Inherit the Sky (Lang Downs 1 ) (31 page)

Caine felt the rejection keenly. He and Macklin had managed to avoid each other most of the time and remain cordial to each other when they couldn’t, but it was obvious to everyone that the camaraderie of Caine’s early days on the station was gone. None of the jackaroos had worked up the nerve to ask Caine about it, and he was sure they hadn’t dared ask Macklin, but Caine could see the question on their faces each time Macklin made an excuse not to work with Caine.

Over the next few hours as Caine, Kyle, and Ian repaired the fence, jackaroos rode back in, driving a few sheep at a time before them. “Why are they so scattered?” Caine finally asked. “I thought they usually stayed pretty clumped together for warmth and protection.”

“We saw dog prints,” Ben replied. “If they got out of the valley and ran into a pack of feral dogs, they would have run in any and every direction they could. It could take days to find them all.”

“We’ll do what we have to do,” Caine insisted. “The fence is ready. Kyle, Ian, I think it’s time for us to ride out too.”
The rain held off until three that afternoon. The jackaroos put on their drizabones and kept right on searching for the missing sheep, but when it had not abated by the next day and got steadily worse, Caine had enough. He could barely feel his fingers on Titan’s reins, and he couldn’t imagine anyone else was faring better.
“We’re not doing anything in this mess but risking out own lives,” he declared. “Calleveryone back in.”
“Yes, boss,” Kyle said, pulling out the radio and passing on Caine’s orders. The radio crackled as replies came back, acknowledging Caine’s decision.
The ground was muddy, even boggy in places, the horses’ hooves squelching in the mud as they struggled to keep their footing on the steeper inclines. At one point, Caine jumped off Titan and let the horse find his own path to the bottom of a bad hill. He knew there was a risk the horse would bolt, but since he was sure they wouldn’t make it down the hill together, it was a risk he decided to take. Fortunately, Titan waited for him at the bottom of the hill. Caine remounted, and they continued on toward home when Kyle’s radio crackled to life again.
“It’s Neil, boss. He says he can’t get back. He’s going to wait it out in the drover’s hut near the western boundary fence.”
“Tell him to radio in every fifteen minutes until he gets there,” Caine ordered.“I can deal with losing sheep. I won’t lose men.”
Kyle relayed the order. Neil checked in once before he radioed back to say the hut was cut off as well.
“Bloody hell,” Caine cursed, Macklin’s favorite phrase slipping out of his mouth without conscious thought. “Kyle, do you know more or less where he is?”
“More or less,” Kyle said.
“Okay, what’s keeping him from getting home?”
“Floods,” Kyle said. “There’s a run-off gully he’d have to cross that can fill up fast in weather like this. Without a guide to get across, he’s stuck on the other side.”
“And how do we give him a guide?”
“Two strong ropes to create a passage so he doesn’t get swept downstream if his horse loses his footing.”
Caine looked down at the length of rope on his saddle. “I’ve got one.You’ve got one. Is anyone closer to him than us?”
“No.”
“Then let’s go. I meant it when I said I wasn’t losing men, and it’s too wet and cold for him to survive out here without shelter.”
“Are you sure, boss? We could radio in to the station, have someone ride out.”
“We’re a good hour from the station, probably more at the rate we’re riding, and Neil’s farther out than we are,” Caine pointed out. “That’s time for the weather to get worse, the floods to get worse, and Neil to get hypothermia. Tell them what we’re doing and where we’re going. Have them send help if they can, but we can’t afford to wait.”
“Okay, boss,” Kyle said. “Let’s go.” Kyle talked as he rode, leading Caine back into the outback. Caine could hear the shouts as Macklin protested their decision, but Caine refused to listen. Neil needed help, and Caine could give it.
“He’s going to tear you a new one when we get back.”
“If we all get back in one piece, he can yell all he wants,” Caine replied.
It took longer than Caine expected to reach the flooded gully that had Neil trapped. Then they had to ride along it until they could find Neil and a place where they could secure the ropes to create a guide.
“You all right, Neil?” Caine called above the noise of the rushing water.
“A little cold, but nothing I can’t handle.”
“You’re about to get wetter, if not colder,” Caine warned, “but I don’t see any other option.”
“No worries.A little water isn’t going to hurt me.”
They all knew it was a lie as they watched the flood waters race down the mountain.“Any idea how deep it is?” Caine asked.
“A good meter would be my guess,” Kyle said, “maybe even a meter and a half in places. Too deep for a man to cross on foot. The problem for the horses isn’t the depth but the current.”
“So how do we get the rope across?”
“If Macklin were here, he’d ride that bloody-minded beast of his across,” Kyle said.“Nothing fazes that horse.”
“Well, he’s not here, and we don’t know when or if he will be. Any other suggestions?”
“We can try tossing it across. It might be heavy enough to go the distance.”
“It’s worth a try,” Caine said.
Kyle took the coil of thick rope from his saddle and tied one end to a tree along the bank. He threw the other end toward Neil, but it fell short, landing in the water. Kyle pulled it back in and tried again, but laden with water, it fell even closer to the near bank the second time.
“Give it to me,” Caine said, “and tie the other one as well. I’m only doing this once.”
“Boss, I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
“Neither am I,” Caine admitted, “but I won’t ask someone else to do something I’m not willing to do myself. Tie one end to the tree and the other end to me. That way you can pull me out if you have to.”
Kyle looked like he wanted to argue more, but he did as Caine requested, knotting the dry rope around Caine’s waist and to the same tree as the first rope. “Okay, Titan,” Caine said, patting the gelding’s neck, “Macklin said you were a good, steady mount who knew what you were doing. He hasn’t been wrong yet. Take good care of me, buddy.”
Titan shook his mane and snorted, prancing a little when Caine directed him into the water, but with enough prodding, he started across the flooded gully. The water rose over Caine’s boots, soaking his feet and calves as they crossed. Titan lost his footing once but regained it before he pitched Caine into the water. Then suddenly they were at the other side.
Caine handed Neil the other end of the wet rope. “Tie it around your waist. It’s not what Kyle suggested, but if I have to choose between saving you and saving the horse, the choice is to save you.”
“I’m sorry for all the names I called you, boss,” Neil said. “You didn’t have to come back out here to help me. You didn’t have to risk your life to save mine. I won’t give you any more trouble. From here on out, I’m your man.”
Caine nodded. “Good to know. Now, we’re both soaked and those waters are still rising while we sit here talking. Get across.”
“What about you?”
“I’m right behind you,” Caine promised. “I’m ready to be home and dry.”
“On my way, boss.”
Caine waited until Neil was halfway across the gully before he urged Titan back toward the water. The horse balked more firmly this time. “I know,” Caine said, patting the animal’s neck reassuringly. “I don’t really want to get back in there either, but it’s the only way to get home. The sooner you get across, the sooner we can both get dry.”
By the time Titan moved into the water, Neil and his horse were climbing free on the other side. Caine turned his attention back to Titan, steadying him as best he could, doing everything he knew how to keep the horse calm. They had almost reached the far bank when a

