The full length mirror in the bathroom showed off her curves and Kate looked at her reflection with a critical eye. She was fit and the hard work showed in the toned condition of her body. She’d always been a physical, tomboy type so it was a natural progression to jump at the job Cade’s father had advertised.
He alone had known how much she needed a steady job and a place to live. Her own father was constantly in trouble with the law for petty crime and that had made her mother turn to alcohol when Kate was still in high school. But Mr Williams was the first one to approach her after her parents were killed in a car accident, leaving her with no family of her own. Both of them were drinking and fighting when they crashed. The only blessing was they’d left Kate home alone to fend for herself, as they more often than not did.
Essie had taken her under her wing, made sure she fitted in and was looked after. Kate worked hard, finding solace in the hard hours as she learnt along the way. Always quick with figures, she thought ahead and planned what would happen stock-wise on spreadsheets she kept taped on the wall beside her bunk.
Eventually the head stockman found out and instead of ignoring the petite redhead, he had taken her to see Mr Williams and asked if he could groom her for the job.
Essie had cooked her dinner ever since she’d been made manager and didn't have to share stockmen’s quarters and dining room with the rest of the farmhands. She’d said it was expected and Kate was grateful for the quieter room and better food. Although she had her own kitchen in the cottage that went with the senior position, she had complied. It gave her a chance to learn from her boss where they could chat about work over a shared meal. Kate made the most of not being interrupted by farm duties, asking his advice on matters relevant to her job.
Kate stepped away from her own scrutiny and into the bathroom. She turned on the shower, waiting impatiently for the water to heat up. When it did, she stepped under the spray and thought of how far she’d come in the last few years because of her own determination and hard work.
Initially the other stock hands had relished a female amongst them and she was the brunt of constant boy jokes and ribbing about cooking and cleaning for them. It seemed they didn't get the point about her being there to work the same as them, not as someone for them to chat up. Essie had taken pity on her and cooked her dinner once or twice a week to give her a break from attention of the men.
The soothing water ran down her face and Kate scrubbed the dust from her pores. The worst thing about her job was the constant dirt and exposure to the elements. She worried what it would eventually do to her fair skin. She lathered sun block on constantly but it didn't seem to keep the freckles away. Kate turned off the shower and reached for a fluffy towel.
Once dry and dressed in slim fitting capri pants and a loose blouse, Kate brushed her hair before pulling it up in a messy knot on top of her head. She smeared pale lip gloss over her lips and sprayed a little perfume on her throat and behind her ears.
Satisfied she would pass muster, Kate stroked her hand over Wally who was now washing himself on her bed and walked out of her cottage toward the big house. Coming face to face with Cade after giving him orders earlier was going to be interesting. Just let him try and tell her what to do. She was running the show now and it was about time he realised that.
Chapter 9
Russ looked up as the back door opened and Kate walked into the room. She headed for Essie and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before turning to him.
"Russ, sorry about the welcome before. I had on other things my mind." She walked over and leaned in to give him a brotherly hug. "I'm pleased to see you. Sorry about the divorce and all, it must have been rough." She perched her butt on a stool at the counter and kept her gaze on his face.
"I guess it was, but that's life I suppose." He shuffled his feet and sat beside her. "It's funny but I'm glad it happened in a way. We weren't right for each other. It took me a few years to figure that out." He sighed. "Paula wanted more from me than I could give. Things I had no interest in, so it's probably for the best all round." He reached over and ran his hand down her arm. "Enough about me. Tell me what's been happening with you. Farm manager, that's really great news, Kate."
She looked down at her fingers and Russ wondered what was going through her mind. "Yeah, I like it here and it suits me."
"So tell me how it came about that you decided you wanted to be a farmer." He looked up when Essie put a bottle of chilled wine on the counter in front of him. "Thanks, Essie." He poured two glasses, handed one to Kate and sat back waiting for her to talk.
"Well, you know my folks were killed just after your mother died? I didn't know what I was going to do. I mean, seriously there isn't much a seventeen-year-old can do with no money and no family." She took a sip of the wine and Russ noticed how her hand trembled as she gripped the stem of the glass.
"Your father took me in and
