Captivity

by Margaret Pargeter

  He changed direction with the minimum of effort. 'We won't have time to have a proper look at places like Ayers Rock, but we might fly over it. Another day I'll take you.'

  One minute he talked of her leaving, the next as if she was here to stay. Moodily she glanced sideways at the strength of his rugged profile, then she tried to relax, watching his smooth competence with the plane. There was a yearning inside her to know what he was really thinking. How could she feel secure until she knew what he thought? He might have shown her many things about herself, but, to her, he still remained a mystery.

  The drone of the engines combined with the heat of the sun to send her to sleep. Her body slumped tonelessly as her heavy lashes curved to her cheeks. The sky, above them was blue, the earth below red, the distances immense. There was nothing to stop her slipping over the edge into dreamland.

  The terseness of Chase's voice, when it woke her, came as something of a shock. They had been flying for some time, making south-west.

  'Alex, wake up! We're going down.'

  'Down?' Dragged from unconsciousness, she took a second to realise where she was, but she had too much faith in Chase to panic. The engines spluttered, as though they had been jerked, but she had heard engines spluttering in planes before and seen them right themselves. There were seldom disastrous consequences. Yet Chase looked grim. Her eyes widened on his face. 'What's wrong?'

  'I wish to God I knew. Keep your safety belt on and shut up, there's a good girl. I'm doing my damnedest.'

  She wished she was as cool as he was. She was unable to stay silent. After checking her belt she persisted nervously, 'Haven't you any idea what's wrong?'

  'At a guess, petrol. The gauge hasn't been moving. A plane isn't a car, though. We can't stop and take a look.'

  The engines roared to life again and her hopes simultaneously soared. 'Does this happen often?' she gasped.

  'I hope not,' he muttered, in deep concentration, which she saw was justified as the engines cut completely and they glided towards the ground.

  'Do as I told you!' he shouted. 'I'm trying to radio our position and I don't have much time.'

  'Chase!' she cried, her voice rising as the plane seemed to glide at an alarming rate towards the burnt red earth. I'm sorry—' Quickly ashamed, her voice fell to a whisper which she was sure he didn't hear.

  The air was rushing by, making a peculiar high whining noise in the wings, without any competition from the engines. The sound was eerie, filling her with dread.

  'Keep your belt on,' Chase was shouting, 'when we hit the ground. Don't release it until we stop or you'll be thrown. Then get out fast. Understood?'

  'What about you?' The fear she felt was for him, not herself. She wished he knew.

  'I'll be right behind you.' A quick glance showed his approval of her control and she felt curiously comforted. 'Good girl!'

  The country beneath them was flat. Then she became aware of patches of trees, of gullies gouged from the red rock between rugged outcrops on which a plane might easily be smashed. Urgently she wanted to ask if they were still on Coolabra, but had more sense than to bother Chase now. He looked cool, he obviously knew what he was doing, but he had to get the most out of each uplifting current of air to reach the flatter ground ahead.

  Let him make it, she prayed, her eyes clinging to him, wanting to tell him how much she loved him, when they might both be about to die, but unable to speak. Her voice was lost and she couldn't find it, as the breath was drawn rapidly from her taut body. The plane hit a flat piece of gravel, then bounced, straight into the side of a scrub covered hillock. The shudder it gave in its last lurch was sickening and grinding, and Alex felt every bone in her body had been jolted.

  Automatically her hands reached to follow Chase's instructions, but he was there, doing it for her.

  Swiftly he released her belt, almost flinging her from the wrecked plane. She heard the weight of him descending behind her.

  'Run for it!' His voice was harsh as she scrambled clumsily to her feet. Petrol fumes were heavy on the air and she didn't need to be told he feared fire. Grabbing her arm, he dragged her along with him.

  They hadn't gone far when the plane blew up, the heat and flames from it throwing them to the ground.

  'Come on!' Chase pulled her to her feet again, after brief seconds. 'If we don't get out of here the heat will get us!'

  There were trees ahead sheltering a creek, in which there was mercifully a little water. Alex could still feel the terrible heat from the plane as she sank down beside it. She would liked to have immersed herself in it, but she hadn't the strength. She felt sick.

