‘You need to be careful of the yarara if you’re thinking of riding out,’ he said in a voice devoid of emotion. ‘The yarara?’ Bella frowned, thinking only of the safety of her pony now.
‘Poisonous snakes. It’s the season for them,’ he said before turning away.
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sp; ‘Wait,’ she called after him.
Nero turned his horse. ‘They won’t bite unless you frighten them, but they will spook the horses.’
‘Thanks for the warning.’
‘Don’t mention it,’ he said. ‘Just be sure you don’t linger by any low-lying shrubs, or go rooting under rocks.’
‘Is that it?’
‘Should there be more?’
They confronted each other as if they were squaring up for a fight. Bella broke the silence first. ‘If you’ve got something to say to me, Nero, just spit it out. It won’t take me long to pack.’
‘Pack?’ he demanded with an angry gesture. ‘Your work isn’t finished here.’
Before she had a chance to react to that, Nero ground his jaw and finally admitted, ‘I was wrong yesterday.’ He raised a brow as if daring her to disagree, while she waited for a chorus of angels singing Hallelujah! ‘I shouldn’t have shouted at you,’ he said, ‘especially after Ignacio told me what you had done. That was very brave of you, Bella.’
‘I don’t want your praise!’
‘Well, you shall have it.’
‘I’ll be sure to keep away from the yararas,’ she said, turning Misty abruptly. ‘Bella—’
She ignored him and the moment they were through the gate she urged Misty into a gallop. Nero caught up with her easily. ‘You know emotions are heightened on the polo field.’
‘I also know that’s no excuse,’ she called back. ‘Your rudeness to me—’
‘My rudeness?’ Nero refused to take offence as he cantered easily alongside.
‘You shouted at me!’
‘And you shouted back.’
She rode without speaking, but all she could think about was Nero sleeping in the stable with his motley crew of animals and his sick horse.
‘You came to find me in the stable,’ he said, riding with all the nonchalance of a gaucho born in the saddle, ‘so I can’t have been so bad.’
‘I was worried about your horse.’
‘And me, just a little bit?’
‘Not at all.’ And, with a shout of encouragement, she gave Misty her head.
‘But you will agree that it’s good news about Colonel?’ Nero caught up with her again and rode alongside as if they were trotting sedately in Windsor Park rather than indulging in a flat-out gallop across the pampas.
‘It is good news,’ she said. ‘The best.’ And there was only so long she could hold the frown for. ‘Did you get much sleep?’ she asked, trying not to sound too interested.
‘Not much,’ Nero admitted, slowing his horse. ‘You?’
‘Some,’ Bella admitted, walking Misty towards the welcome shade of some trees. ‘I woke in the night and wanted to check up on him. I thought you’d be asleep in bed,’ she confessed.
Reaching for his water bottle, Nero took a long, thirsty slug. ‘Do you have water?’ he said, holding the canister out to her.