© Copyright Ute Oettel 2006 - 2007

Scrubbashing (part 6)

*

"Ladies and gentlemen!" The voice from the loudspeaker let the air vibrate. "Today we´re here to join one of the most exciting ridings - riding the bareback broncs!"
Applause and loud cheers interrupted the speaker. Also Nick and Carrie, who had managed to get a standing ticket, were nestling into a shadow next to the fence and cheered loud before the speaker could continue:
"How many seconds will the riders stay on the broncs? They´re the wildest broncs you´ve ever seen.....!"
Carrie, who was standing in front of Nick, clapped her hands and whistled in excitement. She felt her passion for horses and rodeos coming back; she loved the scent of the broncs and the atmosphere among the spectators. This was real joy; it touched her heart more than anything else. Only minutes later the real show started.
"When will your friends start?" She shouted to Nick to drown out the noise which arose and spread out.
"I don´t know. At first it´s Bill and later on Brian!"
The bustle behind the fenced riding area increased. Men with cowboy hats were rushing by, helping the riders upon the waiting horses and communicated with them in a strange sign language. Somebody counted down the seconds and gave the sign to start.
Carrie jumped up when the gate was opened and the bucking bronco, a beautiful black animal with a shining hide, tried to get rid of the man with the battered hat and the dusty clothes. Despite the rain of the last night the sand was dry enough to whirl around like a storm, wrapping the horse and the man into a veil of dust. The seconds were counted before the rider lost balance after a rough bucking and flew
from the back of the horse. Skilled and quick as a lighting he rolled aside and climbed over the fence.
The man at the loudspeaker cheered and talked of a splendid time.

Meanwhile Nick wasn´t very interest in the bronco riding. His feeling were in a state of turmoil. The way how Carrie had flung her arms around him and how she had replied his kisses had made him breathless, had spurred him up deep inside. The craving for her nearly urged him to forget his good manners. At first it had shocked him that Carrie´s appearance had had so much effect on him. But now Nick knew that he was trapped in his own emotions, in his craving for Carrie.
With less interest to the further riders, he stepped close to her from the back, bent down to her shoulders and whispered:
"I think I´ve a bronco here one the stand as well - you´re jumping up like one them!"
"A bronco?" Carrie laughed full of enthusiasm." What kind of horse could I be?"
"A fiery mare!" He whispered and let his hands glide around her waist to stop at her belly.
"Nick!" She replied low but laid her head against his chest. "This is a rodeo, not an excessive party. Shut up!" The last words were hardly to understand but she felt amused when she saw him grinning.
The riders came and went again. Carrie´s attention was totally caught by the show. But besides she also relished Nickïs nearness, his face on her shoulder and his hands around her waist which sometimes caressed her hips. She had accepted to start it - to start an affair with Nick McKinley.
But was she doing right?

"Look, there´s Brian!" Nick left his place behind her and stepped next to Carrie. He whistled and cheered and gave his assistant a sign. Brian had really seen Nick on the stands and smiled strained. With one of his sweaty hands he pressed the hat deep into his face while the other was clutched around the rope at the horse´s back. The wild looking bronco, a brown one with a deep black tail, snorted and tried to kick out but the iron rod of the fence prevented this.
"The next rider is Brian Carter from Tarlington Creek. A cheer for Brian!" The loudspeaker droned and was interrupted by the applause, whistles and cheers.
"Brian, make your way!"
The assistant of the rodeo show pulled the gate open and let the horse out. It stopped for a second before it started bucking again and again. Carrie realized that Brian, so small and helpless how it seemed from her position, had difficulties to keep himself sitting on the back of the bronco. His body was bucked up into the air, bounced down again and slipped off at last. Carrie jumped up when her glance went to the display. Not bad, he had stayed on the back longer than the rider before him. Brian crashed to the ground, lost control over the situation and was suddenly among the bucking horse and his sharp and deadly hooves.
An anxiously outcry waved through the spectators and also Carrie jerked.
"Oh shit!" Nick breathed beside her and raised his hand to screen his eyes from the sun.They saw the clouds of dust, the people which were rushing by to calm down the horse and Brian, who was lying in the dirt, somehow stiff and dazed.
"Nick!" Carrie cried and grabbed for his arm.
"Come on. Let´s go down to him!"
The last minutes of enthusiasm and deep emotions vanished of a sudden. Carrie only realized the crowd of people which had approached Brian, trying to help him. Nobody took notice of the horse which was now standing at the fence, held by a man and calmed down with words.
Because of her tight-fitting outfit Carrie had difficulties to follow Nick through the crowd and down to the show ground. He jumped over the last deserted seats and surrounded a fence. Carrie felt panic rising in her heart when she remembered a rodeo when she had been a young girl. The man on the horse, a young and bold man, hadn´t wasted a thought about the warning of the others. He had jumped on the horse, made a three second ride, fell down and became one of the first casualties of the rodeo of this
day in the past.
Carrie had been a girl of 13 years when they told him that his back was broken. A bad nausea came over her of a seconds . This she didn´t want to experience for a second time.

"Brian!! Brian!" Nick shouted, queezed himself through the crowd of people and knelt beside his friend. Two men had already brought Brian out of the paddock, to lay him down in the shade of a tent. With trembling hands Nick tapped at Brian´s cheek and swallowed.
"Can you hear me?" It slipped anxiously from his lips as Carrie reached the scene. From a deep cut at Brian's face a stream of blood was running down and dripping into the sand. He was still unconscious.
As Carrie approached she realized that Nick was talking to the called doctor, a man in the thirties.
"Is it worse? Andy, tell me please. He´s my help in the garage - he hasn´t family here around."
Andrew Meldon, Nick´s brother-in-law, knelt down, let his torch wander over Brian´s eyes and shrugged his shoulder:
"The cut isn´t very serious. But we´ve to wait. He´s still unconscious. He can´t tell me if he feels pains or paralysis!"
Andrew struggled to his feet again and gave the men around instruction to bring him to the tent of the ambulance. He was already about to follow Brian when Nick held him back:
"When will we know if.....!"
"You can come to the ambulance tent, O.K.!"
Nick nodded and leant back against the paddock fence. With fear in her eyes Carrie approached and didn´t know what to do or to say. Only a short question slipped from her lips:
"Will you wait until Brian wakes up again?"
He laid his arm around her shoulders but kept watching the sky above them:
"That won´t get me anywhere! And besides I´m here with you and....."
"Nick, go to the ambulance. Don´t be worried about me. I´m a little bit hungry. I´ll go, eat a little bit and meet you at the tent later on!"
A strained smile rushed over Nick´s lips but it wasn´t a real and honest smile. The features told of worries and fear.
"Thanks, darling!" He caressed her cheek, turned but hesitated with a further grin:
"Can you bring me anything to eat ?"
"No problems!"
Nick left and set off to the tent at the edge of the show ground, where two ambulances and the private car of the doctor were parked. While still touched by the last terrible minutes Carrie rubbed the sweat from her face and squinted into the sky.
"Oh God. "She prayed." Help Brian!" And me, she added in silence, to get back the old Nick which had craved for her.

