The Whisperer

Her mind drifted back to the farm she’d just visited. The man’s eyes were the most amazing shade of blue she’d ever seen. He looked so, so familiar. But where would she have seen him before? She’d ask her mother. Maybe they saw one another when they’d been kids. It was as if … Irritated with herself, she shook her head. Surely she would have remembered if she’d ever touched those black curls? Wouldn’t she?

“Pure bliss,” sighed Cilla and, stretching herself out, took a sip of the chilled wine her dad had just handed her.

The sun had just disappeared behind the mountains and they were all sitting outside. Imke and she had spent the whole afternoon with the kids and the horses and still had time to take their favourite horses for a gallop afterwards. Now her head was clear after the week and the frustration of the morning. Her dad was making a fire, they were having a barbeque later.

“Okay, you’ve had enough time. Tell us about the cute, gorgeous, sexy man you met this morning,” Imke teased.

Her mom started spluttering and Cilla groaned.

“What man?” her mom asked when she could talk. Her dad came closer, holding a fork threateningly in his hand.

“What man?” he asked as well.

“See what you’ve done? I’ll never hear the end of this,” Cilla grumbled.

“What man?” her dad asked again, swinging the fork in the air.

Cilla sighed. “A few days ago, a stray dog scared the kids at school and …”

“Cilla talked to the dog and calmed him down in front of the whole school. The kids talked about it for days,” Imke interrupted.

“Anyway,” Cilla tried to continue with her story, but Imke continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted.

“One of the matric boys mentioned the incident to his dad. His dad is a manager on a farm near Villiersdorp and the owner has a difficult stallion. The manager asked Cilla whether she’d have a look and … I don’t know the rest, you’ll have to explain,” Imke said.

“Oh, may I really talk now?” Cilla asked sarcastically.

“Come on, you don’t talk fast enough, I just gave the background. So, what happened then?” Imke asked.

Cilla laughed. It was no use getting angry with Imke. When things didn’t move quickly enough for her, she took over.

“I went there early this morning, but the owner doesn’t believe in what I do, he doesn’t like the fact that I’m a woman and … well, he basically has a problem with everything. He thinks I’ll cast a spell on his horse. Apparently, he didn’t know I was visiting. Ken, the manager asked me to have a look at the horse and the owner was very angry when he found out. His vocabulary is … explicit.”

“Did you look at the horse?” her dad asked.

“Yes, I did and I can help him but if the owner doesn’t believe in what I do, there isn’t much I can do. You know how it works.”

“What is wrong with the horse, do you think?” her dad asked.

“He …” Cilla shook her head and laughed. “You won’t believe me, but the stallion has a picture of a mare in his head and I … well, it sounds bizarre, but I could swear it was of Maggie.”

“Our Maggie?” her dad asked, clearly amazed.

“Yeah – a chestnut mare with a black mane. I know, I know. There are probably lots of other mares who look exactly like that, but what are the odds? The only way it’s even remotely possible, is that he probably caught her scent, but how? I should have asked them where he came from. Anyway, he is also very bored and wants to be able to run free.”

Her dad nodded. It was never necessary to explain in detail what a horse’s problem was, but her dad knew what she meant.

“Who is the owner?” her mother asked.

“Cameron Rahl, he farms −”

“… near Villiersdorp. On the farm Yonder Hill,” her mother murmured.

Surprised, Cilla stared at her mother. “Yes, do you know him? I did wonder …”

“No, you won’t remember, you were a baby at the time but I knew his mother well. We were at school together and after we moved here, I visited her once or twice but we lost touch. Her death was such a tragic event. They farmed with horses, she adored them. They had two sons. The youngest was about ten years old, I think, when she was thrown off a horse and died instantly. We visited once or twice afterwards, but the husband was completely devastated, I don’t think he ever recovered from his wife’s death. I remember being so sorry for the two little boys who had to grow up without a mother. You say his name is Cameron?”

She looked at Cilla’s dad. “He was the younger of the two, I think. I wonder why the older brother hasn’t taken over the farm.”

Her dad nodded. “I don’t know. From what you’re telling us, it sounds as if Cameron has decided to breed horses again. I remember that his dad got rid of all the horses when his wife died.”

