DRAGONJULS Storybook
Disclaimer and Acknowledgements: See Part One
Part 3
Chapter Eight
Grace had been good company for the hour they had been chatting, mainly about her visit to Sydney and what to do about Jace Bardley should she want to leave earlier than the doctor ordered!
“It’s entirely up to her if she wants to leave before I return Grace.”
“Yes, I know, but she would be foolish to do so, it’s bad enough she’s fallen ill because of the weather here!”
“Aren’t you forgetting something Grace?” Catherine raised that ever-formidable eyebrow.
“No, I don’t think so! What do you mean?” Grace asked the woman who sat closely observing their feverish guest.
“It’s not because of the weather, although in a way it is. It’s because I left them out there on an exposed ridge in bloody terrible conditions. God only knows if there are others feeling the same way?”
Grace knew that plagued the woman sitting only a foot away from her. She looked so dejected, which was not something you associated with Catherine Warriorson.
“Well, I don’t think she will blame you for leaving them Catherine. She did come back to see you after you laid down the challenge, didn’t she? Does that sound like someone who is blaming you for her predicament?”
Catherine looked up at Grace and noticed her frown slightly.
“You know something Grace, for the first time in years, it’s important for me to put this situation right. Though just how I’m going to do that is beyond me at the moment.”
Grace once again looked at the small woman in the bed, totally ignorant to the conversation going on around her, and the restless woman who was gently pushing back the soaked tendrils of hair from her forehead.
“Maybe if you just do what you’ve been doing in the last few hours, it will work itself out. Ms Bardley will still be here Catherine, trust me.”
“I’m going to hold you to that Grace.” Catherine got up from her seat by the bed, and moved towards the door. “I need to make a couple of calls, will you stay here for a little while longer?”
“Sure, it’s no hardship.” Grace smiled at her boss.
Catherine left the room and Grace turned her attention back to their guest.
‘What hold do you have on her, Jace Bardley? As sure as the sun goes down everyday, something in you has awakened some powerful emotions. I sure hope you can handle it, and she lets you!’
**********
Jace woke up from a very haunting dream. It was elusive to say the least, but she was sure it held someone with the most hypnotic blue eyes she'd ever seen in her life.
Opening her eyes, she noticed a small bedside light switched on at a table close to the bed. A tall woman was seated close by and was reading a book, a leather bound volume that looked like it had been well read over a number of years.
With the little movement in the bed, the woman looked up from her reading and Jace held her breath as she gazed into the hypnotic blue eyes from her dream.
“Hey, how do you feel?” A low gravely voice asked, the eyes never leaving her face.
Jace couldn’t answer. She was trying to decide if it was the fact that her throat hurt and felt dry, or the concern in those eyes that held her captive.
Catherine noticed Jace had difficulty answering and suddenly realised she might need a drink. “Do you want a drink?” She went over to the tray that held water and the pills the doctor had prescribed.
Taking a glass and a couple of the pills she walked back over to Jace and knelt beside the bed. Never taking her eyes from the small vulnerable woman huddled in the bed, she gently motioned for Jace to take the glass.
Unsuccessfully Jace tried to sit up, but the room spun and almost made her sick. Noticing the sudden change of pallor in the younger woman, Catherine put down the glass on the floor and reached for the woman in support.
“Hey, it’s okay, I’ve got you!” Catherine spoke softly into the nearest ear.
Jace starred into the beautiful chiselled features of her host and smiled briefly as a wave of nausea came over her again.
Catherine held the slight woman in her arms with Jace’s head gently lay on her broad shoulder. Noticing that Jace was shivering again, she gently laid her back in the bed.
“I’m going to help you drink this Jace. It might be uncomfortable, but you need to get some fluids back into your body and the medication the doctor left. Okay, you ready?”
Jace’s green eyes looked trustingly into warm ice blue ones. Nodding her head, she waited to be pulled back into that strong embrace.
Catherine held Jace securely on her right side and put her head on her shoulder again, balancing the weak and weary woman as she put out her left hand to retrieve the glass of water.
