Fortune Favours

By Diz

“I’ll never get used to this”

 East Driscoll thought despondently as he lay on his back. The night sky overhead was clear and dotted with stars, but the constellations were wrong. Well, not wrong exactly but unfamiliar. Closing his eyes was no better. The English night was silent. No insect sounds caressed his ears, no warm breeze on his face, just the calm quiet of the Old World not the vibrant life of Australia. A year on and he still felt alien in this place.

Heaving a resigned sigh he opened his eyes and rolled to his feet. The slight glow of lamplight showed from the windows of his cottage at the far end of the paddock.

 “No, not paddock mate. It’s a field!” he told himself, his mouth twitching as he remembered Grace patiently trying to teach him the “Queen’s English” as his speech returned. That memory quickly drew others. The months of frustration and pain. The inability to make himself understood, to do even the simplest of things. Christ! He’d even had to learn to walk and talk again like a bloody baby. He had despised those crutches, but he developed and even greater admiration for young Alan back in Australia. What that kid handled day by day and not a moan out of him!

“Not like you then eh? Once you got your voice back everybody knew how miserable you were. Pathetic bugger!” He nagged himself.

Grace had challenged him. She pointed out, very politely, that the only way to get better was to work hard and focus his anger on his difficulties, not to take it out on her or her staff - who were only trying to help him. She was magnificent! Let him have it! Both barrels! And it worked. He ruthlessly choked his self-pity and started to get better.

His thoughts filled the journey from the top of the field to his cottage. God he missed her! She’d been gone 3 months now, guilt and restlessness driving her to travel again, this time to India. East knew where it was on the map, having learned to read and write as his condition improved, but she might as well be on the moon. Their last quarrel saw to that. They had always been passionate, but as he recovered East began to see their differences and it dawned on him that she had never felt the way for him that he had for her. His efforts to make her love him foundered and he moved out of the Manor House and into one of the cottages on the estate. The night before she left she had come to him, but their lovemaking carried the bittersweet edge of farewell. The next morning she kissed him, told him he could stay in the cottage as long as he wanted to and left his bed and his life, as if she’d never existed.

Going inside, he stripped off his clothes and lay on his bed, trapped in memories of Grace and the excitement they had once shared. Images of her danced behind his closed eyelids, causing his sex to stir. He moved a hand and began to stroke the tension away, reliving in pale imitation the glory he had once shared with Grace.

Daylight woke him a scant few hours after he had fallen into an exhausted sleep. A robin, perched in the rowan tree outside his window, poured out its infuriatingly cheerful song. Growling in irritation East threw back the bedclothes and hauled himself to his feet. A brisk wash and shave helped him to regain some of his humour, and he decided to walk to the river. If it wasn’t too cold he might even swim,

 “I could do with the exercise” he thought to himself. While he’d been healing, swimming was one of the ways he restored his wasted muscles.

The walk of about half an hour he made in reasonable time and wasn’t even out of breath. Another milestone. The morning was gaining warmth and as he approached through a small copse of trees he smiled anticipating the cool water on his skin. A horse’s snort stopped him in his tracks, quietly he moved closer. A teenage boy lay on the bank. One arm, its sleeve rolled high, was submerged in the water. A scruffy mongrel lay nearby eagerly watching its master and a bay mare contentedly cropped the grass a short way off. It was the horse that sensed his presence, raising her head to look at him. They regarded each other for a long moment. The mare seemed to decide the man was no threat and dropped her head to eat again. East leaned against the nearest tree to watch what would happen next.

The boy’s shoulders twitched and a large, fat trout flew out of the water. The dog began barking excitedly as the lad pounced on the fish and efficiently dispatched its life.

“Nice fish,” East commented conversationally, “when did you get your permit?”

At the sound of his voice the boy started violently and whipped round, large frightened blue eyes stared out from under the brim of his cap. The mongrel was anything but frightened. It placed itself between its master and the stranger, growling fiercely, hackles raised. In a larger dog the display would have been terrifying but since the dog in question stood only 12 inches high at the shoulder and had only 3 legs it didn't give East much cause for concern.

"Fine protector you've got there mate" he said looking from the dog back to the pale nervous face of the boy.

"Deacon! Quiet!" the lad commanded in a low voice that cracked only slightly. The dog stopped creating a fuss and lay down still watching the man warily.

"I'm sorry sir, I didn't know anyone owned the river. Please keep the fish."

 This time the low tone carried a hint of defiance, and East smiled slightly watching his quarry calculate his chances of escape and reject the possibility.

"Just as well he doesn't know how slow I really am.” he thought. Aloud he said,

 "I don't think the estate will miss one fish. Don't call me sir, doesn't feel right. The name's East."

 He held out his hand. The boy hesitated. East continued,

 "Since I've just become your partner in crime shouldn't I at least know your name?"

"Joe," the boy said quietly, making a handshake with a small brown hand still damp and cold from the river.

"All right then Joe, was it just the one fish you were after?" he asked. Joe snatched his hand back as if scalded and said angrily.

 "Just one! I never take more than I need!" the blue eyes had shed their fear and blazed with anger.

"Easy there, no need to get all riled up. It was just a question." the big man raised open palms to calm the situation.

"I just wanted one for breakfast. I'm fed up of scraping what I can from the hedges."

 Joe screwed up his face in distaste and looked longingly at the fish lying all but forgotten on the bank.

"Your folks...eh...family have a funny idea of what a growing lad needs for breakfast." East was surprised when the boy dropped his head blushing.

"No family. Just me Deacon and Fortune." the boy said looking towards the mare who ambled placidly over to nudge the lad's narrow shoulder. Joe smoothed a hand over the horse's nose and received a gentle whicker in response. East took in the picture they made. The boy, his dog and his horse, they had all they needed in the world. Suddenly he felt old and tired.

 "What would it be like to feel that free again?" the intensity of the thought surprised him. He realised that Joe had said something to him.

 "What?" he asked, "What did you say?"

