Cursing softly, he closed his eyes, a tightly held breath escaping his chest. When hed left Fremantle, the team doctors had assured him there was no chance he would ever play football again. But now, a doctor in Los Angeles had developed a surgery that offered a way to reconstruct his bum knee.
Why now, why after hed resigned himself to his fate? Why even tempt him with the possibility of regaining everything hed lost? Brody knew it would be a long shot at best. And even if the surgery was successful, thered be months, maybe a year or two, of rehab. Was he really willing to put in the time, just for another chance to play?
He didnt really have a choice. Brody had never been cut out for station life. The problem was he didnt have any options beyond football and stockmans work. He could invest in a business before he retired, but he wasnt sure what he wanted to buy. Or he could go to university and learn something new, but he was too old to go back to being a student.
You never were one to plan ahead, he muttered to himself.
Hey, dinner is on the table, Callum said, poking his head in the door. Best be quick or Daveyll snag the seat next to your girl.
She isnt my girl, Brody said, running his hand through his hair.
Callum shrugged. Im sure the boys will be happy to hear that. Theyve been carrying on like pork chops since she and Gemma arrived.
All right, she is my girl. For now. And I expect that pretty Irish thing wont be spending much time with the boys, either. I see the way you stare at her. Explain to me again what shes doing here?
Research, Callum said. Shes working for some distant relative of ours on a family history. I guess one branch of the family left Ireland for the States and another branch came here. Shes been going over all the old records for the station.
What does that have to do with family history? Brody asked.
I dont know. He drew a deep breath. I dont really care. As long as it keeps her here.
Maybe she really fancies Teague. Hes always been the looker in the family.
Teagues got something else going, Callum murmured. I was up early this morning and I saw him come in just before sunrise. Theres not an available woman, besides Gemma, Payton and Mary, within fifty kilometers of this station, but he sure looked well satisfied.
Maybe hes clearing the cobwebs at the brothel, or with a married lady, Brody said.
Callum shook his head. Teague wouldnt do that. Hes too bloody honorable. And why would he when he can usually have any woman he wants? Callum paused. Im just worried he
What? Brody asked.
I heard Hayley Frasers back on her grandfathers station. Teagues always been a bit jelly kneed when it comes to her. First love and all that.
Marrying Teague off to Hayley would solve all your problems. Brody teased. The Frasers would be family, and family dont sue family. He pushed away from the desk. If thats who hes messing with, he should be encouraged, dont you think?
Callum cursed softly. And maybe Fraser is using his granddaughter to mess with us, he shot back. Did you ever consider that? Maybe he thinks if he cant get the land in court, hell get it another way.
How?
I dont know. Blackmail. Extortion. Fraser will go after that land any way he can. I just hope Teague doesnt get caught in the crossfire.
Come on, Cal, youre talking crazy now. This feud has gone on for so long that nobody can see straight.
Im not going to surrender to Harry Fraser, Cal said. That land belongs to the Quinns and were not going to lose it while Im in charge. He nodded his head. Come on, dinner is ready. Mary wont wait.
Brody stared after him, then slowly stood. There were times when Brody wondered how Cal handled all the pressures of running the station. So many people depended on him. His parents took a share of the station income. Then there were the stockmen who expected to be paid. Teagues practice wouldnt make decent money for a few years, so he traded vet services for room and board. And now Brody was sponging off Callum. From now on, hed make a better effort to pull his own weight.
The kitchen was already noisy when Brody walked in, filled with the usual dinner gueststhe stockmen, Teague and Mary, and now Gemma and Payton.
With women at the table, the conversation had become much more civilized. Brody dislodged one of the jackaroos from the chair next to Payton, then sat down beside her. Unlike the majority of the men, Brody unfolded his serviette and placed it on his lap instead of stuffing it down the front of his shirt.
What exactly is a B and S? Gemma asked.
Bachelors and Spinsters Ball, Teague explained as he grabbed a piece of bread and slathered it with butter. All the unmarried people get together for a weekend of silliness. If youre not an Aussie, I dont think Id recommend it. Foreigners might not have the fortitude to survive the weekend.
