Who Rides the Tiger by Anne Mather Read Free Book Online Page A

and generally making Dominique relax.
    Lunch was salad and cold meat. The lettuce was soft and unappetizing, and the meat was still warm, much to Dominique's distaste. However, the fresh fruit that followed was delicious, as was the Brazilian coffee.
    Talk became general, and Marion Rawlings said to Dominique: 'Do you think you're going to like it out here?'
    Dominique smiled. 'I hope so,' she said, accepting a cigarette from John. T think it's a very exciting country, don't you?'
    Marion Rawlings gasped, 'My dear girl, I've been here seven years, and I hate it. The heat, the flies, the insects at night. It's appalling! When John told us you were coming out here to marry him, well, quite frankly, I thought you were mad!'
    Harry Rawlings gave a snort. 'Now, now, Marion, don't go giving the girl a bad impression of the place. You don't like it because there are no decent shops, and you can't get your hair done every few minutes. If you had something to occupy your time - like Alice Latimer, for example—'
    'If you think I'm going into those filthy slums looking after even filthier children you're mistaken!' exclaimed Marion loudly. 'I've got better things to do with my time.'
    'Like what?' asked Harry belligerently.
    'Sewing, knitting, reading...'
    'Huh!' Harry Rawlings sounded sceptical. 'It seems to me you spend far too much time sitting about the place gossiping with your old cronies. You and that Pedlar woman! You don't give anyone a moment's peace!'
    'Don't you criticize me, Harry Rawlings!' she snapped angrily, and John glanced apologetically at Dominique.
    'I really think we'll have to go,' he said, getting to his feet. 'I want to show Dominique the apartment, and naturally we have things to talk about.'
    'I'll bet,' jeered Harry Rawlings, rather objectionably, and Dominique rose gladly, eager to make her escape.
    Once in the car, and on their way back into town, she said: 'Honestly, John, were they the only people you could ask to have me stay with?'
    'Well, old Harry offered, and I didn't like to refuse,' explained John uncomfortably. 'I know Marion's a bit of a nag, but she does have a lot to put up with. Harry's no angel, and she has a pretty miserable life.'
    'Oh, well, I suppose five weeks isn't long,' said Dominique dejectedly, and wondered why she should feel such a weight of depression over such a small thing. After all, she was here, wasn't she? She was with John again! What more did she want?
    The apartment where John lived was, as he had said, spacious. It was bright and airy, and Dominique thought she could do a lot with it.
    'Marion said you can use her sewing machine for curtains and covers and so on,' said John studying Dominique's reactions. Then: 'You're not sorry you came, are you, Dom?'
    Dominique looked at his anxious face and suddenly ran into his arms. 'Oh, no, no, of course not,' she cried, hugging him, letting no other thoughts disturb her mind.
     
    In the days that followed she became completely acclimatized. Actually, in the mountains the heat was not so intense and she didn't mind it at all. Her skin soon toned a honey colour, and her hair seemed a shade lighter. She filled her days working at the apartment. There was a lot she wanted to do. She got John to get her some paint and set about designing her own colour schemes. Then she went shopping and bought some material in the supermarket to make cushion covers and curtains to match. John had only acquired a table and some stools for the dining-room, and she decided to wait and see how their finances stood after the wedding and the honeymoon before spending extravagantly. There was a double bed in the main bedroom which John used at present, and a couple of lounge chairs. Al- „ together, he had adequate possessions, and had left Dominique plenty of opportunities to exercise her own prerogative.
    At the Rawlings' she slept and ate breakfast, but for most of the day she was out of their house. Not that Marion wasn't friendly towards her, she