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 on 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.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Eleven

Catherine arrived in Sydney as scheduled. She had taken a private helicopter from the local airport to Christchurch. Fortunately, she only had to wait an hour before her Qantas flight took off. The flight itself was six hours and she went first class. Wealth had its’ advantages, and travelling first class was one she definitely indulged in on the few occasions she travelled these days. It was worth the money to get extra legroom and the wider seats. Those factors and the improved service on board made it all the more beneficial.

During the flight, she had indulged in orange juice and reading the financial times, her mind drifted to the events and conversations with the two women currently in her household.

‘I can’t believe that I slept the night holding a virtual stranger in my arms and it never bothered me, well only initially. For some reason it was familiar to me. Odd, so very odd! I know that we’ve never met before, I would have remembered wouldn’t I? Yet, when she touches me I crave the feel of the contact......I look into her eyes and see......what?’ Glancing pensively out of the window Catherine was reluctant to answer the questions she posed to herself.

‘I need to get a grip on this before something happens that neither of us wants. I know she’s the friendly sort, maybe a little to friendly, but haven’t I encouraged that also! Grace said she was upset that I was leaving, but why? Hell, I don’t know what to think of this situation. I’ve never come across it before! God, there never had been a time that anyone had actively pursued her friendship, quite the opposite in fact.  Now, here was a young woman who must be at least ten years her junior, not only looking towards a deep friendship, but possibly more.........or was that her over active imagination. I hope it is, because Jace, I can’t be that person for you! That is something I’m very sure of.

No! The reclusive Catherine Warriorson is afraid to answer her own heart! Adam would have smiled and maybe he is smiling at me now. But, I still don’t believe in your soulmate theory, that is way to over the top for me.’

~ ~ ~

After the lunch was served and eventually cleared away, Catherine mused over her relationship with Grace. ‘I know she’s a friend, she offered me her friendship from the first day. We kind of drifted into an easy superficial friendship. Nothing too deep, no secrets have ever been exchanged between us, we’ve only indulged in mutual companionship and she is good company. I couldn’t think of living on the ranch without her. Yet, might that soon be a possibility? Hell, she’s got two men after her now and I think I know which one she will chose, or is it just that it’s more convenient for me to think that way? This morning’s conversation had been strange, almost a confession of something buried between us. She would have answered me honestly if Jace had not awakened at that time. Would I have been equally as honest with her?  No! I doubt I would have shared her honesty.’

When she finally got through the customs procedures, always a chore in her eyes, but something even she couldn’t get out of. She picked up her small suitcase, briefcase and laptop computer and put them on a luggage carrier and moved out of the airport arrival’s lounge to the taxi stand.

Half an hour later she arrived at the Hilton Hotel, which was situated in Sydney harbour and had a wonderful view of the bridge and the mooring of an old sailing boat, the replica of the Bounty, which was used in the movie ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ starring Mel Gibson.

Going towards the concierge, she was greeted by one of her Vice Presidents Gareth Cuthbert, who was in charge of European operations and liked to wield his power at every available opportunity.

“Ms Devonshire, how nice to see you again.” He held out his hand, which she took and immediately knew one of the reasons she didn’t particularly like the man. He had a very sweaty handshake something she couldn’t abide. But he was good at his job and she didn’t have to do this more than four times a year. She would survive!

“Nice to see you also Cuthbert, is everyone else here?” She motioned for a porter to take her luggage.

“Yeah, Paul Strong arrived about an hour ago, he was the final VP to get here. Now you’re here, do you want to start early or wait until the schedule tomorrow?” He was never one to miss a chance at making brownie points with the great Ms Devonshire. It was legend that she loved the power she held, even if from a distance.

Closing in on the front desk she turned her blue eyes without any warmth and pinned him with a stare that would have had most people intimidated, but he knew her too well to worry about that, at least he hoped he did. “No, that’s okay, keep with the schedule; but, Gareth good call.” She turned away from him and spoke to the head clerk.

Within ten minutes she was kicking her shoes off and lounging in a soft leather two-seater pale blue sofa, waiting for room service to bring her tea.

Looking over the room, which was decorated in pastel shades to go with the furniture, which consisted of two, two-seater sofas and a coffee table. Along one wall was a large entertainment system and the other wall had a desk with the phone and the modem ports. The next section of the suite held a dining table and eight chairs with a drinks cabinet. This led directly onto the bedroom area, which housed a king-sized four-poster bed, a dressing table and another smaller TV set. A walk in closet was to the left of the bed and to the right was the bathroom, with a large sunken bath and an independent shower, bidet and toilet. She had also noticed in the hall was another restroom. Everything she needed, well more than she needed really, but it was useful if she needed to see any of her people alone.  Right now Paul Strong was the favourite candidate.

Picking up the room phone she dialled his room, having obtained his room number from reception.

“Hello, this is Strong, can I help you?” A familiar masculine voice answered.

“Hi Paul, glad to see you made it early. How about a drink before dinner in my suite, say five o’clock?”

Paul Strong smiled when he realized the identity of the caller. ‘I bet she hasn’t even been in the room ten minutes.’

“Sure, anything you say.”

“Great, see you then.” She didn’t wait for an answer and put down the phone. Room service had arrived!

Paul looked at the receiver in his hand that had a dead tone. He laughed. She hadn’t changed, that was for sure.

~ ~ ~

Grace had helped Jace to bathe and change her clothes; she was far too weak to endure the task on her own.

Settling back into the now clean laundered bed, she watched Grace limp around the room, collecting the used glasses and water pitcher and making sure the furniture was back in its usual places.

“Grace, do you mind if I ask you a question or two?” Jace looked pensively at the woman who had turned from her task and was looking directly at her.

“If I can answer I will, go ahead, ask.” Grace eyed her speculatively.

“I know it’s personal, but how did you injure yourself?” Green eyes looked at her with sympathetic interest.

“Well, I could say I’ve had the problem since I was born,” Grace saw the sudden flush of embarrassment and waved her hand at Jace. “No, I was in a car accident, my fault actually. Lucky to get out alive they say, but it left me less than whole. You can’t count your chickens too much in this life.”

Jace nodded her head in understanding. “Have you always worked as a housekeeper?”

“Hell, no! I was a rookie policewoman before this happened, it sort of stunted my chances. I needed a change of scenery before I did something stupid, so here I am.” Grace looked at Jace to check her reaction it was reflective.

“Interesting, you don’t come across as cop material.”

“Is there such a thing as cop material? Jace, I’m surprised at you! Didn’t realise you had specific boxes for people to fit into.” Grace laughed at the thought.

Jace looked embarrassed. “I didn’t mean it like that exactly! Only I figured you for a more gentle career, sorry.”

“Ah, I see. So, have you always been a Publicity PA?”

“Yes, from college. Although I had plans to join my father in the family publishing business, when I couldn’t, I opted for this role instead,” Jace answered quietly.

“What happened to make you give up your dream?”

“How did you know it was a dream?”

“Oh, just the way you said it.”

“In my final year, he was taken over by a giant in the publishing business.”

“It happens, so why not work for them or someone else for that matter.”

“Never! It was too painful and Xianthos never gave us a chance.” She almost cried in remembered pain, recalling the situation vividly when her father told her they had lost the business.

“Xianthos? I’ve come across that name before, but for the life of me I can’t remember; obviously it can’t be important.” Grace shrugged her shoulders.

Jace decided it was a good time to change tack. “Catherine left a book here called ‘There Can Only Be One Soulmate’. I’ve kind of glanced over it, but I noticed the name of the author. Is Adam Warriorson a relation to Catherine?” Jace looked down at the bedclothes and held out the leather bound book to Grace.

“It’s okay Jace, I’ve read the book. I’m surprised she left it here though. She’s going to be upset when she finds out that she doesn’t have it in her luggage.” Grace absently said before answering her question.

“Why?”

“Oh, the book is very special to Catherine, she must have read it, and god knows, maybe a hundred times! Adam was her husband.”

It was a simple enough statement by Grace, but it caused Jace to suck in her breath as if in pain. She realised that maybe her dream of getting to know Catherine would be limited to a very long distance friendship. ‘Hell, why did I think it could be anything else, she never gave the impression she was anything other than a very private person who would and did wield enormous power.’

Clearing her throat from the sting of tears she could feel welling up.  “You say was? Are they divorced or something?”

Grace smiled slightly. “Oh, well you certainly didn’t do any research on this part of your trip did you?” came the gentle enquiry, not wanting to sound harsh to the still obviously sick woman.

“We didn’t have time to do much research for this slot, Clarissa added it suddenly, and even Peter the director was shocked that we had to come here to film.”

“So, when did you arrive in New Zealand?” This had piqued Grace’s interest, and had Catherine been here she would have been intrigued, well she would let her boss know about this later.

“Oh, about a week ago. We got some good footage of the surrounding area and some other ranches and their owners, but we had difficulty with this one, as you know. We didn’t have the details of this area or of Catherine, just the name C X Warriorson, guess we look kinda foolish to you all I suppose?” Jace said sheepishly.

“To me a little naïve maybe, but foolish no! Catherine on the other hand wasn’t impressed with the situation. She had refused the permission and once she says no, she sure as hell means no!”

“Yet, she let me in, and even put me up for the night, and gods she’s been so friendly, I don’t really know what to think. But you haven’t answered my question Grace, what’s happened to her husband?”

Jace wasn’t even sure if she really wanted the answer, but it mattered and oh how it mattered to her.

“Adam died in a plane crash along with their son Lucas, five plus years it will be now. Adam had just bought the ranch for him and the boy, but they never had the chance to live here.”

Grace noticed the look of compassion on her face when she mentioned Adam’s death, but when Lucas was mentioned the sadness was profound. Grace continued.

“She actually likes living here I think. But with Catherine you cannot really tell; she keeps so much inside herself; one day it’s going to be just too much for her to handle alone.” Shaking her head she moved towards the door.

Jace thought about the comment, ‘But, you’re not alone Catherine, I’m here and going to be for as long as you want me!’

“So Adam was a writer, was he a good one?”

“Why don’t you read it for yourself and make your own mind up. One thing’s for sure, he was a dreamer and that makes you wonder how they ever met. Because Catherine is logical and practical down to her little finger.” Grace opened the door and as she pushed it shut she heard Jace’s reply.

“Yeah, good idea. A dreamer, oh well, I’m a dreamer too!”

Grace smiled as she heard the comment and thought. ‘Oh Catherine, you’re going to have your work cut out for you avoiding this situation head on, that’s for sure.’

~ ~ ~

Chapter Twelve

Paul Strong arrived at his boss’s suite at five prompt, you never, ever kept Ms Devonshire waiting, that was the first rule you learned and quickly just as soon as you became an employee.

Paul had worked for the Xianthos Publishing Empire, for close on twenty years. He had a degree in English literature and thought it would be adequate in a publishing house. Well, in most it would have been but Xianthos was different, from its very foreign name to its roots and finally it’s original owner Stewart Devonshire.

Paul recalled the man as being obsessive about the company, but never about his family. He’d heard that his wife was dead, and that an aunt in England was bringing up his two children. Quite common for lots of wealthy parents, but something in the way Devonshire spoke about his children defied that he never saw them. It was just another oddity of a very English gentleman, and Devonshire was that all right!

