After the Affair(29)

She hesitated, but slowly climbed in, frowning when he pulled the quilt back up around her shoulders. 'But I thought you ‑'

'Go to sleep, Cassie!' he snapped. 'Even I'm not so much a bastard as to take you when you're dead on your feet. And so clearly unwilling.'

'But, Dan, I ‑' She stopped. He was already walking from the room. To call after him, to explain that he had misunderstood her reactions, to beg him to come back was impossible. She had some pride left.

She stared after him, willing him to turn around. But he kept on going. And when the door actually shut, Cassie had no option but to accept that her marriage was not to be consummated that night.

She groaned and threw herself into the pillow, disappointment an acute pain in her heart. And while she supposed that Dan's leaving had been considerate and uncharacteristically sensitive, she couldn't get rid of the feeling that, when the moment had finally come, he hadn't wanted her all that much. The Dan of old would not have walked away, could not have walked away. But then, the Dan of old had loved her...in a fashion.

Sobs welled up inside Cassie till she could no longer hold them back. She cried and she cried. And when at last she fell asleep, clutching the pillow, she wasn't to know that Dan did come back, some time later.

He stood at the side of the bed, staring down at her, his eyes narrowing when he saw the tear-streaks on her cheeks. He dragged in a deep, unsteady breath, then turned, snapping off the light before leaving the room.





CHAPTER TEN


Cassie woke to semi-darkness, jerking upright in the bed. It was several seconds before she realised where she was. And that she was still alone.

She sank back down on the pillow and let out a trembling sigh, then reached over to switch on the bedside lamp. She glanced at her watch. Ten-past six. She had been asleep for over ten hours!

Her eyes darted to the door which was slightly ajar. Had Dan come back during the night? If so, why hadn't he come to bed? Why had he left her alone when he'd been so adamant all along that he wanted her?

The more Cassie thought about Dan's actions the night before, the more confused she became. Nothing made sense. Unless...

Could it be possible that he really did care about her, that his feelings encompassed more than a wish to possess her physically? It would explain his kind consideration in letting her sleep alone.

Or was it that his desire for her had waned now that he had won his objective? Maybe all he'd really wanted was his ring on her finger and Jason under his roof. Dismay curled in her stomach. Oh, God... What if he never wanted to make love to her? What if he had tricked her into a ghastly shell of a marriage? What if...?

Cassie groaned. This was ridiculous! She was letting her mind run away with her. Dan wouldn't be so cruel, so ruthless! He wouldn't!

Would he?

She threw back the covers and leapt from the bed, refusing to allow herself to lie there and wallow in such imaginings. That was all they were, she berated herself savagely. Silly, stupid, sick imaginings!

She dragged in a deep breath and determined to do something. Anything to stop her mind churning away!

A walk! That was it! She would get dressed and go for a walk. That should clear her head. She would go down to the river and watch the sun rise. She might even wander over and take a last look at Rosie. It wouldn't take long, and at least it would eliminate that worry for the rest of the day.

Ten minutes later Cassie was showered and dressed in jeans and sloppy Joe. She made the bed then tiptoed downstairs to the kitchen. There she quietly got herself a glass of milk and was about to leave when she spied a notice-board on the wall near the back door. She hesitated, then dashed off a quick message, telling Dan where she'd gone.

The sun had already risen by the time she reached the centre of the bridge, splashing a red gold into the grey waters. But it was cold just standing there, so Cassie kept on walking across, her eyes automatically scanning the horse paddocks in the distance. As her gaze swept over Rosie's field, a prickle of fear clutched at her heart. She couldn't see Rosie. Of course, she could be resting in the shed, but...

Cassie quickened her step, almost stumbling down the steps on to the far riverbank. She broke into a run, covering the distance along the path to the makeshift stables in record time, launching herself on to the fence surrounding Rosie's paddock. Where was she? Cassie's head swivelled this way and that. The paddock looked empty.

Suddenly Cassie saw her, lying prone in the far corner beneath the old fig tree.

Never had Cassie felt such panic. It tore into her belly, churning, painful, blinding. Oh, dear God, she prayed, pulse pounding, tears threatening. Don't let anything happen to my Rosie!

Cassie was through the fence and at the distressed animal's side in a flash.

'There, there, Rosie,' she cried, sinking down into the dirt on trembling knees and stroking the horse's quivering flanks. 'I'm here, old love. I'm here. Everything will be all right.'