Her Wounded Outback Stallion

By Clancy Collins

Líle O’Loughlin has worked with racehorses at the family stables all her life. The death of her beloved grandfather, turns her life upside down. When her grandmother, who has always resented the need to raise her, sells the stables, Líle flees Ireland for the Australian town of Gerronta where she’s been offered work with horses.

Dane Matthews has returned to outback Gerronta after leaving as a teen under tragic circumstances. As the only vet in the district, he now has to work with people who’d rather shun him because of the past.

Dane can’t help but be attracted to the lovely Irish lass working at the local stables. But acting on his attraction isn’t going to happen given his status in the town is bad news. The last thing he wants is the bitterness directed towards him to rub off on Líle.

But in Dane, Líle sees a compassionate man who deserves forgiveness and she’s determined he should get it. The problem is her own forgiveness lies seventeen thousand kilometres away in Ireland.

Can Dane and Líle heal themselves, and each other, enough to find love?

This book is a stand alone rural romance of 50 000 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clancy Collins
• Release date: Aug 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370740147

Clancy Collins

Clancy Collins loves rural romances so much she wanted to write her own. With a passion for horses, dogs and country living, Clancy hopes to be able to bring her passions to life so she can share them with you.Clancy can be contacted via email: [e-mail]

Book preview

Her Wounded Outback Stallion

Clancy Collins

Copyright Page

Published by Clancy Collins

Distributed by Smashwords

Copyright 2016 Clancy Collins

Smashwords Edition Licence Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favourite authorised retailer. Thank you for your support.

All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. All incidents are pure invention.

Her Wounded Outback Stallion

Líle O’Loughlin has worked with racehorses at the family stables all her life. The death of her beloved grandfather, turns her life upside down. When her grandmother, who has always resented the need to raise her, sells the stables, Líle flees Ireland for the Australian town of Gerronta where she’s been offered work with horses.

Dane Matthews has returned to outback Gerronta after leaving as a teen under tragic circumstances. As the only vet in the district, he now has to work with people who’d rather shun him because of the past.

Dane can’t help but be attracted to the lovely Irish lass working at the local stables. But acting on his attraction isn’t going to happen given his status in the town is bad news. The last thing he wants is the bitterness directed towards him to rub off on Líle.

But in Dane, Líle sees a compassionate man who deserves forgiveness and she’s determined he should get it. The problem is her own forgiveness lies seventeen thousand kilometres away in Ireland.

Can Dane and Líle heal themselves, and each other, enough to find love?

This book is a stand alone rural romance of 50 000 words.

* * *

Acknowledgements

Thanks to K for the encouragement!

Thanks to all who read this story. You are why I write.

* * *

Contents

Copyright Page

Book Description

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

About the author

* * *

Her Wounded Outback Stallion

Chapter 1

Dane Matthews saw the distant blinking yellow hazard lights piercing the darkness and cursed out loud. Not tonight, any night but tonight. He was on a call-out to assist a cow with a difficult birthing on a night he would prefer to be sitting at home alone with his memories and misery.

Cows never birthed conveniently, sometimes in floods, thunderstorms, even snow. Tonight was different. This was Jock Munro’s cow and he didn’t want to see Jock tonight. However, duty demanded but first he had to stop.

The flashing hazards quickly came into focus as the darkness was swallowed. Only one set of lights. Breath whooshed from his lungs. He hadn’t realised he’d been holding it. He couldn’t face a bad accident tonight. He had enough memories to deal with; he didn’t need reality too.

As he drew closer Dane was relieved to see the single upright car billowing smoke and a woman standing as far from the car as she could without becoming lost in the darkness. A scowl crossed his face. Typical! Another woman on an outback road with no idea what she’s doing.

Dane pulled his large four-wheel drive utility to a stop beside her tiny excuse for a car as she came running towards him, hands waving. A nutcase, great!

Don’t stop there, the car’s going to blow up, she called to him in a lilting accent.

Just what he didn’t want - a useless female needing to be rescued. Marvellous. He didn’t have time tonight. He wanted to deliver the calf, endure Jock and get back to the sanctuary of home as quickly as possible.

He stepped out of the car. Doubt it but I’ll have a look. He stalked off towards the front of the car.