‘Damn how am I going to get the pills, they’re in my right hand?’
Gently placing the glass next to Jace’s lips she tipped the glass back slowly and saw Jace take her first sip. Eventually, with care, she drank enough to satisfy Catherine. Placing the glass back on the floor, she removed the pills from her right hand and looked back at the drowsing face held close to her shoulder.
“Sorry Jace, but you need to take these pills too!”
Jace grimaced but opened her mouth a little for Catherine to pop them into her mouth, then reaching for the glass of water she placed it back to Jace’s lips for her to take another drink. “Hey that’s my girl. You did well.” Catherine smiled as she congratulated Jace on getting the pills and water down without difficulty.
“How about we both did well?” Jace replied quietly, looking back into the blue eyes, which she never wanted to stop looking into.
“Oh, I don’t know about that! But, let’s lay you back down, get you comfortable, then let you get more sleep. You will feel better for it.”
Catherine smiled back at Jace, something was definitely pulling her towards this woman and for the life of her she didn’t understand it at all.
Jace pulled a face as Catherine let her gently down and replaced the covers back around the slight form.
Noticing the change in Jace’s face, she couldn’t help herself; she needed to know what the woman was thinking. “Hey, what’s the face for?”
Jace blushed as she tried to look away from the piercing glance.
‘Christ I don’t know how to answer that! I know what I’d love to say, but she definitely wouldn’t be expecting that.’
Catherine saw the blush and that puzzled her. “You going to answer me?”
“I guess I was more comfortable in your arms than laying here in the bed.” Jace closed her eyes as she spoke.
Catherine almost choked as she spluttered, “What....what do you mean?”
Jace opened her eyes and saw that Catherine Warriorson looked really uncomfortable and wasn’t that a blush seeping over her face?
“I.... I was having dreams when I slept earlier, but when you held me, I felt safe and secure. Weird I know, I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed you.”
Catherine digested this piece of information and briefly smiled.
“Are they bad dreams?”
“Not sure, they are sort of elusive when I wake up, but they sure tire me out. I don’t feel rested at all.”
“Do you often have dreams?” Catherine continued.
“Sometimes, but last night and today they just seem so persistent.” Jace wanted to say that they all had one thing in common ‘hypnotic blue eyes’ Catherine Warriorson’s eyes!
Smiling briefly and looking away from Jace towards the window and the darkness outside, “Well, if you have any more dreams and I can help out, you just tell me okay?”
Jace smiled tiredly and closed her eyes at the pleasant thoughts that drifted through her mind.
“Thanks Catherine, I might just take you up on that offer.”
Catherine looked out of the window and noticed Colin Montgomery pacing outside he looked none too happy.
Turning back she noticed that Jace had fallen back into a somewhat more restful sleep pattern.
‘Let’s hope she stays like that! Not sure what Grace would make of me being used as a pillow for the young woman. There again, when did I care what people think about me! Must be getting soft all of a sudden.’
She quietly left the room to find a mug of tea.
************
Chapter Nine:
It was close to midnight and Grace had gone to bed, the house had been secured for the night and only a light shone under the door of the guestroom inhabited by Jace Bardley.
Anyone looking into the room would notice the outline of a small person in the double bed, which was the centrepiece of the room. To the left of the bed was a bedside table with a small lamp illuminating the room with a soft glow. Beside that a large comfortable chair was tucked next to the bed, residing on the chair was a tall figure, reading a book. The room was peaceful and anyone not knowing otherwise would think it a fairly normal scene it looked so comfortable.
An hour earlier Grace had said she would spend the night looking out for Jace, as Catherine had to leave later in the day to travel to Sydney and she needed to get some rest, not having much the previous evening.
“It’s okay Grace, I don’t sleep for long anyway. What’s the difference if I sleep those short hours in a chair? Better one of us gets some rest, and you will have to take the watch once I’m gone.”