But it sounds like fun, Payton said, leaning forward and bracing her elbows on the table. I always loved balls and dances and cotill She stopped short, as if shed suddenly revealed too much. Forcing a smile, she continued, Is it formal or semiformal?
Tell her, Teague, Brody insisted, chuckling to himself. Though Payton hadnt said much, she had revealed something of value this time out. Shed either enjoyed a high-class upbringing or she was a professional princess. Hed never known a single person whod been to a real ball.
Its not really a ball, the way youre thinking, Teague explained. And by silliness, I mean debauchery.
Its more like a big outdoor party, Callum explained.
Teague nodded. Theres music and drinking andwell, the whole idea is to get pissed, have a good time and hopefully enjoy a shag at the end of the night.
Gemma and Payton looked at each other, shocked expressions on their faces. Have sex? Payton asked.
Teague nodded. Yeah, I guess thats the point. Lots of blokes bring their swag along for just that purpose. Life gets real lonely in the outback.
What is swag? Gemma asked. Money? Do you pay for sex?
Its a sleeping roll, Brody explained. Camping gear. Believe me, you dont want to go to the B and S. It gets feral.
Filthy is a better word for it, Mary said as she set a bowl of peas next to Brody. She took her spot at the far end of the table. If you dont want to get dirty or pawed, I wouldnt recommend it. And the loos are disgusting.
I heard theyre going to do something about that, Callum commented. The organizers reckon theyll get a better class of sheilas if they guarantee clean toilets. Theyre going to hire someone to keep them tidy.
I remember last year, Jack made his own loo with a milk crate and a dunny seat, Teague said. All the girls were wild for it. Hed let em use it, then try to charm them out of their grundies. Such a player, our Jack.
The lanky stockman shook his head, his long hair falling into his eyes. I wont be able to compete with trailer toilets, Jack said glumly.
It might be fun, Payton said. She turned to Gemma. What do you think? When in Australia, do as the Aussies do?
Gemma laughed. Wed have to get something nice to wear.
Gemma laughed. Wed have to get something nice to wear.
I have dresses, Payton said. I need work clothes. I cant wear Daveys castoffs forever. Not that I dont appreciate the loan, she said, giving the kid a warm smile.
I have to fly to Brisbane in a few days. I could take you shopping, Teague offered.
Hang on there, Callum interrupted. Gemma and Payton are not going to Bachelors and Spinsters.
We wont participate, Gemma said. Well just go toobserve. Think of it as sightseeing. Or anthropological research.
If you want to see the real sights of Australia, Ill take you, Teague said. Queensland is beautiful from the air.
Theres an idea, Callum said. Youd be much safer in a plane piloted by our brother than at Bachelors and Spinsters.
Brody slipped his hand beneath the table and smoothed his palm along Paytons thigh. We could always send Mary to the ball. Its about time she got off this station and had a bit of fun. There are plenty of blokes whod fancy a dance with our Mary.
The older womans cheeks turned bright red and she hushed the laughter around the table. Maybe I will, she said, giving them all a haughty expression. Id venture to say I could outdance all you boys.
The rest of the dinner conversation focused on the sights that every visitor in Australia needed to see, the Bachelors and Spinsters forgotten. Everyone at the table had an opinion about the finest tourist sights, both in and outside of Queensland. By the time theyd finished dessert, Teague had a long list, starting with a trip to Brisbane.
As Mary began to clear the table, Brody pushed back, then slid Paytons chair out for her. The rest of the hands looked at him in disbelief. What are you all gawking at? Some of us here have good manners, Brody said.
The men quickly scrambled to their feet and rushed to Gemmas chair, but Callum waved them off. In truth, Brodys actions had nothing to do with manners. He wanted Payton all to himself and the faster that happened the better. But she seemed determined to keep him waiting.
Im going to help Mary clean up, she said, taking his plate and hers.
Go along with you now. I have all the help I can handle, Mary said. Davey promised to lend a hand.
