Free Red Dust Dreaming by Eva Scott Page A

affectionately.
    â€œKiller! What kind of a name is that for a horse?” Elizabeth turned to Caden who was mounted on a stockhorse, bay in colour. The man and beast appeared fused together, in perfect accord, evident before they’d even left the yard.
    â€œIt’s a bit of a joke,” said Caden. “The damn thing is so passive it’s a wonder Luke can get it to move at all.” He reined in beside them and tipped his akubra hat back on his head to reveal his dark eyes. “Are we ready to go?”
    Luke nodded vigorously, a big grin lighting up his little face. Elizabeth watched him with delight. How she wished she’d been able to see Angela with her son!
    â€œAnd you?” Caden enquired politely.
    â€œOh! Yes, I’m ready.” Elizabeth snapped out of her reverie. Yesterday was gone but today was here and she was going to hang on every moment with both hands.
    They started out of the yard at a gentle gait. There was no hurry. The sun was high and warm, not the searing hot it would become in summertime. The sky arched overhead the kind of brilliant blue Michelangelo might have appreciated, vaulted in a way it wasn’t at home. She’d noticed it the day she’d arrived. Had she really only been here two days? Somehow it felt like forever.
    Her horse walked with steady intent as if he knew where they were going and was in no particular hurry to get there. Elizabeth let the reins go slack in her hands, enjoying the feel of the horse beneath her. She’d almost forgotten the smell of a horse, the way her fingers itched to touch those magnificent muscles of a horse’s shoulders and chest. The feel of the reins, slightly rough with wear, in her hands. All familiar sensations and she welcomed them like old friends. While her saddle was reasonably comfortable she had no doubt tomorrow her thighs would be screaming in protest at the unfamiliar exercise.
    â€œI can’t wait to show you the surprise Aunty Elizabeth.” Luke wiggled in his saddle with excitement. “It’s really, really special. I hope you like it.”
    â€œI love surprises. I’m sure I will love it whatever it is,” she assured him.
    He beamed a satisfied smile at her before urging his horse slightly ahead. Luke obviously knew the track well and he rode his horse with the confidence of youth. As he moved away Caden took his place.
    â€œHow are you finding Bessie?”
    â€œGentle, placid, a good choice for a girl who hasn’t ridden in over a decade.” She smiled at him, Thelma’s words ringing in her ears. She would try her best to be as pleasant as possible for Luke’s sake.
    â€œThe hat suits you.” He nodded towards the oversized floppy straw hat she wore. A gardening relic legacy of Caden’s mother.
    â€œI look very glamorous I’m sure,” she laughed.
    â€œImportant to protect you from the sun. It will burn you to a crisp and you’ll end up with skin like pork crackling if you’re not careful.”
    â€œThelma made me lather on buckets of sunscreen before we left. I feel as if my skin can’t breathe under it all.” Thelma had been as adamant as a drill sergeant supervising the application of her sunscreen.
    â€œShe right. Australia has one of the highest incidences of skin cancer in the world. You can’t ever underestimate the fierceness of this climate.” As if to illustrate his point he tipped his hat back down so it sat low on his brow.
    â€œI much prefer your hat. Do you want to swap?” she teased.
    Caden looked startled by her request and she wasn’t sure if the request itself caused the look or the fact she’d made a joke. After a heartbeat he bestowed upon her a magnificent smile, probably the first genuine smile she’d seen. His face was transformed from rugged sternness into a radiating warmth she wanted to bask in like a cat. “You’ll have to catch me first,” he said as