Mystic Mountains

start afresh. Those who've been given tracts over there seem to be doing all right."
    "Aye, but if Tiger goes then we 'll all be forced to tag along with him, Thelma. And I don't know as I'm so keen to be going off into the wilds where there are natives and bushrangers hiding behind every tree."
    "Ah, half of what you hear is a load of rubbish spouted by those who have little ambition, and aren 't willing to try something new," Thelma argued. "There's been little trouble from the natives since they attacked the Macarthur's farm at Cowpastures five years or so ago."
    "I suppose you 're right. The colony must expand, and Tiger is bound to be up the front leading the charge inland once the grants are given. Now, Tim, go to sleep." Isabella tapped him on the end of his nose, then bent to kiss him. "Sleep tight, son."
    "We 're going over the mountains, Tiger says so," he told her as she went to the door with Thelma, after making sure Dougie was asleep.
    "If Tiger says so, then it must be true." Isabella sighed as she blew him a kiss.
    Thelma went straight back to the kitchen, but Isabella lingered beneath the verandah, staring out over the paddocks, watching a flock of pink and grey parrots squabble over perches in a gum tree. This was her favorite time of the year, when the days were warm and the nights cool. She doubted she would ever become accustomed to the long stifling days of summer heat where often the winds seemed to draw every last piece of moisture from your skin.
    Tiger came from the stables so quietly she didn 't hear him until he stood a few paces away. Turning her head she faced him and for long moments they silently regarded each other, the air about them throbbing with unspoken words. Then he came near until he was an arm's length away. As if he could do nothing to stop himself he lifted a hand and stroked two fingers down her cheek.
    "Oh." She grasped his wrist. A jolt of awareness thrilled along her skin, and she longed to take the step forward that would bring her into contact with his powerful body. Instead she forced herself to sneer as sh e said, "Take your hands off me."
    "No. " He bit out the word. "I have no wish to. I wish to touch you. I want to kiss you. Undress you and make love to you. God help me, but I want you so much I'm dying of it."
    "Then die. " With a sudden jerk she managed to push his hand away, but he was too strong and too quick for her. In a flash he had both his arms about her and was pulling her against his hard body.
    "I may just do that," he whispered hoarsely, his mouth hovering above hers.
    "Kiss me and I'll—"
    "What? Bite me as you did once before? Do it and you 'll pay the consequences, Bella my love."
    "It would be worth being punished, just for the satisfaction of hurting you."
    "Oh, don't fear, I'm already hurting." His tone softened and the sultry throb in his voice sent small thrills along her spine.
    "Don 't be daft. Only people with hearts can hurt. You have a chunk of stone where your heart should be." She struggled, knowing it was useless, and knowing deep down she had no real desire to fight him. "Let me go, please," she pleaded. "I don't know what you think you can do by forcing me to stay in your arms this way."
    "Don 't you? I think you lie. We both know what I could do given the fancy, Bella. And it's no use lying to me and saying I don't make you shake with wanting me, because I can feel every tremor that's going through you right now." To prove it he ran his hands up and down her arms, then pressed a finger to the pulse point in her throat where her blood pumped erratically through her veins.
    "That 's fear. You frighten me." She shook her head.
    He had the gall to laugh, his throat arching as he t hrew his head back, showing his strong arched neck. "I've never scared you, little Bella. You're stronger than me in your way. No, we both know it's desire making you shake as much as me at this moment. Feel me." He grabbed her hand and despite her struggles to release it pressed it on his chest so she could feel the heavy thump of his heart beneath her palm.
    "Why are you doing this? You 're not right in the head. I can't work out what you want. Now let me go."
    "Why won 't you let Dougal into your bed? Have you been ill since the baby was born?" She gave a small shake of the head, and he grinned devilishly. "Not sick, eh? The poor sod spends too much time with his sheep lately. He's getting as dopey as them."
    "You have a cruel streak in you I find hateful,