No Greater Joy (11 page)

'She did.'

'I don't think I was wrong to defend Timmy, Clint.'

'You weren't,' he assured her.

'I don't suppose you said that to Virginia.'

'No, I didn't.' The look he gave her was steady. 'And you know the reason for that. I know Virginia ran the camp well in my absence, and she'll keep running it for me.'

'You rely on Virginia, yet sometimes I wonder...is that the only reason you keep defending her?'

'Come on, Alison!'

But something drove her to continue. 'Why did you come looking for me when you'd just got back to camp, Clint? To give me a lecture about Virginia?'

'I came because I couldn't get you off my mind all the time I was away,' he said, very softly.

'You expect me to believe that?' But the hard words belied her pleasure.

'Of course. After my lovemaking, I wouldn't have thought you'd need to ask.'

Alison was beginning to tremble. 'Lovemaking is just something men enjoy doing. It doesn't necessarily mean anything.'

He was watching her, his eyes hard to read. 'Still the same Alison,' he commented.

'You didn't think I'd change, did you?'

'I was hoping you had.'

Abruptly, Alison stood up and went to the door of the shack. Mountain storms began and ended very quickly, and she saw that the rain had almost stopped. All that was left was a weak drizzle.

She was about to tell Glint that they could go back to camp, when he came up behind her. She did not turn when he gripped her shoulders.

'Why don't you believe me when I say I couldn't get you off my mind?' His lips moved in her hair.

'I don't know what to believe.' Her voice was choked.

'I'll have to prove it to you, then.'

'By trying to kiss me again?' she asked tensely.

'By showing you something I've never shown anyone else.'

She turned. 'What?'

The corners of his lips lifted in the smile that had become so familiar, she had seen it in her dreams every night while he was away. 'Are you up to a climb?'

Her curiosity was aroused. 'If you are. What about your back?'

Clint laughed softly. 'That kiss did wonders for my back! Come on, let's go.'

Alison was even more curious when they left the shack and began to walk, not towards the camp, but in the direction of a distant gorge. This was one way she had never been before.

There was no trail, not even the faintest sign of a path, yet Clint seemed to know exactly where he was going. Underfoot the wild grass was wet from the rain, and the air was spicy with the scent of mountain shrubs. Here and there, water cascaded down cliffsides that would have been barren save for the aloes and cacti that grew between the rocks.

Alison stopped now and then to look around her at a scene that was wilder and more desolate than anything she had yet encountered. It was as if no human feet had ever trod this ground.

'Why won't you tell me where we're going?'

Clint's grin was wicked. 'Because that would ruin the surprise.'

At a high cleft at the very end of the narrow gorge, he turned and reached a hand to her.

'This is it?' she asked incredulously.

'It's as far as we go. Come on up.'

Alison let him help her up the rock-face. He was still holding her hand when she peered through the cleft. Far below them was nothing but a windswept plateau.

Mystified, she looked at Clint. His eyes sparkled back at her. 'Not long to wait.'

'Wait for
what?'

'You'll see.'

'The suspense is killing me, Clint!' she laughed.

'Really?' He threw her the most maddening grin as he pointed to a rocky ledge. 'Might as well make ourselves comfortable in the meantime. Let's sit down.'

They had to sit very close together on the small piece of rock wedged between two high cliffs. Alison was beginning to wonder how long they would have to wait, when a noise sounded from the plateau far below.

A rumbling sound, a little like thunder, faint at first, getting louder by the second.

Hooves! Within moments a string of horses hurtled into sight. Eight, perhaps ten.

Horses unlike any Alison had ever seen—wild horses, horses which did not answer to commands, which had never known saddles or bridles. Untamed, free, heads thrust high, tails streaming behind them, galloping like the mountain wind across the desolate plateau. As quickly as they had come, they vanished. In less than a minute they were out of sight.

Alison expelled a breath she hadn't known she was holding, as she turned a wordless look to Clint.

'Wild horses,' he confirmed.

'They're incredible! Absolutely incredible! How did they get here?'

'I can't tell you for certain. My guess is that years ago they must have escaped from a ranch. Perhaps someone stole them, and then had to let them loose for some reason. I don't know.'

