Are you ready Ma'am?" He had reverted back to his subservient role again verbally, but his actions gave an entirely opposite reflection.

"Yes, let's go home before it gets any worse." She followed him out of the door of the airfield office not bothering to acknowledge anyone as she left. He swiftly pulled open the passenger door of the vehicle for her and then went around the back to stow her luggage.

She discreetly watched his profile as they pulled away from the airstrip and contemplated her next course of action.

'She could just leave it and stay silent? She could discuss the weather and try and get a response? She could ask about the ranch and get him to review the last couple of days? No, none of the above! Nope the best course of action was definitely the direct sort, nothing else would get a response that she was sure of!'

"Okay Colin, why do you look like the end of the world is nigh, and why were you late?" She didn't look away from her observation of the passing fields out of her window, her remarks suggesting a bored interest.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. His jaw clamped shut, and then he opened it again, but nothing came out.

"I haven't all evening Colin, so spill it!" She growled at him, now becoming frustrated with the situation.

He turned briefly to face her and then appeared to derive a decision. "I'm late because I needed to attend to something for Grace and all the other boys were out taking in the stock prior to the storm." He answered grimly.

Catherine pondered that answer for a few seconds. "Must have been an important task Grace wanted you to complete, if it meant keeping me waiting. Did she know it would do that?"

"Yeah, she knew." He answered knowing full well that Grace didn't know it 'personally' affected Catherine.

This certainly wasn't turning into a pleasant drive home, not withstanding the fact that it was now pouring down rain. "So, did you get the task completed?"

"Yes," he answered tersely.

"Good. Would that be the reason for what's bugging you?"

He didn't answer.

The drive was like asking twenty questions and receiving replies to only a few of them and those replies making only partial sense.

"Guess Grace has some explaining to do when I get there, you're obviously not very forthcoming." Catherine drawled in frustration.

He remained silent, and the rest of the journey was taken up with the sounds of the approaching storm.

~ ~ ~

Grace had taken about all she could handle with the boy and he'd only been on the ranch for less than half a day!

When she'd sent Lisa to retrieve him from his room for the early meal she prepared for the children, she wasn't expecting the young girl to come running back shouting he was gone.

Jace had gone to take a nap, she had looked exhausted by the time she'd helped with the children's possessions, and then helped Lisa to get settled in her room. Grace had promised to wake her when Catherine was due to arrive home, Jace reluctantly left Grace with the two new residents of Destiny.

Now beating a quick detour to Jace's room and getting her out of bed, both of them scoured the house but couldn't find the boy. The weather was closing in too, great!

"Jace, we can't let him stay out all night, we have to find him?" Grace said her voice a pitch higher in her anxious state.

"I know, I know, but what about a group of the men searching for him outside on the ranch, he can't have gone far." Jace tried to placate the apparently frazzled looking woman in front of her.

Grace sighed, she hadn't wanted to ask Colin, he had been very grumpy for the last couple of days, but what choice did she have? Taking the cell, she called Colin and explained the situation, he had said that he had to leave on an errand for Catherine, but Grace had overridden that. Explaining that Catherine would want him to find the boy first.

Grace had flitted around the kitchen making some cookies, because she didn't know what else to do!

Jace had taken the small girl and sat her in the corner of the warm and homely kitchen and told her a story about dragons and knights and fair maidens. The little girl had been enchanted, but she too looked worried, especially when the rain became intense.

Half an hour later Colin walked in almost frog marching a very stubborn boy in his wake! They both looked very bedraggled and Colin looked none too pleased.

"Is this what your looking for?" He held the collar of the shirt that Jacob was wearing. The young boy was looking decidedly sullen and uncooperative inside the shirt.

Grace smiled in relief. Both Jace and Lisa chuckled quietly in their corner of the room as they saw the state of Jacob.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks Colin." She turned twinkling brown eyes to his grey, but he never returned the warm glance, he just turned on his heal and left.

Grace looked perplexed, but was so relieved at having the boy back that she dismissed him out of her thoughts for the moment.  "Jacob why? Catherine isn't going to be happy about you wanting to run off."

Jacob turned his hazel eyes to her and shrugged in defiance. "What will she care, she doesn't want us, we heard about her in the orphanage!"

Jace looked at him and then back to Lisa, her small charge, looking sadly at the floor. Grace turned her glance to Jace and she silently asked for help.

"What did you hear Jacob?" Jace asked him gently.

He looked at the smaller woman and then to the little girl. "She will tell you the same." He pointed at Lisa, taking a defensive stance at the question.

Jace took Lisa's small left hand in hers and gently squeezed in understanding. "I guess as the oldest you have the prerogative to explain it to me?" Jace asked him surprising the young boy with her gentle rejoinder.

He looked at her with a defiant expression, but became mesmerised by the green eyes that looked directly at him with warmth.  Not at all like the others they just hadn't liked him, but she wanted to listen. "They said," he was stopped as Jace countered.  "Who are they?"

"The people who run the place, the man in charge, I heard him!"

"Okay Jacob, what did they say?" Jace gently tried again.

"They said that Mrs Warriorson wouldn't want kids around the place, she hated kids! Maybe she would have us work on the ranch, but not as part of the family!" He rushed through his tirade.

Jace looked at Grace, who was looking at both children with a mixture of pity and surprise that adults had let the children overhear that type of insensitive comment.

"Mrs...Warriorson isn't used to children Jacob. Maybe, that's why people have gained the wrong impression. When you meet her she might just prove you wrong. Why don't you give her a chance? Just as she's giving you one," crossing her fingers as she said the last sentence.

Jacob looked around the kitchen and scuffed his foot against the floor, making Grace cringe at his abuse of the highly polished sheen.

"Maybe I will!" He looked at her with a frank gaze.

Jace smiled briefly. "Glad to hear it! Now young man, I think a change of clothing might be in order, and then we can all eat.  Don't know about you but I'm starved." She laughed and smiled down at Lisa, who grinned back at her and nodded.

Grace laughed and looked at the boy, who for the first time in over five hours since he'd arrived at the ranch actually smiled, if only briefly. 'Well, that's got to be a start. Let's hope Catherine is in a good mood when she comes home.'

Jace left Lisa with Grace to help with the final preparation for dinner and led Jacob off to his room to replace his wet clothes with a set of dry ones.

~ ~ ~

Clarissa Hudson had talked to Peter Adamson about the filming in New Zealand, he had been a little cagey, but then admitted what had happened to Jace and she had laughed. Peter privately didn't like the woman, but on a professional basis she always got the funding for the obscure projects. He'd often wondered how and now he had a very good idea.

"She's actually on the recluses property staying as a guest?" Hudson asked him again, her tone calculating.

"Yes, it happened by accident, we thought Warriorson was a man, Jace went to confront him, and it turned out to be the woman who left us on the ridge in a storm." Peter sounded peeved that he had to explain the situation to Hudson.

"Oh well, it looks like Jace might get our coup after all, maybe a private interview with the reclusive Catherine Warriorson?" Clarissa was amused and surprised that her PA had gone to such lengths to make a point.

"Jace is ill, she might not get the interview, as Warriorson is away!"

"Well, you said she was coming back with you Sunday, so I guess she's not that ill!"

"What more do you want us to do?"

"Nothing, your job is done. Take a couple of days, see the sights, I hear it's got some marvellous places to visit if your scenically minded."

"What about Jace?"

"Oh, Jace is fine exactly where she is, believe me this couldn't have worked out any better. See you in LA, Monday." She disconnected the line.

Clarissa was a tall willowy blonde, she was thirty-three and had the intellect that made her a very powerful woman within her own defined realm. The only fly in her ointment was Xianthos and in particular the owner herself.

'Oh, I've been looking for you Devonshire and now I've found you, well paybacks were always a bitch and you spurned me!  We could have been great together. But, oh no you took the noble way out, not Daddy's spoils you were too self-righteous.  Must have been that ineffectual person you called a husband caused that particular trait to surface! But I know better, Daddy told me of your exploits and your prison term, baby if you don't take up my offer this time, I'm hanging you out to dry.'  She laughed loudly to no one but her self, the sound echoing around her sparsely furnished office.

"My Dear Jace, you have been a godsend, and oh, how I'm going to enjoy what you bring to the table this time." She walked out of her office into the midmorning sunlight. LA this time of the year was really quite wonderful.

~ ~ ~

Catherine grabbed her laptop and bolted out of the vehicle as it glided to a stop outside the ranch house, she left the rather morose ranch foreman to struggle or not with her bags. All she wanted to do was retreat inside from this god-awful weather.  Running as if she was being chased by a tornado, she stumbled into the front door and whisked away the droplets of rain from her face.

 ~ ~ ~

It was only seven in the evening and she heard unfamiliar voices in the kitchen, did she hear children? Placing her computer on the hall table she walked quickly to the kitchen. Opening the door she looked around and saw what could only be described as a very cosy, domestic scene.

~ ~ ~

Grace was surprised at seeing her boss walk into the kitchen looking somewhat sodden and not a little up tight. 'Oh shit.' "Catherine, I didn't expect you until later?" was all Grace could mutter!

Catherine looked at Grace and saw her surprise she then glanced across to two children a boy and girl who looked at her in equal parts awe, fear and defiance. Then her heart flipped a beat as her glance rested very briefly on Jace, who looked flushed but good. Jace looked equally as surprised as Grace. 'Hadn't anyone informed them I had arrived in the country for god's sake?  I'm going to have an interesting conversation with Colin!'

"What the hell is this? Alice's tea party?" She couldn't help the frustration of the last hour or so being transmitted to her voice.

Grace looked at the children and smiled briefly getting up from her chair.

Jace frowned at the sharp tone of her 'friend'.

The children shrank back into the chairs they were seated in.

"No, no it's definitely not that; unless, you're the mad hatter of course? There again maybe your bursting into the room would give that impression." Jace stated blithely, trying to bring some light relief to the conversation-taking place.

She ignored the look she got from Grace although she thought it might be one of relief. Instead she concentrated on the ice cool stare she received from those remarkable blue eyes.

Lisa giggled at Jace's comment and Jacob laughed outright; then both children looking down at the table, not daring to gauge the expression from their new guardian.

"Oh, so we have appreciation societies too do we? Anyone care to tell me what these children are doing in my house?" Catherine said sarcastically, pointing a slim finger in the children's direction, with all tact blown out of the window.

"Yes I could, but maybe it would be better if you and Grace talked privately and I'll take the children into another room." Jace turned her gentle green eyes onto the impaling blue ones.

Ushering the two children out of the kitchen, she snagged the cookie tray as she departed, leaving the two women alone.

Catherine blinked several times as Jace left with the children and couldn't help but smile as she saw her take the tray.

Grace seeing the look realised that all wasn't such a lost cause. "Do you want tea, or something to eat before we start?"

Catherine still had her gaze on the closed door, her attention leaving with the departed blonde. "Yeah, whatever," she answered absently.

Grace had seen lots of emotions pass over Catherine's face in the past five years but she was totally thrown by the look she saw today.

It was a mixture of censure, puzzlement and happiness. Jace had completely outsmarted her and in such a very nice way.

"She's something else isn't she?" Grace said tentatively.

Catherine wiped an errant drip of rain from her eyes and turned to Grace and smiled, all her frustration now dissolved. "That's for sure. How is she? She looks good," Catherine asked turning her attention back to Grace.

Grace carried the teapot over and poured them both a drink. "Jace is well on the way to recovery. In fact I don't know what I would have done without her today."

Catherine looked at the milky substance in her mug and a tense expression came across her face. "Did Adamson try to get her to leave?"

"Not exactly, the film crew is leaving on Sunday, she's going with them, but she would have told you that! I'll miss her." Grace added, knowing that although her friend might think the same she wasn't likely to ever say it, not to her at any rate.

"Oh, well, I guess I was expecting that. You obviously have taken a shine to her over the last couple of days?" Catherine replied still a little absently.

"Yes I have, she's like a ray of sunshine and today especially with the kids, well that's another story."

"Yes, so what's with the kids?" Catherine looked mildly interested, the welcoming tea soothing her previous agitation.

Grinning, Grace passed her a hot pastry and proceeded to inform Catherine of the present situation.

~ ~ ~

Jace scanned the contents of the lounge, she hadn't been here before and plonked the children in front of the large twenty eight inch TV screen, or it could have been larger she didn't really know. It certainly would have dwarfed her apartment living space.

Jacob had resisted until he saw that the Simpson's were being screened and he sat in front of the set. "You'll go all goggle eyed if you watch it that close Jacob, come on sit here it's a good distance for you."

He looked at her and then back at the screen. "No."

"Well that was sure to the point." Jace said under her breath. "Come on Jacob, Lisa is sitting in a chair."

He snorted at that and looked at the little girl, who was having trouble keeping awake. "She's nearly asleep that's why." He pointed out.

Knowing that Rome wasn't built in a day she shrugged. "Well, if you end up with glasses then don't blame me!"

He looked at her and smiled, it actually made him look boyishly handsome. He remained seated on the floor but moved towards the chair and sat with his back against it. Fifty-fifty trade off Jace thought.

Moving over to Lisa who was struggling to stay awake, Jace gently picked up the small child and sat in the chair with her pulled her on her lap. The sleepy child smiled and snuggled next to Jace. "My Mom used to do this, when I was tired." The child said matter of factly.

"You miss your Mom honey, a lot I would think?" Jace cradled the child to her chest.

"Yeah, she would always tell me stories before I went to sleep. No one in the place we were at did that, they were all too busy," the child explained.

'Well, not tonight! And not tomorrow either, if it was the only thing she could do for these kids she would tell the child a bedtime story.'

"Well, my dad used to tell me stories too when I went to bed. Do you want me to tell you one of his tonight?" Jace smiled at the child.

The child looked at her in total innocence and trust. "Yes please," then snuggled deeper into Jace's chest.

"Good, because I think I would like that too." Jace's own nostalgia with the situation evident in her voice as she hugged the child closer.

Jacob watched the exchange furtively.

~ ~ ~

Catherine was moving round the kitchen in agitation. "I can't believe he would do that!" Grace had just explained all the facts to her boss, it wasn't going down well, but she'd known that would be the response anyway.

"Well, neither did we! But he has, and we have them, and that's the long and short of it." Grace said in resignation.

"For gods sake that's insensitive to both those children, does he expect them never to know the outcome of that night? I'm going to see him tomorrow and get this mess sorted out." Catherine paced around the room.

"Maybe you should talk to Jace?" Came the quiet rejoinder.

Catherine looked at her with a steely glance. "Why?"

Grace tried but failed to stop the blush as she said the next words. "Because, she's important to you, and I think you might value her opinion!"

Catherine couldn't stop the faint colouring of her skin as she frowned. "She's..." no more words came.

Grace looked at her and saw the frown. "Do you know how you feel or what you want Catherine?"

Catherine glanced around the comfortable kitchen and sighed. "It would be easy to say my life as it was, but that's not possible any more! I want what's best for us all." She simply stated.

"Then you better think fast, because she's out of here at the weekend." Grace said bluntly, sometimes you just had to take the bull by the horns and this bull was sure stubborn at times.

"Yes I know that! But...Grace I'm not good at relationships, hell I don't even know if she wants my friendship?" There was a heartfelt sigh at the end of the sentence.

Grace paused at Catherine's shoulder and placed her hand on it in understanding. "Why don't you go and change, and then see what Jace is up too. You might be surprised about her reaction."

"Maybe, but you're right I could do with some dry clothes. Hell, what's up with Colin these days, he was very strange on the way back here?"

Catherine changed the subject the action bringing a wry smile to Grace's lips.

Grace looked down at the table and shrugged. "Beats me!"

Catherine glanced back at Grace, now she knew the reason. 'Jesus, the man hadn't even attempted to ask her out he had just left the field wide open for the doctor! Guess that's another thing I'm going to have to solve at a later date. But first her own affairs, or rather lack of them!'

Grace watched Catherine leave the kitchen. 'It was kind of strange Colin's reactions these days, but it didn't have anything to do with her, she hadn't been near him for the last couple of days. So she definitely wasn't to blame for his mood.'

