Breakaway Creek. Heather Garside

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СКАЧАТЬ Baxter took the lead, alone. George and Alex rode abreast behind him, discussing their plans for the day. Emma followed while the stockmen brought up the rear. When they entered the paddock they were to muster, Mr Baxter gave instructions from his horse as Alex put up the slip rails that served as a gate.

      'We'll split up to cover the paddock. Mick and Billy can come with me. Miss Watson, you go with George and Alex.'

      Twenty minutes later, Emma was beginning to wonder if they'd ever find cattle when George pointed out a mob in the distance.

      'You be careful, Emma,' he warned. 'Stay back if they start to run.'

      'I'm a competent rider,' she protested.

      'I'm sure you are, but I won't have you galloping through the timber in a side-saddle.'

      Alex checked his horse and fell back beside her.

      'He's right, Miss Watson. I've seen plenty of men come to grief.' He paused. 'If you get lost, stay where you are and cooee until we find you.'

      It was the first time he'd spoken to her since they'd left the yards and Emma was feeling his neglect. She seethed inwardly. Of course mustering was a new experience for her, but it wasn't fair to judge her by Lucy's abilities. Her cousin had never been a particularly good rider.

      As the men had obviously expected, the cattle set off at a fast rate through the box timber. George and Alex gathered up their reins and their horses leapt into a gallop. Fortune tossed her head and danced sideways, loath to be left behind. Emma put her into a cautious canter, startled at the sudden transformation of her mild-mannered mount.

      Threading her way through the trees at speed was tricky. The cattle and men were soon out of sight and, afraid of becoming lost, Emma relaxed her tight hold of the mare's head. Fortune immediately increased her speed and Emma rode with grim concentration, guiding the mare through the timber with heel and hand.

      Suddenly a bird flew up in front of Fortune's hooves, making the horse jump sideways. Thrown partly out of the saddle, Emma battled to bring the mare under control, but was unable to turn her away from the tree that loomed ahead. Emma's left shin slammed against its trunk. In a haze of pain she felt herself become dislodged. As the panicked mare raced out from under her, the ground rushed up to meet her.

      The brutal impact knocked the wind from her body. Agony consumed her as she tried to suck air into her lungs. It seemed like minutes before she was able to drag herself to a seated position and gingerly move her arms and legs. Her left leg protested and she pulled up the skirt of her habit, revealing a bleeding graze on her shin and an already egg-sized lump.

      She staggered to her feet and moved to the shade, where she leant against a tree trunk for support. Fortune was nowhere in sight. What should she do? Wait until the men came looking for her, she supposed, remembering Alex's instructions if she got lost. She flushed. How humiliating to have come to grief at the first bit of action!

      She was wondering if she should start cooeeing when Alex rode out of the trees, leading Fortune from his own horse. His anxious face made her immediately forget her fear of his derision. He swung out of the saddle without a word and dropped both sets of reins, moving to grasp her hands in his.

      'Emma! Are you all right?'

      She nodded. She was so conscious of his touch it was difficult to frame a sensible reply.

      'I hit my leg on a 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 СКАЧАТЬ