The Outback Cattleman's Hired Wife by Natalia Elder Read Free Book Online

shoulder blades. A
gasp caught in the back of her throat, as Jared slipped one of his arms under
her knees. But before she could protest, he ’ d lifted
her high up into the cabin.
    Dumbstruck by even more chivalrous action, she could
only stare at him. If that had happened at her office, he would be up for
sexual harassment, inappropriate behaviour or something! But she couldn’t
imagine Jared working in a big city office.
    Steadily, she exhaled, though her heart was shaking
like a tambourine and clamoured beneath her breast. ‘ I could have managed by myself. ’
    ‘ Not taking any chances, ’ he replied, his jaw set. ‘ I ’ m liable if you get hurt. ’
    ‘Work, health and
safety, eh?’ she teased in a vain attempt to dissipate the tension in the air.
    ‘Something like
that.’ He closed the door and walked around the back of the
Land Cruiser.
    Though he didn’t say another word, he was smiling a
little when he climbed into the driver ’ s side seat
and ignited the engine. It looked good on him.
    For some unknown reason, Kirra didn ’ t want to get off on the wrong foot today. They had
worked together well for a couple of hours yesterday. Surely, she could make
the effort to do it again? Her arms were still a little sore, but she’d
survive. Her muscles would get used to it. Swallowing her pride, she said, ‘ Thank you. I ’ m not really a morning person. Well, I am. Just not
this early. ’
    As the sun rose over the mountains, she turned towards
it and a smile touched her lips. It had been ages since she’d seen the sun
rise. Not since she was a teenager when she used to go with Zac to watch him
surf. Knocking that memory on the head – she definitely didn’t want to think
about Zac today - she told him, ‘ I usually
set the alarm for seven o ’ clock. ’
    He nodded, but he didn’t look at her. ‘ You weren ’ t forced to
come, you know? ’
    ‘I know. I wanted to, remember, ’ she refuted hotly. ‘ My body clock will
adjust. ’
      ‘ Better belt up
then. The water has gouged out plenty of ditches in the ground. ’ His gentle, low voice caressed her ears and calmed
her heartbeat.
    Feeling out-of-sorts by his considerate nature, she
reached up and pulled the seatbelt across her body, before he put the four
wheel drive into gear.
    ‘ Was your marriage a happy one, Kirra? ’ he asked out-of-the-blue.
    Kirra gasped in surprise and the cabin instantly
filled with tension. Why did he want to know about her?
    She swallowed hard. ‘ Of course. Of course, it was, ’ she said in a higher pitch than normal which sounded
unconvincing even to her ears. ‘ I thought we
agreed not to ask any personal questions. ’
    ‘ You ’ re forbidden to
ask me. ’ He turned his head suddenly and their eyes clashed.
She thought she saw a mischievous glint flare or was it something else? She
wasn’t certain. ‘ Nothing was said about me not asking you. ’
    ‘ That ’ s not fair, is it?
Not sharing. ’
She knew she sounded childish.
    He shook his head, before changing his foot from brake
to accelerator. ‘ You haven ’ t earned my
trust yet. ’
    Kirra folded her arms across her chest, not impressed. ‘ Then tell me why I should trust you with my personal
life? ’
    He shrugged, then concentrated on steering towards the
milking shed. After a moment, he said, ‘ I get the
feeling that you ’ ve bottled up a lot of emotion for some time and you
need an independent ear to listen. You haven ’ t spoken to
anyone about your marriage, have you? ’
    ‘ No, ’ she blurted out,
flabbergasted, but her heart was filled with sadness. ‘ It ’ s nobody ’ s business what went on between Zac and me. That ’ s private. ’
    ‘ Everyone needs a friendly ear to gain perspective in
their lives, Kirra, ’ he said wisely, as the engine whirred and clunked in
time with her heartbeat. ‘ Was Zac good to you? Was he faithful? ’
    Kirra whipped her head around towards him and her
mouth dropped open at his