A coach load of people exited the café as they entered. Every table bore dirty dishes and people waited at the counter for service. Emily Mitchell, the owner, looked up with a smile.
“On your own?” Marsh asked.
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you grab us a table outside and settle Ricky? I’ll clear the tables for Emily and order our coffee,” Marsh said. “A latte for you?”
“With trim milk please.” Caroline led their son around to the garden entrance.
Marsh heard a gleeful shout from Ricky and an answering one from another child. Good. Someone to play with would keep their son occupied while they talked.
Marsh cleared tables and rounded the counter to stack them in the kitchen. The place looked like a bombsite. Caroline arrived a few minutes later with a tray of plates and cups from outside.
“Ricky is playing with Susan Longford’s boy. Susan said she’d watch them,” Caroline said. “I’ll stack the dishwasher.”
They worked as a team, helping Emily Mitchell with the backload of dishes and stocking up her food cabinet. Marsh found himself wishing their marriage worked as smoothly. Tomasine Mitchell and Isabella Mitchell, Emily’s sisters-in-law, arrived and took over. They’d been working for almost two hours.
“Thank you so much,” Emily said, beaming at them. Her brown eyes held sincere thanks, her cheeks flushed from rushing. “My helper called in sick and I’ve had two coach loads this morning, neither of whom booked. I presume you came in for coffee. What can I get you?”
“Two lattes with trim milk please,” Marsh said.
“Anything to eat?”
Marsh thought of his empty wallet with frustration, a hint of anger. “No, thanks.”
The bell over the café door tinkled. Marsh had always thought the sound welcoming, just like the owner. His nostrils flared as he identified another feline male, and he shifted his body position, moving closer to Caroline in a patent statement of ownership.
“Saber,” Emily said with delight. “You’re too late to help with the rush. Marsh and Caroline probably wish they hadn’t come for coffee when they did because they’ve spent the last two hours helping me.”
“Kitten,” Saber replied and gave his mate a quick kiss.
Marsh nodded at the oldest of the Mitchell brothers. He’d gone to school with Leo, the middle brother, so he didn’t know Saber well, although he’d know he was a Mitchell at first glance since the brothers were similar in appearance. Feline-green eyes, black hair and brutal on the rugby field.
“Marsh. Caroline.” Saber nodded a greeting.
“Grab a seat.” Emily made a scooting motion with her hands. “I’ll bring your coffee.” She headed for the kitchen, pausing to speak to Tomasine, the petite shifter manning the espresso machine, and disappeared out the back. Saber ambled after his mate.
“I hope Ricky has been behaving,” Caroline said into the resulting silence.
“We haven’t heard war-whoops. That’s a good sign.” Marsh placed a hand on the small of her back to guide her outside, and a part of him died when she stiffened at his touch. She couldn’t leave him, not after he’d gone against his parents to marry her. If only he’d… He shoved aside the self-doubt and steeled his resolution.
He’d made mistakes, but it wasn’t too late.
He refused to let her walk without a fight.
He needed to show her by action and deed.
They claimed a table in partial shade, Caroline gravitating to the seat screened from direct sunshine. It was hot for this time of the year, but signs of the approaching winter showed in the gold, yellow and red colors of the leaves.
Marsh glanced at Caroline, the firm set of her jaw and cursed the circumstances. “Please don’t go, Caroline. I love you and the boys.”
She swallowed, a beam of sunlight striking her hair and highlighting the red tones. “I can’t go on this way. We don’t talk. We don’t share a room. We don’t have a marriage.”
Pain pierced his chest at the truths she spoke. And they were the surface of the problem. They struggled to pay the bills because his father didn’t pay him half the time. In hindsight he could see he’d fucked this up and there was no one else to blame.
* * * * *
Emily Mitchell stared at her mate as he prowled around the café kitchen for a second time. As he stalked past, ready for a third circuit, she wrenched on his arm and yanked him to a stop. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Saber grimaced and ran a hand through his hair. “The council meeting.”
Amusement bubbled to the fore. “You could always retire.”