~ ~ ~

Catherine changed quickly and headed towards the lounge where she could hear the TV. Walking into the room, she smiled softly as she saw Jace sitting, or was it lying comfortably in a chair with a small redheaded child snuggled happily next to her.  The child was almost if not asleep. Jace was tenderly stroking her hair. It was quite the loving picture and the tall woman sensed a very warm feel surging through her body and was experiencing an unusual lump in her throat!

Then she saw the boy, he was watching some cartoon on the TV his hands where tucked under his knees, he was smiling at the antics of a dog and cat; she didn't know which cartoon it was. He looked relaxed, he had dark colouring very much like Lucas, and he was about his age, or the age he would have been had he lived. That brought a sharp pain to her chest and she without realising it let out a gasp as the recognition struck her.

Jace looked up and saw the anguish on Catherine's face and where she was looking. 'Had her son looked like Jacob, perhaps a little? What a traumatic event it must be to lose a child and one so young too.' She turned her head towards the woman and smiled, hoping in some small way her understanding would help.

Catherine looked at Jace as she turned and saw the warmth in those green eyes. She smiled back and moved over to her. "See you have a handful there?"

Jace smiled and kissed the child's red locks above her chin. "Yes, she's tired but I think she wants to stay up with Jacob."

Catherine looked at the boy engrossed in the cartoon. "Well, it's almost nine, do you want to call it a day for them?"

Jace hesitated and then nodded. "The cartoon is almost over anyway."

Waiting for a few minutes, they watched the end of the cartoon, Catherine from her elevated standing position and the others from their chair or the floor respectively.

Jace started to struggle up with her precious cargo. Catherine noted this and stooped down. "Let me." She gently scooped Lisa up and put her over her right shoulder. The child was asleep and never moved.

Jace acknowledged the support and smiled. "I thought you'd left this to Grace?"

Catherine smiled. "Mmmmm, I suppose I did, but then again you are a guest and this is my house. I have other responsibilities now don't you think?"

Jace laughed quietly. "Oh, Catherine I think you just made an under statement there."

Catherine raised her left eyebrow and grinned. "You think so?"

"Yes I certainly do!" Jace responded.

"Okay, so what about the boy?" Catherine moved her head towards him.

"He's going too!"

"Fine, he can bring up the rear. Which room does Little Miss Alice here have?"

Jace smiled at the slowly retreating back. "She's got the one next to mine."

Catherine turned back slowly and met the green gaze. "That means he's next to me?" her voice held amazement.

"Yes, I guess it does, do you have a problem with that?" Jace looked as if she wanted to laugh loudly at the affronted look on her friend's face.

"No, no it will be fine, for now!" she disappeared through the door.

Jace sighed and looked at the boy who was clearly tired, but didn't want to succumb to his tiredness. "Come on Jacob time for bed, maybe you can stay up later tomorrow."

He scowled at her, but got up nonetheless and followed her out of the lounge.

Jace watched Catherine open the door of Lisa's room, and as she went into the room she saw the tall woman place the small child gently on the bed. Jace picked up the rag doll the girl carried everywhere with her and placed it close to her pillow.

Jace looked at Jacob as he watched the settling of his new 'sister', he wasn't sure if any of it were for real, maybe he would wake up tomorrow back in the orphanage, maybe he wouldn't.

'Somehow, this is all going to work!' Jace just knew it, she felt it, there weren't any words that could adequately say why she felt that way, but it was going to be okay, for all of them!

~ ~ ~

Colin had stripped off his wet clothes for the second time that day!

He was annoyed with himself for letting things that he couldn't do anything about affect his relationship with his employer.

'Christ, I almost bit the boss's head off in the car. Added to that I haven't adequately apologised for being late and I blamed Grace for it too! I don't know what's wrong with me these days?'

He walked over to the dresser and got out a pair of faded denims and a very old sweatshirt, pulling them on, he sauntered towards the window that looked out onto the drive and towards the main house.

Colin wanted to kick himself, he knew what his problem was, and he just wasn't prepared to acknowledge it fully yet.

He had been a shy child, his parents had tried to bring him out of his shell, but it hadn't worked. Then his mother had died of a fever when he was twelve, leaving him and his father to carry on with their small holding and not much more. His father had continued to mourn his wife's death and it was no surprise that one day he'd had an accident with his shotgun. Colin was alone since he was sixteen! He then moved around the Islands, first the North and then finally settling on the South Island and gaining experience from various holdings.

He was now thirty-six years old, with a very stable job and all the responsibility he wanted. What he hadn't acquired was anyone to share it with! Now, when he thought that he had found the right person, it was all going wrong, he had no special skills like the Doctor. He wasn't good when it came to talking, so being romantic just wasn't something he'd ever experienced.  Now he was watching, as the one person he wanted in this life was slowly moving towards a different direction and that direction didn't include him in any way!

'Catherine was right; I should have asked her out! But is it way too late for that, after all the boss will have explained to Grace that I blamed her for being late, would there ever be a time I could ask!' He hung his head in silent remorse for his bad attitude towards Grace.

Then he sat down in his chair and closed his eyes as a single tear cascaded down his strong profile. He wiped away the tear,  'Men aren't supposed to cry, we're supposed to be the strong ones, but wasn't that all bullshit! We feel love, pain and anguish, sometimes it's just the right time to let it all out.' He tried to stop the continuing trickle of tears but his heart wouldn't let the emotional turmoil cease.

The room darkened but he remained in the chair, letting his desolate mood take over.

~ ~ ~

Grace sat in one of the easy chairs in the lounge as she watched Jace try to keep awake. She knew the blonde woman was tired after the full day they had, even the hour she had managed to steal before being woken abruptly hadn't helped.

Catherine was smiling as she too watched Jace try to chase away closing lids of sleep. "You know you didn't have to read a story to the child Jace, it's not something I want them getting used too." Catherine said gently.

Jace smiled. "Oh, I enjoyed it. My dad used to always read me a story when I went to bed; it sort of shut out the bad dreams.  I think both these kids may well have bad dreams Catherine, you need to watch out for them."

Catherine looked at the green eyes that pierced her blue glance with a look of sympathy and compassion for the children. "Well, that's going to be Grace's domain. I'm certainly not going to tell any children's stories."

Grace smiled at Jace as she responded. "Okay I'm game, but I'm still going to need your support with them!"

"I told you Grace, that tomorrow I'm going to see that idiot who left us in this mess, I should have it cleared up by the evening!"  Catherine gave an exasperated sigh at having to solve another problem forced on her. She turned her eyes to the window and the storm lashing away at them.

Jace looked aghast at the comment and looking towards Grace for understanding of what had been implied Jace receive a shrug of the shoulders only. "What kind of comment was that suppose to infer?" Jace quickly pushed all thoughts of sleep from her mind.

Catherine was surprised at the angry tone Jace used. "Why, the bloody Reverend of course. He's going to have to have a re-think, what else do you think it means?"

"You're going to send them back!" Jace shouted at the woman standing at the window.

Catherine looked at her and pinned her with an icy look, outraged that she was even questioning her it wasn't her home! "Yes, that's exactly what I'm going to do, what did you expect?"

Grace had hoped that Catherine would see it differently when she saw Jace with the kids, but obviously she hadn't. Now the blonde looked devastated as she looked at the rigid back in front of her. "I had hoped you would have compassion for them, they have lived through enough heartache already. To have you throw them back into the sea again without giving them or YOU a chance, is more insensitive than anything the Reverend has done already!" Jace's green eyes began to fill with tears.

Grace shifted uncomfortably in her chair and wanted nothing more than to leave the room, but she also wanted to hear what Catherine would say to that little outburst by the obviously upset blonde.

Catherine saw the tears in the green eyes and she almost fell to her knees before the young woman to ask her to forgive her for hurting her. But she couldn't! This was something she felt strongly about. "I'm sorry if you think that my actions will result in even further insensitivity, that isn't my aim. If you'll excuse me I have some work to do tonight, goodnight." She walked out of the room without a backward glance.

"She's just going to leave it at that!" Jace spoke quietly to Grace, anguish clearly written over her expressive face. "Why is she running away from me?"

Grace came over to the chair that Jace was huddled in and put a hand on her shoulder. "I was kind of hoping you might have swung her round in the kids favour, but...Jace, come on let's get you to bed you look exhausted and I'm a little drained myself.  How about we try again in the morning, you never know she might change her mind overnight, stranger things have happened, and keep happening in this house."

They walked towards the stairs and Jace glanced at the door to the study and wondered not for the first time, what made Catherine Warriorson tick. She certainly was a mass of contradictions.

~ ~ ~

Catherine noted that it was two in the morning; she hadn't achieved much by way of work either! Her mind had been numbed by the shocked and surprised look on Jace's face when she had voiced her plans on returning the children! It's not that she wouldn't be prepared to have a kid here on the ranch, but this situation was wrong, morally wrong!

'Oh, yeah! And what do you care about what's moral or not? Where do you get to be the savour for peoples morals, it's laughable and in your case sad!' Her inner voice depreciated her arguments. 'You of all people have thrown morality, scruples and honesty out of the door more times then you can count. Suddenly someone who could stand for morality, who has scruples, who is honest, wants you to reconsider your stance and you walk all over her. What sort of friend would you ever be?'

Catherine watched the thunderstorm and shook her head at her thoughts. Whispering to the empty room. "No friend, no friend at all! Jace will be better off without me and shortly that's just what's going to happen."

Getting up from her chair she switched her desk lamp off and went into the hall and up the stairs to her room. Walking by the room occupied by the boy, she heard noises, which had nothing to do with the storm raging outside. This she knew was a storm raging from within, pain of the most demanding sort, which only someone who had experienced it first hand would ever recognise. She did!

It would have been so easy to just close her mind to it and move on by but that wasn't what she was all about not now!  Knocking softly she opened the door.

There under the blankets was a ball of small humanity, moving to take away the covers and showing the bundle underneath, she saw the child's eyes take on the expression of a wounded animal, hurt and sadness all mirrored there. Slowly she sat at the edge of the bed, not wanting to scare the child anymore than he already was. Taking his hand she softly stroked the palm to try to quieten the storm that raged. "Hey it's okay, it's only the storm." She tentatively tried to blame the storm for his distress, knowing he wouldn't want to look like a baby in front of her.

He hiccuped, and looked into her ice blue eyes with his frightened hazel ones. She continued to look directly back at him and smiled, her eyes gently indicating her understanding of the pain. She moved her hand to his unruly hair and smoothed it back.  "You know tomorrow it's going to look a little bleak out there, but then the sun will eventually shine again you know."

Suddenly he looked at her with a trust she had seen recently but from green eyes. 'God what was she doing, this was becoming a regular thing for her, whatever would people think? They could think you might actually care!'

"You going to be able to sleep now?"

"Yes...thank you." he smiled tentatively back at her.

"Your welcome kid, let's get this bed straightened up, or you might catch cold too!" she said brusquely but softly to take away any perceived sting.

"My name is Jacob not kid, and it's Jake to my friends." he offered her a hand.

She looked at the boy and the proffered hand and couldn't help the chuckle that escaped.

"Well Jake, my name is Catherine, pleased to meet you." she shook his hand solemnly as he settled back down.

"Goodnight Jake, see you at breakfast." She watched him close his eyes and noted that before she shut the door he was asleep.

Closing the door she retreated to her own room and went to look out of the window. The stars tonight were obscured by the stormy conditions, but she knew they were there and it made her smile.

'Guess it's not so cut and dried as I thought, maybe there was some mileage in having the two kids here, god knows it couldn't be worse than the orphanage now could it?'

She slowly went over to the en-suite bathroom and started to peel away her clothes, it had been some night. 'All I really wanted to do was spend some time with Jace and get to know her better. Hell of a way to do that, she thinks I'm some sort of monster now! I wonder if she sleeps tucked up to that soft toy I sent her?'

She went to shower before getting into bed and trying to dismiss the thoughts of what it would be like to change places with that particular soft toy!

~ ~ ~

Chapter Sixteen

Grace was waiting for Jace to appear for breakfast, the kids had arrived a few minutes before, and although a little shy at first were now settled down to orange juice and cereals. They occasionally glanced her way and she smiled at them, the little girl had a very infectious smile, just like Jace.

'Maybe if Catherine saw that...oh what the hell, she only ever saw what she wanted!' Grace thought with frustration.

Catherine was in the basement exercising.

Jace rolled in at that moment, waved hello to the kids and said hi to Grace, then sat in her usual seat opposite the head of the table. "So is our fearless leader up yet?" Jace knew the answer to that one without Grace turning back and laughing at her.

"Oh, okay just wondered if she'd changed her mind, you know 'stranger things have happened' syndrome."

"Jace has anyone ever told you that you are way too chirpy in the morning?" Her new friend quipped back.

"Nope, because actually I'm not usually. Quite the opposite, but something here brings out the best in me," she supplied with a warm friendly look.

"Can I guess what that might be?" Grace smirked and received a back hander from the blonde playfully.

"Please, not in front of the children!" Jace laughed and winked at the two sets of eyes that were watching the banter in fascination.

"Okay, where is she?" Jace quietly asked Grace, her eyes sparkling mischievously at the children.

"She's in the basement working out, always does when she gets home from a trip, and she's been down there over an hour so she should be through shortly." Grace supplied.

Jace frowned, then her face cleared and a smile came unbidden over her expressive face. "Hold the breakfast for me, I need to see someone." She got up quickly and moved towards the door to the basement.

"Jace, she doesn't like to be disturbed, and what you see might make you..." She trailed off as the blonde disappeared down the steps. 'Guess she'll find out for herself.'

Jace hadn't heard the last comment or she might have been tempted to listen further. She was fascinated though at what sort of exercises Catherine would do. Opening the large oak door, she emerged into a room that held a couple of bench presses, weights, bike and rower. Then she noticed a punchbag and from there Jace saw her target.

Her jaw dropped.

Catherine stood on a wooden floor, obviously specially put down for aerobic exercises, but she wasn't doing that. In one corner was a stereo system that was pounding out 80's tunes the quality excellent. The song currently resonating out of the speaker system 'When the going gets tough' by Billy Ocean. However, it was the woman in question that made Jace stare.

Catherine was wearing tight fitting navy cycling shorts that accentuated all her lower body parts, and a cut off T-shirt that did wonderful things for the woman's upper body. Her rhythm as she responded to the tune was overwhelming. She was swaying and dancing and moving as if the music was part of her blood stream. Erotic and very sexy came to Jace's mind and stayed there.

Jace sat by the side of the punchbag, wondering if it had hit her, punch drunk came to mind.

She watched fascinated as the hi-fi pumped out further tunes, 'La Bamba' by Richie Valens and then carried on through Culture club's 'Generations of Love,' it was the movements the raven haired beauty made to the Stranglers 'European Female' that made Jace gasp for air. Seeing shoulders move and sway in fluid grace and her hips grinding to the music, and if she ever moved like that on a dance floor god's help who was dancing with her, it was just sex on the move! Did she even know how she looked?

Suddenly Jace moved a fraction and this caused Catherine to turn in surprise to find someone else in the room with her.

Catherine was covered in perspiration, beads of moisture evident on her upper lip and forehead, her hair was damp and the clothes she wore had dark traces of moisture all the way down her back. Jace noticed the predatory look and the animal magnetism that sparked from her.

Catherine was involved with the music but crooked her finger at Jace, without thinking Jace moved towards the finger as if hypnotised, and as Infinity began the intro to 'Only you'. Jace was being danced around and obviously played with by a very sexy, tall, dark and beautiful woman, who mesmerised her.

The song pounded out.

Looking into your eyes, I see only you, can you see only me and how I love you?'

Catherine touched Jace's cheek as she traced a finger from her eye to her chin. Always moving to the beat and the flow of music around her.

'Dancing with you close to my body, do you feel what I feel?'

Her hand moved from the chin to her neck and traced the collarbone.

'Watching the moonlight and the stars glowing, do you glow like I do for you?'

The hand then moved in a sweeping motion around her body without touching her physically but making her tingle with anticipation.

'Thunder crashes out a tune, lightening illuminates the gloom.'

Her hand moved to her back and traced a line from her shoulder down to the curve of her hips.

'Going to sacrifice my will, if you listen to me speak of love.'

