driftwood by mandy magro - chapter sampler
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
1/20
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
2/20
MANDY
MAGRO
Driftwood
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
3/20
DID YOU PURCHASE THIS BOOK WITHOUT A COVER?If you did, you should be aware it is stolen property as it was
reported unsold and destroyed by a retailer.
Neither the author nor the publisher has received any paymentfor this book.
First Published 2013First Australian Paperback Edition 2013ISBN 978 174356463 9
DRIFTWOOD 2013 by Mandy MagroPhilippine Copyright 2013
Australian Copyright 2013New Zealand Copyright 2013
Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilisation of this work in wholeor in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now knownor hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or inany information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the permissionof the publisher, Harlequin Mira, Locked Bag 7002, Chatswood D.C. N.S.W.,
Australia 2067.
This book is sold subject to the condition that shall not, by way of trade orotherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the priorconsent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in whichit is published and without a similar condition including this condition being
imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in anyform. This edition is published in arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A..
This is a work of ction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either theproduct of the authors imagination or are used ctitiously, and any resemblanceto actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales isentirely coincidental.
Published byHarlequin Mira
An imprint of Harlequin Enterprises (Aust) Pty Ltd.Level 4, 132 Arthur StreetNORTH SYDNEY NSW 2060
AUSTRALIA
and TM are trademarks of Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its corporateafliates. Trademarks indicated with are registered in Australia, New Zealand,the United States Patent & Trademark Ofce and in other countries.
Printed and bound in Australia by Grifn Press
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
4/20
1861 Goldbury Township, New South Wales
Te joyous rumble o a drunken get-together ltered up through
the rickety foorboards o twenty-three-year-old Anne MargaretWillows bedroom. Te landlady o the Goldbury Hotel leant
on the windowsill, clutching a thin cotton sheet around her
curvaceous, unclothed body and listened to the distinct sound o
the old piano blending harmoniously with the upbeat strum o a
banjo. Te hardworking diggers and the women they had chosen
or the evening joined a chorus o merry song. A substantial-sized
nugget had been ound in the neighbouring goldelds and that was
cause or celebration. It was a promise o ortunes to be discovered
and reuelled the hope that had diminished over time as the men
C H A P T E R
1
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
5/20
10 M A N D Y M A G R O
that vanished down the long hallway. Te slam o a door was soon
ollowed by the rhythmic thump o an iron bedhead against a wall.
Relishing the wisp o a cool evening breeze as it rereshed herstill fushed skin, Anne gently chewed her bottom lip and watched
William Campbell pull on his moleskins then run his hands
through his sandy brown hair, his muscular body making her want
to ravish him yet again. Whatever was she thinking, alling or
the likes o him? It was just asking or trouble. Tough she had to
silently admit that his wayward image made it even more thrilling
or her to be consorting with him.
William turned to ace her, a satised grin curling his ull, rm
lips. Te fickering light rom the kerosene lantern accentuated his
rugged eatures, and his dark chocolate eyes speckled with gold
captured her, stealing her breath. He pulled his shirt ree rom theback o a stool and shrugged it onto his broad shoulders as he picked
his pistol up rom the dressing table and pushed it into the leather
holster at his waist. He sauntered towards her and cupped her ace
with his strong hands, his lips meeting hers once again, making her
legs buckle beneath her. She let the sheet all and her tingling bodypressed into his. She moaned sotly, all o her responding to him as
he unclipped her hair, the long ringlets futtering ree and cascading
down her back. She breathed in his scent, a mixture o manliness,
horse, gunpowder and leather. It was enough to make her ache
uncontrollably or him, craving his delicious mouth upon her pale
English skin once more. Te heights o pleasure he bestowed on her
were an addiction she would never be ree o.
A melodious whistle rom the dusty street below captured their
attention and they reluctantly untwined rom each other. Anne
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
6/20
D R I F W O O D 11
quick getaway. Annes heart sank. Te time had come again. She had
to say goodbye. Be strong, dont cry this time. It only upsets Will more.
