AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Oh, yes,’ he said, adding with obvious pride, ‘I’m going to be the auctioneer. I did a bit of cattle auctioneering when I was in Queensland—mostly Brahman crossbreeds where I was stationed. They’re big beasts and tick-free, which is essential in those parts.’
Emma hid an inner sigh as she just knew she’d soon know more about Brahman crossbreeds than she’d ever needed to know.
But Neil surprised her.
‘If you’re going, maybe you can act as my assistant,’ he suggested, beaming at her as if he’d just conferred a great honour on her. ‘Just passing me the slips with the information about the animals to be auctioned and such.’
‘Wouldn’t you have them in a pile on the lectern?’ she said, possibly a little snappishly as the thought of spending the entire evening discussing various aspects of agriculture filled her with horror.
But Neil was undaunted.
‘You’re right, but perhaps you could spot the bidders. You know, let me know who won each lot.’
‘You need someone who knows the locals for that job,’ a voice behind Emma said, and the little hairs standing up on the back of her neck told her as much as the voice did.
Marty.
Relief at being rescued made her turn to him, smiling far too brightly.
‘You sound as if you’ve had practice,’ she said, moving a little closer to him.
Unconsciously hoping Neil might see them as a couple?
She could feel embarrassment colouring her cheeks that she’d even thought such a thing.
And as for using Marty, of all people, as a cover?
Hardly fair…
‘Emma?’
Lost in thought, she’d missed whatever conversation had been going on between Neil and Marty, but apparently one of them had included her in it.
‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I was distracted by the boys.’
Which she now was, as Hamish was attempting to hold the ball behind his back—not easy for someone only three feet tall—while Xavier howled and dashed around him, this way and that, as Hamish twisted and turned.
‘Got to halt the war,’ she said over her shoulder as she moved to separate the two, who were now rolling on the ground, wrestling with each other, the ball forgotten.
Molly and Mandy arrived at the same time she did, but she smiled at the girls as she separated the boys.
‘You girls deserve a break,’ she said, holding the boys close to her. ‘While you two rascals can walk around the garden with me. I’m sure if we look hard we can find a caterpillar or a snail or maybe even a grasshopper.’
They prepared to race off but she was quicker, grabbing one hand of each of them to keep them anchored to the spot.
‘We need to walk quietly so we don’t frighten the caterpillar.’
So, with the boys now tiptoeing, they set off to search Carrie’s generous-sized garden, squatting down now and then to lift a leaf or check a low-lying branch.
‘You left me listening to that man talk about sow farrowing!’
The note of reproach in Marty’s voice as he came up behind them made Emma smile, but as the boys had also heard his voice and were greeting him with a chorus of ‘Marty’ and demands that he help them find a caterpillar, she had no choice but to let him join the hunt.
They were at the far end of the garden when Carrie called, ‘Ice cream for whoever wants it,’ and the boys shot off.
Emma looked at the man who could not only kick footballs but had the endless patience required for caterpillar searches.
‘You’re so good with children,’ she said suddenly, ‘so why the no-commitment rule? Why not marry and have some of your own?’
She looked into his eyes, no longer laughing but filled with a great sadness.
And for a moment she thought he might speak—might tell her what had caused it, what held him back.
But he shook his head, then touched her gently on the shoulder.
‘It’s just something I decided a long time ago,’ he said quietly. ‘Something to do with history repeating itself, which we see so often in life.’
She should let it go at that, she knew, but his words were so bleak and she could feel such pain emanating from his body.
She put her hand on his where it still rested on her shoulder.
‘How long ago?’ she asked, and he gave a huff of laughter that held no mirth, although his eyes looked better now—almost smiling at her.
‘Too long, lovely lady,’ he said, then he bent his head and kissed her, ever so lightly, on the lips, running his hand through her hair as he added, ‘Way too long to ever change my mind about it.’
And he walked away.
Emma watched him go, one hand pressed against the lips he’d just kissed, her body tingling from that, oh, so light touch.
