Page 31 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

‘The publican’s daughter’s horses.’

‘Does she ever come here and ride them?’

‘Afraid not. She passed away from breast cancer a couple of months back. Her dad can’t bear to part with them just yet.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear. That’s really sad.’

‘Yeah, tell me about it. Life can be a right bitch when it wants to be.’ Ty tossed all three bales over the fence. His hands going to his hips, he watched as the horses helped themselves to their treat. ‘I told him I could take care of the trio while he decides what he wants to do with them.’

Instinctively, Rose brought her hand to his back. ‘That’s really kind of you, Ty.’

‘She and I went to school together, and her dad is a real good bloke.’ He shrugged her praise off. ‘It was the least I could do.’

Going to turn, Rose lost her footing and for a split second, steeled herself to hit the ground, hard. Ty caught her just in the nick of time and as she steadied herself, he kept his grip on her arm. She was glad for the safety net of him, otherwise she would’ve hit the dirt in a very ungraceful, embarrassing manner, and quite possibly have broken a bone.

Finally finding her equilibrium, she offered him a lopsided grin. ‘Thanks, Ty.’

Man, oh man, I’m an idiot.

‘No worries.’ He chuckled lightly. ‘It was the least I could do.’

‘Ha, yeah. Too right.’ She gave his arm a friendly slap.

‘Come on, then. We’ve got a couple more bales to get rid of, then we can kick back and enjoy our New Year’s Eve in style with my moist-as brisket, your yummy golden syrup pudding, lots of cold beers and a good old-fashioned campfire.’

Rose grinned from ear to ear. ‘Now that, my friend, sounds like my kind of New Year’s Eve shindig. And FYI, I can’t wait to try your brisket, so let’s just hope it’s all you’ve talked it up to be, huh?’ She wiggled her brows with lighthearted banter.

‘Oh, you just wait, Jonesy. It’s gonna knock your bloody socks right off.’ He sniffed the air comically. ‘It’s that bloody good, I can smell it from here.’

Rose sniffed too, but all she could smell was hay, horses and this hot as hell man beside her.

‘As if you could smell it from here, you gullible loon.’ Laughing now, Ty gave her a light playful shove. ‘I got Buck a bale of lucerne too. I hope you don’t mind.’

Rose’s heart fluttered. ‘You did?’

‘Of course. He’s one of the Wildstone tribe now.’

‘That’s so thoughtful, Ty, thank you. I’ll be sure to pay you for it.’

He glanced over his shoulder. ‘Oh no, you won’t.’

‘Won’t I?’

‘Nope.’ He held his hand up to help her down.

‘We’ll see,’ she said as her boots hit the ground with a thud.

‘No, we won’t.’ His smile sent a flash of heat throughout her.

A few hours later, both with bellies full to the brim with the most lip-smacking yummy food, Rose settled herself into the fold-out chair Ty had just put by the campfire with the fresh cold beer he’d just handed her from the Esky.

Cradling his longneck, Ty lowered himself into the chair beside her, stretched out his legs and crossed his well-worn boots at the ankles. Both in a food coma, they stared up at the vastness of the velvet back sky, swathed with thousands of glimmering stars. The sound of the warm fire cracking and popping added to the relaxed ambience.

Ty sighed softly at the exact time Rose did. Sneaking a little glance in his direction, she caught him doing the same thing. Their eyes met and they shared a small yet meaningful smile before turning back to the night sky.

Resting her head back, Rose watched Mother Nature’s artwork in all its glory. Her belly fluttering from the power of his gaze, she felt a new kind of admiration for the deep man Ty Parker was turning out to be. Never had she met another like him, nor did she believe she ever would. Ty was one in a bazillion, that was for sure. Peace encompassed her with the contemplation. How blessed she was to be welcoming the new year in by his side, beneath a breathtakingly stunning outback sky. And he didn’t feel the need to fill the beautiful silence with empty chatter. What’s more, she also treasured that she was so comfortable within such a profound silence with him.

In that moment of quiet contemplation, time seemed to stall, leaving her and Ty in a limbo that many would give a right arm to float in. She sank even deeper into the sensation of it, her soft smile remaining as the minutes passed them by with effortless ease.