“Oh, I'm sure you'll find a reason.” The smell of all male filled the back of her brain. “Being city folk or being female, having the station you want, maybe just the state of my fences. Why don't you pick one that suits you?”
“If I want to give out to you, I'm sure I can find my own reason.” He lifted his hand and gently stroked it down her cheek, sending a jolt of electricity shooting straight to her groin.
Her breath caught, and her stomach clenched. The light flickering in his eyes showed her he was aware of the effect he had on her. She stepped back and turned on her heel, striding back to her vehicle on unsteady legs as her body filled with heat from the inside out. If she didn’t get away from him she wouldn’t be responsible for her own actions.
As she drove down the long driveway, she could see him watching her in the mirror. It did nothing to quell the butterflies in her stomach.
Libby hadn't been that close to a man since her husband died, let alone had sex with anyone. The smolder in his eyes made her burn, and while mentally kicking herself for being so susceptible to a handsome male, it was the touch of his hand on her face that reduced her to a quivering mess. She wondered what she’d do if he touched her more intimately…probably combust in a screaming heap at his feet. Libby worried that thought would come back to haunt her.
Libby calmed slightly by the time she arrived back home. Tom was still out with the kids and the horses. Winston led Josh around the paddock on a quiet palomino. Libby parked the truck and walked over to the fence to watch. Winton was leading him around the paddock alternating between and walk and a slow trot.
Tom acknowledged her with a tip of his chin. “Kid's got a decent seat on him”
“Must be in the genes, I guess.” Libby grinned, leaning on the fence.
“Sort it out with Nathan?”
“I told him I didn't want that kind of confrontation in front of my kids again.” Libby avoided his gaze.
“How’d he take it?”
“He all but laughed at me.” Libby blew out a frustrated sigh and leaned her chin on the fence rail.
They stood and watched Josh for a while longer, and then Tom made a move.
“If we don't get started, it'll be dark before we get into it.” He straightened and addressed the boys. “Winton, Josh, come on. You guys can help with the fencing.”
Libby watched them rush to obey Tom. It'd been a long time since Josh had done as he was told without having to be threatened. Tom might prove to be a good grandfather figure for him.
“What do we need?” Libby followed him into the shed.
Tom passed her roll of wire, a pair of cutters, and some heavy gloves before picking up a sack and slinging it over his shoulder.
“Come on, kids.” He raised his voice. “Get a move on, or you'll be left behind.”
Holly ran to catch up with Libby, the tiny Henry in her arms, and Winton and Josh scampered up the drive, kicking dirt with their boots, Josh's pup running between them.
The tools went in the back of the truck, the kids piled in the back seat with the dogs, and Libby and Tom climbed in the front.
“Winton, you’re on gates on the way out, Josh you can do it on the way back.” Tom started the vehicle.
It only took ten minutes to get to the first patch of fencing that needed mending. They piled out of the car and surveyed the damage.
“No wonder Nathan's cranky.” Josh nodded at the fence between the properties. “Look at this place compared to his.”
Libby's gaze roved over the beautifully kept paddocks next door. The stock even looked in prime condition compared to the ones in their paddocks. Mongrels, he had called them. He was right to a certain degree. The fences were a mess. Moss-covered, weathered posts leaned over, and the cattle only needed to lift their feet a bit higher to march over it. A large strip of the boundary fence had broken wire in more than a few places, and this was where Tom headed first.
“Boys, grab the rest of the tools and get your butts over here. You too, Libby.”
They all scrambled to gather the tools and follow Tom's direction. He pulled a post from the weeds and held it straight. Under his guidance, Libby managed to pound it back into the ground with the post rammer. He showed her how to attach the fence strainers he pulled from the sack to the existing wire and pull it tight enough to reattach to the post. After a couple of goes, she managed to do it on her own.
She stood back with a huge smile on her face as the sweat ran down her back, soaking her shirt to her body. It had required muscles she'd never used before to handle the heavy equipment, and she'd be sore later, but it was worth it. A sense of self achievement rolled over her shoulders.
“That was awesome.” Libby lifted her hat from her head as she wiped her face. “Thanks, Tom.”
“Your turn, Josh.” He guided the boy to the next wire. He took his time teaching them the skills that should come as second nature to those living on a station. Even Holly put Henry down long enough to nail a couple of wires to the posts. Libby hauled the water container over and gave everyone a drink. The afternoon was stinking hot, and they had so much more to do before they called it a day.
She still had to arrange for her station wagon to get towed somewhere, but as Tom had already told her, it wasn't worth stealing, and it