What was she doing out here at this time of night? The outback was no place for an attractive woman, alone, driving at night, in a tiny car. Hitting kangaroos or swerving and running off the road were the biggest dangers. The ‘roos were a lot tougher than these tiny foreign-made cars. Kangaroos bounded away and left the cars crumpled on the side of the road.

Exasperated, Dane walked back to her. You’ve hit a kangaroo, buggered the radiator, which caused the smoke. It won’t explode but you can’t drive it anywhere. You can get it picked up tomorrow.

Where’s the kangaroo I hit? Did I kill it? she asked quickly, in an almost pained voice.

Dane rolled his eyes. Given the accent, she was probably a foreigner who’d never seen a ‘roo and didn’t really believe that they could be dangerous. He tried to sound polite as he responded.

Probably bounced off into the scrub somewhere. He waved his hand to indicate the bush surrounding them.

Oh. And I have to leave the car here? Her accent was melodic and suited her slender frame. It also softened his reaction to her. She sounded cute, even if she was silly for being out here alone in that tiny excuse of a car.

He nodded and grunted his assent, scared that if he said anything he’d tell her what a fool she was.

Will it be safe? she asked.

Safer sitting here than moving it anywhere, he told her. He waited for her to say something else but she was mercifully silent.

Silence was an unusual trait in women, as far as Dane had found. He looked at her again. She was tall and slim, but not gangly. She wore cut-off jeans, a blue shirt and flat shoes like sneakers, similar to most of the girls around here. Tourists usually wore something far less sensible – high heels, strappy sandals, flowing dresses, or else clothes too heavy for the hot climate. He didn’t know her and he thought he knew most people in the small town of Gerronta. She was probably just passing through and did not realise the vast distances between towns in rural Australia.

It wasn’t in Dane’s nature to leave someone stranded. And he couldn’t leave the cow without veterinary assistance. So it left no option. He sighed. You’ll have to come with me. I have a job to do first and then I’ll take you in to town.

Her eyes widened in shock and her mouth gaped. What did she expect? That he’d drop everything and play chauffeur?

Before she could speak, he continued. Did you have an appointment in town? He knew he sounded sarcastic but he couldn’t help himself.

No, no. I just don’t want to be any trouble. I can wait here while you do whatever it is you have to do. She was almost wringing her hands as she spoke. Lord, she looked helpless.

I have to deliver a calf. You can just stay in the ute, better than staying out here in the dark. Do you have things in there? he pointed at the car.

She jumped as if he had interrupted her daydreaming. Sure. Yes, yes, I’ll get them.

He was surprised that there were only two duffle-type bags. She travelled light. His opinion of the girl had started as low as possible but she was gaining ground. Mentally shaking himself, he pulled up his thoughts. He couldn’t afford to soften his opinion, not tonight. Not ever.

Let’s hope we aren’t all night, he grumbled as he assisted her into his ute.

He strode around to the driver’s door, slid in and took off with a roar of gravel shooting backwards. He flicked his headlights to high beam and watched the road disappearing beneath them.

Thank you for stopping to help me. My name’s Líle O’Loughlin. I really appreciate the lift. I’m used to animals, I work with racehorses, so if you need a hand with the calf, I could help. She paused in her musical speech and looked at him tentatively, Are you a vet?

He glanced over and in the dim light could see the drawn features of her face. She looked exhausted. Her eyes were earnest and he fought the sudden urge to bundle her to his side and hold her tight.

Dane Matthews, the only vet in town. I shouldn’t need help, he replied gruffly, covering up the instinct to protect her. He looked back to the road but felt her shrink further from him as if he’d struck her. She reminded him of a kelpie pup; eager to help but when you raised your voice it would slink away as if beaten.

Last thing he needed going to Munro’s was a female passenger. He slid his hat back and scratched at his forehead. Why did he still let people’s opinions bother him? He’d been back a couple of years, yet he still let them get to him. He had to stop worrying.

Turning off the road onto the gravel that led to Munro’s, he heard a tiny gasp from his passenger.

This is the road into Munro’s. Don’t worry, I’m not going to attack you.

She sat ramrod straight, eyes staring ahead, lips pursed and hands linked together in her lap. Now she reminded him of an old school mistress. He knew he was gruff. Too bad. He wasn’t here to make friends.

He drove straight to the cattle yards, faced the headlights towards the yards and lit up a cow lying down, heaving with exertion. He scrunched his eyes and cursed aloud. Why does he always leave it too late to call? Muttering as he climbed out of the ute, he grabbed his bag and walked into the yard to assess the cow.

