Free A Wish and a Wedding by Margaret Way

been the Rushford heiress.”
    â€œNot darned likely!” Chrissy had choked on laughter.
    Aware Chrissy was still feeling like a fish out of water, tactfully Tori had left the idea of supplementing—or to be truthful changing Chrissy’s wardrobe until the day before Kerri and her friend Marcy were due to arrive. She had seen more than enough of Marcy to know she was a terrible snob, with a gift for the throwaway insult, even among her own moneyed set. One look at Chrissy in her current gear and the knives would be out—even if they were behind Chrissy’s back. Still, Chrissy would know she was a source of droll disdain.
    Philippa listened carefully when Tori explained. “The last thing I want to do is hurt Chrissy’s feelings, but I have so many things I can give her to wear. You know what Kerri and that awful Marcy are like.”
    Philippa sighed to herself. “I certainly do. God forgive me for saying it, but I do wish they weren’t coming. Marcy will grab any opportunity to see Haddo. I’m tempted to tell her she’s been wasting her time all these years.”
    â€œDon’t you think Haddo should be the one to tell her?’ Tori asked crisply.
    â€œI’m fairly sure Haddo hasn’t given Marcy any encouragement, dear,” Philippa assured her, veiling her eyes. “Anyway, as regards Chrissy, what harm can it do, showing her what you’ve got? She’s a good bit shorter than you, but you’re both very slender. Personally, I don’t think you’d know Chrissy with a little bit of a makeover.”
    â€œI want her to look her best,” Tori said. “And I’m going to get that tooth of hers fixed,” she whispered, although Chrissy was a good distance off, with Kate in the kitchen. Chrissy felt at home there, to the extent that Kate, Mallarinka’s long-time housekeeper, was giving her cooking lessons. It had been Tori’s idea, and it was a good one.
    The two girls had fallen into a routine of riding in the afternoon. It hadn’t taken Chrissy long to get the hang of riding a horse again, once a nice quiet mare was found for her, and Tori worked out safe rides in advance. That afternoon they had decided on being a bit more adventurous and visiting a stock camp at Cobbi Creek. Tori knew a party of stockmen was scheduled to head off to the rough hill country, to bring back all the cattle they could muster. Haddo had mentioned it at dinner the previous night. The muster was expected to go on for several days, which meant the men had to take along extra horses—at least three or four to a man—so they could rest the others when they were ready to drop from fatigue or, as sometimes happened, when they got injured. Mustering meant physical exhaustion.
    When they arrived at the camp, surrounded by a near solid wall of coolibahs, and areas of the creek packed with fragrant pink water lilies, they dismounted and left their horses tethered in the abundant shade. Tori’s eyes immediately picked out Haddo’s tall, commanding figure. He was standing outside the corral talking to Snowy, their top aboriginal stockman and tracker, who most probably would be in charge. A whole bunch of horses had already been rounded up for the trip. She counted roughly thirty. They were standing quietly inside the corral, almost at attention.
    Haddo turned his head and came towards them, emanating that vibrant masculinity that was so much a part of him. He looked stunningly handsome even in his everyday riding gear, with a bright red bandanna knotted around his darkly tanned throat.
    â€œHow’s it going?” He reached them, smiling. And what a smile he had!
    Chrissy responded with her own sweet smile, broken tooth or no. “Great—just great, Haddo. I’m absolutely loving this. I’m finally getting used to being back in the saddle too. My bum doesn’t hurt so much. Can you swim in this creek?”
    He nodded,