“Want to. Can’t. Promised Uncle Herbert I’d keep them in line. He threatened to haunt me if I didn’t take his seat on the council.”
“That sounds like a threat.”
Saber scowled and scratched his head, disordering his hair yet again. “It was a promise, which is why I can’t go back on my word. God, I loved that old man. He held us together after our parents died, kept us in a family unit when others thought we were too much trouble.”
“You’ve never told me this before. I mean, I know about your uncle, but not that the authorities considered splitting up you and your brothers.”
“It was the council. We felines try to keep any problems involving our community in-house. Uncle Herbert told the council he was keeping us, and there would be no argument about his decision. They wanted to split us up and place us with other families who didn’t have children. Thank god, Uncle Herbert got his way. He helped us heal.”
“He did an excellent job.”
“Yeah.” Saber started to pace again.
“Saber, for goodness’ sake. What happened at the council meeting?”
“Marsh and Caroline Rutherford.”
Emily pulled a large china bowl from the shelf and set it on the counter. “What about Marsh and Caroline? Are they in trouble? I don’t know either of them well, just to say hello. They don’t come to the café very often.”
“According to Valerie, they’re separating. Caroline is leaving Marsh and taking the boys to Dunedin. They want me to talk to them.” He grimaced.
“Interfere in a marriage. That doesn’t sound like a good idea.”
“That’s what I said. They voted and I was it before I knew what hit me.” Saber huffed out a breath, distracting her with the flexing of his chest.
A very magnificent chest. When he started his prowling again, she reached out to pinch his bum. He jumped, and she laughed aloud at his disgruntled expression.
“I need help.”
She crossed the room to join him and stood on tiptoe to press a kiss on his lips. “You could ignore the council.” When his arms came around her, she cuddled closer.
“Ignoring the problem won’t work. They’re tenacious.”
“I like Marsh and Caroline, even though I don’t know them well. They pitched in to help me today without a word. Not many people would do that.” A thought formed and she pulled back a fraction. “I might have an idea.”
“Tell me. Anything. If you have a plan that will work, I’ll take time off, and we’ll go on the honeymoon we’ve talked about for the last year. And you’ll get lucky tonight. That’s a promise.”
Emily grinned. “High stakes, although I’m lucky all the time.”
“I love you. I like to make you happy.”
She caressed his cheek. “You do make me happy. I’d like to go to Rotorua and Taupo. One week at each place.”
“Two weeks?”
“Two weeks,” she confirmed.
“All right. It’s a deal. What have you got?”
She reached up to tap his nose. “Not so fast. There is something else.”
His eyes narrowed. “What?”
“Just to show I play fair, I’ll give you my idea first. Invite Caroline and Marsh to join us tonight for dinner. Your brothers are already coming for a barbeque. Two more adults and their two sons won’t make any difference. Sylvie would love to have kids to play
with.”
“Not a bad idea. That will give me a chance to see how they are together,” Saber mused. “And if I get the right vibe, I could take Marsh aside and have a word with him.”
“If it helps, they both look at each other when they think the other isn’t looking,” Emily said.
“Do they now? Interesting.” Saber nodded, apparently coming to a decision. “One thing, kitten. Caroline doesn’t know about feline shifters. She doesn’t know about Marsh or that her two boys are felines.”
“Oh. That makes things tricky for Marsh.”
“Yes.” Saber’s voice held disapproval. “His parents doing.”
“Emily,” Tomasine called. “Your coffee is ready.”
“Be there in a sec,” Emily answered. “We should invite ourselves to join Marsh and Caroline for coffee. Ask them to dinner while we’re sitting with them.”
“Sometimes your sneakiness scares me,” Saber said. “Let’s do this. Wait, what was the other thing you wanted in exchange for your idea?”
“The getting lucky.” Emily winked at him. “It’s time for me to visit Gavin and have another birth control shot. I was thinking I’d go off birth control, and we should start practicing for real.”
“A baby?”
“Emily!” Tomasine called.
