Anger tightened hisjaw. With no other option, Cade moved over to his car, shuffling along the sideof the shed wall to get into the front seat.
Kate moved back and sather butt on the old wooden rail fence that surrounded the vegetable garden. Shecrossed her arms and watched as he manoeuvred his car out. With a glare in herdirection, he planted his foot on the accelerator and headed down the drivewaytoward the barn. The small burst of power scattered crushed granite over thegrass and she laughed. Round one to her. A shame he still had the ability toset her heart racing.
Not one to tag along atthe rear anymore, she quietly thanked her Cade’s father for taking her in andtoughening her up. When Kate had applied for the job of stockman, he’d laughed,telling her she wasn't up to it. She’d proven him wrong more times than shecould remember.
Now she knew she wouldhave to prove herself all over again. Cade would to try and undermine her Healways had. It was his way to make himself look good when all he had to do wasplay football and his following would be just as big.
Of all the Williamschildren, Kate felt most sorry for Russ. He was the quiet achiever, the childwho’d always looked for approval. The eternal peacemaker she used to call him.He was still the same, although there was now a sadness in his eyes that madeher wonder what had happened to him in the last few years.
The sound of silencerolled over the farm and Kate realised Cade had turned off his car. The rumbleof the engine was no longer at odds with the cries of cattle in the paddocks.From her position on the fence, she watched as he hobbled out of the barn andheaded back to the house.
Satisfied she’d madeher point, she moved over to the work ute and opened the door. Kate climbed inand turned the key, not bothering with her seatbelt. Reversing back, she spunthe steering wheel and pointed the nose into the space vacated by Cade momentsbefore. When she was parked, she killed the engine and jumped out, slamming thedoor behind her before hanging the key on the nail by the door post.
Kate stood and tiltedher hat back on her head, checking to see everything was in its place beforewalking the few hundred yards to her home.
The original homesteadwas one of the oldest homes in the Hunter Valley. Large hand cut sandstoneblocks soaked up the setting sun, giving off warmth that would keep the housecosy for hours. Dubbed Thunderbolts cottage after the bushranger who had grownup in the small house, it had been modernised before Kate had moved in.
She grasped the oldhandle and pushed open the solid timber door. Kate turned and used the heavystone step to help slip her work boots off. She dug her fingers under theelastic band of her socks and pulled them off, jamming them into the boots andplacing them beside the door step before walking inside the small front room. Aginger cat looked up from its position amongst the pile of cushions on thetapestry couch and stretched.
"Such a hard life,Wally." Kate walked over and picked him up, smiling as he purred into her neck,his whiskers tickling her skin. She continued to hold him and stroked aroundhis ears as she walked into the tiny compact kitchen. The cat jumped from herarms when she got closer to the fridge. While Kate opened the door and took outhis tinned food, he wound himself in and out of her legs. "Cupboard love,Wally, it's all cupboard love."
At least that was theonly demands her cat had on her. Food, the occasional loving cuddles and aspace on her bed at night. Those demands she could cope with, it was safer thatway. Her cat couldn't break her heart or pretend she wasn't there, unlike theonly man who had made her young heart flutter. As a teenager, Cade had neveracknowledged her existence unless he wanted something from her.
Now he was home andthings were different. She was in charge but he still had the ability to makeher legs tremble and her heart ache. If only Kate could have outgrown theteenage crush she had on him, life would be so much easier. Kate stroked Wallywhile he ate contentedly. She stood and headed for her bedroom, where shestripped her work clothes off and dropped them on the floor before walking intothe en-suite.
The full length mirrorin the bathroom showed off her curves and Kate looked at her reflection with acritical eye. She was fit and the hard work showed in the toned condition ofher body. She’d always been a physical, tomboy type so it was a naturalprogression to jump at the job Cade’s father had advertised.
He alone had known howmuch she needed a steady job and a place to live. Her own father was constantlyin trouble with the law for petty crime and that had made her mother turn toalcohol when Kate was still in high school. But Mr Williams was the first oneto approach her after her parents were killed in a car accident, leaving herwith no family of her own. Both of them were drinking and fighting when theycrashed. The only blessing was they’d left Kate home alone to fend for herself,as they more often than not did.
Essie had taken herunder 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 withfigures, she thought ahead and planned what would happen stock-wise onspreadsheets she kept taped on the wall beside her bunk.
Eventually the headstockman found out and instead of ignoring the petite redhead, he had taken herto see Mr Williams and asked if he could groom her for the job.
Essie had cooked her dinnerever since she’d been made manager and didn't have to share stockmen’s quartersand dining room with the rest of the farmhands. She’d said it was expected andKate was grateful for the quieter room and better food. Although she had herown