  'Take it easy,' Chase said tersely, looking closely at her, rather than the burning plane. He was pushing her thick hair from off her hot face, his hands going over her, making sure she was only suffering from fright. 'It could have been worse. We're still alive.'

  'You think so?' she murmured bitterly, a lack of appreciation in her. She had a longing for sympathy, not bracing comments. She felt sick, her head was dizzy which was strange, as she wasn't hurt.

  Was Chase hurt? Her eyes suddenly anxious, ashamed that she had only been thinking of herself, she stared at him. 'Are you all right?'

  'Yes,' he said briefly. 'We're both only shaken. I'll give you a couple of tablets and you'll feel better.'

  'What about yourself?'

  'I'll survive,' he said shortly, his eyes still closely on her, trying to assess the extent of shock. 'It's a golden rule in this part of the country, my darling.'

  His last two words sent her more into shock than the plane crash. Tension and excitement whirled through her, causing colour to stain her white cheeks.

  'You're becoming over emotional.' His eyes darkened with concern, searching her disturbed young face.

  'Try and relax.'

  'Will anyone know where we are?' Alex dragged what seemed a sensible question from her suddenly chaotic thoughts.

  I transmitted our position, but it might take time. I doubt if we'll have any callers today.' That didn't worry her immediately; there was nothing she could do about it. Intently she watched as he opened a pack. Aloud she wondered how he came to have it.

  'It's a kind of survival kit. It can save lives.'

  'What went wrong, Chase?'

  'Hard to tell,' he flicked a quick frowning glance at the smouldering wreckage. It's not always easy to find out, either, not when the whole thing goes up in flames like that.' He was disinclined to say anything further and she didn't press him. His explanation was feasible and she knew little about planes, large or small, herself.

  She took the tablets he offered obediently, not even protesting when he put his arm around her shoulders to help her sit up. Quickly she swallowed them, along with the lump in her throat, having a silly desire to turn her head into his shoulder and weep. She wanted to weep and cling to his strong, lean body, to have her face and mouth covered by kisses, which she assured herself would only be comforting.,

  She drew a steadying breath as he let her go with merely a brotherly pat on the shoulder he held. 'Will we have to stay here all night?' she asked shakily.

  Chase studied her for a sharp moment, as though wondering how much she could take. Her apparent calmness appeared to convince him she was over the worst. 'I'm afraid so. It certainly wouldn't be wise to try to get anywhere on foot. You have to be patient, Alex. The territory's huge, but someone will eventually find us.'

  Suddenly a thought struck her, making her heart thump erratically with shock. You did this on purpose, didn't you?' she burst out impetuously. 'Now you think I'll have to marry you after this, whether I want to or not!'

  An expression of fury hardened his face, blazing from his dark eyes. His hands curled, as though he would liked to have used them on her slender neck, the force of his fury bringing him precipitately to his feet. 'You're out of your mind, Alex. It's probably delayed shock from the crash. I'd advise you to say nothing more until you feel better.'

  'There's nothing
wrong with me!' She believed this to be true, but her voice held the merest hint of terror. 'I could have been killed, though.'

  'And you think I risked your life deliberately?' He had lost any urge to reason with her, for she saw only cold anger in his face.

  Heedless of it, driven to a point where she didn't seem able to stop, she rushed recklessly on. 'Why not?

  You said you'd find a way to compromise me. You're too much of an expert for an accident like this just to happen!'

  His voice came so coldly it chilled. 'Go on,' he begged softly. 'Why stop there? It would be a shame.'

  'I haven't anything more to say,' she gasped, clinging to a pathetic dignity.

  'But I have, miss!' His fury became white-hot, lighting up his eyes with a strange brilliance. 'Do you honestly believe I would risk my life in order to marry a stupid little fool like you?'

  'I…I wouldn't think for a moment you believed you were risking your life.'

  'My God!' He stared down at her with deadly emphasis. 'So I was simply performing a huge stunt?

