by Sarah Barrie
Dragging his lips from hers, he stared at her, his fingers still biting into her arms.
Then she was free and he was walking away. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.’
‘Why?’
‘You’re upset, it’s a stressful enough situation. I didn’t mean to take advantage of that, to make it worse.’
He was furious, but there was more there. Anger, yes, but hurt, concern and underneath it, a restrained … need. She straightened herself up, glared back. She didn’t mind the anger, or the concern, or even particularly that she’d hurt him a little bit. But she did mind that he was going to keep his hands to himself because of some flashback.
‘My whole life is a stressful situation. If you’re about to tell me you’re not going to take advantage of me because of some psychological disorder, I have to warn you it’s about to turn homicidal. You don’t get to kiss me like that and talk to me like I’m an invalid.’
The scowl very slowly slid into a smile. The tension in his shoulders visibly eased. ‘Fragile, my arse.’ He stepped back, took her mouth in another kiss, and this time there was no rush, no demand. He slid his hands down her arms and uncurled her tightly closed fingers. As those large, warm hands slid back up, they curled in her hair while his mouth disintegrated the remains of her temper.
His grip in her hair was just short of painful, his kiss was soft and teasing. The combination was intoxicating, had her head spinning, wanting more. As he gave it, an arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her hard against him, hip to hip, and her bones liquefied.
When she realised his strength was supporting them both, her hands released their grip on his forearms to explore his strong, hard body. He made a sound of approval, his lips moving from devastating her mouth to setting trails of fire along her neck, before teasing the sensitive skin of her collarbone.
A quiet gasp, a sigh, a murmur. The shuddering intake of breath as those hands slipped under her shirt to heat her flesh. The jolt of her shirt being pulled roughly over her head. His callused thumbs scraped against her lace-covered breasts, were quickly replaced by his mouth. Her legs gave in and he lifted her, his mouth returning to devour hers as he carried her into the bedroom.
He undressed her slowly, taking her apart with his eyes, his hands, his mouth, moving, lingering, taking. Quiet murmurs, whispered promises, sensation on top of sensation. Alternately boneless and tense with wanting him, she arched, moved restlessly against him. He slid down her slick body and his mouth sent her catapulting into orgasm.
Even before the shudders had a chance to settle he slid inside her, bringing her up again in a slow, languorous rhythm that gradually built and built, until, control finally snapping, the rhythm became a frenzied crescendo that sent them over the edge together.
She’d slept through the night. She hadn’t meant to sleep in a bed again. But after a near perfect day with Cam, he’d stayed the night – had simply pulled her into the crook of his shoulder and she’d slipped into a warm, dreamless sleep. When she’d woken this morning, he’d already gone. He’d said he was leaving early, and there was a note waiting for her on the table. She read it, smiled, then because her phone was flashing, she checked her messages.
It was Cam. Her smile warmed further. He had to drop in at council at lunchtime; did she want to meet him there? She sent a reply and stared at the picture-perfect morning outside her window.
The sun was well up, glistening over the dam. A fluttering willy wagtail was checking the ledges for its breakfast. Her flowers were blooming, the whole property had come to life. She knew Luna would be wanting to be let out, the animals would be getting restless for their feeds, and Coco would need some exercise this morning. She felt a simple happiness, a contentment that had been missing for too long.
How had this place snuck into her heart? When had it become so important? Was it Cam? The animals? Was it knowing, really knowing, the fire wasn’t her fault? She’d never get over losing her husband and her horses so horrifically. But maybe here she would be able to find a way to deal with it. Maybe she already had.
This was a new start, a good one. She no longer felt that hole in her heart at what the future would hold. She knew where she wanted to be, what she wanted to do. She wasn’t going to let this last hurdle get in the way.
She began imagining where she’d put some more yards in, where the arena would go. Her new house would stand in the same spot as this one, she’d extend the gardens, maybe build Poppy a better paddock. There were so many possibilities. So many decisions to make, happy decisions.
