Free Outback Blaze by Rachael Johns Page A

got two daughters offside.’ Simone crossed to the edge of the porch and leaned against the railing, looking down at him. ‘Any news on the fire?’
    He shook his head. ‘What time did Harriet come home?’
    Simone looked sheepish. ‘I’m not exactly sure. She was in bed when Grace and I got home this morning after helping Frankie clean up at the café.’
    â€˜And what time did she say she returned?’ he asked.
    â€˜About eleven o’clock, apparently. I asked her why she didn’t think to call me and I made her promise not to go out again without my permission.’
    â€˜Did she tell you where she was?’
    â€˜At a friend’s house.’
    â€˜And can that friend’s parents verify this?’
    Simone sighed. ‘Not exactly. Apparently Alyssa, the friend, let her in through her bedroom window. Alyssa’s parents were at the fire.’
    â€˜You really need to keep better track of her, Simone. She might seem grown up but she’s still a kid and I think last night has shown she’s not old enough or responsible enough to be left home alone.’
    â€˜Thanks for your advice,’ Simone smiled but he knew a fake smile when he saw one and the ice in her voice told him she didn’t appreciate the reprimand. Still, he wasn’t in this town to make friends and it would be remiss of him not to say anything.
    â€˜I’ll see you later,’ he said and went on his way.
    Ruby’s house was one of the last before the town site gave way to farms. The Joneses’ property sat on about two acres and he’d seen a couple of horses roaming the front paddock the few times he’d driven by. Ruby gave horse-riding lessons to a couple of the local kids so he guessed they were hers. He strode up the long gravel driveway and the old colonial style house with its immaculate garden came into view – one look at the well-kept property told him the Joneses’ business was doing all right. Just off to his right he spied the horses in a paddock. Ruby stood between them as she brushed the larger of the two. She appeared to be talking to them and he smiled as he watched from a distance while she stroked the length of one horse’s mane. His gut tightened as he imagined just what it would feel like to have Ruby’s hands sliding all over his body.
    It had been a long while since any woman had touched him and until recently this hadn’t bothered him. In fact, he’d wondered if Belinda’s betrayal had ruined him in more ways than one, but the way his body was starting to react around Ruby indicated otherwise. If he was a smart man he’d turn around now and walk away before she noticed him, but he’d been awake over twenty-four hours and he wasn’t in top form.
    More to the point, he couldn’t eat a whole birthday cake on his own.
    Walking quietly so as not to startle the horses, Drew balanced the cake and coffee on a fence post, then climbed over the fence and crossed the grass towards Ruby. He could tell the horses were from good stock. They were beauties, not the type of animals usually used for small town horse-riding lessons. Then again, he couldn’t imagine Ruby with anything less. She had a thoroughbred air to her as well.
    Coffee in one hand and cake box in the other, he cleared his throat as he approached. ‘Afternoon, Ruby.’
    She spun on her heels, lifting the brush in her hand like it was a weapon and she was ready to strike. Her face drained of all colour.
    â€˜Oh. It’s. You.’ She panted the words as she pressed the hand holding the brush against her chest.
    He frowned. ‘Sorry I frightened you.’
    She licked her lips and put one hand against the taller, dark horse’s mane. ‘It’s fine. I was in a world of my own. I didn’t hear you approach.’
    â€˜I’ll remember to be noisier next time.’
    She laughed and a tinge of red returned to her cheeks.