The Untamed Argentinian

by Susan Stephens

  ‘Where the hell do you think you’re going?’ Nero rapped. ‘Do you have any idea what just happened?’

  ‘Yes, and I’m sorry, but the kids from the scheme have been watching all this and they will be just as shocked as we are.’ Without waiting for Nero’s reply, she left him and ran. The sooner the children were reassured, the sooner she could get back to work.

  Every cloud had a silver lining, Bella thought as she returned to the pony lines. None of the kids had realised the dangers of polo, and those who had dismissed the sport as girlie had been transformed into fervent fans, insisting polo was every bit as dangerous as motor racing and a lot more exciting to watch. Strange how fate worked sometimes, she thought wryly. And now there was just Nero to deal with. Her smile faded as she started to run.

  ‘So you’ve turned up at last,’ he said as he checked the bridle on the grey.

  ‘Didn’t the groom look after you?’ Bella shot a quick smile of reassurance at the hapless girl whose bad luck it was to have her good work double-checked by Nero.

  ‘You’re in charge, Bella,’ Nero said sharply, springing into the saddle. ‘You should be here to supervise the grooms. This is not what I expect of you in a top-class game.’

  ‘What else could I do?’ Her voice was raised to match Nero’s.

  Grooms turned to stare as Nero demanded harshly, ‘What were you doing on the polo field in the first place? This isn’t a walk in the park, Bella, as you should know. How could you, of all people, be so irresponsible? What kind of example do you think you’re setting for those kids you care so much about?’

  She realised Nero couldn’t have seen what had happened. He didn’t know that Ignacio had almost been trampled. From Nero’s angle as he rode up to save her, he would only have seen Bella staggering back as the group of horses collided with the fence, and had formed his own opinion. She was hardly going to mention that she had pushed Ignacio clear. She would just have to take this unfair reprimand on the chin. And smile sweetly. Until Nero turned his back.

  ‘I’m not interested in excuses,’ he barked, clearing a space around them as he turned his horse to keep the high-spirited animal’s energy in play. ‘You never go near the fence again—and that’s an order. And from a purely common sense point of view,’ he added in a scathing tone, ‘if you see horses galloping towards you, you back away. You don’t rush to meet them!’

  The air of battle was on him. She understood that. After a lifetime in polo, Bella knew that what appeared to be a society sport was, as the children from the city had so correctly identified, dangerous and demanding, and the top-class athletes who played the game were as driven and as fiercely competitive as their ponies.

  So she’d make allowances. But she wouldn’t be a doormat. ‘I can only apologise,’ she said, wanting to cool things down before Nero galloped off again. ‘I’ll go now and make sure that your next pony is properly warmed up.’ The words were compliant, but there was something in her voice that warned Nero to drop it. Having said her piece, she spun on her heel and strode away.

  He had felt stirred up in the middle of a match before, but never like this. But then he had never knowingly risked a horse before. And, of all horses, it had to be his old faithful, Colonel. His anger followed Bella to the pony lines, where he watched her working with her usual efficiency as if nothing untoward had taken place. Even that infuriated him. She was like no woman he had ever known before. He had risked everything for her. Why?

  Bella’s reckless behaviour had forced his hand. If she wanted to risk her life that was up to her, but in future he’d keep his horses safe. He galloped grim-faced onto the field. Defeat wasn’t an option. Blaming Bella for her reckless actions wasn’t enough. He blamed the opposing team for riding their loyal ponies as if they owed them nothing, but, most of all, he blamed himself.

  Raising his helmet in a salute to the crowd, Nero acknowledged the applause as he led his team on the winners’ gallop round the field. Only loyalty to the fans and to his team-mates was keeping him back. He badly wanted to be in the equine clinic with Colonel. He was desperate to check that everything possible was being done for the horse—and that shock hadn’t set in.

  Bella was waiting as he cantered off the field. She looked as cool as ever, while he was in turmoil. Kicking the stirrups away, he threw his leg over his pony and sprang down, thrusting the reins into her hand in the same movement. ‘Ice immediately,’ he ordered.

