Page 207 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

Sorry for messing up everyone’s lives.

When dinner was finished and Amy told her she was sleeping in the main house, Harper didn’t know how to feel.

“I’m exhausted and I don’t want to kick you out of my bed yet,” Amy had murmured, hugging her. “Hazel said I could stay here until you leave if you want.”

* * *

The next few days were terrible bliss. Amy had decided to let Harper finish her teaching week, enjoying the days working the cattle alongside Keith and Marc. The fact her best friend could “work the cattle” left Harper in awe and highlighted the fact she could do little on Farpoint herself except teach. She was a city girl, not a cowgirl. Teaching in the Outback was one thing, roping cattle and culling herds was another. Every time she considered going to Hunter and asking him if there was any job she could do on Farpoint, any job that meant she could stay, she’d think of Amy riding out every day with Keith and Marc on the back of a horse and realize she was a teacher. That was it. A teacher at a school that no longer needed her.

So she worked the classroom, making the most of her time left with the adorable Farpoint kids, keeping so busy she didn’t have time to think about walking away from it all.

And every day, when class ended, Keith and Marc would collect her and they’d find their way to the billabong, where both men would bring her to orgasm over and over again.

On her second-to-last morning at Farpoint, Harper finally understood she’d been a masochist to keep sleeping with Keith and Marc after Amy came home. She should have ended their relationship there and then, saving her from the wonderful torture of more days and nights in their arms.

Staring at herself in the bathroom mirror, the rising sun streaming through the window, she drew in a deep breath.

“No more,” she whispered to her reflection. “I’ve got to go cold turkey or I’ll never be able to?—”

The landline phone trilled beside the sofa.

She started, swallowing the sudden rapid pulse thumping in her throat. Who would be ringing at six in the morning?

“Tell them to bugger off.” Keith’s groan came from the bedroom.

“It’s just gone sunrise, for Pete’s sake,” came Marc’s sleepy grumble. “Tell them to get a life.”

“Hello?” Harper said, lifting the hand piece to her ear.

“Wake the lazy bastards, Harper.” Hunter’s now-familiar voice came through the connection. “They’ve got to get out to the airstrip. We’ve got an incoming chopper due to land in just under an hour.” He paused. “Oh and Ms. Shaw? I think you should get them to drop you off here at the homestead first, okay?”

“Who was it?” Keith emerged from the bedroom naked, stretching and very much erect.

“Hunter,” she answered, her heart pounding fast. “He wants you and Marc to go collect someone from the airstrip.”

“He can bloody well wait,” he muttered, walking toward her. “Thomo and I have other plans.”

Thirty minutes after the most amazing quickie of her life, Harper stood and watched them drive away from the homestead, the dust from the ute a billowing trail speeding away from her. It seemed symbolic. Today was her last day. She was flying back to Chicago tomorrow.

“Crap,” she murmured.

Annie snugged an arm around her waist. “Come inside and I’ll make you coffee.”

Coffee didn’t do anything to lighten Harper’s mood. To get her mind off the impending trip, she sat Amy down and led her through the lessons Harper had taught the class. More than once Harper had to snap her fingers in front of her friend’s face.

It was on the tip of Harper’s tongue to say she would take over permanently. Every time she came close, Amy would refocus on the lesson notes Harper was scribbling out, would make a comment about the curriculum, and Harper would see a gleam in her friend’s eye that said for all her complaining, Amy loved being a teacher.

“If I went on a holiday somewhere,” Amy suddenly said, squeezing Harper’s hand, “would you come teach my class again?”

It was a ridiculous question, but damn, it made her heart pound. “Absolutely,” she answered, knowing it was a moot point. Amy had spent her entire savings on the trip to Chicago and Harper didn’t have enough leave accrued to leave her job back home for anything more than a day. Even if Amy did go on vacation, Harper couldn’t come back to Farpoint for over a year. Not without relinquishing her teaching position. “Anytime. Just call.”

Amy’s answering laugh was wry. “Deal.”

They looked at each other, both lost to their pain.

When Hunter strolled through the living room where they both sat, Harper jumped. “Visitor’s here,” he threw over his shoulder as he pulled the front door wide. “Get your arses out there, ladies.”

Amy burst out laughing.

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