by Cathryn Hein
She broke into laughter, the sound so good to her ears. Happiness bubbled inside.
Matt rolled her over until she sat on top of him and gazed at her with lovesick dopeyness. ‘Fuck, I love you.’
She leaned forward to kiss him. ‘And I love you, attractive, capable man.’
‘You forgot horny.’
‘I figured it didn’t need saying.’
‘You’re right. It didn’t. Now come here. I have sandy bits to explore.’
Honk signalled Matt’s arrival home. Callie skipped to the back door. He’d snuck off an hour ago, refusing to reveal where he was going, calling it ‘secret men’s business’. Whatever he was up to, it left him smug.
Everything seemed to leave him smug lately. Making love on the beach at MacLeans Bay two days ago had left him grinning like an infatuated idiot. Moving his clothes and belongings into Glenmore the same. Callie had never seen a man look so happy, or so in love.
She wasn’t much better. Deb had told her as much at the barbecue Callie and Matt attended at the Graneys’, describing the pair of them as being like lottery winners. The description wasn’t quite right – money could never make her feel the way she felt with Matt. It wasn’t love alone either. She was finding peace. With Hope, with her parents, but most of all, with herself.
Every dawn brought with it a sense of renewal. That she was gradually becoming the person she’d always wanted to be, one who no longer hid behind a mask of stoicism. For the first time in years, Callie was free to laugh and cry, yell with anger and smile with contentment. She could love and be loved. Free.
The barbecue had been another step forward, for both of them. Tension remained between Matt and Tony, but thanks to Wal’s revelation about his will, the cousins were attempting to reconnect. Apologies had been made and accepted. Knowing his children would inherit Amberton eased Tony’s apprehension for his family. He still felt Amberton represented a lost opportunity, and said so, pointing out to Matt that Glenmore was the same, but the properties’ fates were out of his hands. Nor could he complain too much after the commission he’d earned from Glenmore.
Callie let the screen door bang shut behind her and skipped up the path to the yard, halting at the end with her lips pursed when she spied Wal’s battered horsefloat attached to the back of Matt’s ute.
A horse. She should have known. The cycles in her life seemed to be endless.
Smiling and shaking her head, she strode across the yard to assist Wal from the Amarok’s passenger seat. The driver’s seat was already empty.
‘Okay, what’s going on?’ she asked Wal, stepping aside as he waved her away.
‘Surprise.’
‘Might I remind you that the last surprise like this ended in disaster?’
‘Not this time.’
A whinny sounded, the float rattling and bouncing as the horse inside stomped and shifted. Beyond the noise she could hear Matt making soothing sounds.
Callie crossed her arms.
‘Place needs a horse,’ said Wal.
‘The place needs livestock.’
But even as she rebuked him, excitement tumbled through her belly. Glenmore hadn’t been the same since Lyndall took Morton home to Kelso. Time and again, Callie caught herself scanning the home paddock, wishing he was back. Her memories of Glenmore were so tightly enmeshed with Phantom and her love for horses that not seeing one made the farm feel out of kilter.
Unable to pretend indifference any longer, she strode to the back of the float and peered inside. A glossy black rump faced her, dark tail flicking. Callie breathed in deeply, the scent of horse better than any perfume.
Matt’s voice echoed from the float. ‘Come on, fatso. Your mistress is waiting.’
Obedient, the horse began to back out. Black rump gave way to sleek but solid flank, then a wide chest and lovely sloped shoulders. Callie’s hand went to her mouth, her heart thumping wildly. Two more steps and the bright-eyed black horse turned to regard her, ears twirling like radars. He stretched to give her a quick sniff before raising his head and releasing another high-pitched whinny.
‘Get a move on,’ said Matt, pushing the horse further backward. He grinned at Callie as he followed the horse down the ramp. ‘Beauty, isn’t he?’
She nodded, torn between wanting to laugh and cry. ‘Literally.’
‘Lucky accident.’ Matt stroked the horse’s regal nose. A thin white star marked the centre of his forehead, another strip of white on the point of his nose. ‘But kind of fitting.’
‘What’s his name?’ she asked, approaching and holding out her hand for the horse to sniff before stroking his lovely face. ‘And please don’t try to tell me it’s Beauty because I won’t believe you.’
He was a stunning-looking animal – glossy coated and fine boned despite the extra weight he carried. Another snip of white coloured the coronet of his off foreleg, just above his hoof, but otherwise the horse was a glorious shade of black. Her own nature-built china horse.
‘Cannonball.’
‘Out of Magic Missile,’ said Wal, shuffling his way toward them. ‘Didn’t inherit his speed though. Jumps well. Mainly pony club. Lass who owned him is off to Melbourne for university. Been looking for a good home. Happened I knew of one.’
Matt handed Callie the lead. ‘He’s yours.’
Callie swallowed, thinking of her grandmother. Knowing Glenmore was safe with Matt had made coming to terms with her betrayal of Nanna’s wishes easier, but guilt over Morton remained. Though she hadn’t seen Callie in years, Maggie had known her heart better than Callie knew it herself. Time for Callie to honour her wishes.
‘Maggie would have wanted it,’ said Wal.
‘I know.’ She smiled at Wal and then at Matt. ‘Thank you.’
‘Anything to make you happy.’ He touched her cheek, the caress tender, then dropped his hand and grinned. ‘You do realise it’s all part of my cunning plan.’
