She suddenly felt alone and vulnerable like when she had held the wire fence in the storm. Kent's face hovered sluggishly in her mind and she had some recollection of her hero washing and dressing her wounded hand.
Alyssa moved to a vertical position. The blanket cascaded off her naked shoulders like a waterfall. The white bandage wrapped expertly around her arm showed no evidence of blood. She gingerly massaged her stiff neck with her unbandaged hand and groaned as she tried to move her stiff muscles and throbbing head.
Gathering up the blanket, Alyssa feebly stood. She had to reach out for the arm of the sofa with both hands to support her weight. Even after she had steadied herself, she felt as though her body was still swaying slightly. It was the same feeling she had felt when her father had taken her on her one and only fishing trip.
A man entered the room carrying three logs. He seemed oblivious to the fact that Alyssa was watching what he was doing. He placed two logs in a metal bucket and threw a third log on the fire. He stood, nodded at the fire, turned and stared.
"Good to see you're awake," the man said.
Alyssa frowned. "Who are you?" she asked.
"Whoa, little lady, don't be too startled."
She wrapped the blanket tighter around her and tried to look strong. "Where's Kent?"
The young man reached out his hand. "He's outside. I'm Henry, Roy Davey's son."
"I'm Alyssa Fitzgerald."
They shook hands in a business-like manner. "You're from the big smoke, ain't ya?"
Alyssa nodded.
"Where are you from?" she asked.
"We come from across the road. We're neighbors, Kent and me," Henry said.
"If we aren't at The Oasis, where are we?"
"You're right on that score, this isn't The Oasis, girlie."
"Alyssa."
Henry's face was blank.
"My name is Alyssa," she said.
"Yeah, yeah," said Henry, showing a gapped smile. "This is the old Peterson place. You sure are a pretty woman. Love the color of your skin."
Kent walked into the room. "Henry, you didn't wake my guest, did you?"
"I was quiet as a fox," said Henry. "I'll be getting' some more firewood."
Alyssa waited for Henry to leave the room before whispering to Kent. "Kent, where are my clothes?" He pointed to a pile of material in the corner.
"Do you remember the storm?" he asked.
"Yes, of course," she snapped.
"Do you remember falling asleep and me grabbing you before you hit the floor?"
"No," said Alyssa.
"Before you get all concerned and embarrassed, I was a perfect gentleman. I suggested you take off your wet clothes and wrap the blanket you're in around you."
"Thank you."
Kent walked over to the pile of dry clothes and threw them to Alyssa. "I hope Henry didn't come on too strong. He's in the market for a wife."
"And you?"
He chuckled. "If the right lady crossed my path."
She faked a smile. "Do you want to tell me more about yourself?"
"No."
"Why not? And why are you so secretive? Have you killed someone?" said Alyssa.
"Nothing that drastic."
"You can at least tell me why you insist on having a length of curled rope hanging from your belt," she said. Kent looked at her square on. It seemed she had pushed a nerve.
"I'm not sure you need to know," said Kent.
"I think I have the right."
He let out a deep chuckle and lifted his hand for a casual wave.
Alyssa felt like she was in the middle of a tug of war. Her brain was yelling at her to put the brakes on, steady as you go, girl. Her heart was telling her to go get him before he slipped away. After all the tugging, she knew nothing of Kent. She didn't know his history, what he liked in a woman, what he disliked, or where he saw himself in ten years. The vow she made to Kaite rang warning bells in her head. She wanted to reach inside her mind and throw them to the wind. Then she thought of how much hurt Brandt had caused. She trembled inside the blanket. She certainly didn't want to be hurt again, and decided that her brain would win, for now.
"You don't strike me as a typical jillaroo," said Kent, stocking the fire with another log.
"I'm sure Mr. Stanton's son is not just a pilot," said Alyssa.
"Why do you say that?"
"A typical pilot wouldn't land in the middle of nowhere and start checking a dam and wire fences. Maybe I'll throw myself at Henry."
Kent raised his hands. "I have to confess he wouldn't treat you like I would."
