An Outback Affair/Runaway Wife/Outback Bridegroom/Outback Surrender/Home To Eden by Margaret Way

opposite end of the banquette. It was too damned cramped anyway, especially for a man his size. “There aren’t supposed to be secrets in bush towns. Ruth McQueen from all accounts is a ruthless woman. Not liked at all, while Kyall is universally admired. Mrs McQueen is vehemently against Sarah, as I imagine you know. She idolizes her grandson. Sarah and Kyall have just become engaged and the balance of power has shifted. Dictators don’t like that.”
    â€œNo,” she replied briefly, her mind never far from Colin. “Perhaps she’s trying to scare them by vanishing?” Laura tested her idea on him.
    â€œEmotional blackmail, do you mean? She could take that approach,” he said dubiously. “On the other hand a woman like that must feel she’s in total control.”
    She had experience of the rage when a controller like Colin didn’t feel that way. “It doesn’t sound good,” Laura offered sombrely.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œSarah was so very, very happy yesterday. I would hate that to change.”
    â€œSo would I. Sarah deserves to be happy. It’s time for her to be.”
    â€œIt doesn’t sound as though she could be happy living at the McQueen homestead with that very grand lady who’ll do anything to upset her.”
    â€œKyall won’t let that happen. I’m sure all will be resolved.”
    â€œSadly, life’s not always like that.”
    â€œDon’t fall into the doldrums. Eat that biscuit,” he said. “You haven’t put on an ounce.”
    Her expression lightened. “What was it the Duchess of Windsor used to say?”
    â€œOne can’t be too rich or too thin,” he answered.
    â€œBeing rich doesn’t ensure happiness,” she said.
    â€œNo, it doesn’t. The first time I saw you I thought you were a poor little rich girl with a tale to tell.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œYou do come from a privileged background?”
    â€œYou surely don’t want me to apologize for it?”
    He shook his head. “Of course not. I was one of the lucky ones myself. But I would like to hear what you’re holding back. It’s hard to believe a too-demanding boyfriend could cause you such grief.”
    Why couldn’t she say it? It’s my husband. He’s brutal by nature, with darkness in him. “You don’t know what I’m dealing with, Evan,” was all she could manage at the time.
    â€œTell me.” He caught her fingers briefly, felt their tremble.
    â€œMaybe I don’t want you to see me as I am.” It came out so very starkly she herself was shocked.
    â€œIf you’re trying to tell me you’ve done bad things in your life, I just don’t believe it.”
    â€œNot bad things, no.” God, she hoped not. Was it bad to have allowed Colin to rape her? For that was what it had been. No love. No consent. But she couldn’t have stopped him without being knocked senseless.
    â€œIn retrospect I can see how naïve I’ve been. I don’t admire myself for it. I’ve accepted people at face value. If they were nice to me I thought they were nice people. But some wear handsome masks to hide their ugly faces. Maybe they’re really devils, or in the devil’s employ? That’s when despair comes.”
    The mere thought of her entangled with a “devil” chilled his blood. Goodness knew, he’d seen the face of evil in a beautiful woman. “Laura, if you’re in a bad situation you have to get free,” he said, with some passion.
    She closed her eyes. “I know that. I’m working on it. I don’t feel alone. But I need a little time.” Why couldn’t she simply say, Something horrible happened to me, Evan. A marriage that shamed me. She didn’t realize that hers was a classic response from innocent victims of abuse.
    â€œDid you live with this man?” Evan asked bluntly, givingin to his