A hand lightly traced down her chest to her taunt abdomen, Jace was on fire.

'You're the power behind persuasion, you succumb to this liaison.'

The touch then travelled lightly down her thighs as Catherine moved fluidly down to an almost kneeling position all in time with the music.

'Holding my cheek close to yours, I feel the pulse of your soul and know it's only for me.'

Moving languidly up Jace's body with a movement that didn't touch but spoke volumes, she gradually moved away as the last beat of the music slipped away.

Catherine bent close to Jace's ear and spoke in that low sexy growl that Jace loved. "I think by the look of you a shower wouldn't come a miss, you appear a little hot!" A small smile appeared, which gave her a rakish expression.

With that the music changed to Dire Straits 'Twisting by the pool', not waiting for an answer to her observations, she shot off making several cartwheels across the floor and landed precisely next to a medium sized indoor pool.

Jace watched in awe and fascination as Catherine nonchalantly peeled off the T-shirt and the shorts and leaped into the pool totally naked. Coming up to the surface at the other end of the pool with no idea obviously, what she had just done to Jace's body and mind with that little show of exhibitionism.

"Zeus, she just made me turn into a puddle on the floor with that show. God's what would it be like if she really meant any of it for real!" Jace turned and fled the room. Opening the door and running up the short stairway, she cannoned into Grace at the top.

Grace held her shoulders as she noticed the heightened colour and raspy breath. 'Way to go Catherine, it works every time!'  "Oh, so she saw you did she?" Jace couldn't speak she just nodded her head.

"She's quite something when she exercises wouldn't you say? For such a big body she can sure make moves that make the old heart rate pound a bit!" She chuckled at Jace's glazed look.

Jace finally managed to choke out, "A bit! Grace have you seen what she can do to music?"

"Ah, that good! Well, if you ask her I'm sure she won't mind you joining her, she asked me once, I only lasted about ten minutes."

"Why?" Jace asked with interest, the glazed look almost dissipated.

"Well, she moves far too fast for me, and it is just so difficult not to just watch her move wouldn't you say? Then again she made me far, far too hot to continue that on a regular basis, you need a cold shower afterwards." Grace laughed as she recalled her first sight of the tall sexy woman dance around the room. Catherine had wanted to help Grace with her leg exercises and had thought it a good therapy. It wasn't the therapy that quite went with leg exercises that was for sure.

"That's exactly where I'm going, a shower definitely! Maybe a cold one at that!" she left Grace behind.

Grace smirked at her back. Catherine didn't know when she was onto a good thing here, such a pity. She went to make fresh tea; Catherine would be up after her swim shortly. She just knew she would have a large grin on her face when she finally arrived!

~ ~ ~

Catherine had dressed leisurely after her swim. She had got a bit carried away with Jace, but she thought the blonde had looked like she was enjoying the attention and it had been ages since someone else was involved. Actually, it always made it a little bit more exciting for her. Mind you, with the way Jace had looked after they had finished that particular routine, maybe it had been too much for her; she was still recuperating after all!

'No, Jace hadn't needed to do anything, I made all the moves, it had felt good to lose all that tension of the last couple of days.  Hell, it had only been a dance after all and only exercise too!'

Smiling as she climbed the stairway, she walked into the kitchen and found Grace lounging against the breakfast bar watching her enter.

"What!" Catherine asked as she noticed the smirk on her friend's face.

"Nothing! Did you enjoy your workout?" She turned to pour her a mug of tea.

"Yes indeed, you know me, I like to get rid of the tension caused from being a few days away from here." Catherine said quietly.

"Our guest join you for a workout too?" Grace watched the smile fade slightly from Catherine's face and an expression of was it 'pleasure' passing over it, then she looked down at her tea as if she was embarrassed.

"She was watching mostly, but I let her kind of join in on one session."

"I bet you did! She looked kind of flushed when she returned up here, looks like you haven't lost any of your skill in that area." Grace laughed at her friend, who coloured up slightly.

"Now Grace, whatever do you mean by that?" Feigning innocence.

"Oh, as if you don't know! I needed a cold shower after watching you workout, I'm scared to death to do it again, I might faint next time."

"I would catch you before you fell Grace, never fear of that." Catherine said seriously.

Grace looked at her and smiled warmly as the blue eyes looked back at her with a similar expression. "I know, but I'm not giving you the chance of dunking me in the bloody pool if I did."

"So where is Jace? Come to that where are the kids?" Catherine asked with interest, changing the subject.

"Jace is getting a shower," they both laughed at that. "The kids are having a tour round the property, seems Colin is in a better mood today, said he thought it might help them settle in." She waited for the woman to retort with an angry comment.

Catherine looked out of the window of the kitchen. Almost talking to herself she said, "It looks bleak out there today."

Then the door opened and Jace walked in. She looked at Grace and smiled and then to Catherine as she sat opposite her. Her cheeks coloured slightly then she spoke. "That was one of the most fascinating shows of exhibitionism by a person I have ever seen in my life!"

Catherine gave her an amused look. "Oh, you didn't like it? Helps me to get rid of the tension. Too bad, I'm not giving it up."

Jace looked at her and realised that this woman really didn't know the effect she had on people, certainly with a display like that! "I would never ask you to give something up you really liked doing. Anyway when did I say I didn't like it?"

Catherine smiled broadly. "Good. What's for breakfast Grace." she once again swiftly changed the subject and they had an amiable meal together.

~ ~ ~

The two women watched as Catherine got into her Land Rover and headed out towards town, neither had approached her on the forbidden subject of the previous evening.

"What do you think she's going to do Grace?" It was a whisper.

"What she does best I guess, intimidate the good Reverend until he backs down, then we get a change of kids." Came the resigned voice of one who had known the woman longer.

"I don't think she wants to do it!"

"Why would you think that?"

"Because before she left, she was watching the kids closely as they went round the corral." Jace answered.

"So, what difference does that make, she watches everything around here, you should know that?"

"Her eyes weren't cold Grace, she looked at them in anguish, especially when she looked at Jacob."

"Oh, well it must hurt her still, when you think her boy would have been his age and from the pictures I've seen of him, he would have looked like her, so the dark looks of Jacob would stir memories. She's not totally devoid of emotions, although she can give that impression." Grace glanced at Jace puzzled at where this was leading.

"Oh, I would never call Catherine Warriorson devoid of emotion. Maybe cut off from her emotions some, but never devoid of them. I think she wants to let them stay, but she has a principal to uphold and she's going to do that no matter what, even if it might cause her pain." Jace smiled wearily.

Both women saw the children approaching and Grace smiled tenderly as she saw Colin Montgomery being led hand in hand with a chatty redheaded small girl, who kept giving him a big smile, every time she looked up.

The boy was walking amiably along too, his attitude in stark contrast to yesterday, almost as if overnight some strange miracle had happened to him.

Colin brought his charges into the kitchen. He looked at Jace and smiled briefly. Giving Grace a cursory glance, he whispered something to Lisa and she gave him an unexpected hug, he looked embarrassed.

Jacob watched as the big man blushed. "You can't let girls get to you Colin, they're only trouble."

Colin looked bashfully about the room trying to find a spot on the wall he could look at, instead he turned to where Grace was watching him. "Trouble son? Yeah I suppose you could say that! Now behave yourselves, the both of you, I have work to do!"  He walked out of the door that led to the porch.

Jace laughed loudly. "Well Jacob, in what way are we girls trouble huh?"

He looked around and realised he was alone in this one. "Ah, well...I guess sometimes anyway," he trailed off.

Lisa took pity on him and walked around to him and put her small hand in his slightly larger on. "Jake is going to be a rancher too, when he grows up," she proudly said to the others in the room.

"Oh, well that's nice. Colin training you young then?" Grace asked him in interest.

Jacob looked at the little girl and shrugged, but didn't drop her hand.

"No, Catherine will!" He stated importantly.

Grace looked perplexed and Jace was astonished.

"Hey, who said you could call her Catherine?" Grace finally asked in surprise at his use of the name.

"She did!" He said proudly.

"Does that mean I get to call her Catherine too?" Lisa said excitedly.

Jacob gave Lisa a long-suffering look. "Not unless she says, but I'll ask her for you." He said and Jace watched fascinated as he squeezed the smaller hand.

'Oh, Catherine if only you were here to see this, it is so special.'

Jace couldn't help thinking as a tear threatened to fall.

"When did she say you could Jacob?" Grace persisted.

"I'm not lying if that's what you think?" He looked at her with the sullen expression of yesterday.

"Hey, I'm sorry, no I never thought that Jacob, come on if she did she did okay? How about some flapjack, one of my specialties?" Grace was upset that the child thought the way he did, but it was very odd, very odd indeed.

"Well, I'm up for that, I don't know about you two! " Jace answered with a grin.

They all rushed forward towards Grace and the goodies.

~ ~ ~

"I'm not happy about the situation!" Catherine almost shouted at the smaller man seated in his office, in an annex of the church.

He shook his grey-haired head and gave her a sympathetic smile. "I know it's two children and that must have been a shock, but you do have the resources," he said quietly.

"No! No, that's not it at all! I could take on the whole bloody orphanage if I wanted too!" She said in exasperation.

"Is that an offer?" He looked directly at her and smiled.

"No!" She had wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.

"Pity. You're not happy about what exactly?"

"Why? Why those two kids!"

"Because they need each other and I believe you might find you need them also!"

"That's about the most stupidest comment you have ever made to me yet Reverend! You're insensitive to the potential explosive situation here obviously." Catherine was angry she wasn't winning this encounter.

"No, believe me I'm not. I trust you and your particular 'skills' can defuse it before it ever gets to explode." He said quietly but with conviction.

Catherine looked at the older man at the desk and she recalled Adam's strong resolve when he'd wanted something so badly, he had often won her over by his quiet patience to get a point across. In the early days at any rate! "That's a big responsibility for anyone to take on."

He smiled happily. "Yes but you're up to it, you have never backed down from a challenge, so my sources tell me."

Catherine raised an expressive eyebrow. "Oh, and who might that be?"

"I'm a man of the cloth Mrs Warriorson, that would be betraying a confidence and I'm not about to do that!"

"You're not Catholic, I'm sure it wasn't a confessional." Catherine dismissed his remark. 'The damn clergy had more rules and regulations sometimes-mere mortals didn't have a bloody chance!'

"No, you're right I'm not Catholic, but we still uphold confidences." He continued to smile at her.

"Alright, so what happens next?" She finally asked turning her back to him and looking out of the window.

'Gotcha!' He laughed to himself.

"Well, depends on you really. Obviously we will check up on the children at intervals, quite frequent at first and then less often as they settle in. If you want to adopt them later, well the way is clear." He waited for her answer.

Catherine stiffened when he mentioned adoption, which was definitely not an option! "Okay, well I guess that's it for now," she turned to leave.

"Oh, just one other thing Mrs Warriorson, that lovely young American lady who was in your home when we brought the children over, is she going to be here permanently? She was excellent with them." The Reverend looked at her and noticed her change of expression from one of impatience to a tender smile and then she masked it as suddenly, making him wonder if he had actually seen any change to her visage at all.

"Jace? No, Jace is a guest, she's going back to America on Sunday." The tone she used was one of practised indifference.

"A pity, a great pity, she would have been an asset to you, especially now." He held his hand out in a gesture of the conversation finally ending.

She took it and shook it briskly, opened the door and left.

The Reverend smiled at her retreating back, this had gone better than he had anticipated.

Catherine got into the Land Rover and considered her options. 'Not many, no she didn't have many options. Hell, we'll just have to get on with it! Wonder if Jace wants a career change, nanny for instance?' She smiled at the thought as her mind did a double flip and another thought took over, 'A nanny for the kids? Or would it be a personal nanny for her! Oh yes, I could think of one thing for certain you could do for me every night Jace that's for sure.'

With her thoughts firmly in the gutter she revved up the engine on the vehicle and started for home.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Seventeen

The house was quiet when Catherine arrived back home, she for some reason felt lonely.

Walking around, she spotted that Grace had made preparations for dinner but it was as yet un-cooked. There was no sign of Jace or the kids. 'Is this how I will feel when Jace finally leaves tomorrow, has the young woman got so under my skin that it wasn't a home without her in it?'

She went into the study and sitting at her desk picked up the Wall Street Journal from the pile of financial newsheets that lay there. Glancing through it, but not really taking any notice, she was restless. 'Would Jace consider staying longer if she asked?  She could arrange it! She only had to deliver a message via Paul to Hudson, and there would be nothing Hudson could do about it! There again Jace had a right to chose what she wanted to do with her life, it would be just manipulation on her part and then what would happen to their friendship, it wasn't exactly past the fragile stage yet. Friendship a general purpose kind of word to use for how she felt about Jace, but that's what it was surely? Yes, that's what it was, she'd never felt this strongly about anyone before, but that's what it must be, that's the only thing it could ever be! Or was it?'

She turned as she heard a knock at the study door and the particular young lady in question peered into the room, and then smiled as she saw exactly what she was looking for. "Ah, so you're back?" Jace walked further into the room.

Catherine smiled and got up from her chair and walked towards the other woman, they stood together, eyes gazing green into blue. "Yeah, about half an hour ago. Been anywhere interesting?"

"I took the kids to see the horses, they love them."

They continued to look at each other, trying to gauge who should start the conversation; they both wanted it out of the way.

"So...well, did it...what I mean is..." Jace stopped as a long slim finger touched her gently on the lips.

Jace was mesmerised by this woman for the second time that day. "It's fine Jace, they get to stay, we'll work it out." Catherine answered the question softly.

With that Jace couldn't help herself she hugged the woman hard and put her hands round her waist and it almost felt to Catherine as if she had finally come home.

"Hey, I didn't know it mattered to you that much?" Catherine smiled her chin resting gently on the top of the blonde head.

"Yeah it did and to Grace too!" She replied tearfully.

"Then it looks like my household is going to be happy tonight, do we need to celebrate?" Catherine disengaged herself from Jace but for some reason felt bereft when she did so.

"That's an excellent idea, come on lets go and tell them." Jace clutched at Catherine's hand and pulled her along.

Catherine gave the young woman a tolerant glance, and allowed herself willingly to be pulled to wherever Jace wanted, if it made her happy, nothing else mattered.

~ ~ ~

Catherine was listening to Jace tell Lisa a story from her chair by the window in the lounge. Jacob was half listening to Jace and watching a rugby match on the TV. The story winning him over as she weaved the tale of two friends who lost each other in a forest, then had to go through various meetings with other forest dwellers before they were united.

When Jace had finished, Lisa was almost asleep, fortunately she had been bathed and in her night attire prior to the story telling. Jacob was told to go and clean up, he scowled briefly until Catherine gave him a stern look and he retreated.

Turning back suddenly he said to Catherine, ""Will you come by and say goodnight?" his tentative question made Jace turn towards the other woman in the room in surprise.

Catherine turned a shade pinker as she saw Jace look closely at her. "Sure, give me a yell as you get into bed, okay."

"Yeah." He ran up the stairs with a happy smile.

Jace moved in the chair ready to take Lisa to her room. "Here let me?" Catherine stated as she picked up the small bundle.

Jace stretched as she let go of her precious cargo. "Thanks, but I could have done that." Came the protest from the blonde.

"I know you could, but why bother when you can let me?" Came the low response. Both women looked at each other and smiled as they made their respective ways to Lisa's room.

Settling the child in the bed, Jace pushed the covers to her chin and tucked them in the side of the bed. Bending down she gently placed a kiss on the little girl's forehead.

Catherine watched in fascination and wondered what it would feel like to have those lips kiss her, then shook that thought from her head. Impossible! Catherine moved to the back of the room, as Jace made certain the child was asleep.

She turned and left the room and went back to the lounge with Jace following behind a few minutes later.

"I left the door ajar a little, just in case she has any bad dreams and needs someone."

"Yeah, good idea. Wonder how Grace is getting on with her date in town?" Catherine mused as she sat in the chair next to Jace.

"Oh, knowing Grace she will be having a great time, she's a very fun loving woman that one!" Jace smiled as she thought of her new friend.

"I know, she thinks you're wonderful too!" Catherine watched Jace look at her in confusion.