  Alex,' he controlled himself with an obvious effort, as she began convulsively to shiver, 'no one ever steps out of a crashed plane with any other thought in their head but that they're lucky to be alive. And no one is less than shocked to some extent. I suggest you forget what you've just accused me of. At least, say no more about it. You'll only regret it, once you've had time to pull yourself together.'

  CHAPTER NINE

  Unhappily, Alex looked away from him. Her pride made her want to resist his advice, but she dared not.

  She had a terrible suspicion that she had made a fool of herself and might never be forgiven. She had to have time to think things out and by the look of it, Chase's face particularly, she was going to have plenty! Hours on her own, to contemplate her own foolish indiscretions.

  'I'm sorry,' she whispered, altogether defeated.

  'Forget it.' She didn't notice his frowning glance on the tears which slid down her enchanting profile. He made no attempt to supply comfort, which might have been too soon after the bitter words they had exchanged. Besides, everyone knew the therapeutic value of tears. With an oddly suppressed sigh he left her, to begin gathering leaves and sticks for a fire, the set of his mouth indicating that his mind wasn't wholly on the job he was doing.

  Furtively, after a few minutes, Alex scrubbed away her tears and watched him. His movements were quick and methodical, surprising her. In no time at all he was serving her with tea brewed up in a billy can. It had a taste all of its own and she drank it gratefully.

  The tea revived her, steadying her nerves. Even so, she found it difficult to look at him. Much as she tried, she could not meet his eyes. She felt better but kept her fair head bent over her cup, quite at a loss as to how she might bridge the awful chasm of silence between them. It must be up to her, but for the life of her she didn't know where to begin.

  Chase, dryly aware of this, gave her half a bar of chocolate. 'I'll have to see if I can find a fish in the creek for dinner,' he said lightly.

  Hoping, from his change of tone, that she was forgiven, she glanced up quickly. 'Are there any fish?'

  'We might be lucky.' He examined her uplifted face grimly. 'Stay where you are until I come back. I won't be long, but don't move from where you're sitting.'

  She obeyed, but watched his tall figure until he was out of sight. For the first time since coming to northern Australia she felt lonely. At the homestead there was always so much going on, she never had time to feel lonely, but this was different quite different. Even out riding on her own she had never felt lost as she did now. Of course, she reminded herself, that was what Chase and she were lost! Possibly hundreds of miles away from anywhere. Which perhaps explained why her thoughts were so anxious.

  When Chase returned she had to hide how relieved she was. 'Did you find any fish?' she asked politely.

  ' Yes,' he smiled, just a twist of his lips but a smile of sorts.' There's deeper water further along the creek, I've discovered, if you'd like to bathe.'

  Alex was hot and sticky, the thin sundress, which was all she wore, clinging to her. It would be lovely if she could. Her eyes lit up, then clouded. 'We haven't a towel, though? Or a change of clothing.'

  He laughed, clearly relieved by her eagerness. 'There's a small towel in the kit, if you must, but you'll soon dry. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about anything else.'

  ' Shall I go first?' She glanced at him uncertainly: Again he laughed, seeming in an altogether better humour. 'We'll go in together.'

  So this was why he was smiling. 'Oh, no, we won't!' she exclaimed. 'If you…'

  'Listen to me, Alex,' he cut in sardonically, refusing to argue. 'This is no time for false modesty. You've just been through a harrowing experience and you can't take risks. Either I come with you or you stay here, just as you please. I'm sure what you're wearing under your dress will be as adequate as some of the swimming gear I've seen you in.'

  The water was wonderfully refreshing, and Alex swam in her bra and panties while Chase, because of the promise he had wryly made, sat on the bank and didn't look. Because he was so near she felt oddly strung up, and she hurried so he might have his turn before dark. There was also the fish to catch, but she didn't know how he was going to manage to do all that.

  Her thin underclothing clung but dried easily in a few minutes. Quickly she slipped back into her dress. Her dress was thin, too, and she wished she had brought a coat. She shivered to think what the night was going to be like without even one blanket between them.

  An hour later, as she sat under the trees again, watching him expertly cooking their supper, she considered her former doubts ironically. Chase Marshall appeared able to accomplish anything he set out to do very easily. While the fish baked, wrapped in leaves, he explained conversationally that the creek was full of them.