Te whistle warned that the traps were riding back into town,returning rom the neighbouring settlement o Kilmaroy. Which
meant William would have to make a break or it into the dense
scrublands beyond Goldbury. A man could remain hidden or as long
as he liked out there; the land was vast, untamed, unorgiving but
William thrived in it. Te bush was where his spirit was truly alive
and it was one o the many traits that had attracted Anne to him
rom the beginning they shared an immeasurable love or the
countryside.
William held her gaze, his eyes piercing. I love you so much,
Anne. And Im sorry this visit was eeting. But one day Ill give you
all that you deserve, all that youve ever dreamed o: our very owncattle property up north, by the sea. Ten, with the reedom that
comes with that, even wild horses wont be able to drag me away
rom you . . . He ran his ngers over her parted lips. We will name
it Waratah, ater your avourite tree, the one with a blossom that
matches the ery colour o your hair and spirit. His lips twitchedinto a aint smile. You have my word.
Anne nodded as warm tears trickled down her cheeks. She curtly
wiped them away, straightened her back and gripped the sheet
around her tighter, the immense inner strength she usually exuded
abandoning her in Williams presence. I love you, too, Will. I just
wish our lives could be dierent so we didnt have to be away rom
each other all the time. She blinked a ew times, sniing. Its so
hard, particularly when the sergeant keeps making his eelings or
me known. I nd it difcult to tolerate his company, especially ater
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
7/20
12 M A N D Y M A G R O
ban him rom the hotel. He is above the law, as he has well proven
to us. However, I know you are a man o your word, so I will hold
your promise close to my heart. Always.William gritted his teeth, his jaw twitching. Tat trap will
be sorry i he ever lays a hand on you. Im not one or taking a
lie Im not, God but i it came to it, i he hurt you, I wouldnt
hesitate. He pulled on his boots then grabbed his wide-brimmed
hat, allowing himsel a small smile as he tenderly tilted Annes chin
upwards. See you again soon my darling Anne.
Placing a nal lingering kiss on her lips, William clambered
out the bedroom window and jumped the ten eet to the ground.
Anne moved to the window and watched sombrely as he eortlessly
mounted his horse, her eyes locking briefy with his as he glanced
back at her. Ten, with a sharp fick o the reins, William and hismen rode past the blacksmiths and towards the outskirts o town,
their silhouettes ading into the darkness as they galloped away, the
horses hooves thunderous upon the hard dirt road. She had no idea
when she would see him again a day, a week, a month, or three
months? It depended on whether the police were in town; moreoten than not, they were.
She hued. Damn the traps! Tey had no right hunting him
down in the rst place. In her eyes, William Campbell was no
criminal; he was a decent, generous soul who had been dealt a low
blow and was now driven to steal rom the rich in order to survive.
o make matters worse, it was all because o her. Will only stole
rom those who made their ortune at the peril o others and shared
his gains among the less ortunate. His kind spirit was never greedy,
and his greatest satisaction came rom seeing the unlucky with
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
8/20
D R I F W O O D 13
Ater a year o clandestine interludes, she still ound hersel
alling deeper or William every time they were reunited. And no
matter how hard she ought to ignore her eelings, she wouldbe a ool to deny that she was madly in love with Wild Will,
the wanted bushranger. She had passed the point o no return.
William Campbell had not only stolen rom the rich, he had also
stolen her heart.
