Long Way Home (Hearts of the Outback Book 3)

by Susanne Bellamy

  Muscles bunched and flexed beneath her as the black’s magical, ground-eating stride put distance between them and the goons. As she rode Sir Alain out of his prison along the narrow rocky corridor, she wondered how long she had before they began their pursuit.

  ##

  Caleb lined up the gunman and aimed for his trigger hand as the stallion squealed. Tabitha replied, and both men turned away from Sarah. Thundering hooves pounded the dirt before Sarah and the stallion took the fence in a graceful jump. The men dropped to the ground, arms protecting their heads as Sarah and the horse charged away from the camp.

  Quickly, Caleb trained his rifle on the man with the gun, ready to shoot him if he tried to shoot after Sarah. Through his rifle scope, Caleb watched and waited for pursuit that didn’t come. A string of swear words ran together as the second man threw something at the gunman.

  Scanning the campsite, he saw no transport. No horses, no vehicle. Nothing. It appeared the guards had been left with supplies and the horse. They weren’t going anywhere in a hurry. It seemed unlikely they would attempt pursuit of Sarah on foot, but he had to let Kaiser know immediately so he could pick them up.

  Regardless of the noise he made, Caleb scrambled down the hill, sending rocks rolling in his rush to meet up with Sarah. Certain she would return for her horse, he grabbed Tabitha’s reins and led her at a run towards his four wheel drive. Leather creaked and the stirrups chinked as the mare trotted happily beside him. He reached the vehicle at the same time as Sarah and the stallion. Relief at seeing her safe and out of range of the rifle did strange things to his stomach. And his breathing. He drew a steadying breath. “You’re okay.”

  Pulling the stallion to a standstill, she looked down at him from the horse’s back. Her face was hidden in shadow and wild, tumbled hair but he couldn’t mistake the frost coating her croaky words. “Well, Detective, here’s your missing horse. Are you going to arrest me again?”

  Reminding himself Sarah had just faced a man with a gun and pulled off an extraordinary rescue, he gave little weight to her odd tone. “Strange coincidences aside, no, I’m not planning on it.”

  “Your boss may have other ideas.” Her shoulders bowed over the horse’s neck. She slid off his back and landed at his side, her fingers tangled in the thick black mane. Resting her head against the horse’s neck, she patted him and spoke softly before leading him to join Tabitha.

  Caleb stood back and she introduced the two horses. They touched noses while Sarah patted Tabitha’s neck and spoke in soft, comforting tones. He loved the sound of her voice. Soothing and confident, inviting the listener to share a special bond with her. Sarah and the horses formed their own little circle of understanding. And he was on the outside looking in, wanting to be a part of it. To connect.

  He cleared his throat and stepped up beside Tabitha. He knew the mare, and trusted her enough to have ridden her. But Sir Alain awed him. “That was amazing, Sarah. I’ve never seen anything like it. You and the horse—spectacular.”

  A curtain of hair hid Sarah’s face as she spoke over her shoulder. “Do you have rope to tie him up for now?”

  “Sure.” Setting his rifle against the side of the car, he opened the back and rummaged in the camping gear. His fingers closed around a short length of multi-purpose rope. “Will this do?”

  She took it without a word and turned back to Sir Alain. More soft words to the horse as she attached the rope to each side of his halter and fashioned a leading rope. Not a word to Caleb.

  He supposed shock and fatigue might be responsible but in true Sarah fashion, she attended to the horses’ needs without thought for her own. He would remedy that, make her a hot drink and let her know she was safe. He touched her arm as she finished tying the stallion’s makeshift reins. Noted the way she flinched from him. “Are you okay? What happened?”

  “I’m fine. Shouldn’t we get out of here as fast as we can?”

  “Yes, we’ll put some distance between us and those men. You go ahead with the horses, unless you want me to ride and you can drive?”

  “I’ll take the horses.” She mounted Tabitha and he passed up the stallion’s leading rope. She took it, carefully avoiding his touch, and headed in the direction he indicated.

  “I won’t be far behind.”