But the only decision that needed to be made at this moment, she thought with a soft smile, was what she would wear to lunch with Cam.
She met him outside the café. He was already seated when she arrived, but he got to his feet with a warm, ‘Hi,’ and kissed her thoroughly and with no regard for passers-by.
‘Hi,’ she replied when she could. He chuckled quietly as he watched her and she knew she was flushed. ‘I missed you this morning.’
‘I had to leave without waking you. If you’d opened those incredible eyes, I wouldn’t have got to work.’
She smiled and sat as a young waitress appeared and greeted them politely.
‘Didn’t know you were working here, Colleen. How are you?’ Cam commented as she handed them their menus.
‘I’m good, Mr Blakely. Just helping Elaine ’cause … you know.’
‘No one’s heard anything about Bella?’
She shook her head. ‘Poor Elaine. She’s not coping. Doctor told her she’s having a nervous breakdown.’
‘I can’t even begin to imagine what she’s going through,’ Ally said sadly.
‘She just wants someone to help her. Rob doesn’t believe her.’
‘I think it’s more that he’s hopeful Bella will turn up. She’s an adult and there’s no evidence to suggest she’s in trouble.’
‘Other than the car being left there? That car was her baby. She would never have left it. No way. Took her forever to save for it.’
‘I guess we just have to hope. I’m sure Rob’s still looking into it.’
Colleen nodded and left them to look at the menu.
‘That poor woman. It doesn’t fit. Mia and Ebony and I spoke to Bella. She was so excited about her studies, about coming back here to work.’
‘Rob’s got his hands full and there isn’t a lot more he can do.’
‘Lee said Ben’s getting involved. That – that maybe the guy who’s after me has something to do with their disappearances.’
‘Lee didn’t say that. He said he saw Ben reviewing the files while he was working on your case.’
‘Well, yes, but Ebs said –’
‘If Ben thinks there’s a connection, we’ll find out soon enough – Ben’s incredibly thorough. But he could just as easily be ruling it out as chasing it up. Either way, maybe he can get something moving. Speaking of.’
Ally turned. Ben and Rob were heading across the road towards them.
‘Ordered yet?’ Ben asked, sitting himself down to join them.
‘Just about to. You two joining us?’ Cam asked casually.
‘If you don’t mind,’ Rob said, taking a chair from a nearby table and swinging it around.
‘Of course not,’ Ally said with a suspicious glance at Cam. Had he set this up? Cam sent her a look that suggested he knew exactly what she was wondering and gave a small shake of his head.
‘I was hoping to drop over and see you this afternoon, Ally,’ Ben said. ‘I want to go over everything that happened at the party.’
She knew she had to get it over and done with. ‘Okay. What time? I was going to take Coco out on a short trail ride this arvo.’
Rob’s head shot up from his menu. ‘Martin has a group out today. I reckon they’ll all stay where they’re supposed to, but just watch yourself.’
‘Yeah, okay. Thanks. Maybe I’ll take the trail along the river in the opposite direction.’
‘Don’t go
too far,’ Cam said. ‘I’ll come out when I’m finished at council. Does four suit you?’ he asked Ben.
‘Yeah, that’s fine. What’s everyone recommend for lunch?’
Ally saddled Coco and headed out along the river. Knowing the pony was liable to take off whenever the mood took him, she kept up her guard for anything that might set him off, eyes and ears open. But his bouts of nervous rebelliousness were becoming rarer, and when he didn’t put a foot wrong on the way out, she gradually began to relax and enjoy herself. It was the perfect day and, save for the calls of native birds, the bush was still and quiet. She could have gone for miles, but with Rob’s and Cam’s warnings in her head, she reluctantly turned the pony for home after going just a short distance.
‘Come on, buddy, you’ve been great. Let’s go home.’
About halfway back along the trail, she stumbled upon a gang-gang cockatoo swinging lightly from the branch of a nearby tree as it fed. She pulled the pony up and watched with a smile. It was so close, but it didn’t seem to mind her intrusion. She considered pulling her phone out, getting a picture.