branch from upstream crashed into Titan’s legs. The gelding reared, unseating Caine as he bolted for the bank.
Caine went under, struggling to find his footing in the rough water. A second later, the rope around his chest pulled tight. He held on with both hands, swimming as best he could in his soaked clothes and heavy coat. Within minutes, hands were pulling him to shore.
“Bloody hell, Caine Neiheisel! Of all the fucking stupid things….”
Then hot lips covered his, and Caine nearly sobbed in relief. Macklin was here, holding him, cursing at him, kissing him like he’d never let go. Somebody let out a wolf whistle, but Macklin ignored it, the kiss continuing, deepening even, as if Macklin had to prove to himself Caine was still there with him.
When Macklin finally lifted his head, Caine had to catch his breath.
“Um, boss?”
“Get Neil home,” Macklin ordered, not waiting for Caine to speak. “Kyle, check Titan’s legs and take him with you. I’ll see to Caine.”
“I bet you will,” one of the men laughed.
“Shut it,” Neil snapped. “Caine saved my life. I don’t want to hear anybody saying anything about this.”
“G-g-go home,” Caine ordered, the cold seeping into his bones and making him shiver. “Everybody.”
“You’re soaked through,” Macklin said. “You aren’t going to make it home if we don’t get you warm.”
“How do you suggest we do that?” Caine asked. “It’s raining. Everything is soaked.”
“Ride with me,” Macklin said. “You can wrap my drizabone around you too. It won’t be perfect, but it will get us home.”
“Neil might b-bully Kyle and the two who came with you into silence, but if we ride into the station with me wrapped in your coat, there won’t be any hiding it anymore.”

“I’m done hiding,” Macklin said, urging Caine toward his horse. “I nearly lost you today. That puts things in perspective.” He helped Caine up onto the back of his horse. Caine shivered as the wind picked up. Then Macklin mounted behind him, folding him in the warmth of his coat. “Let’s go home.”
Even with Macklin’s body heat and the extra drizabone, Caine was so cold by the time they reached the station that every inch of his body hurt and he couldn’t stop his teeth from chattering. Macklin swung down from the saddle, pulling Caine into his arms. “Jason, take care of Ned!” he snapped, striding toward the main house with Caine still in his arms.
“Yes, sir!” Jason called back as Macklin crossed the veranda and went into the living room.
“Kami! He needs coffee!”
Caine turned his head enough to see the cook’s horrified expression as he raced to the kitchen.
“Bring it upstairs,” Macklin shouted down the hallway as he carried Caine up the stairs to the big bathroom. “Can you stand?” he asked Caine tenderly.
Caine nodded, bracing himself on the wall as Macklin set him down and turned on the hot water in the tub. Caine flinched. As much as he wanted to be warm, he knew how much it would hurt at first.
“Come on, Cay,” Macklin said. “Let’s get you out of these wet clothes.”
The new nickname surprised Caine. He’d gotten used to “pup,” but he wasn’t coherent enough to ask Macklin about it right now. He tried to help with his clothes, but his fingers had lost all coordination. They’d managed to peel off the drizabone and boots when Kami came rushing in with a thermos of coffee. “There’s more downstairs, boss,” he said.“Just yell down and I’ll bring it up to you.”
“Thanks, Kami,” Macklin said, waiting until the cook had left to strip off the last of Caine’s clothes. “Okay, Cay, into the water.”
“It’s g-g-going to hurt,” Caine grumbled.
“Yes, but it’s better than hypothermia,” Macklin said, “and it’s the fastest way to get you warm.”