  Keeping an eye out for the kidnappers, he radioed Kaiser with a summary of the news and the position of the camp. “They appear to have no transport but Sarah and I will move out of range in case their reinforcements arrive before you do. Outrider, over and out.” He closed down the radio, climbed out of the back and checked for pursuit. Walking backwards, rifle at the ready, he opened the driver’s door and climbed in. “So far, so good.” Now all he had to do was wait for backup and hand over the stolen horse.

  And help Sarah recover from the trauma of her assignment with him.

  Caleb gave Sarah and the horses a wide berth and pulled up at a spot ahead where scraggly trees provided scant cover. It would have to do. Open ground in front of them diminished the chance of being taken by surprise. He set up the primus and began making coffee as Sarah rode up. Indicating the stove and the kettle, he asked, “Would you like something stronger first?”

  Sarah shook her head and dismounted, a little less gracefully than usual, and tied both horses to a tree. She moved past him and climbed into the back of the four wheel drive.

  “Sarah? Talk to me.” She moved like a robot, stiff and unaware of him, and her lack of communication was worrying. He’d seen trauma in abused women, and in victims of car crashes and fires when he’d started his career. But Sarah’s silence had an eerie quality that he couldn’t fathom.

  As she tucked her hair behind her ear, at last he got a good look at her profile. Blood streaked her temple and cheek and a long, purple bruise underlined her puffy right eye. His gut twisted. He clenched his fists as an unfamiliar red haze clouded his vision. The bastards would pay, but first he would attend to her wounds.

  “You’re hurt. Let me clean that for you.”

  She turned her back and opened the first aid kit, took out cotton pads and antiseptic cream and set them on her lap. She uncapped the canteen, drank some water, and then wet a cotton pad and gingerly dabbed her cheek. He heard a soft hiss and saw her body tense and when she set the used pad aside, it was red with an edging of brown grit. Her fingers trembled as she opened the tube of antiseptic cream and she dropped the lid. It rolled towards him and he grabbed it before it bounced into the dirt.

  He held out his hand for the tube of antiseptic. “For goodness sake, I know you’re in shock but please let me check your injuries. You can’t do it all by yourself.”

  For one breathless moment, she paused and half-turned her head towards him. Her lips parted and he heard the breath she took, saw the rise and fall of her shoulder. Then . . . she turned away and picked up a fresh cotton pad. Giving her entire focus to the task, she squeezed a generous amount of cream onto the pad and applied it to her cheek.

  Then Caleb knew without doubt. She wouldn’t talk to him. Whatever had happened, she blamed him.

  ##

  Aware of Caleb watching her as he moved around the campsite, Sarah finished cleaning and dressing her face and bagged the bloodied cotton pads and dressing wrappers. She couldn’t speak to him, couldn’t tell him how glad she was to see him as she rode up on Sir Alain. Because she was grateful he’d come looking for her. Grateful he hadn’t abandoned her. But somewhere between that surge of relief at first seeing him and pulling up beside him, memories of the other kidnapping surged.

  Carrying young Daniel Campbell out of that hut away from Granger, she’d known she was doing the right thing, known that her brother had to pay for his choices. Caleb’s knee in her back and the handcuffs had taken her by surprise. How could he think she was part of Granger’s abhorrent crime? He’d arrested her, and she’d spent an awful night in the police cells. Unpleasant as they were, it had been Caleb’s unwillingness to believe her that cut deepest.

  Exh
austed with the emotional fallout from her father’s crimes, she’d drilled her reserves of strength to put right her oldest brother’s crime. And Caleb had slapped the handcuffs on her. Tell it to the judge, sweetheart.

  That memory stung as she rode the kidnapped stallion back to Caleb. It was impossible to see past his original distrust, and beyond Kaiser’s doubts about her. She was the daughter and sister of criminals and nothing she did could make that connection other than what it was. Not that she wanted to disown her family but why should her life be coloured by their actions, their choices?

  A woman in her position could make good money helping them cover up the switch. Push her on it. Kaiser couldn’t have made it clearer. He didn’t trust her. And that was okay. She could live with his distrust.

  But Caleb had said nothing in her defence.

  That had been the unkindest cut of all.

