Page 61 of A Chance to Believe

‘I will not let your curse get me, my sweet. We Smiths are hard to kill.’

Her vision cleared and she saw the other men had gone back to their tasks. Morgan hovered until Shayne waved him away. ‘She’s fine. I’ve got her.’

I can’t. I can’t do this again.

Cassie wondered if she’d said it aloud because his grip on her arms tightened. Tipping her head back, she looked at him. He looked fierce, his eyes a dark pool with rims of bright green.

‘You should have stayed near the car.’

She didn’t have time to respond because his mouth took possession of hers. His arms wrapped around her, bringing her hard against him, her rounded belly pressed close. It was wild and full of the passion she’d missed so much. Maybe it was the kick against his stomach that brought him out of it because she was lost.

He rubbed a hand over her stomach. ‘Sorry, kids, I didn’t mean to squash you.’

The tenderness in his tone and gesture brought the ready tears. Damn it. She never cried and here she was, blubbing again. She leaned into his shoulder, inhaling the scent of him, overlaid with sweat. His shirt was drenched in a wide swathe down the front and probably the back as well. It was not unpleasant but must be uncomfortable for him. This entire scene must be difficult for him. She sucked in a breath and straightened, pulling away.

‘Will Jordan be all right?’

He sobered, his brow forming a crease between his eyes. ‘He’s going to have a tough road. Morgan thinks he’s trashed his pelvis and both femurs along with one arm and shoulder. They’re hoping the spine is okay, only bruised.’

‘Poor Jordan. How will Celie cope, and the kids?’

‘Family will help. He’s always helped us and with my extra staff I’ve been putting on, I’ll have a bit more leeway to give him a hand on the farm. I have a guy starting who I was going to put in a managerial position. I can loan him to the Taites.’

‘You sound like it’s all sorted.’

He scrubbed his hair back with a hand smudged with grease and dirt. ‘That’s life on the land. You have to think on your feet.’

‘Like diving under a tractor to help your cousin.’

His grin was a little crooked. ‘All in a day’s work.’

The SES team were cleaning up. She supposed someone would have to organise to clear the tree, but that would be a farm job. The sun was setting and she realised they had been there for hours. She’d been so focused on what was happening time had become irrelevant. ‘Are we able to go now?’

‘Absolutely.’ He kept his arm around her, but she could feel him struggle with the steep side of the gully with his leg. ‘They said you had a cramp.’

‘It’s stiff, but a walk will soon unknot the muscles.’

‘We’re a fine pair. You’re hobbled and I’m barely able to walk.’ She let out a breath and rubbed at her back. ‘I think sitting on the dirt wasn’t a great idea for me, either.’

* * *

Shayne watched Cassie rub her back again when they stopped at the Lexus. ‘Are you sure you’re alright?’

‘It’s just an ache. It was awkward sitting on the ground. It’s not like I spent a couple of hours crammed under a tractor with a giant tree on it.’

‘No. I suppose not.’ He steadied her into the car and walked around to flop into the driver’s side. ‘Lucky it’s not my driving leg.’

They waved at the guys putting equipment back into the trucks and headed out.

‘We might stop off at my parents’ place and give them a heads-up. We can freshen up there.’

She looked surprised because they never randomly dropped into his parents’ place. He had a bad feeling about that backache, and the thought of being twenty minutes out of town at this point gave him the shudders. If things settled down after a shower and a meal, he would take her home.

The one thing he remembered about Courtney’s labour was the backache she’d complained about for hours; until her water broke and she demanded he take her to the hospital. Not that he got to be in the labour ward with her. She’d had a female friend with her as her breathing coach. He’d waited outside with his parents and Ben. They’d let him in once Kimberley had been checked out and cleaned up. He’d brought his daughter out to the family while Courtney was transferred back to the ward. One advantage of being in a small local hospital. He knew most of the regular staff, so they’d let him hang around, even though the mother wasn’t technically in a relationship with him.

If Cassie had to go to Bialga he wouldn’t have that choice unless she let him stay. He hoped, the way things had been developing between them, she would be happy to have him there. He’d only attended one class because Cassie had done them on her own in Brisbane. It had been her suggestion, organised with the nurse at Morgan’s clinic, which meant she was open to him being there for the birth. If today hadn’t changed her mind.

She hadn’t talked to him properly after that first emotional outburst. Risking his life could play on her fears in any number of ways. Showing himself as someone who plunged into dangerous situations without thought could put her right off any kind of serious relationship.

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