“Yes, one of the few things he did manage to get out was that he renovated the stables about two years ago and began buying horses right after that,” Cilla said.

Cilla’s cell phone rang. It was not a number she knew but she didn’t want to ignore it. It might be someone phoning about one of the children. “Excuse me,” she said and got up.

“Cilla Stevens.”

“Hi,” a gruff voice answered.

Cilla stopped in her tracks. It sounded very much like Cameron Rahl, if she wasn’t mistaken.

“Good evening,” she greeted him formally. What did the man want with her?

He cleared his throat. “I …” He swore softly and she smiled. So he did know swear words that didn’t begin with an f.

“Yes, sir?”

“My name is Cameron. And what I’m trying to say is that I … about this afternoon … I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I know I was …” He uttered a few more swear words.

“Rude? Bad-mannered? Overbearing? Insufferable?”

“No … I was … okay, yes, maybe, but …”

“I was there, there is no maybe about it,” Cilla insisted.

“Dammit to hell, will you stop interrupting me?” he shouted over the line.

“Don’t yell at me!” she shouted back.

The line was silent for a few minutes.

It was obviously very difficult for him to apologize, if that was what he was attempting to do. But she really wanted to end this conversation; she didn’t want all these bad vibes spoiling the rest of her day. “Look, it’s fine. I accept your apology. Anything else?”

“May I please finish my sentence?” he growled.

Stunned, Cilla inhaled sharply and clamped her teeth together. The man made her so mad!

“Mr Rahl, it’s been a long day, I’m enjoying a glass of wine with my family and friends, and frankly, you are spoiling the mood. I don’t know if anyone has ever had the guts to tell you, but you are extremely rude and unpleasant. If you want to talk to me, that will have to change. Until then, goodnight,” she said and ended their conversation.

“And?” Imke asked, little devils dancing in her eyes. “Who phoned?”

“It’s that …” Her phone rang again. Sighing, she answered.

“I’m sorry about this afternoon, I wasn’t expecting you and you …” He stopped talking.

“I what?” she asked, by now very irritated with the infuriating man.

“It doesn’t matter. I … want to apologize for my behaviour and want to know if you’d be prepared to have another look at Bravo. Please.”

Cilla gasped silently. Wow, when he finally got round to apologizing, he really turned on the charm. Her silly heart had started beating erratically, her blood had heated, and she was actually smiling!

“Are you still there? Cilla? Can you hear me?”

Her name had never sounded quite so sexy.

“I-I don’t think it’s a good idea. What I do, is intuitive, natural and you obviously don’t like it. Are you really prepared to trust me and let me do what I think is the right thing? And, most importantly, are you prepared to listen to what you would need to do. All of this from a mere woman?”

“I find what you do … strange. Surely you can understand that?” he asked.

“What is so strange? The fact that I’m a woman?”

He inhaled audibly. She smiled. He was probably counting to ten. The guy was so serious.

“No, what I find strange is that you claim to know what a horse is thinking,” he said slowly as if talking to a child.

Cilla rolled her eyes. “It’s not that strange, you know. If you think about it, you probably also communicate with the animals on your farm, although you may not even be aware of it.”

“When will you be able to come?” he asked, completely ignoring what she’d said.

Why did she think he might understand? He had obviously decided what she did was weird and that was it.

“I don’t have to be there,” she said. “If you e-mail me a photo of Bravo, I can help him. I often do it like this.”

“Are you completely ins …” he began but inhaled sharply.

Probably grinding his teeth. The thought made her smile.

“I’d prefer it if you could come to the farm again. I will obviously pay you for your time, your petrol and your … help.”

Cilla swallowed the catty remark that nearly slipped out. She knew she could help the horse, it wasn’t his fault that his boss was prejudiced.

“Well, during the week I teach so I won’t be able to get there before next weekend.”

“No, that’s too long to wait. What about tomorrow?”

Cilla turned to look at Imke before she answered. “A friend is staying with us. I’ll check whether she wants to go with me, we should be able to be there at …”

“Come at eleven, I’ll make sure there is something to eat. And … well, thanks,” he said and rang off.

