DRAGONJULS Storybook
Disclaimer and Acknowledgements: See Part One
Part 17
Chapter Thirty-one
“You had a great time then?” Grace quietly quizzed Catherine as they sat at the kitchen table alone in the room. It was rare they ever had the kitchen to themselves, not like in the old days.
“Well, I wouldn’t tell you if I’d had a lousy time Grace. That’s a certainty!” Catherine smiled sweetly at her friend and picked up her steaming tea in one of the smaller mugs. It appeared that in their absence Lisa had managed to break the other three enormous ones. Faith would bring replacements that day after her visit to town with Jace and the children.
“So, you did?” Grace continued her questioning.
“Grace did I ask you this question when you came back from your honeymoon?” Catherine replied and sipped cautiously on the hot beige liquid.
“Yes, you did. And if I recall I never answered the question either.” Grace laughed and caught the laughter from her friend’s eyes opposite her.
“Fairs fair then. When you going to start a family?” Catherine changed the subject.
“Hey, that’s as bad as asking how the honeymoon went.” Grace spluttered into her coffee that she held in her hands.
“Okay! Don’t answer it. But in nine months we will all know the answer to it anyway.” Catherine said smugly.
“You are so.....so, oh, I don’t know, but you irritate me at times Catherine. Do you know that?” Grace said her tone sullen.
“Hey Grace, I was only joking. Come on, it was an innocent question really; I know you and Colin want children. You have been married nearly four months, so it was a natural question honestly.” Catherine raised quizzical eyes to her friend at her apparent upset over the subject. ‘Wonder if they have a problem.’
Grace looked deep into her coffee mug and then looked back at her friend and gave her an apologetic glance.
“Sorry I over-reacted, it’s a sore point that’s all.”
Catherine’s whole stance changed from teasing to concern. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Grace gave her a watery smile, “No, it will work out I’m sure,” her voice betraying her uncertainty.
Catherine nodded her head at Grace’s need for privacy. “If.....well if he, that is, I won’t let anyone hurt you Grace.” Catherine said finally. Her friend’s happiness was as important in her life as that of Jace and the children’s.
Grace pulled her head up from her deliberations inside her coffee mug and looked at her and noticed the strain on the features in front of her. “Catherine, Colin isn’t the problem! The man is besotted for god’s sake. He wouldn’t hurt me, wouldn’t know how!”
“Are you..... do you regret getting married?” Catherine had to ask. Was that the problem?
Grace chuckled and her face cleared back to how Catherine normally pictured her friend. “Regret marriage? No way in hell. That man is the best thing that ever happened to me, barring you of course, but that’s different. I’m going into the hospital for a day next week for tests, just to put the record straight. My accident might have some rebound affects in this area. I did kind of hurt my body badly at one time.”
Catherine looked at her friend with compassion. Hadn’t they both done that! “I see, do you..... that is will Colin be going with you?”
Grace shook her head, “I haven’t told him Catherine. I wanted to find out. Then I’ll find the right time to explain the situation, if there is a situation. It might just be an over reaction.” Her voice sounded childishly pathetic to Catherine.
“Would you like company?” Catherine looked into the brown eyes of her friends with a strong ice blue gaze.
“Are you offering? Or are you going to suggest to me to ask my mother to go with me?” Grace dropped her gaze.
Catherine chose that moment to head round the table and crouch down next to Grace and lift up her chin with one hand. Slowly she traced the few tears that Grace had been unable to prevent. “I’d be happy to go with you if you want my company Grace, just say and you have it?”
Grace saw the sincere expression on her face and thought again how much this woman had changed. She was so much the better for it. “Catherine I appreciate the gesture, but I really don’t want this to be public knowledge. How would you explain going into town all day with me?”
Catherine continued to hold the brown eyes with her ice blue ones. “How about you let me worry about that. Do you want me to come with you?”
“Yes.” Grace breathed out and she laughed shakily at Catherine.
“Excellent! What day?” Catherine asked matter of factly. She was pretty sure that Grace was relieved that someone was going to accompany her. She owed Grace. This did little to repay the debt, nothing ever would.
