by Margaret Way
‘Oh, I wasn’t wondering,’ Nell lied. ‘I know you can’t have lived like a Trappist monk for the past twenty years.’
His mouth tilted in a crooked smile.
‘I must say I’m surprised you’ve never married,’ she continued, probing gently. ‘I’m assuming you must have had serious relationships, though. There must have been women you’ve lived with.’
‘Not for more than a few weeks. And there hasn’t been anyone since I bought Koomalong.’
Nell stopped walking. ‘A few weeks? Is that all? In twenty years?’
He gave an impatient shrug. ‘My lifestyle hasn’t suited settling down. I’ve been on the move a lot.’
‘So if I stay here for a whole month, I’ll be breaking some kind of record?’
‘I suppose you will.’ Jacob laughed gruffly. ‘Of course I’m more settled here.’
She felt compelled to probe further. ‘It’s sad that you’ve had trouble committing.’
He shot her a hard look, thrust his hands into his pockets and squared his jaw. ‘At least I didn’t end up marrying someone simply because it might have been convenient.’
Nell blushed. ‘Touché. Point taken.’
She was glad they’d reached the horse paddock and she could turn her attention to the four animals grazing there.
‘Oh, they’re lovely, Jacob. You’ve always had a good eye for horses.’ She admired their lines and the healthy sheen on their coats. ‘Who looked after them while you were away?’
‘My neighbour’s son was happy to keep an eye on them.’
‘And ride them, I’ll bet.’
‘That was part of the arrangement.’
Nell pointed to the bay mare with a pretty white blaze on her forehead. ‘Is this Belladonna?’
‘Yes. What do you think of her?’
‘Gorgeous lines. Fabulous legs.’ Nell held out her hand and Belladonna, curious, came to the fence. Nell laughed as she gently stroked her nose and the horse nuzzled her palm, no doubt hoping for a treat. ‘Sorry, Belladonna. I’ll bring you something tomorrow.’ She smiled into the horse’s soft brown eyes. ‘She looks sensitive, but rather gentle. I can’t wait to ride her.’
‘Exactly how long is it since you’ve ridden?’
It wasn’t easy to admit the truth. Nell fiddled with a piece of wire wound around a fence post. ‘I’m afraid I haven’t ridden a horse since the day I last saw you.’
‘That long?’ Jacob sounded shocked. ‘You’ll get very stiff and sore, then.’
‘I’ll have to take it in gentle stages then, won’t I?’
‘You will. In very gentle stages.’
Nell looked up, caught the silvery shimmer in Jacob’s eyes and her heart did a tumble turn. She was quite sure he was thinking about gentle stages that had nothing to do with riding horses.
Jacob set the wok of stir-fried beef and noodles at the back of the stove and went in search of Nell. She’d been feeding Sam and he wanted to tell her that dinner was ready when she was.
There was a lamp on in the lounge room and an empty feeding bottle on the coffee table, but no sign of Nell or Sam.
He headed down the hall to Sam’s room, but was only halfway there when he heard Nell call, ‘Jacob, is that you? Come here quickly.’
There was a sharp edge to her voice and he couldn’t tell if it was excitement or panic. His heart leapt as he dashed to Sam’s doorway. ‘What’s the matter?’
Sam was lying on the changing table, his bottom half bare, legs kicking. Nell had been laughing at him and she turned to Jacob, her face alight, glowing.
‘Sam smiled at me,’ she said.
‘No kidding?’
‘It was a genuine smile. Not an accidental, windy grin, but the real thing. A proper and deliberate smile. Look.’
Jacob stepped closer and Nell leaned over Sam, grinning at him madly. ‘Who’s a happy little man?’ she asked in a high, animated voice.
Almost immediately, Sam’s eyes lit up, his arms and legs pumped madly and his face broke into a smile, a broad, no-doubt-about-it, fully-fledged grin that mirrored Nell’s.
Jacob let out a deep chuckle of delight. ‘How about that? What a great little guy.’
‘Doesn’t it change him?’ Nell said. ‘The smile makes him look so grown up, like a real little human being.’
Jacob laughed, leaned forward and pulled an ultra-happy face at Sam and watched him smile back.
