Coming Home (Williams Siblings)

by Ann B. Harrison

  "Get over it, Cade. You don't mean it and we all know it. Stop trying to play tough." Rooney walked over to Russ and rested her hand on his arm. "Tell us what's going on. I know it's more than work. You were foul yesterday when you got in."

  "Fine, a problem shared and all that. It's my ex-wife, or at least I thought she was my ex. Seems after initiating a divorce and taking everything I had, she’s decided she wants this place too. To top it off, she tells me I'm going to be a father." He gave a bitter laugh. "We haven't slept in the same bed for over four months."

  "I knew she was a money grabbing little tart." Cade’s lips turned up in a snarl. "What are you going to do about her?"

  "I've spoken to Tory. Just as well I have some money left over. He's getting a private detective to check her out. He seems pretty confident they’ll find something."

  "She can't touch this place anyway, can she?" Rooney asked.

  "No, it's all tied up, but she doesn't know that." He rubbed his hand over his face and sighed, shaking off his bad mood. "It's nice to see you again, Stevie." Russ stepped forward and held out his hand.

  Stevie gripped it tight, shaking before speaking. "I know you probably all have a lot of questions but if you could keep them until Tam is in bed, I would appreciate it. Then you can ask me what you want."

  "There’ll be no fighting, so don't look so damned pleased, Cade." Rooney frowned at her brother and he sat down. "I'm sure we all have a lot to catch up on but as Stevie said, after Tam has gone to bed would be best. Then we can air our gripes and let that be the end of it. Understood?"

  "Yes, good idea. Can I get you a beer, Stevie?"

  He nodded his thanks, looking toward the door as Tam came running in, holding up her clean hands.

  "Go on out to the front and I'll call you when dinner is ready." Essie shooed them out of her kitchen.

  Russ walked outside and over to a post on the end of the veranda. He leaned on it gazing over the front of the property. For a short time he’d imagined himself free of the tension his job and marriage had caused him. Being home was what he needed to relax and unwind from the stress of the city and finding a connection with Lizzie was the best thing that could have happened. Now it looked as though Paula had ruined all that. The budding romance, the peaceful return home, all gone with one woman's greed and spite.

  "Is there anything I can do, Russ?" Stevie stood next to him, a cold beer in his hand. He looked every inch the policeman he was and Russ was impressed with the change from the bratty kid he’d known.

  "Thanks, I appreciate it. Tory said there’s nothing he can do legally. We can search for dirt on her but at the end of the day, if she doesn't want to sign the papers, she doesn't have too."

  "That sucks. And the hot little nurse you were keen on? Is she involved somehow, because I don't get why you are so grumpy if it’s only about the house." Rooney slipped a hand through his arm and sipped a glass of wine.

  "You see way too much for a little sister, you know that." Russ smiled at her and took a long drink of his beer before he answered her. "Lizzie was the one who met her in reception. Apparently Paula made quite a fuss about seeing me. To top it off, she announced she was pregnant in front of the whole damned emergency department."

  "Oh, shit." Rooney's eyes widened.

  "Exactly, now they all think I'm a scumbag for leaving a pregnant wife and playing around with Lizzie. I can't win." He finished his beer and slammed the empty bottle on the concrete at his feet.

  "You have to fight for her, Russ. Come on, don't let Paula win," his sister pleaded with him.

  "It just isn't worth it."

  "Grow a spine for God's sake, Russ." Cade's voice rang out in the calm evening. "You're all about being fair and keeping the peace. Sometimes you have to put yourself out to get what you want."

  "He's right," Stevie said. "I know Lizzie well. She's a great lady, Russ. If you think she is the one for you, go in and fight for her. Bugger your wife, Tory can take care of her."

  "I can't walk away like that."

  "Is there any chance it could be your baby, Russ?" Rooney asked.

  "Not a hope it hell. I'm pretty sure sex is involved to create a new life from what I learned at uni."

  "Well..."

  "Evening all...Stevie, it's good to see you again." Kate walked around the front of the house, her clothes dirty and stained from work.

