Aw, sweet. When she glanced up at him, he winked. It warmed her heart. What a sap I’m turning into!

  There was no one in the house. The station hands’ homes were empty except for the cook sleepily rubbing his eyes and informing them that the family had gone to town, and the station hands were doing a round-up on the far side of the station.

  “But Mrs. Cruthers had an appointment,” Regan said. “A sore on her leg that wasn’t healing.”

  “Oh, Lucy gave her some Aboriginal medicine that fixed her up.” The cook squinted, rubbed his eyes again. “The Missus forget to tell you?”

  “Oh yeah, she forgot,” Regan said dryly. “And not for the first time.”

  “Yeah, well…” He shrugged.

  “Thanks, Cookie.”

  Regan and Digby returned to the ship.

  “Might as well head for the last town and then go and pick Barry and Charlotte up,” Digby said, heading for the pilot cabin.

  “Might as well,” she agreed.

  No sooner had the ship lifted and started on towards the final destination, than Digby had it on autopilot, and was back and stalking her around the clinic, where she’d been ensuring the last of the files were up to date.

  “Now, Doc,” she said, “We’ve work to do.”

  “We did,” he corrected. “It’s a four hour trip to the next town. I do believe I have enough time to see to your…punishment.”

  A prickle of anticipation went through her, and she arched one brow. “Punishment?”

  “I didn’t get my kiss.” He lunged for her.

  Quick as a flash, she dodged around the drug counter to eye him from the opposite side. “You need to learn to pace yourself, Doc. You’re heading for a burn-out.”

  Bright blue eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and heat. “I’m pacing myself just right, Nurse. It’s you who needs to keep up.”

  “I think you’re keeping it up quite nicely yourself, Doc.” She skirted back around the counter.

  He followed her step by step. “I think you need to learn who your master is, Nurse.”

  She laughed in his face.

  “You’re such a witch.” He laughed back - then leaped right over the counter to land in front of her.

  Mouth agape, she stared at him. “I can’t believe you did that!”

  “I’d walk through fire for you,” he replied, the laughter fading from his eyes.

  She wasn’t too sure what to say to that, especially when he took her hand and kissed it gently.

  That’s just what he did though, one time the aggressive lover, taking her to heights she’d never known, pushing her passion and giving her climaxes that shuddered through her whole body. The next time, he was a gentle lover, careful, rocking her gently. But always considerate, never hurting her, always ensuring she had her pleasure.

  It touched her…and yes, she had to admit, it sometimes unnerved her. Kept her on edge a little, wondering what he was going to do next. He could go from serious to amusement in the flash of an eye, a word, a thought.

  And she just had to be a sick puppy, because that not knowing what lover she was facing when Digby approached her made her…Miss Wet-In-The-Panties.

  “Regan.” Digby’s gaze was steady. “When we get back home-”

  The ship rocked, tilted, sending them stumbling against the drug counter. Luckily the containers were in slots behind closed doors, and the instruments were kept in sealed compartments, otherwise the entire clinic area would have become a cabin full of dangerous obstacles.

  “What the hell was that?” Digby steadied her against himself.

  The ship shuddered, jolted, and they both skidded across the room to slam into the wall. No sooner had the ship righted itself than Digby was running for the door.

  “Strap yourself in!” he ordered.

  Yeah, like she was going to sit and quake while the big man saw to her safety. Not. Regan believed her position as nurse to doctor meant she was his backup in all situations.

  Plus she wanted to know what the hell was going on, too.

  The ship shuddered again, a tortured squealing sound coming from underneath, and Regan hurtled through the door of the pilot cabin and almost fell into the spare chair at the controls.

  Digby looked at her and didn’t bother to argue. “Strap in. We’re under attack.”

  “What? Under attack?” She jerked the strap over her shoulders and snapped it closed around her waist.

  He pointed to the space shield. “We’ve accidentally stumbled upon some cattle duffing, and they’re not going to let us get away.”