"Can I go sir...eh..I mean East. I mean...is that okay?"

"Go where? Where do you live?" East asked, curiosity piqued.

"Anywhere I choose." the boy answered, his jaw tightening seeming to expect derision. When none came he continued,

 "Right now I'm camped just over that ridge." he waved a hand towards the nearest rise. East followed the line but could see no sign of a camp from where he stood.

"Can I see it?" he asked, surprising himself with the eager tone he heard in his voice.

"No!" the boy's voice squeaked in alarm and he tried to move past East and away. The man reached out to stop him and was startled when Joe flinched away, ducking his head, and made his escape. East stood dumbfounded, his lunge had pulled the cap from the boy's head, and his mouth dropped open as he watched the slim figure run away from him a single braid of black hair bouncing against her back. Deacon scampered at her heels and Fortune trotted to follow.

Josephine reached her campsite gasping for breath and red in the face.

 "Stupid girl!" she berated herself,

 "Caught in the act like that! What would Gillan say?" Her lips turned down at the thought of her older brother, sharp, funny and always eager to teach her new things. Gone now, lost to her like her parents. Tuberculosis claiming all three in quick succession. She pushed the thoughts away and began packing her gear.

"You forgot your breakfast Joe. It is Joe isn't it? Or do you have a more feminine version?" The man called East stood a little way off one hand holding the fish, now wrapped in dock leaves, and the other her lost cap.

"Yes it is Jo. Short for Josephine." she wrinkled her nose in disgust, the action made East smile.

"He has a nice smile." Jo thought, seeing his eyes twinkle as his mouth stretched into a grin.

"Yeah, I think Jo probably suits you better" he said looking at her more carefully. The girl blushed and hunched her shoulders to shove her hands into the pockets of her trousers. East offered her the fish.

 "Here, it looks like you need this." Jo took it from him.

"Thank you" she said quietly, not looking at him. Turning away, she located a knife and made short work of cleaning and preparing the fish.

"Looks like you've had a fair bit of practice." the man said quietly. Jo looked up at him.

"Would you like to share breakfast?" she asked, her cheeks pink.

"Sure, what can I do to help?" East smiled gently as he replied. The girl explained what was needed to re-ignite the campfire and left him to get on with it while she set about finding the necessary dishes. She watched him surreptitiously as he tended the fire. He moved slowly, carefully and a little stiffly but soon had a small fire burning within the circle of stones she had used since she made camp a couple of nights before. Locating an iron skillet Jo arranged the fish on it and set it on the merrily burning cook fire.

"Have a seat." she said, motioning him towards her pack.

 "You can rest your back against that." East eased himself gingerly to the ground. Once seated he released his carefully held breath, closed his eyes and lifted his face to the warming sun.

Jo settled herself cross-legged by the fire. While the food cooked she continued her study of her companion. He looked to be a few years older than her own 20. His body, tall, straight and broad-shouldered, held a little awkwardly, and if you took into account the lines etched into his face around his eyes and mouth, it spoke to the watching woman of pain carried for a long time. She dropped her eyes the skillet to check on the fish and deftly turned it over with a fork. When she returned her gaze to the man she was flustered to find him appraising her with curious eyes. He nodded at the fish,

"Smells good. I'm glad I decided to wait for breakfast."

Jo's brow wrinkled as she listened to the strange accent.

 "You're not from around here." she commented. He returned her look gravely and said,

 "Neither are you."  Her eyebrows rose in surprise then she said,

 "No, I'm not. I settle in the winter but take to the road in the summer. My Father showed me the ropes. He was Scottish, my Da, and a wanderer." she smiled sadly and fell quiet.

East said,

 "I'm from Australia, but I've been here a year." he smiled at her startled expression.

 "I live in a cottage near here" he jerked his chin in the general direction of his house.

Silence fell as Jo shared the cooked fish between two plates, rose from her place, and carried one to East along with a serviceable fork. She sat down near him and the two applied themselves to their breakfast with enthusiasm. The flesh of the trout was succulent and East commented that he couldn't remember eating better.

When the food was finished Jo politely declined any help with the dishes.

 "Well I s'pose I better get moving" East said having gained his feet a little unsteadily. Jo had pretended to be busy clearing up, sensing that he would not appreciate an audience far less any offer of help.

"Do you want me to move on?" she asked from her place crouched over the dishes.

"Nah, it's no problem. Stay as long as you like, you'll get no hassles." The sun shining behind him obscured his expression but from the tone Jo felt he was smiling.

"Thanks" she said smiling in return.

"G'day" East replied, and walked away with a sketchy wave.

East thought about his new neighbour as he made for his cottage.

"Can't imagine why I thought she was a boy" He grinned ruefully, remembering the wide thickly lashed blue eyes and softly curving mouth.

 "You must be slipping mate" he raised a hand to massage the back of his neck.

Inside the house he busied himself with the few chores needed around the place. Stocking up the woodpile, sweeping out the kitchen. Now that he was recovering his strength he often found the lack of activity irritating. He settled himself in a chair and picked up one of the books Grace had got for him, but after a few pages his mind wandered again to Jo and her two animals. He grinned remembering the feisty little dog. What had she called him? Deacon? Yes that was it, scruffy brute but brave. Then there was the mare, Fortune. Unless he missed his guess she was pregnant. A couple of weeks or so. How was the kid gonna handle that? How did she come to have such a pretty mare? Why was she alone? His brow furrowed. So many questions.

It was because of those questions that East found himself walking back towards Jo's camp the next morning with a backpack filled with provisions from his own store cupboard.  

Jo had just replaced Fortune's hoof on the ground, having located and removed the stone that was troubling her, when the mare lifted her head and whickered.

 "Not in alarm," Jo thought,

 "just to let me know someone is coming"

Straightening from her doubled over position she smoothed a hand over Fortune's skin from haunches to shoulder and looked around to see who was approaching.