"I guess it's mutual then," Jace's face turning pink.

"Yes, most definitely." They then sat in companionable silence for a few minutes.

"What time do you leave tomorrow?" Catherine hadn't wanted to think about Jace leaving but it wouldn't go away and not acknowledging it only made things worse.

Jace looked at her friend, this wasn't exactly how she had envisaged spending their last few hours together, although she hadn't known what to expect.

"Peter is due to pick me up around ten in the morning, we have a coach waiting at the hotel to take us to Christchurch."

"I see. What time is your flight to LA?"

"I'm not sure but I suspect around six in the evening, funny we get the day back when we get home, passing the international dateline and the time zone differences." Jace spoke softly, giving Catherine the information she requested.

"Will you ring me...us, when you arrive home?"

"Sure I'd love too, but it might be at a strange time here."

"You know us by now Jace, it's up all hours around here!"

"Do you ever come over to the States?" Jace held her breath as she waited for the answer.

Catherine pinned Jace with a warm blue gaze but then looked away.

"No, no I never go to the States!" She answered tiredly.

"Is there any reason for that? You travel, I know that much about you! Do you have interests in the States?" Not sure if she was over stepping her limit on the friendship line, she waited.

"I have extensive interests in the States, but I leave it to other people to cover it! They no longer need my 'skills' shall we say."

"What if I said I needed your skills, would you come to LA for me?" Jace didn't know how she had dared pose the question and what she really expected to gain by it, but it was way too late to take it back now!

Catherine turned to look at Jace and with her heart hammering in her chest she put a hand out and stroked a finger gently down her face.

"Do you know what that means to me, you're wanting to have me in your life?" was the soft reply.

Jace couldn't breath, so she certainly didn't answer immediately. The gentle touch on her face was doing far too much damage to her senses.

Then she finally gained control of her vocal chords. "No, tell me what it means to you Catherine?"

Catherine smiled, she looked very beautiful and entirely too sexy, for Jace's peace of mind. "I haven't wanted to be in anyone's life for quite sometime now, for you to ask me and for me to consider it, well let's just say it's a milestone in my life."

"So, will you come over?" Jace wondered if she should quit while she was ahead.

Catherine shook her head. "I'm sorry Jace, it's just not possible anymore, not for me!"

Jace looked in anguish as she saw the pain of old memories flicker over Catherine's face and just as she was about to ask what was behind the memories.

"I'm ready for bed now!" Came a reedy, young male voice from the staircase.

Catherine looked at Jace in apology and shrugged her shoulders as she exited the room to say goodnight to the boy.

Jace watched the retreating back and knew that the subject would be dropped; it wasn't as if they were anymore than friends, now was it? How could she keep on at a subject that obviously upset her friend?

'God's but I love you Catherine Warriorson, whatever it takes, however long it takes! I'm going to be there for you and one-day maybe you can love me too! You're far too important in my life to let you go and I'm not going too, not now, not ever!'

When Catherine came back in the room, Jace held the leather bound book she had borrowed and read, and offered it back to her.

"Have you finished it?"

"Yes, it was a classic. Your husband was a romantic." Jace looked for a reaction from Catherine, she received a shrug, not what she had expected.

"Yeah, well he believed in the eternal love principle I think."

"You didn't share that concept then?"

"Ah, no not exactly, I married him for security and stability when things got rough. I guess I loved him in a way, but not how he wanted or needed to be loved." She smiled briefly and looked out of the window.

"So, you're still looking for your soulmate?"

"Somehow, I think that doesn't apply to me Jace, I can seriously say I've never been in love, never will be, I'm not capable of the emotion."

Jace gave her a sad look from those green expressive eyes. "You're wrong Catherine, there's always someone out there for everyone, you just haven't found it yet, but don't ever give up looking."

Catherine looked at the anguish written on the expressive face, her words sounded familiar but she couldn't quite grasp the memory. "So you believe in the concept of a 'soulmate'?"

"Yeah, I do. Until I'd read the book I hadn't quite put a name tag on it, but it says exactly what I believe in." Jace accepted once again the subtle change in direction of their conversation.

"Well, you and Adam would have gotten along fine. I hope you find your 'soulmate' Jace, and it's not too long in finding you." Catherine smiled wryly.

Jace linked her hands with her friend's and smiled. 'Oh Catherine if only you knew, you're my 'soulmate' and one day you will realise it too!' "I hope so too!" she replied as they spent the next couple of hours talking about Jace's job and the ranch, it was all trivial stuff but it made both women feel happier, until they finally felt exhausted enough to leave each other's company and go to bed.

Leaving each with their thoughts and dreams and expectations for the future.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Eighteen

The house was very calm considering that everyone seemed to have been up for ages.

Grace had arrived home sometime in the early hours but still managed to get up at six in the morning and start the day.  Fortunately, it was Sunday so she had managed to stay in bed that extra hour later that they all indulged in on the ranch. She had almost dreaded this morning wondering how Catherine would react when finally Jace left, not to mention how Jace herself would react. Certainly it had been an interesting few days; never more so for the constant state of flux the household had been under ever since Jace's arrival on the property. Yet Grace was pleased it had been a rough road for Catherine the last five years. Having little knowledge of what Catherine had been like prior to her time here but if her penance had been loneliness, then she had certainly received her fair share of that. Now things appeared to be changing, Jace had opened up Catherine's eyes to other possibilities Catherine might not know it yet, but it was working.

Grace hadn't been in the kitchen more than ten minutes when Catherine arrived. She slumped down in the chair by the table and looked at her friend. "Have a good night?"

Grace smiled at the rather terse phrase. "Yes, Andrew took me to a barn dance it was excellent, with lots of people and everyone enjoying themselves."

"I'm pleased, you going to make a habit of going out every Saturday evening?" Catherine asked her casually.

"Would it matter if I did?" Grace eyed her thoughtfully.

"I guess not, although I might have to find someone to baby-sit."

"Ah, the kids! I kind of forgot about them, will you be going anywhere on a Saturday evening?" Grace couldn't help it; she knew damn well that when Catherine was on the ranch she never went out, so her response would be interesting.

"Yes, the kids! You don't really expect me to be the bottle washer and nappy changer do you!" Catherine sounded and looked petulantly at her.

"I wasn't aware that they had that requirement, unless something happened last night and you haven't told me about it yet?" Grace eyed her with interest and a smirk.

"Figure of speech." Catherine did look a little embarrassed at her description.

"Just out of interest, how come the boy calls you Catherine? I wasn't even aware you had talked to them on an individual basis."

"I...Well...he, Oh, it was a deal we struck that's all; I get to call him Jake which suits him better."

"I see, what about Lisa she going to have the privilege too?"

"Yes, Jake asked me that same question when I put him to bed last night."

Grace almost dropped the teapot and mug, which she was about to pour for Catherine. "YOU! You put him to bed?"

Catherine raised an expressive eyebrow. "Yes, is that a crime?"

"Is what a crime?" Jace Bardley sauntered in and smiled at the others in the room.

Both women looked up and in unison said "Nothing!"

Jace laughed and shook her head. "Okay, I get the picture not in front of the guests, huh?"

Grace chuckled and motioned her hand to the coffeepot and Jace nodded her head.

Catherine gazed deeply into her mug of tea.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Jace asked Catherine.

"What?" Jace smiled gently at the woman opposite her.

"A penny for your thoughts, you do look deep in thought, just an old saying."

"Oh! Yes, a penny, a penny for your thoughts," Catherine said distractedly.

"You seem a little distracted today, anything wrong?" The younger woman persisted.

"No, no I'm fine." Catherine gave her a small lopsided smile but it was very clear it was an effort for her to maintain it.

Not wanting to push the woman, she turned her thoughts to Grace. "Grace, how did you get on with loverboy?"

"Oh, come on Jace, he's just a friend, but we did have a good time." Grace smiled broadly at the chatty young woman she looked happy this morning, which she hadn't expected.

"Great, so fill me in?" With that the two women talked about the dance and various other topics, Catherine remained silent throughout, glancing on occasions at the animated blonde in front of her.

At seven, Colin arrived and as the two women were still chatting about Grace's exploits the previous night. Catherine deemed it a good idea to go to the study with him and they would finish breakfast there. Grace shrugged her shoulders but didn't say anything.

As they left, Grace smiled wryly at them. "You know that's the first time in over five years that we haven't sat down together for breakfast if we are all on the property."

Jace frowned. "Well, looking at them both I suspect they will either both come out of there smiling or with even longer faces then when they went in." She then giggled at the thought of the frowning man and the stoic woman, wonder if they ended up with indigestion.

Grace starred after them and smiled. "You could be right about that Jace. Although you know she's sad because you're going."

Jace let her cheerful visage drop a moment and sadness appeared on her own face. "I know I feel the same. Actually Grace I probably feel worse. But she knows I can't stay and she can't leave so we have to do this."

"Yeah, but at what cost to you both?"

"Oh, I'm going to try and pursued her to come to LA and visit."

"She hates LA!"

"What! What ever makes you say that?" Jace gasped at the words.

"Because she once told me it had bad memories for her, something to do with her father, but beyond that she didn't say." Grace saw the pain register in her new friend's face and felt sorry for her.

Jace looked devastated. One of the reasons why she felt so happy was because she was sure that she could persuade Catherine to visit but maybe it wasn't ever going to happen. "Hey Jace, keep asking maybe one day she will put that episode in her life away and you will see her."

"I will!" she whispered.

Grace went over to the oven and brought out some cookies. "For the journey later, we can't have you starving on your way to LA."

Jace got up from her chair and hugged the other woman. "I'm really going to miss you!"

"The feelings mutual." Grace hugged her back.

Jake walked slowly into the kitchen and didn't know if it would be better to leave the room and come back in or just make a noise.

He coughed indiscreetly. 'Women!'

Both women turned and gave him a tearful smile. "Ah, great another victim for my cooking." Grace pulled out a chair for Jake to take and she patted him on the shoulder.

He looked at Jace and raised his eyebrow. 'Hades was he related to Catherine? He certainly had that mannerism down pat.' Jace wondered in fascination.

"You have a problem with that eye?" Jace asked him.

"No! But I wondered why you have to leave today?" Jake sounded interested.

"I am on assignment for my studio, by chance I caught a chill and Catherine allowed me stay here to recover, but I need to go back home." she patiently explained.

"You don't like living here?" Jake asked her in concern.

Jace glanced at Grace and smiled tearfully. "Yeah, I like it here, but it's not my home Jacob. I live in America my career, family and my friends are there."

"You have friends here too!" He protested.

Jace looked over at Grace, who eyed her with compassion it couldn't be very easy for Jace to answer his very logical, but painful questions. "Yes, I hope so!"

"Then you could stay here, Lisa will miss you!" The boy pointed out to her.

"She will soon forget me Jake, it's only been a couple of days and people forget." Her heart dropped at the thought, 'Please god's don't let Catherine ever forget me.'

Little did they realise but Catherine had been listening to the conversation and her heart was pounding at the injustices of having met someone who could fill a void in her life, but it was being torn away almost as quickly as it came into being. "What if she doesn't will you come back to see us?" A low gravely voice, which would always send Jace's heartbeat racing sounded from the doorway.

Jace looked deep into ice blue eyes, which held a question in them.

'She's telling me something and I don't understand what! So help me just say the words Catherine if you do I would stay with you forever.'

"We will have to see, I guess next time I have holidays available." Jace wondered how she managed to control the emotion in her voice.

"Holidays right, I tend to forget about them." Catherine ventured further into the room and stood by Jake's chair.

"Yeah, you always do! It's a wonder Colin and I don't sue you for lack of them." Grace tried to temper the emotional charges that were evident in the room.

Catherine smiled, "Okay, I won't answer that, it may incriminate me at a future date."

Pulling away from the table she looked out of the window. "Not as bleak today what do you think Jake?"

The boy was obviously smitten with Catherine because his grin was so warm when he looked at her and answered the sullen look completely gone. "Yeah, definitely not as bleak, it really is getting brighter."

She looked back at the boy and gave him a brief grin in return.

"I'm going to take Tralargon out for an hour, I'll be back before you leave Jace." With that she left the room for the stables.

Jace was dismayed she'd hoped that Catherine would spend what little time she had left here with her but that wasn't to be. "I think I'll go and check up on Lisa, see what she wants for breakfast." Jace left the room quickly tears very close to the surface.

"Is Jace mad at me Grace for asking her to stay?" The boy asked innocently, a little worry seeping into his eyes.

"Don't worry about it Jake. It's a question she wanted to be asked unfortunately you're not the person she wanted it to come from!" She patted his arm and gave him some sausages and bacon with hot buttered toast.

~ ~ ~

Catherine walked beside Tralargon on Cutters Ridge her hair being whipped back by the steadily worsening wind; it really wasn't a good day to be up here at all. "But it's where I first met you Jace Bardley and for my sins it's where I left you to suffer with your friends."

Her inner voice continued. 'If you hadn't you would never have had her in your life as you do now!' Catherine looked at the landscape; even in this wild weather it still looked a fascinating scene.

"I know that!" she spoke into the wind.

'So, why are you letting her go?' the nagging voice continued to taunt her.

"Because it's the best thing for her! I'm not into long term relationships, it just never works."

'Admittedly you never let yourself have a long term relationship before you arrived here but what about Grace and come to that Colin?'

"That's entirely different they work for me." Catherine turned her face towards the south-facing ridge and watched a waterfall cascade into the running stream below.

'Jace indirectly works for you!' the insidious voice still plagued her.

"I know! This is different she doesn't know that! I want to keep it that way." Turning towards her mare she vaulted up on her back with practised ease.

'Why?' The voice persisted.

Catherine turned her head and shouted into the increasing wind.

"Because god damn it, I LOVE HER!" the cry from her heart pierced the wind but there was no one around to hear it and it carried ineffectually over the ridge.

The voice had done its worse or best it all depended on your point of view.

Catherine galloped off down the ridge back in the direction of the ranch she had something to do.

~ ~ ~

Peter Adamson arrived exactly as promised. He helped Jace with her bags and then went to wait inside the car as she asked him too.

He knew that something had changed with Jace but he didn't know what! Maybe, when she got back home it would all fall back into place?

Jace hugged Lisa and told her to ask Grace for a bedtime story from time to time! "What about Catherine too can't she tell me one on the nights Grace can't?" It was such an innocent childish question.

Catherine had her back to the door on the porch and just shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe." It was a very noncommittal reply.

Jace whispered something into Lisa's ear and the little girl smiled and nodded.

Jace went over to Jacob. "Hey Jacob don't go trying to out do Catherine in the horse riding skills just yet will you she might get mad." A gentle-teasing note came from the blonde's voice.

He gruffly held out a hand to her, as she took it he said. "It's Jake and I won't, well not this week anyway."

Catherine smiled briefly at his comment. This kid certainly wasn't what they had been told to expect.

Jace looked tearful and muttered "Thanks Jake."

Turning to Colin she looked into the grey eyes of the tall rangy man.

"Thanks for everything Colin I don't think you know exactly what bringing me here meant to me in the end?"

He smiled at her and then held out his arms and she ran into them and was held in a very tight friendly hug. He whispered into her ear.

"Oh, Jace Bardley I think I do." He then gently let her go.

That left Grace hovering.

Without a word they both hugged each other and the tears that threatened fell profusely. "You know what I'm going to remember the most about you Jace?" the emotional voice said next to her ear.

Jace looked into her brown eyes. "What?"

"Your kindness and your compassion. But above all that the tears! I've never known anyone who can cry so much!" Her eyes twinkled with humour tinged with sadness.

"Oh, gee thanks." Jace looked towards the car and saw that Peter looked a little agitated.

"I'd better get moving thanks for looking after me Grace."

"Anytime my friend."

Catherine didn't move from her position by the door, it didn't look as if she was going to either.

Jace smiled tearfully at her. "Thanks for your hospitality Catherine and your care."

Catherine shuffled her feet and all eyes were on her response.

"No problem Jace, I hope you have a safe journey home." Her voice sounded bored.

If this was a let down then Jace was positively deflated what did she really expect. "I'd better go." She turned away and rushed down the steps towards the car.