*

Carrie bought two steak burgers, two cans of soft drinks and looked for a place to sit down. She surrounded the stall and used a rotten trunk as a chair. Despite the clouds at the sky the sun burnt down and drove the sweat out of her body. She was contented that she had chosen to wear such light Top and the skirt - it cooled her a little bit.
While tasting the delicious burger she watched the still growing bustle on the show ground of Barcaldine. Men with the typical cowboy hats, women in Outback outfits and people in working clothes; she saw the kids running around, trying to cool them with the ice-cream from the stall next to her. From time to time she thought of recognizing people from Tarlington Creek but Carrie wasn´t sure at last. Here, among the population of the Outback each man and woman looked like the others.
As she had finished she bent down to the can of Coke on the ground when suddenly two arms were laid around her from behind, trying to hold her tight.
"Are you lonesome?"
Carrie jerked, jumped up and receded:
"Luke, are you crazy?"
Not sure if this man in front of her was really her employer, her boss, she stepped backwards. His face was red and somehow strained as if something was annoying him; his hair wet of sweat. Despite the distance of one meter to him she noticed the reek of alcohol - of too much alcohol. Luke climbed over the trunk and caught her arm. Only a short but powerful motion and he had dragged her into his embrace.
"Let me go!! Take your hands off!"
Carrie pushed his arms down and stepped further backwards. It was like an escape.
"You´re drunken!"
"I´m not too drunken to see that Nick ain´t the right company for you!"
"Ah, you know what's right for me? Come on, go back to your pub and let me alone!"
But to get rid from Luke McKinley wasn´t as easy as she thought. With a quick step towards her he caught her again and clutched his fingers deep into her arm. Carrie saw a dangerous twinkle in his dark eyes as she receded.
"Who do you think you are? Rather arrogant, Carrie!" The reek of alcohol nearly urged her to retch. It was clear that Luke´s reasonable thinking was veiled behind a large amount of beer, that he was no longer the man she knew. His standing position was about to break when he drag her closer. It was only a heavy hissing which reached Carrie´s ears:
"Just look at you - what do you hope to achieve by that? To get Nick into your bed?"
The dim veil in Luke´s eyes let Carrie take action. It was enough. Embarrassed and nearly helpless she punched Luke´s hand away and slapped him into his face. Her hand was aching and burning but this didn´t matter her. With a further quick motion she pushed him away so that he stumbled and fell over the trunk.
"Stay away from me, Luke. I warn you....!" With these hissing words Carrie grabbed for the bag with the burger for Nick, and rushed away - towards the ambulance tent in the distance.
After a few meters she turned and breathed in relief. Luke, swaying and stumbling, staggered away. Would he keep on drinking?
Relieved and with a less pounding heart Carrie slowed down and tried to get her breath back. The only kind of persons she hated were drunken men who couldn´t keep themselves under control. She knew that Luke had cast an eye upon her but that he would go so far - no, it really shocked her.What would be on Monday when she returned to work? Would Luke remember this awkward situation?
Don´t let him destroy this day, her reason urged, forget it. Carrie rubbed the single tears from her eyes and set off for the ambulance again. Nick was there, he could protect her from his own brother.
"Nice situation." She grumbled annoyed.

*

Andy pushed Nick aside and nodded contented:
"Brian´s O.K.. I think only bruises and a bad headache will bother him for the next days. He was a lucky man today!"
The racing pulse of Nick slowed down:
"Good news, Andy. Thank you!"
The doctor of the ambulance tent hesitated for a moment before he sought for Nick´s attention.
"Lisa is also here!"
"With the kids?"
Andy nodded and pushed the entrance of the tent aside to step out into the sunlight. Astonishment changed Nick´s features:
"But I thought when you´re here as the doctor.....!"
"Ah," Andy gave a dismissal gesture. "I´m the volunteer doctor today here in Barcaldine. Lisa and the kids decided to join this rodeo. Don´t misunderstand me, Nick, but wouldn´t it be appropriate to say hello to your daughter? They are leaving soon..." A short glance upon his watch before he continued. "....in about half an hour."
Why this day had to change into this direction? Only an hour ago he had felt Carrie in his arms, had known how this day would end, but suddenly it seemed as if his whole life caved in.
Melanie was a different part of his life. What would Carrie say when he asked her to walk along with him to his daughter? Hadn´t he felt her craving for him?
"Andy, can you tell me how I should explain Carrie that my daughter....!"
"Nick," A warning undertone could be heard in Andy's words. "What´s more important for you? Carrie or your daughter? It´s only for half an hour!"
Nick was haunted by the visions of his last visit in Longreach. The tears in his daughter's eyes had nearly broken his heart but they all didn´t want to understand him. His life had caved in months ago, it was lying in front of him, shattered like glass. Couldn´t they understand that he had to rebuilt it before he could take his daughter back home?
And Carrie was a part of this new life, it suddenly came into his mind. He didn´t want to lose her.
"Just ask her, she´s coming!" Andy pointed to Carrie who approached in a hasty speed.
"Nick? What about Brian?"
"He´s well!" And with a short turn to Andy he murmured: "This is Andy Meldon, the husband of my sister Lisa!"
"Hi!" Carrie suspected that something had happened. There was the frozen expression in Andy´s face and a touch of unsteadiness in Nick´s features.
"Hi, but I must go now. See ya´ , Nick!!" And Andy left.
"What´s happened?" Carrie was afraid that the new and fragile life with Nick was already finished now. Nick approached, laid his arms around her waist and lingered.
"Andy told me that Lisa is here....with Melanie and her own kids. They´re leaving again in about half an hour. Would you......!" Angry about his own nervousness Nick pressed his lips together and took a deep breath. " Would you come with me? I´d like to see her!"
A big load was taken off her heart and she nearly swayed. The reason for his strained features was only his daughter, this cute little girl with whom she had meet in Longreach.
"O.K. - no problem!"
"Are you sure?" Nick doubted and tightened his embrace.
"Yes. I think she´d be happy as well!" Carrie´s thoughts went back to Luke. There was no need to tell Nick about this dreadful incident. The only thing she wished to do now was to flee from this place. Maybe the meeting with his daughter would take her mind off Luke and his behaviors.

