Unknown by Unknown

towards the sea, the surface so smooth that until she saw the white-flecked water and whirlpools as it forced its way against some rocks she had thought it calm.
    ‘The Haupiri. It looks peaceful enough today, but you should see it in a flood. It would scare you then. We only get about two hours to clear the riverbed when it starts to rain heavily, then down it pours, bank to bank carrying everything before it, a raging torrent that nothing can survive. It’s master here.’
    ‘I thought you were,’ Serenity commented.
    ‘I would be foolish to think so. Most West Coast rivers are like this one, fierce, untamed and treacherous. My father, along with the Catchment Board, has spent literally thousands of dollars on this beauty trying to cajole it, control it, and discipline it, but he’d be the first to admit that he’ll never win the battle.’
    ‘You sound almost proud of that,’ she said, puzzled by his tone.
    ‘I suppose I am. You always admire a worthy adversary. This river is like a woman, wild and tempestuous, incredibly beautiful, entirely unpredictable, lulling you into a false sense of security for a few well-behaved years, then with full strength and vigour it goes on the rampage, carving out new territories for itself, destroying established pastureland, threatening access roads. When it does that the challenge is on, and every piece of modern technology, huge earth moving machines and years of experience are thrown into the war to bring it back on course. Sure, I love it, but I watch it.’
    'I f it’s so difficult, why not sell out and buy a place safe from flooding?’
    ‘What a mundane mind you have. Where would be the challenge in that? Besides, all the sweetest and best land is riverbed country.’
    Serenity watched the river sliding irresistibly by on its way to the sea, glorious in its wantonness and beauty. ‘And the wife you’re thinking of taking for yourself, is she like the Haupiri, tempestuous, unpredictable, a challenge?’
    ‘No, she’s none of those.’ His hazel eyes glinted angrily.
    ‘A mundane choice, perhaps?’ Serenity questioned with a barbed tongue. ‘Or is she like Sarah Tarrant, quiet, submissive, loving you in spite of your overbearing ways?’
    ‘How charmingly put. No, she’s not like Sarah, but then her model is not available today. It’s a throw-away society. If it doesn’t work, scrap it.’
    ‘What a rotten attitude you have to marriage,’ Serenity shouted at him, completely outraged by his remark, and not knowing why. ‘And this girl you’ve got on appro.... does she know that you don’t love her? Does she know that you’re playing ’Eeny meeny miney mo’ with her life, maybe I’ll take her, maybe I won’t?’
    ‘Yes, she does,’ Hudson said calmly.
    ‘Well, all I can say is that she must be a right pathetic lump, but then she would have to be, wouldn’t she, even to consider marrying you?’
    He sat watching her thoughtfully, and his mouth quirked as he looked at her furious face, then he threw back his head and roared with unrestrained laughter, startling the birds from a nearby tree.
    Serenity just glared at him, not in the slightest amused.
    At last he controlled himself. ‘You’re incredible, like a bucket of cold water in the face on a frosty morning. Breath-taking, but refreshing. Come on, Paleface, let’s find the horses. Follow me.’
     

CHAPTER THREE
    Serenity clucked Misty into action and resentfully glared at Hudson’s broad back, refusing to admire the relaxed, easy style of his handling of the impatient Rajah: in perfect command, yet making it look so easy. Of course he knew exactly the attractive picture he made on that marvellous black horse, probably rode it for the effect alone.
    He turned in the saddle to make sure she was coming, then as if reading her thoughts, he grinned and winked wickedly before turning away.
    Still simmering, she rode cautiously along the river’s edge past the heavy rock protection works and out on