The sound of a car drawing up the drive brought both their attentions to the present.
“Wednesday.” Grace supplied and moved away from Catherine quickly, which cause Catherine to look at her in surprise.
“Okay, that’s a date.” Catherine said as the door to the kitchen opened and in burst Lisa shouting at the top of her voice that they we’re home. Jake followed behind her his arms full of packages, Catherine rushed over to divest him of them and place them on the kitchen table. Rio, who had been happily snoozing in his basket in the corner of the kitchen, quickly dived out onto the porch before the small mistress could chase him around. He wasn’t in the mood yet! It was far too early. Faith walked in with Elena holding onto her hand and wobbling along, but with a very determined expression on her face.
“Hey little one, come here and give Mama a kiss.” Catherine smiled at the baby. Was she even a baby now? Moving forward she knelt down next to her daughter and was immediately grasped around the neck by the small chubby hands. Catherine laughed and placed a gentle kiss on the child’s head.
Jace walked into the kitchen at that moment and looked at her partner with mock agitation her arms also full of packages.
“Really Catherine there are some of us who need help not kisses.” She winked at her partner. The resulting smile she got was astonishing.
Catherine picked up her youngest child and stood up to her six feet and towered over Jace. Her smile giving of messages only her partner would understand, or so she hoped. “How about I give you a hand too?” Her tone obviously implying a double meaning to her partner.
Jace smiled back and placed the heaviest parcel in Catherine’s free hand just to bring her back to reality. They were no longer alone these days. Each of them at some stage in the day needed the reminder, as it could get embarrassing.
“Thanks I’ll take it.”
Catherine groaned under the package that Jace gave her. She looked at the two older children watching them and lifted her eyebrows in a mocking hurt expression.
Jake smiled at her with that smile that one day was going to break hearts. He was so very shy, yet his understanding of people and situations defied his tender age. He was one smart boy. She really needed to talk to Jace and Jake about his further education.
Lisa was jumping about like a monkey on a string that you bought at the fair. She winked at Catherine and her packages. Just as Elena started to nibble ferociously at Catherine’s neck, much to Catherine’s immediate shock, her eyes going to her partners who decided to ignore her plight for the moment anyway.
“Anyone seen Elena’s teething ring?” Catherine asked desperately.
All eyes in the room looked at Catherine, especially when they heard the tone in her voice. Then the laughter started, and eventually Grace walked over and removed the package first and laid it on the table. Then lifted Elena out of Catherine’s arms and into her own. This time she placed a teething ring in her hands, which the child duly put in her mouth and chewed on.
“Thanks Grace.”
“No problem. I’ll go put her in the playpen in the lounge. You kids want to come with me?” Grace asked and went towards the internal door leading to the hall.
“Yeah, but where’s Rio?” Lisa asked and looked around the room.
Grace smiled as she recalled the dog secretly going onto the porch. “He’s probably gone with Colin in the fields to check on the horses. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”
“Okay, you coming too Jake?” Lisa asked her brother and followed closely behind Grace.
“Sure, Grace can we watch your holiday video again. I want to see Europe again?” The boy asked and was rewarded with a winning smile from Grace as they left the room.
“Well, I’m tired after all that shopping. Think I’ll go and have a rest before dinner. See you both later.” Faith said and left the two of them alone.
Catherine was rubbing her neck where the baby had sunk her few teeth into the skin.
“Catherine did you enjoy that experience?” Jace asked her innocently.
Catherine looked at her partner who was inches from her and had moved her own hand away to run fingertips over the supposed injury.
“Well she does have sharp teeth--the few she has.”
“Mmmm.....so you didn’t like the experience?” Jace smiled up into the ice blue gaze that had taken on a sultry look.
“Let’s put it this way, when the little one imprints her teeth into my neck, no she hurts! But if her mother, who has the most erotic bite I’ve ever come across does the same thing, then I’m as high as a kite.” Catherine said huskily and pulled the blonde into her arms and gave her a kiss that enhanced the words.
Jace chuckled and smiled as the mouth of her lover descended again to plunder with soft kisses her lips.