Stunned, Cilla stared at her phone. “He put the phone down!” she exclaimed. “He phones me, struggles to apologize, orders me to be on his farm tomorrow morning, and before I could react, he puts the phone down! And, oh yes, Imke, apparently you and I are having lunch at his place.”

Imke smiled. “Mmm, the first guy I know of who doesn’t immediately jump through hoops when talking to you. And he bothers you a little bit. Interesting. I think I may like this guy.”

“Interesting is not the word that comes to mind when I think of him, and I can promise you, there is nothing likable about him,” Cilla said in a huff. “And I don’t think he’s going to be able to let me do what I should do. Mom, I’m sorry but it seems I won’t be here for lunch tomorrow.”

“Well, you tell that man that I’m not impressed,” her mother said but she was smiling. “We’ll see you next weekend though, right? And Imke, you know you’re always welcome.”

Cilla gave her mother a hug. “Of course. We love coming here, Mom. As you know, Imke doesn’t cook and I rarely have time, so we’re always looking forward to your lovely meals.”

“Thanks, Mrs S, but the younger members of our staff are going to Hermanus next weekend and I’ll be joining them. Cilla, didn’t you also agree to go?” Imke asked.

“Oh, my goodness, yes, you’re right. I’ve completely forgotten. A whole weekend in Hermanus sounds lovely, but I don’t want to disappoint the kids and not be here on Saturday. I know we have students who help out, but some of the younger ones are still very unsure of themselves.”

“I could help out …” her mother said.

“No, you are not also going to work over weekends. You are busy enough during the week.”

Her mother smiled. “I’m not over the hill, yet, dear and you know I love to help with the kids.”

“I know, but I can always join them in Hermanus when I’m done.”

“Where are you staying?” her dad asked. “You know you’re always more than welcome to use our beach house.”

“Thanks, Dad, but I think accommodation has been organized for everyone. But I promise to check on the house. I have a key.” She turned to Imke. “Would you mind coming with me tomorrow when I have to visit the horse again? I’ll understand if you don’t want to …”

“Wild horses won’t keep me away! Of course I’m coming with you. I have to see what this gorgeous, sexy, attractive guy looks like. Any man that makes you frown, I have to meet. I can’t remember ever hearing you talk about any man for such a length of time, don’t you think so, Mrs S?”

Her mother smiled. “I want to hear every single bit of detail, Imke. Make sure you don’t miss anything. It’s high time someone bothers my daughter a little bit.”

Cilla snorted. “You are going to agree with me, wholeheartedly, Imke. He is a chauvinist and one of those men who can’t believe a woman is capable of doing anything right. I can’t wait to see what your reaction to such a man will be.”

Chapter 2

“Where’s the house?” Imke asked while leaning forward. It was just before eleven and they were driving down a neatly cobbled road towards the big farmhouse.

“It’s just beyond that row of blue gum trees,” Cilla said, pointing towards the trees. “You should be able to see it at any moment now … there it is.”

“Wow, it’s beautiful. And look, from here one has a glimpse of the sea. I didn’t know that would be possible. You didn’t say a word about the house or the view.” Imke wiggled her eyebrows.

Cilla scowled. “I was so angry with the man I completely forgot about the lovely scenery. I’d really like to know why he’s changed his mind. Yesterday he was convinced that I’d cast a spell on his horse and today he wants me to help the animal. He must be desperate.”

She steered her car down the small road. The beginning of a headache was brewing behind her eyes and she was so irritated. She’d hardly slept a wink. Not even the gallop on her favourite horse late yesterday had helped her to fall asleep quickly.

The moment her eyes had closed, a hundred pairs of dark blue eyes were watching her from all sides. Some were smoldering, some were pleading, one pair was even trying to seduce her … Damn it, all of them kept her from falling asleep. She honestly hoped after today she never had to lay eyes on Cameron Rahl again.

She parked her car in front of the house, and even before she opened the door, the front door opened and two men stepped out.

Imke inhaled sharply and started fanning herself. “Oh, my goodness, Cilla, look at all that gorgeousness – who are these sexy men? And why didn’t you tell me there are two of them?” She was clearly in awe.

“Come on, Imke, seriously. It’s not as if you’ve never seen an attractive man. The one in the blue shirt is Cameron, but I don’t know who the other one is. They look alike, probably brothers. My mom did say there are two boys.”

