Page 21 of Andrew’s Outback Love

As light faded with still no sign of the child, I started to feel sick in the stomach. The longer it took us to find him, the less chance there was of finding him alive. We’d searched about four kilometres downstream and knew with darkness approaching, we’d soon have to turn back. As it was, Rex and I would be heavily reliant on the aboriginal men to lead us back to the homestead. Rex and I noticed the other men had come to a stop and were gathered together on the bank. My heart sank. I would expect they’d be excited if the child had been found but instead, they stood stock still. Quiet. We hurried to join them and it was then I heard it.......the snorting of horses.

We stood watching in the direction the sound was coming from and as expected, four horses appeared over a rise in the bank. Linda and Ruby were riding alongside Sandra and Madison. And, there he was, in Ruby’s lap, one of her arms wrapped around the child’s thin body. Bedraggled, wet and probably hungry, but alive. His father took off running and tears welled when I watched him drag his son from the horse and into his arms. He hugged him close, speaking in a language I didn’t know, but the meaning was clear. He was thanking the powers above for returning the child safe and alive.

The ladies dismounted and with the reins in their hands, they approached us.

“Where did you find him?” Rex asked his daughter.

“On a sand bar down near Fisher’s bend. He was on the other side of the river so Linda waded over and got him. He was scared but not hurt.”

It was after Sandra spoke, I looked closer at Linda and realised she was soaked. I’d never been prouder of my girl.

Linda blushed when Rex gathered her in his arms for a hug. “My dear girl, thank you.”

“I’m glad I could help.”

Akama, with Jarli in his arms, approached Linda and offered his hand in thanks. She shook it and smiled.

“Can we give you a lift back to the house?” Madison asked. “We can’t take all of you at once but we can do two trips.”

Rex, myself, Akam and Jarli were to be taken back to the homestead on horseback. The other men insisted they’d rather walk.

I boosted Linda into the saddle and then Ruby onto her horse. Rex helped Sandra and Madison onto one and offered Akama a horse on his own with his son. He gratefully accepted, concerned with letting his wife know as soon as possible that their eldest child was safe.

I climbed on in front of Linda and Rex hefted himself up with Ruby. Linda wrapped her arms around my waist and scooted close against my back, her breasts pushed against me. Yep, you guessed it. My cock sat up and took notice. It was an uncomfortable ride back to the homestead and by the time I lifted Linda down at the stables, I was painfully hard. I sighed with relief when the other ladies encouraged her to join them inside while Rex and I took care of bedding the horses down for the night.

***

THE REUNION BETWEEN mother and son had been emotional and many tears had been shed. Finn, the pilot who would return us to Dubbo, had arrived and thoroughly checked the child over. He was found to have suffered no trauma except fright and we were confident that would soon be overcome. After farewelling the family, who had a twenty-kilometre drive back to their home in an old beat up sedan, we set about organizing a barbeque dinner.

Ruby talked about how the girls had decided to start searching eight kilometres down river in the hopes it would help find the little boy faster. It would enable twice the distance to be covered in a minimum time.

After I forked up a piece of melt in your mouth steak, I questioned Linda. “I didn’t know you could ride.”

“I did dressage from the age of eight and only quit when I started nursing. I have a horse agisted in Dubbo. I drove over with her from Broken Hill. I ride whenever I have a bit of free time and visit her every morning and evening. Riding helps me to relax. It’s obvious you’ve ridden before today; do you ride often?”

“No, it’s been years. I was in pony club for many years, but gave it up when I went off to Uni. Now, I don’t seem to have time and there’s not really anywhere to leave a horse in inner Sydney. I just don’t have the time, but one day......”

Marge gathered the dishes from our finished meals and placed a coffee pot on the table. I didn’t normally drink coffee at night but I accepted a cup when it was offered. I was on edge and thought it may help.

Finn declined, opting instead for a glass of iced water and stood. “Bridge - Cam, Rex?”

It was something the three usually did after dinner when they were together. If Finn wasn’t the pilot, Cam and Rex would usually play a game of poker because James didn’t play. Neither did I, preferring instead to sit out under the stars, alone with my thoughts. Marge, Ruby and Allison always turned in early and I wondered what Linda would do.

I offered my help, as I usually did, to clean up but Marge kissed my cheek and told me to go outside where she knew I wanted to be. I said goodnight to the ladies and with my coffee in hand, headed outside to where a love seat sat against the wall of the front verandah. I settled myself on a cushion, laid my head back and closed my eyes. It had been a traumatic few hours and I felt unusually tired.

“Tired, Dr. Lowman?”

I snapped my eyes open and lifted my head from the back of the seat. Linda settled beside me and my body reacted immediately. I placed my mug on the ground and spun to face her.

“I am, it’s been a long day. You?”

“I’ve gone past tired and seem to have found a second wind.”

“Do you mind sharing it with me? My bones feel like jelly.”

Linda laughed and I gathered her hand.

“I’ll miss you next week, can I call you?”