Seconds later she heard the pounding of those same steps and a hand clutched at her arm. Jace looked into the ice blue eyes of the woman she loved and once again was unable to understand the message being relayed.

"Why can't you tell me?" Jace asked softly.

Catherine swallowed her throat felt dry. She suddenly hugged the younger woman to her and over her head she simply said.  "Thank you for offering me your friendship," she said fiercely.

Jace whispered into her chest. "I want to offer you so much more!" was the anguished response.

Catherine felt a tear drop on the blonde head. "I know! It's just too late for me Jace."

"Why? Why too late?" the anguished response drifted in the air between them.

Catherine didn't answer and she released Jace and propelled her towards the car as Adamson thrust the passenger door open.

Jace wasn't given the opportunity to say more.

As the car turned to leave Jace saw Lisa run up to Catherine and place her small hand inside the larger one. Catherine looked down in surprise but didn't remove her hand then Jake joined on the other side.

Jace smiled a bittersweet smile and tears began to fall even faster if that were possible.

Peter Adamson looked at the figures gradually getting smaller as he left the property behind. 'Jesus it felt as if he was watching an episode of 'Little House on the Prairie, you just couldn't understand events in life some days.'

Catherine bent her head to the small fair-haired child and asked her what she was doing.

"Jace said you would be sad. So, she asked me to hold your hand because she couldn't do it herself."

"I see, did she tell you that also?" she glanced at Jake once again a faint memory refused to take shape at the action of these children.

"No, but you looked like you needed it!" He replied with sincerity.

"Great, what I need is a drink! Who's game for a milkshake? I want the lime one!" She turned and walked back towards the house with two children hanging onto her. Discussing the merits of Strawberry, Chocolate and Banana flavoured milkshakes, but definitely not a lime one!

Grace had watched the events of the last two minutes enfold and it broke her heart. "She never gave Jace a chance Colin!"

Colin looked at the crying woman beside him and his heart went out to her. "Maybe she thought it was too late."

Grace eyed him dubiously. "Oh god Colin, it's never too late to take a chance on love!"

"Do you really mean that?" He asked forgetting for a moment they were talking about Catherine.

"Yes! Of course I do!" She strode back towards the kitchen.

Colin watched her go and put a hand to his chin thoughtfully as he went down the steps towards his house.

~ ~ ~

The American Airlines flight to LAX was on schedule.

Jace had the window seat next to Peter, he had insisted.

After the flight levelled off Peter tried to make conversation with Jace. "I talked to Hudson a couple of days ago. She asked about you."

Jace didn't look at him she watched as the plane flew further and further from her heart's desire. "She did that was nice of her."  She replied absently.

"Not really, you know Hudson she thinks you might have a scoop for her. Have you?"

"No!"

"Well, I guess that was to the point. But she's going to insist on something for the background on the story. You have spent the last seven days under the recluses roof she'll expect something!"

Jace turned her head to him and noticed he was only trying to let her know what was going on with Hudson. "She's not a recluse, she just lives quietly."

"Jace, I don't know what's going on believe me if I didn't know better, I would say you've fallen in love. I also don't need to know only if you need a friend's shoulder to cry on. But Hudson's a bitch and she will want something from you!"

"Peter, don't worry I can handle Hudson."

"You haven't fallen in love have you Jace?"

"If I had would it matter?"

"I don't want to see you hurt Jace I care about you. I sometimes think you live in a world some of us mortals never get to see."

Jace for the first time since getting into his car on the ranch, smiled and then laughed at the comment. "Oh, Peter what a load of garbage, I'm a mere mortal too."

Peter smiled at the change in his friend. "Then I'm glad because I wouldn't want any thunder bolts coming over our heads about now, not when I'm thirteen thousand feet in the air." He chuckled and entwined his hand in hers.

"So tell me what's she really like?" He wasn't sure she would even answer him.

She turned her head back to look outside and this shielded her face from his view. "Oh, you know what these so called recluse figures are like all silent, angst and tragedy." Jace smiled at the explanation that certainly wasn't Catherine Warriorson.

"Is that so! How well did you get to know her?" Peter's interest was piqued.

"I guess as well as anyone can. But I did become friends with the housekeeper now that's a fun loving woman if ever there was one."

Peter noted the change in her voice she wasn't deliberately hiding anything but something wasn't being said. "Yeah, she did seem happy when I met her."

"You would have loved her Peter she can organise, cook, oh boy can she cook! She has a kindness in her heart that you don't see often in this lifetime she's quite simply a good friend to have."

Peter laughed loudly. "Hell Jace if I didn't know better next thing you're going to tell me is you're in love with the woman!"

Jace smiled and continued to look out of the window. "Would that be so wrong?"

Peter went silent and tried to see her face and expression as she made the comment. If nothing else Jace's face was expressive to the point of almost conveying the words themselves. "No, no it wouldn't be wrong. Are you?"

Jace waited a moment or two before answering. "Not with Grace no!" Silently she added 'I'm hopelessly in love with her boss though.'

"I'm pleased to hear it, what would your parents have had to say?" Peter said mockingly.

"My parents? Well, I wouldn't know. It's not a topic usually open for discussion between us." She laughed and turned back to him.

Peter smiled she really did like him and he had been a good friend for much of the five years she had been in Hollywood. At times it had been tough, she didn't exactly come across as the most sophisticated on the block. She had found out early that making the right friends and ones that were friends not the pseudo plastic type that was the key in LA. They kept you out of trouble and she had been able to maintain a lot of her original views on life because of that!

Peter was one of those friends.

Another was James Thompson he was the PA to the owner of Paragon Pictures and they had originally met after she'd hounded him for some information on Union City. Now he was a good friend she also liked his partner Paul Strong, he wasn't in town much having a high profile job and lots of money if James's presents were anything to go by but they were happy. She'd had dinner a couple of times in the last eighteen months with them; Paul was the strong silent type reminded her of Catherine in a way and James was the gregarious one, very like her. It made her smile, as she thought of Catherine in a domestic situation and with her as a partner.

"So, would your parents approve do you think?" Paul asked, noting she had gone silent on him.

"If it made me happy it would make them happy." Jace answered him finally.

"There would be no one that they would disapprove?" Peter was making frivolous conversation he knew it and Jace knew it but it helped to pass the time.

Jace had to think about that she didn't have any enemies that she knew about, neither did her folks but if you put things in context there would be one person they probably wouldn't entertain. "Oh, there would be one person they probably wouldn't approve of."

Peter almost choked on his scotch and soda that he'd just received from the steward. "Really! I hope it's not me?"

Jace smiled. "Peter no way are you in this person's league and not for the obvious reason too."

"So spill it Jace who is it? You have me really interested now."

"Devonshire, the owner of Xianthos Publishing Corporation and other holdings if I'm not mistaken."

Peter looked at her and wondered if she knew that Xianthos was the major shareholder in Union City obviously not by her vehement statement. Not a good time to let her know either just let sleeping dogs lie.

"Why her? What connection do you have with her?" Well this was a turn on Jace actually might have her own skeletons in the cupboard after all.

"Me personally none! I've never met the woman. But she bought out my Father's business in Santa Barbara about six years ago.  We thought she would let him stay in the company but they tossed him aside as if he was a piece of garbage. I'll never forgive her for that!"

"What made him sell in the first place?"

"He had no choice he was putting me through college and had mortgaged the company. It had never done that well but it made us a living and I was going to join him that summer after I'd graduated. We had time to make some money before my sister needed to go to college she's ten years younger than I am. They called in the markers I guess."

"I'm sorry Jace."

"Thanks, dad works for a small publishing house in Santa Monica now they live on the outskirts of LA. With my sending them part of my salary and his savings, we should be in a position to send Lucy to college next year."

"That's very commendable Jace, is that why you work for Union?"

"Yes, I don't always agree with Hudson's tactics, but she pays well and I think I'm helping in some way to give the place a better image."

Peter squeezed the hand he still held. "You know if you got involved with someone, say someone like me then you wouldn't have to stay and be a lackey for Hudson."

Jace smiled at him gently. "Is that a proposal?"

Peter cleared his throat and with red stained cheeks he answered. "If I said yes would you consider it?"

"Oh, Peter you are so good to me I don't deserve you! But the answer to your question would be no." She sighed as she turned away from him once again.

"Well, I'm going to keep trying you know maybe one day you might actually consider it."

"Peter, that wouldn't be fair to you would it?"

"Jace, anything you offered me would be enough."

She turned for the final time and touched his cheek. "I love you Peter, but I love you only as a friend and I know that's all I can ever offer you."

"Well, I know people who have thought they loved as friends and have married and been very happy."

"Not me!"

"Well, I'm going to stay around a little while longer if you don't mind, you never know and what the hell, I like you."

Jace turned to face him and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed and punched the button for the steward he needed another scotch!

Jace moved the seat into the reclining position, she wanted to sleep and dream about Catherine and possibilities. 'Funny isn't it how Xianthos had reared its ugly head. Hades, it would be so ironic if she ever met Ms Devonshire never mind had a notion to fall in love with her. No she had met her 'soulmate', Catherine Warriorson was most definitely that candidate, no one and nothing was going to stop her from making it a reality!'

Sleep came to Jace and in it she saw the tall dark haired woman riding into the sunset, holding on to her waist was a smaller blonde woman.

Oh, if only dreams became reality.

~ ~ ~

Catherine had helped all day with the children; it had given her something to do, to help her stop thinking about Jace. It hadn't deterred her thought of the young woman at all.

'Hell, I almost told her!'

Grace had taken Lisa for a bath and was settling her into bed with a story. I wonder what we have in the library that would entertain a seven-year-old? There again Jake wasn't immune to the stories either. Catherine had watched him the previous evening gradually relinquish his interest in the TV to a good storyteller and Jace had definitely been that! Tomorrow she would take a look after all, Grace might not be around forever.

The way her household was going, she was going to lose all the adults and have them replaced by kids! That made her chuckle and she wondered what life would be like with lots of children around the place. 'I miss you Jace Bardley, and you've only been gone half a day!'

Jake was ensconced on the floor watching some trivial programme on the TV he was a strange boy. Sullen one moment and then he could be so charming.

'I think I need to arrange schooling for them! Funny given the circumstances of a week ago, I would be sitting in the study pondering, which take over would give me the most profit! Now I'm contemplating bedtime stories and schools. Can your life change so drastically over night and you have no control over it? Yes, hers had dramatically done so.'

"Where are you now Jace how, far away from home are you?" she whispered into the room not loud enough for the boy to hear.

Colin was acting strangely. She needed to take him aside and talk to him about it. He was far too essential to the ranch and to her to allow him to leave because he was lovesick! No, he would come out of that! It was in his hands to do something about it anyway. Why on earth hadn't he taken her advice?

'Maybe, it is because I never took my own advice and admitted the same to Jace. Because he's probably as scared of making that kind of commitment as I am!'

Time to get the boy to bed, he seemed to have some sort of crush on her, in time it would disappear, it always did but for now it served its purpose. Jake would go to bed on time and that's all anyone wanted at the moment.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Nineteen

Jace clutched the business card to her as she relaxed on the sofa in her apartment. Anyone watching at the moment would think she had a precious jewel in her hands rather than a perfectly ordinary business card. She had arrived home about an hour before all thoughts of sleep departing as she opened her hand out and glanced at the card for what must be the hundredth time in the last ten minutes.

Catherine X. Warriorson
Destiny Ranch
South Island, New Zealand
Tel: 03 443 7711 Private: 03 443 6669
e-mail:Souless@nz.com

Jace had smiled when she saw the private number it reminded her of the Omen movies. Then she had pondered the e-mail address and wondered about that too, she was definitely going to get her to change that addy.

'I wonder when she will trust me enough to tell me what the X stands for?'

Now she was home well, it was a place to live, at least home to her had changed drastically in such a short time frame. It was impossible to exist for five minutes without thinking of a certain beautiful woman who had by chance a miracle of a chance!  Made her want so much more than the current lifestyle she had and it all centred on that particular stubborn raven-haired woman.

Jace knew she had been ready to open her heart to her but Catherine just hadn't been ready for that but it was only a matter of time. I want her too much to let the past interfere forever. 'What haunts you so much that you won't allow yourself to experience love Catherine?'

When she looked at the time she realised that it was some unforgivable hour in New Zealand and although Catherine had said call well it wouldn't have been fair but e-mail well, that was another thing altogether, oh yes, definitely a communication plus of the nineties.

Jace went over to the computer on a desk at the end of her lounge area and turned the power on. As she waited she mused to herself. 'Wonder if you can develop a love affair over the net? Not something I've tried before but you just never know! I'll never know unless I try especially with the challenge of the woman in her thoughts constantly.'

Jace sat in front of her console and went into her server. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Jace requested a new mail message format.

~ ~ ~

Paul Strong had discussed his predicament with his partner and both had come to the same conclusion, he had no choice!

The 'Great' Ms Devonshire as she was affectionately called within Xianthos was finally bailing out of the buoyant ship, although the reason usually was a sinking ship this certainly wasn't the case here. It was something that Paul had wished the opposite of he wanted her back on board. She was wonderful at the corporate raiding and the eternal boardroom battles that seemed these days to constantly fill his day. Yet, he had coped more than coped if the business reviews and Devonshire herself were to be believed. He was the obvious choice for the job! No one else came close except, possibly Constance Waverly. She was good but hadn't the experience yet! New York would be a good move for her.

'Hell, he'd just made the decision hadn't he by promoting Constance to his position which certainly would make some waves.'

Constance was the only woman in the top executive level and she was African decent with a touch of European, some people still had issues with the colour of a person's skin or orientation. Guess he was a prime example but the boss lady was in charge for now. At no time had it become an issue in fact he doubted that she even considered those aspects as part of the equation.  Hell, he knew she didn't because he'd had to explain his own situation well, surprise of all surprises she was obviously batting on the other wicket these days also!

Although, if you ever asked Constance about her roots she was adamant that the part of her that was European was very well diluted and only a trace remained. Only the name bore any resemblance to the old colonial regime. She had clearly inherited some of the traits of her British ancestry, however, these traditional legacies had not been detrimental to her career in any sense of the word.

Paul looked at his neat and expensive apartment layout in New York and smiled as he thought of James's untidy, meandering house in LA and the peeling external paint and the old furniture.

'Hell, you're going to have to change some of that when we live permanently together James! Well, guess that takes care of the home base too.' He smiled and picked up the phone to call his employer.

~ ~ ~

Catherine wandered around the house in a daze. She had spent the day taking Jake and Lisa around the ranch in the Land Rover. She knew that Colin had taken them on a tour it had only been a small tour of the surrounding area of the house, but this was different! Grace had provided a picnic for them and her friend had made sure there was everything in the basket needed for both Catherine and the children.

Grace had seen the emotional strain evident with Catherine's need to get away from the house she had been so restless. 'What better way than a picnic and children who were lonely too!'

It was also evident that the children had seen another lonely soul searching for something the holding of her hands as Jace left was evidence of that fact, 'funny how kids could be so receptive to emotions.'

Lisa had mentioned at supper just why she'd held Catherine's hand it brought a lump of emotion to the surface, which eventually gave way to a splash of tears. Her boss and friend looked so lost and alone now surely she must see it herself and do something about it.

Grace had obligingly made the picnic and suggested that as it was a reasonable day not raining and cold they should search out a place that held the beauty of 'Destiny' in it's palm.

Catherine had smiled briefly at the suggestion. 'Grace was being less than subtle, Christ she was being bloody transparent. I gotcha Grace, Cutters Ridge.'

They had left shortly after and Catherine marvelled at how these kids so easily let someone into their lives. Yet, should she be surprised, they were lonely without family and needed someone to love. Hadn't she experienced exactly the same feelings with a certain Jace Bardley, only she had let it fly away without a care! Without a care, oh no, not this time, this time Catherine cared far too much for the young blonde woman was constantly in her thoughts; she had not had one moments peace since she had remained silent and allowed Jace to leave Destiny without her speaking up and telling her how she felt. Without a care, no, she definitely cared. 'So why am I not doing something about it?' she questioned herself silently.

