Kate sat on the bed looking around. It felt surreal to be here by herself, something she had hoped for but under different circumstances. She let the towel slip from her shoulders and resisted the urge to fall among the pillows and go back to sleep. She was tired even though she had slept surprisingly well in the hay with Magnus. It didn't help that she wasn't keen to face Nell, who was no doubt waiting to way lay her as she left. Tilly would also give her the third degree when she got home, so she may as well get it over with.
She dressed in last night's clothes and walked out of the bedroom. Kate pulled her fingers through her wet hair as she tried to make it into a knot on her head.
"I thought you might like a cup of coffee," Nell said from the kitchen. She was standing beside Lily in a portable highchair, sipping at her own cup.
"Thanks. Hi cutie," she said as she leaned down and ran her hand over the baby's curls. "Isn't she just the most adorable thing?"
"I think so, but I guess I'm biased being her mum," Nell said. "So, just how neighborly are you and Magnus, Kate?"
"You don't believe in being polite, do you? Just jump in with both feet."
"No, never did see the point myself," Nell replied, leaning against the bench and taking another sip. "Look, I love Magnus to bits. He is my favorite cousin after all, and I just want to see him happy no matter how often he tells me to mind my own business. He knows I won't anyway, never have, never will. So, tell me. Do you love him?"
Kate lowered her eyes and fiddled with her cup. "It really doesn't matter because it's not that kind of relationship."
"Who made those rules? No, let me guess, Magnus. God, that guy will never learn. He never lets anyone get close to him. It's so ridiculous it's not funny. The man is so scared of getting burned again that he will push any chance of happiness away," Nell said. "Ooh, you wait until I tell Rolf."
Kate felt uncomfortable and couldn't bring herself to ask any questions from someone that she had only just met. She drank her coffee, rinsed the mug, and placed it in the draining tray. "Thanks for that. I had better get going."
"See you again, Kate, and hang in there. He really is a good guy. He just doesn't know what's good for him," Nell said. "If I had to put money on it, I'd say you are just what he needs."
When Kate got home, she went to her room for fresh clothing, ignoring the cold looks she got from Tilly, and headed straight out to work.
By the time she came in, it was almost dark, and her dinner was keeping warm in the oven. Sitting at the table, she laid her head in her hands, exhausted.
"If you bothered to come home, you would have got a decent sleep last night instead of rolling around in some guy's bed," Tilly said as she placed Kate's dinner on the table.
"Just drop it," Kate said, avoiding the older woman's gaze.
"Why should I? I raised you. I have a right to my opinion, and this is going to come to no good, just you wait and see."
"I see you've changed your opinion from the other day when you told me I was jumping to conclusions," Kate said bitterly.
"That was before he kept you from your bed," Tilly said. "That's not proper."
"It's not the Middle Ages. I can take care of myself, and if I want to stay away for a night, I'm allowed." Kate pushed her food around on her plate, her appetite suddenly gone.
"I just want more for you, Katie girl," Tilly said, her voice softening as she sat opposite her at the table. "I want you to meet the man of your dreams and give you the life you deserve, a family, and enough money to pay the bills. You start throwing yourself around like this, and you will only end up getting hurt. He's not for the likes of us."
"I don't care. I'll take what I can get until he decides otherwise. I'm stuffed. I have to go and sleep," She groaned as she got up and headed for her bedroom.
Kate fell into a deep sleep, tossing and turning, Tilly's words rumbling through her troubled dreams.
When she woke the next morning, her head was throbbing, and she had a foul taste in her mouth. Stumbling out of bed, she pulled on her jeans and an old shirt before heading out for breakfast.
"You look terrible, child. Didn't you sleep last night?" Tilly asked as she dished up breakfast.
"Slept like a log actually," Kate replied hoarsely. "I think I have the flu. My throat is so sore, and I feel very woozy. Just tea this morning thanks, Tilly. I don't think I could get anything else down just at the moment. It hurts too much to swallow."
"I think you should go back to bed and rest," Tilly said, holding her hand over Kate's forehead. "Looks like you have a fever too."
"Too much to do. I'll be okay."
"At least take some aspirin, then." Tilly went to the first aid kit in the kitchen.
Kate took the tablets and sipped at her tea, grimacing in pain with each swallow. She gave up before she finished it, and pushing it away, she dragged herself to her feet and outside to work.
By lunchtime, she was worn out and gave in when Tilly steered her toward her bed. She slept through the day and night, not waking up until the following morning. Still feeling like something the dog dragged in, Kate struggled to get dressed. Unable to face her breakfast again, she followed the boys out on her horse, determined to help muster the calves for tagging.
She worked alongside them, their voices fading
