"Sure. If you don't mind me going through stuff, I can deal with that."
"None of it’s a secret anyway. It all goes to you guys at the end of the year. If you could sort out what has to go to Tory for payment and what needs to be filed, I would be eternally grateful." She smiled when Essie placed a plate of porridge in front of her with a small jug of milk.
"How grateful?" He looked down at her, a smile on his face and a sexy look in his eyes.
Kate bit the inside of her cheek to stop the noise coming up her throat, and concentrated on getting a spoon of porridge in her mouth without spilling it down her shirt.
"Stop teasing her, Cade." Rooney slapped him on the arm. "Ignore him, Kate. He's in one of those moods this morning, I can tell."
Me too. Kate knew Rooney had it wrong. He wasn't teasing her for the hell of it. He was teasing her in purely sexual way and it was working. She was so close to asking him outside to the barn right now, she was sure it showed on her face. "That's okay. I'm used to him ribbing me. God knows we all got plenty of it when he was a scrawny youngster."
"Hey, enough of the scrawny stuff. I'll have you know that now I'm a highly-honed athlete with abs of steel and a body most men would die for."
"Yeah well, we aren't most men, dear brother, and we know you. Do as Kate asked and clear her desk of paperwork. I'm sure she can find something else to keep you out of trouble if you get through that."
"I'm sure that won't be a problem." Kate gave him a quick smile. She spooned the last of the porridge into her mouth before walking over to the sink and rinsing her plate. Leaning against the edge of the sink, she faced them. "Well, this isn't getting much done. You two have a great morning and I'll see you for lunch."
Kate took her hat from the back door and jammed it on her head before heading out. There was her ongoing work with the young colt she had to see to today. May as well sort him out before lunch, then she could go herd the cows closer to home for when Cade was able to help her. Once the boys had finished the fence they were working on, they could all pitch in and get the job done.
Castrating calves was hard and messy, not a job to be taken on by one person.
She brought in the colt and started lunging him, trying to teach him some manners while working out whether or not to keep him on the farm or sell him off when the sales came around. Cade’s father was well known for his horses and this colt was from a good bloodline. If his temperament was good enough, he would stay and Kate would train him.
By lunchtime, she sported another bruise on her butt from when he’d kicked out. Not quite quick enough to miss his hooves entirely, he’d managed to connect with her enough to leave a sore spot. She walked into the kitchen, rubbing her butt.
"What's wrong?" Essie looked up and watched her.
"Damned colt go me. I might have to let him go. Has more attitude than I want in the farm horses. Little bugger clipped me with his hooves. Where is Cade?"
"Still in the office, I think. Can you tell him lunch is almost ready?"
"Sure, but can I ask you something first? I want to make him dinner tonight and need a few things. Do you have any chicken breast?"
Essie grinned and nodded her head. "Sure do. I'll get them out the freezer for you. Anything else?"
"I was kind of hoping you could throw together one of your brilliant green salads. I want to keep it simple." Kate thought for a moment. "Is there any nice wine downstairs in the cellar?"
"Why don't you go and have a look. Bound to be something you would like. Here," she reached under the sink and brought out a torch, "you’ll need this. The light isn't very good down there. Mind the step, don't want to have you hurt yourself down there. Dangerous place to make a wine cellar, if you ask me."
"Thanks, Essie. I'll go and look before I disturb Cade." She walked out to the hallway and opened the door beside the rarely used lift. Searching the wall for the light switch, she flicked it on. The pale glow was enough to see the old ladder attached to the wall and she shuddered. Nothing else for it. Kate turned around and went down the ladder with the torch tucked under her arm. When she reached the bottom, she turned it on to look around.
The rows of wine were closer to the back where the damp kept everything cool. Watching for spiders and anything else that could have made its home down in the cellar, she walked over and studied the rows of wine. They were in three distinct sections. Reds, whites and sparkling.
Kate reached for a bottle of champagne, deciding it was going to be that kind of night. She wiped the dust off the label and read it. Moet and Chandon. Nice. Happy with her choice, she turned to go back upstairs and screamed.
Cade stood behind her in the dark, a grin on his face.
"You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing down here?" Kate gripped the neck of her bottle and flashed the torch in his face.
"Essie told me you were down here. Thought you might like some help."
"Thanks, but I'm fine." She made to walk past him but he grabbed her arm turning her so their bodies were facing. With her heart pounding, Kate watched him