  ‘I know,’ she soothed.

  The grooms were already waiting, he noticed, with iced bandages to cool the pony’s overheated muscles. It was a pity they couldn’t cool his overheated mind at the same time.

  ‘Nero, you must take a drink too,’ Bella insisted, holding out a water bottle with the tempting bloom of ice still visible on its surface.

  Ignoring her, he moved past her.

  She chased after him and thrust it into his hands. ‘Drink,’ she insisted, glaring at him.

  ‘Can’t you take a hint?’ he demanded roughly, but he drank the water all the same.

  He could feel Bella’s concern following him all the way to the clinic. He’d told her from the outset that life here was tough. She knew the game. She knew the risks—

  But she had never seen him like this before. Too bad. There was no room on the estancia for passengers. His grandmother had taught him that at a very young age.

  ‘Nero, wait!’

  Bella was running after him?

  She not only ran after him, she ran ahead of him and stopped in front of him. ‘What the hell?’ He raked his hair.

  ‘You won’t do Colonel any good if you blaze into his stable in this state of mind.’ She stood unmoving, glaring at him. ‘I won’t let you go in there.’

  ‘Oh, won’t you?’ he said roughly, reaching out to move her away.

  She slapped his hands down. ‘Don’t you dare touch me,’ she raged at him white-lipped. ‘While I’m here, those ponies are my responsibility as much as yours and I won’t let you visit the clinic while you’re like this!’

  ‘Are you questioning my judgement?’ he roared.

  ‘Right now?’ she roared back at him. ‘Yes, I am.’

  He walked round her. Had he really expected the Ice Maiden to tremble and quake like a virgin?

  ‘I know why you’re angry, Nero,’ she said, running to keep up with him.

  ‘Oh, do you?’ he said.

  ‘Colonel was reaching the end of his playing days, and you think you hastened that…’ And when he made a sound of contempt it only prompted her to add fiercely, ‘You did no such thing, Nero. You rode into danger to save the situation.’

  ‘I had no option,’ he flashed. ‘I did what anyone else would have done under the same circumstances.’

  Bella very much doubted it.

  ‘If you will excuse me, I have an injured horse to check up on.’

  ‘Then I’m coming with you,’ she insisted, chasing after him.

  ‘You’ve done enough damage for one day,’ Nero rapped, barging through the gate without holding it open for her. ‘May I suggest you go back to the pony lines and confine yourself to bathing legs? Just make sure you don’t get kicked by the ponies when you do so. We don’t need any more slip-ups today.’

  She fell back, allowing Nero to stalk off. He was without doubt the most obnoxious, pig-headed, arrogant man she had ever met. There wasn’t a soft bone in his body or a kind thought in his head. Nero cared for nothing but his horses. He was truly incapable of a single caring feeling for his fellow man.

  Which should have made him correspondingly unattractive, but unfortunately it had no effect in that direction.

  It just made him more of a challenge, Bella realised, pulling out her phone and calling ahead to give the clinic a storm warning. Nero, a challenge? Yes, and professionally she could handle him, but in every other way Nero was destined to torment some other woman with more experience than Bella would ever have.

  Having reassured himself that all was well with Colonel
and that the horse was resting quietly, Nero returned to the estancia to eat and freshen up. There was no sign of Bella. He glanced up from the dining table every time he heard a door open or close. María and Concepcion were unusually subdued, as if the drama on the pitch had affected them too. He still couldn’t work out why, for the first time in his life, he’d risked a horse. He ended up with the only answer he found palatable—he would have done the same for anyone. Human life was worth any risk he could take. There was nothing remotely personal about it. The fact that Bella was involved was mere coincidence.

  He was in the shower when Ignacio rushed to tell him that Colonel had developed potentially fatal colic. He ran straight from his shower to the stable, barely pausing to dry himself, pulling on his jeans as he ran.