“We really need to curb this attention to detail Catherine. We are the talk of the household.” Jace whispered as the lips stole away the possibility of any more words she wanted to say.
Eventually surfacing they both looked into each other s eyes and smiled. "Yeah! Well, I’ve been the talk of many situations and this one I’m happy to acknowledge.” Catherine whispered into Jace’s ear and pulled her closer for a genuine warm enticing hug.
“You always did know the right thing to say to a girl! Are you sure you’re not having lesson’s?” Jace asked her eyes brimming with laughter.
“Not a chance of that, my wife wouldn’t allow it!” Catherine said and watched the smile that creased her partners face increase at the words.
“That’s the first time you’ve said that?” Jace looked at her seriously, their glances locking in place.
Catherine didn’t know what to say. Hadn’t she acknowledged the connection? Did it matter? No not to her, but it obviously did to her ‘wife’. Christ! It sounded strange even to say it silently, but it was real! Jace Xianthos Devonshire Warriorson her wife. Yes! She could cope with that situation!
“Is it? Well you are and you’re going to stay that way for the rest of our lives, so Darling, you better get used to hearing it.”
Jace laughed and placed fleeting kisses on her cheek and then her eyelids and eventually back to her lips.
“Right on that one Catherine, hope you can live with the same?”
Catherine refused to be without the touch of those lips on hers and merely nodded her head and relaxed into the sensation of being kissed by her wife, all other things were secondary.
**********
Judy was having her day off and that evening. It was also the line dancing night for her and Faith. So Catherine, Jace and the children had a quiet dinner together early and settled into the lounge to watch TV. Then have the notorious story hour or that’s what Jace had entitled it. Especially when Catherine threw in her own stories. It was wonderful, but devious, because she never acknowledged the fact even to Jace.
Jace looked over her domain. Her eyes drifted towards Catherine who had Lisa in her lap and Jake at her feet. She was pushing the crib with her hand to soothe Elena. Now she could call it home. Previously she had been part of the family, but not! At any time Catherine could have become tired of her, and that would be that, the end of the dreams. Yet, life had been good to her and granted her one dream that she had never shared verbally with Catherine. It made her laugh inwardly at the thought. ‘I loved you Catherine from the first moment I saw you. You looked so remote; something inside called you to me. I wanted to respond. Yet, I knew that I had to leave you and I did. Little did I know that leaving you would bring us both so much anguish and despite all that you! Not me! Had the strength to believe that we could make it together. I hated you Catherine for all of ten minutes. The ten minutes that changed my life forever and yours as well! We can’t regret things in our life can we? For would we then have the experiences that make the loving extra special because we breached the barriers that life puts up against us! I refuse to believe because we are women that this is a breach that only we have to endure. I do think it happens in every relationship. You Catherine, have taught me one thing-you love, regardless of adversity, you just love! I love you also. One day, I hope I achieve the same generosity of heart that you have found. For my love, you really are the face that launches that ship; the voice that soothes all our woes the heart that brings peace. I love you regardless of the hurt we have been through or may go through. You are worth every effort. You are simply what life is all about.’ Jace smiled at her thoughts. The young woman couldn’t help the single tear that decided to track down her right cheek.
“Sam was the only sheep left that had any idea where the rest of the flock had gone. Would the farmer even know he was there? After all, he was the runt of the litter. Who ever listened to the runt of the litter? Sam was about to open his mouth to bahhhh or certainly bring attention to himself, when the webbed foot of the brown, muddy looking duck placed itself securely over his mouth.
“Shshshsut upth Sam.” The duck said, Jace watched as Catherine made the exaggerated animal noises and the two children laughed at her antics.
“I’mmmm not shutingggg up Beakyyyyy. We need to find the rest of the flockkkkkk.” Sam spluttered under the webbed obstruction.
“You thththink thththat thththe farmer is going to listen to you? You’re the runt!” Beaky said in his quavering voice.
Jace started to laugh and couldn’t stop herself. Catherine’s impressions were very comic and yet coming from the woman who was a veritable devil in her business life, it was so very amusing the contrasts.
