Page 29 of Ruby’s Outback Love

I’d shed enough tears to get the river flowing again when I’d returned home.

“Phil insisted he still loves me but even if I believed him, it’s too late. The damage is done. I can’t go back.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Both I guess.”

“Did you give him a chance to explain about Francine?”

I shook my head. “Why would I? They’d been friends and lovers even in high school. Obviously they’d been together the entire time despite what Phil said when he visited. I was some kind of interlude for him. I don’t know. Maybe they fought and Phil was looking for a quick fuck to get rid of his frustration. I happened to be available and was stupid enough to get caught in his trap. When he returned to Brisbane, they got back together and when Francine discovered she was pregnant, Phil proposed. I was nothing more than a convenient patsy who fell for his lies and his charm.”

“Didn’t you stay in touch after he returned to Brisbane? Why would he have done that if he was in love with Francine? Why didn’t he go through with the marriage after she miscarried?”

Good and valid questions I’d asked myself a thousand times since I’d found out he was still single.

“I have no idea.” My voice was barely a whisper and when I glanced at Linda, she raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t you think it’s time you asked him? There is obviously so much more to the situation than you understand.”

Before I could answer, Drew and Cam entered along with an FDS pilot I hadn’t seen before.

Cam’s eyes roved over the back of her as he followed behind. The woman was tall, slender and exotically beautiful. Her hair was as black as the midnight sky, her eyes an almost luminescent ice blue.

She extended her hand toward me.

“Hi, I’m Elouise. Finn is off crook for the next few days and James is in Western Australia visiting family, so I’m the taxi for this week. I’m fresh out of Charleville, transferred last week, so this is my first week out of Dubbo.”

I shook her hand. “I’m Ruby.”

Elouise held her hand out to Linda, who also gave the stranger her name. We didn’t have long before surgery was to begin so we were unable to find out any other information on the woman Cam seemed to be exceedingly interested in. I would have bet my next pay packet on the fact he’d flirted with her relentlessly on the flight up.

“Well, I’ll leave you be and catch up later in the week.” Elouise smiled.

“Thanks for the lift.” Cam’s eyes sparkled with, well, I wasn’t sure what, as he gazed at the woman.

“Pleasure. See you on Friday.”

We watched as she turned and headed back outside. Cam sighed loudly and we all laughed. Our playboy had found a new conquest.

“Ready to start, ladies?” Drew asked the question of both of us but his focus and smile were directed in Linda’s direction.

Love shone from his eyes and a stab of yearning pierced my wounded heart. How I would love for someone to look my way with such adoration in their eyes. No. Not someone – Phil. Would I ever find release from this crippling hurt which was beginning to overwhelm me?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Barrawon Station NSW

RUBY

The morning surgery passed by in a flash and without incident. Linda, Viv and I sat in the shade of the back patio sipping on cool drinks while Drew, Cam and Gary stood around the barbecue chatting. Steak, sausages and onions sizzled on the metal plate, the aroma causing my stomach to growl and mouth to water.

Linda glanced at the men before turning to Viv and I. “What is it that causes men to gravitate to barbecues?”

Viv and I shrugged.

“At least it keeps them out of our hair.” Viv stated.

Linda and I laughed.