"G'day" a cheery voice called. Jo watched East approach, favouring his left leg slightly, but moving easily towards her. He was smiling, his face open, tanned and handsome and his eyes merry. Coming to a halt about 2 feet away he leant down to pat Deacon who was prancing round him eagerly.

"Some guard dog!" Jo thought wryly.

"Hello, what brings you up here?" she smiled politely.

"I come bearing gifts!" he said, grinning a little self-consciously at his flowery declaration. He swung the backpack to the ground in front of him. Jo's eyes widened as a small heap of canned goods and muslin bags took shape in front of her.

 "I can't possibly.... It's far too..." she gulped helplessly.

"Yes, you can." East replied firmly.

 "I've got plenty in my own store cupboard and you look half starved." his eyes travelled over her, assessing, considering. Jo felt them like a touch on her skin. She blushed furiously and cleared her throat.

 "Well, em, thank you....East" she managed to choke out, looking fixedly at the base of his neck where his shirt buttoned, in a determined effort to avoid those merry eyes. She suddenly became aware that he had spoken to her.

"Sorry...what?" she stammered. East's mouth quirked into a half smile,

"I said, you have a fine mare. Where did she come from?"

Fortune seemed to sense that she had become the focus of conversation and came to rest her head over Jo's shoulder. The two looked at East, the girl absently stroking her horse's velvet nose.

 "She is all my father had to leave me when he died. Everything else went on doctor's bills but I couldn't bear to part with her. She's near her time to foal. The last place I worked at had her covered by one of their studs by way of payment." Jo took an involuntary step backwards as she watched East close the distance between them and raise a hand. She tried not to flinch. The hand moved past her to stroke and scratch Fortune's nose. If East noticed her reaction he said nothing but continued to murmur soft words to the horse, running his hands expertly over her shape. Jo watched him, curiosity overcoming her nervousness.

 "You know horses,” she stated, watching the comfortable way he handled the mare.

"Yeah," he said not taking his eyes from the horse.

"I had my own place at home. Before.... before I came here." Jo noticed the slight hesitation but decided not to pursue it.

"If you walk her down to my place I can give you a couple of bags of oats for her. She'll need the extra right now." he said. Jo was caught and held by East's eyes.

"All right" she found herself replying.

"Beauty" East grinned at her,

"Let's go" They walked for a while with Fortune and Deacon following.

"You mentioned your Dad being dead." East said,

"What about the rest of your family?" He turned to look at her but Jo was looking determinedly ahead.

"My Mum went first. Tuberculosis. My Dad seemed to lose his heart then and died shortly after. That left my brother Gillan and me." East had to listen hard because her voice was low and flat.

 "He fought so hard not to leave me but it was useless. I've been on my own since then, about a year now."

"What did you do?" he prompted.

"I got work in the stables of a big house. I did all right until they realised I wasn't a boy." a frown moved across her face.

"I'd cut my hair short and tried to stay out of trouble, but it wasn't enough. So, I moved on and kept on moving. The last place was good to me and that's where I got Fortune covered. She should drop a fine foal which I can sell on, and with the money...." Jo's voice faltered, she glanced at East and found him smiling encouragingly.

 "With the money, I'll get my own place."

"I thought you said you were a wanderer?" East said. Jo looked at him squarely.

"No, I said my Da was a wanderer. When we were all together I liked the life. But a woman on her own, it's not the same."

They had reached East's cottage. Jo followed as he led the way around the back to a small stable and fenced paddock. The opened front door showed four stalls, two of them inhabited by horses. One was a large intelligent looking black, whom East introduced as Magus, the other a smaller, more finely boned grey called Ghost. Murmuring a word to Deacon and Fortune, to make sure they stayed outside, Jo moved ahead of East and towards the horses

Watching her move East reassessed his original impression of Jo's age. He'd thought she was about 14 but now he realised she was older, probably nearer 20. She was so skinny he'd underestimated.

"A few weeks of good food wouldn't go amiss." he thought,

"Get some meat on her bones." Looking at her as she stepped up to Magus he tried to imagine the boyish clothes more snugly filled and suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable below the belt.

"Jeez mate! Control yourself!" he chided himself pushing his hands into his pockets. His predicament was not helped by the low crooning voice Jo was using as she left Magus and lifted a hand to the inquisitive nose of Ghost. She turned and smiled,

"They're beautiful,” she said in that low soft voice. East, still struggling with his involuntary reaction to her, nodded unable to find his voice. The girl seemed unaware of his difficulties and looked around slowly taking in the rest of the stables.

 "Nice place, well set out." she continued strolling over to look at various bits of tack hanging on the opposite wall, and a bench holding the required cleaning material and tools to keep it and the horses in good condition.

East cleared his throat,

"Yeah, I like to keep things right. Better in the long run. I've got the time."

"When do you ride them?" Jo asked looking at the stabled horses.

"I don't" he replied shortly. Seeing her surprised expression he realised he'd have to explain.

"Something happened. About a year ago I had an accident, got pretty badly bashed up. It was touch and go whether or not I'd get back on my feet. I did. But riding.... that’s a step too far."

Jo listened in silence and then said,

"So how do you keep them in such good condition?"

"Lunge rein" East said,

"I get 'em out into the paddock and school them that way. I'm not scared of them, I just can't get back on." his mouth twisted down in an expression of self-derision. It wasn't as if he hadn't tried. Grace had tried to help but it was useless. His mind betrayed him the moment he put his foot in the stirrup turning his knees to jelly, his guts to water and bringing him out in a cold sweat. Jo returned to the stalls.

“Would you let me ride them?" she asked looking back at him over her shoulder.

"I haven't ridden Fortune in a while, didn't want to risk the foal." She waited for his reply smiling winningly. She looked so hopeful that East grinned.

 "Sure, come by when you want to. Just Ghost though, Magus is a bit too much for a scrap like you. He's not been gelded. Makes him a bit wild sometimes."  He struggled to contain his smile as her expression changed from indignant to embarrassed as he spoke.

"Thanks" she said, her ears slightly pink.