“You find something funny Jace?” Catherine asked her mind still on the story she was trying to relate to the children.
Jace put a hand to her mouth and stifled any more laughter and looked at her partner with a mirth filled gaze, her chuckles still moving her shoulders.
“Jace, Catherine is really good at the voices.” Lisa told her and looked at one of her guardians with an interested stare.
“I know she is Darling. It’s just.....oh never mind. I’ll take Elena to bed as you finish up.” Jace stood up and made her way over to Catherine and the children her face still wreathed in laughter.
As Jace reached down to pick up the crib Catherine whispered into her ear, “I love you, and watch out for webbed feet later.” Her smile nonchalant as she sat with Lisa snuggled up to her shoulder.
Jace gave her a smile and winked at her causing Catherine to grin.
“Look forward to that water treat presently,” and went on her way out of the room with baby in hand.
**********
“You promised me webbed feet darling. Where are they?” Jace asked as Catherine sat at the edge of the bed after ensuring that the children were asleep and before making her way to the bathroom to change out of her clothes and shower.
“You really want wet, webbed, fishy, disgusting smelling.....” Catherine was stopped as lips placed themselves on hers.
“No, but it was an interesting thought.” Jace replied, as laughter surfacing as she came up for air.
Catherine smiled seductively at her partner. “Do you know what I find interesting?” Jace looked at the woman fully clothed on the edge of the bed. Tracing her fingers down the back of the shirt she wore and marvelled at the movement her touch caused in her partner.
“No, care to explain to me?” Jace whispered as her lips sort the exposed skin that the top shirt buttons exhibited to her view.
“You.” Catherine answered simply.
“Me?” Jace looked deep into the ice blue eyes that were turned towards her.
“Yes, you.” Catherine answered equally as simply, both smiling indulgently at the other.
“You know something Catherine? You should write down all these stories you create. You could make a fortune.” Jace said sincerely, they were really quite good.
“I already have a fortune.” Catherine answered and gave Jace a searching look as she said the words.
“Oh, I know you’re worth millions, or at least I think you are,” Jace looked at Catherine and saw the wry smile at the words, probably billions knowing Catherine.
“But this is different Catherine. This would be something no one left to you, as your father left Xianthos. This would be all of your own making.” Jace looked at the shocked expression come over her partner.
Putting her hands to the scarred face, she smiled at the troubled countenance. “I’m sorry Catherine, I didn’t realise that I spoke out of turn.”
“No! No Jace, you spoke the truth. I’ve never had the opportunity of doing something for myself. Maybe one day I might just do that. But Lover, all I really want to achieve by my own merits if you will grant me that, is with you?” Catherine never let her eyes leave the green ones that had entranced her earlier.
“Whatever you want Darling you can have, you know that.” Jace whispered as her lips sucked on the smooth neck of her partner.
“All I want is to make you happy. Give you all the love that I posses, and that you return my love today, tomorrow and all the rest of our days.” Catherine said softly, her voice earnest in its request.
Jace couldn’t help the tears that fell as she replied. “You do make me happy Catherine. You certainly have my love and more. Besides, one day soon, you will be so sure about it Catherine, you will never ever need to ask again. As the sun shines every day so will this love I have for you. I plan on showing you that every day we are together, for the remainder of our lives and then some.”
Catherine traced the wet lines down Jace’s cheeks as the tears still flowed and she smiled weakly. “One day my love you will know exactly how much you mean to me in my life. Let me tell you this woe betide anyone who tries to come between us; it’s never going to happen.”
“So, Cathththrine how much are you really worth?” Jace couldn’t help teasing her partner with a mimic of her earlier animal imitation and burst out with quiet chuckles at her astonished face.
Catherine grasped Jace around the waist and pulled her onto her larger body so she covered as much of Catherine as possible, were their bodies met so the tingle started in every place that touched. It was such an incredible feeling. “You want to know how much I’m worth? Shame on you Darling! I never thought you would be the kind of woman who married someone older for their money?” Catherine raised her left eyebrow in mock seriousness.
