He grabbed his walkie-talkie from the basket strapped to the entrance of the bike. ‘Hey, Oyster, I discovered the son of a bitch close to the east aspect paddock, over on Charlie’s land, and one other bloody gaping gap within the fence too.’

‘All the best way up yonder, effectively, I’ll be buggered.’ Oyster’s voice crackled via the speaker. ‘There have to be some nice heifer someplace there to lure him that far-off.’

‘Yeah, most certainly.’

‘I’ll head on up there now, boss.’

‘Righto, I’m simply going to move again to the shed to seize some instruments.’

‘Roger that.’

Over the opposite aspect of what ought to have been his ten-acre pen, with all 4 hoofs firmly planted on the neighbour’s land and his horned head challengingly lowered, Connor’s nemesis glared again at him. Snorting, it then stomped its entrance foot. Unperturbed by the beast’s present of muscle, Connor growled again at him. He’d reached his restrict. There have been no extra free passes. The nice-for-nothing rogue had achieved his ultimate sprint. When he received his palms on him, the feral brute was going to be heading off on the primary potential truckload to the native saleyards, which was in a few days’ time. What occurred after that wasn’t his concern. Incomes a livelihood from livestock wasn’t for the faint-hearted. He couldn’t have cattle that continuously added unnecessarily to his already heavy workload. Onerous-heartedness didn’t come naturally to him however had been bred into him by his cattleman father, God relaxation his soul. There was a time and place for a mushy coronary heart, like when he was within the mesmerising firm of Samantha, however not right here, and never now.

Revving the bike, he spun it round and, like a person on a mission, headed in the direction of the outbuildings. Leaving the motorcycle in impartial, he left the motor operating and jumped off. With decided steps he strode into the shed, the place his boot heels clomping on the concrete ground echoed. Heading in the direction of the switches, he flicked them on, and the shed ignited with florescent mild. Grabbing his toolbox from the workbench, he stomped again exterior and, climbing again on his quad, headed off to repair the fence. However earlier than he might do this, he knew he was going to spend a part of an hour attempting to get the blasted bull again on his property. He didn’t need it wreaking havoc with previous Charlie Harrison’s heifers. His neighbour wouldn’t be happy if that occurred.

Earlier than Connor knew it – after shedding blood when the tip of the bull’s horn caught his forearm, sweating his butt off whereas tending to the agisted horses and holding again pissed off tears as he wrestled to get the whole lot achieved in dwindling daylight – it was fortunately the top of yet one more day, and by some miracle all his jobs had been accomplished. Nicely, all however one. He nonetheless needed to move over to see Sammie and was happy she’d accepted his invitation to catch up over a few beers whereas they ironed out a number of final particulars. She’d even supplied for him to remain for dinner. He was utilizing the excuse of touching base on the final of the marriage plans, however in reality, he simply needed to be close to her. Stripping off his shirt, he dunked his head beneath the chilly water of the laundry sink, questioning if he was all of a sudden sizzling from wandering into the farmhouse, or as a result of he was fascinated with her. One thing advised him it was the latter. Far out, at this fee he was going to have to go away the water operating chilly for his bathe if he needed to keep away from arriving at her door on fireplace.

Proper on the dot, dressed casually however attentively, with an easygoing smile planted on his face, he knocked on the entrance door of the homestead, and couldn’t assist the frenzied beat of his coronary heart when she tugged it open. ‘Hey, Connor. On time, as all the time.’

‘Howdy, Sammie.’ He shoved his free hand into his pocket in a bid to cease himself from grabbing maintain of her, and … Cease it, Gunn. ‘Yup, can’t assist it, I’m a stickler for,’ you, ‘punctuality.’

‘Me too, and I’ve to say, in my expertise, not many individuals are.’ She regarded him thoughtfully. ‘It says so much about an individual, being punctual.’

‘It does, hey.’ If solely he might inform her precisely what he was considering.

As if a pause button had been pressed, they simply stood there, watching one another. Seconds ticked by, nevertheless it felt as if time was standing nonetheless.

‘So, can I are available?’ His tone was lighthearted.

‘Crap, sorry.’ She appeared to snap to. ‘In fact, you’ll be able to.’ She stepped apart. ‘It’s not such as you’re a stranger.’

‘I’m removed from it.’ His gaze drifted over her face, then for a fleeting second, lingered on her shiny lips. Recollections of getting his mouth pressed up towards hers all these years in the past had him all sizzling beneath the collar of his Ariat polo shirt. ‘Right here you go, I introduced the great things.’ He handed her the six-pack of domestically made tropical ale.

‘Oh, wow, I’d forgotten all about this brewery.’ She checked out him with amazement. ‘I can’t imagine you remembered how a lot I like these things.’

‘In fact I do.’

For a protracted silent second, she simply stared at him once more, then whispered, ‘Thanks for being so considerate.’

‘My pleasure.’ The home was oddly quiet, and he swore his swooping coronary heart was beating as loud as drumbeats. ‘Are Jack and Shea about?’

‘Oh, no, they went into city to meet up with her aunty for dinner.’

One thing inside him cartwheeled. ‘So, seems to be we’re house alone.’

‘Sure, one thing like that.’ She held the six-pack of beer up. ‘Let’s go and crack open considered one of these every, lets.’

‘Yup.’ He fell into step beside her as they headed into the kitchen. ‘One thing smells bloody good.’

She smiled appreciatively. ‘I made us a hen, bacon and leek casserole, with creamy garlic and spring onion mash.’

‘For actual?’

‘Sure.’ She smirked at his look of marvel. ‘I can prepare dinner, you realize.’

‘I imagine you’ll be able to, I’ve simply by no means had you prepare dinner for me, that’s all.’

‘Hey yeah, I haven’t ever cooked for you, have I?’ She chuckled. ‘Nicely, there’s a primary time for the whole lot, as they are saying.’

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