When Danger Follows Read Free Page A

been arranged through an agency. Now she was to share a house with him. She’d have to give up sitting on the verandah at night in her nightgown, her feet tucked under her, listening to the cacophony of strange bird and animal sounds emerging from the dark.
    Before he arrived at the house, she raced into her bedroom and checked her appearance in the wardrobe mirror. She’d resorted to shorts and a tank top with sandals out of necessity. She wondered if she should change into something more business-like, then decided against it. Start as you mean to go on, her mother always said. She ran a brush through her hair and tied it back, adding a spot of lip gloss and a dab of sage-green eye shadow. Despite her efforts, freckles marched across her nose and cheeks. She shrugged and went to join the children on the front verandah.
    A Jeep appeared out of the bush and crunched its way around the gravel drive, pulling up at the front door. A man and a woman climbed out.
    Caitlin had expected Jake Monterey to be close to forty, but this man was no more than thirty, a grown-up version of William. His dark hair was quite long, curling over his collar. He was better dressed than she imagined a cattleman to be. The jeans that encased his long, lean thighs were not the kick-around variety, and he carried a tan leather jacket, thrown over his shoulder. The woman accompanying him was small and had short blonde hair. She was dressed in pale blue jeans tailored to her figure and wore impossibly high-heeled sandals on her tiny feet. As they approached the steps, she struggled to keep her balance on the rough ground.
    An urban creature, Caitlin decided. Well, so was she—but anyone can change. She watched as the woman picked her way cautiously over the gravel, clutching Jake’s arm for support.
    The children broke away from Caitlin and rushed down the steps to grab their father around his legs. Miss High-heels gave a squeak of protest.
    “Careful kids,” Jake said in response. They stopped as if pulled back by some invisible wire and fell behind, as the pair made their way up the verandah steps seemingly joined at the hip. Caitlin looked at Elizabeth’s downcast little face and felt another flush of anger. What was this man doing gallivanting about when his children needed him? But it was a rash judgment. As soon as he’d deposited Miss High-heels onto the verandah, he squatted down, wrapped an arm around them both and soon had them squealing in delight.
    When he finally broke away, he stood and faced Caitlin and she saw the scar, pale on his tanned face. It caught the corner of one eye, pulling it slightly and rather rakishly before snaking its way over his cheekbone, ending at the jaw line.
    “Welcome to Tall Trees, Caitlin. I’m sorry I was called away just before you arrived. My mother lives in Darwin and she needed my assistance. I hope you’ve found everything acceptable.”
    She shook his hand. “I’m very comfortable, thank you.” She wondered if she should call him by his first name, but sensed he wouldn’t welcome familiarity. She was after all, just the hired help. She was keen to talk to him about Elizabeth who was a complicated little girl. She needed to know more about the past in dealing with her. William was much simpler. He just needed love and Caitlin doubted he got enough of it.
    “This is Vanessa Colleridge. Vanessa, Caitlin Fitzgerald, my children’s new governess.”
    Vanessa gave Caitlin a brief, icy glance. “How’d you do,” she said, before turning back to Jake. “I’d love that drink, Jake.”
    “I could do with one, myself. Come into the living room, kids and have a coke. Vanessa has brought you a bag of sweets each.”
    Caitlin inwardly groaned. The pair would be hyperactive and difficult at bedtime. She watched as they entered the living room, leaving her standing in the hall. Grateful for a little time to herself, she decided to go for a walk before dinner. As she trudged across a paddock, making