Marriage at Murraree

by Margaret Way

  She reacted to his determined expression. “I don’t want Vulcan, Troy. Not even a half share. It’s yours. What would I do with it? I don’t give a damn about the place. That’s awful I know, but it’s the truth. I think Dad just likes to keep you on the hook. It’s cruel really, and he’s not cruel. Or not beyond repair. I think losing Mum desensitised him. Dad has had practically no contact with women, in the romantic sense I mean. The only one he really likes and trusts is Mabs.”

  “Yeah, well…” Troy shrugged. “Mabs has been a widow for years and he hasn’t rushed her to the altar. As for me, I’ve taken my lot like a dutiful son, but he’s pushing me too far. I’ve been thinking seriously of striking out on my own.”

  “On your own?” Leah stared at him as if he’d expressed the need to reach the South Pole. “You’ve got to be kidding! Dad would be in shock. It hasn’t got anything to do with Casey, has it? I know you’re mad about her but she’s got a big career ahead of her. No way she’d give it up.”

  “That remains to be seen,” Troy said, his expression taut. “Why would she have to give it up anyway?”

  “Are you serious?” Leah’s good-looking face reflected her dismay. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

  Troy fixed his golden gaze on her. “Why sound so threatened? How many guys have you had and broken up with? I don’t interfere in your affairs, Leah. Don’t interfere in mine. When are you and Dad going to wake up to the fact Sandra means nothing to me beyond a friend. Give it up. It’s a lost cause.”

  “So is Casey McIvor-McGuire, whatever her name is,” Leah retorted. “She’s got trouble written all over her. She’s way too flamboyant to settle down on a cattle station. She’s just using you Troy. Having some great sex, I bet. I’ve discussed this with Paddy. Everyone thinks she’s going to be a big star. You want to get that clear, Troy. I don’t want to see you get hurt. She’ll dump you as soon as she’s on her way. Va…room!” She imitated the sound of a speeding car. Then she half turned away. “Would you like a cup of tea?”

  After that outburst Troy laughed. “Sure if you’re making one.” He ignored the throbbing in his arm. “And you’re wrong about, Casey, Leah. She’s too damned good for me.”

  Clifford Connellan had not arrived by late afternoon. They had confirmation from Planet Downs where he had stopped off on the way. That was around three. Uneasy Troy who had been keeping an eye on the sky, returned home, both he and Leah glued to the radio and the phone. Flying was a way of life in the Outback. Their father was a confident pilot with over thirty years of experience behind him. The Cessna was scrupulously serviced and maintained. There was some reasonable explanation. He had dropped in on their friends, the Ralstons, at Planet Downs. This was a trip he had made countless times before. It was highly unlikely he would make another stop. Nevertheless all attempts to contact him via radio frequency failed.

  It was time to worry.

  At first light the following morning a full scale air search was underway. Australia Search and Rescue as well as ten other aircraft piloted by Vulcan’s neighbours retraced the flight path between Planet and Vulcan. Darcy, an experienced pilot, had joined the search as had her fiancé, Curt Berenger. Without the Cessna, Troy took the helicopter up with Leah as a spotter. Everyone was praying they would find the Cessna safely grounded, with Clifford Connellan walking out from under the wing to wave to his rescuers. It had happened many times before today.

  But there was a time to be rescued and a time to die.

  It was Darcy who first spotted the wreckage, a sweat breaking out on her body, a soft groan emerging from her throat. The Cessna had come down on hilly ground where the mirage shimmered and rose in quick silver whirlpools although the airspace around her had a crystalline quality. It looked bad. Like the plane had plummeted nose down from the sky. Parts of the aircraft were scattered over a wide area. No one could survive that.

  It was difficult indeed to keep her voice under control as she relayed the news. The tears pouring down her face, Darcy kept circling until she sighted Vulcan’s helicopter like some gigantic insect homing into the crash site directed by her port wingtip. She couldn’t begin to gauge what Troy and Leah would be going through right now, looking down at the wreckage, knowing the body of their father lay somewhere in it. Landing for the helicopter wouldn’t be a problem. Choppers could land almost anywhere.