When he’d died, everyone wondered what would happen, there had been no natural successor and with his only son dead and his daughter definitely the black sheep of the family after her continuous trips on alcohol and drugs to finally end up in prison. Not that that particular event had been given much publicity. Devonshire had managed to keep it under wraps to a degree, and he only knew because he’d been part of the clean up team that went to Europe to pay people off. Who would be the person to handle the vast and lucrative empire Stewart had built?

Then that question had been answered, and if they thought Stewart odd, well at least he’d been a gentleman! Ms Devonshire arrived on the scene within six months of her fathers death, and proved the old saying ‘better the devil you know.’

She had taken Xianthos to greater heights within the space of eighteen months, what she didn’t do to get them the numerous take-overs, were to say the least what legends are made from. Then her personal world had fallen from under her, quite suddenly! No explanations, she was just gone! Many thought she had killed herself after the tragedy of the deaths of her husband and son, but she hadn’t, she’d decided that it was time to remove herself from the world arena. Within three months she had left him the largest role in the world operation and he had never let her down. Although, his methods did not have the harsh backlash that hers had, as she made enemies and kept them.

Now five and half years later she had asked a question that he hadn’t expected, he’d thought the situation buried with her father, obviously not!

Knocking on the door, he was directed to enter.

Paul saw one of the most beautiful women he would ever meet, she had always fascinated him but she had never tried her charms on him, she valued him in the company far too much for that! Although he was glad, it could have turned nasty for him.

“Good evening Ms Devonshire.” Paul said, pleased to see her.

Catherine looked at the man who must be what? Maybe mid-forties, very handsome in a subtle sort of way, he had dark brown hair, greying at the temples, but that didn’t detract from his masculine attraction.  He dressed well too! Not ostensibly expensive, but very good quality.

She held out her hand. “Great to see you Paul, thanks for doing the research for me.” She lifted her eyebrow, knowing full well that he wouldn’t have ventured near her if he hadn’t.

Paul looked at the tall woman and noticed that she was dressed in a black leather skirt that fit snugly to her hips and reached just above the knees, with a white plain but obviously expensively cut blouse.  She was the epitome of a wealthy, beautiful woman but without the need to prove anything to anyone.

“Yeah, as always, my pleasure.” He smiled at her.

He handed over a folder, she took it, glanced at the ownership rights and smiled. “Would you like a drink Paul?”

“Sure, Scotch and water thanks.”

She motioned for him to sit and she prepared the scotch and water and a mineral water for her, speed-reading the documents enclosed, a particular skill of hers that always annoyed a lot of her business associates.

“Right, so we still have sixty percent holding in the company and ‘She’ has the other forty.” It was an almost absent one-sided conversation, something that Paul had never experienced before or seen to his knowledge.

A little perplexed he answered, “Yeah, just as your father willed it.”

Catherine looked up at the remark and suddenly realised she’d forgotten that Paul was in the room with her.

“Sorry about that Paul, I must be getting used to my own company too much obviously.” She laughed and the sound not only surprised him, but also made him aware that she was human after all.

“We still invest heavily, as my father wanted?”

“Well, to the tune of twenty million dollars as of the last financial year. Do you want me to drop the level?”

“No! Not yet at any rate, the bitch is up to something and I want to know what.”

Paul looked at her with some concern; he didn’t understand the conversation. “I’m sorry, but I guess you’ve lost me.”

“I still have the right to veto everything from the original idea to the final tape and the staff right?”

“Oh, sure. We never have so far! It hasn’t been worth the time, and you made it clear that you didn’t want any of our resources to have anything to do with the project. Is that still the case?”

“To put you in the picture Paul, the good Ms Hudson, decided to set the hounds on me and dig me out of hiding. Done not very subtlety I might add, but effective nonetheless. She sent a kid to do a grown up job and maybe she punched to many of my buttons this time around. She’s going down this time Paul. To hell with my father and what he wanted, now she gets this particular Devonshire in her bed, and believe me it won’t be the happy ride she had with Daddy! Oh no, not this time. This time she’s going to have to fight to the death!”

Paul looked shocked, he knew that she wanted her life now to be reclusive; he’d always thought and secretly wanted her to come back. This situation was interesting to say the least.

“I thought your father made it plain that you couldn’t interfere with her or the shares he’d given her, unless she chose to sell them to another party?”

“Well, there’s more than one way to skin a cat Paul. I thought you would know that by now, especially if someone crosses me!” She quirked that expressive left eyebrow at him and smiled a very wicked looking smile.

“Sorry, guess I’m getting out of the habit of having you around to remind me.” He took a chance on her mood and wasn’t wrong.

She smiled openly this time, and motioned her hand to the bar. He accepted the gesture.

“So who is the kid she set on you?” He asked more out of trying to find conversation than any real interest.

Catherine gave him a veiled look and she quirked her lips.  “Well, not just the kid really, a whole crew to be precise. Peter Adamson is the director, have you heard of him?”

Catherine hadn’t particularly been interested in any of the other members of the crew that she’d seen on the ridge. Jace Bardley had been the only one with guts to call her at her own game. Now she was interested in where this Adamson guy fitted.

“Actually, yes I’ve heard of him. He’s a very good documentary director, very professional and this doesn’t fit his profile somehow!” Paul frowned at his thoughts.

“How come you know so much about him?”

Paul appeared discomforted by the question and looked down at the rug at his feet. Not quite sure how to answer her, but knowing that he would have to eventually.

Catherine watched him gulp down the second drink, now that was unusual! Not only did he seem nervous, he looked embarrassed, god knows why?

She walked over to the drink’s cabinet and got him another drink, guessing that might settle his nerves.

“You going to answer me?” she grinned ‘that particular retort was becoming a habit.’ What was happening to the people around her?

He looked up at her as she walked right up to his chair and offered him the drink, taking the empty glass away without any comment.

“I have a friend......” Paul spoke the word almost as a caress.

Now Catherine knew why he wasn’t to pleased at the turn of the conversation. Obviously it could drop his ladylove in the cart.

Funny she had never asked or even been remotely interested in his personal life, even way back when she often took executives to her bed.  Her mind drifted to a pleasant feeling of holding a very small soft body close to her all night! ‘Christ get those thoughts out of the gutter Warriorson, she’s just a kid and you can’t go there, not now, not ever!’ Although she continued smiling at the thought of Jace, she realized it had become impossible for her not to now.

Paul noticed the change in her facial expression and he could have sworn that she was thinking good things; maybe she had finally found someone at last!

“He lives in LA, and knows the film crowd very well!” Paul waited for the penny to drop with his boss and awaited the outcome. He had never been sure if she had any feelings either way about the sexuality of anyone, but as with everything else about her, she was so hard to find anything out about at all.

She had been married and had a son. She loved the boy that had been obvious to anyone. His picture had been on her desk and it changed as soon as she got another. He always recalled her expression; it softened to tenderness without prompting. Adam, well that had been another story altogether. Although, he couldn’t remember any rumours flying of her taking a woman to her bed, plenty of men, but women no!

Catherine wasn’t sure if she was supposed to learn something from the fact that it was a man! Suddenly she realised what it was all about, as the penny finally dropped, and this caused her to laugh outright.

Paul saw this as a derogatory comment on his choice of mate. He got up from the chair and coolly walked towards the door.

“Well, if you’ve finished with me now, I’ll see you at dinner Ms Devonshire.”

Catherine was stunned ‘what the hell have I done to bring on this reaction? Oh, shit I laughed. But I wasn’t laughing at him! No, I would need to laugh at myself with the thoughts that went through my mind a few minutes ago about Jace.’

“Wait! Paul hold on there! I’ve not finished, sit!” It wasn’t a request it was a demand. He did exactly that!

Catherine walked over to the chair that was directly opposite the one Paul had dropped into at the demand; she sat and directed a very powerful ice blue gaze at his grey eyes.

Several seconds later, she released his eyes and smiled. “You know something Paul, I know absolutely nothing about you other than what you do in the company for me. Guess that’s a little remiss of the boss wouldn’t you say?”

“In the circumstances no! You’re a very busy woman,” he wondered where the questioning was going.

“Paul you know more about me than anyone else I know! Maybe you think you don’t, but let’s face it, I’ve no family. Well none that want anything to do with me! I’m a virtual recluse, in a country that has taken me in without question. Although, I suspect my money is the leading factor there. I frighten the hell out of my neighbours, my business associates and probably most of the people who meet me! Do you know how that feels? No scratch that, I never wanted to belong anywhere anyway. Hell, I’ve experienced most of what the world has to offer, especially in my sordid past. So, are you going to tell me a little about your personal life?” She wasn’t sure if that had been the right approach, but recently she had put her reclusive nature on hold and opened up a little to the world.

Paul looked at her and a faint smile crossed his lips. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing the mighty Ms Devonshire was actually interested in him! Not on her personal level, but on his!

“James Thompson, that’s my partner.” He blushed as he said the phrase, looking shyly at the stoic woman in front of him and seeing the slight smile he carried on. “We’ve been friends since you found out about your fathers other passion. I’m sorry I had to mention that.”

Catherine shook her head in acknowledgement.

 “We met when you sent me to LA to sound out the company. He had worked for Union City Productions and gave me some of the low down you needed. Guess we just clicked. But, although we can’t be together all year round we have built a life together. He knows Clarissa very well. Peter is a friend of both of ours, we met him at a charity ball about five years ago. He has a thing about the Publicity Guru at UCP.”

Catherine knew just whom he meant when he said the Publicity Guru. Not wanting to sound eager but needing the information desperately.

“So who’s the Publicity Guru, certainly way off track if they come looking for me?”

Paul had been with this woman for the last eight years and knew when something was important to her and this certainly was!

“Jace Bardley.”

“Would you believe she’s the kid sent to help track me down?” Catherine looked at him closely for his reaction.

“Oh, that’s a surprise, Jace is a good kid. She’s great for the studio. Since she became Clarissa’s aide, the studio has most definitely received better publicity and people really like Jace. James says she’s the brightest star in that place, if I didn’t know better, I would be jealous.” Paul laughed and then noted the closed expression on his boss’s face.

“I’m sorry if I offended you?”

Catherine was trying to decipher all the messages going to her brain at once.  ‘Jace was being courted by the director, hired by her enemy, and sleeping in her house! Could it get much more complicated? So what did she feel about it all? ‘Nothing! Oh, get real Catherine! That isn’t a word you can remotely use in this situation. No way, you feel! What do I feel? I haven’t let anyone into my heart ever! Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration there was Mother and Lucas, but that’s family.’ Then there had been Adam, even if that had been for different reasons and her greatest achievement and failure, Lucas her son. Now she was thinking about Jace being added to those that she cared about! ‘Get a life Catherine, everyone around you dies! It’s a fact of your sordid life, did you think for one moment that you wouldn’t have to pay and pay for the rest of your life! Don’t let that bad old heart of yours convince you otherwise, it’s way too late for you, accept it!’

Shaking the desperate thoughts away, she answered the pensively waiting VP. “No, no you never offended me Paul, quite the opposite in fact, you made me evaluate a few things in my life at the moment. So have you met the very bright Ms Bardley?”

Paul sheepishly nodded.