Coco leapt forwards and spun sideways, almost unseating her. As the bird flew off, she regained control and moved him on quickly. A moment later he shied again, before planting his feet and snorting, ears and eyes trained on the scrub just behind them.
‘What is it?’
He snorted again, bobbed his head, fidgeted.
‘Take it easy, buddy. Let’s go.’
As soon as they were back on their way, she heard it: a rustling close behind, as though something were no more than six feet away, hiding in the underbrush. She spun the pony around, scanning the bushes, but saw nothing. As she turned in the saddle, it slipped a little. Carefully, she bent to tighten the girth strap.
The bullet crashed into a tree millimetres above her head. There was no time to process, because even before she was upright in the saddle, Coco surged forwards and took off at a gallop. Another shot rang out as Ally got her balance. She stayed low over the pony’s neck and let him go. When he propped, threatening to shy at something further up the track, she dug her heels in hard, pushing him back into gear.
CHAPTER
23
‘Ally?’ Cam rushed forwards. ‘What happened?’
‘Someone shot at me.’ She pulled Coco up and leapt from his back.
Cam pulled her into his arms and checked her over. She was panting and shaking, so he held her tightly. ‘Martin’s group is out there?’
‘I don’t know who.’
‘We need to get you inside.’
She leant on him as though her legs were too weak to support her. ‘I could hear someone, in the bushes, like they were tracking us. I bent down to tighten the girth and the tree behind me exploded over my head. They had another shot as we took off. Coco bolted, thank God, because it got us out of there fast.’
His grip on her tightened. He wanted to go out there, find the shooter, but he didn’t want to leave her either.
‘Ben’s on his way. I’ll call Rob, let him know to come too.’
‘And I have to look after Coco. The back gate’s still open.’
‘You can barely stand up.’
‘It’s okay, I’m calming down. I need to just unsaddle him, give him a quick hose.’
‘Give him to me, go inside. I’ll do it.’
He watched her walk unsteadily up the front steps and into the house and ran a hand along the horse’s sweaty neck. ‘Thanks, mate.’
As he led the pony to the shed, he dialled Ben, filled him in. Then he wrestled with the saddle and ran the hose over the foaming horse. He undid more straps on the bridle than he thought was probably necessary, but he got it off. He could only hope she was mistaken about the deliberate shots, because otherwise the guy they were hunting had just stepped it up a very dangerous notch. He wanted to go out there himself, find the sons of bitches. But he couldn’t afford to leave her alone.
He found Ally sitting at the table, head in her hands. When she heard him, she looked up, managed a weak smile.
‘You all right?’
‘Yep.’
‘Ben will be here any minute. Rob’s going to find Martin.’
‘I can show him where the bullet hit the tree.’
‘Okay, that could be handy. But just sit for now.’ His mouth turned up in a smile. ‘I saw you belting in from the back paddock. Know how to stick on a horse, don’t ya?’
She shrugged a little. He didn’t like her colour. ‘Do you really believe someone shot at me on purpose or are you just humouring me?’
‘It’s a possibility. Let’s play it safe and assume they could have been.’
‘He’s not talking. Just says he wasn’t there. That Ally’s got it in for him.’ Rob sat in his police car outside Ally’s house. Ben and Cam stood by his window.
Ben kicked at the dirt. ‘And of course, all his mates are going to say they weren’t there.’
‘What do you think?’ Cam asked.
‘He’s a leader the other dickheads respect and he knew David,’ Rob said. ‘It looks like David might have hooked up with one of his then girlfriends. He also doesn’t have a lot of respect for women. He’s a definite possibility, but without any evidence, that’s all he is.’
‘And as far as we know, he doesn’t have ties to Mavis,’ Cam said.
‘Maybe we should stick a bottle of bleach up his nose and see what happens,’ Ben suggested.
‘That’s not as stupid as it sounds.’ Cam raked his fingers through his hair. They weren’t getting anywhere, not fast enough.