Looking at Catherine and knowing the logic behind the statement she backed off. “I’ll get breakfast for the usual time then?”
“Yeah, sounds good to me, I need to leave by nine in the morning, so it will be ideal. Hopefully, our patient will be sufficiently improved by then.”
“I hope so, guess it will be a day or two before she feels well enough to cause you too much hassle around here.”
Catherine laughed at the comment from her housekeeper and friend. “Oh, I think Jace Bardley attracts trouble Grace, it’s a feeling I have about her.”
“Is that good trouble or bad?” Grace laughed along with her boss.
“Depends who goes to her defence I guess.”
“Would you?” Grace looked directly at Catherine and noticed she blushed slightly at the comment.
“Maybe, then that would be bad trouble wouldn’t you think?” Catherine grinned wickedly at Grace.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that, I get the feeling you two together would make quite a team!”
“You do huh? Now, why would that be exactly?”
Grace smiled wryly at her and walked towards her tall employer, who in the space of twenty-four hours had willingly let down some of her defences. Placing a hand on the woman’s shoulder she gently squeezed it.
“Because I think you have found a friend Catherine, however remarkable that maybe. It might just be your destiny, don’t define it; just let it happen. Maybe it will bring you some measure of happiness.” Without waiting for a reply she left the room.
Catherine was stunned at the comment.
‘My destiny! A friend! Yes. Maybe, I could in time call Jace Bardley a friend. We sure seem to have rapport. Happiness isn’t in my realm of things to look forward to; but, a small piece of my heart is reaching out to touch the tender thought, a need so overwhelming it hurts.’
Suddenly Jace started to thrash around in the bed and Catherine moved quickly and silently to the small body, obviously in distress. Pulling the covers aside she noticed that Jace was soaked with perspiration and her clothes really should be changed.
Walking over to the dressing table, she opened the first draw and noticed nothing that would be useful. The next draw proved equally as unsuccessful. So she quickly arranged the sheet over the woman and left for her own room. Rummaging around she found an Old University T-shirt and a pair of towelling shorts.
Getting back to the other room as quickly as possible she noticed the sheet on the floor of the room, having been kicked off by Jace and her thrashing around the bed.
‘Hell, she’s going to hurt herself if she doesn’t calm down.’
Gently taking Jace’s shoulder she tried to wake the woman from her restless slumber, noting the fever had begun to take hold again.
“Hey Jace, I need you wake up for a little while. What do you say?”
Not really expecting a response, she thought that maybe she would have to wake Grace to help her with the younger woman.
‘God, Grace will be asleep now, it’s not fair to her. Surely I can do this alone!’
Taking the bottom of the shirt Jace was wearing she gently eased it over her head and carefully wrapped the sheet around her as she picked up the T-shirt and shorts she had dropped on the table when she came back in the room.
This woman was so slight in her arms Catherine felt a slight tremor in her hands as she removed the sheet and noted the all over tan that Jace had acquired, obviously in California. It certainly enhanced the beauty of the woman she held. Closing those thoughts she carefully pulled the shirt over her head and down her body, it was so big it covered to her knees.
Not sure if she should bother with the shorts, she placed them at the end of the bed and gently lay Jace back down. The thrashing didn’t stop and Catherine pondered that problem.
Only one thing for it!
Taking off her shoes and her jeans she climbed onto the bed and took Jace back into her arms. Her left hand gently stroked the blonde hair falling over her eyes, and her right arm snaked round her waist and held her tightly.
“I’ve got you Jace, just hang in there. Tomorrow it’s going to be better, wait and see,” Catherine whispered into her ear.
Jace feeling the comforting arms around her, put her head down on Catherine’s shoulder and the thrashing ceased, arms that had been pulling the bedclothes apart, suddenly moved to clasp the tall woman closer and a sigh came from the laboured breathing of the smaller woman.
