by Margaret Way
‘Whacko. ‘ shouted the men enjoyably.
‘Turn the bay out,’ Billy ordered, ‘and bring in the piebald. The placid little lady in the far paddock.’
Dan glanced back at Genny, his eyes shining, while she just sat there pondering the probable outcome. It was out of her control. She could hardly tell him to stop; men didn’t take kindly to a woman’s intervention and superior wisdom. Besides, she had no desire to offend him. She had said quite enough for the morning.
A man like Dan, probably born in the saddle, surely didn’t need supervision. Lofty was leading in the saddled-up mare, a bag tied over its unprepossessing head. It was walking quietly enough, even sedately.
‘Lassiter’s Last Ride.’ one of the boys called out, breaking up with laughter.
Dan turned and shook a huge fist at him, not knowing Lassiter, but correctly surmising he had come to grief.
‘He’s dead game ‘orright.’ Lofty pronounced, while Dan hauled himself into the saddle in one flowing movement, an expert horseman.
‘Ride ‘em, cowboy.‘ they all yelled in a chorus, really surprised that Dan was still in the saddle.
The mare stood with Dan’s big frame astride it as though it was posing for a picture. Dan too seemed glued there, his hips and his shoulders stiff. Genny felt the colour come into her face. Men made no sense at all. Why would Dan want to risk injury, especially now when he was thinking of marriage? Her lips began to move soundlessly. The piebald was a rogue and incredibly cunning. Half the staff seemed to have arrived, though the piebald didn’t appear in the least inclined to gratify the grandstand. Dan gave it a little nudge along and it laid its ears back, the only indication that it wasn’t having a nice time. Dan, beginning to suspect a hoax, now put a little more weight into the side kick and the piebald took off like a mule, its tail clamped down between its hind legs, bucking in earnest, moving like a rocket to the opposite side of the fence.
A pair of arms reached up and hauled Genny clean off the fence with a kind of cold fury, holding her well back, silver eyes intent on the age-old spectacle, man bent on riding a savagely bucking horse. Dan, he was certain, could count on being thrown, though he was as tough as old leather and highly experienced, anticipating every move the piebald thought up. The dust was swirling, streaking the stockmen’s faces, starting to look a little anxious now, having caught sight of the boss. Now for the first time it seemed to occur to them that, though the big Texan was good, he wasn’t a young man like Billy and he was tiring. Those powerful jerks on his arms and his spine would have broken a lesser man.
The contest was taking its toll and the piebald still had plenty of energy in hand. Genny, hauled back hard under Ingo’s shoulder, could feel the silent rage in him. The piebald, certain now that its rider was weakening, started out on a series of risings and plungings that ricocheted Dan out the saddle and hard on to the red dust. He came down with a jarring thud on his right side and lay there.
‘Get that bloody nag.’ Ingo shouted in a voice that brought every last man off the fence.
Genny, terrified that Dan would be stamped on, broke away from the lightened lock on her and rushed to the fence, climbed it and jumped to the other side, ignoring Ingo’s tense shout that galvanised them all into action, waving and shooing the mare into a corner where Billy, driven to try almost anything, jumped on the piebald’s back and rode it away.
So far as Dan was concerned it was the final insult. He lay there groaning, nursing his shoulder, his pride and his collar-bone fractured. Genny’s lovely anxious face swam into view and he tried to smile at her.
‘Where does it hurt?’ She touched his scraped cheek gently. ‘That was a marvellous ride, but oh, Dan.’
For the second time Ingo just lifted her bodily away, dropping to his haunches and running practised hands over Dan’s jarred limbs. ‘Nothing broken.’ he reported tersely. ‘Nothing important anyway, just your collarbone.’
‘Now see here, boy, no one forced me,’ Dan said.
‘I know. Can you get up?’
‘Sure. Gimme a minute first, I’m kinda winded. Did you see that goddam Billy ride the thing away?’
‘It was nearly finished,’ replied Ingo.
‘I‘m not the man I used to be.‘ Dan exclaimed, full of self-disgust. ‘I wouldn’t rightly know how I’m going to live this down.’
‘We promise not to tell anyone,’ Ingo said a little grimly. ‘You could have broken your neck. You were lucky.’
‘I tell you that piebald was going like it was possessed.’ Dan looked past Ingo’s dark face to Genny.