Annes thoughts crashed back to when William was a successul
armer, a man who prided himsel on his honest living, and how that
was all taken away rom him one ateul day the day the sergeant
had learnt o her ondness or William. In an unjustifed jealous rage,
Sergeant Hocking retaliated by laying blame on William or a crime
he had never committed: the heinous murder o an entire amily,
including a six-month-old baby. Te motive behind the killings wassaid to be greed, as the amily was one o the wealthiest in the area,
owners o a substantial amount o real estate in Goldbury and back
in England. But even ater an extensive search by the police, the
jewels and money that had been stolen had never been recovered;
the true killer had obviously made sure the evidence was well hidden.Anne knew William was not capable o taking a childs lie. A
mans lie maybe, i he was driven to it, but unquestionably not a
childs. However, or some o the Goldbury townsolk, the ones who
didnt know Williams kind-hearted character, it was a completely
dierent story. Tey rallied behind Hocking, calling or Will to be
hanged, labelling him a cold-blooded murderer. It sickened Anne,
and she was determined to clear Williams name by fnding the real
killer. She had her suspicions but not enough evidence to point the
fnger. Yet.
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
9/20
14 M A N D Y M A G R O
water. William had remained in jail or three long weeks as he waited
to be hanged, knowing the entire time that his beloved cattle and
horses were dying a long, painul and cruel death. Anne knew theagony o losing his livestock to such remorseless slaughter had been
the turning point or William, the deciding actor that had made him
seek revenge by becoming a bushranger.
Sliding her back down the wall, Anne hugged her knees to her
chest as she pondered a lie up north with William. She had always
dreamed o moving there. It would be glorious and they would be
ree o all o this misery, o living in a place governed by lawless
authorities. She could wake up beside William every day, have his
beautiul children, and be a good wie by happily tending to his
needs. Tey could take long walks along the beach together, hand
in hand, marvelling at how wonderul their lives had become. Itwould be absolute heaven. But was it ever going to become her
reality? Would William evade being arrested long enough to come
good on his word? Would he live long enough to keep his promise?
For, as she was only too aware, there was no such thing as an old
bushranger. Shehad
to believe him, had to believe he would fnda way to make their dreams come true, or it was all that kept her
going in this godorsaken place.
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
10/20
2012 Far North Queensland
Approaching the frst -junction shed seen or over an hour, aylor
Whitworth eased o the accelerator o her Jeep Wrangler, paprika-coloured dust trailing out behind her as ar as the eye could see. Te
dust had even ound a way inside, speckles o it clinging to nearly
every part o the interior.
Squinting through her windscreen, aylor tried to read the road
sign that was now shadowed by a radiant setting sun. Te vast
countryside she was driving through was glorious, exactly what shed
yearned or, but she ound it hard to ully appreciate, conscious o the
act night was ast approaching and her uel light had been glowing
orange or the past hal-hour. Te likelihood o a servo being nearby
C H A P T E R
2
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
11/20
16 M A N D Y M A G R O
With panic beginning to set in, aylor took a ew deep breaths
while willing her usually logical mindset to take control. She had
to fnd a township soon or she would end up running out o uel,leaving her stranded in the middle o nowhere or the night. Te
very thought terrifed her, and images o being eaten alive by a pack
o hungry dingos or dying rom a venomous snake bite consumed
her. Te brave young woman who had stormed out o her parents
bay-side Brisbane home yesterday morning with only one bag o
clothes and her treasured Fender acoustic guitar, threatening that
she was never going to set oot in their house again, was long gone.
What was she thinking, driving into the unknown? Letting her
anger get the better o her, allowing it to cloud her usually cool,
calm judgement? Being a typical Aries, she was an easygoing soul
and it took a lot or her to get pissed o, but once she elt somethingor someone was worth fghting or, all hell could break loose. And
yesterday at her amily home, it had.
aylor took a look around her at the endless felds glowing with
golden light rom the setting sun. Where in the hell was she going?
And what was she going to do when she got there? With ewerthan fve hundred bucks in her bank account she would have to
fnd work quick smart. But what was she going to do i there was
no work? Go crawling home with her tail between her legs? Not
bloody likely!
