‘What makes you even say a thing like that?’ Nate asked as he stared down at her. ‘That’s a big assumption to make and it’s coming out of left field.’
Berry shook her head. ‘No, I don’t think it is. When I cleaned out the sheds, I found a whole lot of my father’s papers. He had stacks of notes and research all about Harlington’s gold and the story about Little Neddy Doherty finding it.’
‘Like I’ve told you before—it’s just a stupid old legend. Sure, we get a handful of crazies every year who hear about it and come to dig around. But they’re not going to find anything, because it doesn’t exist.’
‘Young Ned believes it does,’ Berry countered.
‘He’s an old man who wants nothing more than to prove the story is true.’
‘And why is that?’
‘Because it legitimises his family. The Dohertys have always been at the centre of this tale. He just wants to prove that his family was right and telling the truth all this time. I get it, because he and the story are generally regarded as a bit of a joke. They both bring a bit of character to the town.’
‘I don’t believe Young Ned is a joke,’ Berry said quickly. ‘I believe him.’
He placed his hands on her shoulders. ‘I don’t mean I don’t like him, I do. It’s just we’ve all grown up with the tale and heard it so many times. Ned recounts it to anyone who’ll listen.’
‘That may be, but it doesn’t mean it’s not real. I believe that most stories and legends have a tiny grain of truth in them,’ Berry said. ‘Besides, I think he has some proof.’
Nate raised his eyebrows in surprise. ‘Proof? What do you mean?’
‘Well, I’ve been over my father’s research and apparently the Dohertys were pretty poor around the time the little boy went missing. Even though they had a small holding outside of town, their father worked as a carpenter rather than running their own farm,’ Berry explained.
‘Okay, but I don’t see—’
Berry cut him off. ‘But after Little Ned was found, things changed and the family’s fortune was turned around. I’m not saying that they were uber rich, but something happened because they bought extra land and Mr Doherty started working it.’
‘That’s not proof they found gold,’ Nate responded.
‘I know but it’s definitely something to think about. I talked to Young Ned the other night, and he said that my father had spoken to him numerous times about the legend and the Dohertys in general. He was keen to find out anything he could.’
‘So, what are you saying exactly?’
‘What if Dad had worked out the mystery—what if he knew where the gold was?’
Nate took a deep breath and then slowly blew it out. ‘That’s kind of a long shot, don’t you think? Besides, if he’d found the gold—and let’s just say that it was even on Stone Gully—why would he have done what he did? If a man hits that kind of jackpot, what reason would he have to go crazy?’
Berry stared at him for a moment. ‘I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.’
Nate finished his coffee with a satisfied sigh. ‘That was great.’
‘Yep!’ answered Berry enthusiastically. ‘I’ve gotta say, I’m enjoying the meals here. You may never get rid of me!’
‘Okay with me,’ he replied with a smile.
Berry was just about to expand on that thought when her phone rang.
‘Hi Berry, it’s Senior Sergeant Rob Mendez here. I just wanted to let you know that we’ve found Laurie Worth.’
‘Oh, that’s great. Did he say why he left town in such a hurry?’
‘Yes, but let’s just say the details keep changing. It’s not looking good,’ Mendez replied.
‘So, you think it was him?’
‘Well, it’s looking likely, although he denies everything.’
‘How did you find him?’ Berry asked.
‘He got spooked when he saw a patrol car. He ran a red light on the other side of Bendigo,’ he explained with a slight laugh. ‘Anyway, I just thought you’d like to know.’
Nate looked at her from across the table as she ended the call. ‘And?’
‘They’ve found Worth. Apparently he ran a red light in Bendigo,’ Berry answered.
‘Well, that’s a relief,’ Nate said. ‘I know it hasn’t been proven it was him, but everything is kind of pointing that way.’
‘I’m just thankful he was caught before he could do any more damage. And I do really want to know why he did it in the first place.’
‘Are you still running with your gold theory?’ Nate asked.
She nodded. ‘I’m not saying that my father definitely figured out where the gold was, but maybe Worth thought he did.’
‘But why now?’
‘I don’t know, but something must have triggered him. Maybe he stumbled across some new information, or Young Ned told him about my dad going to see him?’
‘It could just be that he had a dodgy plan to build something on Stone Gully,’ Nate offered.
‘Maybe, but either way I’m heading back home in the morning to start going over Dad’s papers again. I just wish you’d at least think it’s a possibility.’
‘I do, sort of. I believe that your dad was fixated on the legend and collated a ton of research on it. But I still think the gold is fictional. But, in saying that, if Worth thought there was a chance that it was real, then that would explain him trying to buy your place.’
Berry glanced at him. ‘Okay, I’ll take it,’ she said with a grin.
Nate returned her smile as he stood up from the table. Berry watched him as he walked up to her and held out his hand. Without any hesitation she took it and rose to her feet. His gaze locked on her and for a second she found it hard to breathe. A little while ago they were talking about theories and missing gold, but now the atmosphere in the room shifted.
His arm went around her waist and he pulled her closer to him, his eyes never breaking contact.
Nate’s face lit up with a warm smile. ‘I want you,’ he whispered as he rested his head against hers.
Berry let the warmth of his body encompass her. Standing there, with her arms wrapped around him felt right. She wasn’t sure when or even how it happened, but the last thing she wanted tonight was to be alone. ‘I want you too.’
‘Good answer,’ he said before he lowered his head and kissed her. His mouth was soft and warm and it sent tingles through her entire body.
The kiss started soft and gentle but developed quickly, and the first sparks of passion began to ignite. Still kissing her, Nate lifted her up—again Berry held onto his shoulders and folded her legs around his hips. His strong arms held her tightly as he carried her into the bedroom. He kissed her once and then again before he laid her on the bed.
She scooted over to give him room enough to join her. He turned to reach for her but she was already there. She cupped the side of his face for a moment before leaning in and touching his mouth with her own.
They stayed like that as if they were suspended in time, the only movement was the steady deepening of their kiss. There was a thrill in his touch as his hands began the slow and tantalising discovery of her body.
Berry’s senses were heightened as Nate’s tongue followed that path blazed by his hands. It was too much and not enough at the same time. Berry bit her lip as his mouth began its agonisingly slow descent down the column of her neck. She pulled and tugged at his clothes as she was ensnared by the overwhelming need to press her skin against his.
‘Berry,’ he whispered against her throat, ‘you want this, don’t you? ’Cause if you want me to back off, then tell me now.’
Berry looked at him and smiled. ‘Yes, I want this.’
His hot breath blew across her sensitive skin, setting off a tiny maelstrom of tingles that seemed to spread and trigger over her body.
His hand found hers and he interlaced their fingers. He looked down at her. ‘I want you so bad, Berry. I’ve never felt this way before.’
Berry gazed into his eyes. ‘Then what are you waiting for?’