Smiling to herself Brianne Kelly let her gaze wander over to the tall dark handsome teen-aged boy. His muscles bulged as he dug the pick ax into the ground then released as he came back up again. Did he really love her? Could someone that handsome and kind really fancy plain old her?
She grinned.
Yes, yes he could.
She scooped up the water bucket then made her way towards him. It was especially hot today and all the men were parched, she imagined Jack would be especially thirsty. He seemed to drink the most of the men she barely had five minutes of grace time before he was calling her over begging for another drink of water. Sometimes she wondered if it was just for attention.
She stepped behind him then wrapped her arm around his neck. His lips drank greedily savouring each and every drop of the refreshing lake water.
"Miss. Kelly."
"Mr. Dawkins."
He turned around then laid his lips to her forehead. Her spine tingled. "Not here, Jack."
"Oh come on love, it's not like they haven't seen worse."
She blushed. "Still...not working you too hard are they?"
"I got seven years of hard labour that's kind of the point."
She often wondered what sweet well mannered Jack Dawkins could do to deserve such a fate. She could scarcely imagine him taking seconds at the dinner table let alone stealing something that didn't belong to him. She had ruled out the possibility of him being a thief, he was too sweet and clumsy to get away with something like that. He couldn't be a murderer either so that only left the possibility that he had been framed.
Yes she would think that.
She was grateful that they hadn't spoke about their pasts yet. That was sort of the unspoken rule here in Australia, once you got onto that prison ship your life started over. A man could be a cold blooded killer in London and the parish priest down under. There was nothing binding you here-well except your sentence.
Brianne smiled again stepping closer to his bare chest. "Be careful though."
"Oh aren't I always?"
She didn't trust the raillery in voice yet felt herself grow warm because of it. "Seriously."
"Yes ma'am." he saluted then let his hands slide down to her elbows. "Wait for me after work today?"
"Don't I always?"
"I know but just especially wait for me today."
Before she could answer him she was shoved from behind, stumbling over her foot she fell into his chest with a light thud.
"Stop cozying up to your man and get us some water girl."
She blushed then gave Jack a quick sip of water. "I'll see you then."
He nodded.
She turned around smiling like an idiot, she always did that when ever she was near him. There was something so amazing about Jack that couldn't help but make her act like a scatter brained fool. She was just about to descend the hill to fill up her bucket when she heard his voice echo through the crowd.
"I love you!"
Her body grew faint.
He said he loved her...
Where had that came from?
Jack hadn't meant to say he loved Brianne but somewhere between watching her and wishing she hadn't left, it had just slipped out.
She didn't say anything in return instead just stood there like a stunned animal smiling goofily at him. Finally she pried her gaze off of his then nodded beginning to descend down the hill towards the lake.
Was that a good sign? He sure hoped so. The artful dodger had fancied many girls and kissed even more but never had he felt such a passionate thought consuming obsession as he did with Brianne. She was sweet and funny and so so beautiful how couldn't a lad fall in love with her?
He had always thought he would be drunk or insane before admitting to a huge crowd of men that he was head over heels over some skirt but all he could feel was a warm bubbly feeling inside of him like he was about to spill over any second.
Someone jabbed his shoulder.
Charlie grinned. "Well Dodge I reckon I love you too."
He swung but missed. The boy's smile grew now.
He wouldn't hear the end of this for a long time.