Imke blew out a heartfelt sigh. “And fortunately for us, they’re not boys any longer.”

Cilla got out slowly. Cameron was walking towards her. He nodded in Imke’s direction, but his eyes never left Cilla’s. When he reached her, he put out his hand. She swallowed and waited a second before she shook his hand. Was she going to have a similar I-know-what-your-fingers-feel-around-mine-like experience to the one she had yesterday, or had that only been her imagination?

His fingers closed around hers and, rattled, she met his gaze. She recognized his hands, she knew how they’d feel, even the heat travelling up her arm was familiar, something she’d experienced before.

Quickly she tugged her hand from his and motioned in Imke’s direction.

“This is my friend. Imke,” she said and turned towards her. And blinked. Something very strange was going on. The man standing in front of Imke had taken both her hands in his and his fingers were playing with hers.

“Imke?” Cilla asked, completely stunned.

Blushing, Imke pulled her hands away. “You haven’t told me the men around here are such smooth talkers,” she giggled, her eyes still on the big man in front of her.

“My brother, Philip.” Cameron said. “The charmer of the family.”

Philip smiled and greeted her. “I have to be, he’s the grumpy one,” he said, slapping his brother on the back.

“I know,” slipped out before Cilla could help herself.

Cameron frowned but ignored her remark. “If you don’t mind, could you look at Bravo before we have lunch?”

“Of course, he’s the reason I’m here,” Cilla said.

“Do you want to join us?” Cameron asked Imke.

“Yes, please. I would love to look at your horses and I enjoy watching Cilla when she works. You should listen to her, she knows what she’s doing.”

Cameron rubbed his face. “Look, I have a BSc degree in Agricultural Science. I know farm animals, I know when they’re ill and I know what to do about it. I rely on facts, on things I can see and understand. What Cilla here proposes to do, I find …”

“… weird was one of the kinder words you used yesterday,” Cilla said with a straight face.

A ghost of a smile turned up one of the corners of his mouth. “Strange is the word I was going to use. My dad had horses when we were little but I can’t remember ever having a horse as ornery as this black stallion. I’ve tried everything I can think of. At this point I’m willing to try anything, even listen to your strange and okay, weird ideas.”

He started walking in the direction of the stables. Cilla fell into step next to him.

“What made you change your mind? About asking me. Yesterday you didn’t want to listen to anything I had to say but then you phoned me?”

“Another farm hand is now also in hospital. Ken suggested I phone you again.”

“Oh.” Cilla bit her lip to keep back the giggle that threatened to erupt. He obviously found it very difficult to acknowledge when he’d been wrong.

She glanced in his direction, but he was looking straight ahead of him.

As they neared the stables, Ken stepped out. “Good morning, Cilla. I’m very glad that certain people around here finally changed their minds and asked you to come over again. This morning, Bravo is completely out of control. I’m not sure whether you should go in there alone.”

Cilla put a hand on his arm. “He and I understand one another, don’t worry. I know what the problem is, but let me talk to him again, there may be something else bothering him.”

Behind her, Cameron mumbled something incoherent but she ignored him. Imke followed her into the stables.

“I’m coming with you, I’d love to see the other horses.”

The two women disappeared into the stables and Cameron put his hands in his trouser pockets. It was much better to have them there otherwise he might do something utterly stupid like taking Cilla’s hand in his.

He didn’t know what the hell was going on, but he was struggling to keep his hands to himself, the need to touch her was overwhelming. When she was walking beside him just now, he’d wanted to put an arm around her, as if it was something that he did regularly, as if he’d done it before.

And her perfume. She smelled like roses. A huge bed of red roses. Yesterday her scent had infiltrated every pore of his body, leaving him aching and lusting after her. Hell, he’d hardly slept last night. When he woke up this morning he could swear he still smelled roses.

He swore. He didn’t want this woman on his farm, he didn’t want her near him. She was trouble with a capital T. He needed to get out more. Philip kept telling him he needed more of a social life and maybe his brother was right. All those women he was afraid of meeting? He should go and meet them, have sex with them so that he wasn’t this sex starved next time a beautiful woman visited his farm.