'And no effort was ever made to recapture them?'

'If there was, I don't know about it-.'

'What a sight! Clint, did you mean it when you said you'd never brought anyone else up here?'

'Yes, I meant it.'*

'Why not?' she asked.

'Because there's never been anybody I wanted to share the horses with.'

Alison's throat was thick with a sudden rush of emotion. Unsteadily, she said, 'Thank you.'

'Was it worth the climb, Alison?' Clint's voice was soft.

'Absolutely!' Her eyes shone. 'I've never seen anything so beautiful.'

'As you are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen,' he said huskily.

'Don't...' she began.

'You're so like the horses, Alison.'

Her heartbeats quickened. 'In what way?'

'Beautiful, independent, wild and free.'

She drew a shuddering breath. 'You're talking nonsense.'

'Yet shy, too. The horses didn't see us. They'd take fright if they did. Just as as you take fright whenever you're with me.'

'This really is nonsense, Clint.'

Narrow as the ledge was, he managed to put his arm around her shoulder. 'I really did miss you all the time I was away. Did you miss me at all, Alison?'

Her heart was beating so hard that it felt as if it would burst right out of her chest. 'No,' she said. And then, 'Well, maybe a little.'

His lips nuzzled her hair. 'That's something. The first time you've actually let yourself acknowledge some feeling!'

'Don't make too much of it,' she said quickly.

'You'd pull me up fast enough if I did, wouldn't you? But I
am
going to kiss you, Alison, and unless you want to risk falling off this ledge, you won't be able to stop me.'

But, as Clint began to kiss her, it was the intensity of her emotions, rather than the precariousness of the ledge, which stopped Alison from pulling away from him.

Clint's free hand cupped her face as his lips began to explore hers, seemingly gently at first, yet so tantalis- ingly that the blood turned to maddened fire in her veins. There was little room to move, wedged in as they were between the cliffs, yet Clint did not let that hinder him.

Gentleness turned quickly to passion. The kisses became harder, more urgent. His tongue pushed at her lips, seeking entrance to the sweetness of her mouth. He was taking her—still quivering with emotion from their encounter in the shack—to heights where resistance was becoming impossible. With the blood drumming in her head, Alison finally opened her lips to him.

A harsh, hissing breath tore his throat, and he lifted his head and looked down at her. 'You're so beautiful,' he groaned huskily. 'The most beautiful woman in the world.'

Eyes smudged with shock, she looked at him wordlessly, and then away. She did not want him to see the emotions he had aroused in her, for if he did she'd be left with no more defences.

His head came down, and he was kissing her again, demanding the response which she was no longer able to deny him. A primeval hunger throbbed within her. She
wanted
Clint to kiss her, there was a part of her that wished he would never stop.

At length, he lifted his head. 'You're driving me insane,' he muttered.

'I'm not feeling exactly lucid myself right now,' she managed.

'Kissing's fine, Alison, but I want so much more from you.'

'On this ledge?' She attempted an amused laugh, but it didn't quite come off.

'We could go back to the shack.'

'No, Clint.'

'It's what we both want,' he insisted huskily.

'It's what
you
want,' she corrected.

'You do too, Alison. You were responding to me.'

She looked at him a little wildly. 'Clint, I wish... I wish you'd forget everything that happened today.'

'Do you think you can forget it?' he demanded.

She wouldn't forget it till the day she died.

'I hope so,' she shrugged.

'I don't believe you will. I know Raymond hurt you badly, but to shut yourself away from life because of him is wrong.'

She lifted troubled eyes. 'I've gone further today than I ever thought I would. But don't force me into anything, Clint—please! I couldn't bear it.'

He was silent a few moments before saying, 'I promised you once I wouldn't do that. Remember?'

'Yes...'

'Which doesn't mean I won't keep hoping.' He touched her arm. 'Come along, Alison, let's get back to camp.'

Later that evening, Virginia detained Alison as she was walking to her cabin. 'I've been looking for you, Alison. How are you getting on with your plans for the overnight ride?'

'Very well.' It seemed like an odd time to discuss the ride.