*

They found Lisa, her two young children, Tommy and Rachel, and Melanie at the paddock with the horses for the two-Mile-Race. Despite Carrie´s agreement to follow him she remained in a distance and stopped when Nick squatted down to embrace Melanie. She felt like a stranger, like someone
who shouldn't be here. With stretched out arms he called Melanie´s name and beckoned her. The little girl´s eyes flashed in happiness as she rushed to her father. Carrie could see it, could notice
the deep love for Nick. Wasn´t it a wonder? The death of her mother one year ago had crashed her young life, had urged her to live in her aunt´s house, far away from her father.
Carrie suspected that Nick´s family didn´t understand his decision to bring Melanie to Lisa - but she did. The time after the accident had pushed her to the limit as well; it wasn´t easy to cope with the death of a friend or of a wife. Someday, Carrie knew, would Nick come over it and then he would bring Melanie home to Tarlington Creek.

The nosy eyes of Melanie McKinley peered over Nick´s shoulder, studying the woman she had seen before. The little girl smiled before she whispered something into Nick´s ears. This reunion began to depress Carrie´s heart. It had been Kevin´s car which had killed the mother of this girl.
"Carrie!" Nick roused her out of her thoughts and beckoned her. "Why are you standing there so far away. Please come!"
She smoothed her skirt which was suddenly too short in her opinion and approached this small group. Lisa, with the baby on her arms, watched her but seemed to be not very interested in Carrie´s presence. She took the hand of the little boy and turned to her brother:
"Do you mind if I leave you, Nick? Please bring Melly in half an hour to the parking area next to the stables. It´s getting late for the kids!"
"Daddy, I wanna see the race!"
A short glance at his watch told Nick that it would last more than one hour to see the start and the finish of the horse race.
"Be nice, Lisa, let her enjoy the race!"
"O.K.," Lisa was tired and listless." In one hour!" She turned and vanished in the crowd of people.
"I didn´t know that you love horse races, Melly!" Nick frowned and straightened his body again.
"I´ve seen it on TV. I love horses!"
As Carrie approached Melanie denuded her teeth:
"Hi!"
"Hi Melanie!"
"My friends call me Melly - you can call me Melly, too!"
Nick´s hand stroke over her dark hair before he blinked at Carrie very contented:
"You have a new friend, Carrie!"
Melanie´s attention was suddenly caught by the voice from a near loudspeaker and she rushed to the fence where behind the sturdy stock horses were led to the starting line. She leant her arms upon the lowest rail and called for Nick to come.
"Just a moment, Melly." Nick said, before he turned to Carrie, put his arm around her and whispered. "You´re looking a little bit confused. Come on, let´s join the race!"
"O.K., but shouldn´t we keep distance?"
"Carrie, Melanie has to accept that her father goes out with a woman, if you mean that. Come on." He gave her a smack at her backside and stepped to the fence.
Melanie was still standing there and let her admiring glances wander over the five horses of the first race, it seemed as if it didn´t matter her much to see Carrie at her father´s side. But it mattered Carrie. Was she maybe too young to handle with young children?
Nonsense, she grunted deep in her heart, she was 24 years old, old enough to raise children of her own. But this strange situation demanded much of her. Carrie didn´t want to step between Nick and his daughter, she didn´t want to become an intruder.
Melanie saw Carrie at Nick´s side while herself was shunted off to live in her aunt´s house - could this girl cope with it?
"Do you know that Carrie can ride horses?" With one foot on the lowest rail and his two arms on a second one he looked down to Melanie.
"Really?" Melanie´s eyes shone in enthusiasm. "Will you take part in this race!"
"Oh, no!" Carrie laughed and stopped at the fence as well.
"Why not?" Nick interfered while his charming eyes kept watching her.
"I´m out of practice. I wouldn´t stay in the saddle - and besides, I don´t think that my clothes fit to the race. How should I ride in this skirt.....?"
Melanie laughed and turned back to the horses. A faint spoken answer from Nick let Carrie close her eyes in embarrassment.
"I´d love to see it!"
"Shut up!" She hissed to him and hoped that Melanie hadn´t heard him.

A loud shot started the race. Within seconds the horses jumped forward, hit the dusty ground again and kept galloping across the race course. Nick whistled and cheered them up while Carrie couldn´t deal with her feelings. She saw the sturdy stock horses, saw the riders and their excited faces. How she loved it to join them, to feel the fur and the muscles of the horses beneath her.
Dawn, her first horse in Taylor´s Crossing, had been a beautiful mare, a mixed breed between unknown stock horses but she had loved it from the bottom of her heart. Carrie leant her chin upon her hands and followed them with her eyes. The dust around and the rising heat didnït matter her, she dived into the long gone past. The riders darted out of her sight, only the low hanging cloud of dust told the
spectators where the participants were.
"I can´t see them!" Melanie´s childish voice hardly reached her ear. Only through a veil Carrie realized that Nick lifted his daughter up to sit on the highest rail of the fence. She began to wave and laughed.
The riders returned, two horses were at the top, starting a neck-and-neck race. Carrie´s enthusiasm boiled over and she cheered them up. It was a wonderful sight to see the powerful horses, to see the love to race in their eyes. The cloud of dust approached and whizzed over the finishing line.
"And the winner of the first heat is Marty Kopper on Blue Monday!" The loudspeaker was nearly drowned out by the screaming people.
"Daddy, can I have a closer look at them?"
"I don´t know, Melly. Stay here, it´s too dangerous!"
"Please, I haven´t touched a so big horse before!"
Nick took a deep breath, set his daughter down onto the ground and shook his head:
"You know that I don´t like horses, I.....!"
"But I do!" Carrie interfered and hoped for Nick´s consent. Only a second of silence when Carrie´s and Nick´s eyes met before he gave in:
"All right. If you wish!"
Happy as a child Carrie lifted Melanie up to her arms and surrounded the paddock fence to see if there was a chance that this young girl - and her of course - could touch one of these horses.

Nick took his hat down and rubbed the sweat from his face. His eyes followed Carrie and Melanie in confusion. This he hasn't expected. Carrie Duncan was a remarkable woman, a woman who had stolen his heart. A far glimmer of hope could be seen at the horizon of his life. It wouldn´t have mattered him to start a relationship with Carrie alone but to see her and his daughter in such familiarity, this nearly made him floored.