"No worries. Now let's get you those oats." He moved to the back of the building and returned with two fair sized sacks. He put them down in front of her, his mind ticking over as he looked from them to Jo. He spoke his thoughts,

"Since Fortune's near her time why don't you stable her here? I've got the room and she'd be safe if anything happened." East could see that her first instinct was to refuse but noted that she took time to think again before saying,

"Yes, that would be good. I'll know she's out of the weather if it rains." East grinned,

"Good" he said.

"Won't hurt to have Jo around either" a voice in his head teased, he ignored it trying, without much success, to convince himself that the only reason he liked that idea was that the girl needed someone to look out for her, and maybe feed her up a bit.

"I'd better go" Jo said some time later, after they had got Fortune settled in her new lodgings.

"I'll come back tomorrow."

"Sure" he replied and walked with her to the stable door. He leaned against the jamb and watched her striding away, Deacon limping at her heels.

Early the next morning Jo quietly let herself and Deacon into the stable. Three equine noses lifted over the half doors of the stalls. Moving along the line she patted Magus and Ghost, finally arriving with Fortune, who nudged her gently in greeting. She had just moved to open the door when a movement in the straw startled her. She squeaked in alarm, making Deacon growl.

"S'okay, It's me" East's voice came from under a blanket and a fair amount of straw by the wall. He pushed the covering away and rolled to his feet, eyeing the bristling dog carefully.

"Why are you...What are you...Is there something wrong with Fortune?" Jo stuttered, stumbling her words to a halt as she saw East's reassuring smile.

"Relax,” he said, brushing straw from his clothes. They looked to be the same ones he had been wearing the day before. He stretched out a hand for Deacon to sniff.  He crossed to the mare.

“She was a little nervy last night. Seemed to calm when I was with her”. Jo watched him smooth a hand over Fortune's neck, and resisted the urge to go and pick a stray wisp of straw from his hair.

"Thanks for looking out for her." she said.

"It might take her a while to settle. She's used to being outdoors."

"She seems fine now." East commented.

"I'll go and get cleaned up." Jo moved aside to let him pass. She picked up the scent of straw, horse and man. Her nostrils flared slightly. Once outside the stall East turned and looked at her.

"Have you had any brekkie?" he asked and then chuckled at her puzzled expression.

"Sorry, I meant breakfast. Have you had any breakfast?"

"Oh!" Jo said,

"No, no I haven't."

"Would you like some?" she nodded in reply.

"Come over to the cottage with me and I'll scrounge up some tucker." Jo met his grin with a chuckle of her own.

"Thanks! I think."

The cottage was neat. Jo stood in the large main room that had a large black range at one end, and a solid scrubbed kitchen table. There was a sink with a water pump under one of the windows and a dresser, displaying crockery, stood beside a linen chest on one wall. Across the room two armchairs flanked the fireplace with a bookcase to one side, nearby a low table supported a paraffin lamp and a gramophone. There was another door leading to what she assumed was East's bedroom because he'd disappeared through it with the suggestion that she make herself at home. She could hear him moving around from where she stood. Eventually she perched on the edge of one of the armchairs. It was a house she decided, not a home. There were no pictures on the wall and no sign of the feminine touches a wife or mother would make.

A short time later East emerged in fresh clothes, his face newly shaved and his hair damp. He was smiling. Jo caught her breath, he looked so handsome. She dropped her gaze and studied the toes of her scuffed boots, her face flaming. Keeping her head down she heard him move across the room to start preparations for their meal. She went to help. The hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs was quickly prepared and the pair ate side-by-side sitting at the kitchen table. When she had first seen the plate piled with food Jo had doubted she could finish it but the first bite turned her into a ravenous creature and she finished her last mouthful only a little after East. She put down her cutlery and closed her eyes groaning slightly. Hearing a stifled giggle she opened her eyes to find him smiling at her with an expression of smug pride.

"Well done!" he approved,

"I thought you might struggle but you put that away as if you hadn't seen food for a week!" Jo blushed,

"I haven't had bacon for a while. It was wonderful." East grinned,

"My pleasure. There's some left uncooked. You can collect it when you're heading back to camp." He stood and started to collect the plates. Jo moved to help.

"No mate, don't worry about them. Go check on Fortune and take Ghost for a stretch. Be careful, she might be a bit frisky. She hasn't been ridden for a few months."

"Don't worry I'll be...." Jo's voice trailed off.

"I thought you said you couldn't, I mean didn't ride them.” she said, hastily amending the phrase when she saw the spark of anger in his eyes.

"I don't." East answered in a low voice.

"But Grace, the lady who owns the estate, would come and take them out. She left for India three months ago" his expression told her not to question further.

"Right, I'd better hop to it." she said and left the table. As she moved towards the door she spotted a vegetable rack. She detoured towards it, lifted a bunch of carrots and looked questioningly at East. His expression cleared and he laughed.

"Go on then, but don't make a habit of it. You'll spoil 'em." Jo all but skipped out of the door, hearing his laughter follow her.

East gathered the dirty plates and stacked them in the sink. Ordinarily he would wash up right away but the thought of Jo out in the stable drew him and he abandoned them and went to find her. He approached the paddock carefully not wanting to startle either horse or rider. She was walking Ghost around the space, her body moving easily with the horse. She clicked her tongue and eased the animal into a trot and then a canter. East was impressed. She hadn't bothered to saddle the mare.

"Probably too impatient." he thought, his eyes sliding down to see that her feet were bare. It made him smile; she looked like a gypsy, her braid lying over her shoulder and her dusty brown feet nudging the horse. She was smiling and East was struck by tightness in his chest that he didn't want to acknowledge. He moved away from the paddock and into the stable thinking that what he needed was some exercise. While Ghost was out he would muck out her stall, which would keep the disturbing girl from his thoughts.

He was just laying fresh straw when Jo led Ghost back in. She tethered the animal to a ring in the opposite wall and picked up the necessary grooming equipment, completely oblivious to the man watching her.