The chuckles from Jace increased at Catherine’s comment. Jace placed her hands around the beloved face of her partner and she kissed the full lips until Catherine moaned in erotic anticipation. “So, you are worth a fortune. Someone told me that you were poor and I only married you because I loved you. You mean we’re rich too?” Jace’s voice carried on the melodrama.
Catherine this time laughed loudly and Jace stifled the sound with another kiss. “I was poor until I met this woman with the most compassionate green eyes in the world. She taught me that love was worth a fortune, and I married her for her wealth. Although, I have to admit to having a little stashed away for a rainy day.” Catherine looked deep into those green eyes she spoke of and lost all sense of time and space. It really was un-nerving in a glorious way in which this small woman could do that with a glance!
Jace decided that further words between them could wait. The need to touch, feel and experience the love far outweighed the need to talk. That would come later much, much later. She moved her hands with expert experience over the clothes that Catherine still wore, but not for long!
Catherine was helpless clay in her hands, softened by her endearments, then moulded to her will; bent and shaped into the wanton creature she scarcely recognized as herself. She succumbed to her seduction, melting at the touch of Jace’s lips, sighing over her every caress. She truly desired her. She clenched her teeth, muttering a groan as her body responded in predictably eager fashion, trembling and quivering to Jace’s rosy female charms and movement. Her body tightened, the muscles of her belly contracting like the coils of a watch spring, while her swollen nipples strained against the tender nibbles of the soft warm mouth gentle stroking, nipping with determination, the same as a moth flutters about a candle flame. Tonight, Jace touched the flame. Tonight, they would let its heat consume them both! And they did.
**********
Chapter Thirty-two
Jace looked over at the children mowing the grass at the edge of the clearing at Cutters Ridge. They had decided to have a family picnic. The children needed to do their monthly visit, then mow the grass in this area, as they had previously promised Catherine they would.
Her partner was riding Tralargon and taking the time to visit some of the small holders on her land. It was something she didn’t do frequently. But Jace had the impression that her tall friend actually enjoyed going over the farmer’s problems and trying to provide a solution. Colin had gone with her. He was the person that had the day-to-day control over the Destiny Ranch holdings. Catherine had effectively made him the Director of Operations. Jace had the distinct impression she was up to something in that area, but so far had been unable to find out exactly what.
Grace had been away from the ranch for two weeks. She had indicated that it was something to do with the trust fund and her presence was required in Auckland. Jace had a suspicion that it was a ruse to cover something else up. But once again, she had been unable to find out. It really was kind of frustrating at times.
Colin had appeared to be of the same mind as Jace after a short conversation one morning in the kitchen. Although he said it was probably just that he was missing his wife. Yeah, well, after six months marriage Colin would feel a little strange to be on his own again. Just as she did herself, when and if Catherine decided to wander around the world on her own.
Although, Jace realized that was being unfair on her partner, because in the three
months since they had married, she had only travelled to New York twice. One of those
times Jace had accompanied her with the children and Judy.
That had been quite a different trip in the sense that for once Jace had met some of the residents of the building that Henry had introduced her to. There was Daphne Allen, she was all of eighty-five, but had a keen mind and wicked sense of humour that Jace found totally appealing.
Then Henry had introduced Scott Schwartz. He was a very handsome man with black wavy hair and the most amazing eyes she had ever seen outside of Catherine’s. They were a steel blue that with a look you had to go back for more it was quite amusing. Scott was the owner of local gym and had offered to show her the premises one day. Jace had thanked him, but left the invitation open until Catherine could take the time to go with her. She somehow thought that Catherine would get upset if she went on her own or even with Judy.
Doctor Thea Rosnova was a fascinating person with her Russian background and her obvious affection for children. They both would look at the woman with a smile who was as tall if not taller than Catherine and had long flowing chestnut hair that glowed. She was a psychiatrist at one of the local prestigious hospitals.
There had been a couple of people that Jace was introduced to, but that she found it difficult to stop her temper from flaring once they knew who she was, or rather who her partner was. The news of their marriage had not been welcome by everyone in the apartment block. There were those who considered that the value of the building would depreciate once it got out that ‘those’ type of people lived here.