Catherine hadn’t really known if her action would be welcome, but it sure seemed to be working. Being a very private woman, she wasn’t particularly comfortable with the closeness of Jace. It was something she’d always had difficulty with, especially after her mother had died. Now here she was with a near stranger, in her home, in her guest bed and being used as a giant pillow. Within minutes her eyes started to close and she felt very tired, she had become in a short space of time, comfortable! Giving in to her body’s craving for sleep, she closed her eyes and dropped off into her own dreamscape.
*********
Jace woke up and felt rested and secure, her senses telling her she was in a safe haven and that hadn’t happened before.
Her head although still rather fuzzy, didn’t have the percussion instruments doing a warm up in her head, well for the moment at any rate. She then glanced at the warm pillow she was nestled into and almost jumped out of her skin.
‘Hades, how did this happen?’ she thought as she noticed the even breathing of the sleeping Catherine Warriorson. Her face looked younger somehow in sleep. Although the tension she seemed to carry around with her in her waking hours, wasn’t far away; Jace felt it as she lay still against this beautiful woman.
‘God’s this is a nightmare!’
Then a voice inside her head told her she was being foolish.
‘You’re right, it’s a dream and a wonderful dream, if I never ever get to experience this again, I will always cherish this moment. She is so lovely and so lonely.’ Jace couldn’t help the final thought filtering through.
Moving her right hand she gently pushed the ebony hair away from her lips, its length making Catherine almost eat it, as it had broken away from its usually restrained ponytail.
That gentle brush of her hand across Catherine’s mouth woke the woman up. Looking around her, distracted for the moment, she then realised her position and looked into Jace Bardley’s tender green eyes.
Smiling briefly, the blue eyes warming as she locked her gaze with the green one. “Hey, how you doing?” Catherine’s voice was almost a growl, and to Jace, whose senses had slipping into an almost sensual haze, sexy was the only word for it.
Jace swallowed several times and smiled. “A little better thanks.”
“Great, do you need anything?”
Jace knew then and there that she was in love! Her heart was telling her and her head for once wasn’t overriding the emotions.
“I would love some water.”
“Okay, wait right there I’ll get it.” Catherine slipped out of the bed, walked with fluid movements to the water jug and she filled the glass, bringing along a couple of the pills.
Jace had a chance to watch this spectacle and it had her heart pumping ten to the dozen.
‘If I die now, looking at those legs and that toned body, I know I’ll be in heaven.’
Catherine turned around suddenly and saw a look on Jace’s face that under normal circumstances, she would have said held desire. But the woman was ill, so the flush and the glazed expression in her eyes were probably more fever induced than anything else, although it made Catherine’s stomach tighten a little at the thought. ‘Christ I must be more tired than I thought, this kid is getting to me.’
Walking back to the bed, she held the glass for Jace to take a drink and then passed her the pills. Taking them and then another drink, Catherine placed the glass back on the tray and went towards the chair, picking up a blanket along the way.
Jace was gutted, she thought that Catherine would come back too bed. A tear slowly rolled down her cheek at the loss, her heart tightened in her chest and all she could feel was pain.
Catherine suddenly looked at Jace and noticed the tears now tracking down the pale face.
“Jace, what’s wrong?” Catherine went quickly towards the bed and touched the trail of tears on her cheek.
“Nothing, nothing I’m just tired I guess.” Jace said tearfully.
“Is there anything I can do?” Catherine asked tentatively, not knowing really what to do. Sensitive stuff was way beyond her. It had always been that way. Even Adam had been the one to talk to their son when he had hurt himself or something had upset him.
Jace just looked wearily at her and something in her eyes must have given a message to the concerned blue ones above. “How about I get back into the bed, and you use me as a giant pillow and get some rest, you need it Jace.”
Had the gods been smiling on her this trip or what!
“I’d appreciate that, but are you okay with this?”
“Sure, would you believe it’s the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years. But don’t you go telling anyone that I’m the next best thing to a giant teddy bear okay?” Catherine winked at the young woman and chuckled at the thought.
Jace grinned at her and the tears stopped flowing.