  Bella had taken over the vigil in Colonel’s stable from Nero the moment he had left the yard. He didn’t know she was there. She wanted no fuss. And she certainly didn’t want another row with him. She had agreed with Ignacio that, for all their sakes, it was better if she did this discreetly. And so it was Bella who had called the vet and sent for Nero. There was nothing more she could do, Bella realised, leaving a bowed and shaking Colonel in the care of Ignacio and the vet. Walking swiftly from the yard to avoid a confrontation with Nero, she saw him running from the house. She doubted he would even have noticed her.

  She called in on Misty and spent some time with her own pony. The yard was quiet and there was no way she could know what was going on. When she left Misty’s stable, she leaned her face for a moment against the cool stone wall. It was so peaceful in the stable yard after the high octane drama on the polo field. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she knew it was ridiculous to feel this way. She had too much emotion invested in a man who didn’t have the slightest interest in her beyond her knowledge of horses. When he’d sucked that dry Nero would be happy to let her go.

  And these tears were for Colonel, Bella thought impatiently, dashing them away. Straightening up, she lifted her chin. She’d check on her human charges next. The kids knew nothing of what was happening to Colonel at the clinic, and Ignacio had asked her to keep it that way. ‘Not everyone has our resilience, Bella,’ her elderly friend had counselled her gently. ‘We don’t know these children like you and I know each other, and we can’t risk undoing the work we’ve already done with them.’

  She’d felt proud at that moment, and touched that a man she admired had included her in his summary. Events had thrown her together with Ignacio and in a short space of time they had become close friends. The gaucho’s friendship warmed her now and gave her courage. And Ignacio was right about the children, Bella thought as she walked briskly towards their chalets. Normally, she wouldn’t dream of keeping anyone in the dark and would have come straight out with it, but these kids had a lot on their plates already, and it was up to everyone on the estancia to introduce them to different types of hardship sensitively. A party had been arranged for them tonight and she didn’t want to spoil that for them. Without knowing the outcome of Colonel’s colic, she had to consider that a drama on the pitch was one thing, but a tragedy might ruin the children’s adventure on Estancia Caracas almost before it had begun. She’d tell them when she had some firm news.

  The children greeted her warmly and she left them in the best of moods with the young counsellors the authorities had chosen to accompany them. She had another cause in mind now. Leaning back against the smooth sweet-smelling wood of the chalet she had so recently visited with Nero, she stared down the road leading to the clinic wondering what was happening with the sick pony.

  What gave her the right? Bella thought. She was hardly qualified to offer therapy to anyone. She hadn’t felt like this for years—so defensive. Perhaps she should take her own advice and leave Nero to it. This was a deeply personal crisis for a cold, sardonic man to whom horses meant everything. She really shouldn’t intrude. Nero had made it clear that he didn’t welcome her interference.

  It wasn’t like her to give up either, Bella thought as she walked back to the house in the darkest of moods. Nero’s feelings were standing in her way, and she was still fighting with herself when she pushed open the door of the hacienda. She’d have an early night. Things would look better in the morning. Whatever was going to happen with Colonel would happen, with or without her intervention.

  She took a bath and went to bed, burying her head under the pillows, refusing to think about anything. At least that was the theory, but she was restless and sleep eluded her. She shot up with a start and glanced at her watch. 3:00 a.m. Whatever was going to happen to Colonel would have happened by now. She just had to know what that was. Nero would have been in bed hours ago.

  Now the decision was made, she was filled with a sense of urgency. Not even waiting to tie her hair back, she tugged on a pair of jeans and a warm sweater and ran through the house, pulling on her boots at the door.

  The clinic was unlocked and she took the narrow corridor with its faint smell of disinfectant and wet animals leading to the yard. Colonel’s stable was easy to find. It was the only one with a dim light burning inside and the half-door left open. ‘Hello, Colonel.’ Bright eyes and pricked ears told her all she wanted to know. Colonel had recovered. And then something else stirred in the stable. She peered in cautiously. Nero was asleep on the hay, sprawled out with two dogs and the stable cat curled up alongside him. Her heart stirred. She pulled away as quietly as she could, not wanting to disturb him. Pressing her back against the door, she closed her eyes tightly. A man with so much love to give couldn’t be all bad, could he?