  "You're a bit late knocking off." Rooney raised her glass. "Can I get you a wine before dinner?"

  "No, I need a shower first." She showed her filthy hands. "If you can give me five minutes, I'll have one then."

  "Sure. I'll have a glass with your name on it," Rooney replied. She watched Kate walk away and wandered down the steps with Stevie following her. They walked over to where their daughter played with her new dog in the roots under the huge Morton Bay fig trees.

  Russ watched them with envy. If Paula's baby had been his, he would have tried to come to an amicable agreement with her. The dream of having his own child was up there in the list of things he wanted to achieve. Sadly, it wasn't working out that way.

  "I don't know why you let her treat you that way, Russ. You deserve better and not just because you're family." Cade hopped across the veranda to stand beside him. They looked down at the small family under the tree, bonding. "Don't let Lizzie go if she means anything to you."

  "I can hardly go courting her with a pregnant wife in town." He struggled to keep the anger from his voice. "Sorry, it's not your fault and I don't mean to take it out on you either. It's been a shit of a day and I'm a little bit wound up over it all. I can't see a way out of this. Not one that will fix itself in a hurry, anyway."

  "So, let me get this right, you’re going to let her think you don't care and risk losing her, and let your stupid bitch wife win? I thought you were made of tougher stuff than that, Russ. You always did act like the nice guy and try to keep the peace with everyone. I figured as an adult you’d have more guts. Guess I was wrong."

  Russ glared at him before turning on his heel and walking inside. He ran up the stairs to his bedroom and slammed the door. Heading over to the window, he gazed down. Did he really want to go out on a limb and fight for Lizzie? It seemed petty to even try, especially after the incident at the hospital. She had, no doubt, already made up her mind from what transpired yesterday. Somehow, he didn't think he stood a chance. Stripping off his shirt, Russ decided on a cool shower before dinner. He didn't want to go back downstairs in the mood he was in and spoil Rooney's night.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Kate leaned her head back under the pulsing jet of the shower, rinsing the shampoo from her hair. A quick lift of her face under the warm spray and she was done. Flicking the taps off, she stepped out onto the bath mat and lifted her towel from the rail, wrapping it around her as she walked back into her bedroom. She took clean underwear from her top drawer and thought about what to wear.

  Normally she wouldn't care but tonight looked a bit more special. Stevie was here with Rooney, and that may be cause for a celebration. Skinny jeans would be okay so long as she wore a nice top with them. That way if they ended up sitting outside, the mossies wouldn't make a feast of her legs like they usually did. Being a red-head and fair-skinned had its problems and that was one of them.

  After Kate had dressed, she wrapped the towel around her hair and scrunched it to absorb most of the moisture. Unwrapping it, she shook her head and her wet locks fell over her shoulders in a mass of tight red curls. With just a touch of make-up, she was ready.

  Wally wound his way through her legs waiting for his dinner as usual. When she looked in his bowl to find it still full from breakfast, she scolded him. "You’re getting far too fussy for a barn cat, pal. Now, let me go. I need to eat and spend time with friends and idiot men who don't know what's good for them."

  She dimmed the lights in the lounge and kitchen, leaving one on outside so she could see her way home without stumbling in the dark. Wally meowed and followed her to the front do
or. "No." Kate stroked his head as she opened the door.

  The cat spat and lashed out, scratching her hand in the process before running through the house, hissing.

  "Shit." The blood ran down her hand and the scratch stung like crazy. She looked up to see Cade standing at the door, his gaze concerned. "What the hell was that all about? Since when did you scare the crap out of my cat?"

  He grabbed her hand to inspect the scratches. "Hell, Kate. I'm sorry. I didn't think your cat would be scared of dogs living on the farm." He pushed her back into the hallway and hobbled in, shutting the door behind him.

  "What dog?"

  "I'll tell you about it later. Let's get this clean before we go for dinner." He followed her into the kitchen. When she reached under the kitchen sink for the first aid kit, he nudged her out of the way and leaned down to get it.

