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

Glengarry - veterinarian. If his voice is
anything to go by, he must be stunning in the flesh. What ’ s his son like? ’
    ‘ Caleb is holidaying on the Gold Coast with his
grandmother. ’
    ‘ Wow! So it ’ s just you
and him alone together. How absolutely cosy? ’
    ‘ It ’ s not cosy at all! ’ she refuted hotly. ‘ He ’ s got me milking cows! ’
    Elise laughed. ‘ I can ’ t imagine it. ’
    ‘ Well, it ’ s true. ’ Her voice became hoarse with emotion and she inhaled
deeply.
    ‘ Kirra, are you alright? Do you want me to call a
Rescue Helicopter to save you from him? ’
    ‘ Don ’ t be ridiculous.
They have more important things to do. I ’ ll be okay.
If the situation becomes intolerable, I can always commandeer his dinghy or
take up mountain-climbing. ’
    ‘ Is it really that bad? ’ Elise sounded glum.
    ‘ No. I ’ ll manage. If
nothing else comes of this little adventure, at least I can write an article on
how to milk cows, ’ she joked dryly.
    ‘ Well, I ’ ll see you
when you get back. Don ’ t forget if you want to be rescued just give me a
call. ’
    ‘ I don ’ t think that will
be necessary. Jared is a gentleman, I ’ ll give him
that. ’
    ‘ Thank you, ’ his low,
amused voice cut in.
    Kirra ’ s
face coloured crimson again. She said a quick her goodbye and put the receiver
down.
    Her eyes narrowed to slits. ‘ Were you eavesdropping? ’
    ‘ No, ’ he said, giving
her a teasing smile. ‘ I came to ask how many slices of toast you ’ d like. ’
    ‘ Oh. ’ Embarrassed, her
eyes lowered to the newspapers and she her outrage re-flared from when she
first came into the room. She looked up and met his eyes with a piercing gaze. ‘ Why have you opened all these newspapers at my
articles? ’
    Jared folded his arms and leaned against the door
frame. ‘ To be frank … curiosity. I also thought they may
assist you with your rewrite. ’
    ‘ Each story is different, ’ she pointed out stiffly.
    ‘ Yes, I see you mainly do human interest stories. ’
    She detected a touch of cynicism in his tone. ‘ When I feel there has been an injustice done. ’
    ‘ You won ’ t find any
injustices here, Kirra. ’
    ‘ Really? ’ She
glanced up at the photograph on the bookshelf, then back at him.
    His dark eyebrows crowded together. ‘ I see you don ’ t waste any time. ’
    ‘ Was she hired help too? ’
    His grey-blue eyes hardened to steel.
    ‘ Well? ’ She folded her
arms across her breasts.
    ‘ Well, nothing. I see through your ruse. You ’ re a determined woman, Kirra, I ’ ll give you that, ’ he ground
out. ‘ But you ’ ll never
dig up any dirt on me to print in your precious newspaper. ’
    ‘ Is that so? ’ She
exhaled heavily in frustration. ‘ You accused
me of bottling up my grief before. What about you? You ’ re doing exactly the same thing. I bet you haven ’ t spoken to anyone about your marriage either. ’
    ‘ And nor do I want to. There is nothing to tell. I ’ ve accepted Heather ’ s death, ’ he said flatly. ‘ Now, come and
eat your breakfast before I change my mind about feeding you. ’
    ‘ You wouldn ’ t! ’
    ‘ Don ’ t try my patience,
Kirra. ’
    ‘ Fine. ’
    He disappeared back into the kitchen and she followed
him in, chewing hungrily on her bottom lip.
    She must have sounded like an ungrateful shrew. What right did she have
to jump to conclusions? To pry? It only drew her down to his level. She was
capable of more diplomacy than that . Surely? But why did she feel always
on the back foot with him?
    With renewed purpose, as she headed back to the
kitchen, she drilled herself to stay away from any more questions of a personal
nature. He ’ d opened his home to her. If she had to stay with him
indefinitely, it made sense not to antagonise him.  
    Taking a seat at the breakfast table, she watched him
hold up two slices of bread towards her. Absolutely famished, she nodded and he
dropped them in the toaster.
    It was