She smacked the steering wheel as she recalled the heated
argument with her parents. What a mess her hot-headedness had
gotten her into! Damn her cold-hearted stepather or demanding
she quit her stablehand job so she could go to medical school and
ollow in his ootsteps. Damn her mum or agreeing with him. And
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
12/20
D R I F T W O O D 17
Dreams o embracing her love or horses and becoming a jillaroo,
o living in the country, o singing her country songs to people
who would actually appreciate them, and fnding hersel a tall, sexycowboy to all madly in love with. Ahh, in a perect world . . .
True love, she whispered to hersel. She had been searching or
true love since she was seventeen, it was just that all the guys she had
dated over the years seemed more concerned about being in love
with themselves than alling in love with her. Now at twenty-two,
she craved alling deeply in love, eeling what it was really like, the
overwhelming kind o love that leaves you breathless, that moves
heaven and earth, makes you do crazy things; someone you would
die or, someone who would die or you. Now that, to Taylor, was
true love.
Was she, like her parents had repeatedly told her, naive andcrazy or thinking she could make an honest lie or hersel in
the country? Maybe they were right. Or maybe she was just the
black sheep o the amily. Perhaps she was more like her biological
ather. I it were true, she was glad o the act. She didnt want to
be like her upper-class amily, stressing about every little detail inlie, mapping out the year ahead, pretending to be something or
someone she wasnt. No, she wanted everything opposite to that, to
them. She wanted to eel ree, to let lie lead her where it would. An
irrepressible sixth sense confrmed she was meant to be a country
girl and ollow in her real athers ootsteps, not her stepathers.
Her passion or everything country was deeply embedded in her. It
was a compulsion she couldnt shake, and one she could no longer
ignore, much to her mothers annoyance.
Taylor wiped the gathering tears rom her eyes. God, she wished
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
13/20
18 M A N D Y M A G R O
her as a baby the only evidence he had even existed. She didnt even
know his name. Her mum, Grace, and her grandparents reused
to speak o him. Tey told her he was a bad man best let in thepast. She resented them or that. How could they be so cruel to not
even talk about him as she was growing up? It had caused massive
arguments but her mum had never budged, had never revealed a
thing. What could he have done that was so terrible? He looked
like a really genuine bloke in the snapshot, his broad smile showing
how proud he was o the new bundle in his arms. And her mum
looked really happy standing beside him, undeniably in love.
Her heart sinking as she thought about her dad, aylor switched
o the Jeeps ignition, the haunting melody o Wish You Were
Here by Pink Floyd vanishing, leaving her sitting in ear-ringing
silence. Sometimes she wished she could pull on a pair o massivelyfared jeans and go back in time to live in the peace-loving seventies.
Bands like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin were among her avourites,
along with her country idols like Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash
and Dolly Parton but the hunky and extremely talented Adam
Brand was at the top o her country music list. Adams voice meltedher insides, and word had it he was a very approachable and down-
to-earth guy, the stardom hed reached not having gone to his head
at all. She would give almost anything to meet him in person,
maybe even sing or him, i she had the guts, to nd out what he
thought o her vocal abilities. Her riends were orever telling her
how talented she was, but they were biased; getting approval rom
an accomplished musical artist was a whole dierent ball game.
Glancing over at her Hungarian Vizsla, Floyd, aylor smiled
adoringly. His need or a toilet break was apparent as he whined
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
14/20
D R I F W O O D 19
to the ground in search o the perect spot to cock his leg, the golden
rust-colour o his coat almost merging with the colour o the road.
aylor giggled, thankul or his company. Floyd was a typicalVizsla: robust, lean, lively, loyal, gentle-mannered, earless and
most importantly o all very protective o her. Hed been aylors
mate or six years, her sixteenth birthday present, and she couldnt
imagine a day without him by her side.
Sliding rom the drivers seat, aylor stretched her long limbs,
her butt numb rom spending almost nineteen hours behind the
wheel, nine hours o it yesterday. A quick stop at a roadside hotel
last night had allowed her a restless sleep on what elt like a bed
older than her beore she had hit the road again early this morning
ater a greasy breakast o bacon and eggs. Placing her hands deep
in her jeans pockets, she wandered up to the signs, weighingup which way she should go, a weird yet wonderul eeling o
excitement washing over her. It was as i the land was refecting
her inner conusion, oering her literally a crossroads.