‘This is his first important milestone—learning to smile, being happy. Doesn’t he look gorgeous?’ Nell’s blue eyes shone with joy and excitement.
She looked luminous.
Jacob swallowed a sudden constriction in his throat. ‘Have you any idea how gorgeous you look when you’re glowing like that?’
Her eyes widened.
Unable to help himself, Jacob lifted a bright strand of her hair that had strayed from its clip and tucked it behind her ear. She stood very still as he traced the curve of her earlobe, caressed the pink warmth of her cheek. She gasped as his thumb brushed the soft underside of her lower lip.
‘Nell,’ he whispered.
‘Jacob?’ Her voice sounded faraway, dreamy.
‘I told you that I had no romantic agenda for bringing you here.’
‘Yes, you did.’
‘I lied. I’m sorry.’
A rosy tide spread from her throat to her cheeks. ‘You—you—’
‘I want to kiss you.’
She smiled shakily. ‘But—’
‘No buts.’ He touched a finger to her lips. ‘I have never wanted anything more.’ He’d wanted to kiss her for days, had been going crazy with wanting her. ‘It’s going to happen, Nell.’
She offered no resistance as he drew her in to him and, with gentle, devastating purpose, touched his lips to hers …
Ah, yes … she was so soft and sweet and tantalising.
Nothing mattered but this.
Nell.
He gathered her closer and kissed her less gently, teased her lips apart with his tongue and Nell was warm and pliant and melting into him. Her arms wound around his neck, her breasts pressed against him and her lips parted freely, welcoming him, urging him to deepen the kiss.
At last …
At long, long last …
Nell in his arms—his fiery, passionate Nell. A storm broke inside Jacob. He closed his eyes, let his senses drown in her. This was how Nell tasted and how she kissed. These eager lips were her lips, this wonderful, womanly body hers.
How had he survived all these years without tasting and touching and loving Nell?
His fever was contagious. Nell threaded frantic fingers through his hair and wriggled closer, drawing him deeper and deeper into their private maelstrom. He cupped the fullness of her breasts through the soft cotton of her T-shirt, grazed his thumbs over their tips, and she moaned softly, destroying the last shreds of his control.
Beside them on the changing table, Sam let out a squawk of protest.
Nell stiffened as if she’d been shot. She pulled back. ‘Oh, goodness.’
She pressed a hand to her throat, was panting a little as she looked down at Sam, who was bellowing now.
‘Hush, Sam, what’s the matter?’ She lifted him up and soothed him. ‘There, there. Were you getting cold? You’re all right.’ Over her shoulder she shot Jacob a gentle reproach. ‘He might have fallen off the table.’
Too happy about their kiss, Jacob merely smiled. ‘He was quite safe. He can’t roll over yet.’ With a hand at her waist, he said, ‘Why don’t we put him down and try that again?’
It was not the best joke he’d ever cracked and he realised that the spell, if that was what it had been, was already broken. Nell grabbed the chance to resume her former composure.
‘Just behave,’ she said, pushing him gently in the chest with both hands. ‘And remember—’
‘What? Remember what?’
She surprised him by kissing him quickly. ‘We’re all on probation here.’
Oh, yeah �
�
He supposed he’d spoil everything by rushing in foolishly, the way he had when they were young.
Sam had stopped crying and Nell laid him back on the changing table. Deftly she closed the tapes on his nappy and snapped the little studs on his sleeping suit.
‘You’re a dab hand at that now,’ Jacob said. ‘By the way, dinner’s ready whenever you are.’
‘Lovely. Thanks.’ She gave him a grateful smile.
He knew he wasn’t mistaken. There was an extra-happy light in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.
‘You’re a good cook,’ Nell said as they ate their evening meal at the scrubbed pine table in the kitchen. ‘I suppose your mother taught you.’
‘Yes, she seemed to enjoy passing on what she knew.’
‘Maggie’s a gifted teacher. Much better than the ones I had when I went to adult education classes.’
Jacob’s eyebrows lifted. ‘I’ve been meaning to ask. Why didn’t you finish your university degree?’
She shook her head. ‘I’m afraid I lost my enthusiasm for the arts.’
