What is it? she whispered.
Someone is out there.
The sound of horses hooves on concrete echoed through the silence and Brody got to his feet and moved to the door of the stall. A moment later a light flicked on in the tack room, illuminating the interior of the stable enough to see who had intruded.
Payton stepped to his side, wrapped in one of the wool blankets, and peered out through the bars on the top edge of the stable door. Who is it?
Teague, Brody whispered.
Whats he doing?
I think hes saddling his horse.
Where is he going to ride in the dark?
Hell if I know, Brody said. He might guess where his brother was going. Hayley Fraser was back on Wallaroo Station. One plus one equaled two.
Brody thought about what Callum had said earlier. Family loyalty aside, whatever Teague was up to was his business and no one elses. Just like what went on between Payton and him didnt involve his brothers. They were adults now, and they made their own choices. Hes probably riding out to check on the herd, Brody said.
Alone?
Yeah. Why not?
They listened until the stable was once again silent, the light from the tack room left burning by his brother. Then Brody turned and tugged the blanket off of her. She squirmed playfully as he ran his free hand from her belly to her breast. Were alone again, he said.
We should get some sleep, Payton murmured.
Brody groaned as he kissed his way to her nipple. Teasing it to a peak with his tongue, he tried to convince her that sleep was the last thing on his mind. But when she ran her fingers through his hair and pulled his gaze up to hers, he realized just how tired she was. Her eyelids fluttered and she bit back a yawn.
Youre right, he said. We both have to work tomorrow. Why the hell had he decided to bring her here? Brody wondered. If she hadnt taken this job, then theyd be free to do exactly what they wanted with their time. He should have bought them both a ticket to Fremantle and they could have spent a week in his apartment. Or he could have found some private getaway where theyd be waited on hand and foot.
Instead, hed brought her to the station, where they had to sneak around and hide in a horse stall to find some privacy. You know, the weekend is coming up. You dont have to work on the weekend.
What? Do you send the horses off to a spa on Saturday and Sunday? she inquired with a raised brow. They still need to be fed and groomed.
But someone else can do that, Brody said.
Its my job, she replied.
He drew a deep breath and sighed. There has to be some benefit to sleeping with the owners brother, dont you think?
She slipped from his embrace and began to collect her clothes, scattered over the straw-covered floor. There are a lot of benefits. But Im not sure unlimited vacation time is one of them.
Brody wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him. But arent you interested in seeing some of Australia while youre here? Isnt that why you came? Im sure Callum can get one of the jackaroos to take your job for a while.
She shook her head. Not now. Maybe after Ive worked here longer.
Brody understood her worry. After all, when he met her, shed been reduced to petty crime just to survive. Here, she had a place to sleep, three meals a day and a paycheck at the end of each week. Security trumped great sex, at least for now.
All right. He took Paytons clothes from her hands and grudgingly helped her dress. Though shed removed her clothes as quickly as possible, Brody didnt rush putting them back on, taking the chance to touch her one last time. When he finished, he pulled his jeans on, before slipping his bare feet into his boots. He didnt want to bother with the rest, tossing the remaining clothes over his arm.
Come on, Ill walk you back to the bunkhouse.
Payton shook her head. No. Wait here for a few minutes. I can walk back on my own. She pushed up onto her toes and gave him a sweet, lingering kiss. Ill see you tomorrow, she whispered.
Abso-bloody-lutely. He captured her mouth again with a deep and possessive kiss of his own.
All right, she said, running her hands over his bare chest. Tomorrow.
She turned and hurried out of the stable. Brody watched her as she disappeared into the dark. Theyd only known each other for a few days, but hed already twisted his life around hers. Living on the station had become almost tolerable and working the stock just a way to mark time until he could be with her again.
Brody knew the fascination would probably fade. It always had in the past with other women. There was something about Payton, though, that made him believe it might be different this time.
