Daughter of the Murray
Page 32
He rested his head on hers. ‘And I was a part of that for you. I’m sorry, Georgina.’
‘Seems so long ago.’ She patted his arm. ‘And she reminded me of that poor woman then and what she stood for. Jem told me at the time to make clear choices for my survival.’
‘I see you did that.’ His glance held a frown.
She nudged him in the ribs. ‘I did the best I could with what was on offer.’ She closed her eyes to the sun on her face. How she had missed the warm sunshine of home. ‘To think clearly. She said that to fight for my rights was better than to be independent. I was frightened then. I didn’t want to show it, or sound it.’
‘You didn’t, my love. You were impressive in your eloquence.’
She laughed. ‘And survive I did. Though at times I wonder at my luck along the way. How much of it did I ride, trip, fall, slide, take a dunking in the river.’ She gave him a pointed glare. ‘Not much of it was thinking clearly.’
He took a breath as if to say something then stopped.
‘Tell me,’ she said.
‘If Conor hadn’t been killed—’
Georgie hadn’t wished anyone dead, but if her first husband was still alive … Her heartbeat skittered. She tapped a finger to his lips. ‘We never need to think of that. Ever.’
‘And Liam O’Rourke brings more confusion … Jacaranda is my home.’ He stared towards the homestead in the near distance. ‘I dreamed to build it up for my family, for my mother and father … ’ He glanced down at her. ‘For my wife, one day. My own family.’ He placed a hand over her firm belly. ‘I couldn’t imagine life without you, Georgie. Not from the moment I set eyes on you. You must know that.’ Then he rubbed his hands vigorously in his hair.
Worried now, she stilled his hands. ‘I do know—’
‘So my thoughts spin. I can’t understand how he could’ve let her go. It would drive me to madness thinking of that loss.’ He looked at her, his eyes red-rimmed. ‘When I’d had nothing but myself to worry about, nothing mattered. Now I have you, Georgie, and a family to look after … ’
Alarmed, she held her hand against his chest. ‘Stop. Your heart is racing.’
Dane’s eyes watered. ‘If Liam felt for my mother as I feel for you, I don’t know how he survived what happened. It would break me to lose you, to lose our children.’
Georgie touched his face with her fingertips. Her heart glowed. ‘It won’t happen to us.’ She turned and tucked herself against his chest, let her arms dangle over the rail. ‘Perhaps it did break Liam. He never married, he said. Didn’t mention other children. Perhaps when Jem went to Bendigo with me, she went to look for him, maybe to run away finally. Maybe it nearly broke her.’ She brushed at flies and tilted her head to look at him, squinting against the sun as it shone lower. ‘But with Elspeth at home, and Tom, and perhaps after seeing that woman in the street, she had to continue on her path.’
‘If it were us—’
‘But it’s not.’ She turned around, her belly pressing against him. She gripped his hand, and looked into his eyes. ‘And I am happy for her now. For them. They clearly love each other. Probably always did.’
‘You saw a lot in a few short hours.’
‘And did you not? It takes only a moment to see and you know it, Dane MacHenry. Besides, I know my own heart well enough now to know what love looks like.’ She felt the surge of emotion press against her ribs. ‘Yet I could have lost it.’
‘Not mine, Georgie.’ He grabbed her left hand and held it up, the rings gleaming in the late afternoon light. ‘You’re part of me and I will never let you go. Ever.’ He drew her hands into his chest. ‘Besides, you’re about to begin our dynasty with my two babies.’
‘Please. I can’t forget that.’ Georgie bumped him gently with her belly. ‘I am heartily glad we will have three generations of family when these two are born.’ She looked towards the trees. ‘At least we have one mother between us. I wonder about my own parents at times. Especially now. I never knew my real father at all.’
Dane reached over and squeezed her hands. ‘Perhaps we’ll find relatives of yours in Bendigo after the babies are born.’
She shrugged and smiled at him. ‘One day we’ll go looking. Perhaps these two will want to know.’ She smoothed a hand over her round bump. ‘But I don’t miss what I never knew, or barely remember. Besides, we will have too much to do building our life here to look elsewhere. So,’ she said and tapped his chest, ‘be calm, my love. You have it all, and it will all be very good.’
He dipped his head. ‘If you love me, I have it all. If not, nothing I have means anything to me.’
She touched his cheek and reached up to press her lips to his. ‘I will be at your side forever and together, our family will build a majestic line of horses that will outshine our MacNamara.’ She waved a hand to encompass all of Jacaranda. ‘We will have a magnificent run, and our river will flow with gold.’
His gaze was intent on her face. ‘I want that in writing.’
‘In writing. With witnesses.’ Georgie smiled. ‘And I will do all the business books.’ She felt very pleased with herself.
Dane laughed. ‘And so, do you love me?’
‘Oh, yes.’
He drew her closer and rested his hand on her belly.
A sturdy kick thrust from within her. ‘Dane, they are strong, and lively.’ Georgie covered his hand with hers to feel another kick. She laughed delightedly up at him, her other hand resting over his heart. ‘Like us, my love.’
His chest swelled and for a moment words seemed to lock in his throat. ‘I dare not speak for fear my voice will break like a lad’s.’
Georgie felt her eyes glisten. His love was safe, and new life inside her, new life they’d made together, was coming. Soon.
She looked down at her hand over his, and felt the strong warmth beneath.
It would all be very good.
Acknowledgements
Writers are often in solitude, but they are never solo on their journey.
My heartfelt gratitude to:
Meredith Whitford, Nicola Boss and Annie Seaton, all of whom took on my earlier works – and published them. Thank you for that faith in me.
The Romance Writers of Australia Inc. Without my association with this wonderful band of writers I would never have pitched a thirty-three year old/reworked a thousand times over manuscript in 2015 to Harlequin Mira’s Sue Brockhoff – and got my big break.
Susi Parslow, my beta reader. I have no stronger writing ally.
Amy Andrews of WordWitchery. Your compassionate direction and insight is invaluable.
Melody B Research for Writers. What a journey we’ve taken in the nineteenth century, Mel!
Shirley Durden and the Swan Hill Genealogical & Historical Society, and Heather Rendle and the Echuca Historical Society for your meticulous research and your warm reception.
My supportive community here on Kangaroo Island. You’ve come along for the ride and you’ve been great company.
Family and friends for everything. Just everything.
Sue Brockhoff and my Harlequin Mira team – Jo McKay, Annabel Blay, Laurie Ormond, Rachael Donovan, editors Kylie Mason and Kate James, and cover designer Christa Moffitt of Christabella Designs. Just superb.
The mighty River Murray herself and to all who continue to take care of her.
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ISBN: 9781489214515
TITLE: DAUGHTER OF THE MURRAY
First Australian Publication 2017
Copyright © 2017 Darry Fraser
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to a
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