He had to get the calf out quickly or he’d lose both calf and cow. It didn’t bear thinking what Jock Munro would say then. He set his bag down, drew on gloves and walked to the back of the cow. He lifted her tail and was about to insert his hand when movement at the cow’s head startled him.

There Líle was, his stray human-kelpie, sitting beside the cow and murmuring softly. He’d expected her to stay in the ute, yet she was in the yards without being asked. He hoped she was used to animals, and mess.

Thanks. Do that and I’ll pull the calf, it must be close. He slid his hands into the cow and could feel the legs of the calf. He tugged and felt the calf move. It’s alive. As he tugged again, he heard her urging the cow to push.

Her voice was gently soothing. The melodic rhythm was easy listening. Dane felt the cow relax, listening to the musical notes of her voice. The cow wasn’t the only one. He hadn’t expected her to help but he was glad of the extra pair of hands and the comfort of another voice.

Although not directed at him, he felt the nonsense words curl around his mind and ease his troubled memories. The soothing tones allowed him to focus on the job and not be drawn into the past.

After some time and much pulling, the calf slid into the world. Dane quickly broke the sac to get the little guy breathing and onto his feet.

The night was mild but the exertion of pulling the calf had warmed him. Dane pulled the gloves from his hands and wiped his sweaty face on a towel. His shirt was plastered to his chest so he rubbed vigorously with the towel to dry himself, while he watched the calf struggle to her feet.

Líle still sat beside the cow’s head, watching the calf with a smile on her pretty, elfin face.

As the cow nuzzled her newborn, another set of headlights appeared illuminating the tears glistening in Líle’s eyes. Dane had no time to do more than notice as Jock Munro strode from his ute.

You took your sweet time getting here, Matthews. I could have lost that cow and calf. She’s been down for a while now. I expect you to come when I call you.

Jock Munro would never forgive Dane. He attacked at each opportunity. Dane tried to ignore the rudeness when he was here in his professional capacity but it was hard.

Jock only noticed Líle as she stood and wiped the dirt from her knees. Dane watched as Jock’s eyes widened in disbelief and anger.

Oh, might have known, Matthews, you’d have a broad with you. No wonder you took so long getting here. Did I interrupt your evening? Sarcasm dripped into the stillness of the night.

Dane didn’t reply. He wasn’t explaining himself.

Líle’s pretty accent danced into his consciousness. I interrupted him. I was driving into town and hit a kangaroo. He stopped to help me.

Dane hadn’t expected her to step up like this.

I’m Líle O’Loughlin. I’ve just come to Gerronta from Ireland and was driving along when this kangaroo appeared from nowhere. My car’s smashed on the side of the road, somewhere out there. Líle waved in the direction of the road before extending her hand towards Jock.

Jock took Líle’s outstretched hand and shook it politely. They do that, he said, ’specially if you’re not used to them. I’m Jock Munro.

How do you do, Jock?

Líle’s a pretty name, Jock commented.

Thank you. It’s Irish, for Lily, the flower, but spelt L-I-L-E. Líle smiled as she retrieved her hand from Jock’s grasp.

Dane felt the corners of his lips lift. She had Jock eating out of her hand. Three times she’d surprised him now. Not many people managed to do that.

Well, I’ll just get out of your way, Líle nodded to both men. Nice to meet you, Jock. Good luck with the calf. She strode towards Dane’s vehicle.

Dane turned to Jock. I think the cow’ll make it. It wasn’t too difficult, she was exhausted and the calf just needed a pull. She should be fine in a day or so. Dane didn’t know why Jock hadn’t pulled the calf himself; it would have saved him a vet bill.

Do you know what day it is today? Jock asked with venom.

Anger rippled through his body. Of course he knew what day it was. As if he could ever forget. Now it made sense. Jock calling him out was nothing to do with the calf and everything to do with rubbing salt in Dane’s wounds.

Dane nodded, knowing that words would do nothing to appease Jock.

Do you know what day it is? Jock stepped closer until he was toe-to-toe with Dane. It’s the day you should have died. You bastard. Jock leaned his body back and swung a punch, which Dane blocked. Jock threw more punches, landing some while Dane deflected others.

Dane tried to smother his anger. Jock needed to get something out of his system and Dane deserved to bear the brunt of it. Dane didn’t stop the torrent of punches, just tried