Rob nodded. ‘He’s just about pissed off enough to lose the plot, so I’ll keep at him this afternoon, see if he gives anything away. That fails, we’ll bring out the Shower Power.’
‘Cam?’ Ally was standing in the doorway. ‘What’s happening?’
‘Hey, just a sec.’ He turned back to the others. ‘We’ll talk about this more in the morning. Ally reckons she can show you where the bullet hit the tree, but not in the dark. She’s had enough for tonight.’
He saw Rob and Ben off, then walked to the veranda. ‘Feeling better?’
‘Sure. I’m okay.’
He led her inside where the kitchen light was brighter than the dying day and took her chin in his fingers, looking her over. ‘You’re still too pale.’ She looked fragile enough to snap in half, but he appreciated the attempt at a smile she gave him. That’s strength, he thought. She had it in there. Even if she didn’t see it. She’d held it together for Ben, but now, as shock set in, she was on the edge.
‘It’s not every day I dodge a bullet doing up a girth strap. Or encourage a bolting horse to keep bolting. It’s been an unusual afternoon – give me a break.’ Her eyes were shiny and her voice wasn’t steady, speeding up at the end. Too much sympathy here, go too gentle, and she’d fall apart. Maybe it would do her good. In her case, he wasn’t sure. He damn well wasn’t going to suggest she take a pill. She was too proud of getting off them, though he knew she’d take one if she needed to. There were other ways of pulling her back. He grabbed hold of her.
He felt the jerk, the surprise, but in a moment, she was with him. And her eagerness, her trust, completely frayed his control. He tore at her clothes while he worshipped her with his mouth and hands. Lips met furiously, clothes disintegrated. He hadn’t acknowledged his own gut-wrenching emotions, the realisation he’d nearly lost her, but here they were. Thank God, thank God she’d bent down for the girth. She was safe. He needed her, needed to touch, to take, to know she was his. To feel alive with her. He lifted her onto the bench and her legs went around him. He lost himself in her.
Much later, as Ally lay in bed in Cam’s arms, something woke her. Moonlight was pouring through the window and the chirp of crickets and cicadas was a lulling melody. A sweet-smelling breeze had the curtains dancing gently but didn’t hold enough cool to draw the heat from the room. She stirred, restlessly kicking at the sheet that had tangled around her legs, and sat up. Cam was b
reathing steadily beside her and she smiled down at his profile, the strong lines of his face defined in the soft, white light.
A quiet shuffling. She sat up, listened.
‘Ally? You okay?’ Cam murmured drowsily.
‘Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.’
‘What are you doing?’
‘I thought I heard something.’
Cam sat up, rubbed his hand over his face and listened. Another sound, a scratching downstairs.
‘Oh, I think it’s just Luna, she must need to go out.’
‘I’ll do it. Stay here.’
She was more than happy to. It was good not to have to get up. She heard him moving around downstairs: opening the laundry; talking to Luna; the pup’s excited bark as she scrambled outside. It was too nice, too perfect. Just right. Completely relaxed and happy, she stretched, rolled over.
The figure was in the doorway, the light behind him shadowed his face and yet …
‘Cam!’ She reached for the bedside lamp, heard Cam’s rushing feet, saw the bright hall light come on.
But the figure was gone.
Cam panted a little as he approached the bed. ‘What is it?’
‘There was a man, in the doorway. It looked like –’
Cam was already through the door, she heard him moving through the house, checking everything. A few minutes later he came back.
‘Looked like?’
‘It was dark but, I could have sworn it was David.’
He breathed a long sigh. ‘Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?’
‘Please don’t do that. Don’t you think I get sick of sounding crazy?’
‘I’ll go and have another look.’
The sound of children’s voices floated up from downstairs. ‘Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E I O, and on that farm he had a pig, E I E I O …’
‘What the hell?’
‘I don’t – wait. It must be Billy’s music,’ she whispered, ‘Mavis said to play it, that he likes it.’
‘He likes “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”? The same tune the guy we’re after was whistling?’ Cam grabbed his rifle from its place by the side table. ‘Stay here.’