The Horse Thief by Tea Cooper Page B

outside the door.
    â€˜Put her down.’
    He lowered Violet to the ground. With an anguished cry she struggled across the floor and sank onto the chair Peggy held.
    His stomach churned at his own gullibility as he stormed out, leaving the women to their own devices.

    â€˜Now, what’s all this nonsense, young lady?’ Peggy’s gruff voice mirrored India’s own feelings. As always Violet had succeeded in turning the morning into a circus and it was time to make an end of it.
    â€˜I fell and twisted my ankle when that horse attacked me.’
    â€˜Don’t be so foolish. It was your own stupid fault. If you hadn’t been primping and preening in front of Jim it wouldn’t have happened.’
    Peggy peeled off Violet’s stocking, tut-tutting as she twisted her ankle from one side to the other. ‘I can’t see very much wrong with it.’
    â€˜It hurts and it’s not fair. So unfair. Everyone does everything the way India wants it done. Even Jim is falling all over himself, salivating like a dog the moment he’s anywhere near her. It’s as though I don’t exist.’ The palm of Violet’s hand slammed down on the table with a sharp crack. ‘And I don’t even want to be here.’
    Peggy dropped Violet’s ankle none too gently to the ground. ‘I don’t think your foot needs binding but your mouth certainly does.’
    Violet’s lip curled into a smirk, the kind that always spelt trouble. ‘I’ve had a long chat with Jim and he’s not labouring under any misapprehension anymore. I’ve told him all about India’s engagement.’
    â€˜I’m not engaged.’ The words spluttered from India’s mouth.
    Ignoring her, Violet continued. ‘And I’ve told him we’ll be going back to Sydney.’ She folded her arms. ‘He said he didn’t care because he wasn’t expecting to stay long, just until he found what he came for. So think again, big sister. Not every man falls at your feet.’ Violet as good as crowed as she stood and marched through the door, her ankle miraculously healed.
    â€˜I think it might be more sensible if I sent Violet back to Sydney. She’s dreadfully unhappy. There must be someone she can stay with, an old school friend, an acquaintance of Papa’s. As soon as I next see him I’ll discuss it. I can’t live like this and you shouldn’t have to either.’
    And she didn’t want to deal with Violet anymore. She wanted to sort out the tangle of emotions wrapping tendrils around her heart. The way she’d felt when Jim held her close, his warmth, and the sparkle in his eye and the dimple in his cheek when he smiled. The palms of her hands still tingled from the glow of his warm skin. She smoothed them together, trying to recreate the sensation of his beating heart. If they’d been alone he might have kissed her. She ran her tongue over her lips imagining the touch of his mouth on her skin. A rush of heat traced a path down her body and her breasts peaked.
    â€˜India?’
    â€˜Hmm?’ She wriggled, the cotton of her blouse rough against her skin. Skin that prickled and shivered with an unnatural sensitivity.
    â€˜India!’
    Turning to Peggy she plastered what she hoped was an attentive smile on her face.
    â€˜What did Violet mean when she said Jim would leave once he found what he came for?’
    India shrugged her shoulders, not wanting to entertain the thought of Jim leaving, not for a long time, if ever. ‘I don’t know. Just more Violet nonsense. Do you think I should persevere with this idea of mine? Violet would be better off in Sydney. I could go down to Sydney and see Papa, if he’s not away.’
    â€˜India, this is important.’ Peggy’s round face squeezed into a frown. ‘Violet said Jim wasn’t expecting to stay long. Just until he got what he came for.’
    â€˜I’ve