  There were other aircraft in the zone. Darcy banked away.

  Soon the whole Outback would know of the tragedy. Accidents like this ravaged the entire Outback community where there was such a concentration of light aircraft.

  Back in Sydney in Glenn Gardiner’s office with its splendid view of Sydney Harbour Bridge Casey was reeling from the news of Troy’s father’s death and Glenn’s opposition to her travelling to the Outback for the funeral.

  “Be reasonable, Casey, you can’t just up and go when there are so many things I have planned for you.”

  “I’m sorry, Glenn.” After ten minutes of nonstop heavy persuasion Casey remained unmoved. “I must go. Troy Connellan is a good friend of mine.”

  “Friend? I thought he was a heck of a lot more?” Glenn was seriously worried. Romances had a way of sinking careers.

  “I prefer not to talk about that right now, Glenn. Troy and Leah must be feeling absolutely wretched. The funeral is the day after tomorrow.”

  Glenn sighed. “Of course I understand, but it really does put things on hold. No chance Paddy could represent you? He’s going.”

  “No way.” Casey shook her head. “It’s important for me to be there.”

  Glenn sighed again, under the circumstances trying to control his frustration. “Some of these meetings have taken weeks to set up but c’est la vie! In the midst of life we are in death as our old parish priest used to say. Just you take care of yourself, Casey. Any kind of aircraft isn’t my favourite means of transport.”

  Henry Rutherford of Richards, Rutherford & Vine sat behind their father’s desk ruffling through papers. It was the morning after the funeral and Leah was not feeling at all well. Grief had provoked her into drinking a bit too much, now she felt like throwing up. She was sick and apprehensive, too; their father might have carried out his random threats and rejected Troy’s claim to taking over the station. It wasn’t what she wanted. She was only too happy to relinquish any responsibility. If the worst came to the worst and Vulcan had been left to her, she would hand it over to Troy right away, though she had the dismal feeling he would be too proud to accept it. Troy just could walk right away from his birthright.

  What was it that had caused the stressful situation between Troy and their father? Leah agonised. It certainly wasn’t Troy’s fault. She had never found the courage to tackle her father about it. Instead she had ingratiated herself with him at every turn. Now she felt deeply ashamed. Time had come in her life for a change. She had to do something useful, even if she was a little confused what course that would take. Her father hadn’t helped. He had pandered to her so much she had begun the long slip-slide into endless self-indulgence. It had to stop. It would stop.

  Leah came back to the present.

  “To simplify things,” Henry Rutherford was saying ponderously, looking up at them over the top of his glasses. “Your father has left his estate divided into two. One part to each of you. Troy gets Vulcan and the out-stations. Leah you get the apartment in Sydney, and the beach house at the Gold Coast which by now is worth a small fortune. His portfolio will be split in two separate trust funds. Again one for each of you. I have been appointed trustee along with my partner, Raoul Vine. Each trust has equal proportions of blue chip stocks. I think you’ll find they generate an extremely generous income each quarter. I’ve made a list of the companies. You can go through them carefully later. You’ll be aware of them, Troy. You did so much business for your father.

  “Under the terms of the trust you get the income outright, Leah.” He glanced into her white face. “Half of your income will be reinvested, half disbursed
to you. After taxes it should amount to some $200,000 a year. That should keep you comfortably. All your late mother’s jewellery is yours with the exception of your mother’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring, a sapphire and diamond necklace with matching pendant earrings, all photographed, Connellan family heirlooms, which will go to Troy for his future bride. Or that is your father’s earnest wish, Troy. There are generous bequests to charities, gifts to family friends.” He handed over two thick folders full of documents. “These are your copies of all the legal material we’ve gathered at this stage of settlement. I know both of you will want to go over them.”

  Lady Curtis, Troy’s godmother, who had come for the funeral and was staying with them at the homestead, insisted on taking the distraught Leah back to Sydney with her.