Exhilarating, liberating and scary all rolled into one.
A weathered sign pointing to the let read Waratah Stationand an equally worn one pointing to the right read Dritwood
38 kilometres, population 712. Hmm. Waratah Station sounded
very alluring but Dritwood sounded out o the ordinary,
picturesque. Te name suggested it was nearer the ocean, which
was odd, seeing this was primarily northern cattle country. aylors
curiosity was piqued.
Pulling her wild tresses o waist-length strawberry blonde
ringlets into a ponytail, aylor motioned to the let with a wide
sweep o her arm. Well, Floyd, what do you reckon? Do we go this
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
15/20
20 M A N D Y M A G R O
a uel station, and a bed? Taylor elt her tummy rumble. Oh, and
possibly a pub with steak, chips and salad?
Floyd barked his reply, his tail wagging zealously.Yep, thats what I thought. Dritwood it is then. Lets just hope
we have enough uel to make it there, bugger having to walk in the
dark Id be shitting mysel.
Jay Donnellson smiled wearily at Frank Forester, Dritwoods
one and only copper, as the ofcer passed him an extra-strong black
coee across the desk then sat down opposite him, a rown creasing
his middle-aged eatures. An uncomortable silence settled, each
waiting or the other to speak. Jay knew there was a lecture coming
his way, and he probably deserved it.
Jay picked up the cup, his swollen knuckles throbbing, and tooka lengthy sip as Frank tapped the desk with his ngers. Cheers,
Frank, Jay said, trying his best to break the silence but to also avoid
the inevitable conversation.
No probs, Jay, said Frank, his ofce chair creaking as he leant
back and olded his arms. Im starting to think you like being
arrested, considering youve been in here twice these past ew
weeks. Whats going on with you? Is the stress o everything thats
happened catching up? Cause i it is, Im all ears. Sometimes it
helps to talk about it.
Jay shrugged casually, not knowing how to reply. Jay didnt
want to talk about his athers sudden death; about his older sisterrunning o to a high-paying job in the city and leaving all the arm
work to him; about Becky, his childhood sweetheart, leaving him
or another man; about his mothers heavy drinking; about almost
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
16/20
D R I F W O O D 21
depressing, and problematic lie. He took a ew more sips rom his
bitter coee, wishing Frank had oered milk and sugar.
No wonder he didnt have a woman to share his lie with. Fivemonths ater moving in, Becky had run or the hills, unable to
cope with the stress o being a cattlemans girlriend, and straight
into the arms o a rich city boy. She didnt even have the decency
to say goodbye, had just let a note, like he wasnt even worth her
breath. Shed broken his heart. He was still trying to mend it, and
trying to get over his bitterness towards the human race, because
lately, all anyone seemed to do was break his heart. Even his own
mother whom he loved dearly had her moments, her binge
drinking creating a massive rit in what used to be a loving mother-
son relationship. Wasnt it enough or him to lose his dad without
having to worry about losing his mum as well?Tank God he had om Connors back on the station to help
him out hed be up shit creek without him. om could be a
cantankerous bugger when he wanted to be but Jay thought o him
like a ather. Hed been the head stockman at Waratah or going on
twenty years and Jay had the comort o knowing that om wasntgoing anywhere; om swore he would be taking his very last breath
on the station.
Frank raised his eyebrows and Jay groaned. He didnt want to
talk about it with Frank or anyone else, or that matter. What
good would it do anyway? Couldnt he just keep on pretending that
this lie he was living was someone elses? Pretending he was all right
and handling everything like a bona fde countryman should, with
a sti upper lip and balls o steel. Tat was what his ather would
have expected o him, so that was what he was trying to do. Jay
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
17/20
22 M A N D Y M A G R O
suddenly arriving. Considering he had been up beore the crack o
dawn to muster his cattle, it had been one long day. Anyway, both
times Ive been in here it hasnt been my ault. Last time was becauseI was trying to stop a ght at the ooty and this time was because
I knocked some bloke out who was beating on his missus out
the back o the pub. Te bloody coward, picking on a woman.