  She glanced through the window. Caleb was making coffee and toast on the primus and every so often, he glanced over at the ute. At her. Was he calculating how much longer he had to spend in her company? Oh, he’d made a good show of concern over her injuries. A small part of her mind even wondered if it had been genuine. Caleb Richards was nothing if not caring with babies, and animals, and injured people. She’d give him that.

  But she had opened up to him. He knew things about her she hadn’t shared with anyone. That connection, like she achieved with her horses, had felt real and strong. She had given him a measure of her trust. But when it came to the crunch, he didn’t trust her. Not one hundred per cent.

  Member of his staff? Having his partner’s back? Pah! He hadn’t even defended her to his boss.

  She watched him pour coffee into two enamel mugs. He stood and turned towards her. Except he wasn’t looking at her. He didn’t move but raised the coffee, seemingly finding the dark brew fascinating. Finally, he looked up. Their gazes connected through the window. His jaw clenched before he strode to the car.

  Maybe she could swallow the drink but the thought of food made her stomach rebel. Which was crazy when she hadn’t eaten since lunch the previous day. The goons had dumped her in with Sir Alain, minus food, water, and shelter.

  “Here you go, Sarah. There’s toast if you’re up to eating.” He didn’t smile; the past few hours had been too worrying for that, but in his eyes was a look that made her stomach do a crazy flip. He was worried about her. Despite her refusal to speak, Caleb was making an effort. And he hadn’t abused the situations in which they’d found themselves sharing bed space. The least she could do was to make an effort too. She shook her head. “Just the coffee thanks.”

  “Did they feed you last night?”

  “No, but I don’t think I could eat anything right now.” Wrapping her hands around the mug, she sipped the brew. Caleb made his coffee strong, just how she liked it. “How long will it be before I can get on with my ride?”

  “You’re planning on continuing?” His eyes narrowed, his gaze intent on her face.

  “Of course. I committed to the ride and I’ve got two days to complete it. I won’t let the disabled group lose out by not finishing.”

  “Do you think that’s wise?”

  “You’ll have the kidnappers in custody. What else do I have to worry about? Today will be a late start but I’ve only one more campout. I’ll be back in The Isa tomorrow night.”

  “You were hurt, Sarah. I’d like a doctor to check you over before you head out on your own.” His gaze moved a fraction, to the bruising beneath her puffy eye.

  She knew what he saw. She’d been taken back by the swelling and discoloration when she looked in his shaving mirror. Self-conscious, she turned away and sought for bravado she wasn’t feeling. “I’m perfectly fine to ride. All I have to do is sit on Tabitha’s back. She does the legwork.”

  “I’ll come with you. Might as well finish as we started.” There it was again. That concern disguised beneath casual tones. That—gentlemanly quality that irritated her because she wanted to be alone. To lick her wounds without Caleb peering over her shoulder. If only he’d stood up for his partner against Kaiser’s claim.

  “I started alone. I’ll finish the same way. Besides, you’ll have your hands full with writing reports and—and whatever else you do with people you arrest.” Put them in a cell and tell them if they’re innocent, they have nothing to worry about.

  “I need your statement, Sarah. Full details. There’s the discovery of Sir Alain, the assault on you, unlawful detention—it’s going to take quite a long time to go through all that.”

  Of course it would. And who would believe she had simply stumbled across the place the kidnappers were holding him. At the very least, her discovery of the horse everyone was searching for looked odd. At worst? Downright suspicious. How could fate conspire so against her? With a sigh, she sat straight and met his gaze. “Let’s start now then.”

  “At the station. We’ll do it all by the book.”

  “Why not now?”

  “My chief will want to be in attendance.”

  Because he didn’t trust Caleb, or because he wanted to grill her himself? After the adrenaline high she’d been on, facing Kaiser was the last thing she wanted to do. “Fine, I’ll call into the station when I finish my ride.”

  “That won’t be—”

  “I will not leave my horse to some heavy-handed officer to bring in. Tabitha and I will see you in two days. At the station.” She crossed her arms and glared at him. After last night, nobody was going to tell her what she could or couldn’t do.