John Merrick had been particularly obnoxious. He had even insulted her in front of the children. Jake had been ready to fight for her and that had enabled her to shoulder the comments and ignore him. Merrick was a large man who owned a car lot and his only claim to fame in the building was his numerous women that he brought home. Not that any stayed that long. Jace hoped it was by their choice rather than his!
Diana Lassiter was the other person Jace wished she’d never met. For all the people she’d come across in her life, this woman certainly loved herself. She talked incessantly about her money, her plastic surgery, and the number of divorces she had currently gone through, and she was only thirty-two. Daddy was wealthy and his only child was certainly making use of it in any way possible.
Fortunately, Catherine was ignorant of the neighbours. Although some were very nice, she could imagine Catherine’s comments and actions to the ones that weren’t. Especially Merrick. So it was better she was left in ignorance.
Now, she waited for the children to finish up. Even Elena was helping from her play walker. It was an ideal way of helping her to move about and be relatively safe. Inside the house she was a demon with it as the wheels had hit pretty much every piece of furniture at some stage. Catherine had once said she was glad she wasn’t totally blind anymore or she would have been in trouble with their youngest child. Even Rio stayed clear of the female attached to wheels, who also shrieked at anything and anyone in a louder voice than Lisa did.
Jace had been considering talking to Catherine about an idea that had been rolling around in her mind for months now. But it had never been the right time or place. Elena was going to be a year old next week. Jace thought that the time had now come. And it was something she wanted very much. Idly playing with a stalk of grass as she considered her idea, a tiny smile played on her lips as she considered the consequences, and what Catherine would think. But Catherine always came round to her ideas, she had never said no yet!
The sound of hooves beating across the ground brought Jace out of her revere. She turned to see the tall raven-haired woman coming towards them on her grey mare. It brought back another memory of three years ago when that same figure crossing over the exact same spot as she neared the clearing with those ice blue eyes flashing as she saw exactly what she wanted from her distance.
The mare was pulled around to gallop over the small stream that cut off this private area from normal view. Then jump the thicket so that the mare landed with ease on Jace’s side of the grass. The horse was reigned in and the tall rider dismounted with elegance. Jace couldn’t help herself. She just starred at the rider as the tall woman patted the mane of the horse and tethered her to a nearby tree close to the stream, which had plenty of grass to feed upon if she needed. Then the body turned to her and a slow seductive smile played over her face as she moved gracefully forward to within inches of Jace sitting on the blanket in the weak autumn sun’s rays.
“Was that exhibition to impress me?” Jace smiled up at her friend who looked even taller from her position on the blanket.
“Did it?” was the laconic reply Catherine’s face impassive.
Jace starred at her and glanced around at the children who were still engrossed in their task. “If you come down to my level, I might enlighten you.”
Catherine gave her a slow suggestive smile that set Jace’s heart racing. “Is that an invitation that one shouldn’t refuse?”
Jace smiled provocatively at her, but felt disinclined to answer and kept their gazes locked. Catherine removed the black gloves she wore and threw them on the blanket next to the picnic basket. Never leaving Jace’s locked gaze, she slowly knelt down next to her and placed a hand under Jace’s chin so that they were inches apart.
“When was the last time you invited anyone to sit next to you and enlighten them?” Catherine’s words came out softly in a low growl.
Jace wasn’t immune to the sexual charges that were going off in her body, for Catherine was so good at this.....play-acting. It became very interesting when they were alone. “The last time, well.....a lady never tells her secrets. Didn’t anyone warn you about that?” chuckling at the look she received at that prevarication.
“Did I impress you?” Catherine decided to ask her original question again. This time she moved closer so their faces were a fraction of an inch apart. Their breathing mingling as they spoke.
“Yes!” Jace breathed out the word and Catherine closed the gap quickly and tasted the passion that was alive in Jace’s eyes as they settled back to share a very sensual kiss.
“Darling we have the children, remember?” Jace finally broke away a little and watched the disappointment flood Catherine’s eyes as she registered the comment.
