Wild Affection

e asked as Robin pulled up

the cente

blankets and pillows so

for

ives h

, Dare Penrod's wife. It wa

here while waiting for th

ed?" Kate asked. "Uncle

in love? Her death must h

I'm surprised he

er eyes, unwill

re or the real reason Dar

loved alw

with her father while Rob

ng time, and when he emer

et and pillow tucke

gry," he explained as he

ned William's head with t

ath him to cushion

ch trouble, son,"

ramatta?" Kate asked worr

r in Sydney before con

amatta now," Robin said. "

Governor Macquarie, who u

public b

, Kate," William said g

s voice and added his o

isagreed v

ike that, Father? You'll be

em as the bullocks plodde

impenetrable bush growing o

ecies of eucalyptus and un

n

ere ancient, growing forty

grew lush on the forest fl

cry of a kookaburra she s

brilliant array of wildflo

ver strang

ike it," Kate said, her vio

ace in the world

tation," Kate urged, anxi

"Do you li

rstood. I'm a 'tick

ld of Kate and refused to le

e' m

is allowed to work wher

way Kate was edging away

forming arou

" Kate gasped. She clutche

Robin to turn on her with

someone like you in

repeated, his sandy brows

offends you, but obviously

ion safely. He entrusted

absence, and you'll find ev

ened to stone, his blue ey

ance at a man who could b

lone, in the middle of now

onvict. It was common kn

nsported as punishment fo

ght well be a murderer or

t have committed left

s what he is doing," Kat

victs are there at

scowling furiously. "I've

ved to his own land and c

tation. As a 'ticket of l

h Roy Penrod, Dare's fath

back now that you've come

r need worry

ped, wondering how in the

ery social grace. Rough,

no longer hold them. And

se

ion on Kate's face change

ankled to think she was ju

ulating, manipulative, an

Kathryn McKenzie. At leas

im or consider him

ontemplated life amongst

a penal colony but someh

o deal with them on a day-t

le in her life. The thou

cher for an upstanding

She sat in silent ruminat

startling her. She shrie

se to Robin. Robin grinned

tor

e, a common sight here in

mle

by her lack of knowledge

ugh Robin to the side of h

by her reaction to a man

ll be a murde

e returned haughtily. Sh

arity and vowed to speak

he man who had been Co

tter," Robin re

ing her? Kate wondered.

ng her best to ignore Robin

aware of him as a man,

a man she should treat wi

nfusion she turned back to

" Robin asked, gen

d in a hushed voice. "He do

ow. "I'm terribly co

in Parramatta and let Dr.

please. The ship's doctor

he..." her voice caught o

ffered lit

mbling, her emotions clos

placed a big hand over her

llused palm oddly stirring

response for revulsion, R

ntrated on the dirt track

d until Robin halted the d

n parallel wi

e we st

'Tis a good place

nd, then reached up and

ld protest. His hands lin

ry, then abruptly he let t

he said gruffly, "whil

helping him to sit up in

im, and he sat back weakl

obin Fletcher seems lik

ate stressed. "Lord only kn

ommit

y Kate's revelation. He h

conversation concer

man, that's good enough f

Father," Kate chided. "Th

Penrod" Suddenly Robin w

ell si

zing glance, a glance tha

lti

Mr. McKenzie?" Robin

William gasped, managing

the

cKenzie station. I've fix

aid, turning away from the

at something," Kate urge

. er Robin to take us there

address a conv

me first to McKenzie stati

I seriously doubt there

the

te excuse me Miss McKenzi

d for the doctor." He turn

used when William la

station. That led me to

nrod a great deal for man

ll be able to than

e and Casey will be c

sey

's wi

it someone he met in En

ng a moment before adding,

e core by Robin's startlin

woman convicted of a c

red. Kate hoped she wasn'

e morals and reputation.