  A chill went through Regan as she looked to the scene below. Sure enough, amidst the dust being stirred up in the scrub she could make out cattle moving fast. Around them, she caught flashes of men in moleskins and long-sleeved shirts, their airbikes moving agilely in and out of the scrubby trees and bushes.

  On the ground ahead was a huge cattle ship, the ramps down and cattle hurrying up it, tossing their heads and lowing. The ship didn’t have any company markings on it.

  And coming straight towards the UAM ship was a small craft, with a gun mounted on the roof. Fire flared from it, bright sparks of flame, and the shield in the pilot cabin cracked as the bullets hit.

  “Shit! Hold on, Regan!” Flicking the autopilot off, Digby took over the controls.

  He pulled the ship up sharply, and Regan’s stomach dropped to the floor. The UAM ship wasn’t designed for evasive action, only fast flight. This was not good.

  Grabbing the handset of the radio communicator, she gave out a mayday call, only to hear static in return. Several times she tried, but no voice greeted her in return.

  “They’ve blocked the communications,” Digby said through clenched teeth.

  “How do you know?”

  “I saw the aerial up on the cattle ship. That aerial can assist in sending signals, but if the cattle duffers want, they can use it to interfere in the transmission.”

  “We’re up shit creek without a paddle, aren’t we?”

  “Too bloody right.” Grim-faced, he took the ship into a dangerous swerve as the small craft shot towards them again.

  Regan couldn’t see where the craft was, and could only bite her lip as the UAM ship hurtled above the scrub.

  “Hey, Doc,” a voice growled over the transmitter. “I’d advise you to stop.”

  Digby didn’t answer.

  “Don’t make us blow you out of the sky, Doc. Just pull up and it’ll all go nice and smooth.”

  “Don’t,” Regan whispered. “Those cattle duffers won’t let us go.”

  “Not with the price of meat now.” Digby looked at her.

  “C’mon, Doc.” A grating laugh sounded. “I know your ship. You got that nice little sheila aboard, the one who’s all curves. I’ll trade you your life for a couple of hours with her.”

  Digby’s nostrils flared and his eyes gleamed with rage, but he remained in control. “You’ll be gone before we reach the nearest town. There’s no need for any of this.”

  “Ah, now, Doc, we both know meat is an expensive commodity. You’ve seen too much. Can’t let you go blabbing to the law. No, you’d do much better to stay with us for awhile. Or the nursie, anyway.” The cattle duffer laughed coarsely. “The boys and I’ll treat her good, Doc, real good.”

  “Go screw yourself,” Digby replied, and flicked off the transmission.

  Silence filled the cabin for several minutes before Regan looked at Digby. “They might let you go if I-”

  “No!” The word snapped out like a lash.

  “But-”

  “No! No, Regan.” He took a deep breath, then turned and looked directly at her. “I wouldn’t let any of those bastards get their hands on any woman in my care, and especially not you.”

  Her hand trembled with a combination of fear and adrenalin, but Reg’s voice was steady. “I won’t have you die because of me.”

  “You can’t trust those cattle duffers. One time they might have let you go, back in the early twenty first century, but now with meat so expensive and sought after, only the most ruthless steal them. No.”

  It was true. Very true. There were documented reports about innocent people murdered by cattle duffers over the years. It got worse as good meat got rarer and the cattle and sheep only thrived in certain parts of the Australian outback.

  Digby saw the fear in Regan’s eyes, saw how she resolutely blinked it away. She was courageous, and that’s why…that’s why he loved her.

  It hit him out of the blue, and yet he wasn’t shocked. Surprised, yes, but not shocked. Pulling the ship into a fast lift upward, he dodged the smaller craft coming at him from the side, flung the ship around and soared in another direction. At the same time, it thrummed through him. I love her. I love Regan. Oh God, I love her and we might die out here before I can even tell her.

  Should he tell her? It sure wasn’t the right bloody time, not with cattle duffers after their hides, and a craft trying to blow them to kingdom come, but then again…what if she never knew?

  It was ridiculous. This was not the time.