“Oh, so what do you think?” She hadn’t wanted to sound to eager, but she couldn’t help her sudden interest. Here was someone she did trust and he knew the woman who was making her re-evaluate her life.

Paul immediately knew from the stance of the woman and her piercing gaze that this was important and not for business reasons.

“She’s all that people say, but she has integrity, is totally honest and that’s something in Tinsel Town. How she manages to keep her sense of humour working for Hudson is beyond most people, but she does. Jace is Jace, you just have to love her.” His eyes never left the gaze that he was held in.

Catherine didn’t want to hear that, she wanted Paul to give her some reason why things couldn’t possibly work out! He hadn’t, He had just told her all the things she had wanted to ignore.

“A paragon then?”

“Oh no, not Jace. Hell, she is so naïve sometimes it hurts to think that one day someone like Clarissa is going to debauch her; and with Clarissa that could be trouble!”

“What about someone like me?” Catherine didn’t know what to expect, she was just trying it on for size.

Paul looked at the suddenly tense woman and a thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly dispersed it as absurd. “You! Well, if she had you in her corner, then I guess she would remain naïve from most of the hurt in this world, if you could possibly do that!”

Catherine wasn’t expecting that! In fact she had convinced herself she was worse for Jace than Clarissa.

“What makes you say that?” Her heart was screaming for answers.

Paul looked her squarely in the face.

“Because you care! Unfortunately for some they can’t see that depth. If you ever wanted to, you might just convince them. Anyway, if Jace had you in her corner, I know she would be okay.” He smiled and then looked down at his watch it was almost seven. “Guess we have to go.”

Catherine looked at her watch and noticed that for once she might even be late. “Yes, better go ahead Paul and let them know I’m coming. I have a call to make.’ Just as he opened the door, Catherine softly said. ‘Paul, thank you. When we are alone call me Catherine, okay?”

Paul blushed at the comment.

“Yeah, no problem, my pleasure. Catherine.”

He walked out of the door to the elevator and thought ‘Jesus, just wait until James gets a load of this; the great Ms Devonshire has all the symptoms of being in love and with guess who? That is the shocker!’ He entered the elevator smiling.

Catherine saw the door close and picked up the phone and dialed home.

~ ~ ~

Jace had fallen asleep after reading the first three chapters of the book, which under normal circumstances she would not have been able to put down.

‘Now, why hadn’t she ever come across this book before? It had ‘classic’ written all over it! Yet, it was something that had been written over thirty-five years ago and left on a shelf until someone found it by chance. Well, this chance opportunity was one she wasn’t going to miss!

One thing she had noticed, which made her grimace in disgust was the publishing company, none other than Xianthos! It’s a wonder they ever had the brains or sentiment to discover such an author. Time was a great healer they say, but the pain and bitter taste hadn’t gone. She hated Xianthos and its’ owner the ever-resourceful Ms Devonshire! That woman shouldn’t ever come into close contact with decent human beings, because sure, as hell she wasn’t decent; certainly not in her business dealings at any rate.

Now how did you meet this man, Catherine, because it certainly must have been some match? Wonder if Grace can fill in any of the gaps? Maybe not, I should just keep my nose out of it right? Oh, right!’

Grace looked in on her charge later in the day and noticed that she held the book close to her chest, obviously doesn’t want anyone to remove the book and loose her place. She must find it very enlightening as I did.

Anyway Jace did look better and that’s all that mattered.

Now, she had to think of something to cook for the good doctor. Oh well, that shouldn’t be too hard. Smiling she left the sleeping Jace to her dreams.

Around five the phone rang and she knew who it was, as ever Catherine would be checking up! “Hello the Warriorson ranch, how can I help you?”

“Grace how is our patient?” Catherine almost growled at her housekeeper.

“Well, thanks for the greeting Catherine, but Jace is sleeping and looking much better.” She couldn’t help but smile.

“Hey, I’m sorry Grace, how are things with you too?” She answered sheepishly.

“Fine, Andrew will be here at seven, so everything’s on schedule.”

“Hell Grace, I didn’t know you put your love life on a schedule; Christ what next?” Chuckling at the other end.

“I’ll have you know working for you all this time, means my whole life is a schedule; so, what do you want to do about that!” Grace was also smiling the banter from her boss, most unexpected but welcome.

“Oh, give me a couple of days and I’ll work it out. So she is really on the mend then?”

“Yes, Catherine. You’re worse than the doctor, she’s doing well, but you’re not going to like something.”

“What’s that?” taking the defensive at her end of the line.

“You left the book behind and a certain Ms Bardley can’t get enough of it!”

There was silence at the other end.

“Are you still there Catherine?”

“Sure, I didn’t realise I left it behind. It’s the first time, guess my mind was preoccupied.” ‘Yeah with a small green eyed blonde that you had just slept through the night with.’

“Is it okay for Jace to read your copy, I can get it back and give her the paperback I have?”

“I didn’t know you had a copy Grace, why didn’t you mention it. You could have read mine anytime.”

“That’s okay. I thought maybe it was a family heirloom or something.”

“In a way it is, but....I would have let you read it Grace. As for Jace, let her read it, I’ll be interested to see what she makes of it.”

With that the doorknocker on the ranch sounded and Grace excused herself for a few minutes, knowing her discussion with her boss hadn’t been completed.

A motorcycle messenger held out a box, measuring around three foot long and two-foot wide. “For a Ms Bardley, can you sign?”

“Sure, thanks.” She closed the door on the retreating back of the messenger. Putting the box down she went back to the phone.

“So what’s going on?” Catherine asked.

“A box has arrived by messenger for Jace, wonder what it is. It’s from Christchurch.”

“Well, when you take it to Jace, I’m sure you will find out. Now what else is new?”

Grace informed her of the conversation with Jace as Catherine listened intently but refused to comment. Details about the ranch were soon completed and Catherine wished Grace a good evening.

“Hey, don’t go doing anything I wouldn’t okay?”

Grace laughed loudly “Oh, does that give me plenty of rope then?”

“Oh yes! Believe me you would hang yourself hundreds of times over. Got to go, see you in a couple of days.”

Hanging up the telephone, Grace wondered about the remark, but smiled as she noticed the box. Well let us get this show on the road. She picked up the box and went towards the guestroom.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Thirteen

Catherine was weary after her dinner with her five VP's, although the meeting earlier with Paul had been enlightening. For once, she had taken the opportunity to find out some personal details about her senior executives, which had totally floored them, well all except Paul of course.

Who noticed that his normally stoic boss was actually taking the time out to make small talk? This was really turning into an interesting meeting.

Gareth Cuthbert her European VP, had been married to Victoria for ten years and had the usual two point four children, oh well that's how Catherine viewed it at any rate. He was quite happy to push them into a boarding school as soon as possible, so that he didn't have to worry about his image. Now where had she come across that before? This more than anything else made her dislike of the man credible in her eyes! He was a pompous arrogant English middle class bore, wanting to elevate himself to the next rank. ‘What the hell, he could be a pompous arrogant upper class bore, for all I care, just so long as he does the job and does it well!’

Eduardo Forencio was her South American VP. He was swarthy, good looking and single, loved to flirt with the ladies, but always managed to keep out of the final reaches of any one of them. He managed to stop himself from making a fool of himself, by coming onto her as she asked him about his personal life. In Catherine’s eyes it was amusing and she enjoyed a little flirting, well she had years before at any rate. Come to that, in the old days she would have done more than flirt herself, he would have been a prime candidate for her bed! Funny how things change, now she found it laughable.

Tito Yashimo her Asian VP, a small compact Japanese, always listening but rarely was given to any mad spurts of creativity. He had a wife and son and appeared happy with his lot in life. She’d always had difficulty making small talk at the best of times and with the Japanese she found it impossible. It was a straightforward list of facts. Oh well, better than getting your ear bent.

Constance Waverly she was the African VP, African descent with a touch of European blood in her heritage. She was a small bubbly woman, who was happy to be single, although she was somewhat cagey about whom she dated. Catherine hadn't wanted to pry, but she was interested in the VP possibly because she was the only other woman at the table. She knew that to have advanced this far in the organisation meant that a private life for a woman was virtually impossible. Although, why she should think like that when she had the power to do something about it was a matter of indoctrination, she thought, weird.

Paul Strong was by his own admission happy in a gay relationship that had lasted about eight years to date. He got looks from all around the table when he mentioned James and was being scrutinised by Constance at regular intervals.

All in all, it was a very regular crowd, nothing to write home about, as they would say.

Now she was glad she had a few hours without the constant boardroom niggles. That was one part of not going to a regular office that she hadn't missed, the ‘in fighting’.

Letting herself into the suite she glanced around the room and noted it's elegance and style, but something was missing. Something that she hadn't realised she needed until yesterday and that something was companionship. Sitting down on one of the sofas she tugged her shoes off and wondered if Jace was awake? It was after all only ten in the evening at home, probably the good doctor was still around as well! Maybe that would cause too many questions. When had that ever mattered to her! Yet, she didn't want to make Jace feel uncomfortable in the house, no far from it!

'Guess I'll leave it until I get back then,' she mused and then suddenly grinned as she recalled the earlier conversation with Grace.

~ ~ ~

Jace couldn't believe it!

Here she was recovering from a virus in the home of the reclusive C X Warriorson and being waited on by her staff. Not only that, but around late afternoon, Grace had arrived with a parcel and a relatively large one too!

"What's this Grace?" Jace asked as the woman put the parcel on the bed.

"Well, you better tell me, because it's just arrived and it's addressed to you personally and by direct messenger as well."

"But who, other than Peter and the crew, knows I'm here?"

"I don't know would Peter have sent you a get well present?"

"Does he even know I'm ill Grace, I've not told him?"

"Yeah, Catherine sent a message to him at the hotel. She told him to cancel your room for the rest of the week. So yeah, he certainly knows." Grace remembered the phone call she overheard last evening, between the Director and her employer and it hadn't been cordial. To her ears it sounded very hostile. Anyone would think they had purposely got Jace ill, or did he think they were kidnapping her or something.

Anyway Catherine had finally agreed that Peter could visit tomorrow and she guessed he would certainly do that, pity Catherine will still be away.

"Maybe it's from him." Jace answered her own question absently. For some strange reason she felt lonely. Without the presence of Catherine Warriorson the place just wasn't home! 'Oh no, did I say 'home' what on earth is happening to me? If she finds out she's going to run me off the place, being ill won’t stop that.'

"How about you open it and see? Do you want me to leave?"

"That's okay, Grace please stay. You never know, it could be alive in here." Jace smiled at the friendly woman, who sat gently on the bed and helped with the unpacking.

Jace reached inside the box and her hand touched something, very soft and wonderful to the touch, grasping further inside she pulled at the object and out tumbled the largest Tasmanian Devil she had ever seen.

It had a wonderful mischievous grin on its face and held in one of its paws a screwdriver and the other a hammer. It had covering its body a light blue shirt and black trousers, with a red and grey tie hanging loosely round its neck. A caption on the shirt said ‘I can fix anything!’ Nothing on the toy was made of anything other than soft materials. It was the most huggable toy she could have ever wished to own. Her tears ran unashamedly down her cheeks and Grace had to laugh at the sight of her small guest, being almost enveloped by this huge toy that portrayed one of the most devious characters in the ‘Looney Tunes’ camp.

