Read Online The Rouseabout Girl by Gloria Bevan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gloria Bevan
Tags: Harlequin Romance 1983
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hurt him to pronounce it. He could scarcely ignore her, she reflected crossly, but having her here tonight gave him no joy, anyone could see that! Aloud she said quietly, ‘Just a sherry, please.’
He crossed the room to hand her the goblet and once again she noticed the hard expression in his eyes.
Paula went to stand at his side, her gaze roving proudly over the firelit room and beautifully appointed table. ‘Aren’t you going to say it, Jard? Didn’t she do well?
The laughing, provocative face upturned to Jard, Lanie thought, was demanding attention, praise, appreciation—or love? Now where had that thought come from? These people were strangers to her, all of them, except Sandy who in some odd fashion already seemed to her to be someone she could trust, in spite of his misleading information.
Could it be the firelight, she wondered, that lent Jard’s face that stern unrelenting look? His fiat tones gave nothing away. ‘You sure saved our life.’
Paula’s excited expression died away. Her eyes dropped, the dark lashes veiling her expression. Had the other girl expected a warmer welcome in view of all her careful preparation tonight? Lanie wondered.
Around her the talk was becoming general, topics that were as far removed from her own interests as another world. The state of the stock markets, aerial topdressing, the hill at the back of the station that was due for a burn. There were discussions regarding horses, mares and foals, mention of a blacksmith, a new vet in the district. The long drive, the sherry, the warmth of the firelit room combined to make her head begin to buzz, but through it all one thing seemed clear. Jard was the head of this small kingdom and they all deferred to his judgment. Clearly the great white chief was in command and rebellion of any sort would not be tolerated. His warning, coolly delivered to her, echoed in her mind with painful clarity. ‘ If you’re going to work for me, you’d better be good !’
As she sipped her sherry she took in Jard’s tall figure. Even his stance was that of the man in command. There was about him an autocratic air, his whole bearing that of a man of substance and authority. Hadn’t she felt the force of his dominant personality from their moment of meeting? Now at last she understood the reason. Not that he appeared to throw his weight about, she had to admit, watching his attentive expression as the head shepherd reported to him on station matters during his absence.
All at once she became aware that Sandy had dropped down at her side on the deep settee. She turned towards him impulsively. ‘Tell me, Sandy. I had no idea how things really were here. Jard owns this whole property, doesn’t he? He’s a big runholder and this is the station homestead—it must be!’
‘Sure is, lass.’
'But why,’ she cried exasperatedly, ‘didn’t you tell me?’
Sandy's weathered, lined features puckered in a rueful grin. ‘Couldn’t risk losing you, that’s why! To be truthful, there were certain personal reasons too, a little plan of mine I’m hoping might come off — ’ He broke off. ‘But we won’t go into that! Let’s just say I had a hunch that you’d fill the bill and what’s more , you’d be glad that you took the job down here!’ His eyes were twinkling in a leathery face. ‘Even if I didn’t go into too many details about the acreage of Rangimarie!’
Lanie eyed him reprovingly, but she couldn’t quite subdue the glimmer of amusement in her eyes. ‘How many acres?’
‘Five thousand odd, that’s counting the hill country at the back of the station—but don’t let it throw you,’ his grin was warm and friendly, ‘we’re a small outfit around here mealwise, except when the odd visitor turns up.’ Did she imagine the sudden hardening of his tone? ‘Like tonight! Why not look on your spell here as a holiday?’ He shot her a glance from those surprisingly alert eyes, ‘Right?’
A reluctant smile tugged at her
He crossed the room to hand her the goblet and once again she noticed the hard expression in his eyes.
Paula went to stand at his side, her gaze roving proudly over the firelit room and beautifully appointed table. ‘Aren’t you going to say it, Jard? Didn’t she do well?
The laughing, provocative face upturned to Jard, Lanie thought, was demanding attention, praise, appreciation—or love? Now where had that thought come from? These people were strangers to her, all of them, except Sandy who in some odd fashion already seemed to her to be someone she could trust, in spite of his misleading information.
Could it be the firelight, she wondered, that lent Jard’s face that stern unrelenting look? His fiat tones gave nothing away. ‘You sure saved our life.’
Paula’s excited expression died away. Her eyes dropped, the dark lashes veiling her expression. Had the other girl expected a warmer welcome in view of all her careful preparation tonight? Lanie wondered.
Around her the talk was becoming general, topics that were as far removed from her own interests as another world. The state of the stock markets, aerial topdressing, the hill at the back of the station that was due for a burn. There were discussions regarding horses, mares and foals, mention of a blacksmith, a new vet in the district. The long drive, the sherry, the warmth of the firelit room combined to make her head begin to buzz, but through it all one thing seemed clear. Jard was the head of this small kingdom and they all deferred to his judgment. Clearly the great white chief was in command and rebellion of any sort would not be tolerated. His warning, coolly delivered to her, echoed in her mind with painful clarity. ‘ If you’re going to work for me, you’d better be good !’
As she sipped her sherry she took in Jard’s tall figure. Even his stance was that of the man in command. There was about him an autocratic air, his whole bearing that of a man of substance and authority. Hadn’t she felt the force of his dominant personality from their moment of meeting? Now at last she understood the reason. Not that he appeared to throw his weight about, she had to admit, watching his attentive expression as the head shepherd reported to him on station matters during his absence.
All at once she became aware that Sandy had dropped down at her side on the deep settee. She turned towards him impulsively. ‘Tell me, Sandy. I had no idea how things really were here. Jard owns this whole property, doesn’t he? He’s a big runholder and this is the station homestead—it must be!’
‘Sure is, lass.’
'But why,’ she cried exasperatedly, ‘didn’t you tell me?’
Sandy's weathered, lined features puckered in a rueful grin. ‘Couldn’t risk losing you, that’s why! To be truthful, there were certain personal reasons too, a little plan of mine I’m hoping might come off — ’ He broke off. ‘But we won’t go into that! Let’s just say I had a hunch that you’d fill the bill and what’s more , you’d be glad that you took the job down here!’ His eyes were twinkling in a leathery face. ‘Even if I didn’t go into too many details about the acreage of Rangimarie!’
Lanie eyed him reprovingly, but she couldn’t quite subdue the glimmer of amusement in her eyes. ‘How many acres?’
‘Five thousand odd, that’s counting the hill country at the back of the station—but don’t let it throw you,’ his grin was warm and friendly, ‘we’re a small outfit around here mealwise, except when the odd visitor turns up.’ Did she imagine the sudden hardening of his tone? ‘Like tonight! Why not look on your spell here as a holiday?’ He shot her a glance from those surprisingly alert eyes, ‘Right?’
A reluctant smile tugged at her
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