‘Hey, you’re not feeling sorry for me are you, Genny?’
‘She’ll be feeling sorry for herself before she gets back to the house.’ Ingo answered shortly.
‘But I’m feeling fine. Help me up.’
‘I‘ll be glad to.’
‘There you go.‘ said Dan, turning noticeably white.
‘Are you all right, Dan?’ Genny said anxiously.
Ingo turned to her, his silvery eyes frosty. ‘Move the jeep up here and we’ll settle Dan in it. The keys are still in it. Go on, move. You’re pretty good at flying into danger, now you can’t tear yourself away.’
‘All right, I’m going.’
‘Don’t upset her,’ Dan said, regarding Ingo intently. ‘You sound like you might cut a switch off a tree, and she sure is one pretty little girl. Tender-hearted too.’
Ingo didn’t reply. With the sun glaring down on Dan’s face it was plain that he was in a lot of pain. Lofty advanced rather diffidently with Dan’s Stetson, bringing it down on the seat of his pants.
‘Good to see you on your feet. What’s that bone stickin’ out?’ he inquired.
‘That’s his collar-bone,’ Ingo supplied in a dampening tone. ‘If you haven’t got any better plans in mind, why don’t you go back to the brumbies?’
‘Goin’, boss! ‘ Lofty said with a minimum of words.
The ride over, everyone seemed to have dispersed with remarkable speed. Genny brought the jeep right up to the yards, opening the door while Dan got himself into the passenger seat with a little assistance.
‘Haven’t had an accident in thirty years.‘ he said, grinning wryly.
‘You’ll feel better with a good stiff drink inside you,’ Genny promised, climbing over into the back seat without being told. Although Ingo was pretty good about a lot of things he didn’t for a moment consider being driven by a woman. One had to accept the bitter pills with the sweet talk, and there would be no sweet talk today. Besides, she hadn’t been in any real danger. Lofty and a few of the boys had been getting hold of the piebald just as she landed inside the yard. As usual she had acted on impulse, and one look at Ingo’s face made her sure she was in for a lecture. Dan turned back to look at her, wincing a little.
‘Don’t worry.‘ he whispered like a conspirator.
She smiled at him and caught Ingo’s eyes in the rear vision mirror, very cool and determined. A fitful breeze had sprung up, blowing through her curls and the collar of her shirt. The red silk bandana hung down in the opening and she turned it round the right way, retying it in a chic knot around her throat.
‘All right, Ingo,’ she said lightly, ‘you can deliver your lecture now.’
‘I‘ll do that when there’s no one around to hear you cry out.’
‘You surely don’t think it was young Genny’s fault.’ Dan cried, surprised but ready to rush to Genny’s defence.
‘Not at all.‘ Ingo said suavely. ‘What you didn’t see, Dan, being flat on your back, was Genny diving away from me and into the ring before the boys had the piebald under control. Moments like that give a man heart failure. I’ve had plenty of scares in my time, mostly on Genny’s account. She has a reckless streak I only occasionally enjoy.’
‘I‘m impulsive, maybe.’ Genny said flippantly. ‘I‘ve never aspired to be reckless.’
‘Either way it depresses me.’
‘Maddens you, you mean.’
‘That too.’
Genny shrugged off his hard tone. ‘Flick will be upset,’ she announced for Dan’s benefit.
‘About me?’ Dan asked, considerably cheered.
‘Just wait and see.’
‘If it’s going to upset her, maybe we shouldn’t tell her.‘ Dan said manfully.
‘We’ll have to. You haven’t caught sight of yourself yet.’
‘I‘m not disfigured, am I, ma’am?’
‘No, you look like the returning hero. Your collar bone is sticking out and the right side of your face is cut up a bit, otherwise you look great.’
‘When we get back;’ Ingo said quietly, breaking in on Genny, ‘I’ll get on the radio. We can have a doctor out to take a look at you. You won’t be needing any X-ray, but he can check you out and strap you up.’
‘This is a damned nuisance for you.‘ Dan apologised.
Ingo gave his rare, beautiful smile. ‘I guess we’re both used to every kind of accident in our way of life.
