Page 56 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

‘Cheers.’ Rose’s braid had loosened from their day out riding, and now hung in tendrils around her pretty face. She took a long glug, then sighed in pleasure. ‘Oh yeah. That’s hit the spot nicely.’

He did the same and nodded. ‘Uh-huh. Nothing better than a cold one at the end of a long, hot day.’ He watched the sun beginning its descent behind the mountains. ‘I never get tired of the sunsets here. There’s just something about them that soothes my soul.’

Rose leant back a little, her gaze dreamy and her smile wistful. ‘I totally agree.’

They sat in their usual companionable silence as the sun finally disappeared and the first star appeared in the darkening sky. Ty couldn’t help but wonder if she made love like she rode, with all her heart – wild and free.

As if sensing his attention, Rose angled a searching glance towards him. ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’

He feigned witlessness. ‘Like what?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Righto, Parker. Whatever.’

He couldn’t help but smirk at her play of indifference.

Turning her gaze back towards the blanket of stars making a glimmering appearance, her body softened and the hint of a smile twitched her lips, as if she were drawing the tranquillity of Wildstone Station deep into her soul. Ty knew exactly how that felt – he did it every single day.

The wind picked up, stirring the branches of the tree and scattering leaves across the verandah. The sudden breeze caught the locks of her loose hair, sweeping them across her face, and in that moment, she turned to him with so much written in her gaze, it took his breath away. It was as if she was seeing into the deepest, darkest parts of his soul. Reaching out, he tucked the loose strands behind her ears. He didn’t speak – words would be superficial right now.

Biting her bottom lip, Rose shifted a little, angling herself towards him. Ty had to remind himself to breathe, slow and steady. She was close, so very close, that when he dared a look into her eyes again, he lost himself. Every part of him wanted to slip his fingers into her chaotic hair and kiss her into tomorrow …

Which was when Leah burst through the back door. ‘Hey, you two. How was the muster?’

Rose’s slight smile hinted at a tinge of regret at the interruption, but she turned to Leah and beamed from ear to dainty ear – ones that still wore the earrings he’d bought for her Christmas present. ‘Hey, Leah. It was great.’

‘Yeah, what she said.’ Looking at his sister, Ty tipped his head to Rose.

‘Hmm.’ Leah stopped in her tracks, looking from Ty to Rose then back to Ty again. ‘I can go back inside, if you pair like.’ Her slight smirk told Ty she’d picked up on the electric atmosphere.

‘Oh god, no.’ Rose’s eyes were somewhat convincing, and her tone steady. ‘Come sit, and tell me all about your night at the ball.’

Ty shifted over, allowing Leah to sit between them. He listened to the two of them chatting like a pair of old friends, which made him adore Rose even more. She’d slot right into life here at Wildstone Station, of that he was certain. He just had to somehow find a way to get her to be sure of that too.

CHAPTER

16

The rodeo grounds simmered beneath the glowing ball of scorching heat. Dusty air swirled as the bulls shifted in the stock pens, the crowd whooped and hollered, gasped and cheered, and the flies were bloody relentless. Behind the chutes, bull riders waited for their turns – some paced, some stretched, others prayed.

Ty had gone and drawn another foul-tempered bull, this one called Rocket, and was doing his best to steel himself for another ride of his life. The prize money would really take the strain off when he had to hand over Kelly’s payout in two weeks’ time.

Eight seconds.

That’s all he needed. Then he could be rid of Kelly for good.

Darius Rucker’s ‘Wagon Wheel’ bellowed from the speakers, and the two thousand–strong crowd sang the lyrics to the catchy country tune at the tops of their lungs. Ty hummed it to himself as he zipped up his protective vest. As he strode down the catwalk high above the holding yard, he felt himself slipping into the zone where nothing else mattered, if only for the eight seconds. The song ended and the announcer introduced the match-ups of riders to bulls. His next ride was closing in.

He got himself settled on the top rung at the back of the chutes, where the mood crackled with anticipation and testosterone. Searching the sea of people in the grandstands, it didn’t take him long to find Rose’s beautiful face staring back at him from the VIP area. He gave her a wave and she waved back, as did Leah. It buoyed his heart and soul to know that the two most important people in his life were here to cheer him on.

He couldn’t believe it had been a week since the ball. Time was going too fast for his liking. One more week and Rose would be heading back to Jacaranda Farm, and his heart was going to ache like buggery.

Turning his attention back to the show, he watched on as, one at a time, the riders flew out of the chutes. Some made the eight seconds, some didn’t; some walked out of the arena, others crawled. Ty cheered all of them on, because that’s what bull riders did. They never pitted against each other – it was them against the bucking bulls, and the ticking clock.

Then, it was his time to shine.

Pressing his wide-brimmed hat low over his brow, he scaled the gate of his chute with the help of his fellow riders. Bracing himself, he peered into the wicked eyes of his rival as he climbed over, keeping his boots on the metal rungs, just out of harm’s way. Taking a deep, calming breath, he eased down and straddled the snorting, stomping beast. There was only one thing on this brute’s mind – to roll him. And the bull hit that fact home by shouldering the railings and pawing at the ground. The three other riders stood at the ready by the chute, hovering over Ty, ready to pull him up and out if the bull lost its temper and let rip. Which was very much on the cards with a bull such as this one.

‘Bring it on, buddy,’ Ty growled at his adversary. ‘Let’s see what you’ve got.’