But was it her with her sweet smile and gentle touch? Or was it him? Had he finally let go of his former life and begun to look forward to what the future held?
4
A BEAD OF PERSPIRATION fell into Paytons eye and she straightened and brushed her arm over her damp forehead. Her back ached from the days workmucking out the stables and moving bales of straw into the freshly cleaned stalls. Setting the pitchfork against the rough wooden wall, she stretched her hands above her head and twisted to work the kinks out of her back.
A dip in the hot tub would soothe those sore muscles, Teague said.
Sounds good, Payton replied. Maybe after dinner.
He stared at her for a long moment. You know, you dont have to work quite so hard. Callum is already impressed. You do twice as much work as all of the jacka-roos whove had the job before you.
What exactly is a jackaroo?
Just another name for a stockman. Technically, youre a jillaroo since youre of the female variety.
She smiled. I like that. I have a title. Maybe I should get some business cards printed. Payton Harwell, Jillaroo.
Really, Im serious. No one is going to fire you. And if youre trying to impress Brody, dont bother. Hes never been one to enjoy station work.
Why is that?
Teague shrugged. From the moment he could express an opinion, he wanted off the station. Hes more like our mum than our dad. He finds it sheer drudgery.
So, why does he stay?
I expect because youre here. Before you came, he spent most of his time in Bilbarra.
No, I mean, why did he stay as an adult?
He didnt. He left the same time our mum did. Moved with her to Sydney when he was fourteen. After that, he only spent holidays here. He hasnt told you this?
Payton shook her head. We havent really talked about our pasts. I guess weve been focusing on the present. She pulled off her gloves, then sat down on a nearby bale of straw. So hes just here visiting?
Hes been back for a while. Since his accident
His motorcycle accident?
Teague nodded. Since his accident, he hasnt been able to play and he got dropped by his club.
Club?
He hasnt told you much at all, Teague said. Football club. He was a professional footballer. Aussie rules. He played for a club in Fremantle for the past five years. But he tore up his knee in the accident.
Club?
He hasnt told you much at all, Teague said. Football club. He was a professional footballer. Aussie rules. He played for a club in Fremantle for the past five years. But he tore up his knee in the accident.
Ive seen the scar, she murmured. He just brushed it off like it had happened years ago.
He was in the hospital for a month and in a cast for six. Hes lucky to be alive.
I wonder why he didnt tell me?
He doesnt like to talk about it. The accident ended his career. Just when he was starting to play really well, too. And I suppose he thought it didnt make any difference. He sat down beside her. Does it?
No. The scar doesnt bother me. Why would it? Its just that She shook her head.
What?
I guess we dont know each other very well. At least not in that sense.
Teague shrugged. Believe me, it isnt any easier when you know everything about each other. Maybe you and Brody are better off. Lessbaggage?
Maybe. What Teague said might be true. She and Sam had known each other for years and the passion between them had faded to nothing more than a dull glow. But with Brody, there was fire, flames shooting up into the sky every time their bodies came together. Maybe all the things she didnt know just kept it more exciting.
Im flying into Brisbane day after tomorrow. Do you and Gemma want to ride along? Youd mentioned you wanted to shop.
I have to work, she said.
Well be back before dark. I cant land on the station after sunset. And Im sure some of the guys will take over your duties for a day.
I dont have any money.
Payday is Friday, Teague countered. And Id be happy to loan you a dollar or two if youre short.
I couldnt ask you to do that.
Hey, I think youre a trustworthy sort.
Then you havent heard of my criminal past, she said, laughing. I met your bother in jail.
Callum mentioned something about that. I guess weve all done things in the past that we wished we could change. He stood, then held out his hand to help her up. Can I ask you something? From a womans point of view?
Sure, she said.
Do you think its possible to forgive past mistakes? I mean, if things get royally stuffed up, is it possible to begin again?
I dont know, Payton said. Shed wondered the same thing. Im not sure you can ever go back and fix the mistakes youve made. You can just go forward and promise not to make them again.