I’m only sorry it had to happen and spoil your visit. From our point of view, we’re very glad of your company. This spill of yours will give us a chance to enjoy it a bit longer. ‘
Dan coloured to his ears, stabbed with pleasure. ‘Aren’t you the guy for diplomacy?’
‘He meant it.‘ Genny said firmly.
‘Thank you, Giannina,’ Ingo said dryly, ‘that saves me repeating myself. I know Flick found all your stories of Texas very thrilling and romantic.’
‘It is romantic. ‘ Dan said, his slow drawl swelling with pride.
Genny’s dark eyes were sparkling. ‘I‘d like to see it one day, Dan. All I know is what I’ve seen in the movies; the Spanish conquistadores, John Wayne and the Indians, the Spanish missions, the great ranches and the oil wells, the desert and the mountains, Mexico across the border, Louisiana, the Gulf.
Ingo bought us handbags from that department store in Dallas-I’d like to lose myself there, Austin, Houston, El Paso, San Antonio. Glen Campbell at Galvestonl’
‘He’s waiting there for you.‘ Dan promised. ‘There’s nowhere I wouldn’t show you. Texas has everything to offer. There’s no better place on earth than the Lone Star State, except maybe Tandarro.’
‘You’re remarkably right.’ Genny leaned forward, smiling. ‘People usually love their homes best.’
‘Feel a sort, of traitor if you didn’t,’ Dan maintained, rubbing his jaw gingerly. ‘I don’t seem to feel all my teeth. ‘
‘What’s a few teeth more or less.‘ Genny said flippantly.
‘Teeth are everything, Miss Genny. I’d sooner break a leg than lose one of my teeth. They’re powerful important. I have all my own.’
‘Check them now if you’re not happy.’ she suggested.
‘What a pint-sized little pest you are, Giannina.’ Ingo put in. ‘Poor old Dan’s in enough trouble without your teasing him.’
‘I swear I don’t mind.‘ Dan grunted with pain. ‘In fact, I kinda like it. Don’t want to upset Miss Felicity, though. She’s a delicate little thing.’
The way he spoke informed them quite clearly that things were developing at a fantastic rate in Dan’s mind if nowhere else. Flick the enchantress they were used to, but not every man made his response so immediately plain. For a hardheaded rancher, Dan seemed utterly smitten by the sort of thing Flick had been doing all her life, and it had happened very quickly to a man supposedly terribly shy with women.
When they arrived back at the homestead Flick took over, her lovely face distressed, her blue eyes seeing no one but the injured man; she led him to an armchair, and fussed over him to the extent that no one else appeared to be necessary. Ingo stood there for a few minutes watching Felicity’s charming fluttering and Dan’s equally touching response, on his dark face an expression of amusement and a faint boredom athough he had seen it all at least a dozen times before. Privately he was marvelling at his cousin’s inexhaustible, untroubled capacity for forming relationships. Superficial her feelings might have been, but they were prolific, given over to living out other women’s secret dreams. It would have been funny, except that Genny had been affected by her mother’s life style. It made him far less inclined to smile.
‘If there’s nothing else I can do,’ he said a little sharply, ‘I‘d better get back on the job. Spook and the boys are going out on a cattle drive. You can let me know, Flick, if I’m needed. Genny will have got through to the Flying Doctor base by now.’
‘Don’t worry, darling, I’ll look after him.’ Felicity promised, keeping her voice capable and soothing.
‘Except that you’re such a big strong man, Dan, I’d be terribly upset. Really, you’ve only arrived here.
The whole thing’s just awful. Take another sip of that brandy now.’
Genny, flying back along the corridor on her way from the radio room, came to a breathless halt at the back of Ingo and grasped his arm.
‘Well?’ He turned his dark head to her, with the inevitable touch of arrogant command.
‘Oh.’ She just stood there, fighting to transfer her fascinated gaze from her mother and Dan.
‘It’s all right, Giannina, you’re permitted to speak.’
‘He’s coming, of course. Doctor Murray!’ She looked away from Ingo’s sparkling, mocking gaze, lifting her voice for Dan’s benefit. ‘You’ll like him, Dan. He’s a fine doctor and absolutely one of the funniest men alive. Probably you’ll have to put up with a certain amount of ribbing, but it won’t kill you.’
‘Genny dearest, that will do.‘ Felicity said with careful firmness, as though Dan had suffered a near-fatal wound.