~ ~ ~

Colin knew that he had a one off shot at asking Grace out and trying to get her to see him as more than the ranch foreman. He was nervous but after the comment she made about Catherine and Jace Bardley he saw the ideal opportunity that he hadn't dared thought would appear. He had a shot and he wasn't going to let some clever educated Doctor get in the way of love!  Well, his love for Grace at any rate he needed a chance and if it was the last thing he did in this world he was going to ask her out. Whatever the outcome or the embarrassment if she refused there was no better time than now!

'Why are you thinking about it and not using the opportunity to do something about it. For sure as hell the good doctor didn't waste any time did he? Go for it man this might be your only chance.'

Colin looked over at the main house and saw Catherine leave with the children there was no better time then right now.

~ ~ ~

Peter Adamson had arrived at the studio building earlier than normal, Hudson wanted a meeting as early as possible and he obliged.

Walking into the small headquarters of Union City Productions, he passed the small office layout that Jace Bardley used, she hadn't turned up yet but there again it was only six in the morning.

He sauntered by her pine desk and noticed that she had small trinkets on the side, also a number of small dragons depicting various stages in their development from the egg through to a fully fledge adult breathing fire. All were less than three inches in height but they had comical expressions and appeared to be made out of porcelain. He smiled as he went by. 'Jace was such a softy at heart, you could almost see the child in her expressions at times.'

He wondered again how it was possible for one so naive to have broken through to the reclusive C X Warriorson then again they were talking about Jace, she could get through to almost anyone he was very confident of that.

He knocked on the inner door and a voice called for him to enter.

Clarissa Hudson looked away from the window and turned to the man who entered her office. He was a good-looking guy in a homely sort of way, not her type at all. There again her type wasn't the norm, she was interested in tall, muscular, dark haired and powerful men or women and it didn't really matter to her which gender it turned out to be. Her biggest disappointment had always been Devonshire the daughter, she had miscalculated and it had proved a bitter blow to her ego when she had been
turned down.

Devonshire senior had been a good lay for her, he had never known that she had secretly hoped to have both father and daughter in her bed. That hadn't happened yet! But her time was coming and it appeared that Jace Bardley now could play an important role in bringing the reclusive Devonshire back into her clutches and into her bed.

Time to get a plan of seduction into operation because sure as hell that was the only thing she really wanted from Devonshire, and this time she was going to get it. She had the ammunition and was prepared to use it! "So Peter, good trip back?"

Peter looked at his boss and he saw the cold beauty, she never gave away any warmth, he had seen more warmth from Catherine Warriorson in those brief minutes with Jace as she was leaving than he had with Hudson in all the years he had known her.

"Yeah, it was a good journey back, the weather here is so much better."

"Glad to hear it how's our star interviewer?"

Peter wasn't a fool he knew who she referred too. "Jace is well, she appears to have recovered from the virus she had over there."

Hudson smiled at least he wasn't trying to be evasive. "Good, when she comes in I must get her to share some of our recluses secrets with us, it should round out the documentary with shall we say that personal touch."

"What if she doesn't want to say much about her days at the ranch?"

"Oh Peter, it's all in a days work. Of course she'll want to share some titbits with us, why wouldn't she? Surely there isn't any reason for her to ever see the recluse again is there?"

Peter knew that Jace wasn't going to talk much about her time on the ranch but he had no way of helping her out of this situation, only she could do that! "Maybe, maybe not. Guess we will have to see what she brings to the table."

"Yeah won't we just!" Clarissa said in a laid back tone.

"Jace doesn't know that UCP is part owned by Xianthos does she?" Peter noticed Hudson starred for a moment.

Leaning back in her chair that she had just sat down in expecting the director to leave she looked him in the eye. "Why do you ask?"

"Because if she did Jace wouldn't be working here! How did you keep it from her? Jace hates the Xianthos Corporation."

Clarissa laughed hollowly. "Yeah, well our Jace has some strange views, I know of her particular dislike of them sure she said at the interview. But she's good at her position here why tell her something that doesn't really affect her. I made sure she never saw anything that was related to Xianthos and let us face it, unless you go digging you really don't see their name on anything. What she doesn't know can't hurt her is my motto."

"So, when she finds out who Catherine Warriorson is you think that's going to help you keep her?" Peter smirked at the look of shock on the producer's face.

"How the hell did you know that Catherine Warriorson is also the Great Ms Devonshire of Xianthos?" This was a surprise Hudson was impressed the director hadn't looked that bright!

"Something Jace mentioned so I checked up on an old photo library shot and low and behold the article was about Devonshire and the death of her husband and child; no less one Adam Warriorson and son Lucas. Guess I'm not dumb, I can occasionally put two and two together. Jace on the other hand can't stand the mention of the name so she hasn't bothered to find the face behind the reputation, which is a pity for her really because I think she likes Warriorson." He hadn't intended to mention that Jace liked Warriorson but it had just come out guess it was the only way he knew of someone else telling Jace the truth, he really hadn't relished the task.

"I appreciate the candour Peter and I'm sure at some stage it will be my pleasure to enlighten Jace about her new 'Friend', but lets see how things go first shall we? I don't want to lose a first class assistant without just cause now do I?" Hudson purred.

"No, I'm sure Jace is becoming invaluable to you in many ways." He turned away and headed for the door, he felt as if he had betrayed Jace in some way.

"I will see you later with the rushes." She dismissed him and leaned back in her chair.

'Oh life was certainly looking up. God almighty, it looked like the stoic bastard who ran Xianthos so efficiently and without mercy had actually been taken in! God, it was delicious just the thought of it. So she wasn't immune to the charms of women after all, I always knew she had a soft spot for the ladies wonder how I can exploit Jace into taking the advantage. It wouldn't be too bad especially when Jace found out the true identity of Catherine Warriorson. Hell, she wouldn't care about that either!'  She smirked to herself.

Mussing over the blonde PA in the outer office her thoughts drifted along another path. 'So she likes green eyes does she. Well contact lenses would solve that problem for me maybe I should think about making an appointment with my optician, yeah excellent idea.'

She made a note in her diary for her secretary to make that call.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Twenty

"No! Colin said I could go first, I want too!" Lisa's childish voice rose as she confronted Jake at the paddock where the ranch horses were stabled.

"Short Stuff, you can't ride yet you're too young. Colin said he was going to teach me first!" Jake shouted back at the younger child.

Lisa pulled a face and then started to cry.

Jake looked at the little girl they had lived on the ranch for a month now and although it had been strange at first, they had settled down to a routine. Although it came with a strict upbringing it also had the benefits of having horses and people who appeared to take a genuine interest in them. Now he had upset Lisa again! Grace was going to be mad, she always seemed to take the little girls side no matter if it was the wrong side at times. He couldn't really complain though Catherine usually took his side when it was a full-blown argument. He liked Catherine she understood him.

He sat down heavily next to Lisa and looked into her blue eyes now very tearful, she really was such a baby. But she was their baby so he had better make it up to her. "I'm sorry Lisa." He looked down at his toes as he waited for her reaction.

Lisa gulped back a sob and looked at the dark boy next to her that she had to call family. He wasn't any relation to her but he did look after her, even if he made her cry he was a boy after all! All boys made girls cry at times didn't they? Her mother cried when she talked about her father but she had never met her father so she often wondered why. "Why don't you like me Jake?"  It was a childish statement, but the boy was hurt by the accusation.

Hazel eyes turned to look into blue ones and he knew that was a mistake. "I do! Whatever gave you that idea?" He answered sullenly.

"Because you're always angry with me." Lisa said quietly.

"No I'm not!"

"You are! It reminds me of Catherine when she's mad at something."

"I'm not Catherine!"

"No, but you love Catherine and you want her to love you too, so you act like her to me anyway."

Jake didn't have an answer to that particular question, he yearned to love but people always went away when you loved them.

"I don't love Catherine, she's just...Catherine. Lisa how old are you?"

The boy looked at the younger child next to him.

"I'm seven, I'll be eight next month want to buy me a present." She smiled at him with a grin that showed that one of her front teeth was missing. She'd lost it earlier that day and was waiting for bedtime so she could put the tooth under her pillow so the toothfairy would come and leave her a dollar!

"No! Yes, but...Oh girls." He looked away from her blue gaze and studied the grass beneath his feet.

Lisa smiled and wiped the tears away. "One day can I call you brother?"

Jake looked at the girl and saw her for the first time in any sort of clarity, but she wasn't his sister. "No!' He said forcefully and then tempered it with, " but you can call me a friend."

Lisa started to cry again, it didn't make sense. "Why not my brother, we live together now?"

"Because I'd rather be your friend than your brother," he simply said.

Catherine watched the scene and heard the conversation from her position on the hill, which had an advantage of being very close to the paddock, but they couldn't see her. "Well, that was an interesting conversation Tralargon, wonder why the boy doesn't want a sister?"

She had watched the kids get over their initial fears at being in a strange place and they had developed a rapport with Grace, Colin and the rest of the ranch hands that defied explanation. It was almost as if they really did have the Warriorson name, because sure as hell, everyone thought of them as being her family.

'Do I? It was an interesting question and one I haven't considered in any depth maybe I should. What do they think of me? Hell, I don't know really. The boy he's my shadow I always try to get rid of him when I can; the girl well she was so clingy not something she was used too or wanted to get used to either! Jace would kill her for thinking such thoughts, that woman had managed to get her to read stories to them at bedtime and had convinced her that going to the movies was a good idea. That taking them to town for clothes might be an icebreaker. Oh yeah-such an icebreaker, Jake had almost had a fight. Well, he was in a fight but she had to stop it and promise the locals that it wouldn't happen again. It hadn't, she hadn't taken them again!  Funny thing was when she told Jace she had laughed and wished she had been there. Oh how I wish you were here Jace Bardley but...'

Rounding the corner on Tralargon, she reined the mare in front of the startled children. "You two arguing again?" the softly spoken words drew the attention of the two children.

Jake coloured up but remained silent.

Lisa looked at the formidable woman on the horse who really wasn't so scary she read them good stories at bedtime and tucked them in. "No, we were talking." Lisa replied finally.

Catherine raised an eyebrow and smiled at the sheer audacity of the girl, she was going to be some handful in the years to come that was for sure almost reminded her of her brother Lucas. "Good! So what you doing here then?"

Jake responded this time. "Colin said he would teach us to ride."

Catherine quirked her eyebrow, "Colin is teaching you both?"

Jake realised that he had included Lisa in the statement. "Yes...maybe!"

"Good, I need you both to ride."

Lisa looked at the beautiful woman on the horse. "Why?"

Catherine laughed at the small child who now reminded her of a certain Californian. "Then we can all go riding together."

Jake smiled, Lisa looked at Catherine with a beguiling look from her blue eyes. "You mean like a family?"

"Well, I suppose." Catherine was a little perplexed at the question. This child was almost as precocious as Jace when she riled her over the e-mail for her attitude.

Lisa walked up to the horse and the mare dwarfed her but she never looked intimidated. "Will Jace come back and be family too?" There was an almost pleading look to those innocent eyes.

Catherine was taken aback by the question, stunned and not able to say anything, it was far too raw a question to answer, she therefore continued to stare at the child with a blank expression.

Jake looked at the expression on Catherine's face and answered for her.

"Lisa, Jace doesn't want to come back she lives in America!"

Lisa shook her head. "Oh, I know Jace wants to come back, she said so!"

Catherine was astounded by how quickly things could get out of hand with children. Her brief sojourn into motherhood had never gone as far as being in the company of older children who could ask questions and direct ones at that! "Jace, has a job to do in America she has family and friends we can't expect her to want to come back here, now can we?"

"Yes we can!" Lisa said forthrightly.

"Why?" Catherine asked the child in the direct tone the child had used on her. 'Christ, this was worse than any boardroom manoeuvre she had ever been involved in before.

"Because she loves you!" Lisa continued her defiant stand.

Catherine blushed and turned her head towards the stable and the movement of others. Taking a deep breath, the raven-haired woman was thanking anyone who was listening for giving her a distraction to that very revealing comment.

"Well, seems as if your coach is ready better get your behinds down there or we won't be getting those family rides going will we?" Catherine glanced towards Colin as he sauntered towards them.

Colin nodded his head at the boss.

"Better get th...my family, riding soon Colin or they will think I'm neglecting them." With that comment she cantered off towards the hills.

Colin looked at the slowly receding figure on horseback. "She misses Jace." Lisa supplied to the puzzled ranch foreman.

Colin smiled at the two children. "Maybe she does at that. Right lets get you two educated shall we." He looked again at the far distant spot of his boss.

'It really was time she considered asking Jace back, would be the best for them all.' He took a hand of each child and they went towards the horses.

~ ~ ~

Grace had been going over her dilemma in her head since breakfast. It wasn't getting any clearer either just more complicated.

'Andrew had asked her to marry him!'

Colin had asked her out a couple of times but she had been unable to go for some reason or other invariably associated with the children.

He hadn't seemed to mind although he tended to stay away from the ranch house if she had been on a date with Andrew. For some reason fate was certainly taking Andrew's side in the romance stakes she had always been free when he asked her out.'

She walked over to the laundry room and picked up the articles of clothing that the children had left from yesterday's school sports day. She and Catherine had gone to the event, it had been fun to watch the kids compete and especially when it came to their kids.

Catherine had been so proud of Jake when he'd won the long jump, and commiserated with Lisa by buying her the largest ice cream cone she could get her hands on when she tripped in her race. Lisa had never left her side after that and the number of people who had watched them and commented that it appeared that Warriorson had finally found something worthwhile in her life. Grace had smiled at the comments but she had been proud of Catherine too. At no time did she give off one of her steely ice blue glares, which frighten people, especially when they talked disparagingly about her and she heard them. That woman's hearing was uncanny.

Reverend Stott had talked to Catherine and Grace about the possibility of them taking on long term guardianship of the children, Catherine didn't comment just smiled briefly and excused herself to watch Jake run the relay.

Oh, Catherine was changing that was for sure and Jace's consistent e-mails everyday and the odd phone calls they indulged in was clearly the main reason for it. 'I wonder when Catherine will finally let go of her reasons to keep Jace at arm's length?'

The kids had settled in quite well and they appeared to have developed a routine. It irked Catherine at times Grace could see it in her face but after talking it over with Jace she appeared to get over each particular problem.

Collecting the clothes and putting them in the washing machine she glanced over to the paddock area where the kids had wandered to see Colin.

Once again her thoughts went over her own problems. 'I guess I should talk to Catherine though why I should amazes me it's not like she's much use when it comes to an affair of the heart! Although who else can I turn too for help?' She became thoughtful and a little pensive.

'Maybe I should take a holiday and go home for a week or so? It wasn't as if I've taken any holidays in over three years. So, it surely couldn't upset Catherine too much. Yeah, my sister would be happy to see me and maybe the parents too.'

Going back into the spacious kitchen, she looked around at her home this was home! It was where she was happiest and the thought of leaving here and ultimately Catherine just wasn't an option. Not one iota! Destiny be damned she belonged here it was just a matter of defining which path to her destiny she wanted to take!

~ ~ ~

Jace had, had her fair share of warding off Hudson. The woman was almost demonic with her fascination of Catherine the final rushes of the film had been approved and now the dialogue was being put together the whole process would be complete in the next couple of weeks.

"Well, at least Hudson would get of my back when it was all complete." she thought out loud as she went over to Peter Adamson's office.

Knocking on the door Jace paused a moment and then went inside.

Peter was pouring over some stills and he obviously hadn't heard her knock, which was often the case with Peter when he was engrossed in film.

"Fancy a drive to the beach?" she quietly approached his desk.

"Yeah, great idea." He grinned and got up from his chair and came up next to her and took her arm in his and they left the room.

An hour later having eaten at a tiny bistro, which had the most delicious Tiger prawn dishes she had ever come across they went for a stroll on the beach. Jace kicked off her low healed shoes and walked barefoot in the sand. Peter looked at his sneakers and decided to leave them on.

"Has Hudson been bugging you again?" Peter finally broke the silence. They had walked for over five minutes without a word from Jace and that was unusual.

Jace glanced at him and gave him a wry smile. "Now whatever makes you say that?" she took his arm and tucked it under hers.

He laughed, "Because my dear Jace you never go out to lunch unless Hudson gets to you and I'm afraid this is about the fourth time in the last two weeks. What does she want?"