  The ship shuddered as the craft scored another direct hit, and Digby fought for control. Smoke was pouring from the back of the ship somewhere, he could see a stream of it coming across the cracked shield.

  Immediately Regan flicked on the computer, typing in commands until she had a damage report. Grimly she looked at him. “It’s the engine. It’s received a direct hit.”

  “Shit. How long have we got?”

  “At this time, we’re still flying with full power, but that’s going to start fading as the power leaks.”

  “How long, Regan?”

  Her eyes were steady. “We’ll go down in thirty minutes.”

  “Bloody hell!”

  They sat in silence for several minutes until the craft suddenly flew past their shield, making Digby use precious power by pulling up, swerving and flying upwards before levelling out.

  “I guess that makes it twenty minutes,” Reg said. “Thanks to that bloody drongo.”

  A small laugh escaped him, unexpected in the tension-filled cabin. Reaching across, he grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “Ah, Regan, love.”

  She gave him a small smile, her fingers lacing through his.

  Digby knew he had to tell her. They could die today, murdered or from the crash to earth from the sky. He had to tell her. Had to.

  Looking directly at her, he said softly, “Regan, I love you.”

  “That’s really comforting, Digby. Honestly.”

  “No, I mean it. I really do love you.” He gave her fingers another squeeze. “Regan, listen to me.”

  She looked at him, directly at him, and her eyes widened. “Digby…”

  “This is not a comfort thing, Regan. I’m not going to hide anything. We’re in danger.”

  “I had noticed.”

  He took a deep breath. “We could very well die today. I don’t want us to die without you knowing…Regan, I love you. With all my heart.”

  She looked stunned then her eyes filled with tears. “Really?”

  Every luscious inch of you.” He gave her hand a tug. “Lean over and kiss me, love.”

  Without hesitation, she did so. Her sweet lips touched his for a kiss that branded itself right into his heart. But it was too brief, the shudder and torturous groaning of the ship getting a direct hit tearing them apart.

  Cursing, he turned his attention back to the view in front of them. The ship was lurching, careening out of control. The transmission crackled, and two voices sounded at once.

  “You’re going down, Doc!” The coarse voice laughed. “Going down! Hooroo, Doc, Nursie!”

  At the same time, a sharp voice boomed, “We’ve got your tail, Digby! Fly low, fly low!”

  “What the bloody blue blazes?” The cattle duffer roared. “Who the hell—oh shit! Coppers!”

  A khaki coloured craft shot past the shield, blue lights flashing on the top of it. Two more flew overhead, guns spitting a deadly fire.

  But Digby couldn’t watch, even though a fissure of relief went through him. He was battling to keep the ship up as it slew out of control.

  The earth was rushing up, the spinifex blowing under the air forced down by the ship skimming above it. He managed to right it for several seconds before he felt the steering go.

  The ship was heading for the ground and there was no way he could control it. He looked at Regan. Tears were in her beautiful eyes and she reached out one hand to him.

  “I love you,” she said.

  He caught her hand in a tight grip and tried to smile through the lump in his throat. “I love you even more.”

  The ship crashed to the earth, dirt spewing up into the air, the shield smashing. There was a confusion of loud rendering noises, a scream from his beloved Regan, a horrible screeching of metal, an explosion, and something hit him near the temple.

  Everything went black.

  When he came to, there was an eerie silence. He was still in his chair, blood trickling down the side of his head, and he managed to painfully turn his head and look at Regan. She was slumped in the chair next to him, blood trickling down her face, blood on her normally spotless khaki top.

  “Regan! Oh God, Regan, no!” He couldn’t get his seat belt undone, and he swore as pain shot through his arm. Bone grated, but he couldn’t feel pain. “Regan! Regan!”

  There was a soft moan and she opened her eyes slowly. Her gaze met his and she smiled in relief. “Digby?”

  “Oh God.” He could feel the tears on his cheeks but he didn’t care. “I thought… How do you feel?”

  “You know, Dickie, you can’t fly worth shit.” Her eyes closed. “Next time, I’m flying.”