"How about I get you some tea Jace, while you rummage in the box for a card or something."

She left the happy, but obviously emotional woman to look for more clues to the identity of the sender. However, Grace had a really good idea who it could be, and it had nothing to do with a film crew!

Jace couldn't believe it, she was overwhelmed and in her heart she knew the identity of the sender. "Catherine I'm betting on you. I hope I'm right," she whispered into the ear of the giant Taz.

Finding what appeared to be a card towards the bottom of the box, she extricated it and hardly dared look.

Made out in a strong bold script, it read:

Jace,

Sorry, I had to leave you to your bad dreams for the next couple of nights. I'm hoping this cuddly toy can be my substitute. He appears to be in the position to fix things if you wake up in trouble. Although, I suspect he could wipe you under the table on the food issue given the chance. But given his reputation, I would think again about giving him that chance!

Anyway, sleep well Jace, and let your dreams be good ones.
Catherine

The tears that she had shed previously came again in a flood and it wasn't until Grace came back with the tea that she tried to stop them.

Grace had seen many tears in her lifetime and she knew that these were the products of someone who was happy.

"So, you found out our mystery toy sender?"

Jace looked up and choked back another sob; it really was too much this crying for no reason business.

"Yes."

"Well, you going to keep me in suspense?"

"Catherine sent him to keep me company during the night." Jace answered, not wanting to look up and see the hurt, which the words could possibly inflict on the other woman.

Grace started to laugh heartily. Jace looked up astonished.

"So the old recluse does have a heart after all." Grace merrily said. “Strange choice in a night time companion though, don’t you think?” Chuckling at the sight of Jace giving the giant Taz a sympathetic hug.

"It doesn't bother you, that she's sent me a present?"

"Why should it? Hell Jace, I love the woman as a friend! If you have finally got through where so many of us have tried and failed; then the best of luck to you." Grace watched the emotions pass over Jace's face and she smiled.

"I want to be her friend! I need to be her friend! Something inside me can't seem to stop thinking about her! Does that make any sense to you, because it sure doesn't to me? It confuses me the emotions she brings out in me Grace. I'm just hoping I don't do anything stupid. At times all I want to do is hold her hand and just be there!"

Grace pulled the woman into her arms for a short hug.

"Hey Jace, watching you with Catherine is a gift, one that I hope she doesn't decide to be stupid about. There is nothing in your feelings for Catherine that can be anything but honest, and from the heart. Just give her some time to reconcile herself to having you around. But don't push her to hard Jace. Something this fragile could break so easily and there would be no coming back for a second chance with her. There again, she sure isn't the same lady who woke up at the start of this week, that's for sure. Looking at that present though, maybe she still is our Catherine under there. It sure wouldn’t have been my first choice, more a Pooh bear."

Jace hugged Grace harder and sniffled into her shoulder.

"She helped me sleep last night, when the fever got too bad and I was dreaming." It was an explanation of sorts.

"Yeah, I know. You look pretty cute together too!" Grace couldn't stop the smirk from appearing on her face.

"How...I mean when...does she know you know?" Jace stuttered through the sentence.

"Actually no, she doesn't. For now it's our little secret okay? I get the feeling Catherine wouldn't want the fact known that she's a big mushball under that entire stoic ambience she gives off to the world. What do you think?"

"Just what she said herself." Jace laughed and wiped her errant tears away.

"Great, so Andrew will be here in about an hour, think you can eat something for dinner?"

"Yeah, I'm starving, all this emotion is certainly giving me an appetite," Jace answered enthusiastically.

"Why is it, I think you might just have always had a large appetite?" She left the woman alone with that rejoinder.

"Wonder what she means by that Taz, I'll have to ask her when she comes back later." With that Jace settled back down into the covers and snuggled up to the soft toy, it wasn't Catherine but she had sent him, so it was better than having no one in the bed at all. In a strange way, he gave off a feeling of safety.  ‘Now don’t go using that hammer on me at any time will you Taz, or you might just have to explain yourself to a certain tall, dark and beautiful woman and we know how you would react to that!’ She smiled and her eyes dropped in fatigue.

~ ~ ~

Grace watched Andrew Simpson drive away from the property and waved as he passed by the ranch houses at the bottom of the drive. It had been a good evening all told.

Andrew was very entertaining and had enthused over her cooking abilities and organizational skills administrating the household. He'd pronounced that Jace was doing very well and his first assumption that it would be a week for a full recovery was now muted to another day in bed and she should be in a position to leave, if she wanted.

Jace had looked at Grace with an air of someone who had just been given a death sentence instead of being told they were actually fighting back an illness quicker than anticipated. "Don't worry Andrew, Jace has a date with my indomitable employer and woe betide her if she doesn't keep it! Right Jace?"

Andrew looked amused at the colour that seeped into Jace's cheeks at the comment. "Yeah, well I guess... It's not a date, but she said she would see me when she got back..."

"Okay, sounds good to me, has the good Reverend told you who you're getting in our little community programme yet?" Andrew changed the subject quickly noticing how uncomfortable the conversation was making Jace.

Grace laughed, and smiled at Jace. "No, but I figured he'd send someone up here if she's away. What better time. So, give Doctor Simpson or I might just have to do something drastic to make you talk." She teased him.

Jace watched the inter play and smiled. Grace really was a great person and if she wanted the doctor it looked like she just had to crook her little finger at him.

Andrew smirked. "Oh, now that sounds like a challenge, I might just take you up on my dear Miss Thornton." He looked at her as she patted him on the cheek.

"Maybe another time, so come on, who are we getting?"

Jace was puzzled what on earth were they talking about.  "May I ask what you’re talking about?" Not sure if she would be let into the conversation, she was after all a guest, even if maybe a little unwelcome at first.

Grace and Andrew looked at each other and smiled. "Ah yes, I forgot it was the night you arrived, so you won't know what were talking about, sorry Jace." Grace looked apologetic.

"Ms Warriorson, has agreed to take part in a local community project," Andrew volunteered.

Jace still looked puzzled.

"Yeah, but the project is about kids who have had a bad time and people who have the means are taking them in and trying to offer them a new life. The Reverend believes in friendship and love in a very positive giving way." Grace supplied the rest of the information.

"It doesn't sound like something Catherine would volunteer for, not that I know her that well. It just kind of wars with her reluctance to interact with other people." Jace spoke softly.

"No, it's definitely not Catherine. She unfortunately said the wrong thing at the right time or vice versa, which ever you want to call it. She has passed on this task entirely over to me. So, really it's my friendship and love the kid is going to get." Grace smiled sheepishly.

"But if she agreed to it, why shouldn't she get involved with it!" Andrew said in a mildly irritated tone.

Grace put her hand on his arm to settle the conversation. "She was pre-occupied at the time and the Reverend got lucky, I guess. So, Andrew who am I getting?"

He smiled at the woman who he imagined would always defend her boss, no matter how wrong she was. "You heard that the Patterson's got killed in a car crash three months ago?"

"Yeah tragic for the family, although hadn't they both been drinking at the time and someone else died also?"

"Mmmm, so you do keep up on the local news?" He was surprised.

"Hey, just because Catherine wants her privacy, doesn't mean the rest of us live the same lifestyle. Don't judge others by one experience, that would be very dangerous, especially around here!" Grace flashed him an angry look.

Andrew saw the look and almost thought he'd blown it with this wonderful woman, who he'd lost his heart too, she was just so easy to love. "I'm sorry Grace, I didn't mean it the way it sounded." He looked shamefaced at her.

Never one to let things fester, she smiled. "Carry on, the suspense is killing me."

"Anyway, yes Joan Simoen died too. She was a wonderful woman.” He sighed at the thought; she had worked in the town as the seamstress for over six years, after her husband had been killed in a freak accident at work on this very ranch. “The Patterson’s had a son Jacob, he's ten years old and very wild. No relatives to speak of, and even those that are related don't want him, too much trouble they say."

"Okay so we are getting wild Jacob Patterson, great! Catherine is going to love the local people that much more out of this little episode. Not!" Grace pulled a face. "So, when do I have the pleasure of meeting young Mr. Patterson?"

Andrew smiled. "Actually that's not the only thing.” He noticed both women look at him, one in interest the other with, was it evil intent? “Because you have the resources you get two of them?"

"What? Two of what?" Grace almost shouted at him.

"Kids."

"Come on tell me, it can't get any worse now can it!"

Andrew sort of edged for the door. "Lisa Simeon, she's seven and definitely has no family." He held the doorknob in his hand ready to move quickly if he could.

Both women looked at him in astonishment. Maybe it just did get worse!

"That sounds like a bit of very insensitive planning to me Doctor," Jace said in a very small voice.

"Yeah, I know, but the Reverend insisted, said it was the best for both kids and Ms Warriorson too."

Jace looked at him. "Do you believe that?" She asked gently.

He shook his head and looked anywhere in the room except at the two women.

Grace let out a breath that she hadn't known she held. 'Jesus, Catherine was going to go ape when she found out, and who could blame her. I somehow don't want to be the person that tells her, but guess it's going to have to be me.'

Jace looked at the drawn face of Grace, who had visibly sagged at the information. "Tell you what Grace, how about I tell Catherine? I'm not going to be here much longer, and well, if she gets mad, she gets mad at me."

Grace glanced at the younger woman, knowing that Jace didn't want Catherine to have any thoughts other than good ones about her. The offer was tempting. Oh, so tempting. "That's okay Jace, thanks for the offer, but I think I'd better do it. Although, I might need the support."

"Anytime." She glanced at Andrew who had lightened up a little at their conversation.

"Go and sit on the porch or something you two, I want to read some more of this book." She smiled at them as she settled down, with the book and Taz snuggled next to her.

"Good idea." The two left her to it.

After that they had discussed just about everything under the sun except the new visitors. Now here she was at midnight, contemplating Catherine's reaction to the new additions to the 'family', it wasn't a pleasant thought. Her eye's strayed towards the foreman's house and she noticed a dark figure outlined against the white decking of the veranda. She looked away and considered her options. Tomorrow was another day and today had been exciting enough as it turned out. She wasn't prepared for any more problems. Problems?

~ ~ ~

Chapter Fourteen

Catherine was winding up the two-day session with her VP’s; the business was doing very well; her influence hardly needed these days. Her reputation just worked for her that was all.

It was time to consider some changes though and her assessment of her executives although veiled had been very thorough.

"Well, another session has come to a close. I'm very pleased with the way things are developing around the world. In two months time I'm going to want some changes in my VP's, can't let you all get to complacent in your roles, now can I?"

All faces turned to her in shock, they hadn't expected it and to at least two of them it wasn't something they wanted to do.

"I'm going to change all of you around, so if you’re not happy with that, I suggest you start getting your résumés out in the market place, because it's going to happen! Is anyone around the table against the idea?"

Paul Strong had been as surprised as anyone at this change in events, but he could see the logic. Now who was going to be the fall guy between Gareth and Tito?

Gareth moved around in his chair and looked a little pale around the gills. Tito looked upset. Constance smiled, and Eduardo just took it all in his stride.

Tito got up from his chair and addressed the chairwoman of the company. "You just said we had done wonderful things with our different market places, why?"