‘But you loved your studies. You were mad about poetry.’
‘I know, but … I took a job in a city bookshop.’
‘OK.’ He pulled a face as he accepted this. ‘Is that when you started the adult education classes?’
‘No, that came later. After I was married. I began with cooking classes because Robert wanted me to give dinner parties. And then I took classes in garden design and interior decorating so that our place in Toorak could look just right.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘It had to be the very latest thing, darling.’
‘That doesn’t sound like you.’
‘I know. And then there was public speaking.’
Jacob looked shocked. ‘Public speaking?’
She laughed nervously. ‘I wasn’t actually planning to speak in public, but I wanted to be more confident when I was talking to Robert’s barrister friends.’
‘For crying out loud. You were full of confidence when I knew you.’
‘Was I?’ She shrugged and said uneasily, ‘That was different. Moving in Robert’s circle, I felt I needed classes to help me to express opinions without sounding apologetic.’
This was greeted by silence.
Embarrassed that she’d revealed too much, Nell traced the willow pattern on her plate with her fork.
He said softly, ‘I’m glad none of that really changed you, Nell.’
She looked up to find him smiling at her.
‘Maybe you think that because I’m back in the bush.’ She sent him a cheeky grin. ‘I’m reverting to type.’
‘Whatever the reason, I’m exceedingly grateful.’
It was one of those shining moments of connection, of knowing. Nell was on the brink of leaving her chair. Every instinct urged her to walk to the other end of the table, put her arms around Jacob and kiss him. But from beyond the kitchen came a wail from Sam.
And then there were more wails in quick succession.
She smiled ruefully. ‘Sounds like he’s going to have one of his restless nights.’
They spent the rest of the evening taking it in turns to pace with Sam while finishing their meal and tidying the kitchen. By the time they finally got Sam back to sleep, Nell was exhausted.
‘You look dead on your feet,’ Jacob told her. ‘It’s been a long journey today. Get to bed.’
The next day was set aside for settling in properly, finishing unpacking and taking a quick tour of the property and in the cool of the afternoon Jacob volunteered to mind Sam while Nell took Belladonna for a short ride.
‘Are you sure you’ll be OK with Sam?’ she asked for the hundredth time.
‘Of course. Anyway, you won’t be gone long.’
‘If he fusses, put him on the floor in the lounge room for a kick. I did that this morning and he loves it.’
‘I’ll remember. Now you remember to take it easy.’ Jacob checked her saddle and girth straps and bridle as many times as Nell had quizzed him about Sam. ‘It’s a long, long time since you’ve ridden.’
She took Belladonna for a lap around the paddock to prove she still knew how to stay on a horse and Jacob was satisfied.
‘I’ll just take her down to the creek,’ Nell said. ‘I might sit there for a bit and enjoy the peace of the bush.’
‘Why not? I guess it’s a long time since you last sat on a creek bank.’
Nell nudged Belladonna forward.
‘Keep out of tree branches,’ Jacob called.
She smiled and waved and Belladonna broke into a canter and then a gallop.
Now this was living—the sense of gathering speed and the powerful rhythm of a beautiful animal beneath her. There was nothing Nell loved more than the rush of wind in her face, the smell of dust stirred by the horse’s hooves, the hint of eucalyptus.
She reached the creek quite quickly. Too quickly. She would have loved to continue, but she knew she would pay sorely if she went too far. Reining Belladonna to a walk, she continued along the high bank until she reached a point where the creek widened into a quiet pool.
With the reins securely tied to a tree branch, she sat on a smooth, sun-warmed rock and stared down at the water. It was so still she could see the sky reflected in it. There was a tangle of gnarled tree roots sticking up in the middle of the pool, no doubt washed downstream by the heavy rains of a previous summer. On the far side a lone white heron fished the shallows.
There was nothing special about the scene. It could have been any ordinary old creek anywhere in the Outback. But sitting there, alone, on a shelf of pink granite rock, looking out at the tea-coloured water, at the endless stretch of dry red earth and the wide, clean skies, Nell heard the call of a warbling magpie and felt hot tears stinging her eyes.
