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.'An understatement if ever she'd heard one, decided Gayna wryly.She could imagine herself being in apermanent state of panic if faced with such hair-raising experience.`Have you had your pilot's licence for long?' she asked next.`About eleven years, fixed-wing, and eight years, rotor,' he supplied with a half laugh.`Why?'file:///E|/My%20Library/books/ROMANCE/kerry%20allyn.lley%20of%20lagoons%20TXT/valley%20of%20lafoons.txt (65 of 81)05/05/2010 14:42:54file:///E|/My%20Library/books/ROMANCE/kerry%20allyne/1982%20%20valley%20of%20lagoons%20TXT/valley%20of%20lafoons.txtBecause she was unaccountably interested, she abruptly realised, and with no little dismay.Not that shehad any intention of telling him that, of course.`I was just wondering,' she parried.`You seem to treat it so casually.''Mmm, I guess it does become second nature after a time, and especially when you have long distancesto cover.Then, it's the only way to travel.' White teeth gleamed in a devastating smile.`As Alwyn wouldprobably tell you.'Gayna caught his meaning immediately, and couldn't forbear a grin of her own.`No, I don't think he wasterribly impressed with his journey in the supply truck,' she conceded ruefully.`Nor with being sent outhere today either, actually.'`I gathered as much from his expression when I saw him getting into the truck.' Pausing for a moment,Ford looked a trifle more contemplative.`Although I'd have thought knowing you were going alongwould have cheered him somewhat.'`I don't see why!' she burst out incredulously.`Well, according to Snow, Alwyn apparently let it slipyesterday that he's-er-hoping to persuade you in the very near future into putting your association withhim on an-umm-more binding footing?' he revealed, not without some mockery evident.'Hah! All he wants on a binding footing is the agency! The sly, conniving little pipsqueak!' she decriedin disgust.`As far as I'm concerned, my association with him is just fine as it is.distant!'The arch of his brows peaked sardonically higher.`I thought you said yesterday you were glad of hisinterest in your family affairs?'He would have to remember that! `You must have misunderstood me,' she evaded, airily nonchalant.`I might have done in the beginning, but I think I'm on to the right wavelength now,' he returned lazily.The enigmatic remark had Gayna eyeing him uneasily and prudently opting for another change insubject.`Is that where you have your yards hidden?' she asked hurriedly, seeing that all three vehicles appearedto be driving the herd towards a large patch of scrub in front of them.`That's right,' he corroborated, easing his foot down on the accelerator.The buffalo, thinking it theirchance to escape, were breaking into a gallop again in their desire to reach the covering trees as soon aspossible.`And this is also where we have to watch that none of them get away on us.'`Will they return to the valley if they do?'`Perhaps not immediately, but it wouldn't be long before they found their way back again.'The flank vehicles were closing in on the animals now, forcing them nearer together and imperceptiblyguiding them towards the long, funnel-shaped opening to the trap.The first of the buffalo enteredunsuspectingly enough, until they came in sight of the solid steel yards awaiting at the end, whereuponthey promptly tried to turn back on their fellows.For a time pandemonium reigned as the snorting beasts jostled each other and kicked up clouds ofveiling dust.The dogs, set working now, barked and chivvied at them till they were facing in the rightdirection once more, while the helicopter and three escorting vehicles ensured that none of the millinganimals at the rear managed to elude them in the melee.At last order was restored and the trucks closed ranks behind the buffalo, following them down to theyards, and keeping them packed so tightly together that it was impossible for them to move in anydirection except forward.The men who had driven out earlier to make ready for them were working thegates on the yards-separating those that were to be retained from those to be shipped away and becauseof the animals' unwillingness to be penned at all, the process was a slow and lengthy one.Finally,file:///E|/My%20Library/books/ROMANCE/kerry%20allyn.lley%20of%20lagoons%20TXT/valley%20of%20lafoons.txt (66 of 81)05/05/2010 14:42:54file:///E|/My%20Library/books/ROMANCE/kerry%20allyne/1982%20%20valley%20of%20lagoons%20TXT/valley%20of%20lafoons.txthowever, the nine-foot high entrance gate was clanged shut behind the tailenders and everyone couldrelax.`How many were there altogether, do you know?' Gayna asked of Ford as he reversed the truck beforedriving it around to where the others had parked in some shade.`About sixty, I'd reckon,' he estimated, then called to the aboriginal stockman who had been operatingthe first gate, `What was the tally, Jake?'`Sixty-five, boss,' came the readily grinned reply.`Not a bad morning's haul, eh?'`Not bad at all,' Ford affirmed with an answering smile as they drove off.Gayna turned to him queryingly.`Now what?'`Well, I don't know about you, but I'm heading for the bore trough to wash some of this dust off,' hedrawled wryly.`I'll be in that,' she approved devoutly, wiping beads of perspiration from her forehead with the back ofone hand.`Of course, it will be a case of ladies first, I trust,' she added facetiously [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]