Ryan shrugged. ‘I’m a mature thirty-two,’ he informed her. ‘Nor does the credit for land ownership rest with me. About a hundred years ago one of my paternal ancestors bought arable land when it was much less costly than it is today. It’s been passed down from father to son, some of whom added to it After the death of my parents it came to me. I feel it’s my duty to take care of it.’ A look of pain crossed his face.
‘You’re an only child?’ she asked gently.
‘That’s right’
‘What happened to your parents?’ She hardly knew how she dared ask the question, but something stronger than herself seemed to be at work. It was like a force that made her want to know more and more about this man.
Ryan spent several moments in silence before he said, ‘They were killed in a car accident. An idiot speeding to pass a car caused a head-on collision. It happened soon after I’d left school, so to keep myself sane I threw myself into farming, so that I could carry on where Dad had left off. I felt I owed it to him.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said in a hushed voice, the thought of such an accident filling her with horror. At the same time sympathy made her long to reach out and touch him, and it was only with an effort that she kept her hands to herself.
Restlessly, he left the table and began to pace about the room. ‘Normally I don’t talk about it...and now I’m wondering why I’m telling you,’ he said, in a tone that betrayed irritation with himself.
‘Sometimes it’s good to talk,’ she pointed out gently. ‘Please come back to the table and finish your meal.’ Then, considering him thoughtfully, she went on, ‘You must have spent time in Christchurch to be so well acquainted with Mrs Simmons—and Verna.’
Her reference to Verna was ignored as he returned to the table, where he said, ‘My mother and Hilda Simmons were schoolfriends who always kept in touch with each other. In fact Mother was Hilda’s bridesmaid when she married Hugh Simmons. He died a few years ago. During my own schooldays Mother used to take me to stay with the Simmonses. Then Hilda rang me recently and demanded that I return the compliment by giving young Robin a period beside the sea in a warmer climate. I thought I could manage, with Kate Coster’s help, but you saw what happened with the boy.’
‘You agreed to do it for Verna’s sake?’ Judy asked with insight.
‘Yes—I suppose you could put it that way,’ he admitted gruffly, then his lip twisted as he added almost accusingly, ‘I can’t believe the dragon omitted to tell you there was a time when Verna and I were fairly close.’
‘But obviously it ended,’ Judy observed, while avoiding a direct answer.
‘By mutual consent,’ he muttered in a low growL
She looked at him reflectively. ‘I think it’s possible you still have feelings for Venla...otherwise Robin wouldn’t be here.’
‘One doesn’t forget old friends,’ he retorted tersely. ‘Now then—do you mind if we get off this subject?’
‘Gladly,’ she responded with a smile, while realising that he hadn’t told her what she really wanted to know. Not that his feelings for Verna were her concern, she admitted to herself. In an effort to break the awkward silence that had fallen between them, she said, ‘Would you like to finish the last bit of casserole?’
‘Might as well,’ he said, but before she could serve it on to his plate they were startled by cries of distress that floated along the passage from Robin’s bedroom.
‘Judy...Judy...Judy...!’
She dropped the spoon and sprang to her feet, then raced along the passage to find the little boy sitting up in bed with tears streaming down his face. His body was shaking with sobs, and as she clasped him to her she pressed his head against her shoulder. ‘It’s all right, darling—I’m here,’ she assured him, with motherly love and tenderness. ‘Did you think I’d gone away? You must’ve been dreaming.’
‘I...I thought Uncle Ryan had sent you away,’ he gasped, while clinging to her as fresh tears fell.
‘In that case you were definitely dreaming,’ Ryan said from the doorway, where he stood watching Judy’s efforts to console the distressed boy.
‘Have you forgotten I promised I wouldn’t leave you?’ Judy asked soothingly as she reached for tissues from the bedside table. ‘Now settle down and go to sleep.’ Gently she mopped his face, then gave him an affectionate hug before pressing him back against the pillow.
Robin turned appealing eyes to Ryan. ‘Please, Uncle Ryan...promise you won’t send Judy away?’
Ryan came further into the room to stand beside Judy. ‘I wouldn’t even think of it, old chap,’ he assured Robin, in a voice that was slightly husky, then, unexpectedly, he placed his arm about Judy’s waist and drew her against his side. ‘Judy and I are the best of friends now. Isn’t that so?’ He grinned down at her while uttering the last words.
Judy felt herself go scarlet as, for the sake of the boy, she stammered, ‘Y-yes...I...I suppose so...’
Robin sat up abruptly, his hazel eyes sparkling with interest as they stared at Ryan. ‘Are you Judy’s boyfriend now...’stead of Uncle Alan?’
Judy gave a small gasp. ‘I did ask you not to mention him!’
‘Sorry, Judy...’ Robin looked contrite.
Ryan chuckled as he looked down into her face again. ‘So he was Alan—was he?’ Then he turned to the boy again and said with what sounded like sincerity, ‘Don’t worry, yon and I both know we can’t do without Judy.’
But Judy knew better than to take any notice of his words, although she was more than conscious of the disturbing influence his touch was having upon her. Apart from sending tingles through her body, it had made her blood race, and as the pressure of his arm about her waist increased she began to tremble.
Noticing it, he said, ‘What’s the matter? You’re like a fluttering bird.’
She groped in her mind for a reason, then gave a nervous laugh. ‘You can put it down to not being accustomed to having the responsibility of a small child put upon me.’
He spoke casually. ‘I can help. We’ll take care of him together.’
‘Thank you.’ There was that word again. Together.
Staring at them wide-eyed, Robin appeared to be satisfied by the sight of them standing so close to each other. He blew his nose on more tissues, then settled down beneath the bedclothes. Judy moved from Ryan to tuck him in. Robin’s lids fluttered and he appeared to be asleep before they had left the room.
When they returned to the dining alcove Ryan said, ‘I’ll make coffee.’
Judy watched through the archway as he became busy in the kitchen, then was unable to resist a reprimand. ‘You shouldn’t have lied to Robin,’ she said in a serious tone. ‘You know perfectly well that I’m not your girlfriend.’
He carried the steaming mugs to the table. ‘I didn’t lie to the boy,’ he said, while placing one before her. ‘At the moment you’re the best girl I know. I couldn’t have handled him without you. I’m now well aware of that fact.’
His words sent a warm glow through her, although she felt the need to repeat her words. ‘But I’m not your girlfriend .’
‘Perhaps not in the sense you mean, but I’m hoping we can start again and at least be friends. That’s if you’re willing to make the effort, of course.’
She stared into her coffee cup, well aware