“Any chance we can give them away to the nearest gypsy camp?” Catherine said slowly.
Just for a second Jace wasn’t sure she meant it until she saw the laughter in her face.
“Guess not huh?”
“You guessed right Catherine. I thought you loved them!” Jace bantered back her smile to Catherine’s senses eminently kissable.
“I do love them! Any chance of them getting lost in a cave safely for an hour. Then they can come back for the picnic?” Catherine laughed at the aggrieved look on her partner’s face. “I never meant it Jace honestly!” Catherine retorted and watched as the smile returned and she did decide to kiss it this time. They collapsed onto the blanket Catherine’s arms firmly entwined around Jace’s back.
“You are so bad Catherine. It is just as well that we all love you, or you might be the one we send to the gypsies.” Jace replied, and watched as the eyes she loved filled with laughter at the very thought.
“They would probably pay you to take me back I would warrant.” Catherine said and for several minutes enjoyed the closeness of her partner. Eventually turning her gaze to the children who looked like they were finished and heading back towards them. Elena fortunately slowing them down or it could get quite embarrassing. Especially as her hands were running up and down Jace’s back under her shirt. Although, her hands had not always been on her back and neither had Jace's. That would have been even more embarrassing, especially if Lisa had asked one of her rather innocent questions.
Jace was allowed up as Catherine whispered that the children were coming. She gave the tall woman a look of mock exasperation, as she straightened her clothes, but Catherine was re-buttoning her own blouse as well!
Lisa was the first one to come over seeing the horse tethered. She sat down heavily next to them and began relating to Catherine what they had been up to in the last hour. Catherine just smiled and to Jace it was one of her satisfied ‘I love you smiles’ that she supplied when she was happy.
Jake having removed Elena from the walker was coming forward and his eyes smiled at them. He looked hungrily towards the picnic basket. “Yes, we will be having the picnic now Jake. I take the hint.” Jace laughed as she saw the merriment in the children’s eyes at the remark.
Rio decided to join them. The food word had been used. He was going to see what his small mistress gave him, not to mention what the tall one would give now that he noticed her presence as he lay patiently waiting under the tree.
Elena chose that moment to start chewing something. When all eyes turned to her, Catherine looked down at the baby and drew a breath. “Bloody hell! She has my favourite gloves!” Catherine tried in vane to take back her precious gloves and the baby protested. When the sound of tearing fabric broke the silence, the watching others not participating in the tug of war looked elsewhere.
“Elena!” Catherine said her voice angry with the baby.
Elena looked at her with those green eyes that reminded Catherine of her mother and..... “Okay! You better have the other one too. I hope they make you sick.” Catherine said childishly.
Jace chose that moment to intervene. Catherine was definitely doing this all wrong. “You said you wanted me to help you in this right?” Jace whispered into her ear, reminding Catherine of her insistence for help in chastising the baby. Catherine nodded and watched as Jace retrieved the gloves from her daughter and chastised her and watched as the baby shed tears, but did not protest otherwise and sat watching her mother waiting for a smile.
“You see easy that way. She is waiting now because she knows she’s done wrong. That is how you do it Catherine.” Jace whispered to her again not wanting to embarrass the woman in front of the other two children who were busily opening up the wicker basket that held all the goodies for the picnic.
Catherine shook her head at the quietly waiting child and made a fatal mistake by looking into her watery eyes. She couldn’t resist it she picked up her daughter and hugged her to her chest and soothed her. Jace knew that her partner was just a push over. It even caused her to laugh at what this picture would do to the precious Devonshire business image.
As the children tucked into various snacks and treats within the confines of the basket, Catherine pulled her tall frame to lean her back against the small wall. Gently motioning for Jace to move between her legs so that her back was against Catherine’s chest, they manoeuvred the now sleeping Elena into Jace’s lap in comfortable peace in the quiet beautiful surroundings.
Lisa decided it was time to feed Rio and ambled off to his position under a tree close to were Tralargon was tethered.
Jake snatched several apples and with a grin walked nonchalantly over to the mare to let her have a treat also.