  “I’ll look after her, Troy,” she assured him, her heart breaking at his expression.

  “I know you will, Mabs.” They were sitting on the front verandah, watching the imperial sun go down in splendour.

  “Leah’s life needs direction,” Mabs said, turning her face to him. “Cliff, God rest him, spoilt her terribly. Leah has told me she wants to make a new start. I intend to help her. One has to give in this world. Not take.”

  “Anything you do is okay with me, Mabs,” Troy said, comforted by her presence. “At least at the end Dad didn’t cut me out.”

  Mabs looked astonished. “Surely you didn’t think he would? I know nothing of this?”

  “It doesn’t matter now, Mabs,” Troy said, easing back in his planter’s chair. “Dad remembered I was his son.”

  “And who else would you be, pray?” Mabs’s fine dark brows rose in amazement. “I remember when you were born. I remember your father’s joy. I remember Elizabeth’s beautiful Madonna face. They were ecstatic at your birth.”

  Troy gave a strangled laugh. “Things changed after we lost Mum.”

  “I know.” Lady Curtis reached out to pat her much loved godson’s hand. “Cliff was never the same again.”

  “Could you tell me something, Mabs?” Troy stared into her eyes. “Was Mum having an affair with Uncle Robert? You were around at the time. You and Mum were like sisters.”

  Mabs forced herself not to burst into tears. “Darling boy, your mother and I grew up together, Troy. We went to school and university together. We were forever in one another’s homes. I was her chief bridesmaid. As for Rob?” Her dark eyes that had seen so much seemed to turn inwards. “He was in love with your mother. Who could blame him? Your mother cared for him. I know she did. Their personalities intermeshed so beautifully. But this is the important thing. The thing you have to grasp. Your mother would never have left your father. Much less you children. She took her marriage vows very seriously. She was a religious person. Remember I knew her. My own religious faith has helped me through life. Had Libby been thinking so radically I’m convinced she would have told me. She didn’t. You know why? Her marriage was sacred. What happened was a terrible Act of God. Do you believe me?” She stared into his remarkable face.

  “No one better to believe, Mabs.” He tried to smile, failed.

  “And what about that beautiful woman in your life, Casey? Now there’s a very special person.”

  “No argument here.” Now he did smile. “She’s the woman I want, Mabs. Whether she wants me is another matter. She has a career now. She’s taken off like I knew she would. I can’t hold her back.”

  Mabs considered. “Of course you can’t. But she dropped everything to be here for you, didn’t she? I spoke to her after the funeral. You mean a great deal to her.”

  “Maybe her career will come to mean more?” He shrugged. “She has a real gift, Mabs. You should hear her.”

  “I intend to,” Mabs said firmly. “I never figured you for a quitter, Troy. If you want her and you clearly do, go after her. Tell her how you feel. Don’t leave her in the dark. She’s your dream. Don’t let your dream get away. If she truly loves you and you love her you can find a way.” She closed her eyes for a moment, let out a sigh. “What woman doesn’t want a husband and children? Why should Casey be any different? I had my dear husband but we were never blessed with children. You’re as close as I came. Don’t let Casey go back to Sydney without telling her how you feel. You could run the risk of her going out of your life forever.”

  At Murraree Casey waited. The relationship she and Troy had forged meant a great deal to her. She had given him her body, shown him her soul. She had flown to his side to give him support and comfort. She believed she had achieved both. Still she waited when she knew she should be back in Sydney. Glenn Gardiner had already called her twice. She understood where he was coming from, but he wasn’t going to run her life. Since she had lost her mother and been sentenced to The Home she had thought of herself as inconsolable. That she would never get what she needed and wanted.

  That wasn’t the case. She had her sisters; utterly beautiful people, who had made her one of them though she had entered the picture as their father’s love child. What a deep joy it was to her they had bonded. It hadn’t been an on-going thing, slowly developing. It had happened that first day providing all three with a wonderful sense of abiding love. She was to be one of Darcy’s bridesmaids, something that gave her enormous pleasure. Courtney very clearly had found her ideal man. Casey didn’t want to be faced with the prospect of life without Troy Connellan in it.

