My Estranged Lover (Middlemarch Shifters Book 5) (14 page)

“Yes. I should get moving. I didn’t think to organize the boys.”

“All in hand.” Marsh sounded smug. “Dara said it was no trouble collecting them after the school session. I’ll drop them off at school before I head off to join the men. Hamish said it won’t matter if I’m late. They know we’re juggling family commitments.”

“Are you sure?”

He moved back a fraction and slid his hand over her butt. He gave it a quick slap. “You’d better get moving or you’ll have a kitchen load of hungry men and no food prepared.”

Caroline rolled out of bed. “Thanks.” She leaned over to give him a kiss and laughed when she noticed him leering at her breasts. She tweaked his nose. “Enough of that, Mr. Rutherford. We don’t have time for mischief this morning.”

“Is that what you call it?”

With another laugh, she scuttled off to shower and change. Fifteen minutes later, after checking on the boys, she left the house, her steps brisk, her gaze darting from left to right as she hurried to the main homestead.

She arrived to find Hamish, the man the workers took orders from while Cam was away, sitting at the dining table, a mug of tea in his hands. The stew she’d put on to cook in the crockpot smelled amazing.

“Am I late?”

“No, you’re not late, lass. There was a problem with the stock late last night. We’re missing a hundred head of our prize merinos.”

“Rustlers?”

“Looks like.”

“Rustlers hit around Middlemarch just before we left. Marsh’s father lost stock, and no one saw a thing. Evidently, they are brazen thieves.”

“So were this lot. It was pure chance I was outside and heard a truck.”

“What time was this?”

“About nine.”

“Something growled at me while I was walking home.” A nervous laugh escaped. “Scared the crap out of me. Do you think they had dogs?”

He shot her a sharp look. “Possibly. Anyhow, we’ll be more alert now. Damn if Cam doesn’t have enough to worry him.”

Caroline checked on the stew in the crockpot. Perfect.

“Smells good,” Hamish said.

“Breakfast will be half an hour yet. If you can keep a secret, I’ll give you a plate now. That’s if you’re okay eating meat at this time of the day.”

“Sounds good,” he said in his gruff voice. “It’s good of you to help out. It’s one thing off Cam’s mind.”

“I enjoy cooking, and you’re full of compliments. It’s making me feel important.”

“Food is important, lass. We can’t work on empty stomachs.”

“No chance of that,” she said as she lifted the lid off the enormous slow cooker.

Caroline gave Hamish his stew and chatted to him about life on Glenshee station.

“Gets cold in the middle of winter. Didn’t have a big storm last year. Reckon we’re due.”

“I’ve always lived in the south,” Caroline said. “I know about bad winters.”

“We’ll get cut off,” he warned.

“Are you trying to scare me?”

He barked out a laugh. “Maybe. You’re a nice lady. I don’t want you to go silly with cabin fever.”

“I’ll be fine.”

The phone rang, and Hamish rose to answer the call. Cam, she deduced as she cracked three dozen eggs and whisked in milk and condiments. By the time the men tromped into the kitchen, some bleary-eyed, the eggs were ready and bacon and sausages kept warm in the oven.

“Can I have a volunteer to make toast?”

“I’ll do it.” Hamish grabbed the stack of bread she’d cut and shoved six pieces into the toaster while the men started on cereal. “Most of you have heard that someone has stolen our sheep. Since the bastards found it so easy the first time, they’ll return. We will take turns doing night patrols. I’ll let you know times once I’ve worked out the logistics. Cam and Maria will be back today since they’re discharging Maria this morning.” He glanced at Caroline. “He’s trying to organize one of Maria’s friends to take over part of the cooking, so we don’t scare you off, Caroline.”

She nodded, part of her disappointed but at least she’d have time to work on the dresses she’d promised Tomasine and Isabella.

“I want team one to muster the sheep at the top paddock. You’ll need to stay over at Red Hill hut tonight. Team two you’re on rabbit patrol this evening in the western paddock. I want you to check the fencing in the Hut paddock and do a count of the flock. I want to know the exact tally of missing sheep. Team three we’re going to crutch the ewes and give them health checks.” He plucked the slices of toast free and handed them off to the men before loading more bread in the toaster. “Any questions?”

Once again, the differences between the way Cam ran his farm and Marsh’s father struck Caroline. The men here worked as a team with little grumbling and they attacked their working day in enthusiasm.

With their bellies full and tasks allocated, the men drifted from the kitchen, leaving her alone. Caroline got stuck into the dishes, then started to make more bread.

The
whop-whop
of the helicopter sounded overhead midmorning, and she washed her floury hands to put on the jug to make a hot drink. Cam and Maria entered the kitchen ten minutes later, and Caroline turned to greet them.

Maria’s face was pale, her vibrant personality missing as she forced a smile. “Thanks for covering for me.”

“No problem. You look as if you need to rest.”

“I’m tired. Didn’t sleep well with the ward hullabaloo.”

“Hospitals are noisy places,” Caroline said.

“I’m thinking of taking Maria for two weeks holiday. Her sister keeps asking us to visit her in the Bay of Islands, but there is never time. This health scare has made me realize too much work isn’t good.” Cam’s voice was gruff, his expression concerned as he studied his wife. “We haven’t had a holiday for years.”

“You should go,” Caroline said. “I’m coping with the meals. Hamish has stuff under control on the station.” She crossed her fingers behind her back, not wanting to worry Cam with the stock thefts.

“What do you think, Maria? We could leave tomorrow.”

“Caroline will need help in the kitchen. I haven’t found anyone to help yet. She should have time off at the same time as Marsh.”

“Hush, sweetheart. Let’s get you up to bed and comfy, then I’ll sort out logistics.”

