She told herself she was glad about that; she didn't want him any nearer. Somehow she didn't convince herself of her indifference to him any more than she apparently convinced Josh.
It was over a week before any news was heard of Lynsey and David, and the intervening time passed more quickly than Prue would ever have believed it could, because she was able to stop herself thinking too much by working hard. She had finished the accumulation of years of paperwork, and had begun to help her father in other ways—cooking his meals, helping him on the farm. Days began very early, and she was usually in bed and fast asleep from sheer physical exhaustion by ten-thirty.
She was busy preparing a casserole for her father's supper one afternoon when Josh walked in without knocking. Her heart turned over as she looked round.
'Oh, it's you!' she said huskily. It was the first time she had seen him for two days and she was very conscious of the empty house around them. 'Dad's tramping the fields. If you want him you could catch him at . . .'
'No, I want you,' Josh said, and Prue swallowed, her eyes lowered.
'Oh?'
'We've heard from them.'
'From who?' she blankly asked, and then looked up, turning pale. 'Oh
. . . David?'
'And Lynsey,' said Josh flatly, his brows black above his watchful eyes. 'We had a letter this morning?'Prue looked down again at the steak she was cutting up, trying to hide a dismay she felt at the thought of news from the runaways. She didn't know how she would cope if David and Lynsey had parted, or if David came back here and she had to face him. He had walked out on her, so he probably wouldn't dare ask her to take him back, but if he did she would have to say no and David would think it was jealousy. But did it matter what he thought?
'Well?' she asked huskily when Josh didn't immediately tell her what the letter had said. 'What did David say? Where is he?'
'They're married, and in another week they'll be on their way to Australia,' Josh curtly told her, sounding so savage that her hand slipped, and instead of cutting the steak the sharp, serrated knife cut her finger, and she gave a sharp gasp, dropping the knife. Blood welled up on her skin and she put the finger to her mouth, the pain bringing a glaze of unshed tears to her eyes.
'What have you done?' Josh asked harshly, taking hold of her hand and making her show him the cut finger.
'It's nothing,' she muttered, shaking at his touch, and he gave her a bleak stare.
'Is that why you're crying and trembling like a leaf? Over nothing?'
Prue bit her lip. 'Don't . . .' she whispered, trying to turn away, but he wouldn't let go of her, his hands cruel, gripping her elbows and shaking her violently.
'Don't what? Tell you the truth? No, you wouldn't want to hear that, would you? It would blow apart the cosy little fantasy you prefer to real life, and that would never do!'
The tears slipped from under her lids, trickling down her pale face.
'Why are you shouting at me? It isn't my fault your sister ran off with David and married him!'
it's your fault you're crying over him,' Josh snarled. He tightened his grip on her arms, jerked her towards him and kissed her ruthlessly, his mouth hot and angry. 'I ought to kiss you until you start seeing straight,' he muttered against her quivering mouth, and kissed her-again so hard that she couldn't breathe.
Prue was too distraught to fight; she closed her eyes and her lips parted moistly, kissing him back, her body swaying against him. Josh let go of her arms and slid his hands around her waist, one hand moving convulsively up and down her spine, pressing her closer and closer until their bodies were moulded together. She flung her arms round his neck and clutched at his hair, twisting warm strands of it around her fingers.
He lifted his head, breathing fast, and looked at her through half-closed lids, dark eyes gleaming. 'When are you going to face it?'
he asked and Prue moaned, looking back at him helplessly.
'Josh…'
'You don't love Henley, you never did,' he insisted, and she sighed admission.
'I thought I did.'
His eyes flashed. 'But you know better now.'
'I'm not the type to be able to have light affairs,' Prue whispered, her green eyes glittering with tears.
'I can't flirt with every man I meet, or go to bed with someone then forget them next day!'
His brows rose and a sardonic amusement lit his face. 'My God, I'm glad to hear it—neither am I.'