  Kate watched his blond curls and resisted the urge to touch them as he placed the kit on the bench and undid the lid. With unhurried precision, Cade pulled out a small bottle of disinfectant and a large band aid, along with a tube of antiseptic cream. He took a small bowl from the rack on the bench and poured disinfectant into it, using cotton wool balls to wipe the blood from the back of her hand.

  Her heart rate hitched up a few notches as he held her hand and she had to concentrate to keep her breathing steady. Having Cade in her house alone was too tempting by far. "Thanks." He dried the scratch and dabbed cream on before taking the backing off the band-aid to cover it. "I didn't take you for the caring type, Cade."

  "You wound me with your assumptions, Kate. I'm not the playboy you make me out to be."

  "Really? Funny how I don't actually believe that, but it's not my problem." She moved past him in the tiny kitchen, the contact with his body making her stomach quiver. "Let's go and have dinner, shall we? They're probably waiting." She walked out of the kitchen and down the hallway to open the front door again. On the step sat the dog that caused the incident with Wally. It backed away when it saw her. "That dog better not be a stray hassling the cattle."

  "It's okay, girl." Cade brushed past Kate and reached down to stroke his dog on the head. "This is Molly. I rescued her yesterday and she's turning into my shadow."

  "You rescued her? Why and where from?" Kate stood and looked from him to the dog. She shut the door as he started for the house and followed him.

  "Tell you all about it later, after dinner when the squirt has gone to bed. She doesn't need to know what happened."

  "What were you doing at my front door anyway?"

  He glanced up and down her body, sending small jolts of electricity down her spine and to her sensitive spots. When he didn't answer, she shrugged, deciding to ignore him. They walked around the side of the house and true to her promise, Rooney had a glass of wine for Kate. "Thanks. I need this tonight."

  "Sounds like everyone’s had a rough week. What's the problem, Kate?" Rooney took a seat on the cane lounger and held her hand out for Kate to join her.

  "Short-handed at the moment. I lost a guy a couple of weeks ago and can't find anyone worth hiring. Seriously, people don't want to work for a living these days. They expect everything for nothing, so I'm doing longer hours—but that's what I'm paid for."

  She saw the look that passed between Cade and Rooney, and raised her eyebrow. Rooney winked and looked away.

  When Essie called them in for dinner, Kate found she was placed next to Cade. Awesome…not! How the hell am I supposed to act normal with him so close? He's already played havoc with my body tonight. She managed to join the conversation and talk normally when she had something appropriate to say, all the while aware of the heat between the two of them. If she wouldn't hate herself in the morning, she would be tempted to rip his shirt off and push him against the wall, running her tongue over his perfectly sculptured body. Even the thought of it made her edgy and frustrated.

  Kate didn't believe in sex for the sake of it. What was the point? She had to live with herself and as it stood now, the only one who cared about her morals was her.

  "Kate, earth to Kate?" Cade poked her arm.

  "What?" She looked around the table and everyone was watching her. Rooney had a smile on her face and Kate could just imagine what was going through her mind. "Sorry, thinking of other things. Work and stuff, you know." Embarrassed now, she grabbed her napkin and wiped at her lips.

  "Essie was asking if you would like your coffee on the veranda. Stevie and Rooney are going to put Tam to bed, and come down and join us. There are a couple of things we need to discuss. You may as well be in on the conversation since you’re considered family." Cade looked at her with pale blue eyes and a grin on his face.

  "Um…yeah, sure." She cursed her pale skin knowing she was blushing. Pushing her chair back, she stood. Before Cade could stand, Kate took his plate and hers, walking into the kitchen to place them on the counter.

  "Sorry, Essie. I was miles away." She rinsed the plates and loaded them in the dishwasher.

  "Don't apologise to me, Kate. You can moon over the boy any time you like. It would be nice to see him with you and not one of those skanky city girls who hang around the rugby players." Essie grinned.

  "Oh, you’re incorrigible. That’s the last time I'm confiding in you." Kate headed back to the dining room to collect more dishes.

  ***

  When Tam was settled, Rooney and Stevie came back downstairs. Kate joined them on the veranda once she had finished cleaning up with Essie.

