His Outback Cowgirl(22)

“Go as far as you want or need to. I know you can take care of yourself.” He smiled. “And yes, that’s a compliment.”

Her lips briefly curved. “Thanks.”

This time Ethan didn’t allow himself to become preoccupied with when Bridie would return. He’d spoken the truth. He knew she could take care of herself. Bridie needed space and understanding. She didn’t need to be around someone who’d smother her with concern or stifle her independent spirit.

It wasn’t until the first star had pushed through the night sky blanketing the lake that she walked back into camp. The gloom masked her expression but in the glow of the firelight her eyes looked bleak and haunted.

“Any luck?” he said, keeping their conversation casual.

“Yes. I saw mule deer and there was a moose cow and calf I’ll look for again at sunrise. The baby was so gangly and cute.”

Bridie declined another coffee and set about getting ready for bed. The bug spray sounded before she slipped into her bedroll. Knowing they had an early start tomorrow, Ethan too prepared for bed. After a last check on the horses and fire he slid into his bedroll. The bug spray sounded again.

“Under attack?” he asked.

She giggled but her amusement sounded hollow. “Just being a good girl scout and being prepared. Want some?”

“No. I’m all good. For some reason mosquitoes don’t like me.” He paused. “Night.”

“Night.”

Silence descended broken only by the pop of a fire ember and the chatter of water insects. Arm behind his head, Ethan stared at the star-strewn sky. Every so often canvas would protest as Bridie moved in her bedroll. Then the sound of Bridie tossing and turning became more regular. Ethan pressed his mouth shut. As much as he wanted too he couldn’t intrude on her grief. It wasn’t his place to ask how she was doing.

“Ethan?” Her soft voice sounded.

“Yeah.”

“I can’t sleep.”

He smiled into the darkness. “I gathered that. You make more noise than a moose bull in the undergrowth.”

“I’ll take that as another compliment.” A smile warmed her voice. “It’s so strange looking at the sky and seeing unfamiliar stars.”

“I’ve heard the southern hemisphere sky looks different.”

“It does.” She paused. “Do you think they’re looking down on us?”

He swallowed. “Yes. I do. They’re not only looking down but also ... watching over us.”

Bridie didn’t immediately answer. “I miss him. So ... much.”

“I know.”

She moved in her bedroll again and when she spoke her voice was low. “Tell me about your mother? Henry doesn’t have any photos of her at the ranch.”

“No, but that’s okay. They weren’t together in the normal sense. How about I tell you a bedtime story? It might help you sleep.”

“Thanks. I’d like that.”

“I’d better warn you, it’s not the nicest of bedtime stories but it does have a happy ending.”

“If it has a happy ending, then it’ll be okay. The world needs more happily-ever-afters.”

“Well, my mother grew up with an alcoholic and abusive stepfather. One rodeo Henry stopped him from beating her horse and I guess that’s when my mother saw that beneath all his toughness Henry was a good man. A few rodeos later they spent the weekend together and, knowing what her stepfather would do to Henry if he found out, she made sure Henry never saw her again. Needless to say that one weekend led to a pregnancy and then twins.”

Bridie looked across at him, eyes wide. “Please tell me you and Cordell didn’t grow up living with such a man.”

Ethan shook his head. “We never lived with him at all. Mom’s pregnancy gave her and my grandmother the strength to leave. We may have then spent our childhood on the run but when Mom married Scott we were finally safe and Rick never bothered us again.”

“I’m so glad. Did Henry ever know about you and Cordell? I’m guessing not because I can’t see him letting anything happen to you either?”

“No, he didn’t. We didn’t even know who our father was. All Mom would say was he was a good man that couldn’t be with us. Then right at the ... end she told us Henry’s name.”

“And then you came to find him?”

Ethan chuckled through the pain of his grief. “Actually Cordell did. But that’s a whole other bedtime story.”

“I already know that one has a happy ending.” She stifled a yawn. “So maybe that story had better wait for another time?”

Silence again settled between them and this time wasn’t interrupted by Bridie tossing and turning. Soon the faint and even sound of her breathing told him she was finally sleep. Ethan gave in to his own tiredness.