“I promise you that no one will hear it from me.” Jace was so happy she wanted to burst with the sheer joy of having this woman close to her. Settling back down on Catherine’s shoulder she let out a deep sigh.
“Hope that’s a good sigh Ms Bardley. Can’t be letting me think that my powers as a human pillow are waning now can we?” she laughed softly.
“Oh, it was happy.” Jace silently thought, ‘I’m so happy Catherine Warriorson, you have no idea how happy you make me, now to find a way to get you to stay in my life.’ With that Jace closed her eyes and fell into a deep healing sleep.
Catherine looked down at the head resting on her shoulder and wondered about this woman. ‘Has it only been a little more than twenty-four hours since we met? For some reason I feel that the small blonde in my arms has been in my life so much longer than that! Yet how could that be?’ Nothing had ever felt this good to her before, caring for this woman was something she was happy to do and her heart welcomed the challenge.
Yet..........her life couldn’t be complicated by this friendship. ‘What had Grace said? It was my destiny. Don’t define it! I guess only time will tell on this one, but will I have the time?’
Closing her eyes as sleep once again claimed her from her thoughts, she considered that what she’d said to Jace was true. ‘It had been years since she’d slept that well, and no bad dreams either!’
Both women slept peacefully held in each other’s arms.
**********
Chapter Ten:
Grace Thornton started the day much as she usually did. She went straight to the kitchen and put on the coffeepot and the kettle for tea. One thing never changed in this house, Catherine’s two mugs of tea every morning when she got up. If she had to do without for any reason, she was grouchy all day and a grouchy Catherine Warriorson was a very mean woman to be around. Not least was the fact that instead of a cup, which you would expect a woman of her up bringing to be used to, a very large mug was her preferred utensil and woe betide anyone who made a comment about that. Setting the oven to automatic she made a pot of tea and poured a mug for Catherine and went in search of her boss.
‘Probably she’s curled up as uncomfortable as hell and grouchy with it on that damn chair!’
Quietly opening the door and going in, she nearly dropped the mug as she saw where her employer was sleeping.
There sleeping peacefully with her arms around a small blonde woman Catherine Warriorson looked relaxed, a small smile played around her usually tense features. The blonde was snuggled so far into Catherine’s shoulder; you would think she was a permanent fixture.
This was a sight that made Grace happy. She wasn’t too sure if it was going to make Catherine happy, but something about Jace Bardley might just make it work.
‘Something tells me you’re going to run from this Catherine. But, oh I wish you wouldn’t; you are so right together!’ With that thought firmly entrenched she quietly exited the room, shutting the door softly behind her. Seconds later she made a loud knocking noise on the door to emphasize her presence to her employer.
Catherine heard the knocking on the door and woke up suddenly and realised that her position in the bed did look a little compromising, although Grace probably wouldn’t say anything. Mind you what was there to say! She was only comforting the girl, right? Right!
Gently disengaging herself from Jace’s hold, she moved quickly to the chair and dragged the blanket over her and called for Grace to enter.
Grace almost couldn’t stop the smirk from coming to her face as she saw the flush on the face of her boss and her discomfort.
“Ha! Tea, what a mind reader you are Grace. I was just thinking about coming down to the kitchen and getting a mug.”
“Oh, well glad I could help. You sleep any in that chair?” It was a hard battle to stop herself from laughing.
“Funnily enough, I slept really very well, surprised the hell out of me!” Catherine glanced at the still sleeping Jace and a smiled played around her face. ‘My young friend I have you to thank for that.’
Grace looked at Jace and went over to touch her forehead. “She’s not got such a high fever this morning, did she have a good night?”
“Actually I had to change her clothes at one stage and she likes making mincemeat out of the bed clothes. But, all in all, I think she got some rest.” Catherine looked at Jace and saw the more regular breathing and felt relief at the change for the better, especially as she was leaving shortly.
“That’s good then, so the fever might have broken. Doctor Simpson will be over later today to check up on her, so when you ring from Sydney, I can update you.” Grace spoke almost absently.