Jace pulled her free hand through her blonde hair and looked out onto the Ocean. "She wants whatever I can tell her about Catherine Warriorson."

"So tell her and get her off your back."

"It's not that easy Peter, I get the feeling that it's not about the documentary it's more personal, I can't really explain it."

"Maybe, Hudson wants her to invest in a movie?" Peter smiled cynically Catherine was by definition already doing that.

"I don't think so. She seems to think that Catherine and I have a relationship of some kind but I don't understand how she could possibly think that!" she sighed in exasperation.

"I know where she got that idea." Peter cleared his throat self-consciously.

"You do?" Jace looked at him with a green trusting glance.

"Me!" He looked down at the sand covering part of his sneakers.

Jace clutched his arm and pulled them to a stop. "Why?"

"She asked me how I thought you and Warriorson were getting on. I said well you appeared to be getting friendly. Guess it's from that conversation. I'm sorry Jace." He didn't dare look at her.

"I see." Jace looked out to sea and her face became wistful.

"I would never knowingly hurt you Jace." Peter tried to explain his actions.

"Oh, that's okay Peter. I am Catherine Warriorson's friend but it's personal and not for Hudson to exploit!"

"She can be very persistent you know."

"Yeah I know, but I can be stubborn too!" Laughing softly she grabbed hold of Peter's hand and ran towards the steps leading off the beach.

"Better get back before she sends a search party out for us."

~ ~ ~

Catherine was watching Lisa chat amiably with Grace about everything under the sun she was a veritable chatterbox. It brought a fleeting smile to Catherine's lips and then she took a sip of her tea. Glancing to the outer kitchen door she saw Jake enter he was muddy as usual.

'Hell, that boy got mud in places that didn't even see the light of day how he did it amazed both Grace and herself.'

She watched him shrug out off the warm outer coat they had purchased on that fateful trip to the town two weeks ago, he hadn't wanted her charity and conveniently ran out of the shop and ended up in a fight. She'd bought it anyway and now he sheepishly wore it when the weather turned really cold. He kicked his boots into a far corner and walked in stocking feet into the warm kitchen.

"Jake, you're back?" Lisa announced excitedly. For some reason this child had taken a shine to the often-sullen boy Catherine needed to broad the subject with him about not wanting a sister.

"Yeah." Was his only reply he seated himself opposite Catherine at the kitchen table.

Grace looked at the boy and saw his set expression. "Soooo, what have you and Colin been up to today?"

It was Saturday and with no school Colin often took the boy out on the ranch showing him various parts of the operation. Lisa was always invited but she had opted instead to help in the stables, she loved the horses they didn't always love her but she didn't seem to mind when she got the odd nip or two.

"We went over to the small farm that the Henderson's run."

"Oh, that was a good idea," Donald Henderson had three boy's one certainly about Jake's age. "Did you meet the boy's?"

"Sort of." He looked around the room feigning nonchalance.

Catherine had been watching the boy he certainly didn't look happy and usually after a day with Colin he was more likely to be in good spirits. "What sort of answer is that Jake? I suggest you answer Grace properly." Catherine growled at him.

Jake looked at her and saw the impatience in her eyes. "Yes, I met the Henderson boy's."

Grace looked at the boy and then to Catherine, 'Really those two had such a similar range of expressions and answers all pretty sullen, stoic and uninformative.' She chuckled at the thought of them being in the house together without her and it made Catherine glance her way in question.

"Did you have any time with them when Colin talked to their Dad?" Grace asked him continuing her placid interrogation.

"No, not really, they didn't like me!" He said off-handily

Catherine nearly choked on the tea she had just drunk from her mug.

Grace looked at the boy in compassion and thought she had better go over and see Colin and find out what had happened.

Lisa was the surprise. She left Grace's side and went over to the boy.

Putting a small hand on his dark head she stroked his hair and smiled into his sullen face. "That's okay Jake I like you." It was said with all the ingenuity of a child who wanted only to show affection after seeing someone hurt.

The boy jerked away as he realised that a tear threatened to fall and embarrass him boys didn't cry! "I like you too." He said quietly and got up and went to his bedroom. He didn't spare a second glance for the little girl or the two adults in the room.

"Well, what do you make of that?" Grace said to Catherine as she came back from settling Lisa in the lounge to watch some cartoons.

Catherine had a hand on her chin and was looking out of the window of the kitchen towards the foreman's house. "Don't know but I'm going to find out. Is Colin due over here anytime tonight?"

"No, I was going over to ask him before I went out with Andrew."

"Do you think that's a good idea, you know how he gets uptight when you're going out with the good doctor?"

"Maybe your right. It just seems that everytime he asks me out something crops up and we never have had a date yet!"

"Why didn't he ask you tonight?"

"I guess because Andrew usually does; this is a weird situation." Grace gave an exasperated sigh.

"Do you want to go out with both of them? Doesn't seem your style somehow Grace." Catherine pointed out seriously.

"Oh, and what would my style be? Wait around forever and never give love a chance like someone I know?" Grace wondered at times how she hadn't been fired from her job when her tongue got out of control. She waited expecting fireworks from her boss.

Catherine tensed at the barbed comment aimed her way. "Each to her own," was her only reply.

"Catherine. I need to take a holiday preferably as soon as possible." Grace finaly broached the subject that was on her mind finally.

Catherine looked at her friend and housekeeper. 'Hell, Grace hadn't left the ranch in what? It must be over three years. Was it something she'd done?' "When did you want to go?" Came her forced reply.

Grace smiled at her boss she knew that her tone held guilt and a touch of anxiety. "How about next Friday, I can get to Auckland by jeep Sunday."

"Do you want to take the helicopter? I'm not planning on going anywhere next weekend." Catherine offered.

"No, it's okay. I need the time alone that the drive will give me. However, thanks for the offer Catherine."

"How long will you be gone?"

"I'm not sure. Definitely a week perhaps two, can I call you when I get there?" Grace knew she was being evasive and that it would concern Catherine but she just didn't know the answer to that question herself.

"Yes, okay ring me when you know I guess I owe you on the holiday front." She smiled briefly.

"Do you want me to arrange for someone to come over, cook and clean while I'm gone?"

"I never thought about it. Yes, I suppose the kids wouldn't want to sample my cooking they might find that the orphanage fare was far superior." Catherine chuckled at her lack of skills in that particular area.

"Don't kid yourself Catherine, the children would eat anything you put in front of them because you made it! They worship the ground you walk on." Grace saw the blush rise to Catherine's cheeks.

"Oh, come on Grace, you are exaggerating again. They think you and Colin are great, I'm just here to pay the bills." She said self-depreciatingly.

"Well, you tell that to a certain boy who will want you to tuck him into bed tonight and what's the betting if you then asked him what the problem with today was, he would tell you." Grace gave her a punch on the arm.

"Okay, that's Jake but what about Lisa she will most definitely miss you." Catherine shied away from another attack from her friend.

"Ah, I never said they wouldn't miss me but Lisa loves your stories you know. She waits patiently for you to collect her after her bath. That kid lights up the sky with her smile when you come into the room."

"Yes, okay Grace, now you can pull the other finger. Who the hell are you going to land me with this time? If I recall on the previous occasion, it was a teenager who nearly broke every appliance in the damn place. Cost me a fortune to replace everything when you got back." Catherine raised her eyebrows to give menace to the words.

"Oh, you intimidated her that's why. Catherine you have such expressive eyebrows, did you know that?" Grace chuckled as the said eyebrows danced towards her forehead.

"Rubbish! She was so, so stupid. What the hell have my eyebrows to do with anything?" Catherine spluttered indignantly.

"Catherine, you have a very primitive ambience about you did you know that? The girl had a crush on you and you never have understood that part of your physical presence. What I wouldn't give to have a little of that ambience myself." Grace gave her a cheeky grin.

Catherine laughed loudly, surprising herself. "Christ, Grace, I think you do okay on your own what with two men after you already. Having a simpering teenager in tow would be even too much for you I suspect."

"Oh Catherine, I don't know it could get interesting."

Catherine raised her left eyebrow. "One thing I know about you is that your not interested in girls, lots of other things but definitely not interested in women on a physical front anyway a very good friend but nothing more!"

Grace blushed slightly. "What makes you say that? It's not as if you know me that well, for we haven't exactly shared our personal secrets with each other now have we?" She said defensively.

Getting up from her chair she touched a finger down the right side of Grace's cheek. "Do you respond to my touch Grace as much as you would with say Andrew or maybe Colin?" The voice had a low resonance that sent shivers up Grace's back.

Grace pulled away from the heat of the touch. She wasn't going to be some kind of experiment for Catherine! "What are you trying to prove here Catherine?" She rasped.

"Nothing." She dropped her hand and walked towards the door that led into the hall. Grace was unable to see the expression on Catherine's face as she turned away.

"I'll be in my study for the next hour or so, if you have trouble with the boy when it's supper time give me a shout." She left the room.

The atmosphere fairly bristled with electricity from the same woman who had just left.

Grace watched her leave the woman was lonely it showed in every facet of her life these days and she knew the answer to her loneliness it was a petite blonde, green-eyed Californian. 'Maybe she should ask herself the same question."

Grace picked up the cell and called home, she had plans to make.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Twenty-one

Jace immediately logged onto her computer as she entered her apartment it was a ritual these days. How long had it been now? A month. Yeah, a good month!  Although it hadn't been easy she had fallen into the usual routine at work and managed to leave her personal disappointments at home. At least most of the time except if Hudson hounded her on the subject of Catherine, then it became almost unbearable.

'What do you tell your employer NO, I'm not going to rat out my friend! Especially when she is the love of my life? No, guess I couldn't very well say that, I haven't discussed my love with Catherine yet, never mind mention it to my somewhat focused boss.'

The server prompt pulled her from her reverie and she entered her name and password. Bingo! It immediately told her she had e-mail.

A couple from her sister who was home for the holidays and making her mind up about which college she should attend. A couple from her favourite websites, which consisted mainly of fan fiction, 'Hell, it was better than going to the library after all!'

She chuckled when she remembered trying to explain to Catherine that it was a very good way of reading stories about subjects you were really interested in. Catherine had come up with some very stubborn arguments and she hadn't been at all happy with Jace's continued use of the medium. They hadn't actually argued about it but it ran close. 'She was a little too uptight about it; it must be her age, or her objection to the idea.' Jace chuckled again.

Then there was her favourite e-mail sitting there as usual Catherine's. Jace hadn't managed to get her to change the addy, Catherine had just replied. 'It served its purpose and suited her.'

Taking off her jacket she went to her kitchen and retrieved a bottle of banana milk, it had been a Hades of a job to find some in LA! But it was one of Catherine's favourite drinks and somehow just having it in her refrigerator gave her a sense of Catherine in her home. Grimacing as she took the first taste it always was a bit of a shock at first, there again, Catherine didn't have a sweet tooth, not like she did, and how she had a sweet tooth!

She settled down into the chair next to the desk holding the console and she punched read.

Jace,

Well, it's been one of those days here again, eventful!

I'm wondering if you decided to leave on purpose when you did because you knew what was going tohappen. Guess not huh?

Grace wants to take a holiday. Nothing wrong in that but...she hasn't said when she's coming back! I'm a little worried.  Hell, no I'm very worried maybe she won't come back, what will happen then? I rely way too much on her for my peace of mind around here. Any suggestions?

Jake was strange again today!

That kid certainly knows how to keep us guessing. He went over to one of the smallholdings with Colin today. They have three boys, should have been fun for him, he said they didn't like him! Kid was upset, I guess tonight he's going to have to open up or it will fester inside him and with that kid it's not good. Lisa on the other hand is different again, a Jace in training I might add. LOL

Lisa likes the boy. They argued today about trivial stuff but the conversation took on a serious note at one stage. She wanted him to think of her as a sister he said no only as a friend. Got to talk to that boy I guess. She's not afraid of anything Jace she talks to me just like you do with all that innocent warmth that helped to make me see you as a friend.

Jace looked at her console and a silent tear fell as she read about the trials of living on 'Destiny' at the moment. 'Oh, I wish I could be there with you through this Catherine, but we both know it's impossible, at least for now, until you learn to trust me!'

That girl child is going to break someone's heart one day, that's for sure, but she has a compassion that goes beyond her years. Must have been something her Mother taught her, because sure as hell, she doesn't get it from around here!

I've decided to set up a fund with regards to this type of project. I haven't told anyone about it yet, guess I'm sort of bouncing it off you at the moment. But I thought I would invest in the scheme in the name of my son. I know it's only money but in some instances people want to help but don't have the funding, I can make that happen or rather Lucas's memory can! I want your advice on that one Jace? If you could, it's something you would be better qualified to advise me on than all the lawyers I know. I need someone with a heart.

'Did this woman know what she was saying? Catherine had a great presence about her at most times. There was also a latent power just waiting to be unleashed. Yet, when it came to matters of the heart and the concern of others, she had the naivety of a five-year-old. It was both endearing and sad. I will gladly hold your hand if you ask me, my friend. Zeus, help me, I would hold your hand forever if you would only let me inside!'

Colin hasn't got past first base with Grace, seems that every time they make a date something comes up! I'm not sure that Grace wants to go past the friendship she has with Colin, although I'm not sure she finds the good Doctor quite what she's looking for either. Hell, what do I know! Maybe she should talk to you Jace and get some sympathetic advice.

Well, guess that's my day! What's the score with you today? I'm hoping it's been far better than the strange one I had, too much emotional crap is a hard taskmaster for me.

I'm going to wish you a good night Jace and I'm hoping happy dreams. How's my stand in by the way?

Oh no, I can't make it this weekend in LA, but keep trying, makes me feel that you want to see me again.

Take care, my friend, I think of you frequently.
Catherine

Jace couldn't help the tears that she shed; it was as if there was a well inside that kept filling up when she read messages from this special woman.

'Oh, my friend, you're going to be fine believe me, you will survive this initiation into parenting again! I know you don't want it you're too afraid of failing...again! But you won't this time! This time you have people who want to see you succeed far beyond what you think you're capable of achieving. I know you have the strength of character to get through this wall you've erected around yourself, you will do it and without help. Because that's the only way Catherine you are ever going to accept this destiny that has fallen into your lap, and I hope you decide it's worth the effort.'

Jace stood up and decided to order a Pizza and read the rest of her mail and maybe indulge in a little light reading of net fan fiction, she was going to tease Catherine with that later. Then she would answer her friend.

Catherine,

You know my friend; I have never come across anyone quite like you in my life before. You make me feel so...so proud to be your friend and someone you want to confide in, I feel very honoured.

I think Grace needs some time away from the ranch Catherine, not necessarily anything to do with you, maybe her love life is getting more complicated than she wants. It's not easy to choose a man over you!

Now, don't go getting all upset with me for that last remark, I know it's true, Grace certainly does, which is why she needs to be alone or at least with people who have no influence over this decision. Let her go Catherine, and hope that when she comes back she's made the right decision for her, not you!

Hey way to go, what a great gesture a fund in Lucas's name, what are you going to do, have one of your lawyers administrate it, so you can still be seen as the reclusive owner of 'Destiny'? No way are you the same woman that they perceive you to be Catherine, you need to accept your changing role in the community; I hope you do, you might enjoy it.

When are you going to take the kids to town again? Don't' shake your head now; we both know you enjoyed that trip it's just a matter of you getting the confidence to go again! LOL

Okay you can shout at me when you see me in the flesh.

Jake sounds as if he needs a friend. You don't need me to elaborate; you're a very intelligent woman.

Lisa, oh Catherine, what joy that girl is going to bring you! She sounds as if she can already twist you round her little finger. LOL

I hope Colin can accept the decision that Grace makes in the end, but you might lose him Catherine, it happens.

Well, what sort of day have I had?

Nothing exciting! Nothing, that compares to your adventures.

'No way am I going to tell her about Hudson bugging me, she'll give up eventually and Catherine will only get protective. Mindyou, I wonder if it would bring her over here in my defence?' Jace smiled reflectively at the thought. 'That is one thing I can becertain of, as my friend you will try to protect me, but who protects you my friend, who will you let protect you against the tides that seem to ever change in your world?'