Alyssa wrapped her arms even tighter around the blanket. Her heart was trying to convince her to jump. She wanted desperately to follow her heart. How could she show him how she felt without throwing herself at him? If she came on too strong, would he still be interested? She compared Kent to Brandt. Her body erupted in goosebumps. Kent was nothing like him. Brandt was deceitful to the core, and she hated that in a man. Her mouth tasted sour after she insisted that they should never see each other again.
Alyssa smiled inwardly at Kent. She was convinced he was sincere. Just because they had only known each other for a total of several hours didn't mean she had to condemn him of any wrongdoing. A sudden awareness surged to every part of her body. It was as though she had known him for a lifetime. Maybe they were soul mates, if there was such a thing. She started to tread in foreign territory and decided to leave it there.
"How would you treat a woman compared to Henry?"
His answer was heard riding on the back of a natural lazy smile. "I'd wine and dine her, and treat her with respect."
"Dance?"
Kent had a low chuckle in the back of his throat. The noise flowed over his lips and it startled Alyssa. It sounded more like a growl than a chuckle. She started to change the subject. "I hope it stops raining soon."
Kent nodded. "It should."
"Where did you say we are?"
"We actually landed at The Oasis."
Alyssa flopped onto the old dull red couch. "I asked you earlier if this is The Oasis and you said no. You lied. Henry also informed me this is the Peterson's place."
"Not exactly," said Kent.
She fixed her stare on the man standing by the fire. The light showed off his broad shoulders and manly chest. His damp jeans started to steam. She looked angry, but she gave a slight smirk without realizing it.
"I saw you smile," said Kent.
"I didn't," said Alyssa. "Not exactly."
Kent shook his head. "I'm the middle son of Mr. Stanton who owns The Oasis and the surrounding area, which is five hundred square kilometers. The actual Oasis is fifty kilometers north of here."
Alyssa scrunched her nose. "There's nothing out here but storms, dust and Henry. He also mentioned he was your neighbor."
Kent chuckled. "He's our closest neighbor. He lives one hour south of this house. The Oasis is the second most beautiful thing I have ever seen."
"What's the first?" said Alyssa. The sudden jealous tone startled her. Kent chuckled and left the room.
*
In the space of two minutes, Alyssa had dressed in dry, warm blue jeans and a black collared shirt, slipped her feet into new white sneakers and then headed for the kitchen.
Kent smiled as she entered the room. "Now you look the part of a jillaroo," he said. She blushed and faced him wearing a schoolgirl expression. "That look would melt any man," said Kent.
"What about the one I'm facing?" asked Alyssa.
"It sure does. I'll go and rustle up some grub."
"Grub?" Alyssa's eyebrows angled to a point as her brow wrinkled.
"If you want to fit in out here you have to call food 'grub.'"
"You don't strike me as a man who knows his way around a kitchen."
"If you're trying to find out if I can cook; I'm not that good," he said.
"Maybe I should give you some lessons. Sit at the table and watch what I do." Kent did as he was told as Alyssa
darted back and forth from the stove to the pantry and back to the cupboard. She looked up at his bewildered face and giggled.
"How did you know what food to bring if you have no idea how to cook?" she asked.
"I was given a shopping list. Everything was in the plane before you arrived," said Kent.
"Who made the list?"
"Julie."
"Who's Julie?"
"Do I hear a hint of jealousy in your voice?" said Kent.
"No. Why should there be? It's not that we're an item."
"Then I don't have to tell you who Julie is."
"Another secret," mumbled Alyssa.
An older man walked into the kitchen and announced his arrival by saying, "I can smell food cookin'." Alyssa looked at the man with the long silver hair and matching beard. His torn jeans and muddy boots were, she thought, a typical outback look. His blue button-up shirt barely covered his massive beer gut.
"Roy Davey, I was wondering when you'd show your face." Kent reached out to shake his hand. The man's steel-cold expression failed to break out into a friendly smile.
