Page 1 of Stockman's Stowaway

Zero

Elsie Creek Station - October 1962

‘Mind your manners, Harry Splint. I’m a married woman.’ Penelope Price swatted his hand away.

Harry chuckled. Leaning a shoulder against the pole on the farmhouse verandah, he poked up the brim of his Akubra. His saddled stockhorse grazed on the grass behind him as he inhaled the scents of a roast cooking, a welcome reprieve from sucking bulldust all week. ‘It doesn’t stop me wanting you any less, Pen.’ His eyes slow-crawled over Penelope in her pretty summer dress.

‘It’s wrong.’ Even if she did give that skirt of hers a bit of swing.

He grinned, putting one hand on her hip to drag her into his chest. ‘What’s wrong is that you’re not married to me.’

She pushed against his chest as his arms snaked around her body. ‘We shouldn’t—’

‘Shh, let me kiss you.’ And he did, pressing his lips to hers, savouring the flavour of this woman who had become his whole world.

‘Harry, someone might see us.’

Reluctantly, he let her go, admiring how her lips were all red and shiny from his kisses. ‘You look beautiful.’

She dropped her head as a pretty flush made her cheeks all rosy. But her latest bruise peeked out from her collar.

That mongrel.‘What happened?’

‘Nothing.’ She plucked up the collar on her dress to hide the bruise, dropping her head in shame.

He frowned, stepping back off the porch to give her space. ‘What do you want me to do?’

‘Leave.’

‘I’m not leaving without you.’ His frown deepened. ‘I’m not leaving you with that mongrel who hurts you. If I ever catch him raising another fist at you, I will return the favour.’

Penelope wrapped her arms around herself. ‘I’m not worth the fuss.’

‘Believe me, you are worth it.’ Harry tenderly stroked her soft blonde curls, lowering himself to meet her eyes, but she wouldn’t look at him.

He stepped onto the verandah, so close that their noses were just touching. ‘I love you, Penelope Price. We can’t fight what we both feel. It’s fate.’

Yet she still wouldn’t look at him.

‘Have you found your marriage certificate yet?’ He asked her. It was the last piece she needed to be free.

‘I'm looking. And I won't stop looking.’ Her eyes were filled with determination. ‘How about as soon as I find that paperwork,’ her voice dropped to a whisper, ‘we pack up that monstrous green car of yours and run away together?’

Harry could barely contain his grin from cracking wide open. He wanted to toss his hat in the air and let the world know their story.

But they couldn’t.

It was a dangerous business being in love with the head stockman’s wife.

But he just couldn’t help himself when it came to Penelope Price. ‘Do you really mean it?’

She gave a shy shrug.

Pulling her into his chest, once more snaking his arms around her waist. ‘We’ll go to a place where we can reinvent ourselves, where no one will know us. We’ll be free.’

‘What about your brother?’

‘Charlie’s his own man—’

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