  "Okay, so what's the big deal here apart from the fact we have Stevie for dinner?" She leaned against a veranda rail with a mug of steaming coffee in her hands, trying not to look at Cade.

  "You've met Milly." Cade stroked the head of his dog snuggled in beside his chair. "Do you know Mr Stubbs? He lives out on the Lorn Road."

  "Yeah, everyone does. He's an arsehole from all accounts. Not quite right in the head."

  Cade laughed. "Right, you got him in one. He visited Rooney's surgery the other day and he brought in that little pup Tam is running around with. When he saw what the bill was going to be, he said he was going to shoot it. Rooney, being Rooney, bought it."

  Kate looked over at her friend and smiled. "I probably would've done the same thing."

  "Yeah, that may be, but on the way home she decided to call in and be nosy. Seems Rhian told her how he runs a puppy farm and she wanted to see for herself."

  "Like to live dangerously, don't you?"

  "I had to do it, Kate. I'm sure you would’ve done the same."

  "But unlike Kate, I'm not sure you could do anything to save yourself if the case arose," Stevie said. "Kate at least, can throw a sizable calf on the ground and digs in with the best of them. You look way too delicate for that."

  Rooney gasped and thumped him on the shoulder. "Cheap shot."

  "It's the truth. We know he is a nasty character, which is the reason the RSPCA have asked for a police presence tomorrow when they go in. I don't want you anywhere near him in the future. If you have any issues, call me and let me deal with it."

  Kate watched Stevie brush his hand over Rooney's cheek and ached for someone to love her as much as that. "So, where do you and that dog come in, Cade? You did say you would confess all after dinner." She walked over and sat down on the top step, watching him stroking his fingers around Molly's ears.

  "I figured if we could get video evidence of what was going on, it would help Rooney's complaint." He leaned forward in his chair and gave her his trademark smile. Molly placed her chin on his sore knee and gazed adoringly at him. "He was only too happy to show me around and sell me something. Luckily, I insisted on checking out the second barn because Molly here was tied up with bloody baling twine, ready for a bullet. Poor girl hadn't had a litter for two seasons running and was useless in his eyes."

  Kate pushed back the wave of emotion rising in her throat. Who would have guessed the tough rugby player could be slayed by a barren collie on death row? She coughed to clear her throat. "Right. So what happens now then?
"

  "Nothing, I guess, until he goes to court. Then I suppose Rooney and I will have to testify against him, tell the judge what we saw. Although I think the video evidence is proof enough."

  "What video evidence?" A chill raced up her spine.

  "I had my phone in my pocket and videoed everything. Rhian downloaded it and we emailed it along with the complaint form."

  "Are you crazy? What if you'd been caught?" She couldn't believe how stupid he was sometimes.

  "Don't tell me you care what happens to me, Kate?" He nudged Molly out of the way and stood, shuffling over to where Kate had risen at the top of the steps. He placed his hand on her arm and the heat raced through her skin. "I was perfectly safe, but your concern is always welcome—more than welcome in fact."

  "You're reading it wrong. I wasn't concerned for you, just the family in general." Brushing his hand off, Kate placed her cup on the ground and backed down the steps. "I have to go to bed. I've got an early start. Nice to see you again, Stevie. Night all." Kate walked away, cursing herself for acting like an idiot. He would think she was another conquest and that was mortifying. She refused to put herself in the same category as his groupie girlfriends. Her pride wouldn't let her even though her body might have other ideas.

  "Kate, please wait." Cade almost caught up with her as she reached her front door. He must have cut through the house.

  "What?" She kept her hand on the door handle, ready for a quick escape.

  "I didn't mean to upset you, I'm sorry." The race through the house to head her off sporting crutches took more effort than he thought it would. There were spikes of pain shooting up his leg and he was out of breath.

  She turned to face him and sighed. "I used to think you were the most amazing person when I was a kid. I know, stupid wasn't it? But now I'm all grown up, Cade, and I don't need you to remind me I’m nothing more to you than one of your groupies. I don't belong there."

  "You're right, you don't." I realised that when I thought that stupid colt was going to hurt you and I risked everything for you. Pity I didn't figure it out sooner.