185 CHAPTER 22
The eastern Transvaal, South Africa, 1902‘It amazes me how you’ve stayed alive so long,’ Claire said, looking down at a naked Blake.
Blake opened his eyes. ‘What kept you?’
He sounded cool, but she knew he was surprised to see her. Blake was lying on his back, on a large flat rock by the side of the river, basking like a lizard in the still-warm afternoon sun. He made no move to cover his nakedness. Claire sat astride a new horse, with Bluey tethered to hers. She had swapped her second-hand dress for more practical men’s clothing, once more.
‘Aren’t you going to get dressed?’ she asked.
‘Your Boer friend, Hermanus, showed up this morning and stole my uniform, though he kindly left me my empty pistol. He’s looking for you, just like the British are. I told him I had no i