“Is it Jace, or you the good doctor is coming to see?”
Grace laughed “Probably both, think I might invite him for dinner, if it’s okay with you that is?”
Catherine laughed along with her friend. “Hey, go for it Grace. You never know when the chance might arise again. Anyway, I’m away and while the cat’s away as they say.”
“Somehow, that expression doesn’t quite cover our relationship.” Grace turned to leave the room.
Catherine heard a change of emotion in the comment. “Grace, that comment wouldn’t cover me at anytime. I don’t go in for relationships, we both know that.”
Grace looked back and her eyes strayed to the bed and the blonde asleep and once again innocent of the conversation around her.
“Maybe if you found the right person you might change your mind.” A wistful look came across her face.
Catherine locked her blue eyes on the brown ones of her housekeeper and friend. “ You’re too good for me Grace, do you know that,” trying to lighten the emotional charge that was being created in the room.
Never letting her eyes leave Catherine’s face, she walked over to her and gently put out a hand and stroked the high cheekbones.
“Oh, Catherine you are way to hard on yourself. Love can come knocking on the door, even if you don’t want to answer it. But, once you do, it’s very powerful and a wonderful feeling. I hope you let it in one day.”
For once Catherine was at a loss for words. Then she took the hand that had caressed her cheek and held it in her own. “Has it been knocking at my door long Grace?”
Jace Bardley took that moment to open her eyes and move around in the bed. Although she hadn’t opened her eyes earlier, she had listened to the conversation between these two women and something in her subconscious didn’t want to hear the end of this conversation.
Both women looked at Jace and Grace quickly exited the room for the second time that morning, saying she would get breakfast ready.
Catherine was relieved in a way that Jace had awaken when she did, the conversation she was having with Grace had taken a turn into a scenario she had never considered.
‘Christ, her only real relationship had been with Adam, well maybe there had been one other person, but she chalked that up to the drugs. She hadn’t considered the possibility of being ‘in’ love with another woman. Grace was a friend nothing more!’
‘I know that, hell I haven’t got it in me to let love into my life, not now, not ever! Then to further complicate it by falling for a woman was not an option, not in this lifetime anyway!’ Looking directly at Jace, she smiled. “Hey sleepy head, do you want anything to eat? You look a little better this morning.”
Jace wanted to do nothing more than watch this woman all day and all night, but hearing the earlier conversation, it wasn’t going to be easy to stay in her life, never mind try to get a relationship going.
“I think I could eat something, I do feel better this morning. Thanks for being a great shoulder to sleep on.”
“You’re welcome, just don’t mention it to too many people, or they might want to try it.” Catherine chuckled.
“Oh, okay then, our secret. So the shoulder is my private pillow then?” Jace didn’t realise she had asked such a loaded question, until her words sunk in and she caught a guarded expression Catherine’s face.
Catherine considered the question and realised Jace was just playing along with the banter, or was she?
“Well, I guess you could say that, but only if it involves a bad dream, okay?”
Getting up from the chair, she picked up her shoes and jeans and made for the door. ‘Hell, I hope Grace didn’t notice the discarded clothing.’
“I need to get a shower and a change. I’ll get Grace to prepare you something to eat and I’ll be back before I leave.”
Catherine was out of the door before Jace could answer. In a very small voice she whispered, “You’re leaving?”
The room never answered her.
Grace came back in to see Jace about ten minutes after Catherine had left her. “So, you want some breakfast? What can I make for you?” She asked cheerfully, then noticed the tears that the younger woman tried to hide. “Jace, are you okay?”
Jace couldn’t believe the woman in front of her. She obviously loved her boss; yet, she was being so gentle with her. Then again Grace didn’t know that Jace loved the woman also. “I’m fine, really. But I think I’ll skip the food. Suddenly I’ve lost my appetite,” she trailed off unhappily.
Grace pondered this for a moment and then sat on the bed and looked at her. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain Ms Warriorson, leaving later this morning would it?”
