Daring Masquerade Read Online Free PDF Page B

act. He glared but said nothing, just slapped the reins against the horse's rump to get him started.
    "I'll put in a big order while I'm at it," he said to Gil. "I've got a storeroom at the homestead. Carson at the co-op delivers. We'll just take the essential supplies up to the outstation today."
    After about fifteen minutes they pulled up at a large stable complex. Several hundred yards away stood a white weatherboard homestead with casement windows. She looked it over with interest. It had a corrugated iron roof and ivy covered, bull-nose verandah with a central gabled porch.
    A massive oak tree dominated the front yard. Roses and camellias grew in neatly tended garden beds along the sides of the verandah. An old Chinaman wearing a coolie hat, and with a pigtail hanging down his back, wielded a shovel with an energy that belied his age.
    "Mr. Wu, the gardener," Ross informed them. "Most of the vegetables come from him, we're pretty self-sufficient. We'll change wagons here. I use this one only for getting supplies to the outstation. The track is too narrow for a team." He patted the Clydesdale's neck. "A single horse isn't strong enough, except for you, my beauty."
    His gentle tone escalated her heart beat, and a million butterflies fluttered inside her stomach.
    A short bow-legged man trotted out to greet them.
    "Hughie, meet Gilbert and Harry Martin. This is Hughie. Was the best horse breaker in the North East, weren't you, mate?"
    "Yeah, boss," he drawled in a surprisingly deep voice for such a small man.
    "Hello, Hughie," they both chorused.
    Gil helped Hughie hitch up two horses to a small dray with a seat running across it on which the three of them could sit without being crushed. While she waited, Harry surveyed a plantation of towering pines at the back of the homestead. The front yard was neatly encircled with a white post and rail fence.
    They drove along the steep, winding road at a steady pace and within an hour passed down the main street of town. Under the shade of huge oaks and elms, numerous people moved around.
    "Market day. I forgot." Ross grimaced. "Should have left it until tomorrow."
    They entered the general store. Harry stared enviously at the young women in their pretty pastel dresses. What would Ross think if he saw her in a dress? Would he think her pretty? She ruthlessly squashed these dangerous thoughts. A couple of women openly gaped at him before edging away.
    Tenseness stiffened his body as he strode up to the counter, briefly acknowledging the greetings of a few people who obviously knew him.
    "Lots of new people in town," he muttered to Harry and Gil. "Once we've ordered our supplies here, I'll leave you to your own devices, I have business to attend to. Harry, exactly what do you need?"
    "Flour, sugar of course. There's plenty of tea and salt. Condensed milk would be handy. Treacle would be good. More raisins and currants."
    She watched him order everything she had mentioned plus other things she hadn't thought of. The enormous quantities surprised her.
    "I only come to town every couple of months. Even that's too often." His lips took on a bitter, cynical twist. "Well that's about it, Carson. You pair want anything?"
    "No thanks." We haven't got any money, she nearly said, but gulped the words back. Pride stopped her from letting him know they were practically paupers.
    "I can give you an advance on your wages." Ross lowered his voice as he spoke to Gil. "If you want to buy anything."
    "No, I don't want anything. What about you, Harry?"
    "No." She tore her attention away from the pretty pale blue dress that hung in soft folds from the store dummy. Even if she wasn't pretending to be a boy, she would never be able to own such an exquisite thing. Ross followed her gaze.
    "Look at that hat, Gil, with all those flowers on it," she gabbled. "What some women will wear just to be in fashion."
    "Yeah, bloody mad," Gil said.
    Ross' eyes narrowed, but he made no comment except to say. "I'll meet