The nostrils of the stock horse were warm and soft. It breathed against Melly and she laughed. Even Carrie was impressed from this beautiful animal. It´s eyes, deep black and surrounded by long eyelashes, stared at them in nosiness, it maybe studied Carrie and Melanie in the same way as they did.
The skin of the horse´s nostrils moved when Melanie touched them with care.
"Does it bite me?"
"No," Carrie calmed her down and ruffled it´s fur." It has no reason to do so!"
A short snorting before it began to sniff. Melanie flung her arms around Carrieïs neck to find a better hold before she asked:
"Will you visit me again?"
"Oh, I´m not living here. It´s a long way......!"
"Daddy lives in Tarlington Creek. It´s also far away. That´s why I can´t see him so often!"
"Yes, I know!" An uneasy feeling took possession of Carrie.
"I like you, Carrie!"
"Thanks, and I like you, love!"
"And Daddy? Do you like my Daddy?"
Carrie felt trapped. She put Melanie down to the ground and nodded:
"Yes!"
With a happy laughter Melanie ran back to Nick. She couldn´t await to see the second heat starting. Embarrassed and unsure Carrie returned to her place at the fence as well but was suddenly drawn into Nick´s arms.
"Have you forgotten me?"
"Nick...!"Her reproachful start was stopped by his lips which met her mouth. Carrie pushed him away, but less powerful than she wished. There was it again, the passion in his lips, the fire and craving. She caught herself in wishing to flung her arms around him but restrained.
"Nick, let´s bring Melanie to your sister at first!"
Nick raised his eyebrow:
"At first??"
"Oh, come on!" Under normal circumstances Carrie would have burst out laughing but now it seemed her as if they were doing wrong to show everybody around their fondness to each other.Nick kept a sneering expression on his lips but nodded at last.

After the race was finished and one of the riders, a young boy from a nearby station, was declared as the winner, Nick pushed himself off the fence and looked at his watch:
"So, Melly. It´s time to go. Your aunt will come down on me like a ton of bricks when I go over the time limit!"
He stretched out his hand but Melanie lingered. She looked up to Carrie who was standing at the other side and grabbed for her hand with care. Was it love which Carrie saw in this girl´s eyes? While breathing deeply Carrie clasped her hand around Melanie´s and was somehow unable to think. She caught a fleeting glimpse of Nick who was gnawing at his lips before he grumbled:
"Fine! Let´s go!"
Carrie hastened behind him always trying not to lose Melanie, this little girl who had decided whom she liked more for today. But Carrie couldn´t help of smiling. Nick was neither an uncaring father nor ignorant to Melly - she had seen a touch of jealousy in his eyes. Even when he was unable to give her all his attention today the time would come when Nick would bring Melanie back home to Tarlington Creek.

*

After the car of Lisa was swallowed up by the flickering head, Nick pushed his hat into his neck and laid his arms close around Carrie´s body. The white glaring sun lit up his face so that Carrie could see the twinkling in his eyes. He didn´t say a word but stroke over her back in tenderness.
"Come on, Nick, say it!" Carrie grumbled and laid her arms at his chest.
"What?"
"I don´t know. Maybe that you think that I wanna take your daughter away from you, or that.....!"
He laughed, and peered over her shoulder to the show ground which became crowded with new visitors.
"Carrie you´ve a too high opinion of you!"
"No I haven´t. You´re jealous!"
"Jealous? You´re talking nonsense!"
"No," Carrie replied and tapped with her finger at his chest: "You should have seen your face when Melly took my hand and not yours!"
"Oh, come on!" Nick gave a dismissal gesture but couldn´t convince her.
"I´ve found your weak point, Nick......!"
"Do you really mean it?"
"Oh, yes, I do!"
Nick span her around and set off to one of the food stalls, still laughing and his arm close around Carrie.

*

The Rope & Tie category was one of the most exciting shows Carrie had seen since years. Nick and her had chosen a stand next to the Jury - a place from which they had a good view to the dusty sandy place.
"I think you´re doin´ the same, don´t you? I mean by the helicopter?" Carrie pressed the icy cold can of Coke at her hot cheeks - since the sun had broken through the clouds and haze the show ground became hotter than hell.
"You think that a round-up by air is the same like Rope & Tie?" Skepticism grew in Nick´s face!
"O.K.," Carrie played down her statement." Let´s watch the show!"
Nick´s amused features were darkened by the shadow of his hat but Carrie knew well that a pair of dark eyes were watching her.
The sun at the western horizon began to sink and was about to finish this beautiful day. It would last only one or two hours until this former glaring ball of fire was going to dive away. With screened eyes Carrie let her glances wander around. It was really a beautiful landscape, so different to the dry Taylor´s Crossing, the hinterland of Broken Hill in New South Wales.
The huge, lush green eucalyptus trees at the background were rocking in the slight warm breeze from the north; a flock of loud cockatoos had chosen the tree tops for their resting place . Later on, these majestic looking birds would come down, to roam the show ground after the human being had left; to seek for food and delicious tasting litter. Also a few crying magpies were waiting in the distance, already impatient and hungry.
A small sandstorm was formed out of the sandy ground, whirled around and vanished seconds later again. Carrie loved it, this touch of loneliness, of freedom. The city life was always too loud and crowded; still noises of planes and cars around. But the most difference between Adelaide and the Outback was that here the people had only few opportunities of what to do after the sun had gone down. So great the night life in the big cities was, so boring was the night in the hinterland.
Carrie didn´t regret it that she had come to here, that she had returned to the Outback where she had been born. It was clear of a sudden that she belonged to this loneliness, to the bushland and the wilderness.
A short glance to Nick at her side started to kindle a new fire in her heart. He was sitting there, bent forward and turning the can of Coke in his hand, not realizing that Carrie studied him. His rolled up sleeves showed her his soft sun-tanned arms. These arms had embraced her, had told her of so much. His shirt was no longer clean - the dust of the sandy ground had demanded for tribute. The darker marks on his back told her that he was also sweating like her in this sultry and hot air.
For the best she would have kicked off her white canvas shoes which fit so much with her skirt and Top but the ground would be too hot to walk over it by bare feet.
"What we´re gonna do after the Rope & Tie show?" She smoothed her skirt and saw his face turning:
"It´s the last show of today. But you can stay here if you wish. The bar is open, the steaks at the barbecue stall will be grilled until the late night and there´s some music in the barn!"
"What do you wanna do?"
The atmosphere became electric when Nick threw the empty can away and stretched his body back against the seat. With crossed arms he shrugged his shoulders:
"Spending the evening with you."
Carrie didn´t reply. She watched the man down on the sandy place and knew that the
show was going to start soon.

They had stood up again to follow the show from down below. The assistance of the rodeo organizer opened one gate to let the rider and his horse in before they drove a young bull out of his pen. Shouted commands from the spectators and whistles seemed to irritate the bull. He broke out, turned and tried to escape the huge horse on his tracks. But the rider and his stock horse handled with foresight and blocked the bull´s path. This work was it which made out a good stock horse - the rider had to count on
his mate, his horse. Carrie stood there on tiptoe to see everything.
"He is good, isn´t he?"
"He´s the favorite." Nick answered and whistled only a seconds later.
The rider below kept racing behind the bull, took his rope and made two attempts to catch the animal. Then, a sudden stop of the horse, a hard jerk and the bull fell down. The rider jumped from his horse and tied the young mooing bull within seconds. Carrie jumped up and down and clapped her hands. It was always exciting to see how a man and a horse could work together.

