The Cattle King's Mistress Read Online Free PDF

her expression was one of wry resignation as she added, “Stuck in an office instead of flying high.”
    “I didn’t realise you did office work, as well,” Miranda said in surprise.
    “Oh, I fill in, taking the resort bookings at the Kununurra Headquarters during the Wet. Not so much charter business then. I’ve loaded all the facts and figures into your computer here, so if you need a hand with anything until your clerical assistant clocks on...”
    “I’d appreciate it,” Miranda said warmly.
    “No problem.” Samantha slid her leg off the footstool and heaved herself out of the armchair.
    Miranda had the impression of a pride that would always deny personal problems and minimise others as much as possible. The young pilot had a rather narrow, gamine face, her fair skin liberally freckled, yet an innate strength of character seemed to shine through its finely boned structure and her sky-blue eyes would undoubtedly scorn any suggestion of cuteness.
    “How did you get into flying?” Miranda asked, as they set off towards the wide hallway that bisected the homestead and led to the administration and accommodation wings.
    “I was born to it,” came the dismissive reply. “Since I’m currently grounded, I guess Tommy jumped in and offered to fly you around the regular tours.” She slanted Miranda a derisive look. “Only too eager to show you the sights, I’ll bet.”
    Caution was instantly pricked. “Why should he be eager, Samantha?”
    “Call me Sam. Everyone else does.” Another derisive look. “And if you didn’t notice Tommy’s tongue hanging out yesterday, I sure did. To put it bluntly, Miranda, you’re stacked in all the right places and gorgeous to boot. So don’t tell me he didn’t give you the rush.”
    Jealousy? The acid little thread in Sam’s tone alerted Miranda to very sensitive ground here. “Well, I guess the rush got diverted,” she answered dryly. “In any event I’m not interested in a personal relationship with Tommy King.”
    “You’re not?” Sam stopped, eyeing Miranda with sheer astonishment. “Most women fall for him like ninepins.”
    She shrugged. “You can chalk up a miss as far as I’m concerned.”
    A gleeful grin lit up Sam’s face. “I’ve never known Tommy strike out. What a lovely dent in his ego!”
    “Do you know him very well?”
    “Too well.” The grin turned into a grimace. “Like I’m the kid sister he never had. I’ve been working for the Kings for years, mustering cattle, even before the resort was built.”
    Which explained the familiarity between Sam and Tommy, the teasing and her disrespectful responses yesterday. “Then you must know Nathan well, too.” The words slipped out before Miranda could bite on her tongue. She didn’t want to reveal any curiosity about him. She didn’t even want to think about him.
    “I know all of them well,” Sam replied with feeling, sounding exasperated by them or their family attitudes.
    She set off down the hall again and Miranda kept pace with her, grateful the subject was apparently dropped.
    “Come to think of it,” Sam muttered. “It’s not like Tommy to give up.” She frowned at Miranda. “Didn’t he even line up one trip with you?”
    Miranda stifled a sigh. No point in hiding what would soon be common knowledge. “Nathan is flying me to the Bungle Bungle Range tomorrow,” she stated flatly.
    “Nathan?” Another dead halt as Sam stared wide-eyed at her. “Nathan’s taking you?”
    “He’s going anyway,” Miranda explained, trying to keep a terse note out of her voice. “He plans to take some old diaries about the Aboriginal tribes to the park ranger there.”
    Sam’s mouth twitched. Her eyes danced with inner hilarity. “Nothing to do with you, of course.”
    “Just a ready opportunity,” Miranda said dismissively.
    Sam laughed out loud. “Oh, I wish I could have seen Tommy’s face when Nathan beat him to the draw.”
    She chuckled on and off, little bursts of private