  “Anything you want, my love. Anything.” He reached out for her. “Give me your hand.” He needed to feel her, know she was alive.

  Her trembling fingers touched his, and he gripped her fiercely. Her pulse beneath his fingers-tips was fast, but thank God it wasn’t thready.

  He kept her hand tightly in his, even as concussion made him flow in and out of consciousness. All he knew, deep down inside, was that he wasn’t letting his Regan go.

  Ever.

  ****

  “The groom looks dashing,” Derek said in amusement. “For a crock with one arm in plaster.”

  “The bride looks beautiful.” Charlotte sniffed into a hanky. “Even if she is sporting a black eye and stitches in her eyebrow.”

  “I still think they should have waited and had a proper wedding.” Reg’s mother, Mrs. Mathews, wiped her eyes. “They’ve only been out of hospital for two days.”

  “They didn’t want to wait,” Derek said for the hundredth time.

  “I know. We barely made it in time as it was.” His mother nudged her husband. “Doesn’t our baby girl look beautiful?”

  “Very,” Mr. Mathews agreed proudly.

  Reg looked at Digby, who was resting in the chair beside her. The minister was running late, but his ship had been sighted so it wouldn’t be long.

  The young police officer in the second row of hastily placed seats in the little church waved cheerfully at her. It turned out that the local coppers had been tipped off by Wyumba station-hands that the cattle were disappearing, and so saying the law enforcement had been doing some fly-overs. The smoke from the UAM ship had attracted their attention.

  “If he hadn’t been one of those to save us, I’d rip his head off,” Digby said conversationally.

  “But you’ll make an exception.” She smiled at him, thinking that even with the plaster cast on his broken arm and the sutures on his temple, he was still a handsome bugger.

  She told him so.

  “Ah, Regan.” Leaning over to her, he placed a kiss on her cheek. “Your black eye brings out the brown of your irises.”

  “You charmer.”

  He caught her lips in a deep, drugging kiss that had her head swimming and the guests whistling.

  In a church. Whistling in a church. Her mother would have a fit. Regan grinned and kissed Digby right back.

  When she drew back, his eyes were hot. “There’s something other than my plaster getting hard here.”

  “Do tell?”

  “Once we’re alone, Regan, I’m going to kiss every bruise on your body.”

  “Now I know you’re trying to sound romantic, Digby, but I just want you to know you’re being a pervert.” She raised one brow, wincing inwardly at the pull in the small stitches from the cut in her left eyebrow. “We may not be able to consummate the wedding night with your crook arm, lover.”

  A throaty sound came from his lips. “Trust me, lover, there’s nothing on this earth that could keep me from you.”

  “The one-armed pirate,” she said cheerfully. “Taking what he will, ravaging poor women.”

  “My arm might be buggered for now, but I assure you that my jolly roger is more than capable of running up…” His smile was slow and carnal. “My flag pole.”

  Laughing, she kissed him softly, uncaring of the eyes upon them. Anyway, they had their backs to the guests, so they couldn’t really see everything. But they saw enough, and who really cared? She certainly didn’t at that moment.

  Digby’s bright blue eyes met hers in that steady way he had. “I do love you, Regan.”

  “And I love you,” she returned.

  “You’re never leaving my side.”

  “I do have to work.”

  “On my ship.” He grinned. “And sleep in my bed every night.”

  “Sleep?”

  “Well, after a few bouts of sex, of course.”

  “Of course. After all, I do have your permission to use you.” She licked her lips slowly, loving the way his heated gaze followed the movement. “Maybe I’ll put that into practice tonight, seeing as your arm is in plaster.”

  “I dare you to ride me.”

  Her cheeks went red and her heart picked up pace.

  Digby laughed softly. “Ah, my lovely Regan, I am so going to love introducing you to all the ways to enjoy our bodies.”

  “I feel hot.” She fanned herself, remembering at the last minute to use the hand not holding the small bouquet of flowers.

  “Good. You feel hot and I have half a hard-on. That makes us even.”

 

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