Read Online South of Capricorn by Anne Hampson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anne Hampson
Ads: Link
began, when he interrupted her to say,
‘Kane’s the name. I’m sure I’ve made myself clear,’ he went on to add. ‘Either you both stay here, at Vernay Downs, or you both leave. The choice is yours.’
‘I’ve already made my choice. It’s impossible for me to stay, even if I wanted to, which I don’t. I have a job; I live with my parents—I’m their only child— Oh, the whole proposition’s so absurd that it’s not worth my entering into explanations as to why I can’t accept it!’ She spoke resolutely, meaning every word she uttered, so why this subconscious thrusting away of the intruding vision of life out here, in this wild and lonely land with its endless plains, its strange animals and trees, its perverse climate and the almost feudal manner in which most of its properties were run.
‘In that case, there’s no more to be said. I’ll arrange for you and Leta to be taken back to the station—’ He broke off and turned, as did Gail. Leta, obviously having heard what was being said, was standing just behind Kane Farrell... and her lovely eyes were brim-ming with tears.
‘Aren’t I staying with my daddy, after all?’ she cried, stepping towards Gail and clutching her skirt with both hands, having dropped her doll on to the ground. ‘Why won’t you stay, Gail? I want to have a daddy of my own...’ The tears flowed, but before Gail could stoop to comfort her she ran away and sat down on the fallen tree trunk, then began rocking herself to and fro, crying softly, ‘I wanted a daddy, like Susan and Diana and Emma. I wanted a daddy of my own ...’
Gail looked up at Kane Farrell, and his eyes flickered strangely as he noted the tears in hers.
‘I had no idea she could be like this,’ she quivered. ‘What must I do—?’ She stopped, astounded by her weakness ... and yet how could she ignore the plight of Sandra’s child? No use telling herself that, having honoured her promise by bringing the child here, she could not help it if all had not gone according to the wishes of her mother. No, that was shirking the issue. And if she did shirk then she would be no less blameworthy than Kane Farrell himself. And yet Leta, despite this moment of weeping for her father, was still Leta—the unbridled creature for whom no one had ever had a good word.
‘I could never manage her!’ Gail was distressed and it showed. Kane Farrell’s expression became exceedingly curious as he watched the quiver of her lips, the rapid blinking of her eyelids as she endeavoured to prevent the tears from falling on to her cheeks. He moved, restlessly, and his brow was furrowed in a frown. She saw a movement in his throat, as if he were swallowing with difficulty something that had lodged there. ‘No, I could never manage her!’
‘I’ll be good !’ The cry came urgently, but Leta remained motionless on the trunk of the tree. ‘Stay, Gail! Stay here so that I can stay too! I want to have a daddy of my own!’
Although she felt dreadful about it, Gail resolutely ignored Leta’s first sentence, since she knew for sure that she could not be good if she tried. And she never did try! There was in her a bit of the devil himself and nothing less than a miracle would drive it out.
‘I can’t stay...’ But her voice faltered to silence. It was not only Leta’s plight that was driving her from the path of reason; it was also the man himself, Kane Farrell, Boss of Vernay Downs cattle station, who was responsible for this swinging of her emotions. It was as if he possessed some impelling mental pressure with which he could bend her to his will. Reprehensible he might be, yet she was puzzled because there seemed to be so much about him that was contradictory. She was unable to fight against the attractiveness of him, vaguely wondering if it was partly his outward appearance which affected her—his powerful physique or tough, sun-bitten good looks. Or was it solely his dynamic personality and aristocratic air?
She
‘Kane’s the name. I’m sure I’ve made myself clear,’ he went on to add. ‘Either you both stay here, at Vernay Downs, or you both leave. The choice is yours.’
‘I’ve already made my choice. It’s impossible for me to stay, even if I wanted to, which I don’t. I have a job; I live with my parents—I’m their only child— Oh, the whole proposition’s so absurd that it’s not worth my entering into explanations as to why I can’t accept it!’ She spoke resolutely, meaning every word she uttered, so why this subconscious thrusting away of the intruding vision of life out here, in this wild and lonely land with its endless plains, its strange animals and trees, its perverse climate and the almost feudal manner in which most of its properties were run.
‘In that case, there’s no more to be said. I’ll arrange for you and Leta to be taken back to the station—’ He broke off and turned, as did Gail. Leta, obviously having heard what was being said, was standing just behind Kane Farrell... and her lovely eyes were brim-ming with tears.
‘Aren’t I staying with my daddy, after all?’ she cried, stepping towards Gail and clutching her skirt with both hands, having dropped her doll on to the ground. ‘Why won’t you stay, Gail? I want to have a daddy of my own...’ The tears flowed, but before Gail could stoop to comfort her she ran away and sat down on the fallen tree trunk, then began rocking herself to and fro, crying softly, ‘I wanted a daddy, like Susan and Diana and Emma. I wanted a daddy of my own ...’
Gail looked up at Kane Farrell, and his eyes flickered strangely as he noted the tears in hers.
‘I had no idea she could be like this,’ she quivered. ‘What must I do—?’ She stopped, astounded by her weakness ... and yet how could she ignore the plight of Sandra’s child? No use telling herself that, having honoured her promise by bringing the child here, she could not help it if all had not gone according to the wishes of her mother. No, that was shirking the issue. And if she did shirk then she would be no less blameworthy than Kane Farrell himself. And yet Leta, despite this moment of weeping for her father, was still Leta—the unbridled creature for whom no one had ever had a good word.
‘I could never manage her!’ Gail was distressed and it showed. Kane Farrell’s expression became exceedingly curious as he watched the quiver of her lips, the rapid blinking of her eyelids as she endeavoured to prevent the tears from falling on to her cheeks. He moved, restlessly, and his brow was furrowed in a frown. She saw a movement in his throat, as if he were swallowing with difficulty something that had lodged there. ‘No, I could never manage her!’
‘I’ll be good !’ The cry came urgently, but Leta remained motionless on the trunk of the tree. ‘Stay, Gail! Stay here so that I can stay too! I want to have a daddy of my own!’
Although she felt dreadful about it, Gail resolutely ignored Leta’s first sentence, since she knew for sure that she could not be good if she tried. And she never did try! There was in her a bit of the devil himself and nothing less than a miracle would drive it out.
‘I can’t stay...’ But her voice faltered to silence. It was not only Leta’s plight that was driving her from the path of reason; it was also the man himself, Kane Farrell, Boss of Vernay Downs cattle station, who was responsible for this swinging of her emotions. It was as if he possessed some impelling mental pressure with which he could bend her to his will. Reprehensible he might be, yet she was puzzled because there seemed to be so much about him that was contradictory. She was unable to fight against the attractiveness of him, vaguely wondering if it was partly his outward appearance which affected her—his powerful physique or tough, sun-bitten good looks. Or was it solely his dynamic personality and aristocratic air?
She
Similar Books