  The distant whump-whump of a helicopter grew louder. Caleb turned to look and Sarah shaded her eyes and peered south. The sooner she got Caleb to agree to her terms, the sooner she could mount Tabitha and get away from him. “Looks like the cavalry has arrived.”

  “They’re going straight to the camp.” His call sign came over the radio and Caleb climbed inside and responded. “Outrider, I have you in sight. We’ll remain in place with the stallion. Over.”

  As Caleb and his chief planned the next stage of the capture, Sarah watched Caleb. He was so in control, so calm, so patient.

  “We’re going in.” Kaiser shouted over a metallic squeal and the sudden increase in the noise of the rotors. Sarah didn’t need to imagine the scene. She could just make out the sliding door of the helicopter opening and see movement within. “We’ll come to you when capture is complete. Over and out.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “How’s the horse?” Kaiser strode from the helicopter and stopped in front of Caleb but his sideways glance to Sarah was like a thousand needles in her skin.

  “Ms. Tait went beyond all expectation, sir. She was brave, resourceful, and she succeeded in facilitating the release of Sir Alain against great odds.”

  Kaiser turned and looked down his aquiline nose at her, his gaze assessing. “I look forward to hearing all about it—every last detail, Ms. Tait.”

  Slouched against the open tailgate of the ute, she clenched her hands inside her pocket. Tired as she was, she imagined what Kaiser might do if she told him what she really thought. Handcuffs and a jail cell for the night would be the least of her worries. “Right. I’ve told Detective Richards I’ll call into the station when I finish my ride, two nights from now.”

  “We need your statement today, Ms. Tait. We can fly you back tomorrow, if you wish it.”

  “And my horse? I don’t think she’ll fit in your helicopter. With respect, I was only co-opted to help find Sir Alain. I found him, and in addition, I got him out for you. The least you can do is allow me to finish my challenge. There’s a lot of money riding on it, if you’ll pardon my pun.”

  “Sir, I could accompany Ms. Tait as she completes her challenge and begin taking down her statement.”

  “No, no need, Detective. I don’t need babysitting.”

  Kaiser rubbed a thumb across his lower lip, looking from one to the other. “On second thought, that’s a sound proposition. Far be it from me to prevent Ms. Tait from finishing her ri
de for charity. Stay with her and do the preliminary statement.”

  So Kaiser wanted Caleb to stay with her. What did he think she was going to do? Run away? Irritation bubbled up inside and she gritted her teeth. Angry words would only add fuel to Kaiser’s suspicions about her.

  “Fine. I’ll see you in camp late this afternoon. You do know where I’ll be, don’t you, Detective?”

  A smile ghosted across his lips. “Try not to get lost this time, Sarah.”

  ##

  Caleb was filled with a sense of loss as Sarah rode away. Crazy when he knew he’d see her in a few hours, but she was injured, and he feared she hadn’t come to terms with the trauma of facing a gun.

  “Sir, is it okay if I set off now and follow Ms. Tait? I’m concerned she’s overconfident about the injuries she sustained.”

  “Soon. What about the horse? Sir Alain? From what you saw, are we likely to have any problems with its transport?”

  Anger bubbled up inside Caleb at the easy way Kaiser dismissed Sarah’s well-being. Didn’t he realise how much danger she’d put herself in to help the police? Even without his report and her statement, blind Freddie could see she’d been through an ordeal. He gritted his teeth as they observed the stallion still tied to the branch where Sarah had tethered both horses. He was restless and jittery and clearly unhappy now Sarah and Tabitha had ridden out, leaving him behind.

  “I don’t know enough about horses to predict what he’ll do. But he behaved with Ms. Tait.”

  “You believe that horse whisperer stuff, do you?”

  “Whatever you call it, she’s got an affinity for connecting with horses. They trust her. I saw it at Jenner’s stable with his new grey. Aladdin wouldn’t let anyone else touch him, but Sar—Ms. Tait gained his trust enough in a couple of hours that she got a saddle on him.”

  “Which would make her a perfect partner in dealing with a highly strung, kidnapped horse.” Kaiser didn’t seem willing to let go of his suspicions. Or was Caleb truly too close to Sarah? Had she bewitched him as well as the stallions with her whispering?