Catherine looked at the little man and knew he was nervous. She smiled, but the smile never went to her eyes. "Don't you think it's a good idea, wouldn't a VP posting to New York for instance, be a good move for you Tito?"

"I...I think it would be, yes it would, but my family?" He stuttered and ended on a weak note.

"Guess your looking to quit the company then? Oh well, you win some you lose some." She starred at the other people round the table. "Does anyone else have something to say?" Silence.

"Well, that's wonderful. I wish you all a pleasant journey back to your own parts of the world, and I'll be in touch personally." She got up to leave, then turned around.

"Paul, before you go, I need to speak to you. Say in ten minutes?" She left the room without an answer to her question.

Paul looked around the room and realised they thought he knew something. "Hey guys, I don't know what's going on, maybe I'm going to be the first transfer, who knows." He shrugged his shoulders.

"I think she's right, we are becoming complacent in our own backyards. What we need is change, she's giving us the opportunity before she has to replace us." Constance spoke decisively.

"Oh, it's okay for you! Your piece of the world is shit, if we didn't bail you out every few months, you would be on your arse out of here," Gareth said with venom.

"Well, if you think like that Gareth, guess Paul might just mention it to Ms Devonshire that you could do better in my role! I wouldn't mind a piece of Europe for a change of scenery." Constance had never let the European VP score points off her. He was always ready to stick the knife in someone's back and it was not going to be hers. She hated his existence. One day his time would come! He was a pompous ass, who still thought there was a bloody British Empire, arrogant bastard!

"Wonder where she will send me!" Eduardo chipped in, not really that interested, anyway it would give him new opportunities with the women.

"My family will not move Paul. So, I guess I'd better consider tendering my resignation," Tito said sadly.

Paul knew what it meant to Tito, 'Hell he was going to have to talk fast with James on this one, maybe he would need to find another position also!'

“I have a meeting people, I hope everyone has a safe journey home.” He left the room and heard the squabbles from the hall.

Arriving at the suite, he noticed the door was ajar, so he tentatively walked in.

"Oh! Paul, great, my bags have just gone down. They are getting me a taxi to the airport, so I'd better make this quick."

"Fine, no problem." Paul was surprised at her swift exit from the hotel. She usually spent a couple of hours winding down, by walking along the quay.

"I want you to consider taking over as World President, it's a new role, more money, and you will be in charge of the rest of the VP's. I don't need the answer now, but by this time next week, okay! Then you get to sort out the other VP's I hope, if not I will! You get to choose your base of operations also! If you have any questions just e-mail me, or call me in a couple of days. I have to go Paul, safe journey." She walked by him and smiled. "See you soon."

He watched the retreating back of his employer and wondered what had hit him.  He sat down heavily on one of the sofas.

"I think she just asked me to take over the empire!"

~ ~ ~

Grace watched as the hired car arrived up the drive and a very nervous Peter Adamson got out of the car.

"You must be Mr Adamson, Jace's friend, welcome to 'Destiny'" Grace held out a hand and smiled.

Peter didn't expect this cordiality, especially after his altercation with Catherine Warriorson, what next! "Thanks, yeah, I'm here to see Jace, how is she?" He deposited the luggage that Jace had left at the hotel on the porch steps.

"She's doing really well actually. She got out of bed specially for your visit, so please come this way." Grace eyed the luggage in some amusement.

He followed her into the house, which was in a traditional style, but with all the conveniences that modern technology could offer. They walked to the study, where she opened the door.  Jace was seated in one of the large armchairs.

"Hey, Jace how you doing?" He smiled, happy to see her basically in one piece, although she did look pale.

"Peter I'm fine, thanks for coming to visit, how's everyone?"

"They’re good, and want to know when you will be back with us? You know you're the life and soul of the party Jace." He sat opposite her as Grace left them to their chat.

"She seems nice?" He indicated Grace's retreating back.

"Yes she is," Jace answered softly.

"They treating you okay Jace, if you want out of here, I will take you, no problem. That bitch Warriorson can't keep you if you want to go!" Peter blustered.

"NO! No it's not like that at all. They have been marvellous to me Peter. I couldn't have been in safer hands." Jace responded with gusto.

He looked at her and shook his head not understanding why she was so...protective. "Well, if you change your mind you know where we are staying and the number."

Jace smiled and they talked about the footage and what Hudson wanted, and briefly when she would be ready to leave. The filming group had planned to leave on a Sunday flight back to the States and had tentatively booked her a seat.

Jace looked down at her hands, which she clasped together tightly. "That's in four days time. I guess I will be taking the flight Peter."

He noticed her subdued reply. "You don't sound very sure about it. Have you got a reason to stay here?" Had she met someone in such a brief period of time?

"I'm sure," she replied.

"Oh, well that's good then; can't have my best girl stranded here in this out of the way country now can we?"

'If only he knew that this out of the way Country as he called it, would forever hold my heart.' Jace winced at the words that flowed in her head. It sounded so melodramatic, like a lovesick teenager.

They talked for a little over an hour. Then Grace noticed that Jace looked tired and scooted her back to bed. She ensured Peter that if he needed to come visit, to just let her know, as she couldn't see a problem with another visit after Jace had rested for a while.

"Thanks, I appreciate you looking after her."

"No problem, we all like Jace here."

"Even the recluse!" He couldn't help the sarcasm in his tone. Something about the woman just set him off.

Grace laughed "Yeah, even the recluse." And as he walked away she thought. 'If only you knew, the recluse might actually more than like her.' She walked back into the house and her schedule.

~ ~ ~

Grace was pacing.

Definitely pacing.

Jace smiled wryly at the somewhat awkward pacing with Grace's limp. She had been up a couple of hours, chatted briefly with a very subdued Colin Montgomery. 'Now what was wrong with him? He had seemed so happy that first night she arrived; now, he looked like his best friend had died!'

Something was very wrong here, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it, maybe Grace might open up a little. Then again, she had almost bitten her head off earlier, so perhaps not...!

Going over to the coffeepot, she noted the time at ten and knew that Catherine was due back around ten in the evening, twelve hours and she would be home! 'I just can't help that feeling of finding my home when she's around, could that be such a bad thing? What would Catherine say? There again she was never likely to find out. I'm going to be leaving the day after tomorrow. Maybe that's for the best, for both of us!' Her heart begged to differ.

"Grace do you want a cup?" Jace offered quietly.

The pacing woman looked up in surprise, she hadn't really noticed that Jace was in the room with her. "What? Sorry you asked me something?"

"Yes. Would you like a cup of this excellent coffee that a certain party I know makes really well?" Jace bantered back to try and alleviate the tension in the woman.

Grace smiled briefly, 'Jace was a really good woman. Pity she hadn't been here from the beginning, maybe things would have been different. Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk.' "Thanks. Yeah, I would love a cup." She watched the younger woman silently make the beverage.

"You want to talk about why you're so up-tight?" Jace prodded her shamelessly.

Grace laughed outright at the attitude of this woman who she had met, what was it four days ago? "Yeah I think I do! Thanks."

"No problem. Is it Catherine?"

"Some of it yeah. But it's those kids we’re getting after lunch. I think it's immoral that they should be put together. Hell, his parents were responsible for her parent's death and they want them to live in harmony, and to cap it all off, under Catherine's roof. God knows she doesn't want anything to do with this herself; yet, I know she won't be happy about this situation."

"Why do you believe she won’t accept this responsibility?" Green eyes looked into brown in question.

Grace snorted. "Something in her past I guess. She was really mad when she found out about what she had let herself into. Can't blame her really, now that we have the facts. But I could do with her support and somehow I don't think that's going to happen!"

Jace looked into the coffee cup she held and sighed. "Maybe she will come round to the idea, Hades she came around to me!"

"Oh, come on Jace, this is different."

"How? Tell me."

"You know her husband and son are buried on the property?" Grace looked directly back into the green eyes, which suddenly took on a shadowy effect at the mention Catherine's deceased family. ‘Of course she didn’t know you dummy! She didn’t even know Catherine had been married until I mentioned it.’

"No I didn't. Is it far away?" Jace asked in quiet interest.

"Actually it's Cutter's Ridge. She wanted to have them see the best of every dawn and sunset that was on the property for eternity. There is no better place than that particular spot."

Jace gasped at the sheer thoughtfulness of Catherine Warriorson. It was like something out of a gothic romantic novel; so you do believe in romance after all! "How do you know that?"

Grace sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. "She got drunk one night; I'd been here about a couple of weeks and she was way over the top, told me it would have been what Adam, her husband would have wanted."

"No wonder, she wasn't happy that we were filming there. But, I don't recall seeing any evidence of a burial place?" Jace was unhappy that there would be footage that ultimately might upset the woman she cared about.

"Oh, Catherine wouldn't have been happy about you filming any place on the property. Unless you know where to look, it's a hidden place. Only Catherine, Colin and myself know for sure; other than the local burial agency and the Reverend that attended the final placing of them to rest. The Reverend is now deceased and the others, well they don't divulge that sort of detail, bad for business," Grace spoke matter of factly.

"Does she go there often?"

"No, only on certain dates, which I surmise to be anniversaries of some kind. Catherine hasn't been that forthcoming and she kicked the alcohol binges over three years ago."

"Guess she wont be happy that I know about this then?" Jace was upset at the thought.

"Oh! Jace haven't you realised yet? That for the first time since I met her over five years ago, she has actually done something for someone and thought about that person beyond her own needs! Nothing, do you hear me, nothing you find out about her will harm her, you will see to that!"

Jace got up from her chair and went over to the other woman and simply hugged her. "Do you know what that means to me?" Jace asked tearfully.

"Oh, god Jace, your not going to cry on me again are you? Whatever would people think?" Grace said flippantly.

"Not much around here I guess." Wiping her eyes, she smiled at the other woman.

"Well you're not wrong there!"

Getting up from her chair, she hauled Jace along with her. "So any ideas, what do kids eat?"

Jace laughed loudly and punched Grace playfully on the arm. "Do you have any cookbooks, preferably with desserts in them?"

"Oh way to go Jace. If I didn't know better I would think you were a kid yourself." She joked back as she went to retrieve a cookbook.

~ ~ ~

Catherine was waiting patiently for her personal flight from Christchurch to her local airport to be approved and she would be on her way. She was early! It was only three in the afternoon and usually she arrived way after midnight. That's exactly what Grace would expect. Although, at this rate, she might be home by dinner!

'Funny I've never really wanted to get home this fast. Wonder what has gotten into me this time?' A demon voice that she knew too well prodded her to answer her own question. 'Yeah, I know, I know, Jace!' She sighed in resignation.

'Although wouldn't she be going home soon and wasn't home to Jace, the most hated place that Catherine knew in the world. Hell, I've run from that place for years, and now it comes and pays me back a hundred times over. Guess you just can't tempt fate too much, huh?'

She hadn't contacted home since the first evening; so, she didn't know how Jace was doing or how she had received the gift she'd sent.

Catherine you're going soft! She smiled to herself at the thought.

'Hell she hadn't bought a soft toy since Lucas was a year old! Then she had been relatively happy in a complacent sort of way. Adam had given her the stable lifestyle she had wanted when her brother had died. He had also given her security in not only his love, but also his home and little did she know his business interest too! They had been happy those first two to three years, as happy as she had ever been, since her mother had passed away.

Then her father died!