"Kent, I'm not in a good mood," said Roy. "I won't stay long. Don't bother with the handshake; we don't get on that good. I've got a message for your father."
Kent motioned to Alyssa. "This is Alyssa."
"Nice to meet you, Miss," said Roy. Alyssa smiled at him.
"I can tell you're a city gal," Roy said.
"How?"
"You look and smell like city folk do."
"I'm sorry I don't stink like a cow," said Alyssa, laughing.
"Take no offense. I just say what I mean."
Alyssa smiled and went back to the stove.
"What's the message?" asked Kent, folding his arms.
"The bank has made an offer on me place. It's too good to refuse."
"I thought you said you'd never sell."
"I'm not selling," said Roy. "The bank's given me seven days to walk off me land."
Alyssa studied Roy's face from over the stirring of a boiling pot. He showed no emotion as he informed Kent of the terrible news. 'Steel on the outside,' she thought, 'but I bet you're hurting on the inside, Roy Davey.'
"I'm sorry to hear the bad news," said Kent.
"If you want to buy my land, think up a good offer. Maybe we'll do a deal. The contest is between you and the bank."
"Six months ago, Dad would've jumped at the chance for another 2,000 acres, but not now," Kent said.
"Why? I've offered you my land on a silver platter," said Roy.
"It's because of the tax office. They want to take our land, too."
Alyssa's brow wrinkled as she heard Kent's confession. Her mind was steaming harder than the contents of the boiling pot that was being stirred. She had to know more. All she knew about people who lived in the outback was that they believed land was the most precious thing in the world. To make them sell was incomprehensible.
"Anyway," said Roy, "Henry's in the truck and we've got to get going. We saw you landing the plane very fast and came over to find out if you were okay. I'm pleased you're safe. This storm's a real kicker."
"Thanks for showing you care," said Kent.
"It wasn't my idea to come over, it was my missus."
Kent nodded. Even though they sounded like they hated each other, neither one seemed willing to be the first to back down.
'They're both as stubborn as each other,' thought Alyssa. She wondered if either of them would come running if something bad happened. She decided they probably would, and when things were normal again they'd revert to disliking each other once more.
Roy studied Alyssa from head to toe and back again, then dug Kent in the ribs with his elbow.
"She's all right for a city gal. I don't usually give out any advice, especially to you or your father, but if I was you I'd do all I could to keep her by my side. Look after this one."
"Thanks. I'll keep the advice under my hat."
"One more thing before I leave. We don't see eye to eye about anything, but I have to confess that Henry bumped the box with the holes in the lid and when I walked past, it was empty."
"It's okay, I'll find Charlie later. He won't have gone too far." Roy said goodbye and ran out into the rain.
Alyssa thrust the plate of bacon and eggs at Kent as he re-entered the kitchen. They both sat and ate hungrily. She watched Kent as he watched her. She giggled inwardly before turning her attention to her watch, then to the rain outside. She fidgeted in the quietness. What was it about Kent and all his secrets? 'I'm happy I didn't throw myself at you before,' she thought. 'I'll not entertain that thought again. I'm going to find out the answers to my questions, Kent Stanton, if it's the last thing I do.'
Her thoughts tumbled over and over in her mind as she scraped the last morsel of food from her plate. She hunched her shoulders and sighed.
"Three o'clock in the afternoon and the sun's just starting to break through the clouds," Alyssa said.
He nodded without looking at the sky.
"Are you going to take my word for it?" she said.
Kent grunted and placed his knife and fork on the plate. "I don't need to believe you, I can tell."
"How?"
"The wind has dropped," said Kent.
Several moments later, the sun broke through the clouds and lit up the table like a spotlight. The water in the dam started to sparkle in the warming rays. Kent stood and walked to the window. He studied the sky and let out a low whistle.
Alyssa followed his gaze. She looked puzzled. "What are you staring at?"
"The dam hasn't been this full in years," said Kent. "Care for a swim?"
"No, thanks," said Alyssa.
"Come on. You look as though a nice swim would do you a world of good." He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her into the air. "It's going to be a stinker of a day. You city girls need to unwind, and the best medicine for that is swimming, outback style."