“Coming.” Emily hurried past her mate, rather enjoying his nonplussed expression. She felt his gaze on her back and put an extra sway in her walk. Yep, their upcoming holiday would be full of hot loving, like a real honeymoon. She couldn’t wait.
* * * * *
“Do you mind if we join you?” Emily asked.
Caroline smiled, and Marsh saw the relief in her because she wouldn’t have to spend time alone with him. “We’d enjoy the company.”
She’d doodled on a bit of paper, drawing Ricky and his friend playing, instead of concentrating on their problems. Frustration had his feline struggling to surface, and he dragged in a deep breath, scrambling for control. He sensed Saber’s quick glance, but didn’t meet his gaze.
“I brought blueberry muffins,” Emily said.
“Thanks, but no.” A flash of heat rose to the surface in Caroline’s cheeks.
“I only have enough money for coffee.” Stiff pride filled Marsh’s words.
“Are you kidding?” Emily grinned at him, wrinkling her nose. “Your money is no good here today. You both worked your butts off to help me. The least I can do is give you coffee and muffins in exchange. I’ve brought a gingerbread man and a fluffy for your son. Sorry, my mind has gone blank on his name.”
“Ricky,” Caroline said.
“Thank you.” Marsh stood. “I’ll grab him.” He wandered over to Susan. Ricky and her son were playing with trucks and tractors in the sandpit. Susan looked up from her book at his approach. “Thanks for looking after Ricky.”
“Are you kidding? Ricky has kept my son entertained, and I’ve read my book in peace. A luxury!”
“Ricky, we have a fluffy for you.”
Ricky made one last broom-broom noise as he crashed his tractor into a grader. When both vehicles flipped with the force of the crash, he let out a cheer and sprang to his feet. “Bye.” He waved and sprinted off to join Caroline and the Mitchells.
“Ricky says thank you,” Marsh said dryly.
Susan waved him off with a laugh and started packing up toys and her book. “No prob. We should be going anyway.”
Marsh wandered back to join Caroline and slid into his seat.
“I didn’t realize your wife was so talented,” Emily said.
“She is,” Marsh agreed and meant every word. Caroline had a way with art and handicrafts. “James has the same artistic talent. Ricky takes after me.”
“We’re having a barbecue tonight,” Emily said. “It will be us, Felix and Leo and their wives. We’d love you to join us.”
Caroline glanced at him. “Thanks, but I think—”
Emily reached out and placed her hand over Caroline’s. “Please, you’d be doing me a favor. Sylvie would love to have someone to play with instead of it being just adults.”
“I…ah…”
Marsh held his breath as Emily squeezed Caroline’s hand in silent entreaty. Caroline sucked in her breath, and he could see the tick of her thoughts, the frustrated confusion. Finally, she nodded, forced a smile.
“Thank you. That sounds lovely.” Her voice cracked, and guilt sped through Marsh. He’d done this, put this stressed expression on her face. No more regrets or apologies. Instead, he’d come up with a plan and act on it because he loved his boys. He loved Caroline, and if she left, his heart would leave with her.
Marsh swallowed and glanced up to find Saber scrutinizing him. The older feline showed none of his thoughts on his face, but something he saw or decided relaxed his expression into open friendliness.
“Word is stock has vanished from two of the farms bordering our land,” Saber said. “Have you lost any stock to rustlers?”
“First, I’ve heard of it.” Marsh shrugged. “I don’t get out much.” Lack of money and long work hours did that to a man.
Saber sipped his coffee. “Alex Baxter has lost fifty head of his prime stud stock. They were there when he retired for the night and gone when he woke in the morning.”
“What did the cops say?”
Saber snorted. “Our local cops have the sense of a gnat. They say they’re doing extra patrols and investigating, but you can’t do much if you drink coffee and sit at your desk all day.”
“Isn’t Hannah, the head cop, about to retire? I think Dad mentioned that.”
“Yeah, and he doesn’t want to break a fingernail before his time is up. Those bodies that turned up have scared the shit out of him. He seems afraid of his own shadow.”