She swiped at them with the backs of her hands and was able to laugh. What a nostalgic old granny she’d become.
It was close to dark by the time she got back. The light was fading and in the horse yard behind the stables she couldn’t see properly to undo Belladonna’s saddle. She had to feel for the buckles and the girth strap and she lifted the saddle high to avoid hitting the horse’s back. Then she hung the saddle and blanket on a fence railing, before carefully testing Belladonna’s hooves with her fingers to check for stones.
Satisfied that all was well, she turned the mare loose in the paddock and stowed the saddle in the tack room.
From the house, the warm glow of the kitchen lights spooled out into the twilight-shrouded backyard and, as she crossed the lawn, she hoped Sam had been on his best behaviour for Jacob.
Suddenly a cat’s screech and a cacophony of barking disrupted the peaceful twilight. Ahead of her, a marmalade streak shot up the back steps, with Jacob’s dogs tearing after it. The kitchen door must have been unlatched, for it swung forward and all three animals burst inside, the dogs barking so loudly they sounded demented.
What an uproar! The dogs weren’t allowed inside the house and, in this frenzy, they could wreck the place. Nell hurried after them.
As she reached the back steps, she heard Sam’s piercing cries in addition to the frenzied barking and the ear-splitting yowls of feline terror.
She dashed through the kitchen, dimly aware of appetising cooking smells and that the table had been set with a bright seersucker cloth. She followed the noise through to the lounge room, taking in the scene at a glance.
Jacob was standing in the middle of the room, holding a red-faced, screaming Sam and Ambrose was halfway up the wall, clinging to the curtain. The cat’s teeth were bared and his tail bristled fiercely as he gripped the silky fabric for dear life while the dogs leapt and barked up at him.
Then Jacob lent his voice to the general mêlée.
‘Blue! Dander!’ he roared at the dogs. ‘Get out of here. Now!’
Unfortunately, the normally obedient animals were whipped into too great a passion and took absolutely no notice of their master.
Nell stepped into the fray, arms
outstretched. ‘Give me Sam,’ she called.
Jacob spun around. His eyes widened when he saw her, but she couldn’t tell if he was relieved or dismayed that she’d caught him in the middle of this dilemma.
She hurried forward. ‘Here, I’ll take Sam.’
He thrust the wailing baby at her. ‘Thanks.’ Then he dashed across the room and grabbed the Labrador by the collar. ‘Sit!’ he ordered.
The dog immediately stopped barking. He gave Jacob one brief look of outrage at being deprived of such fantastic fun, then sat.
‘You, too,’ Jacob ordered the blue cattle dog. ‘Sit!’
And suddenly the only sounds in the room were Sam’s terrified screams.
‘There, there,’ Nell soothed him and cuddled him close. ‘You’re OK now, sweetheart. Shh.’
‘Out!’ Jacob addressed the dogs and pointed to the doorway and, to everyone’s relief, they obediently trotted forward. But they kept looking back, like children sent to their rooms for misbehaving, hoping Jacob’s hard heart would soften and set them free to torment Ambrose again.
When the dogs were safely outside at last, Jacob turned to Nell. Sam was still snuffling and sobbing against her neck, but she had managed to reduce his terror.
‘What happened?’ she asked, patting his little back.
Jacob’s eyebrows rose as he scratched his head. ‘Blowed if I know. The dogs have been so good about the cat.’ He looked up at Ambrose, still clinging to the curtain. ‘Better get you down, mate.’ Reaching high, he clasped Ambrose around the middle with one hand while he prised his claws from the fabric.
And then Jacob stood facing Nell, looking embarrassed and cradling the cat in his arms in much the same way that she was holding Sam.
‘Is Ambrose OK?’
‘Seems fine.’ Jacob checked one fluffy orange flank and then the other. ‘No sign of blood or missing fur.’
‘That’s good. Poor fellow. I think the fight started near the back steps. Maybe Ambrose tried to eat out of one of the dog’s bowls.’
‘You could be right.’ Jacob gave the cat a thoughtful scratch between the ears. ‘My fault. I forgot to feed him.’
Nell gave him a small smile. ‘You’ve been busy dealing with Sam and dinner.’