*

The sun had vanished behind the western horizon and only fading orange patches were left on the cloudless sky. The darkness came quick and wrapped them in. Only the floodlights tried to exclude the night from the show ground.
Nick had laid his hand around Carrie´s shoulder and was heading for the old barn in the background. Once a building of a working farm, it was now a relic of the good old past, often used for small exhibitions.
"They said that a new Country band is here. Let´s hear if they´re skilled...!"
"Do I know their name?"
Nick screwed his lips and shook his head:
"Probably not - I think they had got the idea somewhere in the bush.!"
"You´re not very positive, ain´t you?" Carrie burst out laughing and nestled to his shoulder.
Nick kept silent. They entered the dimly lit interior and had to confess that this barn looked more narrowed from the outside than from the inside. The so-called new Country band, three friends with a guitar, a fiddle and a keyboard had chosen the left corner for their realm and tried to liven up the people around.Despite the open gates of the barn the air was stuffy and smelt of old and rotten
boards. Carrie fanned air to her hot face and grinned:
"Maybe not famous but good!" The tunes of well-known country songs, mixed up with the spirit of these three boys, echoed from wall to wall and seemed to please the people. They danced and listened and tapped the rhythm with their feet or hands.
"But I have to drink something - and you?"
Carrie shook her head.
"Don´t run away." Nick joked," I´ll be back soon"
It was a beautiful day, Carrie thought about it again and again, it had pushed away the boredom from her mind . The boredom which had sometimes caught her in Tarlington Creek, when she had sat on the balcony, to watch the traffic.
A touch at her back - Carrie thought that Nick was back but as she turned the smile froze in her face. It was Luke again, maybe more drunken than hours before but not less importunate. She shook off his hand and stepped back:
"Can´t you let me alone?"
"Isn't it a lucky coincidence to meet you always alone? Were´s Nick?" The words were only blabbered and hard to understand while his glazed eyes were wandering around.
"He comes back soon!"
"Let´s dance, my sweetheart!"
"I´m fed up, Luke, go and sleep it off!"
"No. I....!"
Luke, swaying and unable to see clear, was suddenly pushed back. He staggered and crashed against the wall.
"You´re drunken, Luke!" Nick shook his head and pushed his brother aside. The blabbing words hit Nick nearly unexpected. He hadn´t seen his brother in this state before.
"You´re a bloody idiot - my beloved brother and this floozy. A nice couple!"
"Shut up!" Nick hissed and pushed Luke towards the entrance of the barn. "Take a sleep somewhere beneath a tree but stay out of my sight!"
Luke sought for a hold and grunted unintelligible swearwords before he turned and seemed to leave the scene.
As Nick returned to Carrie, she quickly rubbed the last tears from her eyes and tried to smile. What had she done to be treated like that?
"Don´t pay much attention to him. I think he´s emptied a barrel of alcohol. But I don´t know why! I haven´t seen him in such state before!"
But Nick let Luke be Luke and turned his attention to Carrie, who´s sweaty face was dipped into the dim orange light of the lamps. She looked so beautiful, so attractive and desirable. Would she spend the night with him?
"What did he want?"
"Dancing with me!"
"A good idea - will you?"
"But only with you!" Carrie´s flirting words stirred him up. Nick put his arms around her waist, drew her closer to his sweaty body and began to follow the rhythm of the slowly played song. He bent his knees a little bit to lifted her up for only seconds and to let her down again with a smile. Carrie was irritated. Her arms, already around his neck to touch his short hair, began to tremble a little bit. She heard the tunes of the song, listened to the uninteresting lyrics and enjoyed his close nearness. Had she always danced in such embrace before, in such on-turning closeness?
The reality around her began to disappear behind a veil of music and emotion. She could have danced forever when not......

A brutal pushed roused her out of her reverie. She staggered aside and nearly lost balance.
"You´re acting as if.....you´re the only person in the world who can use her!" Luke had returned, with red edged eyes and a face which was contorted by rage. He pushed Nick aside, nearly stumbled but found a hold at his brother's shirt.
"Luke!" Nick spit at him in anger, knocked the hands away and grabbed for Luke´s
shirt. "Get out of my sight! I don´t wanna say it twice."
"Ha!" Luke hissed and pushed Nick´s hands away. He was still swaying but the expression in his face let Carrie shiver. She had stepped back to get out of Luke´s reach. Totally shocked she suddenly feared his unpredictability, this brutality. Would Nick cope with his drunken, raging brother? He was a little bit taller than Luke but a drunken man was often provided with much unexpected power.
"Who gives you the right....the right....to take her? Eh? She´s not yours!"
The music had stopped and the former dancing people had formed a circle around these two brothers. Carrie was embarrassed. She felt so humiliated by Luke. Why he was thinking that he was entitled to dance with her or to kiss her. What he was thinking about her?
"Get out of my sight!!" Nick shouted and first beads of perspiration appeared on his face. His eyes, narrowed to slits, flashed in anger as he tried to push his brother out of the barn. But Luke, still grunting in hatred, rushed forward and raised his fist. He shouted unintelligible words and tried to punch into Nick´s face. But Nick, sober and becoming furious, ducked and avoided Luke´s hand.
The attacker stumbled and nearly fell but struggled to his feet again.
"You bloody fucking bastard!" Luke shouted and raised his fists again. But now Nick was faster than his brother. He rammed his fists into Luke´s face and saw him staggering backwards. The people behind Luke jumped away - nobody wanted to catch him up. He lost balance and crashed against a table, with his last strengths he fumbled for a hold but swept the cans and glassed from it. Shattered glass rained down to the floor. Wrapped up in anger Nick followed and gave Luke a last kick so that the drunken pub owner fell back against the wall.
"You damned idiot, Luke!" Nick cursed and was about to bow down, to help Luke up to his feet again - only to punch him once again. But Carrie hindered him to do so. She grabbed for Nick´s arm and nearly begged:
"Stop, Nick. Stop! He isn´t worth that you ruin our evening. He´s drunken. He didn´t know what he says!"
With her hand around his arm, she felt his strained muscles and his anger. Nick´s chest went up and down in a hasty speed and she felt that he had to force himself to stop. Luke was lying on the ground. A thin streamlet of blood was running from his open lips while his jaw began to change the colour. He was still grunting but nobody understood him.
With a grunted swearword Nick rubbed his hand and turned. His fist was aching, Luke´s chin was harder than expected.
"Are you O.K.?" Carrie asked frightened.
"Yes, yes - but." He turned once again and watched the person on the ground which once had been his brother: "But can you tell me what´s got into him?"
"Maybe a little bit jealousy!" She gnawed at her lips and spied into his eyes.
"Jealousy? Has he got a reason?" Nick´s strained and angry face studied her.
"What?" Carrie felt insulted and let Nick off. Whom he believed? His brother or her? But Nick came back to senses, rubbed the sweat from his face and shook his head:
"Sorry, Carrie. I´m standing somewhere beside myself!"
The touch of despair in her eyes couldn´t be ignored. Was he the same kind of idiot like his own brother was? He caressed her cheeks and pressed a smile from his lips:
"Will you forgive me!"
"Yes, but do me a favour. Let´s go home. It´s late enough and......and I must confess that the day has brought more than expected." Carrie´s concerned glances went to his aching hand: "Are you O.K. to drive home?"
"Of course!" He turned and said to the man who had knelt down beside Luke: "Don´t let him drive. I know that he´s come with his own car!"
The man nodded and tried to help Luke up to a seat.

