LITMIR.BIZ

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doubt it. She was here in the dry season, in the winter.’

      ‘Oh, yes, of course.’

      Seth frowned at her. ‘Haven’t you read her book?’

      ‘Actually…no.’

      Her friend had been uncharacteristically protective about this story and she’d never offered Amy so much as a peek at the manuscript.

      After the accident, Amy hadn’t liked to search through the files on Rachel’s computer. It had felt too much like snooping. She had sat down once to read a section of Rachel’s poetry, but she’d been overcome by grief. It was like hearing Rachel’s voice—and the thoughts expressed had been too intensely personal.

      Amy had been in tears as she’d shut down the computer.

      She hadn’t opened it again.

      Seth’s eyes widened. ‘How do you plan to promote this book, then?’

      ‘These are early days, and I’m just starting my research. I have the publisher’s back-cover copy, and a picture of the front cover. It’s rather beautiful. Would you like to see it?’

      She dug a folder out of her bag, and handed it to him. The book’s cover depicted a balmy tropical beach at sunset with palm trees and white sand. Distant islands floated in the background, and the sun melted into a smooth golden sea.

      ‘I know it’s not very accurate,’ she admitted, sending another glance out of the window. She’d been dismayed by Tamundra’s rather desolate main street and the drab gum trees beyond it, and red earth that stretched for miles. She was pretty sure the whole of Cape York looked just as bad, so the cover was deceptive to say the least.

      Seth Reardon shrugged. ‘There are sections on the eastern edge of Serenity that look exactly like that.’

      ‘Oh.’ Amy looked again at the idyllic palm trees and golden sand and felt her jaw drop with surprise.

      Seth’s blue eyes froze her. ‘You haven’t done your homework, Amy Ross.’

      ‘I—I’ve done my best,’ she spluttered. ‘I—I told you I’ve only just started. It’s only two months since Rachel died and I—I’ve been busy. With Bella.’

      They both looked down at Bella, who was sprawled on the carpet, busy with a scrapbook and fat crayons.

      ‘My drawing Amy,’ the little girl announced proudly as she made a lopsided circle with a purple crayon. ‘An’ here’s Amy’s eyes.’

      Happily, Bella drew small purple squiggles inside the circle.

      Amy gave her an encouraging smile. ‘That’s lovely, Bella. Now draw my mouth.’

      A small sigh escaped Seth and he lifted his gaze from the child and studied Amy.

      She resisted an urge to squirm beneath his scrutiny. It was important to appear calm and in control.

      ‘I’d like to know more about Rachel’s stay up here,’ she said, hoping to convince Seth that she wasn’t wasting his time. ‘What kind of work was she doing? How did she fit into life on a cattle station?’

      To her dismay, his frown deepened. With a long brown finger he tapped the book’s back cover blurb. ‘But the answers to your questions are right here.’

      ‘They’re generalities,’ she countered, desperately trying to ignore the niggling of her conscience that told her he was right. ‘I’m looking for details.’

      His expression was immediately guarded. ‘What kind of details?’

      Amy gulped. ‘Nothing too personal.’

      His frown deepened and she felt her face redden.

      ‘I’m looking for anything quirky or interesting,’ she said. ‘Rachel was a city girl. I doubt she’d ever touched a cow before she came here, or cooked on an open fire, or slept in a swag on the ground.’

      Abruptly, Seth stood, making his chair scrape on the wooden floor. He strode to the window, where he leaned a shoulder against the wall, looking out into the rain as he thrust his hands into his jeans pockets.

      ‘I’m afraid you’ve wasted your time.’

      ‘What do you mean?’ She knew she sounded too scared, but was he going to refuse to take her to Serenity?

      Seth’s eyes narrowed. ‘If you’ve come all this way in search of scandal to spice up the promotion, you should leave now,’ he said.

      ‘Scandal?’ Amy was dumbfounded. ‘Why would I want to tarnish my best friend’s name?’

      ‘For money? To sell more books? You’re in marketing, aren’t you?’

      ‘How dare you?’

      Seth shrugged again. ‘Whatever. But you haven’t been straight with me.’

      Oh, help. Already he was pushing her towards making her confession. But if she told him about his daughter now, he might be so immediately shocked and angry that he stormed back to his cattle station alone, without giving her a chance to really discuss what was best for Bella.

      ‘Rachel was my best friend,’ Amy told him, softly. ‘And—and I’ve lost her.’

      She tried to go on, but suddenly the difficult, grief-filled weeks since Rachel’s death seemed to overwhelm her. It had been a nightmare trying to deal with the horror of her best friend’s death while taking on the responsibility of her little daughter.

      She’d been trying so hard to do everything right, including coming all this way.

      Now, on the brink of failure, Amy couldn’t look at Seth, didn’t want him to see her tears.

      ‘Look,’ he said suddenly, clearly uncomfortable with her evident emotion, ‘I’m prepared to take your word.’

      Her head snapped up.

      Grimly, he said, ‘But if you’re coming to Serenity with me, we’d better get cracking, before this weather really sets in.’

      Her jaw dropped, she was so surprised by his sudden hasty about-face.

      ‘Did you drive here from Cairns?’ he asked brusquely.

      Amy blinked. ‘Yes. I hired a car.’

      ‘A small sedan?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘With four-wheel-drive capability?’

      She shook her head.

      ‘You’d better travel in my vehicle, then,’ he said quietly and with grim resignation.

      Seth was actually offering her a lift. Was it wise to accept? Would he also be willing to drive her back here in two days’ time?

      ‘Wouldn’t it be simpler if I followed you in my car?’ she said.

      ‘The road’s too rough and in this rain it’ll be slippery. I don’t want you or your little daughter’s safety on my conscience. But let’s not waste time. It’s a long drive.’

       Chapter Two

      SETH wasn’t exaggerating his desire for a hasty departure.

      Fortunately, Bella didn’t kick up a fuss when she was suddenly strapped into a booster seat in the back of his dual-cabin ute. The little girl was mildly puzzled, but she’d lunched on Vegemite and cheese sandwiches, a banana and milk, so she obligingly fell asleep soon after they left Tamundra.

      Rain streamed down the windows, making the sky and the trees a grey blur. Amy could see nothing but a small view, cleared by the wipers, of the muddy red track in front of the vehicle.

      Apparently

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