Cade gripped the edgeof the island counter. "For your information Essie, I do think aboutothers." He looked back at Rooney. "Just tell me what you need, andI’ll do what I can."
Tam looked at him withone eyebrow raised as if she was still deciding whether or not he was tellingthe truth.
"Tomorrow we’ll goand make a start then," Rooney said. "I need to get you booked intoschool too, Tam." She laughed when that comment was met with a glare."I've already told you, honey, you have to go to school. You'll makefriends easily. It's only a small country school and they’re mostly farmkids."
"When do I have tostart?"
Cade's heartmelted at the lost look in her eyes. The girl had spunk and he liked that. Shealso had a soft side and he hoped the spunk won out more. Despite the face heshowed to the public, girly girls didn’t appeal to him and considering who hermother was, he doubted she would be too frilly.
"How about Monday?That way you can spend the next couple of days with me cleaning and gettingsorted. Over the weekend you can find your way around the farm." Rooneyspoke with a firm tone that left Cade in no doubt she was in control of herchild.
"Yes, Mum."
"So, how bad isthis place? Has Tory seen it?" Cade sipped the coffee and waited for ananswer.
"He was the onewho told me about it. It’s pretty feral. It smells disgusting and I doubt ifanyone’s inside and opened a window for years." She laughed, the soundfilling the kitchen. "I don't have a choice, Cade and that's okay. I'mused to hard work. It's how I've managed all these years."
"I can come overand give you a couple of hours. If I get my work done here in the morning, I’llcome over with lunch and spend a bit of time before I have to come back and getdinner ready." Essie stopped chopping vegetables and looked at Cade."I know you’ll help her because it's what you should do."
"Yes, Essie. Youknow I will." Cade gave a conspiratorial wink to his sister. "How areyou going to drum up business? Do you have a marketing plan or anything?"
"Uh, not yet. I’mgoing to clean up first and put a notice in the paper when I’m ready. I stillhave to buy some equipment when I can afford it. Tory is going to transfermoney into our accounts next week. It won't be much, but something to work withfor a start."
"Great, I can dowith some cash."
Rooney looked at himwith a frown on her face. "You earn heaps, Cade. Don't tell me you spendit as fast as you earn it?"
He dropped his head andtraced a pattern on the counter top with his finger. His inability to savemoney was one of the things his manager constantly harped on. "You knowhow it is, I have a standard to uphold and I'm still young. Plenty of time tosave money."
"You are soirresponsible. I thought you would know better than that. Always save half ofwhat you earn, Dad always said that. Even when he dished out pocket money, hetold us to save half."
"Yeah well, movingon to the next subject. I'll meet you there tomorrow, about nine. I'm enjoyingmy sleep-ins while I can."
Rooney shook her headand walked away in disgust, leaving him with a sick feeling creeping up his gutto stick in his throat. He didn't care what anyone else thought of him butRooney was different. She had always looked up to him, her hero. Now he sawthat hero-worship fading away.
Chapter Fifteen
Russ scrubbed hishands. It was late and the emergency room was finally quiet. The evening shifthad taken over and he needed to get his paperwork done so he could head for home,and a much needed meal and sleep. A major car accident had kept them all rushedoff their feet for most of the day. They’d stabilised the driver and injuredpassenger before they were airlifted to Maitland Hospital where a surgeon wason standby, ready to operate.
He dried his hands andheaded to his office, taking off his white coat as he walked. When Russ droppedinto his chair, he rubbed his hands over his face.
"Ready forhome?" One of the younger nurses leaned against the door frame, watchinghim. She ran her hand down the neck of her uniform top, popping open the topbutton.
"Yes, Diane. Icertainly am. It's been a big day all round. Shouldn't you be off dutytoo?" He smiled.
"I just wanted tocheck on you and make sure there was nothing else you needed DoctorWilliams." The suggestive way she pouted her lips made Russ' stomachclench. Nurse Stanley's words came back to mind. "I prefer to keepthings professional Doctor Williams, especially around the younger nursingstaff."
"Thanks Diane. Ihave everything I need. I won't keep you any longer. Night." Russ turnedto his computer and started working, ignoring the girl at the doorway.Eventually he heard a huff of breath and glanced up to see her sashay down thehallway, her displeasure at being brushed off obvious.
Thank goodness forthat. Russ had so far in the first week, had everyeligible nurse hit on him, ask him to dinner, make suggestive moves orblatantly touch him when they were alone.
He didn't want a sleazyaffair in the broom closet with someone too young or immature, or someone onlyout for what they thought he could give them. That romance had been and gone,and he didn't want to repeat it.
Russ thought of theonly woman who had even touched the block of ice in his chest called a heart.Elizabeth Stanley was the one person who hadn't made a move to get to know himbetter, and he pondered on asking her out on a date. Deciding against it fornow, he concentrated on getting his notes done before turning off his computer.He took his jacket off the coat hanger in the closet, shrugging it over hisshoulders. Taking a final glance around the office, Russ took his keys andflicked off the light switch before walking out.
He passed through the emergencyward on his way to the