  'Some of the established waterholes are.'

  'You caught them very quickly.' She didn't pretend to be anything but impressed. The heart of the fire was glowing hot and he viewed it with satisfaction. 'I used a trick an old Aborigine taught me, when I was a boy. They eat a lot offish when they can get it.'

  It was too difficult to imagine Chase that young. Alex gave up and came to the fire. He had his sleeves rolled up, his powerful arms brown and sinewy. Quickly she looked away. I'll take over, if you like,' she offered. 'You must want a rest.'

  Coming lithely up beside her from a crouching position, he taunted, 'How easily your feelings change from hate to love. It can't be comfortable.'

  'Why should love or hate come into it?' she retorted, stung by his sarcasm. 'I'm simply offering to pull my weight.'

  'Don't be over generous,' he drawled. 'There's not that much of it. Anyway, our supper's almost ready. All you have to do is enjoy it.'

  She did enjoy it, in spite of his jibes. They had no plates and ate with their fingers, but Alex couldn't remember tasting anything so delicious. The light went as they finished. 'Just as well there's no washing up to do.' She tried to speak casually.

  He glanced at her quickly. 'All we can do now is sleep. No one's going to find us in the dark.' 'I've been listening for a plane ever since we crashed,' she said. 'You think I haven't?'

  'I'm sorry,' she apologised helplessly, realising he wouldn't miss a thing. 'I keep thinking of the worry we must be causing. Your aunt, my parents they won't know whether we're dead or alive.' 'They won't lose their heads, you know,' he said calmly. 'Harriet never gives up hope easily. She'll be able to reassure your mother.'

  But what will they be thinking?' Her choked exclamation was bitter as she spread out her slim hands despairingly.

  'I wondered when you'd get round to it,' Chase said grimly, his teeth white in the darkness as he snapped them together. 'I suppose you've even gone into the big seduction scene?'

  'You're hateful!' she cried, anger sparkling in her huge eyes. 'Of course I haven't! It's just well,' her voice faltered unsteadily, 'I've never been in a situation like thi
s before.'

  'You think I have?' His eyes flashed with suppressed violence. He glared down at her, his hands coming out to bite into her shoulders. Then suddenly he relaxed, taking pity on her. 'Alex, listen to me! I wasn't going to mention this now, but maybe it might help. Before we left I told both your mother and Harriet we might have some news for them when we returned.' 'News?'

  'Our engagement.'

  'I don't believe it!' The breath seemed driven from her body at such presumption. 'What made you so confident?'

  'A hunch I had.' As he met her incredulous gaze, his voice hardened, 'I've seen your pining little glances when you thought I wasn't looking and I suddenly decided to make up your mind for you. If uncertainty doesn't do anything for you, it does damn all for me.'

  'It's not true!' Alex could barely control her agitation. 'I think you're making it up!'

  'You might believe me if I show you this.' His eyes were derisive as he drew a ring from his breast pocket a sapphire, diamond and platinum ring, a glittering thing of priceless beauty. 'The stones match your eyes,' he said. 'It wasn't meant for anyone else.'

  A funny little gasp escaped Alex as she stared at it, the absolute perfection of it, grasped in his well shaped hand. She tried to imagine it on her finger and numbly shook her head. As Chase offered it, it seemed to symbolise a ball and chain, a loveless imprisonment from which she might never escape.

  If you accept this,' she heard him say calmly, you would make a lot of people happy, and save yourself a pile of misery.'

  'What good reasons for becoming engaged!' Her laughter was brief and scornful. 'Does it matter how I feel?'

  'I think so.'

  ' Some might think we're having an orgy out here, but I'm sure not everyone will believe it,' she replied bitterly.

  'Humiliation can be hard to take.' He regarded the ring consideringly, forcing her to do the same. 'You have others to think of, Alex, apart from yourself. I'd advise you to think it over.' 'I don't need to.'

  ' So you refuse to wear my ring?'

  'No.' She had to keep it short or she might burst into tears of misery. 'Keep it for a girl who'll appreciate you.'