Breakaway Creek. Heather GarsideЧитать онлайн книгу.
tree. I'm sorry to be such a nuisance to you. What's happened to the cattle?'
'Hopefully George has them under control. But you're all right - that's what matters.' He pulled her close and pressed his lips against the top of hair, which she suddenly realised was uncovered. She must have lost her hat in the fall. 'I got such a fright when your mare came galloping up.'
Hardly believing she was actually in his arms, she savoured the strength of them around her. The closeness of his hard-muscled body was even more thrilling than she'd imagined. The pain in her leg receded as she moved closer, forgetting decorum and usual reserve in the excitement of the moment.
Alex drew an uneven breath and bent his face to hers. Their kiss seemed to happen by instinct. He was gentle at first, and then increasingly urgent. Her heart thudded wildly as she learned the taste of him and the feel of his hot breath on her cheek and ear.
'You're beautiful,' he murmured. 'I think the world of you, Emma.'
'And me of you,' she whispered, realising it was true.
He kissed her again. It wasn't a chaste kiss such as she'd expected from him; it made her blood race and her body turn to butter. She sank against him, understanding, for the first time, why women were tempted to surrender their virtue to men. It was Alex who finally put distance between them.
'I don't want to stop this. I wish we could stay here all day.' He smiled down at her, his eyes tender. 'But we've got cattle to muster. Do you think you can ride?'
Emma had momentarily forgotten her leg, but now she realised it was throbbing painfully.
'I'll manage, but I'll have to ride slowly.'
'Good girl. George will be wondering what's happened to us.'
He helped her to her horse and hoisted her into the saddle. Unfortunately it was her sore leg that took all the weight in the stirrup and she winced with pain.
'Are you all right?' The concern in his dark eyes made her want to sink back into his arms.
'Yes, I'm all right, really.' She curled her right leg around the horn and adjusted her skirt. He retrieved her hat and she settled it on her head, thankful for its shade.
He frowned at her restlessly sidling horse.
'Fortune's a bit excited. Once we find George I can take you home if you like.'
'No, of course not.' She sat up straighter in the saddle. The thought of being a bother to them dismayed her; she'd see the muster through if it killed her. 'I won't be responsible for ruining the day's work.'
He grinned at her, a wicked gleam in his eye making her breath come faster.
'Even if we don't get any cattle, you haven't ruined my day, Emma.'
They found George waiting with a mob of cattle at a waterhole in the shade of the trees. His face furrowed with concern as he came to meet them.
'Are you all right, Emma? Did you get lost?'
Alex explained what had happened, but to her relief George didn't say "I told you so".
'I'll be in trouble with Lucy,' he said, instead. 'She told me to look after you. Would you like me to take you home?'
'Thank you. Alex has already offered. But I'm determined to see the day out.' She noticed George's horse was dark with sweat, indicating he'd had to do some hard riding before he got the cattle settled. Already she'd taken Alex away from his work. She resolved to make up for it.
The stock seemed to have expended their excess energy. The cows and calves walked out meekly as the two men herded them towards the place where they'd arranged to meet the others. Only one big calf was recalcitrant, rushing out of the mob at a gallop. Alex's horse leapt after it with no noticeable signal from its rider, quickly gaining ground until it raced neck and neck with the calf.
Emma watched in admiration as Alex turned the animal back to the mob. He sat his saddle effortlessly, as if he belonged there. Remembering the way he'd kissed her earlier, her body heated. She mentally listed his attributes: competent and physically strong, yet gentle, kind and honourable. Perhaps he didn't have money or possessions, but he was everything she wanted in a man, and the miracle was he seemed to feel the same way about her.
She took the position at the back of the herd. Her job involved urging along the smallest calves and trying to coax their hovering, protective mothers to follow the mob. One of the cows came back to find her offspring, bellowing anxiously and sniffing calf after calf until she found the right one. Then she stood over it, facing Emma and tossing her head at her. Nerves leaping in apprehension, Emma quickly retreated, unsure how to deal with the situation.
Alex must have witnessed her dilemma and cantered back.
'Don't let her get the better of you.'
Yelling at the belligerent cow, he spurred his horse aggressively towards her. Intimidated, the beast retreated into the depths of the mob, her calf at her heels.
'You make it look so easy.' Feeling at once chagrined and grateful, Emma made an effort to smile. 'I thought she was about to charge me.'
'She probably would, if you let her. The trick is to let her know who's boss.' Emma supposed her face reflected her doubt, for he returned her smile. 'I'll handle her. You're doing well for your first muster.'
It was a day Emma wouldn't forget in a hurry. As the hours went by they met up with the remainder of the party, who added cattle to the mob until it seemed huge to her inexperienced eyes. When they stopped at a shady waterhole and boiled their quart-pots for lunch, the break was a welcome chance to ease her stiffening muscles. The men were chivalrous, allowing her to rest while they took turns to check any wandering stock.
As they set to pushing the mob towards the homestead, Emma became immersed in swirling dust, heat, flies and bawling cattle. By the time they finally reached the stockyards she drooped with exhaustion and her throat was harsh and gritty with thirst.
Sitting at the kitchen table with Lucy, she slaked her craving with several glasses of cool rainwater from the tank and realised nothing had ever tasted so delicious. Her cousin was full of questions and, as Emma recounted the day's adventures, the myriad discomforts retreated to the background. She decided that she definitely wanted to do it again. The experience had been challenging and at times uncomfortable, but ultimately far more satisfying than home chores.
A soak in a warm bath, to which she'd added a handful of soothing Epsom Salts, made her feel ready to face the world again. At dinner she had only to deal with George's teasing as he told Lucy about the cantankerous cow. But even then George didn't taunt her about her fall.
She tried not to think about Alex at dinner, instead waiting until she was alone in bed to relive her memories. The image of him on his horse, looking tough and capable and handsome, thrilled her. But it was his tenderness and passion as he'd held her in his arms that totally disarmed her. Her blood pounded as she recalled their kisses and when she remembered his flattering concern, she decided that she no longer cared for her parents' approval.
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