‘Oh, yes?’
‘Hard to find another landlord who’d take on all your animals. Mad goose, horse.’
‘Next you’ll be giving me a dog.’
Wal coughed
Callie shared a look with Matt and sighed in defeat. Matt had brought up Wal’s spare pup last night. They’d need a dog for the farm. Dash would be perfect but not if he upset Callie with memories of Patch.
‘Oh, all right.’
Wal’s grin threatened to crack his walnut shell face.
She turned back to Cannonball, amazed at how like Beauty he was. Warmth flooded her as she stroked his silky neck and breathed in his delicious horsey smell. Memories of Phan clamoured. Of glorious days riding the paddocks, trails and beach. The life she’d thought lost.
A life she’d found again.
Matt sidled alongside and kissed her temple. ‘Angel.’
‘Attractive, capable man.’
He bent close to whisper. ‘You should marry me then.’
‘Do you think?’
‘Yeah.’
She slid him a look from under her lashes and smiled. ‘Well, in that case . . .’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My sincere thanks to editor Arwen Summers, who has again done wonders with her structural advice and is such a delight to bounce ideas around with. To my publisher Belinda Byrne whose encouragement and enthusiasm for my writing and stories helps keep me buoyant. Thanks to all the staff at Penguin who have helped make this book a success, especially Alex Ross for designing such a gorgeous cover. Also many thanks to super agent Clare Forster of Curtis Brown, whose advice and assistance are invaluable.
I’d also like to give special thanks to my good friends Carol and Leon Monaghan for some country fun and respite, and to Leon’s brother David whose Fiat tractor is featured in the story and who provided much appreciated machinery advice.
Huge and very warm thanks to my amazingly patient and understanding writing buddies Rachael Johns and Suzi Love.
Most of all, to Jim. My rock.
Dear Reader,
&
nbsp; I hope you enjoyed Callie’s and Matt’s story and the antics of that naughty goose Honk. If you'd like to catch up with my other stories, on the following pages are blurbs for my other four novels, The Falls, Rocking Horse Hill, Heart of the Valley and Promises.
If you'd like to find out more about me and my books, please visit my website. You can also keep up with new releases and gain access to exclusive content, news and giveaways by signing up for my occasional newsletter.
Happy reading!
Cathryn
‘Uplifting . . . A moving emotional journey
towards forgiveness and hope.’
BRONWYN PARRY
‘Take two feuding families with a dark history,
add two beautiful offspring from those families, and let
the angst-ridden romance begin.’
COSMOPOLITAN
‘Not since my introduction to Nora Roberts has
an author had me so completely and utterly spellbound.’
MISSION: ROMANCE
Promises
A father with something to hide, a jockey with a taste for blackmail, a man with an agonising secret . . . and a young woman in love, defying them all.
Sophie Dixon is determined to leave her tragic past behind and forge a bright future on her beloved farm. While looking to buy a new horse, she is drawn into her neighbour Aaron Laidlaw’s orbit, despite the bad blood between their families.
As the racing season unfolds, Sophie and Aaron’s feelings for each other deepen. But Aaron is torn, haunted by a dark secret he fears can never be forgiven – especially by Sophie.
Sophie believes herself strong, but the truth behind her mother’s death will test her strength, and her love, to the limit. She’s been broken once. No one wants to see her broken again. Least of all the man she loves.
From an exciting new Australian voice comes this compelling story about love, loyalty and forgiveness.
‘A moving love story about passionate, strong characters
who are vulnerable in their own ways. A lovely addition to
the rural romance genre in Australia.’
THE AUSTRALIAN BOOKSHELF
Heart of the Valley
Brooke Kingston is smart, capable and strong-willed – some might even say stubborn – and lives in the beautiful Hunter Valley on her family property. More at home on horseback than in heels, her life revolves around her beloved ‘boys’ – show jumpers Poddy, Oddy and Sod.
Then a tragic accident leaves Brooke a mess. Newcomer Lachie Cambridge is hired to manage the farm, and Brooke finds herself out of a job and out of luck. But she won’t go without a fight.
What she doesn’t expect is Lachie himself – a handsome, gentle giant with a will to match her own. But with every day that Lachie stays, Brooke’s future on the farm is more uncertain. Will she be forced to choose between her home and the man she’s falling for?
A vivid, moving and passionate story of love and redemption from the author of Promises.
MICHAEL JOSEPH
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (Australia)
707 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3008, Australia
(a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada)
90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Canada ON M4P 2Y3
(a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL England
Penguin Ireland
25 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
(a division of Penguin Books Ltd)
Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd
11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi – 110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ)
67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand
(a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd
Rosebank Office Park, Block D, 181 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North,
Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin (Beijing) Ltd
7F, Tower B, Jiaming Center, 27 East Third Ring Road North, Chaoyang District,
Beijing 100020, China
Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
First published by Penguin Group (Australia), 2013
Text copyright © Cathryn Hein 2013
The moral right of the author has been asserted
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
Cover design by Alex Ross © Penguin Group (Australia)
Photo credits: Cockatoo: Wayne Bigg/[email protected], Ground: Ross Barnett/Getty Images,
Sky: Radius Images/Getty Images, Cockatoo: Shutterstock,
Woman: Cultura/Robin Skjoldborg/Getty Images
penguin.com.au
ISBN: 978-1-74253-616-3