Scum o the rigging earth blokes are who do that. Im glad youve
locked him up. I hope you throw away the key.
Frank released a long, drawn-out breath. Believe me, I agree,
and I wish I could throw away the key. But still, you cant go around
clouting people, Jay. Its against the law. Youre lucky the bloke
didnt press charges tonight considering the mess you let him in, or
you would have ound yoursel in court. And Lord knows we dont
need you being shipped o to jail. Whod look ater Waratah then,and your dear mum? I may have been your athers best mate but I
cant change the law to suit you. I have to uphold it. Honestly, Jay,
it breaks my heart having to arrest you in ront o everyone. Frank
leant over and squeezed Jays shoulder. Come on, mate youre
notthat
guy. Youre ar rom it. I believe in you. You just gotta startbelieving in yoursel.
Jay hung his head, angry and ashamed or letting Frank down.
Again. Tis man was like an uncle to him. Im sorry. Ill try harder
to curb my temper rom now on. Promise.
Frank pushed himsel up, the legs o the chair scraping against
the worn lino foor. Please dont give some o the old residents in
Dritwood any more reasons to gossip. Remember, you have no
control over whats happened in years gone by, but you do have
control over your uture. Yes, your lie has had more downs then
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
18/20
D R I F W O O D 23
Jay nodded solemnly, staring at the foor. Ill try, I reallywill.
He glanced up at Frank, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped.
But, in actual act, I dont care what people think. I am who I am.Besides, I have nothing to prove to any bastard. Jay reclined,
hands astened behind his head, determination creasing his brow.
Frank whistled through his teeth as he placed his hands on the
table, smiling or the very rst time that night. With that glint in
your eye, you remind me so much o your ather right now. You are
denitely your athers son, so alike in everything you do. Frank
picked up his cup and swigged the last o the coee. Anyhow, Id
better get back to it, loads o paperwork to do. Do you need a lit
home? I can get one o the ambulance blokes to drive you back.
Nah, I only had a couple o beers at the pub and that was, um.
Jay looked at his watch, eyebrows raised. Shit! Tree hours ago. Icant believe its nearly ten-thirty. Ive got to be up in less than six
hours to start it all over again. I have cattle to load onto the truck
beore rst light, so they get to the saleyards in time.
Well drive sae, you hear. And watch out or the roos this time o
the night. Bloody crazy buggers are all over the roads.Righto. Will do. Jay stood and shook Franks hand.
Stay out o trouble, Jay, and say gday to your mum or me.
Sure thing. You should come and visit one o these days and
say gday to her yoursel, though. Shed like that. So would I. We
dont live thatar rom here, you know. Jay noticed Frank looked a
little uncomortable with the invitation. He paused or a moment,
waiting or a reply, but silence hung heavily once again and Frank
avoided his gaze. Jay picked his Akubra up rom the desk and
sauntered over to the ront door o the police station, halting briefy
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
19/20
24 M A N D Y M A G R O
avoiding Waratah Station these past few months and that worried
Jay. He used to call out all the time for a cuppa. Jay pulled his keys
free of his jeans pocket. He didnt have the energy to think aboutanything other than getting home to his bed. Why did everything
have to be so goddamn hard and when was life going to give him
the break hed been silently praying for?
-
7/27/2019 Driftwood by Mandy Magro - Chapter Sampler
20/20
Like the
Chapter Sampler?
Click here to fnd out more >
http://bit.ly/18iM7AEhttp://bit.ly/18iM7AEhttp://bit.ly/18iM7AEhttp://bit.ly/18iM7AE