"What should I do tomorrow afternoon?" Carrie was concerned about her job in Luke´s pub.
"Ah," Nick gave a dismissal gesture. "I think he won´t remember this evening. A black-out, you know."
"But he will ask whom he owes his aching chin!"
"Don´t rack your sweet brains. The only thing what I regret is that we can´t finish our dance!"
Nick took her hand but frowned when the pain in his hand returned. His brother was a bloody idiot....

Chapter 7.

The last visitors were still at the show ground in Barcaldine when Carrie saw the lit up town disappearing in the rear-view mirror. For a moment she envied the residents of this nice town of having the chance to come again the next day, to see the last shows and to feel the last spirit of the rodeo. But Luke was dependent on her the next afternoon - Kelly and Tom would get their free time.
A shiver frightened Carrie - Luke. How he would treat her the next day? Would it maybe better to give in the notice?
The burden on her heart seemed to weight thousands of tons. Actually Luke McKinley was a nice and friendly man, maybe too direct with his words and sometimes a little bit nerve-racking but Carrie had also seen the other side of him. So more she was confused about the last hours. Carrie shook her head, tried to get rid of her gnawing thoughts and paid more attention to the man beside her.
The powerful V8-engine of Nick´s Ute was dragging them through the night; the low humming and the agreeable cool air of the air-condition let her feel somehow sheltered.
Nick, only a dark shadow at her side, had leant his arm at the door and let his hand run through his hair.
"I haven´t expected such extraordinary incidents during the rodeo!"
"But despite it was a nice day, Nick! I thank you."
She bowed forward and held her face into the stream of the air-condition.
"What will happen next here?"
"A cattle auction in Longreach, some small celebrations in Blackall but I think this isn´t much interesting."
"Hmm." Carrie moved in her seat and let the cool air touch her sweaty neckline. Nick´s amused gaze fell on this scene whereby he laughed:
"What will you do when the summer comes? Creeping into the air-condition?"
"It´s so sultry outside. I´m not used to this climate. Taylor's Crossing is dry and hot, sometimes with chilly nights and cooler days in the winter!"
"Nonsense, it´s not very sultry here. When you drive up to the Top End or the FNQ, O.K., but not Longreach."
Carrie grumbled a little bit miffed:
"All right, all right. Just call me a spoilt city girl...!"

The clouds at the sky had returned and darkened the moon and the stars above. And only now and then this pitch darkness outside was interrupted by the headlights of an on-coming car.
Somewhere between Blackall and Tarlington Creek Nick suddenly slowed down and steered the Ute to a simple road side stop next to the highway. He turned the key but let the headlights switched on to bring a little bit light into this darkness.
"Actually I don´t wanna ask but what´re you planning to do here, Nick?"
"What do you think?" Sarcasm slipped from his lips before he opened the door and got off the car. Carrie heard his low murmuring words from the outside:
"Don´t strain your dirty mind - I´ve only drunk too much. Just wait......!"
Carrie opened her door and felt that the air had cooled down. It was silent around, only the ticking of the hot engine and the rustling in the bush. Was it Nick or a frightened animal? The ghostly outlines of the nearby trees seemed to be a different world, far away from reality.
Why not enjoying the nightly air in full, she thought, got out of the car as well and shut the door silently. Her shoes were crunching but it was a noise which was absorbed by the darkness only seconds later.
Carrie leant herself against the fender, and stretched back, propped up by her arms on the edge of the bonnet. It was somehow romantic here, wrapped up in the dim light of the headlights, the lonely bush around and not a sight of Luke McKinley.
It lasted only seconds before Nick´s figure was shaped out of the darkness. He headed toward her and stepped into the twilight of the headlights.
"I don´t wanna be a road side stop!" Carrie declared with a grin. "Just think about it, always here to become a dunny. Not a very pleasant existence!"
"But sometimes it could be interesting when it´s used in a different way!"
Nick stepped to her, leant his strong arms against the fender and bent down to her stretched body.
"Let´s think about it, how would I name it then - peeping Tom?"
Carrie burst out laughing and moved over to Nick.
"You´re a fool, Nick!"
"I know!"
With his hands on the fender next to hers he bent down and pressed Carrie´s body deeper. Why she had got out of the car, he thought and was sure that he would lose control over this situation when Carrie wouldn´t stop her provoking parade. Her slim body at the car, dipped into the dim lights of the headlights and stretched out to the back. A man would never succumb to the temptation to get her. His own heart was raging when he felt the fire of passion on her lips, felt her arms around his neck. The cool air around him seemed to become a heat once again, Nick felt the sweat on his face and the state of exhaustion which took possession of him.
Why she had left the car....