Her movements were smooth and controlled showing experience with horses. East leaned on his pitchfork and watched. When she finished she untied the halter and turned to lead Ghost to her stall. She was flushed with exertion, and the sweat she'd worked up caused the shirt she wore to adhere to her skin, delineating small round breasts and a flat stomach. East felt his gut clench, he tightened his grip in the pitchfork and moved out of the stall.

"It's all yours.” he said gruffly as he leaned the fork against the wall and hastily left the stable. He walked briskly back to the cottage. All the way there he went over in his mind all the reasons it was a bad idea to even think about anything physical with Jo. But his mind mocked him, conjuring pictures of her riding, grooming, and glistening with sweat.

"Shit" he said as he crashed about the kitchen making a pot of tea.

"You'll break something." a soft voice said. He lifted his eyes to see Jo standing in the doorway. She'd had the presence of mind to untuck her shirt, and it now hung in loose folds, but it was too late for East. He'd seen what it concealed and he wanted to see more.

"Finished out there?" he asked, relieved to hear his voice sounded normal, betraying none of the strain he was feeling.

"Yes thanks." she returned brightly.

"I'd better get going. See you tomorrow." and with that she was gone.

The next few days fell into a pattern. Jo would arrive early, share breakfast with East and then go out to the stable. She spent time with each one before taking Ghost out. Each day she would go a little further, moving out of the paddock to roam the surrounding countryside. East watched her enviously but took care not to hang around too much. There was only so much temptation a bloke could stand.

Around two weeks later Jo and Deacon breezed into the cottage, having long since dispensed with the formality of knocking, to find East sound asleep in one of the armchairs by the fire. From the look of him he'd been there some time. She noted his dishevelled appearance, the beginning of stubble, and the dark shadows under his eyes. Jo moved quietly to the kitchen and began to prepare breakfast. Whatever it was that had kept him from his bed, it would be better after a decent breakfast.

The smell of bacon and eggs roused East and Jo watched as he woke, dragging a hand over his face and spearing the other through his hair as he tried to make sense of the world he'd woken up in. He squinted at her,

"Jeez! Is it morning already? I only sat down for a minute!" his tone was surprised, and then he seemed to remember something. Leaping to his feet he advanced on the startled woman and grabbed her wrist. She froze in alarm. He relaxed his grip.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare ya, but there's something you gotta see!" He began to drag her towards the front door of the cottage.

"Wait! The breakfast" she said urgently.

"Leave it on the side, it'll still be there when we get back." East replied firmly.

Breaking his grip Jo rescued the half-cooked food and followed him to the stables.

Just inside the door East pulled her in front of him, her back leaning against his chest and covered her eyes with his hands.

"S'okay, it's all right. Just walk where I tell you." he spoke softly in her ear as he guided her steps forward.

"Now look." he said gently, removing his hands and resting them on her shoulders. Jo blinked, trying to accustom her eyes to the dim light of the stables. In front of her stood Fortune and to her side, feeding hungrily was a tiny perfect black foal.

 "Oh!"she gasped, tears springing to her eyes as she looked up at East who was grinning like a fool.

 "Isn't he a little beauty?" he said, squeezing her shoulders warmly.

"Oh!" was all Jo could say, and then she turned and flung herself into his arms, which closed around her involuntarily.

 "Hey girlie! You're supposed to be happy!" he said in a bemused tone as he ran his arms soothingly over her back.

"Oh I am." she snivelled, lifting her face from his wet shirt

.

"He's beautiful. Thank you." She hugged him hard. He smiled.

"My pleasure, although I didn't do much. Fortune's a fine brood mare." The smile broadened into a grin and he tapped her on the nose.

"Now stop bawling woman" Jo swallowed convulsively and smiled up at him. The next thing that happened took her completely by surprise. East tightened his hold on her, lowered his head, and kissed her. It began very gently but his mouth quickly became more demanding. Jo's eyes opened wide at the first feather touch and then fluttered closed as the kiss broke and returned. Jo moved her hands from his waist to his arms, fully intending to push him away, but somehow when they reached their destination they took on a life of their own gripping and squeezing as the slid up into his hair, opening and closing convulsively.

It was East who broke the kiss. Gasping for breath he rested his forehead against hers.

"Well I've had some thank-yous in my time..." his teasing tone froze Jo in her place, opening her eyes she stepped back and moved out of his embrace, feeling unaccountably disappointed when he made no move to stop her.

She unlatched the door of the stall and entered quietly, crooning to the mare using soft words, praising her and stroking her neck. The foal had stopped feeding and pressed close to the side of his dam. East was right, he was a little beauty. Black like his sire, he has a small white star on his face. Jo held out a hand and the little one nosed it inquisitively making her chuckle.

"Hello wee man. I'm glad to see you." Giving Fortune a final pat she backed out, noting that East had gone.

She loitered in the doorway of the cottage, watching East move around the kitchen. He seemed to sense her presence. Without looking up he said,

“Well come in and eat, don't skulk like that!" Squaring her shoulders Jo walked in and sat at the table, eyeing the plate of food placed in front of her appreciatively. East brought his own breakfast over and sat opposite looking at her speculatively. She became aware of his look.

"What?" she said around a mouthful of toast.

"We should celebrate." he said,

"Why don't you come back tonight and I'll cook a special meal. Jo chewed carefully as she thought it over.

"Thank-you, that would be lovely" she said. East grinned happily and applied himself to his breakfast.

Jo left a short time later, having exercised Ghost and made arrangements for the evening.

East spent the rest of the day doing chores around the stables and schooling Magus. No mater how hard he tried his mind kept wandering to Jo and how she felt in his arms, how she'd responded to his kiss. Preparing the vegetables for their meal he very nearly sliced his hand open, he was that distracted. As he washed and shaved he thought about the evening ahead. What had possessed him to suggest it? What would happen? Would she even come? He endured the clock crawling round to the time they had arranged, he prowled the house checking and re-checking the food, setting the table and sitting down and getting up again. He was like a cat on hot bricks.