Chapter Eight

Three days later, Caroline settled James and Ricky at the kitchen table with paper and crayons. She gave her youngest son a stern glance. “No drawing on the table. If I see one little drawing not on your paper, I won’t give you any cake or cookies for ten days. That’s one day for every finger,” she added when he opened his mouth. “Do you understand?”

He nodded vigorously, dark curls falling over his eyes. She hadn’t considered haircuts. Someone on the station must cut hair or maybe somewhere in Twizel. Marsh had promised them a trip to see Mount Cook this coming weekend.

A weekend. She was trying not to get too excited, but it was such a treat to go somewhere as a family.

“Should I make Shepherd’s Pie or do a roast dinner tonight?”

“Roast,” James said.

She ruffled his hair as he looked up from his drawing. Another leopard. “Do you like leopards?”

He nodded, his black curls as long as his brother’s.

“They come with spots too.”

He cocked his head and considered his picture. Two large leopards lounged on rocks while two smaller leopards played below. All leopards were soot black while the background in his drawing resembled the station scenery. As she watched, James sketched a figure—a woman. “Why is there a lady in your picture?”

James glanced up at her and shrugged. “Just is.”

She smoothed a rebellious curl. “I think you will look after us in our old age with the proceeds from your wonderful drawings.” He’d drawn a lady in his other big cat drawings too even though she’d told him that his big cats might eat the lady.

Satisfied the boys were occupied, she turned her mind to the coming meals. The packed lunches were ready for the men who were working away from the homestead today, and someone would collect them soon. Six of the men were coming for lunch and she’d have the full contingent for dinner because the mustering team had arrived back from the far hut. Vegetables. She could do them now and parboil them.

Caroline got to work on potatoes, pumpkin and kumara, peeling the vegetables, washing and tossing them in one of Maria’s huge pots.

A scratching noise at the outer door had her head lifting. An instant later the door sprang open and something big, something black, burst inside. Caroline let out an
eep
of surprise then screamed as she realized a humongous leopard had entered her kitchen. She grabbed the kitchen knife.

“Don’t move,” she ordered the boys, her voice holding a distinct tremor.

The black leopard skidded to a stop and stared at her with intense green eyes.

Caroline stayed rooted in place, knife held in front of her as she stared back. “Shoo! Get out of my kitchen.” She waved the knife, glanced at her two boys. Thankfully, they weren’t doing anything to attract the animal’s attention.

The leopard prowled closer.

“Out!” Caroline screeched. Her heart tried to claw its way up her throat. “Get out!”

Outside, she heard running feet. Marsh appeared in the doorway.

“What’s wrong? I’ve come to—” He spotted the leopard. “Crap.”

Caroline expected him to run for help, to pick up the nearest weapon, to protect the boys. He did none of these things.

“Out,” he ordered, standing aside.

To Caroline’s astonishment, the leopard obeyed Marsh and trotted out the door.

“I’ve come for the lunches.”

“Where did it come from? What’s it doing here? Why is it wandering around?”

Marsh entered the kitchen and closed the door behind him. He crossed the distance between them and pried the knife from her hand. She dropped it on the counter with a clatter. Reaction set in and she trembled.

Marsh drew her into his arms. “Shhh, it’s all right.”

“B-but there was a leopard in the kitchen.” She glanced at the boys and neither of them appeared upset. “A black one, just like James’s drawings.”

“I know. Caroline.” Marsh cursed, and she pulled back in surprise. He seldom swore, and she hadn’t heard him curse since they’d arrived at Glenshee. “I have to tell you something.”

“What?”

“Damn, I need to get back with the lunches. They’re waiting on me.”

“You can’t go outside with that leopard.” She gripped his forearm. “We have to let the others know. The children… What are you doing?”

Marsh flung off his shirt and bent to unfasten his work boots. “This is the quickest way.”

Caroline stared in bemusement as Marsh stripped off every item of clothing.

“Stand over there with the boys. I don’t want you near the knife.”

When she hesitated in confusion, he shunted her in their sons’ direction.

“But the leopard—”

“I’m getting to that. Damn, I’m an idiot.”

Caroline opened her mouth to ask questions, then blinked. What was wrong with Marsh? His face, his arms… She blinked again. Hard.

Marsh’s body shimmered and glow. His big shoulders bowed, and he hunched farther forward, dropping to his hands and knees.

Marsh, he…she closed her eyes and opened them again just in time to see Marsh’s handsome face turn into something different. Something feline. Black.

The transformation didn’t take long, but time ticked off in slow motion.

Her legs trembled so badly, she grasped for the nearest chair and directed her body toward the hard wooden seat. She missed and fell.

The big black leopard—Marsh—prowled toward her and she scrambled backward in a panic before the wall at her back halted retreat.

“Stay there. Don’t come any closer.”

The leopard let out a huff and sat on his haunches.

Ricky wriggled off his chair and raced toward the leopard.

Caroline opened her mouth but only a croak emerged.

Ricky threw himself at the leopard and crawled on its back.

“Ricky, come here,” she managed.

“I want to play,” Ricky said.

The leopard—she couldn’t think of it as her husband—nudged Ricky with his big head and directed him back to his seat. Then, he stood back, and the reverse happened. The feline face wavered, bones creaked and cracked as they reshaped to the more familiar figure of her husband. Without looking at her, he grabbed his clothes and dressed.

He glanced at her, his face a map of disappointment. “I should have told you years ago, when we first married, but Mum and Dad didn’t approve of me marrying a human and they thought you’d freak and tell everyone. Saber told me to tell you as soon as possible. Hell, Cam told me too.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “I wanted our marriage on a stable path again before I told you. I intended to tell you this weekend.”

“Saber told you?”

“The Mitchell family are the same as me.”