Free The Man at Mulera by Kathryn Blair Page B

asked.
    “ Such as enjoying things you ’ ve never known before. ”
    “ The country? ”
    “ And people, and yourself. You haven ’ t much knowledge of yourself, have you? ”
    Her swift glance at him was startled. “ How can you be so sure of that? ”
    “ By watching you, ” he said lazily. “ You ’ re innocent about a good many things. You ’ ve always thought the world began and ended with that kindergarten in England and your few friends there. By the way, ” with a hint of cynicism, “ you must be missing those friends. Any men among them? ”
    “ One or two. ”
    “ Anyone special? ”
    “ You ’ ve asked me that before. ”
    “ And you ’ ve avoided answering—just as you ’ re avoiding it now. What was his name? ”
    For a moment she was too vexed at the turn so pleasant and exciting a conversation had taken to give him a reply, her hand became hot under his and she withdrew it Then she caught his glance, the faint malice and derision in his smile, and she thought defensively, of Arnold Maskell, who hadn ’ t even known she had left England till she had written him.
    She heard herself saying heatedly, ‘ You ’ re so jaded with experience yourself that to you almost anyone would seem unfledged. I may not be one of your worldly types but I haven ’ t been shut up in a room all my life! ”
    “ Sounds interesting. Tell me more! ”
    “ Why should I feel your twisted sense of humor? ” she said indi gnantly. “ Come on, Keith, we ’ re going to bathe. ”
    As he lifted Keith from the car and held the door for Lou, Ross looked uncaring and full of sardonic amusement He took her elbow and Keith ’ s hand, very firmly.
    “ You won ’ t want to explore after a bathe so we ’ ll do it now, ” he said. “ Slightly to the left here we should find a waterfall. In the rainy season there are dozens of them round the bay—drainage from the uplands. Keith knows the waterfall—don ’ t you, old chap? ”
    Keith seemed to be sliding into the sort of child he had been before losing his parents. He nodded and said with engaging patronage, “ But we ’ ll show Lou—she hasn ’ t seen it yet . I don ’ t suppose there ’ ll be any trout . ”
    They trod between palms, found a footpath which led over a couple of hillocks and down to a cleft where a river coursed swiftly over stones and bushes. They followed the river to where it poured in magnificent abandon over a ledge and down past rocks and saplings into the Lake. The water leapt and made rainbows in the sun, it roared and gurgled, and Lou found herself getting down as Keith did, and lying flat so that she could watch and feel the spray over her face and hair.
    Ross s ank down to one knee, tweaked a curl so that she had to turn her head and look up at him. Her face was pink and sparkling, her red lips had a tender excited curve and her lashes and brows were wet with spray.
    His expression changed slightly. “ Don ’ t look so darned young, ” he said abruptly.
    Her excitement faded. She blinked and turned back to contemplation of a waterfall which had lost its appeal. Her heart was beating unevenly into the earth, but she made herself answer Keith ’ s queries and ask him a few questions in return. She turned and sat up, saw that Ross had straightened and moved along the ledge. He stood with his hands in the pockets of his khaki shorts, studying the shimmering water.
    She got up with Keith, flicked grass from her skirt . Ross joined her, casually, and without speaking they went back to the car and along to a log hut which stood among cycads and thorn trees.
    “ This is mine, ” Ross said. “ You and Keith can use it. You ’ ll find some towels, if you need extras. Got all your gear? ”
    “ Yes, thank you. ”
    “ We didn ’ t explore much, ” commented Keith.
    Ross r uffled his hair. “ It ’ s all been done before, ” he said, and his smile, narrow-eyed and cryptic, rested upon Lou. “ Meet you in the water. All right?