Marsh glanced at Caroline and leaned closer to Saber. “Can’t the council do something?”
“We’ve discussed it.” Saber’s eyes narrowed a fraction and cast a speculative look at Caroline before turning his attention back to Marsh. “We’ll hold a meeting of the feline farmers and organize a night patrol.”
Marsh nodded, accepting his father would volunteer him for patrol. More excuses to make up for Caroline although he could mention the cattle thieves. A yawn escaped him and he slapped his hand over his mouth. “Sorry. I’ve been working long hours.”
“I thought your father employed two farmhands.”
“One left.”
“It’s hard to get good farm labor.”
Marsh’s breath rushed out in a frustrated sigh. “Dad isn’t the easiest boss. They get sick of him expecting them to work seven days with no time off. It wouldn’t surprise me if Jason upped and left too.”
Saber drained the last of his coffee and set his cup on the wooden table. “Guess I’d better get going. Felix and Leo will be waiting for me. We’re going to sell some cattle before winter sets in and have to decide which ones will go to the sale. I’ll see you both tonight.”
“What time should we arrive?” Caroline asked. “And should we bring anything? I could make bread if you like?”
“Fresh bread?” At Caroline’s nod, Emily beamed. “Yes please. That sounds lovely.” She stood. “I’d better get back to work or my assistants will go on strike. Thanks for the help today.”
Saber and Emily disappeared into the café, but not before Marsh noticed Saber’s hand slide over Emily’s butt. He grinned and met Caroline’s gaze. Her blue eyes swam with sadness before Ricky grabbed her attention.
Marsh’s phone chimed, and he glanced at the screen. His father. He ignored the call and slipped the phone into his pocket.
“I’m out of flour. Do we have enough money to buy flour and pumpkin seeds?”
“Will twelve dollars cover it?”
Caroline nodded.
Marsh stood. “Let’s hit the store then.”
After a quick stop at the store, Marsh drove them home.
“Emily is good company,” Caroline said. “I’ve never really chatted with her—nothing more th
an a hello. I know Tomasine better because I see her if I drop off or pick up James from school.”
“Leo was in my class at school, but I’ve lost touch since our marriage.” Whenever he shifted, he ran with his parents or the immediate neighbors. His father attended the district feline meetings and passed on the relevant information to him. He hadn’t realized how isolated he’d become after working long hours on the farm. His father attended the sales, purchased and sold stock and took care of picking up supplies, which meant Marsh went days without seeing other people—human or feline. Part of the reason he wanted to play rugby again. “I’m looking forward to seeing him again. You’ll like Leo.”
“His wife Isabella seems nice,” Caroline said. “Sometimes she drops off Sylvie for Tomasine.”
“I can pick up James from school this afternoon.”
“Won’t you be busy on the farm?”
“No. I told Dad I was taking the rest of the day off. Ricky can come with me if you want.”
“I’m hoping Ricky will have a sleep this afternoon since we’re going out tonight,” Caroline said. “But if he’s awake, he’d enjoy going out with you.”
Another salvo of guilt struck Marsh mid-chest, and it reverberated through his body, poking and prodding at his insecurities. Crap. He’d been an absent husband and father. Another item for his list.
“Can I help with the bread?”
Caroline sent him a startled look. “You want to help?”
“If I can.”
“How about if you and Ricky pick herbs for me and cut some silver beet? I’ll make focaccia bread.”
Marsh pulled into their driveway to find his father on the doorstep. “We can do that. Let me see what Dad wants then I’m all yours.” Marsh caught the faint tightening of her facial muscles, the flash of doubt and it steeled his determination. “Five minutes,” he promised.
Caroline unbuckled Ricky from his car seat and led him inside, leaving Marsh alone with his father.
“Dawn said Caroline is leaving you.”
Marsh didn’t reply.
His father muttered an oath. “You can’t let her take the boys. They won’t survive in the city. They’ll need you once they reach their teen years.”
My Estranged Lover (Middlemarch Shifters Book 5) Page 3