'I'd like to see a list of the supplies you intend taking with you.'

'I've made it up. I'll give it to you,' Alison said politely.

'Also the names of all those who will be going,' added Virginia.

'Yes, all right. I'll have the lists in your office first thing in the morning, Virginia.'

Alison was on the point of walking on, when Virginia stopped her. 'You were away from camp a long time this afternoon.'

Alison maintained her politeness. 'I'd given all my lessons for the day.'

'Clint was gone, too. He came back from his trip, then took off again in a hurry.' Uncharacteristically, Virginia hesitated a moment. 'Were you together?'So this was why the other girl had waylaid her! Alison decided to remain silent.

Virginia gave a harsh laugh. 'You have in fact just answered the question. There's something you should know, Alison. Clint isn't a one-woman man.'

Alison looked at her with distaste. 'I don't know why you're telling me this. It doesn't concern me one way or another.'

'I think you should know—he was married once.'

'I do know.'

Virginia looked surprised. 'He told you?'

'Yes, he did.'

'Then you understand that if he'd wanted to marry again, he'd have done so years ago?'

Alison was finding it increasingly hard to retain her composure. 'I really don't know what you're getting at, Virginia. None of this has anything to do with me.'

'I don't believe that. You're the kind of girl who wants marriage.' Virginia's husky voice was hard. 'Marriage, babies, a settled home, a faithful and adoring husband to support you. You have commitment written all over your face.'

'Actually, I take pride in being independent,' Alison said coldly. 'What's the purpose of all this, Virginia?'

'I don't want to see you get hurt. Clint is human, he likes attractive women—but it never goes further than that, take my word for it. Even if the two of you are— friends—it won't last longer than the end of camp.'

'That's fine with me,' said Alison, as calmly as she could. 'The fact is, I'm not looking for a husband, I have my own plans for the future, and I have absolutely no interest in commitment.'

'Then you're not in love with him?'

The happiness that had been with Alison all afternoon was gone now. She lifted her chin. 'All these questions, just because we happened to spend an afternoon together? I really don't think it's any of your concern, Virginia, but no, I am not in love with Clint.'

T
HE SUN
was just rising when the trail-riders left camp. Alison rode at the head of the group, the reins of a pack- horse held in one hand. Behind her were fifteen of the older campers. It was the start of the overnight trail-ride which this group had been looking forward to since the beginning of camp. Tonight they would be sleeping on a high mountain slope beneath the stars.

The mist was just lifting from the high peaks when Alison called a breakfast halt at one of the many rest stops Clint had created along the way—this was one route where people would never find themselves stranded without shelter in the event of an unexpected storm!

After tethering both her own horse and the pack-horse to a post, Alison went to help the two senior boys, Fraser and Alex, who had been given the responsibility of leading the two other pack-horses.

'Did you know a brown snake eagle has been sighted around here, Alison? Boy, what I wouldn't give to see it!' Fraser bubbled with anticipation.

Alison smiled at him. Sixteen years old, and a regular Bushveld camper since he'd been old enough to leave home, Fraser had quickly endeared himself to her. He loved horses, but his real passion was birds. He spent his free"*time tramping the veld around the camp, binoculars to his eyes, a camera slung around his neck. Alison, who liked birds too, knew that the brown snake eagle was the one bird Fraser had been longing to see since the beginning of camp.

'Maybe you'll be lucky,' she told him, as she took a thermos and a stack of plastic glasses from one of the saddle-bags. 'Just have to keep watching.'

The campers crowded around her excitedly, chattering, laughing, eager for hot cocoa and sandwiches. Alison smiled as she listened to them. So intensely had they been looking forward to this overnight trip that each one had been dressed and ready long before dawn.

The thought of the two days away from Bushveld pleased Alison as much as it did her group—though the reason differed. Since the afternoon when he had taken her to see the wild horses, she was finding it harder and harder to get Clint out of her mind. It was no longer possible to deny to herself that she was physically attracted to him. But physical attraction was all it was, she kept telling herself. She
did not love
Clint. She had no intention of falling in love with him. Still, with her strength of will so fragile these days, she was glad of the chance to be away from him for two days.