The black invader Read Free

the bigger animal took off suddenly and the chase was on; a chase that was none of her choosing, Kirstie told herself as she gave the mare her head.
    Not for a moment did it occur to her that she had absolutely no excuse for behaving as she was, but the desire to outrun him was irresistible, and there was an undeniable thrill in the chase that stirred her blood unexpectedly. All too soon the stallion raced up alongside, and when she glanced from the corner of her eye the expression she saw on her pursuer's face sent a rippling shiver along her spine.
    He made no attempt to stop her this time, but kept alongside, holding the stronger stallion to her pace and watching her with swift dark looks that promised there was no escape. The mare's ears were pricked and she knew herself to be outclassed if it came to a challenge, but she kept gamely on until Kirstie recognised the inevitability of it and eventually allowed the pace to slacken, finally coming to a halt.
    Immediately Miguel Montaiies did the same, and with both animals breathing hard they stood for a moment, unspeaking. Then he dismounted and tethered his horse to a tree before coming round to the other side of the mare. He stood looking up at Kirstie for a second, then reached up and grasped her around the waist, hauling her bodily out of the saddle and setting her firmly down on her feet.
    'Perhaps now I may have your attention, sefiorita' he said and, in case she might have it in mind to remount

    and ride off, he took the reins from her and flung them over a branch.
    Kirstie's heart was thudding wildly, for she had never seen him in this mood before. He was always autocratic, and he was tolerant to the point of being infuriating, but she had never experienced this curious air of menacing excitement before. It affected her in a way she did not understand, and at the same time made her quite certain that he would have his say, whatever it was, and whether or not she wanted to hear it.
    Her hands were clasped together in front of her and she did not look up, even though she felt him watching her still. 'I hope after the effort you went to that this proves important, Seiior Montanes,' she told him in a sUghtly unsteady voice.
    'Don Jose seemed to think it would be of some importance to you,' he said, and Kirstie looked up swiftly at the mention of her grandfather. 'He tells me that you're looking for work, senorita, is that right?'
    Kirstie eyed him furiously. She hated having it put into such flat, down-to-earth terms, however true it was, and she couldn't bring herself to accept the idea of her grandfather discussing it with this man of all people. 'I didn't expect my grandfather to discuss my private affairs with a stranger,' she told him, her eyes brightly angry. 'I trusted him and he shouldn't have told you!'
    'And you shouldn't speak of your grandfather in that tone!' Miguel Montanes told her sharply. 'What Don Jose discusses with me is his affair; you are his granddaughter and he has every right to talk about you if he wishes to. As it happens it came up in the normal course of conversation, and there was no indiscretion involved.' His eyes gleamed blackly at her and she had never seen those stern features look so menacing before. 'Mother of God, child, do you suspect everyone of wishing you harm?'
    'Not everyone, no!'
    His eyes narrowed as he looked down at her, and Kirstie fumed at his reference to her as 'child'. It was

    that as much as anything that made her act as she did. Turning her back on him, she reached for the mare's rein, but before she could loose it a hand on her wrist swung her round again so forcefully that she almost lost her balance. The same hands steadied her against falling, and for a moment the heat of his palms burned through her thin shirt into her flesh, so that she caught her breath.
    'Don't turn your back on me, my girl!' he ordered harshly. 'Why I'm concerning myself with you after the way you've behaved, heaven alone knows, but I