Jace was poleaxe at the direct and so obviously correct assumption. “How did you know that?” She couldn’t keep the incredulity out of her voice.
Grace smiled and placed a hand on the woman’s arm. “Because she told me that she’d just mentioned it as she was leaving your room. Guess you weren’t expecting it and you like her, I suspect.”
“Yes. I like her. When will she be back?” Jace hoped her voice didn’t reflect the yearning she felt in her heart.
“She has business in Sydney and will be back in three days; it usually goes pretty fast.” Grace tried to make light of it.
“Will she be expecting me to still be here when she gets back?” Jace wanted to know that above anything else.
“Oh, I think if you weren’t here when she got back, she would be very angry.”
“You really think so?” Jace started to think that maybe keeping Catherine in her life wasn’t going to be as hard as she thought.
“Oh, yeah! Doctor Simpson said you needed to stay here until you felt better; or you might have a relapse or something. Catherine wouldn’t be happy about that!”
Jace looked crestfallen at that admission.
“I see. So it’s really because of the doctor’s orders.”
Grace saw the sadness in the eyes of the younger woman.
“No, no I think she likes you also, and wants to get to know you better, if she can. Although the doctor did say you need the rest. So, when she’s back you need to feel much improved and maybe you two can become better acquainted.”
“Thanks Grace.” Jace replied a little happier.
“You’re welcome. So what do you want to eat or Catherine will have both our hides?”
“I’ll have toast and a boiled egg if that’s okay.”
“Sure, I’ll be back later with it. Or better still, I’ll feed Catherine and then send her in with it, how does that sound?”
Jace Bardley’s face fairly beamed at the last comment.
“Guess I know which choice you made there.” Grace laughed as she moved away from the bed and out of the door, almost colliding with Catherine on her way back to the kitchen.
Catherine looked at Grace and raised her expressive eyebrows. “Everything okay?”
“Oh, yeah, everything’s fine. I was wondering about getting a door bell here; just might save the door knocker.” Grace muttered with a smirk on her face as she went into the kitchen and Catherine diverted to the study.
“Doorbell? Doorknocker? What the hell sort of comment was that!” Catherine shook her head and went inside the study to make sure her papers were all together before placing them in her briefcase.
**********
Catherine had her breakfast with Grace and Colin as usual and they went over final instructions for the next three days.
Colin was a little agitated, but Catherine, knowing the reason, ignored it as best she could. Although she noticed Grace kept giving him interesting looks from time to time.
Then she proceeded to take Jace her breakfast. They didn’t talk much, but it felt comfortable to them both just being together.
“Why do you go to Sydney?” Jace suddenly asked in between eating her toast and eggs, thinking it strange.
“Oh, it’s business that doesn’t have anything to do with the ranch holdings. I have other interests; so, twice a year we get together to discuss the next few months.” Catherine volunteered as she absently checked her watch. It was nearly nine and Colin would be coming to take her to the airfield for the trip to Christchurch.
“What is your other business?”
“Publishing.” Catherine answered without thinking, and then looked at Jace. That wasn’t something she wanted anyone to know about. Even Grace didn’t know anything about her other business dealings.
“Publishing? Isn’t that a little different from ranching?” Jace wanted to know as much as possible about this woman.
“Yes family interests. Look I have to go, Colin’s on his way over. I’ll see you in a few days, okay? Don’t give Grace any trouble and I might bring you a present. Get better Jace.” She then absently bent down and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Jace was upset at Catherine’s preoccupation but she felt better with the feather light kiss she received, it was a start.
“Safe journey Catherine, I’ll miss you.”
Turning back from the door Catherine locked her blue gaze into a green one and smiled a warm happy smile.
“Thanks, I’ll see you when I get back.” With that she left the room and within minutes the car was pulling out of the drive heading for the local airport.
Jace Bardley was without a shadow of a doubt, hopelessly, head over heels in love with the woman who had just left the house. How on earth was she going to manage three days without seeing her. It would feel like a lifetime.
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