Dance with the Devil (30 page)

The woman capped the urn and gazed towards the horizon, to where mountain after magnificent mountain lay shrouded in cloud.

'Do you think she'll be sent to prison?' Compassion tinged Emma's voice as she gazed at Ivy's solitary figure. She could feel no anger towards Hadley's widow, only a sad pity.

Drew shook his head, leaned back against his Rodeo. 'She'll probably get a suspended sentence. Although she didn't notify the police when Morgan kidnapped me, she still saved my life and she tried to help the investigation. Besides, I think a jury would find she acted in fear of what her husband might do to her.'

'So now she's lost everything, her son, her husband.'

'A lot of people have lost their loved ones because of Morgan.' Drew thought of Dario, whose funeral he'd been unable to attend because the doctors wouldn't allow him to leave the hospital. It was some compensation for him to know that Emma had gone in his place.

He smiled as he remembered her determination to light the fire to attract their rescuers. She'd created so much smoke it was a wonder it wasn't seen in Cairns. When the helicopter had flown them to Cairns Hospital she had been in her element, issuing orders and directing the medical staff until she was politely but firmly marched off to have her own minor injuries attended to. Chayse had told him that evening that Emma had declared herself his personal physician and insisted on being informed on every aspect of his treatment.

He'd had little time alone with her in the next few days. An infection had developed in his punctured lung and he'd slept a lot as it battled the antibiotics he was given. Visitors took up a lot of his waking time. And when he had been released into her care, there had not been enough time alone to talk about their future.

He helped Emma get permission to bury her father on a rise overlooking the stables he had loved. It was a small ceremony, with Emma's mother and stepfather and a handful of valley residents bidding farewell to a man who had not been able to accept the love he had been offered in life.

Tom Johnson was now recovering at home, but Drew was amazed by the change in Mary when she came to the graveside, Bethany gurgling happily in her arms. It was as though having to take on the role of carer had given her a strength of purpose she had previously lacked.

Afterwards, Drew had held Emma as she'd cried her grief for the last time. He'd told her again how much he loved her, and although she had said nothing about staying with him, she'd assured him that love was returned. For the time being that had had to be enough.

Now, as she watched Ivy Morgan grieve for the man who had been her husband, Emma knew it was time to talk to Drew. In the past few weeks her priorities had undergone a complete turnaround, but she had yet to see if Drew would be open to the plan she envisaged.

She turned to him, and her heartbeat accelerated as she gazed into his eyes and was reminded of the first time she had been arrested by their depth of colour. They hadn't made love since the night before Bethany was kidnapped, and her need for him was a constant ache. She touched his arm, aware of his instant reaction to her caress. The blue in his eyes flared deeper, the muscles under her fingers tautened as though his whole body was locked by self-control. Then he took her hands, his thumbs gently moving over her soft palms in surprising intimacy.

'Emma, I need to talk to you.' Drew had the feeling Emma was going to tell him something, and he wasn't sure he was going to like it. True, she had reassured him she loved him, but he knew her determination to follow her dream, and he wasn't sure he could be gracious enough to let her return to her work without putting up a fight to make her stay.

'Allan Baker's parents came to see me yesterday. Allan's in counselling and undergoing drug rehabilitation. They're hopeful he'll be able to get off drugs permanently. They've made a donation to The Centre for me to use where I see the need.'

'Drew, that's wonderful. Do you have something in mind?'

He hesitated. At first the idea had seemed far-fetched, and he wondered if he was simply trying to have some emotional hold on Emma, but the more he thought on it, the more possibilities he had seen for success.

'Remember I told you about the cattle property where I learned about horses and tracking? Well, I thought about buying a property and giving the kids at The Centre a chance to learn more than pool hustling and spinning a ball through a hoop.'

'That's a great idea. There's nothing like work to give people back their self-respect.'

'I thought your father's property would be ideal.'

Emma could tell by the look on his face that he wasn't sure how she would react to this. For a moment she did hesitate. Although she knew she would have to sell the property, a small part of her hoped it wouldn't be too soon. There were a lot of memories to say goodbye to.

But somehow she knew her father would be pleased with Drew's idea. And it seemed appropriate that his land might give a second chance to young people who thought they had run out of chances. She hoped they would be more willing than her father was to take what they were offered.

'Yes. I think it would be. And I'm sure the neighbours wouldn't object.'

Drew's smile had a quickening effect on her libido, and she had to hold him back as he went to embrace her. She wanted to be able to think straight when she told him her conditions. 'Just as long as you realise a doctor comes along with the package.'

'What - what do you mean?'

'That I've told Médecins sans Frontières that I won't be going back to work with them.'

Now it was her turn to smile as she saw the hope flare on his face. His voice was gravelly as he asked, 'What about your dream?'

'People change. Dreams change. I've discovered I'm needed here. Perhaps with some early intervention the kids at The Centre who are involved with drugs can see they have other options. I'm sure Diane wouldn't mind some assistance.' She reached up, tweaked one finger in the dark curls revealed by his V-necked shirt and gently tugged. 'Or you.'

She'd been able to stop him before, but nothing could prevent the passionate kiss that claimed her now. It was the sweetest surrender she had ever made.

It was incredible, she thought as they finally eased apart, the wonderful sense of belonging she felt when she was with Drew. The completeness. A deep contentment settled over her. But she had more to tell him.

'Drew, I found out this morning I'm not pregnant.'

Her surge of disappointment as she had realised she wasn't carrying Drew's child had shocked Emma. But it had also confirmed the depth of love she felt for him. Now she saw that same disappointment echo in his eyes.

He pulled her against him and she felt the evidence of how their kiss had aroused him. His voice was a sexy growl as he bent once more to capture her lips.

'Sweetheart, we might just have to work on amending that.'

CLAN DESTINE PRESS

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First published in eBook form by Clan Destine Press in 2010

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Copyright © Sandy Curtis 2002

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National Library of Australia Cataloguing-In-Publication data:

Curtis, Sandy

Dance with the Devil

ISBN 978-0-9871604-6-1

Cover Design © R&D Studios, Queensland