arry such a woman after ha

ousin

Robin's words, but unlik

waive judgment until he me

ite his background and he

station had prospered un

ugh to see that Kate inheri

that his desire to see to

ese long

William about McKenzie

lso, dismayed and vaguely

. To Kate, Robin sounded

ng to him and never would

land, his confidence in h

had no idea what crime

e punishment had been

station has prospered in T

o thank for it," Will

obin said tightly. "A 'tick

I couldn't ignore Dare's p

station boss at M

Penrod could have found so

cKenzie station," Kate int

haped

sharply as he launched in

agging strength. "Whe

g remarks from exclusion

y. His blue eyes were sho

stare chilling her to the b

ngerous than she had origi

er about Robin Fletcher on

McKenzie station. But now

Kate shoved all thought o

ly over he

n't know what possessed

from looking at Robin, fo

in close contact with crimi

he wasn't certain she could

th any degree

s, Robin curbed his anger.

outspoken little termagant

y William had allowed his

an her age should be marr

on to he

ay, sir," Robin said as he

to reach McKenzie station b

for comfort. That's not t

f onto the dray without fir

ed look, then climbed clu

i

e asked as she twitched he

er long

ho live in the wild. They l

and carrying out daring b

ng as bushrange

usly, imagining all manne

ambush them. "Are yo

rshly. "I'm a co

me." Kate's face glowed a

ild, uncivilized country? S

a koala smiling down at h

ptus l

aburra in a pepper tree and

other than the intimidating

centra

t in England it would be fa

verywhere in wild profusio

om to her nose, that it ha

beautiful, most flowers i

en

en miles from Sydney to

tion took se

Robin pointed out as they

he track. "It belongs to D

in the river. Dare's land

nearly all the land al

foothills of the

," Kate mentioned

plied. "We've had a treme

n from the Blue Mountain

es flooding so severe all c

Robin continued. "Summers

at and dust you'll

deeming qualities?" Kate a

a place so lacking in ever

d upward and his blue eyes

Blue Mountains rose tall

repeated, dragging his eye

d is so vast, no mortal has

civilized. The flora and f

a new experience. Once I

to be a part of the tami

t to find a route acros

iosity at Robin as he spo

ed her. His words were so st

te the wonders of

tion," Robin said, halting

ouse and surrounding land.

farm, McKenzie station w

ho

t was so big," Kate sai

ouse was largely cleared o

surrounded the sprawling

ables, cow sheds, convicts

red well cared for and pros

on boss. In the distance Ka

he meadows and sheep on

n the dappled shade of

ill, Robin set the dray in

curiously at Kate as they

th a careless wave while K

gnore their po

reverting to her nickname a

ral that the men are curious

tre

front door and leaped d

bin could lend her a han

ther's

here, F

ence diverted their atten

ylight. Then, in the brief sp

sun dropped below the hor

by the startling phenome

ght was followed by dusk

a black velvet curtain des

s truly an odd occurrence

ng us

hat they had just experie

ared in the doorway of

ctions, Robin had engaged

and Kate at McKenzie stati

use for their master and mi

troduce them to

an explanation, for she h

t forty, not unattractive,

and pulled back into a ne

unded and pleasing to the

mboyant, with dark red ha

e was stunning; high breasts

h a fashion as to demand

a way that grated

plained, gesturing toward

keeper." Maude bobbed her

cleaning and whatever ch

d to work for you. If you

ly tell Dare and he'll

. She'd had no idea she'd

s outside. Was she to be s

hat he was scowling at he

knowledge the two servant

for want of a more

Robin continued as he a

ers from her. At the present

see to his needs until h

izzy discover William lyi

e exclaimed, looking at

stared. "I'll prepare a r

izzy followed, obviously content

ed directly up the stairs and paused before the master bedroom. Maude and Lizzy were just turning down the bed. Ve

" Maude said as she got her first g

concern. Surely Robin was mistaken, this gentle woma

e wasn't sure about. There was somethin

I can do for you, I'll lea

liam appeared

is eyes. "Don't leave yet

ately. After

ggage," Robin said,

ck?" William as

t." Robin nodded at Kate, then

with Robin?" Kat

station," William said. "I'm going to

man is dangerous. I don't

tted before askin

eve I'm a better judge of c

o fear from Ro

od, didn't Father realize that this man was a danger

ing, let alone thinking. Why now? She cried out in silent supplication. And why a man so totally unfit