Feminine laughter floated towards him and the next minute Cilla and Bravo exited the stables. Bravo gave him a spiteful look before he turned away.

“Well, I never,” Ken said behind him. “He doesn’t want me near him, but he is quite happy to be led by Cilla.” He barked out a laugh. “I won’t be surprised if he sticks his tongue out!”

Imke grinned, staring after her friend. “He’s putty in her hands. She has a way with her, you should listen to her suggestions.”

Like the previous day, Cilla led the horse to the centre of the big circle and stood silently next to him for what felt like a long time. Then she rubbed his face, turned and walked him back towards the stables.

After a few minutes she came out alone.

“And? Can you help us?” Ken asked.

“It depends,” Cilla said. “Are you going to do what I say you should do?”

He felt Ken’s eyes on him.

Cameron folded his arms. “I’ll listen to what you have to say,” he finally said. “Let’s go and have lunch, we can talk then.”

They all walked back towards the farmhouse. Cilla looked around her. The view was truly spectacular. Closer to the homestead she noticed the piece of garden where the gardener worked yesterday. Beyond that, another piece of earth had been readied for something to be planted in it.

Cilla motioned in that direction. “What are you going to plant over there?”

“Canola. It blooms during winter. I don’t know if you’ve seen a field of buttercups in bloom before, but it is a beautiful sight,” Philip said.

“We are both born and bred Overberg girls,” Imke smiled. “Cilla’s parents farm just outside Caledon and my dad works for the beer brewery in town. And although we’ve both worked overseas and have seen the world, Cilla was in America and I was in China, to us, this region is still the most beautiful piece of land on earth.”

As they neared the homestead, amazing aromas from inside the house reached them.

Imke inhaled. “Who is the cook?” she swooned. “I’ll marry him immediately!”

Philip stepped out on to the huge veranda in front of the house and took Imke’s hand in his. “Well, I’m the chef. Come with me, then we can talk about your proposal.”

Amazed, Cilla stared after them. Imke was usually very wary of strange men, but she obviously didn’t have any problems with this one.

Cameron motioned for her and Ken to follow him. “Let’s talk here,” he said and showed her into the huge dining room. “Have a seat.”

Gingerly, Cilla sat down and looked around the lovely room. The furniture had to be family heirlooms. The table was obviously made from South African yellow wood and antique spindle chairs were placed around it.

“So, what would you say is Bravo’s problem?” Cameron asked.

Ken sat next to her without a word.

It was clear from the skeptical expression on Cameron’s face that he still didn’t believe in her communicating abilities.

Cilla looked down at her hands. She knew what his reaction was going to be even before she opened her mouth. But he did ask.

“Two problems, actually,” she said and looked him straight in the eye. “First of all, where did you get him?”

“Why is that important? I got him from someone in Bredasdorp,” he said, clearly taken aback.

“And you drove through Caledon?” Cilla asked.

“Yeah, that’s the only way,” he said irritably.

Cilla smiled. “Well, then I understand. Bravo caught the scent of a particular mare on his way here and he wants to, well, he wants to mate with her.” She ignored the blush that crept up her neck. “I could be wrong, but I think I know exactly which mare he wants. And the other thing is …”

Cameron swore and jumped up but Cilla ignored him and continued with her sentence. “… he’s bored.”

Cameron’s fingers folded around the back of the chair, his knuckles turned white. Just as she had thought – he didn’t want to believe that the solution to Bravo’s problems were actually very simple.

“He wants to mate? There is a whole bloody stable full of mares, where the hell do you get this cr … nonsense!” he shouted. “And bored? So what is it that he would like to do? Shall I take him to the movies?”

Ken held up a hand to silence Cameron. “Why do you say that?” he asked Cilla.

Cameron lifted the chair he was holding and dropped it back into place. He started pacing the room.

Cilla lifted one brow but, ignoring him, she spoke to Ken.

“As I said, he caught the smell of a particular mare on his way here.” She glanced over at Cameron. His whole body language was telling her he thought her completely insane.

“My parents’ farm runs alongside the N2 from Bredasdorp. We have a mare, Maggie. She’s chestnut in colour with a black mane and she looks exactly like the …”