‘All right then, Flick, if you don’t need me I’ll go with Ingo and annoy him further.’
Felicity’s blue eyes looked puzzled, a faint frown on her brow. ‘Are you all right, dear, you’re acting very strangely.’
‘Could I talk to you for a moment, Ingo?’ Genny asked, ignoring her mother.
‘Perhaps.’
‘Can’t you do better than that?’
‘Not if I want to get any work done. Come on, Giannina, you little monster.’
‘Sure you won’t be lonely, Dan?’ asked Genny.
‘Do me a favour, Ingo, and take her away.‘ Felicity begged.
‘If I must. Only her baby curls save her. Sure you’ll settle for Flick, Dan? Until the doctor arrives, that is?’
Felicity looked up pointedly at this frontal attack. ‘What’s got into you two? Honestly, sometimes you both sound the same.’
Dan raised his empty glass in salute. ‘Thanks for everything, Ingo, young Genny. I’m not used to a woman fussing over me. Not recently, anyway, not since Ma died. Miss Felicity reminds me of her in some wonderful way.’
‘Hear that, Flick?’ Ingo asked dryly.
‘Yes, and I’m very glad.’
Ingo put up his hand, a sardonic smile faintly twisting his mouth. ‘Well, I’d best get to it. See you later then. We’ll spot the Cessna when it comes in. Ask Doc for lunch, Flick, if he’s got time. Get Maggie to fix something nice. I’ll bring Genny back with me about one-thirty, all right?’
‘Right. ‘ Felicity answered briskly, considering her capacity for organisation. par Dan, for a man in pain, looked almost radiant, but before Genny had time to form any comment she was grasped firmly and compelled out into the sunshine. ‘Goodness me, Dan’s got it bad.‘ she said when she was able.
‘I can only envy him his rosy outlook.‘ replied Ingo.
‘That’s a rotten thing to say. What do you mean, anyway?’
‘Oh, come on now, kiddo, Flick’s going to lead him a fine old parade. What do you think he’s going to say when he finds out about Carlo and.Stewart and Hughie, not to mention the non-starters?’
‘I’ve already told him,’ said Genny simply.
‘You’ve what?’ He grasped her arm and almost lifted her off the ground.
‘You heard.’
‘Nice work, cherub. Now why would you do that?’
‘Well, you
know Flick. She’s too modest to speak for herself.’
‘I know Flickl’ he repeated forcibly. ‘Her brain is nearly brand new, she spends so little time using it.’
‘You’re hurting me, Ingo, and I thought you liked Flick,’ she protested.
‘Oh, I do! It’s her love life I’d like to ignore. Dan is a guest of mine and he’s also a client, a good one. I don’t want to lose him.’
‘Maybe you’ll be gaining a cousin-in-law. What’s one more anyway? Elizabeth Taylor has been married six times.’
‘I don’t suppose Flick is trying to beat her record. ‘ Ingo released her abruptly, reaching out a hand and tucking a stray curl back into the shining halo.
‘You don’t have to thrash out my problems.‘ Genny said, looking up at him. ‘Generally love affairs are very pleasant. What am I worrying about Flick for? She’s a grown woman even if no one suspects she’s my mother. If she wants to team up with Dan and fly off to Texas, why should I mind?’
‘Won’t you be getting married yourself?’ he asked sardonically.
‘The devil I will.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Why take such fright? What about Dave? You can’t experiment round like Flick. I won’t let you.’
‘I’m afraid for a couple of weeks you’ll have to share me with Dave.’
‘I‘m not that generous.’ His hand shot out with devastating speed, turning her towards him. ‘What’s mine is mine for ever.’
‘Heaven knows where you got the idea I was your possession.‘ she protested, sure that in a minute her panic would show.
‘I haven’t put in all these years for nothing.’ He drew her close to him, just holding her. It was breathtaking the amount of feeling he could create in her and she drew in her breath sharply, enkindled by a quick hot rush of desire just to be alone with him, without the need to deny it.
He lifted her head, his silver eyes resting briefly on her face. ‘It’s a pretty fragile shelter you’ve built for yourself. Don’t count on it to protect you too much longer. Come on, Giannina, we can’t stay here talking. I Can’t cope with you and the station too.’
‘You talk down to me all the time. ‘ she said with a strange desperation.