I had lunch today with Peter do you remember him? He is the director of the documentary. We are at the final stages of the production, should be ready for final grading next week. I might go over and watch it; hopefully it will bring back good memories. Because Catherine I have more good memories in those few days with you, then I have of the five years I've worked in LA. Kind of sad to you I guess, but look at it from my point of view, I met my best friend!

I'm also reading my fan fiction some of the authors are really very good and you should try it one day!

Guess that's me for now also Catherine! So when are you coming over to take me to dinner?

You know I'm going to keep asking in the hope that one-day you just might agree Catherine! Is it wishful thinking on my part Catherine? Oh well you can't blame a girl for trying and what wouldn't I give to see those fantastic blue eyes of yours looking into mine again. Okay, so I love your eyes, going to sue me? <g>

Love you my friend. Hang in there.
Until tomorrow!
Jace
P.S.

Don't forget to read a story to Lisa for me and give her a big kiss as she goes to bed, you can with Jake also if he will let you. <g>

She closed out the entry and touched the screen with a feather light touch as she sent it to its destination. Knowing Catherine would probably be in bed or working in the study, who knew with her?

'Hope her pep talk with Jake went well, they are very alike at times it makes you wonder how they do react to each other on a one to one basis. Grace my friend I hope you work out your problems and oh, how I wish I could help you.'

Shutting down the machine she walked over to her bedroom and stripped off her clothes and headed for the shower. It was at this time in the evening when she knew that her soul was missing its other half, the longing called to her. She constantly struggled with the image, but for now, she had to force herself to ignore it!

~ ~ ~

Chapter Twenty-one

Grace managed to get Jake to leave his room for the evening meal. She hadn't wanted to use Catherine as a big stick although she would have done so if necessary.

Grace had the dubious pleasure of watching Jake consume his meal in silence, which he frequently did; and noted that he smiled occasionally when Lisa made some silly remark, which she was apt to do. Little Lisa appeared to be the only one at the table talking constantly.

Colin hadn't wanted to eat with them; he'd decided to go into town with some of the other ranch hands.

Catherine had joined them but she was silent most of the meal except for the politeness of a please or thank you during the meal.

Grace chatted along with the youngest child as she talked about the horses and her day, she then held out her tooth for everyone to look at.

Grace smiled and watched Catherine grimace at the exhibition during a meal, but she held her thoughts to herself this time.

Jake merely looked at the girl and shook his head at her.

"It's for the tooth fairy Grace! I'm going to put it under my pillow and when I wake up in the morning she will have left me a gift in its place." Lisa smiled showing the gap between her front teeth. It made the child look even more endearing than she already was.

"Well, I guess that's a good idea. Wonder what she will leave you as a gift?" Grace tried to gather the information out of the child so she wouldn't be disappointed. Neither Catherine nor herself were exactly aware of the particular type of gift kids thought appropriate these days. 'Hell, in her day it was a nominal coin to get some sweets with, which was ironic when you thought about it.'

"Oh, you can't ask that Grace, it's a secret, between me and the fairy!" The child said in a whisper.

Grace laughed out loud as she glanced towards Catherine, whose expression hadn't particularly changed through the dialogue.

"What do you think Catherine?" It was a direct challenge, Grace had to get this woman as involved in them as the children appeared to be getting involved with Catherine, it couldn't be one sided, it had to be a two way street.

Catherine looked at her, raising the ever-faithful eyebrow.

'One of these days she's going to lose it!' Grace couldn't help the grin that appeared at the thought.

Catherine looked at her friend and wondered vaguely why she was grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Can't remember a time when I lost any teeth so I wouldn't know what a tooth fairy leaves behind." She hadn't meant to speak solemnly it just happened.

The others in the room all looked in her direction.

Lisa scraped back a chair and walked over to Catherine, who's tall frame in the chair made the child look so small next to her.

A small hand tugged at hers and she reluctantly gave in to the pressure exerted by the child. She felt a small object being placed on her open palm. Then the small hand gently closed her long fingers over the object and the child moved back to her chair. Not knowing where to look or if it was even prudent to observe the object in her hand.

She eventually looked at Lisa, who winked at her and smiled. Then she carried on with her dessert.

Grace looked at Catherine expectantly.

Jake had a wicked gleam in his eyes he knew exactly what the girl had done.

Catherine made a move to get up and said she would have her tea in the study, and that she would be back later after they had their baths.

Walking out of the kitchen Catherine briefly opened her hand and saw the small pearly white tooth nestled in her large hand with blood congealing inside the root cavity. At first she couldn't understand the significance of the act! Then it dawned on her. 'Lisa wants me to experience the tooth fairy? What have I ever done to deserve this un-reserved love and affection from this small child?' A tear tracked its way along her left cheek as she swiped it away and placed her hand over her eyes briefly as she went towards the study.

Grace watched the emotionless features of her friend and boss, as the child had surprised her, but she like Jake knew what the child had done. "Why did you give Catherine your tooth Lisa? Now the tooth fairy won't know it's yours." Grace gently smoothed a lock of the red hair away from the child's face.

Lisa took a few minutes to think about it as she scooped more ice cream into her mouth, spitting some out from the gap in her teeth at Jake who was nearest to her as she explained.

"Catherine has never had a visit from the tooth fairy and she's old now! I will have another chance another day, I'm still young and all my big teeth haven't got here yet." the child patiently explained to the adult.

Grace was touched by the generosity of the child she enfolded her in a big hug. "Thank you Lisa, you might never know how much that means to her, but thank you anyway." Lisa smiled her toothless smile.

"How about more ice cream for you two, can't let a gesture like that be wasted now can we?" The children both agreed by nodding profusely, although Jake moved his chair out of the reach of Lisa.

~ ~ ~

The house was relatively quiet; Grace had left minutes before to drive into town to meet Andrew for her evening out.

Lisa was tucked up in bed, after a nice hot bath and a story session that had started with a short Pooh bear story and ended with the start of a largely unknown work of short stories by various European authors. Jake listened with half an eye as he always did to the stories, as he watched a rugby match on the TV at low volume.

Then he had silently switched off the TV as Catherine was asked to read stories that she read as a child. "Oh, come on now Lisa, that was a long time ago now, you won't want to listen to those surely?" Catherine blushed a little as the child looked at her with a steady blue gaze.

"Did your mummy read you those stories?" the child retorted looking into her ice blue eyes.

Catherine had to blink several times as she realised what the child had asked her. 'Had her mother read to her as a child? Yes. The ones she remembered the most had been the numerous short stories from all over the world, although in actual fact, it had been just European authors she hadn't known that until much later though. Even Lucas had listened to them when he was old enough, at the end it had been Catherine reading the stories to mother and Lucas, when her mother became too ill to read to her children. Then, she had just read to her brother to ease the hurt of her mother's passing.'

"Yes, yes she did Lisa. I guess you better give me a minute to find one of them." Catherine left for the study and walked right to the books. She had found them when she had been foraging for reading matter for the child earlier. She had leafed through them fascinated that they still held her attention after all these years. Tucking the first book under her arm she went back to the lounge and now Jake was seated with his back against the arm of the chair that Lisa sat patiently waiting for Catherine to return.

Settling back into the chair with Lisa folded onto her lap and sinking into her chest as she always did in the evening, usually ending up asleep, but at least she never had any bad dreams.

The book had seen better days that was for certain, but it hadn't lost any pages so she suspected it would hold its own then her expression changed as if she'd thought of a better story. "The first story concerns a young boy called Jacob!'' Catherine smiled briefly at the boy as he looked at her in surprise she continued with Lisa looking expectantly at her. "And his younger sister Lucy,'' she winked at Lisa who gave her a crestfallen look. "Sorry misread that, she was called Lisa and the youngsters adventures to find a new home back in the dark ages when there wasn't TV, cars and computers!"

Chapter one

'Jacob Salt held tightly onto the hand of his younger sister Lisa Pepper as they were settled into the back of the hay wagon that would take them and their meagre possessions to the nearest town. Jacob was thirteen years old and now the man of the family, having recently witnessed the tragic flood that had swept away their family home and the rest of the family in a matter of minutes. There had been nothing he could do, it had happened suddenly the bursting of the banks near their cottage. There had been one thing that had stopped him following his father and step mother, that had been the sight of his sister holding onto the back of a donkey and crying as if her heart would break. He had to look after her and see that she was well taken care of; they would have to leave the farm and go to the nearest town.

"Will we find a nice family to offer us a home Jacob?" Lisa looked into her older brother's grey eyes with complete trust, holding his hand in hers; she tightened her grip waiting for the answer.

"Yes, we will Lisa, don't you know that no one ever splits up the salt and pepper pots they belong together." He chuckled at her puzzled expression.

"What do you mean Jacob? If we weren't called Salt and Pepper someone might take you away from me?" Lisa dropped the hand she held and threw her arms around his slight shoulders and cried into his neck.

Jacob had always considered it a huge joke the fact that his father had married a woman who had previously been married to someone called Pepper, and her child Lisa was called Pepper. He was sorry he had teased his sister, she was still upset over the accident and he hadn't the heart to tell her he didn't really know what to expect when he got to the local town, he'd never been there himself before. "No one will take you away from me Lisa, we are going to stay together, I promise you."

The rest of the journey in the hay wagon, went remarkably well, the old wagon master had felt pity for the two orphans having had agreed to take them to the town, although he doubted the boy would be in a position to honour his promise to keep them together. There was nothing but difficulties ahead and unless you had funds, there would be only hardship and misery to follow. He continued to listen to the young man soothe his sister, if there was a God up in heaven, maybe he could answer a pray today for these unfortunate children.

*

Kate Cook watched the sun set over the tall spire of the town church and sighed once again at her loneliness, she had agreed today in principle to marry the widowed landowner Simon Iron, but she hadn't decided exactly when. Kate really felt that something else was out there waiting for her, but in all her thirty years she had yet to find it. Having been the only daughter of the local Mayor, she had been given privileges that others in this age could not anticipate. Her father had died two years previously, leaving her tidy sum, with this inheritance if she so wished, meant that marriage did not have to be her lot in life. However, she was lonely and Simon was older yes, but at least he would be company for her. "I wonder if there really is something or someone out there that needs me?" She walked away from the window and proceeded down to the dining room for her evening meal, alone!

*

Jacob didn't like the smell of the town it reminded him of rotting meat and vegetables, that they kept in a compost heap at the farm. There was also another smell also that he couldn't quite name, but it too wasn't pleasant, wrinkled his nose as he passed by a hole in the floor that had an iron cover over it, the smell was particularly bad when they crossed one of those areas. He held onto Lisa's hand tightly, exactly as the old wagon master had instructed him, he would not lose Lisa in this horrible town.

Lurking nearby a wizened man with a long ragged beard and small pin points for eyes, starred at the children in speculation, maybe there was money to be earned yet this day, the man pondered as he stroked the matted beard and smiled with evil in his dark eyes. He had heard the old wagon master tell the children to be careful, that he would be back in a week if they need him again. If he had anything to do with it, they wouldn't ever see the man again!

~ ~ ~ "Catherine noticed that Lisa was almost asleep at the end of that particular chapter, guess it bored them. "Time for bed Lisa, you too Jake." She turned her eyes to them in anticipation of her thoughts.

Both children looked at her with hopeful eyes. "Can we have the next part of the book tomorrow Catherine?" Lisa pleaded. Jake nodded his agreement to the question.

Catherine was astounded; she'd thought they hadn't liked it! "I guess so, did you like it?" she asked tentatively.

Blue and grey eyes both shone excitedly up at her and they both smiled.

"Right, tomorrow night then, we have a date with a another chapter of this book," she chuckled, swinging Lisa over her shoulder as she got up from the chair. The child giggled at the action.

Jake smiled at the two females, one rather tall one and the other tiny swung nonchalantly over her wide shoulders. He followed them out of the room.

"I'll catch up with you shortly Jake," Catherine remarked as she headed for Lisa's room.

"Sure," he replied and sauntered along to his room.

Putting Lisa down gently on the bed, the child suddenly put her arms around Catherine's neck and hugged her. "What's that for?"

"Just because," the child replied.

"Because what?" Catherine questioned.

"Because I can, and you read me such smashing stories," a toothless grin followed the words.

"Ah, give me a break Lisa, next time you can read." Catherine feigned annoyance but was secretly pleased at the compliment.

"No! You're the best Catherine, I like your voice, cause it makes me feel all warm and safe. Now, don't go forgetting about the tooth fairy you gotta remember to put it under your pillow when you go to sleep okay?" Lisa said seriously. The child placed a wet kiss on her cheek and snuggled into the soft bed cuddling her rag doll as she closed her eyes.

In all her thirty odd years she had never felt so lost for words this child had a knack of leaving her emotions raw, but she felt good too!

Tucking in the covers she looked once again at the child and quietly said goodnight. Leaving the door ajar slightly as Jace had done that first night. You just never knew if the young girl might need her during the night.

Now for Mr Sullen!

Jake lay in bed he had a football magazine on top of the bedclothes, and he looked up at her pensively as she entered. 'Unusual,' she thought.

"Hi, Jake. You going to enlighten me about your exploits today?"

Catherine asked in quiet interest.

He turned his hazel eyes to hers, and she could see the finely disguised hurt in the look. "What exploits?" he asked finally.

"Okay, I believe you mentioned that the Henderson boy's didn't like you so give! Tell me why?" If the kid wanted forthright she had no problem with that.

He frowned at her; he really did use some of her expressions. It made her chuckle silently. "We go to the same school they called me a charity case and if I thought because I was living here with you it made me better then them now, that I wouldn't be welcome there or at any other boy's home either." He paused there for a little while and waited for her reaction.

She looked at the dark skies, filled with bright stars then turned to face the dark haired boy. "You know Jake, children can be cruel with their words. I think you have realised that in the short time you have been here especially when you talk to Lisa. So it's not hard to understand that other children say cruel things to you! Is it?" Catherine spoke softly to the boy.

"Lisa is different, she's my...my friend."

Catherine glanced his way; he had difficulty trying to say exactly where Lisa fell into his world. "Yes, I think she is your friend.  But you don't want her as a sister am I right?" 'Hell, why not get two issues with this kid out of the way at the same time. It certainly gave her a headache all this emotional stress, there are times like now when I could really use a certain Jace Bardley at my side for this.'

Jake looked at her and his expression changed to one of chagrin.

"She's not my sister, just as you're not my Mum!"

"True,' Catherine paused and stroked her chin in thought. "My son would have been your age Jake. He died along time ago and if he had been alone as you are, I would like to think that he would have a friend like Lisa to help him with his challenges in life. I also would hope he would accept her as his sister also!" She waited for the boy to answer.

"Why?" He asked as his hazel eyes stared at her blue ones.

"Because Jake, family is important and if you feel that you have a family behind you it takes away the pain and hurt of just about everything, even snipes by boy's like the Henderson's."

"Friends do too!" the boy replied obstinately.

"Touché Jake. But what better thing to have a member of your family as a friend too!"

"That would be good too, I suppose. Can I think about it?" His face clearly showing he was concentrating on her words.

"Sure, we have time plenty of time. And Jake, you're not a charity case take it from me, living here isn't any picnic. You might want to request a transfer one of these days when it gets too much for you," she winked at him and moved towards the door.

"That story you told was different tonight, did you change the names on purpose?" He surprised her with his statement.

"Now that's for me to know and you to find out." She quipped back at him as she turned to leave.

"Would you have read that story to your son?" He watched her turn to him again and she looked at him seriously.

"Unfortunately not Jake, I was always too busy making money! But he had a good father and he would have read to him every night, just as Lisa likes to have stories read to her." This time she left the boy with a whispered goodnight.

"Goodnight Catherine, I hope the tooth fairy brings you what you want." He snuggled down in the bed and picked up his magazine, feeling a little happier with his day. 'I wonder what happens next in that story, will that strange man capture them or will the lady come to their rescue?'

Catherine heard his wishes and she glanced down the stairs to the silent and empty rooms below. "Oh, I somehow think that's an impossibility this time around," she shrugged her shoulders and went down to her study, and the business messages of the day she would tackle in her customary way.

 

Continued in part two

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