That had been a shock; he can't have been more than fifty-eight if that! She then learned through the lawyers in New York that Stewart Devonshire had passed all his possessions over to his one surviving child, subject to a couple of minor details that she had to uphold.

Well one of them had been easy. Adam, she then found out was a shareholder in the Xianthos Empire, a third shareholder no less! She wasn't to try and oust him in any way and she had to consider any of his suggestions, just has her father had done in the past. They had argued long into the night on many occasions once she had taken over the reins about that part of the will.

Then there had been his involvement with Union City Productions and the young and very shrewd Clarrisa Hudson. Oh, that was one fight she had run away from, not because she was scared, but more because her father had wanted it that way. Hudson had made no bones about the fact that she was willing to let Catherine into her life on much the same terms as her father. Only, she wasn't her father, and the thought of sharing anything, never mind her bed with someone as totally devoid of emotion as Hudson, was definitely not an option.

She had done to the letter what her father wanted and in many ways her frustration at that fiasco and any other that transpired was heavily aimed at Adam! He hadn't deserved it, hadn't understood her change in personality, but had it been a change? Wasn't it something she had always been, but he had tried to soothe the image and create a person he wanted rather than what she was! Then her son had become a pawn in the game, games she never lost! But she HAD!

One day she literally turned her back on her family and had done exactly what her father had done all those years before, what did they say ‘like father, like daughter! She had closed her heart to feeling and held everyone she loved at a distance.

Now she was considering, well she was certainly thinking about a certain Jace Bardley more than she should, that was for sure. What the hell, it was only a toy!”

She closed her eyes and blinked back the solitary tear that threatened to fall.

A movement to her left made her open her eyes and she noticed the pilot of her personal helicopter coming closer, he looked relaxed. 'Good, that means we are getting out of here.'

She cocked her head to one side as he spoke.

~ ~ ~

Grace watched as the Reverend’s car drew up the long drive. She was standing next to Jace on the porch. Both women were a little nervous.

Jace for the life of her didn't know why? For the day after tomorrow everything would be all over, and she wouldn't see the ranch or its occupants again she assumed.

The Reverend got out of the vehicle and went around to the front passenger door and opened it. He spoke at length towards the occupant of the front, and then a young boy jumped out of the vehicle. He looked to the entire world as if he had been dealt a lot of difficulties in his young life.

Next the Reverend went to the passenger door in the back of the vehicle and was handed a doll! That made Jace smile. Next a small girl crawled out of the vehicle.

Grace watched in fascination. She was now the responsible adult for these two children and hell she didn't have a clue.

Jacob Patterson, was a gangly ten-year-old, obviously grew out of his clothes quick from the look of his worn and short attire. He had black hair and a sullen face, although his hazel eyes looked more mischievous than wicked.

Lisa Simeon on the other hand was the totally opposite. She had bright red hair and a smile that shone out of her pale blue eyes; in later years she would set many a hearts a flutter that was for sure. She looked delicate because of her size, but her stance gave the opposite view. She looked like an eight-year-old handful!

Jace looked at Grace and grinned. "Guess this is it, better go meet them Grace."

"Yeah, okay." She swallowed hard, and then moved off the porch towards the Reverend and his charges.

Within a couple of short hours, they had retrieved the personal possessions of the kids and shown them into their respective rooms. Neither child had much by way of personal items; it was plain to see that they had been brought up without the luxuries of life. One because his parents were irresponsible it would appear and the other because that had been all her lone parent could afford.

Both children looked a little scared and intimidated by the ranch and the women who they had been introduced.

Lisa had held onto her rag doll as if it was a lifeline.

Jacob had looked sullen the whole time and just scuffed his feet, which, hadn't gone down to well with Grace on her polished floors.

When the Reverend left, Jace went to make some drinks so that Grace could get better aquainted.

Something inside of Jace wanted to welcome these children too! It was after all Catherine's home, but she was herself an interloper, what could she possibly achieve by confusing the kids even more. 'Oh Hi, I'm Jace but don't get too friendly because I'm going the day after tomorrow.' It would be like a slap in the face, not only for them but for her too!

She went towards the next room, peaking inside she saw the three figures, all with very tense body language, taking a deep breath she went inside.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Fifteen

Catherine steadfastly drummed her fingers on the arm of the seat that she occupied waiting for one of her ranch hands to collect her from the local airfield. She'd called Colin directly on her cell to give him an e.t.a. They were late!

'Perhaps something was wrong at the ranch? Hell, she'd been waiting almost an hour! Surely Colin hadn't forgotten? He hadn't mentioned anything in particular being wrong, although he had seemed somewhat subdued on the cell phone Catherine had put that down to the connection. Grace would have called her if things had taken a turn for the worse with Jace. Wouldn't she?'

Catherine elevated herself from the chair and strode around the small waiting room. One of the operatives at the desk looked pensively at her and seemed to want to make conversation but thought better of it; Mrs. Warriorson didn't exactly look in the best of moods.

Catherine scowled at the weather, which appeared to be moving towards stormy conditions much in league with that of earlier in the week. A smile flashed briefly across her profile as she thought of the outcome of that particular storm, and what or should she say whom it had deposited at her front door.

Turning back towards the chair she heard a vehicle approach, and glanced out of the window to observe a green Land Rover stop immediately outside the building as close as possible to the door.

She took in the tall appearance of her ranch foreman. 'So, Colin opted to come himself, interesting.'

Colin walked swiftly to the door and as he entered shook off the droplets of rain that had landed on his hat. He walked towards Catherine's bags and nodded to her.

Catherine was amazed! He would normally have been bending over backwards to explain why he was late, but not this time, this time he just looked grim.

"Are you ready Ma'am?" He had reverted back to his subservient role again verbally, but his actions gave an entirely opposite reflection.

"Yes, let's go home before it gets any worse." She followed him out of the door of the airfield office not bothering to acknowledge anyone as she left. He swiftly pulled open the passenger door of the vehicle for her and then went around the back to stow her luggage.

She discreetly watched his profile as they pulled away from the airstrip and contemplated her next course of action.

'She could just leave it and stay silent? She could discuss the weather and try and get a response? She could ask about the ranch and get him to review the last couple of days? No, none of the above! Nope the best course of action was definitely the direct sort, nothing else would get a response that she was sure of!'

"Okay Colin, why do you look like the end of the world is nigh, and why were you late?" She didn't look away from her observation of the passing fields out of her window, her remarks suggesting a bored interest.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. His jaw clamped shut, and then he opened it again, but nothing came out.

"I haven't all evening Colin, so spill it!" She growled at him, now becoming frustrated with the situation.

He turned briefly to face her and then appeared to derive a decision. "I'm late because I needed to attend to something for Grace and all the other boys were out taking in the stock prior to the storm." He answered grimly.

Catherine pondered that answer for a few seconds. "Must have been an important task Grace wanted you to complete, if it meant keeping me waiting. Did she know it would do that?"

"Yeah, she knew." He answered knowing full well that Grace didn't know it 'personally' affected Catherine.

This certainly wasn't turning into a pleasant drive home, not withstanding the fact that it was now pouring down rain. "So, did you get the task completed?"

"Yes," he answered tersely.

"Good. Would that be the reason for what's bugging you?"

He didn't answer.

The drive was like asking twenty questions and receiving replies to only a few of them and those replies making only partial sense.

"Guess Grace has some explaining to do when I get there, you're obviously not very forthcoming." Catherine drawled in frustration.

He remained silent, and the rest of the journey was taken up with the sounds of the approaching storm.

~ ~ ~

Grace had taken about all she could handle with the boy and he'd only been on the ranch for less than half a day!

When she'd sent Lisa to retrieve him from his room for the early meal she prepared for the children, she wasn't expecting the young girl to come running back shouting he was gone.

Jace had gone to take a nap, she had looked exhausted by the time she'd helped with the children's possessions, and then helped Lisa to get settled in her room. Grace had promised to wake her when Catherine was due to arrive home, Jace reluctantly left Grace with the two new residents of Destiny.

Now beating a quick detour to Jace's room and getting her out of bed, both of them scoured the house but couldn't find the boy. The weather was closing in too, great!

"Jace, we can't let him stay out all night, we have to find him?" Grace said her voice a pitch higher in her anxious state.

"I know, I know, but what about a group of the men searching for him outside on the ranch, he can't have gone far." Jace tried to placate the apparently frazzled looking woman in front of her.

Grace sighed, she hadn't wanted to ask Colin, he had been very grumpy for the last couple of days, but what choice did she have? Taking the cell, she called Colin and explained the situation, he had said that he had to leave on an errand for Catherine, but Grace had overridden that. Explaining that Catherine would want him to find the boy first.

Grace had flitted around the kitchen making some cookies, because she didn't know what else to do!

Jace had taken the small girl and sat her in the corner of the warm and homely kitchen and told her a story about dragons and knights and fair maidens. The little girl had been enchanted, but she too looked worried, especially when the rain became intense.

Half an hour later Colin walked in almost frog marching a very stubborn boy in his wake! They both looked very bedraggled and Colin looked none too pleased.

"Is this what your looking for?" He held the collar of the shirt that Jacob was wearing. The young boy was looking decidedly sullen and uncooperative inside the shirt.

Grace smiled in relief. Both Jace and Lisa chuckled quietly in their corner of the room as they saw the state of Jacob.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks Colin." She turned twinkling brown eyes to his grey, but he never returned the warm glance, he just turned on his heal and left.

Grace looked perplexed, but was so relieved at having the boy back that she dismissed him out of her thoughts for the moment.  "Jacob why? Catherine isn't going to be happy about you wanting to run off."

Jacob turned his hazel eyes to her and shrugged in defiance. "What will she care, she doesn't want us, we heard about her in the orphanage!"

Jace looked at him and then back to Lisa, her small charge, looking sadly at the floor. Grace turned her glance to Jace and she silently asked for help.

"What did you hear Jacob?" Jace asked him gently.

He looked at the smaller woman and then to the little girl. "She will tell you the same." He pointed at Lisa, taking a defensive stance at the question.

Jace took Lisa's small left hand in hers and gently squeezed in understanding. "I guess as the oldest you have the prerogative to explain it to me?" Jace asked him surprising the young boy with her gentle rejoinder.

He looked at her with a defiant expression, but became mesmerised by the green eyes that looked directly at him with warmth.  Not at all like the others they just hadn't liked him, but she wanted to listen. "They said," he was stopped as Jace countered.  "Who are they?"

"The people who run the place, the man in charge, I heard him!"

"Okay Jacob, what did they say?" Jace gently tried again.

"They said that Mrs Warriorson wouldn't want kids around the place, she hated kids! Maybe she would have us work on the ranch, but not as part of the family!" He rushed through his tirade.

Jace looked at Grace, who was looking at both children with a mixture of pity and surprise that adults had let the children overhear that type of insensitive comment.

"Mrs......Warriorson isn't used to children Jacob. Maybe, that's why people have gained the wrong impression. When you meet her she might just prove you wrong. Why don't you give her a chance? Just as she's giving you one," crossing her fingers as she said the last sentence.

Jacob looked around the kitchen and scuffed his foot against the floor, making Grace cringe at his abuse of the highly polished sheen.

"Maybe I will!" He looked at her with a frank gaze.

