Coming Home (29 page)

"You’ve already
proved more than you need to. I love you, Stevie Taylor. I always have."

Stevie said goodbye and
left Rooney in the care of Essie before heading back to town. He was almost at
the Police Station when his mobile rang.

"Taylor."

"Stevie, it's
Russ. I wonder if you have time to call in and see me today?"

"Sure, what's
up." He listened while Russ filled him in on what he needed help with.
"Fine. I'll meet you in your office in half an hour."

As he passed a service
station, he pulled over and brought the morning’s paper. On the front page was
a photo of Rooney and Stubbs, and a smaller one further down of Lizzie when
she’d been brought in for questioning five years prior.

"Hell, this is the
last thing she needs." He threw the paper on the front seat of his car and
headed into the office to sort out his roster and make plans for the rest of
the week.

Then he drove to the
hospital. Tucking the newspaper under his arm, Stevie walked inside and asked
directions to Russ's office. He walked in and sat in the corner to wait.

He heard footsteps
approaching and a muffled giggle of a young lady. The door opened and Russ
appeared.

"I knew you would
come to your senses when you read the real story of Lizzie Stanley in the paper
today." Diane walked in clutching onto Russ's arm. When she saw Stevie
sitting in the corner, she stopped.

"Come in, Diane.
Have a seat." Russ walked behind his desk. "You know Senior Sergeant
Taylor?"

"Diane."
Stevie stood and walked behind her to stand at the door.

"What's this all
about?" She twisted her fingers together and looked up at Russ with
frightened eyes.

"I've asked Sergeant
Taylor in today because of something on the front page of the newspaper. Did
you have anything to do with that?"

"What? I didn't
kill that man. That was your sister’s fault from all accounts."

"What Doctor
Williams is asking, Diane, is did you have anything to do with the comments
regarding Nurse Stanley and what happened to her years ago?"

"I don't know what
you mean?" She sat with her hands gripping the arms of the chair, her
knuckles showing white and he could see her attitude changing as she realised
what was happening.

"There is a
reference to other cases of homicides in the area with regard to crime
statistics. It would appear someone has given information to the paper about a
case Elizabeth was involved in some years ago."

"Why would that have
anything to do with me?" She glanced up at Russ, her eyes pleading.

"Speaking to my
source at the paper, they said they got a call from a female member of the
public concerned about the rate of crime in our town. Said person made sure my
source remembered the incident and also pointed out that she was cleared under
muddled circumstances."

"Well, it's true,
isn't it?" She turned to glare at Stevie, her temper rising. "I heard
all about it. She got off because of connections with the police or something.
Everyone knows she was involved and her boyfriend didn't just happen to pull
the gun on himself." She shook her head and glanced at Russ. "You're
a fool, Doctor Williams, to fall for someone who has a past when you could have
any other girl in this place including me." Diane stood up, lifting her
chin. "Your loss, I suppose."

"I think not,
Diane. I would strongly suggest you go and see Human Resources about finding
another position at a different hospital before I approach them myself. I don't
want your kind of poison in this department." Russ walked over and held
the door open for her. "I'll let Nurse Stanley know you won't be
back."

"That was plain
nasty." Stevie sighed. "Has Lizzie seen the paper, do you know?"

Russ shook his head.
"I'm not sure. She’s off me anyway, so I'm probably the last person she
would talk to."

"Okay, I'll go and
have a word with her." He paused by the door. "Russ, if you care for
her at all, let her tell you the story of what went down. She is the innocent
person in all of this."

"I'm sure she is,
but I doubt she’ll give me a shot after this."

"Might be time you
stood up and fought for what you wanted. Rooney told me to remind you of what
she said."

"How is my sister
this morning?"

"She is fine.
Still a little bit rocky but that's to be expected. She asked me to stay again.
I doubt I’ll be leaving. I hope you're okay with that."

"Why are you
asking me? It's not like I have any say in my sister’s love-life."

"No, but the house
was left to the three of you. I was planning on running it past your brother as
well. I don't want to stand on anyone's toes here."

"Stevie, you can
move in permanently. I don't care." Russ shuffled some papers on his desk.

"Right,
thanks." Stevie looked at him and then down at his feet, nervous for a
second. "Look, I know I don't have to do this, but it kind of feels right
somehow. I want to ask Rooney to marry me."

Russ grinned, a smile
that reached his eyes. "Are you asking me if you can have my sister’s
hand? Well, well, that is one for the books."

"I figured since
you’re the head of the family it was only right. Mind you, if you say no, I
doubt it will make any difference." He was relieved nonetheless.

"If you didn't
marry her, I’d be angry. Of course you have my blessing. It’s time Tam had a
father, and you and Rooney got your act together."

"Great, thanks.
Now I have to find a ring and the right time to get down on one knee." He
reached over and shook Russ's hand. "Now I think I should go and have a
chat to Lizzie, try and set her mind at rest over this whole damned thing.
She’ll take it hard."

Stevie walked down the
corridor to her office and knocked on the door. Hearing her call out, he walked
in, closing the door behind him.

"Lizzie, how are
you?" He stepped over and took a seat in front of her desk. "Have you
read this morning's paper yet?"

Kate rolled out of bed
and stretched. Today was going to be a wonderful day. Today she was going to
work with Cade and when they finished, she intended bringing him home to her
bed. The thought made her smile as she bounced around the room, getting ready
for work.

She'd slept in and that
was okay once in a while. She needed the rest after the emotions of yesterday.
Cade had been so kind, holding her while she wept, and her feelings for him had
ratcheted up a few notches.

She’d told him how she
felt about him, and he hadn't run at her admission. Most of her night had been
spent planning her next step. Finally, before she fell asleep, Kate had worked
out how she was going to seduce him.

Grabbing a clean shirt
and pair of jeans, she dressed and hurried over to the big house for breakfast,
and to let Essie know what she needed. When she walked in, Cade sat at the
island counter with Rooney. She stopped at the door, her heart pounding as she
gazed at their two blonde heads close together.

Cade was closer and she
got to ogle his profile for a few seconds until he noticed her in the room.
"Morning, boss, had a late night?"

"Hmm, just a
little bit restless. Slept in though, sorry." She walked over to kiss
Essie good morning.

"What have you got
to be sorry for? You're the boss. You can do what you want." He sipped his
coffee and patted the stool next to him.

Kate walked over and
hopped up. When Essie brought her coffee over, she wrapped her hands around it
trying to stay the excitement building in her body. "How did you sleep,
Rooney?"

"Shocking.
Nightmares unfortunately. Russ gave me a tablet and I slept in too. But I feel
much better today."

"That's
good." She glanced at Cade. "I wonder if you would mind starting in
the office for me today? There is so much paperwork to deal with and I'd rather
be out on the farm today."

"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.