Alyssa kicked him in the shin. "Kent, no," she snapped.
"Do you always have your own way, city girl?"
She shook her fist at his face. "Not always. I just like to be treated with respect. Now put me down."
Kent let his grip loosen and slipped his fingers inside hers as her feet touched the floor. "I understand," he said, then fell silent.
Alyssa placed her arm over the country boy's shoulder. "I'm sorry for snapping. It has nothing to do with you, it's all me."
Kent faced her and smiled. "That's a relief. I thought-"
"You thought what?" she said, cocking her ear so as not to miss even a single word of a whispered confession.
"It doesn't matter."
Alyssa bit her bottom lip as she looked at him. It was yet another secret to add to her ever-increasing questions. Shaking her head, she looked him in the eye. "If you walk me to the dam, I'll try my hardest to swim."
"Try? What's there to try about?"
"Not everyone can swim," she said.
Kent focused on her frightened green eyes. "Are you trying to tell me you can't swim?"
She lowered her gaze and focused on the wood grain in the floorboards. She wanted to find a crack in a board and disappear. "Yes," she whispered meekly.
He gave her a friendly smile and hugged her tight. "I'm sorry for embarrassing you. I didn't know."
"I keep it a secret. Only one other person knows, and that's my best friend, Kaite."
"I promise I'll never tell your secret to a soul," Kent said.
"There's one more thing: I didn't bring a bathing suit."
"Because you can't swim?" finished Kent.
Alyssa buried her head in his chest. She stood listening to the rhythm of his heart. It suddenly quickened.
"Come on, I've the perfect solution," he said, and led Alyssa to a black overnight bag. He unzipped the top and drove his hand deep inside.
Alyssa's giggles broke into laughter as he turned the bag upside down. She watched with amusement as he sifted through one pair of blue jeans and three shirts: one w
hite, one black and one wet, muddy and blue open-necked shirt.
"I'll wear the blue one," said Alyssa.
"Are you sure? Why don't you wear a dry one?"
"Kent, the blue button-up shirt is the only one that is long enough to cover me, and, as for it being wet, why wet another shirt?"
"I'll meet you at the dam," he said. He turned and was gone.
Alyssa walked to the bathroom. She stood in front of the mirror and slipped into the wet shirt. It was cold and hung from her shoulders like a starched sheet. She slipped into her half- dry sneakers and set off towards the dam.
Kent was right, she decided. In a few hours, the humidity would be stifling. She caught a glimpse of Kent halfway to the dam and decided to trot. She quickly settled into a comfortable running style and caught up.
"What on earth are you wearing?"
"A black towel."
"Are you wearing anything else?"
"Blue shorts."
Alyssa swallowed her excitement at the uncertainty of what would transpire over the next hour, and slipped her hand in his. She watched Kent with a sideways stare. Her heart pounded and skipped inside her chest. She felt hotter the closer they came to the dam.
Kent threw his towel at a fence post and dived in. Alyssa stood gobsmacked as her eyes feasted on his v-shaped torso. He surfaced near the middle of the dam and waved a beckoning hand. She walked to the water's edge and slipped off her sneakers. Her feet squelched in the muddy water. Kent dived under and grabbed her ankles as he came up for air. She squealed and sat in the mud.
"Nothing like a cold mud bath to start the day," said Alyssa.
"Come on in," Kent said.
"The mud feels horrible."
Kent reached out his hands and then got out of the water. He picked her up in an effortless sweep of an arm and carried her into the water. He patiently showed her how to swim freestyle and watched with genuine interest as she slowly increased her strokes.
"Alyssa, I want to discuss that bet we made back at the airport."
"I'm listening," she said. "What's on your mind?"
"I want to call off the bet," he said.
"Is this a new way of winning?"
Kent looked directly into her eyes. His easy-going expression quickly faded. "You win by default. At the first opportunity, I'll give you that dance."
The Great Gift (Contemporary Romance - Urban Life) Page 8