Jace smiled briefly. "Glad to hear it! Now young man, I think a change of clothing might be in order, and then we can all eat.  Don't know about you but I'm starved." She laughed and smiled down at Lisa, who grinned back at her and nodded.

Grace laughed and looked at the boy, who for the first time in over five hours since he'd arrived at the ranch actually smiled, if only briefly. 'Well, that's got to be a start. Let's hope Catherine is in a good mood when she comes home.'

Jace left Lisa with Grace to help with the final preparation for dinner and led Jacob off to his room to replace his wet clothes with a set of dry ones.

~ ~ ~

Clarissa Hudson had talked to Peter Adamson about the filming in New Zealand, he had been a little cagey, but then admitted what had happened to Jace and she had laughed. Peter privately didn't like the woman, but on a professional basis she always got the funding for the obscure projects. He'd often wondered how and now he had a very good idea.

"She's actually on the recluses property staying as a guest?" Hudson asked him again, her tone calculating.

"Yes, it happened by accident, we thought Warriorson was a man, Jace went to confront him, and it turned out to be the woman who left us on the ridge in a storm." Peter sounded peeved that he had to explain the situation to Hudson.

"Oh well, it looks like Jace might get our coup after all, maybe a private interview with the reclusive Catherine Warriorson?" Clarissa was amused and surprised that her PA had gone to such lengths to make a point.

"Jace is ill, she might not get the interview, as Warriorson is away!"

"Well, you said she was coming back with you Sunday, so I guess she's not that ill!"

"What more do you want us to do?"

"Nothing, your job is done. Take a couple of days, see the sights, I hear it's got some marvellous places to visit if your scenically minded."

"What about Jace?"

"Oh, Jace is fine exactly where she is, believe me this couldn't have worked out any better. See you in LA, Monday." She disconnected the line.

Clarissa was a tall willowy blonde, she was thirty-three and had the intellect that made her a very powerful woman within her own defined realm. The only fly in her ointment was Xianthos and in particular the owner herself.

'Oh, I've been looking for you Devonshire and now I've found you, well paybacks were always a bitch and you spurned me!  We could have been great together. But, oh no you took the noble way out, not Daddy's spoils you were too self-righteous.  Must have been that ineffectual person you called a husband caused that particular trait to surface! But I know better, Daddy told me of your exploits and your prison term, baby if you don't take up my offer this time, I'm hanging you out to dry.'  She laughed loudly to no one but her self, the sound echoing around her sparsely furnished office.

"My Dear Jace, you have been a godsend, and oh, how I'm going to enjoy what you bring to the table this time." She walked out of her office into the midmorning sunlight. LA this time of the year was really quite wonderful.

~ ~ ~

Catherine grabbed her laptop and bolted out of the vehicle as it glided to a stop outside the ranch house, she left the rather morose ranch foreman to struggle or not with her bags. All she wanted to do was retreat inside from this god-awful weather.  Running as if she was being chased by a tornado, she stumbled into the front door and whisked away the droplets of rain from her face.

 ~ ~ ~

It was only seven in the evening and she heard unfamiliar voices in the kitchen, did she hear children? Placing her computer on the hall table she walked quickly to the kitchen. Opening the door she looked around and saw what could only be described as a very cosy, domestic scene.

~ ~ ~

Grace was surprised at seeing her boss walk into the kitchen looking somewhat sodden and not a little up tight. 'Oh shit.' "Catherine, I didn't expect you until later?" was all Grace could mutter!

Catherine looked at Grace and saw her surprise she then glanced across to two children a boy and girl who looked at her in equal parts awe, fear and defiance. Then her heart flipped a beat as her glance rested very briefly on Jace, who looked flushed but good. Jace looked equally as surprised as Grace. 'Hadn't anyone informed them I had arrived in the country for god's sake?  I'm going to have an interesting conversation with Colin!'

"What the hell is this? Alice's tea party?" She couldn't help the frustration of the last hour or so being transmitted to her voice.

Grace looked at the children and smiled briefly getting up from her chair.

Jace frowned at the sharp tone of her 'friend'.

The children shrank back into the chairs they were seated in.

"No, no it's definitely not that; unless, you're the mad hatter of course? There again maybe your bursting into the room would give that impression." Jace stated blithely, trying to bring some light relief to the conversation-taking place.

She ignored the look she got from Grace although she thought it might be one of relief. Instead she concentrated on the ice cool stare she received from those remarkable blue eyes.

Lisa giggled at Jace's comment and Jacob laughed outright; then both children looking down at the table, not daring to gauge the expression from their new guardian.

"Oh, so we have appreciation societies too do we? Anyone care to tell me what these children are doing in my house?" Catherine said sarcastically, pointing a slim finger in the children's direction, with all tact blown out of the window.

"Yes I could, but maybe it would be better if you and Grace talked privately and I'll take the children into another room." Jace turned her gentle green eyes onto the impaling blue ones.

Ushering the two children out of the kitchen, she snagged the cookie tray as she departed, leaving the two women alone.

Catherine blinked several times as Jace left with the children and couldn't help but smile as she saw her take the tray.

Grace seeing the look realised that all wasn't such a lost cause. "Do you want tea, or something to eat before we start?"

Catherine still had her gaze on the closed door, her attention leaving with the departed blonde. "Yeah, whatever," she answered absently.

Grace had seen lots of emotions pass over Catherine's face in the past five years but she was totally thrown by the look she saw today.

It was a mixture of censure, puzzlement and happiness. Jace had completely outsmarted her and in such a very nice way.

"She's something else isn't she?" Grace said tentatively.

Catherine wiped an errant drip of rain from her eyes and turned to Grace and smiled, all her frustration now dissolved. "That's for sure. How is she? She looks good," Catherine asked turning her attention back to Grace.

Grace carried the teapot over and poured them both a drink. "Jace is well on the way to recovery. In fact I don't know what I would have done without her today."

Catherine looked at the milky substance in her mug and a tense expression came across her face. "Did Adamson try to get her to leave?"

"Not exactly, the film crew is leaving on Sunday, she's going with them, but she would have told you that! I'll miss her." Grace added, knowing that although her friend might think the same she wasn't likely to ever say it, not to her at any rate.

"Oh, well, I guess I was expecting that. You obviously have taken a shine to her over the last couple of days?" Catherine replied still a little absently.

"Yes I have, she's like a ray of sunshine and today especially with the kids, well that's another story."

"Yes, so what's with the kids?" Catherine looked mildly interested, the welcoming tea soothing her previous agitation.

Grinning, Grace passed her a hot pastry and proceeded to inform Catherine of the present situation.

~ ~ ~

Jace scanned the contents of the lounge, she hadn't been here before and plonked the children in front of the large twenty eight inch TV screen, or it could have been larger she didn't really know. It certainly would have dwarfed her apartment living space.

Jacob had resisted until he saw that the Simpson's were being screened and he sat in front of the set. "You'll go all goggle eyed if you watch it that close Jacob, come on sit here it's a good distance for you."

He looked at her and then back at the screen. "No."

"Well that was sure to the point." Jace said under her breath. "Come on Jacob, Lisa is sitting in a chair."

He snorted at that and looked at the little girl, who was having trouble keeping awake. "She's nearly asleep that's why." He pointed out.

Knowing that Rome wasn't built in a day she shrugged. "Well, if you end up with glasses then don't blame me!"

He looked at her and smiled, it actually made him look boyishly handsome. He remained seated on the floor but moved towards the chair and sat with his back against it. Fifty-fifty trade off Jace thought.

Moving over to Lisa who was struggling to stay awake, Jace gently picked up the small child and sat in the chair with her pulled her on her lap. The sleepy child smiled and snuggled next to Jace. "My Mom used to do this, when I was tired." The child said matter of factly.

"You miss your Mom honey, a lot I would think?" Jace cradled the child to her chest.

"Yeah, she would always tell me stories before I went to sleep. No one in the place we were at did that, they were all too busy," the child explained.

'Well, not tonight! And not tomorrow either, if it was the only thing she could do for these kids she would tell the child a bedtime story.'

"Well, my dad used to tell me stories too when I went to bed. Do you want me to tell you one of his tonight?" Jace smiled at the child.

The child looked at her in total innocence and trust. "Yes please," then snuggled deeper into Jace's chest.

"Good, because I think I would like that too." Jace's own nostalgia with the situation evident in her voice as she hugged the child closer.

Jacob watched the exchange furtively.

~ ~ ~

Catherine was moving round the kitchen in agitation. "I can't believe he would do that!" Grace had just explained all the facts to her boss, it wasn't going down well, but she'd known that would be the response anyway.

"Well, neither did we! But he has, and we have them, and that's the long and short of it." Grace said in resignation.

"For gods sake that's insensitive to both those children, does he expect them never to know the outcome of that night? I'm going to see him tomorrow and get this mess sorted out." Catherine paced around the room.

"Maybe you should talk to Jace?" Came the quiet rejoinder.

Catherine looked at her with a steely glance. "Why?"

Grace tried but failed to stop the blush as she said the next words. "Because, she's important to you, and I think you might value her opinion!"

Catherine couldn't stop the faint colouring of her skin as she frowned. "She's......." no more words came.

Grace looked at her and saw the frown. "Do you know how you feel or what you want Catherine?"

Catherine glanced around the comfortable kitchen and sighed. "It would be easy to say my life as it was, but that's not possible any more! I want what's best for us all." She simply stated.

"Then you better think fast, because she's out of here at the weekend." Grace said bluntly, sometimes you just had to take the bull by the horns and this bull was sure stubborn at times.

"Yes I know that! But...... Grace I'm not good at relationships, hell I don't even know if she wants my friendship?" There was a heartfelt sigh at the end of the sentence.

Grace paused at Catherine's shoulder and placed her hand on it in understanding. "Why don't you go and change, and then see what Jace is up too. You might be surprised about her reaction."

"Maybe, but you're right I could do with some dry clothes. Hell, what's up with Colin these days, he was very strange on the way back here?"

Catherine changed the subject the action bringing a wry smile to Grace's lips.

Grace looked down at the table and shrugged. "Beats me!"

Catherine glanced back at Grace, now she knew the reason. 'Jesus, the man hadn't even attempted to ask her out he had just left the field wide open for the doctor! Guess that's another thing I'm going to have to solve at a later date. But first her own affairs, or rather lack of them!'

Grace watched Catherine leave the kitchen. 'It was kind of strange Colin's reactions these days, but it didn't have anything to do with her, she hadn't been near him for the last couple of days. So she definitely wasn't to blame for his mood.'

~ ~ ~

Catherine changed quickly and headed towards the lounge where she could hear the TV. Walking into the room, she smiled softly as she saw Jace sitting, or was it lying comfortably in a chair with a small redheaded child snuggled happily next to her.  The child was almost if not asleep. Jace was tenderly stroking her hair. It was quite the loving picture and the tall woman sensed a very warm feel surging through her body and was experiencing an unusual lump in her throat!

Then she saw the boy, he was watching some cartoon on the TV his hands where tucked under his knees, he was smiling at the antics of a dog and cat; she didn't know which cartoon it was. He looked relaxed, he had dark colouring very much like Lucas, and he was about his age, or the age he would have been had he lived. That brought a sharp pain to her chest and she without realising it let out a gasp as the recognition struck her.