Brody squeezed her elbow and pulled her along, out the backdoor to the porch that ran the width of the house. He found a dark corner and pushed her back against the house, then kissed her long and hard, his hands trapping her arms on either side of her head, his hips pressing into hers.
Ive been wanting to do that since I sat down next to you. He groaned.
Payton clutched the front of his shirt, then pushed up onto her toes and kissed him back. Me, too, she said breathlessly. I know where we can go. Some-place private.
This time, she pulled him along. They headed toward the stables, now dark and silent. When they got inside, Payton fumbled around in the gloom. Theres a flashlight here somewhere.
Brody grabbed it from a shelf above her head and flipped it on, holding it under his chin. Its called a torch, he said.
Payton held out her hand and he gave it to her. They made their way down the length of the stable to an empty stall. She slid the door open and stepped inside. To Brodys surprise, shed laid blankets over a mound of straw and arranged a few bales for seating.
You did this?
Payton nodded. When you left to take the phone call. I figured we wouldnt have any privacy in the bunkhouse with Gemma there.
And what do you plan to do with me once youve lured me inside? he teased.
I think we should get to know each other a little better, she said. She caught the front of his shirt and pulled him toward her. Theres so much I dont know about you. So many questions I have to ask.
You want to talk?
She nodded.
I dont know anything about you, he said, smiling down at her. Tell me something. Anything
My birthday is August tenth, she said. Im going to be twenty-six.
Something more interesting, he demanded, his breath warm against her mouth.
I broke my arm when I fell off my horse. I was seventeen. I had to have surgery. She pointed to her elbow. I have a scar.
He ran his fingers through her hair and she closed her eyes and tipped her head back. Something more intimate, he urged, pressing his lips to her throat.
I lost my virginity in a stable. The Grand Prix in 2001. A month before I broke my arm. I was seduced by a Brazilian stable hand with the most beautiful blue eyes.
Funny, Brody replied. I lost mine in the back of my mothers car after footy practice. I was fifteen and she was older. Eighteen, if I recall.
Payton worked at the buttons of his shirt and when they were all undone, she looked up at him. What else?
Brody chuckled. I think we can leave the questions until later.
So you know what youre doing? she whispered.
Somehow, he found her question incredibly intriguing. Yes, he replied as she slid his shirt over his shoulders. I know exactly what Im doing. Do you?
She nodded. Close the door.
Brody moved to do as she asked, then froze. Hell, he didnt know what he was doing. He hadnt even bothered to bring along protection. Sorry, he said, turning to face her. Wait here. Ill be right back.
He tugged his shirt back on, then took the torch from her hand. He jogged back to the house and when he got to the kitchen, he found Mary sitting alone at the table, reading a magazine and sipping a cup of coffee.
Back so soon? she asked.
Its a little chilly out. I need to get a jacket for Payton. Wouldnt want her to catch a cold.
Youre a gentleman, she said, glancing up. And I hope youll use a condom. Safe sex and all.
Brody stopped short. Mary had slipped into the role of mother to Callum and Teague after their own mother had moved off the station. And now that Brody had returned, shed welcomed him as a surrogate son and was equally as protective. Yes, I wont forget that. Not that its any of your business.
After retrieving the condoms and a jacket from his room, Brody jogged back out to the stables. He found Payton standing at the stable door waiting.
What was so impor She stopped when he held up the string of three condoms. Oh. Well, thats probably a good idea.
He drew her into his arms and they stumbled toward the stall. After they stepped inside, Payton pulled the door closed. The light from the torch, when reflected off the walls of the stable, was just enough to see by. Suddenly, he felt nervous, just as he had the first time hed been with a girl.
This was silly. There had been plenty of women in his life since then. But none of them had ever affected him the way Payton did. Was it because she was still a stranger? That couldnt be it. Or was it because she seemed more exotic, different from the women he usually took to his bed?
She was well educated, he knew that much about her. Though she chose to work in a stable, Brody suspected that shed probably never done a hard days work in her life before arriving at the station. And there was the sense that Payton Harwell was the kind of woman who wouldnt give a guy like him a second glance out in the real world. She was seriously out of his league.