He heard a soft footfall outside and then a gentle knock. Striding to the door he opened it as he spoke.

"What are you knocking for..."his voice trailed off, his eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. Jo stood there, but not a Jo he'd ever seen before. She wore a dress, a cornflower blue dress, which buttoned from its high neck to the waist where it flowed in full skirts to the ground. The toes of the black polished boots peeped from below the hem. Her hair lay in soft waves to her shoulders, the sides held back from her face by two blue enamel and silver combs. The colour of the dress made her eyes seem bluer and her cheeks were tinged with pink as she blushed under his gaze.

"Hello" she said quietly.

"Em, er hello. You look beautiful luv." East said shaking his head from side to side as he stepped back allowing her to enter.

"Oh East." she breathed, smiling up at him as she took in the preparations he had made. Soft lamplight glowed; glass and silver winked and gleamed from their place on the white tablecloth he's spread. A fire burned brightly in the grate and a bottle of red wine stood open beside two glasses on the table. Clearing his throat and easing a finger under his collar East motioned her to one of the armchairs. Jo perched on the edge and spread her skirts demurely. He became aware he was staring again and stepped over to the table to pour them a glass of wine.

"Thank-you" she said accepting the glass and sipping.

"Mmm, it's lovely." she smiled up at him, her eyes moving over him, taking in his freshly laundered shirt, waistcoat and smart trousers.

"You look good to." she said.

He took the other chair and stretched out his legs,

"Thanks." he replied. An uncomfortable silence settled. Finally Jo said.

"This is ridiculous, I should go and change. Maybe then you could talk to me instead of gaping at me like a tickled trout!" East laughed, her comment lessening of the atmosphere.

 "You're right. I'm sorry. You just took me by surprise. I've never seen you look so..." his voice trailed off.

"What? Feminine?" Jo's eyes challenged him.

"Well sort of. I've got used to you in those boy's clothes. This is just so different." He smiled.

Now that the first awkwardness had been breached, they settled into the easy bantering they'd established in the past days. They share their meal, talking and laughing, both sharing stories of their lives before they met. East heard of "hiring fairs" and ill-advised marriage at seventeen to a violent man who'd been killed in a bar brawl just weeks later, and he found himself telling her about Grace and how he'd come to be in England.

The food was long since finished when they move to sit by the fire with a glass of whisky each. East took in Jo's flushed face and dancing eyes.

"You sure you're okay with that?" he asked indicating her drink.

"It's good stuff. When you live with the travellers you learn to handle your drink." lifting her drink she sipped and closed her eyes in appreciation. East became uncomfortable again and shifted his legs to try and ease the pressure building in his groin.

"Let's go and look at the little fella." he suggested. Jo opened her eyes, got to her feet and moved to the door.

"Yes let's." she said.

As she preceded East to the stable Jo was feeling light-headed. She'd told him the truth, she could hold her drink, but it wasn't alcohol that intoxicated her. It was East, the way he looked at her his eyes assessing and intense. When she met his gaze she felt her breasts constricted by the confines of her dress, and a beguiling warmth pool low in her stomach. The dusk was gathering but it was still light enough to see as the two walked into the stables to be greeted by Deacon. East grinned at the dog and reached down to scratch him behind the ears,

"G'day mate! I was wondering where you were."

Jo was already across the floor and leaning over the door admiring Fortune and her baby. She felt East move to stand behind her, she could have sworn she could feel the heat of his body through her clothes. She could certainly tell his scent, that mixture of straw, horse and man which caused her heartbeat to quicken and her breath to shorten. His large hand came to rest on the top of the door. Jo looked at it, strong, blunt fingered and capable.

 "What do you want to call him?" he asked his voice pitched low so that the animals were not disturbed.

"Promise." she said.

"Good name." he spoke close to her ear, his warm breath tickling. Jo shivered slightly.

"Cold?" the hand moved to rest on her upper arm his other moving to grip her and begin to rub to warm her skin. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the caress. The hands stilled and she felt him move again, his lips found the sensitive skin of her neck just below her ear. Jo sucked in a surprised breath. East's hands gripped her and turned her, pressing her back against the door as his head came down, his lips capturing hers. Gently he slid his hands up her arms and across her shoulders and up to cradle her head, dislodging the combs, which fell, unheeded to the floor.

Having initially been stunned into immobility, Jo now felt an overwhelming urge to taste and touch more of this man who was bewitching her. She did both, opening her mouth to allow his tongue to slide in and sliding her hands around his ribs to press flat and then smooth over the muscular back hidden by the waistcoat he wore. East groaned and settled a hand over one of her breasts; she arched her back to increase the sensation purring in her throat. East raised his head.

 "Jo... Luv, I want you so much it hurts. I don't want to just tumble you in the hay. I want to savour you, slowly, sweetly." he punctuated the statement with kisses.

 "Will you come back to the cottage with me?" He looked deeply into her eyes, his expression grave. Jo smiled up into his face.

"Yes, I'll come back with you." she said in a quiet voice.

With an explosive rush of breath East hugged her tightly to him and then swept her up into his arms before striding purposefully from the stable.

After an initial protest that he would hurt himself carrying her all the way, which he stubbornly ignored, Jo contented herself with kissing what skin she could reach and unfastening any buttons or studs she found. East shifted her in his arms, asking her to open the cottage door. This accomplished, he walked across the living room and through to his bedroom. The late evening gloom made the room almost dark so East set her on her feet and moved to light a lamp that stood on his chest of drawers. The room filled with soft light as he turned slowly and looked at Jo. She stood straight and proud, her chin tilted slightly and her eyes glinting as they moved over him. He looked down and chuckled. Several of his shirt studs, and waistcoat buttons, were open or missing altogether.

"Very effective." he approved.