“You know I’ve been thinking.” Jace said dreamily her eyes drifting over the two older children and then to her sleeping daughter in her lap.
“You have? What will it cost me to find out exactly what you are thinking?” Catherine’s breath fanning Jace’s neck as she bent and placed a tender kiss on the blondes head.
“Cost you Catherine? Now would I be so mercenary?” Jace smiled and felt the bubble of happiness that often came over her these days as it burst inside her and left behind a tingling in her blood.
“Yes! But I’m more than willing to pay the price.” Catherine kissed the exposed neck under Jace’s hair. It was so soft to the touch and made her smile as she felt the shiver go down her partners back at the caress.
Jace turned slightly and stole a kiss of her own on the surprised lips of her partner who laughed as Jace snuggled back into her embrace. “I’m glad you said that because I was thinking.....;”
The day was slowly drawing in as the family packed up the remains of the picnic. Catherine helped Jace stow away the items and the children into the vehicle. She had brought Rio, who took up residence in the back with the girls. Jake went towards the passenger side at the front and jumped inside. Jace turned towards her partner who was bemusedly looking at her chewed and mangled black gloves.
“You mad at me?” Jace asked her softly as they moved into middle ground between the mare and the vehicle.
Catherine gave her a look and she shook her head, “Shocked maybe, but not mad. How could I be?” Her voice strained as the thoughts rushed through her mind on the idea that Jace had broached with her a little earlier.
“So, you will give me the chance to convince you?” Jace asked her tentatively.
Catherine smiled; it started off as a slim line and eventually beamed as she considered the possibilities of that remark. “Will I enjoy the plans you have to convince me?”
Jace reached up and touched the smooth lines on Catherine’s face and her green eyes relayed all that Catherine needed. “Yes, you will Darling. I personally guarantee it.” Pulling the dark head closer to hers gently, she placed a kiss so light on Catherine’s lips that she wasn’t certain it happened. Jace was so good at that!
“Then you have your chance. I guess you better go before the children start arguing.” Catherine glanced towards the peering faces of the two older children.
“You know what Lisa’s going to say when I get inside anyway ‘why didn’t you just kiss her straight away?’ the usual.” Jace smiled. This time the kiss she gave Catherine was nothing short of earth shattering or that’s how Catherine felt when she was released.
Catherine looked at the passionate green eyes and smiled into them. “Keep that thought Jace for later. I need convincing remember. Take care my love on the journey home.” Catherine turned towards the mare and with ease jumped on her back and moved away from the tree ready to jump the thicket and head home across the fields.
Jace watched the fluid movements from her spot were Catherine had left her and couldn’t stop the shallow breathing that sight caused in her. Catherine waved and vaulted over the thicket within a short space of time she was a speck in the distance. Lisa brought down the window and shouted ‘when was she going to take them home?’
“I’m coming.” Jace answered absently and headed for the vehicle and the drive home.
Catherine looked over her shoulder and saw the vehicle begin its decent down the hill towards the tarmac road surface, waiting as her partner safely negotiated the steep decline and hit the road and was moving away at a safe speed.
“They are safely down Tralargon. It’s time we went home too.” Catherine smiled as she motioned the mare forward slowly her mind full of the conversation she’d had with Jace earlier.
Jace had literally knocked the wind out of her sails. Her partner had said the one thing she wasn’t expecting, another child! Only not one from the community programme as Jake and Lisa were, but she wanted them to have another Elena! Shaking her head, she let the mare have free reins as she pondered all the possibilities. The only one that came to mind was that she would need convincing it was a good idea. If there was something Catherine had found out about Jace in the last sixteen months, it was her ability to convince people they could do anything, absolutely anything!
“A new baby. Oh well, worse things happen at sea, or so they say.” Catherine was like the wind as she saw the ranch appear in the distance and she smiled and headed home to her family and the keeper of her soul. They had achieved so much together now, and so many dreams had been fulfilled, but there would always be another day and another dream to strive for and together they would capture those dreams and make them real!
End (For now, to be continued in Actions and Consequences)
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