  She just didn’t know when to give up, Bella thought as she walked back to the house. But why should she give up? A girl could dream, couldn’t she? she mused, climbing the stairs. Nero was a product of his environment as much as she was of hers. So what if he was cranky? She was cranky herself. Add defensive, mistrustful, wary and aloof—oh, yes. She was a barrel of laughs.

  First thing in the morning, she tacked Misty up and walked her round to the clinic yard, just to see, Bella told herself. There was no sign of Nero, and the veterinary nurse told her that Colonel had been released into the small paddock attached to the clinic where they could keep an eye on him. Colonel’s leg was still strapped but the colic had passed, and the vet thought it best to keep him moving.

  Thanking the nurse, she kept Misty on a loose rein and walked her as far as the boundary fence to stare out across the pampas. During her stay Bella had grown accustomed to its wild splendour, but today it looked so empty and not enticing at all. Take the romance out of it, and it was just mile upon mile of flat, open countryside, ringed with white-capped mountains showing faintly purple in the distance.

  She turned at the sound of a horse’s hooves. If there was one thing she should be accustomed to by now it was the sight of Nero on horseback. So why was her pulse going crazy? He’d been monstrous to her yesterday!

  He had slept with his sick horse, she remembered, and was wearing the red bandana of a gaucho tied around his forehead, which was a very sexy look indeed with all that thick black hair tumbling over it.

  ‘Where are you going?’ he demanded, reining to a halt. ‘Or are you just coming back?’ His dark glance ran over her breeches which, clean of dust and mud, gave him the answer. Resting his fists on the pommel of his saddle, Nero raised an imperious brow. ‘So where are you going?’

  ‘Good morning to you too,’ she said, turning Misty.

  ‘Wait—’

  The small mare recognised the note of command in Nero’s voice even if Bella was determined to ignore it and Misty stopped dead, waiting for her next instruction. Not wanting to confuse her, Bella turned a cool glance on Nero’s face. ‘Yes?’ she said.

  ‘You need to be careful of the yarara if you’re thinking of riding out,’ he said in a voice devoid of emotion. ‘The yarara?’ Bella frowned, thinking only of the safety of her pony now.

  ‘Poisonous snakes. It’s the season for them,’ he said before turning away.

&nb
sp; ‘Wait,’ she called after him.

  Nero turned his horse. ‘They won’t bite unless you frighten them, but they will spook the horses.’

  ‘Thanks for the warning.’

  ‘Don’t mention it,’ he said. ‘Just be sure you don’t linger by any low-lying shrubs, or go rooting under rocks.’

  ‘Is that it?’

  ‘Should there be more?’

  They confronted each other as if they were squaring up for a fight. Bella broke the silence first. ‘If you’ve got something to say to me, Nero, just spit it out. It won’t take me long to pack.’

  ‘Pack?’ he demanded with an angry gesture. ‘Your work isn’t finished here.’

  Before she had a chance to react to that, Nero ground his jaw and finally admitted, ‘I was wrong yesterday.’ He raised a brow as if daring her to disagree, while she waited for a chorus of angels singing Hallelujah! ‘I shouldn’t have shouted at you,’ he said, ‘especially after Ignacio told me what you had done. That was very brave of you, Bella.’

  ‘I don’t want your praise!’

  ‘Well, you shall have it.’

  ‘I’ll be sure to keep away from the yararas,’ she said, turning Misty abruptly. ‘Bella—’

  She ignored him and the moment they were through the gate she urged Misty into a gallop. Nero caught up with her easily. ‘You know emotions are heightened on the polo field.’

  ‘I also know that’s no excuse,’ she called back. ‘Your rudeness to me—’

  ‘My rudeness?’ Nero refused to take offence as he cantered easily alongside.

  ‘You shouted at me!’

  ‘And you shouted back.’

  She rode without speaking, but all she could think about was Nero sleeping in the stable with his motley crew of animals and his sick horse.

  ‘You came to find me in the stable,’ he said, riding with all the nonchalance of a gaucho born in the saddle, ‘so I can’t have been so bad.’