"Come and finish the job?" he challenged wolfishly watching her close the distance between them. He shivered in pleasure as her fingers found his remaining fastenings, pushing first the waistcoat, then the braces and finally his shirt from his shoulders. He was fascinated by the look of absorption and hunger he could see on her face. When her fingers found, and stroked, his nipples he sucked in a breath, arousal pounding through his system increasing the hardness of his cock. He reached for the buttons of her dress, his large fingers clumsy but managing to achieve his aim. Soon they were undone as were the ones securing the skirt at the waist. East took a step back and Jo shifted her shoulders slightly. The cornflower blue dress slithered down her body and pooled at her feet. He held out a hand to her and she took it, stepping out to stand blushing and smiling in her chemise and petticoats.

 "More layers!" he groaned in mock dismay. She laughed at his antics and raised a hand to trace his lips. They both sobered and East reached for her again, pulling her into his arms and walking her backward towards his bed, kissing hungrily all the while. He eased her down to sit on the edge and knelt at her feet. He lifted each foot to unlace her boots and pull them off. His clever fingers crept up her legs finding and removing her garters from above her knees then sliding her black stockings off. The rough texture of his fingers against her skin made Jo's breath catch and she squirmed. He smiled and lifted one foot to his mouth, kissing each of her toes before moving to her ankle. Clearing his path of the crisp cotton of her petticoats he continued kissing until he reached the back of her knee. This seemed to be an especially sensitive spot because Jo groaned and lay back on the bed drawing her legs up slightly. Smoothing his hands up further he encountered her drawers. He moved up to lie on the bed and drew her to him. Shoving her petticoats out of the way he settled on hand on her thigh and the other cupped the nape of her neck. He kissed her urgently, driving his tongue into her mouth, as his lower hand searched out the split seam of her drawers. He stole her groan and matched it with one of his own when his fingers found her entrance slick and wet. He teased her with subtle gentle touches.

Jo rested a hand against his cheek. East turned his head and kissed her palm. The beginning of stubble grazed her palm and she was amazed at the hot desire that shot through her. Her hand moved round to tangle in his hair and pull him down to her. East complied readily, his eyes holding hers until the last second. The kiss surged between them and Jo's hand slid down the expanse of his back feeling the muscles jump under her fingers. When she reached the waistband of his trousers she slid one hand round to stroke his erection through the material. East sucked in a breath and closed his hand over hers, guiding her movements, showing her what gave him pleasure. His other hand was busy with the tapes of her petticoats and the ribbons of her chemise, growling in frustration. The necessity of removing their cumbersome clothes forced them apart, but soon they were back on the bed. Jo pounced on East and carried him backwards to lie underneath her, his insistent erection trapped between their bodies. Dropping her head she teased one of his nipples with lips and teeth, rubbing her body against the muscled length of him. East growled her name and slid a hand into her wildly disordered hair, gripping firmly, preventing her from moving lower as she'd intended. She raised her head and met his eyes.

"You can't go there right now." he said, his eyes stormy with need.

"Let me inside you" he growled, his voice rough and caressing. Smiling Jo moved to straddle his prone figure and encircled his rigid manhood. She positioned him at her entrance and slid down, sheathing him tightly, sighing in delight and watching expressions chase over his handsome face. East's hands moved to her hips and they set a gentle rolling rhythm which quickly became a hard, gasping, pounding quest for release which Jo found first, throwing her head back and crying wordlessly at the sensations ripping through her. A distant part of her brain registered the bruising grip on her hips and strangled cry that signalled East's orgasm. The exhausted woman slumped forward on to the man's heaving chest and smiled to hear his thundering heartbeat under her ear and have his heavy arms close around her and trap her in place. She wriggled contededly. East rolled until they lay on their sides looking into each other's eyes.

 "Jo" was all he said, his expression one of peaceful happiness. She smiled in response, pressed a kiss to his collarbone, closed her eyes and fell asleep. She woke only once, protesting sleepily, when East gently disengaged her arms to go and douse the lamp. He returned to her in the darkness enfolding her in his arms and tucking her head under his chin. She made a sound, something akin to a contented purr, and drifted back to sleep.

East woke at his usual early hour, slowly arriving into the day. He registered the warmth and presence of the woman curled up against him and smiled, remembering. He looked at her, she looked younger asleep, the wary knowledgeable frown she sometimes wore was smoothed from her tanned face and her mouth seemed to be smiling slightly. Her hair lay in tangled curls against her skin where the bedclothes had slipped to reveal the pale skin of one shoulder. It looked very pale in contrast to the sun-browned hand that lay curled in a loose fist near her face. He closed his eyes, remembering her nakedness. She was brown and white. The skin of face, neck, and forearms and from the knees down was sun browned. The rest was white and pale, traced with blue veins in places, her small breasts tipped with sensitive rosy nipples. The direction of his thoughts brought a feeling of urgency to his usual morning erection and he shifted to ease the pressure a little. Seconds later his eyes snapped open when he felt a small hand close around him and begin to stroke up and down. Jo's blue eyes sparkled with mischief as she snuggled closer and kissed his neck, nipping lightly. East sighed in pleasure, one hand wrapping around her lithe shoulder, the other capturing a breast, his thumb rubbing over the nipple. Continuing her teasing Jo wriggled from his grasp and disappeared under the covers. The man waited, every sense alert, he felt her short nails graze over his calves and thighs and then groaned to have her hot, wet mouth close around his rigid member. His hands clenched into the bedclothes and he gave himself up to her. He wanted to see her and pushed the covers away to reveal Jo rubbing his pulsing shaft between her breasts and kissing his belly. The sight was incredibly erotic and he recognised the gathering pressure of his release.

"Jo" he croaked in warning. She raised her head and grinned wickedly, her tongue slipping out to wet her lips before returning to kiss the weeping tip of him and close sweetly and urgently around him, her hands dancing to grip his hips and hold him still. His release burned through his body making him gasp and throw and arm over his eyes, his other hand was clenched tightly in Jo's hair. For long moments he floated in ecstasy. Jo gently released his fingers and moved to lie beside him planting kisses along the line of his jaw. It took all of East's energy to languidly stroke her back. He drifted off to sleep.

