TRISHA DAVID - Mctavish And Twins

“You’ll be gone again soon,” Mike said “You’ll be gone again soon,” Mike said Erin’s eyes flashed. “Define soon.” “Look, I have no idea how long you’re staying, but I assume the farm will be sold and you’ll be off again....” “Taking my pound of flesh with me.” “I didn’t say that.” “It’s what you inferred,” Erin said coolly. “That I’m here for my share of my grandfather’s farm. And I don’t like the inference.” “But you are here for a holiday?” Mike demanded, his eyes meeting hers. Challenging. About the Author Much of Trisha David’s childhood was spent dreaming of romance far from the Australian farming community where she lived. After marrying a fabulous doctor, she decided doctors were so sexy she could write a medical romance and has since written a considerable number under the name Marion Lennox. Now her vision of romance has broadened to include romances for the Harlequin Romance ® series, and she plans to continue writing as Marion Lennox and Trisha David. Title Page McTavish and Twins Trisha David www.millsandboon.co.uk Acknowledgments With thanks to Art and Kerry Uytendaal, whose knowledge and love of horses and riding at international levels of competition made this book possible. This book is dedicated to Matt and Laura, who, with Bethany, Christopher and Bryce, are now climbing my haystacks. CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN Copyright

“You’ll be gone again soon,” Mike said

Erin’s eyes flashed. “Define soon.”

“Look, I have no idea how long you’re staying, but I assume the farm will be sold and you’ll be off again....”

“Taking my pound of flesh with me.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“It’s what you inferred,” Erin said coolly. “That I’m here for my share of my grandfather’s farm. And I don’t like the inference.”

“But you are here for a holiday?” Mike demanded, his eyes meeting hers. Challenging.

Much of Trisha David’s childhood was spent dreaming of romance far from the Australian farming community where she lived. After marrying a fabulous doctor, she decided doctors were so sexy she could write a medical romance and has since written a considerable number under the name Marion Lennox. Now her vision of romance has broadened to include romances for the Harlequin Romance ®series, and she plans to continue writing as Marion Lennox and Trisha David.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

With thanks to Art and Kerry Uytendaal, whose

knowledge and love of horses and riding at international

levels of competition made this book possible. This book

is dedicated to Matt and Laura, who, with Bethany,

Christopher and Bryce, are now climbing my haystacks.

CHAPTER ONE

AUSTRALIA had the farm, Grandpa and Mike McTavish—but America was definitely safer! On the final stretch home, Erin swerved to miss two kangaroos, one snake and one fat wombat. Her final obstacle was trouble.

The twins were in the centre of the road on a blind bend. They were tiny, the suitcase between them shoulder-high, and their faces grim as death.

The children didn’t flinch as Erin hit the brakes. They didn’t seem to notice how close they’d come to tragedy. Instead, they tugged their suitcase sideways round her truck and trailer—and kept right on walking.

Neither child looked at Erin as she climbed from the truck. In fact both were concentrating fiercely on not looking at her.

‘Hi,’ Erin tried.

No response.

Erin looked dubiously down at her grubby jeans and filthy riding boots. These children were immaculately clothed in matching boy-girl outfits. They wore cute little sailor tops, with the boy in white trousers and the girl in a white skirt.

Erin looked and smelled of horse. She had to admit she seemed a great example of ‘dangerous strangers’. Convincing these children to trust her was going to be hard.

‘Do you two realize I nearly squashed you?’ Erin demanded, raising her voice.

Still nothing. The children tugged their suitcase grimly on.

This wasn’t normal kids’ adventure, Erin decided, looking at their slumped shoulders and general dejection. These children had real misery driving them.

She couldn’t leave them here. They looked about six years old—certainly not old enough to be on their own. The road twisted through the hills and the next driver might not be handicapped by an ancient truck and a horse trailer. The children would have no chance against a fast car.

So Erin moved to block their path. She walked purposefully in front of them, lifted their suitcase from their grasp and hauled it over to the grass verge. Then she squatted so her eyes were on their level.

‘Excuse me, but you two nearly caused an accident,’ she growled softly, watching their faces for reaction. ‘I had to stop so fast I might have injured my horse. You can’t ignore me. It’s your responsibility to at least see what damage you’ve done.’

Boy and girl looked at each other.

Fear receded a little. This wasn’t a stranger accosting them. This was someone reminding them of their duty.

‘I... We’re sorry,’ the little girl quavered. ‘We didn’t mean to...’

‘That’s all very well,’ Erin said firmly. ‘But we need to check my horse. Stay off the road while I do it.’ She turned her back on the children and concentrated on opening the trailer.

Erin was almost sure Paddy was okay. Her old horse was sure-footed and calm—a veteran of years of international travel—and he’d coped with greater jolts to his trailer than this.

As Erin opened the trailer her horse swivelled to look at her with huge, reproachful eyes. His eyes almost spoke. ‘Now what?’ he seemed to be saying, and it was as much as Erin could do not to laugh.

‘Oh, Paddy, I’m sorry.’ She walked forward to stroke his nose. Another glance at the two watching children—another fast moment of thought—and then Erin shoved the ramp down and backed Paddy out onto the roadside.

Paddy clattered obediently out like the gentleman he was. He stood in the sun, gazed appreciatively at the surrounding countryside and then put his nose down to the grass and started to graze.

‘He looks okay,’ the little girl said doubtfully. The fear in the children’s eyes had faded further, but their hands still clutched.

It was a start.

‘Paddy’s had a bad jolt,’ Erin said firmly. ‘He needs a few moments to recover.’ She ran her hand affectionately over Paddy’s gleaming black flank, and then along the blaze of white leading down from his wise old eyes. ‘I’d like you to meet Paddy,’ she said softly. ‘He’s my very favourite horse of all time and I’d hate anything to happen to him. And I’m Erin O’Connell. My grandpa owns a farm half a mile along this road and I’m on my way to visit him.’ She smiled. ‘You must live near here too.’

She paused—and waited.

‘We...we don’t,’ the little girl said at last. ‘But...but our uncle does.’

‘Does he?’ Erin smiled. She raised her eyebrows at the children. ‘I might know him. Paddy and I have told you our names. Aren’t you going to tell us yours?’

The little girl took a deep breath. She was clearly the spokesman for the two. Her brother stared numbly at Erin and his thumb moved slowly, surreptitiously towards his mouth.

‘I’m Laura McTavish,’ the little girl said at last. ‘And this is my brother, Matthew.’ She paused and then childish curiosity surfaced. ‘The way you talk sounds funny...’