Carrie´s arms flew around his shoulder after Nick had embraced her waist. His hands were holding her tight, wandering up along her back. She absorbed each second, each moment in his arousing hug and pressed her sweaty body against him. Her lips sought for his mouth, for the feeling of love and desire when she moved under him and tried to get her breath back. Her breast went up and down in high speed, she sweated and couldn´t get a clear thought into her brain.
After long minutes, how it seemed, Nick´s caressing lips found her ear. The words let her shiver with great relish:
"You turn me on, Carrie."
"T´was my intention." She breathed. "I´ve taken exactly this outfit to....."
"But this wasn´t necessary!" Nick´s panting voice hardly reached her. The chirping of the crickets around them suddenly set in, maybe attracted by the lights, but neither Carrie nor Nick realized it. A roaring car rushed by, lit up the highway next to the road side stop for seconds and vanished again. Only for a short moment Nick straightened his body but didn´t loosen his tight hug. Carrie saw his sweaty face, lit up by the dim light - a face which smiled in deep craving:
"Can I convince you......to overstep the limit?"
Carrie´s heart was racing, she felt the pulse under her skin and felt the fire which was rushing though her veins. A still unknown ecstasy had taken possession of her, which would allow her to do everything which she hadn´t done before. There was no limit between them, Carrie knew, they had already gone too far.
"Try to convince me!" Carrie whispered boldly before she found herself kissed again. Nick´s hands glided down, embraced her hips and lifted her up to a seat on his car. She nearly lost balance and flung her arms more tighter around him. What was he doing?
Confusion tried to get into her veiled brain. With the last strengths she loosened her mouth from his lips and breathed exhausted:
"Nick.....but not here! The highway....!"
"Of course not." He murmured and let his hand glide along her hips down to the skin of her legs. "The bonnet of a car ain´t very comfortable - but it seems as if I couldn´t get off from you!"
Carrie felt his caressing hand at her thigh and moved closer. It didn´t matter her any longer that she was wearing a skirt - nothing mattered her tonight.
The ecstasy stayed in Carrie´s blood, she clasped his body with her legs while she absorbed his tenderly touching with relish.
"You´re so beautiful, Carrie, so desirable!"
Never before such compliments had reached Carrie´s ears. Compared to Kevin´s solemn declaration of his love this was real passion between two people. At this moment Carrie didn´t waste a thought about her feelings deep in her heart. She loved Nick and it would maybe break her heart if he was only interested in a short affair - but tonight the future was unimportant. With a slight motion Carrie leant back and was about to touch the bonnet behind her when suddenly the sharp pain of hot metal let her scream.
"Ouch!" And with a quick motion she came back to a seat again and rubbed her elbow. Nick laughed, stepped backwards and pulled her from the car.
"You see why I´m not really interested in sex on the bonnet. We´ve driven more than 100 in high speed!"
Nick helped her down to the dusty ground again and offered her his hand:
"Come on, darling, take my hand!"
"Thank you." Carrie murmured and was angry about her doing. She had broken this wonderful situation into pieces, she had pushed the tension of passion and love away. The last minutes had shown Carrie that her feelings for Nick were deeper than expected. She not only craved for him, for his embrace and lips; she loved him. For the best she would have stayed at his side forever, here in Tarlington Creek. But was she right in letting her heart becoming so depended on him?
Carrie climbed into the car like drunken. She was still sweating but neither the air-condition nor the cooler nightly air could cool her feverish face. There was still his bodily contact which she could feel at her skin, his demanding hands at her legs.
Nick didn´t say a further word. He started the car again, steered it back to the highway and let the nightly bushland pass by in high speed.

*

>>Tarlington Creek welcomes you<<
The sign at the outskirts of Tarlington Creek was only seen for seconds before the headlights of Nick´s car had passed it. Carrie felt still excited and nervous. It was the first time in their strange relationship - could she call it a relationship? - when she was going to see Nick´s house. It was one of the last secrets which he had kept until today.
During the last kilometers on the highway Carrie had remembered the circumstances about her trip to Tarlington Creek. She had come to this little town to find help for her mental strain, to find somebody
who could help her not to feel guilty about the death of Nick McKinley´s wife. And what she had got? Help - yes, but somehow strange and unexpected. What was she going to find in Nick´s house? In Nicole´s house!
A lump in her throat took all the courage she had gained during the last days. Was she really cold and unemotional enough to step into this house, into the realm of Nicole McKinley whom she had killed?
And Nick? It seemed as if he hadn´t pangs of conscience to pick up a new woman after only eleven months; to invite her to spend the night with him in his house. Nick suddenly stopped at a turn off and bent to her:
"Do you need anything from your room - or can I set off for my house?"
Carrie saw the side street which led deep into the residential area of Tarlington Creek. She shook her head and let her glances wander over the scene in front of her. This town was still awaken - the light from the pubs were floating ouut onto the pavement, lit up the large amount of parked cars. The blinking lights of the police car in front of the seconds pub told of a maybe brawl fight inside. It was Saturday night, full of drunken people and big-mouths.
"Drive to your house!" It slipped plain and low from her lips. Nick grabbed for her chin and asked:
"What´s the matter? If you´re not.....!"
"Drive to your house!" She faked a smile and a deep longing, but hidden in her mind she wasn´t really sure that she could cope with it to invade the house of the McKinley family.

