Cloud Riders(87)

As she sipped it down, she felt it warm her inside and she held the empty glass to the servant. ‘Just bring the bottle, buddy,’ she said with a cheeky look, smiling at Aldebaran and still trying to get a reaction. Aren’t fathers meant to be all funny about their kids drinking alcohol?

‘If I’d known you were this much fun, maybe I’d have come and captured you years ago.’ He baffled her again with his wit instead of sniping.

‘Your ex, my dear, so-called mother, would have loved it if you’d have kidnapped me. The bitch would have enjoyed her life so much better with me gone,’ she let on, a bit more sombrely than she had meant to and sculling another drink.

‘Why? Didn’t Mummy dear get you that pony you always wanted?’ he said a little sarcastically and with a jealous edge.

She made a face and shook her head. ‘You have no idea what you left me to endure. I should hate you for leaving me with them.’ She was annoyed that he was making fun of her. Then, not sure why, her anger boiled over, making her blab to Daddy-o just what a hard life she did have. She finished with the kidnapping saga and realised he had gone totally silent and the colour had drained from his face.

Aldebaran took a minute to process what he’d just learned. ‘She didn’t want you, yet she wouldn’t let me have you either? Why did she feel she had to punish us both?’

‘Maybe she wasn’t really happy and blamed you,’ she said in a sarcastic tone.

‘Cassandra, stop it,’ he growled. ‘Your bitterness towards me won’t help what’s been done. I’m sorry for what happened to you but if we’re ever to get past these trust issues you have to let it go.’

Tears stung her eyes—she’d never had a real father. He was talking to her as if he was and now she felt upset that she had hurt him. Jeez, I am so damned confused with all this newness of emotion. ‘I’m sorry,’ she apologised. ‘I’ve had a bad couple of days and shouldn’t be taking it out on you.’ She poured another drink and passed him one. ‘You’re right, I probably just wanted to hurt you and it was childish and uncalled-for.’

‘At least I know you can be honest with me,’ he said.

Wiping away her tears, she eyed him. ‘Our very first father-daughter fight,’ she said with a little smile.

‘Yes! We’re both very stubborn,’ he grinned.

She chuckled and took a sip of her drink. ‘Even though it was in poor taste to throw all that family history at you, somehow I feel lots better for telling someone.’

He patted her hand. ‘Because I’m your father, Cassandra and deep down you know that, you should know too that you can come to me about anything. I want to know everything about you.’ He smiled warmly. ‘So, tell me what do you and your friends do in your spare time?’

She ran her fingers around the glass and down the stem of it while thinking. ‘Let me see. The property is massive and there is a great lake, so we swim and sleep out under the stars. They have off-road vehicles, the trail bikes we take up into the mountain range and spend hours on the sand dunes. The four-wheel drives are mainly used for hunting, a sport I have come to enjoy immensely. Oh and the boys throw lots of parties and BBQs where we normally end up pretty pickled and play cards. They figure if I’m under the weather they have a better chance of beating me. Like that’s ever going to happen. Not!’

He seemed amused. ‘Are you any good?’

‘Pop, I reckon even if you were to use your magic I would still come up trumps,’ she laughed, sitting back in the chair and looking cocky as hell. She could see he saw the challenge and wasn’t about to let his own kid show him up. This would be fun and knowing he would probably be a bit of a gambler, she was going to enjoy a little family rivalry.

‘Then let’s see if you take after your old man,’ he said, shaking his head and looking pleased that she wanted to play a game with him. It was a bit of healthy competition that he looked forward to, especially with her looking so smug. Yes, I will enjoy this too!

The table now cleared, cards produced and the rum poured, both were eager to let the games begin. Wit and cunning showed on their faces as both wanted to come out the winner. Father against daughter: maybe it wasn’t on the battlefield but it might as well have been. Neither was to be merciful. The first hand went in Cassie’s favour and Aldebaran tried hard to hide his irritation that his daughter might be more of a challenge than he had thought. He hated to lose and she was causing him real grief of late.

‘Okay, Cassandra, game on!’ He rolled his head as she dealt the next hand.