don’t think they’ll be sending me to heaven. Not unless someone’s changed the rules.’
They both laughed, and she went to Elliot, who had whinnied again.
‘He’s just jealous because you’re giving me so much attention,’ Leo said.
‘He’s got nothing to be jealous about, and he knows it,’ Selena said. ‘He’s my family.’
‘Where do you live?’
‘Wherever Elliot and I happen to be.’
‘But you must have some sort of home base, where you stay when you’re not travelling?’
‘Nope.’
‘You mean, you’re travelling all the time?’
‘Yup.’
‘With no home to go to?’ he asked, aghast.
‘I’ve got a place where I’m registered for paying taxes. But I don’t live there. I live with Elliot. He’s my home as well as my family. And he always will be.’
‘It can’t be “always”,’ he pointed out. ‘I don’t know how old he is, but—’
‘He’s not old,’ Selena said quickly. ‘He looks older than he is because he’s a bit battered, but that’s all.’
‘Yes, I’m sure,’ Leo said gently. ‘But just how old is he?’
She sighed. ‘I’m not sure. But he’s not finished yet.’ She laid her cheek against Elliot’s nose. ‘They don’t know you like I do,’ she whispered, and turned her head away so that he couldn’t see the anguish that swamped her.
But he did see it, and his heart ached for her. That raw-boned animal, past his best, was all she had in the world to love.
Suddenly her strength seemed to drain away. Leo quickly took hold of her.
‘That’s it, you’re going to bed. Don’t argue because I won’t take no for an answer.’
He kept his arm firmly fixed about her waist in case she had any other ideas, but she was too weary to argue, and let him lead her away to the house and up the stairs to her room.
‘Goodnight,’ he said at her door. ‘Sleep well.’
‘Leo, you don’t understand,’ she confided in a low voice. ‘I can’t sleep in that bed. It’s too soft. Every time I move it bounces.’
His lips twitched. ‘They’re supposed to. Still, I know what you mean. If it’s not what you’re used to it can be worse than stones. You’ll just have to try to put up with all this comfort. You’ll get used to it.’
‘Not me,’ she said with conviction, and slipped into her room.
He stood looking at the closed door, a prey to unfamiliar feelings that confused him. He wanted to follow her into her bedroom, not to have his evil way, but to ask her to lay her problems on him, and promise to make everything right for her.
Having his evil way could come later. When he’d earned the right.
It was almost dawn when the last guest drove away, waving an arm out of the window and yodelling, ‘See ya!’ Bleary eyed and cheerful, the household drifted off to bed.
Leo sat down on his bed with a feeling of pleasant vagueness. The evening had contained much bourbon and rye, especially the last part, after he’d said goodnight to Selena and returned to the festivities. Now he was at peace with the world.
But he didn’t miss the sound of footsteps that stopped outside Selena’s bedroom door. A pause, then a soft creak as the door was opened. That was enough to make Leo’s tipsy haze pass, and send him out into the corridor in time to catch Paulie halfway through Selena’s door.
‘Why, isn’t this nice?’ he said in a voice that made Paulie jump. ‘Both of us so concerned about Selena that we couldn’t sleep until we knew she was fine.’
Paulie gave him a glassy smile. ‘Can’t neglect a guest.’
‘Paulie, you’re an example to us all.’
Leo was moving into the room as he spoke, switching on the light. Then both men stopped, taken aback by the sight of the empty bed.
‘That tomfool female has gone back to the stables,’ Leo muttered.
‘No I haven’t,’ came from a heap on the floor.
Leo switched on the bedside light and saw the heap separate itself into its various parts, which included a blanket, a pillow, and one tomfool female whose red hair stood up on her head in a shock.
‘What is it?’ she asked, sitting up. ‘Has something happened?’
‘No, Paulie and I were concerned for you, so we came to see how you were.’
‘That’s very kind,’ she said, guessing the truth at once. ‘I’m fine.’
‘She’s fine, Paulie. You can go to bed now, and sleep tight.’ Leo sat down on the floor beside Selena with the air of a man taking root.
‘Er—well, I just—’
‘Goodnight, Paulie.’ They spoke as one.
Forced to accept defeat, Paulie backed himself out of the door. The last thing they saw was his scowl.
‘I could have coped, you know,’ Selena said.
‘When you’re well, I’m sure you could,’ Leo said tactfully. ‘But let’s wait until then. Underneath Paulie’s flabby exterior there’s a very ugly customer waiting to get out.’
‘I reckoned that. But that’s three times in one day you’ve come galloping to my rescue. I just don’t want you to think I’m a wimp.’
‘After the day you’ve had, aren’t you entitled to be just a bit of a wimp?’
‘Nobody is entitled to be a wimp.’
‘Sorry!’
‘No, I’m sorry,’ she said contritely. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude. I know you were trying to be kind, but all this rescuing is getting to be a bad habit.’
‘I promise not to do it again. Next time I’ll abandon you to your fate, I swear.’
‘Do that.’
‘Are you all right on the floor?’
‘I put up with the bed as long as I could,’ she complained, ‘but it’s insane. Every time I turned over I went six feet in the air. This is much better.’
‘I’d better leave before I fall asleep.’ Suddenly he found himself vague. ‘Where am I? Is the party over?’
‘Must be.’ She smiled, fully understanding. ‘Was the whisky very good?’
‘Barton’s whisky is always good. And I should know. I had plenty of it.’
‘Shall I help you back to your room?’
‘I think I can make it. Lock your door when I’m gone. I wouldn’t put it past Delia’s little boy to try again.’
But then he remembered that the door it didn’t lock. He sighed. There was only one thing for it.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked as he returned to the bed and scooped up a blanket and pillow.
‘What does it look as if I’m doing?’ he said, dropping to the floor and stretching out across the door. ‘If he can open this door now he’s a better man than I take him for.’
‘You promised to leave me to my fate next time,’ she reminded him indignantly.
‘I know, but you can’t trust a word I say.’
Blessed