Jace looked up and saw the anguish on Catherine's face and where she was looking. 'Had her son looked like Jacob, perhaps a little? What a traumatic event it must be to lose a child and one so young too.' She turned her head towards the woman and smiled, hoping in some small way her understanding would help.

Catherine looked at Jace as she turned and saw the warmth in those green eyes. She smiled back and moved over to her. "See you have a handful there?"

Jace smiled and kissed the child's red locks above her chin. "Yes, she's tired but I think she wants to stay up with Jacob."

Catherine looked at the boy engrossed in the cartoon. "Well, it's almost nine, do you want to call it a day for them?"

Jace hesitated and then nodded. "The cartoon is almost over anyway."

Waiting for a few minutes, they watched the end of the cartoon, Catherine from her elevated standing position and the others from their chair or the floor respectively.

Jace started to struggle up with her precious cargo. Catherine noted this and stooped down. "Let me." She gently scooped Lisa up and put her over her right shoulder. The child was asleep and never moved.

Jace acknowledged the support and smiled. "I thought you'd left this to Grace?"

Catherine smiled. "Mmmmm, I suppose I did, but then again you are a guest and this is my house. I have other responsibilities now don't you think?"

Jace laughed quietly. "Oh, Catherine I think you just made an under statement there."

Catherine raised her left eyebrow and grinned. "You think so?"

"Yes I certainly do!" Jace responded.

"Okay, so what about the boy?" Catherine moved her head towards him.

"He's going too!"

"Fine, he can bring up the rear. Which room does Little Miss Alice here have?"

Jace smiled at the slowly retreating back. "She's got the one next to mine."

Catherine turned back slowly and met the green gaze. "That means he's next to me?" her voice held amazement.

"Yes, I guess it does, do you have a problem with that?" Jace looked as if she wanted to laugh loudly at the affronted look on her friend's face.

"No, no it will be fine, for now!" she disappeared through the door.

Jace sighed and looked at the boy who was clearly tired, but didn't want to succumb to his tiredness. "Come on Jacob time for bed, maybe you can stay up later tomorrow."

He scowled at her, but got up nonetheless and followed her out of the lounge.

Jace watched Catherine open the door of Lisa's room, and as she went into the room she saw the tall woman place the small child gently on the bed. Jace picked up the rag doll the girl carried everywhere with her and placed it close to her pillow.

Jace looked at Jacob as he watched the settling of his new 'sister', he wasn't sure if any of it were for real, maybe he would wake up tomorrow back in the orphanage, maybe he wouldn't.

'Somehow, this is all going to work!' Jace just knew it, she felt it, there weren't any words that could adequately say why she felt that way, but it was going to be okay, for all of them!

~ ~ ~

Colin had stripped off his wet clothes for the second time that day!

He was annoyed with himself for letting things that he couldn't do anything about affect his relationship with his employer.

'Christ, I almost bit the boss's head off in the car. Added to that I haven't adequately apologised for being late and I blamed Grace for it too! I don't know what's wrong with me these days?'

He walked over to the dresser and got out a pair of faded denims and a very old sweatshirt, pulling them on, he sauntered towards the window that looked out onto the drive and towards the main house.

Colin wanted to kick himself, he knew what his problem was, and he just wasn't prepared to acknowledge it fully yet.

He had been a shy child, his parents had tried to bring him out of his shell, but it hadn't worked. Then his mother had died of a fever when he was twelve, leaving him and his father to carry on with their small holding and not much more. His father had continued to mourn his wife's death and it was no surprise that one day he'd had an accident with his shotgun. Colin was alone since he was sixteen! He then moved around the Islands, first the North and then finally settling on the South Island and gaining experience from various holdings.

He was now thirty-six years old, with a very stable job and all the responsibility he wanted. What he hadn't acquired was anyone to share it with! Now, when he thought that he had found the right person, it was all going wrong, he had no special skills like the Doctor. He wasn't good when it came to talking, so being romantic just wasn't something he'd ever experienced.  Now he was watching, as the one person he wanted in this life was slowly moving towards a different direction and that direction didn't include him in any way!

'Catherine was right; I should have asked her out! But is it way too late for that, after all the boss will have explained to Grace that I blamed her for being late, would there ever be a time I could ask!' He hung his head in silent remorse for his bad attitude towards Grace.

Then he sat down in his chair and closed his eyes as a single tear cascaded down his strong profile. He wiped away the tear,  'Men aren't supposed to cry, we're supposed to be the strong ones, but wasn't that all bullshit! We feel love, pain and anguish, sometimes it's just the right time to let it all out.' He tried to stop the continuing trickle of tears but his heart wouldn't let the emotional turmoil cease.

The room darkened but he remained in the chair, letting his desolate mood take over.

~ ~ ~

Grace sat in one of the easy chairs in the lounge as she watched Jace try to keep awake. She knew the blonde woman was tired after the full day they had, even the hour she had managed to steal before being woken abruptly hadn't helped.

Catherine was smiling as she too watched Jace try to chase away closing lids of sleep. "You know you didn't have to read a story to the child Jace, it's not something I want them getting used too." Catherine said gently.

Jace smiled. "Oh, I enjoyed it. My dad used to always read me a story when I went to bed; it sort of shut out the bad dreams.  I think both these kids may well have bad dreams Catherine, you need to watch out for them."

Catherine looked at the green eyes that pierced her blue glance with a look of sympathy and compassion for the children. "Well, that's going to be Grace's domain. I'm certainly not going to tell any children's stories."

Grace smiled at Jace as she responded. "Okay I'm game, but I'm still going to need your support with them!"

"I told you Grace, that tomorrow I'm going to see that idiot who left us in this mess, I should have it cleared up by the evening!"  Catherine gave an exasperated sigh at having to solve another problem forced on her. She turned her eyes to the window and the storm lashing away at them.

Jace looked aghast at the comment and looking towards Grace for understanding of what had been implied Jace receive a shrug of the shoulders only. "What kind of comment was that suppose to infer?" Jace quickly pushed all thoughts of sleep from her mind.

Catherine was surprised at the angry tone Jace used. "Why, the bloody Reverend of course. He's going to have to have a re-think, what else do you think it means?"

"You're going to send them back!" Jace shouted at the woman standing at the window.

Catherine looked at her and pinned her with an icy look, outraged that she was even questioning her it wasn't her home! "Yes, that's exactly what I'm going to do, what did you expect?"

Grace had hoped that Catherine would see it differently when she saw Jace with the kids, but obviously she hadn't. Now the blonde looked devastated as she looked at the rigid back in front of her. "I had hoped you would have compassion for them, they have lived through enough heartache already. To have you throw them back into the sea again without giving them or YOU a chance, is more insensitive than anything the Reverend has done already!" Jace's green eyes began to fill with tears.

Grace shifted uncomfortably in her chair and wanted nothing more than to leave the room, but she also wanted to hear what Catherine would say to that little outburst by the obviously upset blonde.

Catherine saw the tears in the green eyes and she almost fell to her knees before the young woman to ask her to forgive her for hurting her. But she couldn't! This was something she felt strongly about. "I'm sorry if you think that my actions will result in even further insensitivity, that isn't my aim. If you'll excuse me I have some work to do tonight, goodnight." She walked out of the room without a backward glance.

"She's just going to leave it at that!" Jace spoke quietly to Grace, anguish clearly written over her expressive face. "Why is she running away from me?"

Grace came over to the chair that Jace was huddled in and put a hand on her shoulder. "I was kind of hoping you might have swung her round in the kids favour, but.......... Jace, come on let's get you to bed you look exhausted and I'm a little drained myself.  How about we try again in the morning, you never know she might change her mind overnight, stranger things have happened, and keep happening in this house."

They walked towards the stairs and Jace glanced at the door to the study and wondered not for the first time, what made Catherine Warriorson tick. She certainly was a mass of contradictions.

~ ~ ~

Catherine noted that it was two in the morning; she hadn't achieved much by way of work either! Her mind had been numbed by the shocked and surprised look on Jace's face when she had voiced her plans on returning the children! It's not that she wouldn't be prepared to have a kid here on the ranch, but this situation was wrong, morally wrong!

'Oh, yeah! And what do you care about what's moral or not? Where do you get to be the savour for peoples morals, it's laughable and in your case sad!' Her inner voice depreciated her arguments. 'You of all people have thrown morality, scruples and honesty out of the door more times then you can count. Suddenly someone who could stand for morality, who has scruples, who is honest, wants you to reconsider your stance and you walk all over her. What sort of friend would you ever be?'

Catherine watched the thunderstorm and shook her head at her thoughts. Whispering to the empty room. "No friend, no friend at all! Jace will be better off without me and shortly that's just what's going to happen."

Getting up from her chair she switched her desk lamp off and went into the hall and up the stairs to her room. Walking by the room occupied by the boy, she heard noises, which had nothing to do with the storm raging outside. This she knew was a storm raging from within, pain of the most demanding sort, which only someone who had experienced it first hand would ever recognise. She did!

It would have been so easy to just close her mind to it and move on by but that wasn't what she was all about not now!  Knocking softly she opened the door.

There under the blankets was a ball of small humanity, moving to take away the covers and showing the bundle underneath, she saw the child's eyes take on the expression of a wounded animal, hurt and sadness all mirrored there. Slowly she sat at the edge of the bed, not wanting to scare the child anymore than he already was. Taking his hand she softly stroked the palm to try to quieten the storm that raged. "Hey it's okay, it's only the storm." She tentatively tried to blame the storm for his distress, knowing he wouldn't want to look like a baby in front of her.

He hiccuped, and looked into her ice blue eyes with his frightened hazel ones. She continued to look directly back at him and smiled, her eyes gently indicating her understanding of the pain. She moved her hand to his unruly hair and smoothed it back.  "You know tomorrow it's going to look a little bleak out there, but then the sun will eventually shine again you know."

Suddenly he looked at her with a trust she had seen recently but from green eyes. 'God what was she doing, this was becoming a regular thing for her, whatever would people think? They could think you might actually care!'

"You going to be able to sleep now?"

"Yes...thank you." he smiled tentatively back at her.

"Your welcome kid, let's get this bed straightened up, or you might catch cold too!" she said brusquely but softly to take away any perceived sting.

"My name is Jacob not kid, and it's Jake to my friends." he offered her a hand.

She looked at the boy and the proffered hand and couldn't help the chuckle that escaped.

"Well Jake, my name is Catherine, pleased to meet you." she shook his hand solemnly as he settled back down.

"Goodnight Jake, see you at breakfast." She watched him close his eyes and noted that before she shut the door he was asleep.

Closing the door she retreated to her own room and went to look out of the window. The stars tonight were obscured by the stormy conditions, but she knew they were there and it made her smile.

'Guess it's not so cut and dried as I thought, maybe there was some mileage in having the two kids here, god knows it couldn't be worse than the orphanage now could it?'

She slowly went over to the en-suite bathroom and started to peel away her clothes, it had been some night. 'All I really wanted to do was spend some time with Jace and get to know her better. Hell of a way to do that, she thinks I'm some sort of monster now! I wonder if she sleeps tucked up to that soft toy I sent her?'

She went to shower before getting into bed and trying to dismiss the thoughts of what it would be like to change places with that particular soft toy!

~ ~ ~

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