When he woke he was alone. Hauling himself out of bed, he donned a pair of trousers and went in search of Jo. He found her in the kitchen, demurely clothed in the cornflower blue dress, although it was badly wrinkled. Her neck showed a rosy mark that looked like a bite. She was cooking and chatting amiably with Deacon who sat nearby. She heard his approach.

"Aha! You lazy lump! I thought you'd sleep forever!" she grinned over her shoulder.

"You wore me out." East smiled, walking up behind her, slipping his hands round her waist and resting his chin on the top of her head. He felt her relax against him, it felt incredibly sweet and somehow comforting. The moment passed as Jo squirmed from his hold to put the cooked food on plates and carry them to the table.

After breakfast Jo went to visit Fortune and Promise before leaving for her camp. She spent the next few days almost constantly at the stable and with East, but resisted his suggestion that she move into the cottage. Finally a storm that destroyed her tent made her objections academic and she moved her few belongings into East's house.

The long days of summer passed and the two lived comfortably together, working with the horses, doing household chores and roaming the countryside. Ghost was pregnant by Magus and everything seemed right.

Jo lay slumped in one of the stalls, pinned in place by the sleeping, half-naked body of East. The very necessary, but boring, job of cleaning the stalls had been enlivened by a teasing game of tag which became wrestling, which became a much more satisfying physical encounter. She smiled, idly watching dust motes dancing in a sunbeam, looked at East who was snoring slightly. An experimental push on his shoulder made him grunt and roll on his back but not wake. Jo scrambled to her feet and righted her clothes. She still wore the baggy boy's clothing she'd had when East first encountered his "little poacher". Walking outside she looked at the four animals tethered there while the stables were cleaned. Promise was growing well and Fortune had not suffered any difficulties after the birth. Ghost was carrying her foal well and both the mares and the colt had coats that gleamed with health, but it was Magus who drew her eye. A proud head and neck, perfectly in proportion to his well conformed body, Magus was a real prize and had proved his potency at stud several times, most recently with Ghost. Jo's eyes sparkled to see him.

Glancing back over her shoulder she expected to see East emerge from the stable. He didn't. She returned her eyes to Magus and advanced. He eyed her approach, flicking his tail imperiously. Reaching up she smoothed a hand over his neck and shoulder, watching the muscles twitch under the skin.

"Just like East." she thought and untied the stallion. Leading him to the paddock.

East woke slowly, the sounds of a horse trotting disturbing him; he became aware of stalks of straw prickling his skin, which was cool now as his sweat dried. He grinned, remembering his games with Jo and shook his head. He retrieved his shirt from the crumpled heap it lay in nearby. Brushing off the worst of the straw he shoved his arms into it and stood to refasten his trousers. The sounds outside became more insistent and he strolled down the stable to stand transfixed in the doorway. Jo was riding Magus.

"What the hell!" East could have bitten his tongue as the words burst from him at some volume. His yell startled Deacon, who began to bark excitedly, that in turn spooked Magus.  He watched in horror, his gaze fixed on Jo who clung like a limpet, her brow fixed in concentration and her jaw set as the stallion reared and began to plunge haphazardly round the paddock. Things took a turn for the worse when Magus crashed sideways, broke the fence, and scenting the open field, took off at a dead run. East watched despairingly and then ran over to Fortune. He untied her, ignoring the alarmed noise from her foal. Swinging astride he gathered the reins and urged her after the fleeing stallion.

"Please God let her be safe." he prayed frantically as he raced after her.

 A short time later he saw Magus calmly cropping the grass, Jo was no longer aboard. His heart stumbled and lurched in its rhythm as his eyes wildly searched the area. He found her propped against a tree, pulling off one of her boots. Relief mutated into anger as he slid from Fortune's back and strode towards her. Dropping to his knees in front of her he grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

"What in hell's name did you think you were....? What did I tell you about....? You scared half my life out of me you stupid little...." He became aware that Jo's head was bobbing roughly, as a result of his treatment, but she was smiling. He let her go.

"What's so funny? You could have been killed! I don't know what I would have done if..." Small cool fingers resting over his mouth silenced East’s voice. He looked questioningly into her wide blue eyes and she said.

"You rode."

"What?" he said, confused by the statement. Maybe she was concussed, had a bump on her head?

"You rode." she said again, her smile shining and her eyes bright with unshed tears. It hit East that he had done exactly that, his concern for Jo completely swamping the demons of his fear.

"Yeah." he said,

 "Well I had to find you, 'cos if you weren't dead I was going to kill you! I can't lose you Jo. I love you." the words came unbidden to his mouth but as he spoke he knew it was true. Jo felt her jaw drop.

 "You.... what?" she gaped, all her aches and pains forgotten.

"I love you.” East said, his gaze fixed unwaveringly of hers.

"Oh!" she said,

"That's...that's good." she stammered.

"That's good?" he echoed.

"What does that mean?"

"It's good because I love you to." she smiled to see a wide grin split his face just before he hugged her so tightly she could barely breathe.

"East, can you ease up a bit, I think I've bruised my ribs." she squeaked.

"No bloody wonder" East released her and began, belatedly, to check her over for injuries, finally ending with a tally of a couple of bruised ribs, a sore wrist, and a sprained ankle which he bandaged with strips torn from his shirt. Jo relaxed back on her elbows, admiring the play of muscle over his torso as he treated her injury.

"I don't know why you're smiling girlie." he looked at her with a mock frown.

"Because I'm happy,” she grinned, crooking a finger at him. When he came within range she tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him into a kiss. When they came up for air he rested his forehead against hers and said,

"So am I. Let's get you home." He stood and lifted her into his arms carrying her to place her astride Fortune. He vaulted up to settle comfortably behind her, encouraging her to rest against him as he turned the horse's nose to home. Feeling her trusting weight against him East felt his chest tighten with pride and love for this free-spirited woman. He shook his head slowly in amazement.

 "I do love her,” he thought to himself and then a tiny whisper niggled at him,

 "But what about Grace?"     

...to be continued