The dim street-lamp far away from Nick´s house wasn´t really able to lit it up. He steered his Ute up the drive-way and stopped in front of the garage door.
"Welcome to the home of Nick McKinley!" He joked, got off the car and headed for the three steps which led up to the verandah.
Carrie hesitated. This house in font of her, made out of bricks, tin and wood, frightened her. It was dark and ominous, only one-storied high with a comfortable verandah at the front. She followed Nick through the darkness and listened to the crunching sound of her shoes.
"Don´t trip over the rock next to the fence. I know it´s hard to see it at night!" Nick´s words came out of the darkness. He had already jumped up to the verandah and was rummaging in his pocket to find the key.
Unsteadiness took possession of Carrie as she looked around. The front garden could have maybe created by a female hand. The bushes near to the verandah were trimmed carefully while a beautiful palm tree - which was maybe two or three years old - gave a style to this garden.
"Carrie?" Nick was standing at the open door and began to wonder over her behavior. Just half an hour ago exactly this woman had been a wild cat, thrilling his emotion, but now it seemed as if her courage had left her. He touched for the light switch inside the living-room and turned it on while he was still holding the squeaking screen door in his hands.
The shadow of Carrie seemed to melt with the darkness of the bushland. She was standing there and seemed to study the garden. Had he missed anything?
"Carrie? Are you O.K.?"
"Yes, of course!" She replied, broke loose from the garden and walked up the three steps to the verandah. It had to be nice to sit here at the warm evenings, just to watch the land around. The creaking of the weathered boards beneath her feet roused her out of her gloomy thoughts.
"It´s a nice garden!" She said and followed Nick into the house whereby the screen door slammed shut loudly.
"Carrie, it´s dark outside - just wait until sunrise!" Nick threw the keys upon a low table next to the door before he turned on the air-condition. Heated up by the daily sunlight it was nearly impossible to spend an hour in this room.
"Do you wanna drink anything?"
"Good idea. But without alcohol, please!"
Still confused about Carrie´s sudden taciturn behaviors he shrugged his shoulders and pushed the door to the kitchen open. The switched on light was spreading back into the living-room through the big hatch.
It was the time for Carrie to study this environment. She stepped forwards and didn´t dare to take a seat. It was a large living-room, with a couch, two armchairs and a low couch table. The television set in the corner was almost new, with piled up books and magazines beside. With the right lights this living-room would became a comfortable home. But now only one lamp over the dining table, tried to bring light into this dimness - the rest of the room stayed in darkness. The blinds at the windows were down, preventing the sun to heat up the house when Nick wasn´t at home.
"Lemonade?" The far voice of Nick waved through her thoughts.
"Yes, O.K.!"
Carrie kept watching this house which was staring at her. At the left side she saw the kitchen, next to it a small corridor which led deeper into this house - maybe to the bathroom. She would give all to get a chance to cool her face. Maybe this would bring herself back to senses.
"Nick, where's the bathroom?"
"Just along the corridor. The last door on the right!" A rumbling noise in the kitchen told her that Nick had kicked the door of the refrigerator shut. Without the ability to make up her mind she hastened to the corridor and entered the bathroom.
"You´re an idiot!" She whispered to herself, held her hands under the jet of water and cooled the face. Within seconds her gloomy thoughts started to ebb away but as she looked at the mirror she saw again a woman who had torn a family apart. A family with a young little girl.....
Carrie dried up her face and returned to the living-room. Nick was sitting on an arm-rest of a chair, sipping at his beer. He studied her and gnawed at his lips:
"What´s the matter Carrie? Lost heart?"
"Nonsense....but...you must understand, it´s quite strange for me to be here."
Nick didn´t understand her at first. Carrie took a mouthful of her drink and wandered through the room.
Can´t he see what bothered her? Carrie nearly cried helplessly. But Nick could. With a quick motion he took her hand and drew her to him. He put away the bottle and stood up:
"Nicole hasn´t lived here, Carrie."
It was the first time for Carrie that Nick had said 'Nicole' and not only 'my wife'. It oppressed her a little bit despite the relief which had taken a part of the burden away.Carrie breathed out and rubbed her eyes - had she really thought that Nick would take her into the house were once his wife had lived?
Nick's caressing hand touched Carrie´s cheeks:
"I´ve moved into this house two years ago - after we decided to part!"
"Part?" It slipped from Carrie´s lips. This couldn´t be, had she always been wrong the last months when being convinced that she had torn apart a lucky married couple? Nick nodded and took the can out of her hand:
"Yes and we´ve already decided to get divorced!"
Carrie´s life caved in. The pangs of conscience which had bothered her first in Taylor´s Crossing of killing a loved wife and here of starting an affair with a man who had lost his love only months ago - suddenly vanished. Months by months the guilt had gnawed at her, had made the life hell for her and now? Why hadn´t they told her about it? Why had they kept her guessing?
"I had no idea!"
Nick also put her drink aside, laid his arms around her and didn´t keep speaking. Their lips met and melted together while Carrie flung her arms around him again.
"Sorry Nick, that I...!"
"Stop talking......just stop talking!"
Within one second Carrie´s world had changed - there was no longer the ghosts of the past which haunted her. Only Nick was there, the man she loved, the man she longed for.
They both nearly stumbled through the room, through the dimness of the poor lit living-room towards the door at the rear. Nick´s lips couldn´t stop demanding for more, for love and passion. He felt the skin of her waist beneath his fingers, felt her heartbeat at his own body. Why he hadn´t sensed her consent days ago? It would have prevented to stay awaken during the last nights - when he had lain there, unable to ban Carrie´s exciting body out of his thoughts.
Carrie was pushed tenderly back, into the unknown and dark rooms of this house. His lips on her mouth made her shaking; she had clasped her hands around his neck to let her sweaty hands run through his short hair. The love was burning in her own heart; the love and the craving for Nick, the man who
had saved her life months ago.
Nick pushed the door at the rear open, lingered only for a moment to touch for the light switch at the wall. With his other hand still around her he murmured something but Carrie was nearly deaf for the reality. She only noticed that a lamp had been switched on somewhere in the background, lightening up the room and the bed. A wardrobe in one corner stayed wrapped up in darkness.
It seemed as if the ecstasy in her heart grew from minute to minute. Her face was hot and red, bead of perspiration were running down her neck and arms. Was it really so hot here in Nick´s house or was it the feeling in her heart?
"You´re so beautiful!" Nick gasped, stopped at the edge of the bed and bent down. Carrie suddenly felt the soft and cool linen of the bedclothes at her shoulders and legs; she closed her eyes and absorbed this feeling. Nick´s heavy body pressed her deep into the bed but he was careful and tender enough
to send her into a world of new risen excitement.
The dim light from the small lamp on the nightstand lit up his face in a soft shade, playing with the twinkle in his dark eyes. There was a slight smile on his lips when he shove his body over Carrie and caressed her cheeks with his hand.
"Isn´t it much better here than on a hot bonnet?"
The joke failed; Nick´s face became stern and deep lost in emotions:
"Have been a nice day!"
"Yes!" Carrie replied breathless and let her hands wander over his back. "A nice day and a nice night!"
Nick took off his shirt, threw it into the near darkness, unnoticed, and began to kiss Carrie´s neckline again.
It suddenly came to her mind that all nights she had spend with Kevin during the last years were not able to come up to this night, to this moment. It had been a poor imitation of what she was feeling now in her heart. With her hands still around Nick´s bare upper part of his muscular body she stretched her head back and watched the ceiling without really seeing something. Somewhere at the back wall, near the bed, was the window, also darkened by the blinds. Carrie loved this room, it looked more
alive than the other ones. Was it because of this bed beneath her, because of the close nearness to his body? Her thoughts began to become senseless, she was swallowed up by the night and the passion, by Nick and his yearning.
Nearly gentle he touched the skin of her waist, pushed the edges of the Top up and touched for her ribs.
For the best Carrie had called out her love for him, had told him of her feelings but she changed her mind and kept silence. It would maybe destroy this situation, this wonderful moment. Often deep feelings and passion didn´t harmonize, Carrie knew somehow depressed.

Only minutes later they were lying beneath the thin sheet, trying to ignore the still unpleasant heat of this day.
"I think I´ve never felt so much appetite for a woman than for you!" Nick´s gasping words let her smile.
"You´re a liar!"
"No!" And he really meant it. It wasn´t his normal behavior to start an affair with somebody so early. But it seemed for Nick as if he knew Carrie since long and not only for three weeks. It seemed as if she had stolen his heart nearly one year ago, somewhere at the scene of the car accident or in the hospital. He hadn´t forgotten her and his heart never had as well.
Her naked skin at his body let his thoughts dwindle away. He bent down to her face again and met with her lips in new passion. Whatever the future might bring this night was only for them both, far away from reality.

*

Part 7

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