He nodded, then smiled. Yeah, I see what you mean. He drew a deep breath. Listen, if its all right with you, can we vaccinate those yearlings next week? Ive got somewhere I need to be.
Im not going anywhere, she said. Except to Brisbane, if you still plan to take us.
That I do, he said as he strolled out of the stable. Brody passed him as he wandered in with his horse. Glancing back over his shoulder, he sent his brother an irritated frown, then turned to Payton. What did he want?
He just stopped by to say hello, she said. We were going to vaccinate the yearlings, but then something else came up. She slipped her gloves on. Hes going to fly Gemma and me to Brisbane on Saturday.
And what are you and Gemma going to do in Brisbane?
Shop. I need to buy some work clothes, she said, glancing down at Daveys jeans and shirt. And maybe well have some lunch and get a pedicure and a manicure. Id like to get my hair cut, too. I feel like I need a change. This hair just gets in the way.
Brody rested his hands on her shoulders and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. But I like the way you look right now. He rubbed a stray strand between his fingers. And Im fond of your hair.
Pulling her against him, he kissed her again, this time more passionately.A shiver skittered through her body and she felt her desire warm. It didnt take much to make her want to pull him into a stall and tear off their clothes. We could go to Brisbane together, he suggested. Maybe spend the day at the beach instead. Do some surfing.
Its really a girls day out, she said. Im sure you can get along without me for a day, cant you?
I dont know, he teased.
Well spend the evening together. Ill be back before dark. Teague said he cant land once its dark.
Which means hell probably find a way to keep you both in Brisbane for the night, he said cynically.
She shook her head. I dont think so. I think Teague has something else going on.
Why is that?
He asked my advice. Something about starting over again.
Brody sucked in a sharp breath. Oh, hell. That can only mean one thing. Hayley Fraser. I figured thats where he was off to last night. Callum is going to be mad as a meat-ax.
A giggle slipped from Paytons lips.
What? Brody asked.
How could a meat-ax get angry? And what is a meat-ax?
I dont know. What would you say?
Mad as awet hen? She laughed. All right. Yours is much better.
Wet hen, he muttered. Thats just lame. Who would be afraid of a wet hen?
Why will Callum be angry?
Theres a lot of history between our family and the Frasers. It has to do with a piece of land that Hayleys grandfather claims my great-grandfather stole from the Frasers. Weve been fighting about it for years.
A family feud. Like the Hatfields and McCoys. She paused. The Montagues and Capulets.
Yeah, I think Teague and Hayley fancied themselves Romeo and Juliet back when they were teen-agers. They were obsessed with each other, to the point where my mum and dad thought they might run away and get married. Then Teague went off to university and a few months later, Hayley ran away. After that, he never mentioned her name again.
What happened?
Brody shrugged. I dont know. Teague doesnt talk about it. He was really messed up for a while.
So if theyre Romeo and Juliet, who are we? she asked. Bonnie and Clyde?
He grinned. I loved that movie. And we did meet in jail.
They died in the end of the movie. Riddled with bullets, I think.
So youre expecting a happy ending for us? I cant think of a movie that ended happily. Casablanca. No, that one really didnthow aboutno, that one ended badly, too.
Breakfast at Tiffanys, she murmured. A happy ending? Payton hadnt thought about the future at all. It was silly to think that she and Brody would share anything beyond her time in Australia. Life isnt a movie. Its notperfect. She reached out and took the reins of his horse. And I have work to do.
Time for a break, he said. He circled her waist with his hands and lifted her until she could swing her leg over his horse, then handed her a small canvas bag. Come on. Lets go for a ride.
Brody hooked his foot in the stirrup and settled behind her, taking the reins from her hands and slipping his arm around her waist.
I havent been on a horse in years, she said. Where are we going?
I fancy a swim. And theres dinner in that sack.