  What exactly did her career mean to her? Living most of her life with the unhavable could she really give up a career that was being handed to her on a silver platter? She didn’t want to abandon it. That was true. Her music meant a lot to her. But she didn’t want a career to be the sole focus of her life. After all she could still sing and write her songs without it. She had deep seated biological needs. She, the emotional orphan, wanted children. She wanted to be a warm, loving, nurturing mother. She wanted to fill a role her own poor little mother hadn’t been able to fill. She wanted to get back hope.

  All importantly, she wanted Troy Connellan to father her children. She had learned enough about him to know he’d do the job just fine. If only he’d come! She knew he had Lady Curtis, his godmother, staying with him. She understood it was for a few days. A lovely woman. Very easy to get along with. But for Casey, there was simply nothing she could focus on until she saw Troy.

  He found her underneath her old ute, her dusty booted feet sticking out.

  “Excuse me,” he said. “Would that be Casey McGuire super-star, under there?”

  There was a clatter of tools, a scrape of metal, a loud curse. “For goodness sake, it’s you, Troy!” She could hardly contain her delight at his arrival. She was a little mortified, too. Just think how she looked! In her oldest gear and covered in grease.

  She pushed on the trolley sending it scooting out from under the old ute. “I never expected you.”

  He studied her, a crooked smile on his face. She had grease on her nose, her forehead and her cheeks. Her faded denim shirt had seen much better days. Her jeans had a big hole at one knee. Her magnificent mane was all but hidden under a scarf tied pirate fashion around her head. Less said about her hands the better.

  She looked wonderful. “I’ve just seen Mabs and Leah off,” he said. “They’re returning to Sydney. It’s better for Leah. She was very close to Dad. Mabs will help her through the whole terrible business.”

  Casey picked up a cloth, wiped her hands. “And how are you holding up?” Her eyes narrowed over him, mesmerised by his male beauty. His face looked thinner. Drawn.

  “Turns out I feel a whole lot better seeing you. I love the scarf. It’s very dashing.”

  “Beats getting grease in my hair.” She whipped the scarf off, her hair cascading down her back and curling over her breast. “You came in the helicopter?”

  “Yes.”

  “How did it feel?” she asked with great empathy.

  He sighed deeply. “We have to be philosophical out here, Casey. Flying is a way of life. We won’t get the final report on what happened to
Dad and the Cessna for a while, but at this stage it seems he might have had a blackout of some sort. A bad turn.”

  “I thought he was in good health?”

  “He never gave any indication otherwise. I suppose you’re in good health until something goes wrong.”

  Casey winced involuntarily. “My heart goes out to you, Troy. You and Leah. No matter what problems you and your dad had, losing him must be a great blow.”

  “It is,” Troy said simply. “There I was heading for a big confrontation about my future and Dad was leaving this world.”

  “Don’t feel guilty about anything,” Casey advised him in a charged voice. “Accept what you must learn to accept. You loved your dad but you didn’t get on.”

  “Keep talking,” he murmured, blessing the day she had come into his life. “You know I like how you express yourself. Dad left me Vulcan. Outright.”

  “Ah, that’s good news, Troy,” she breathed, full of relief for him. “I know I didn’t make a good impression on your dad but he looked a man of integrity. An unhappy man, too. That alone creates problems. There didn’t seem to be a question about whether he would do the right thing.”

  He stared back at her gravely. “I’d like you to come back to Vulcan with me, Casey. Would you? I probably won’t get the chance to see you again before you go back to Sydney. When are you going?” He struggled not to show the sudden feeling of emptiness.

  “I should be there now.” She gave a little grimace. “Glenn is bursting to move my career along. That being said it kinda means I lose my independence, which is something I don’t want. Yes, I’ll come back with you, Troy. I’ll be happy to. You don’t look like you’ve been sleeping much. Maybe you’ll fall asleep in my arms.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  WHILE Troy sat and talked to Courtney and Darcy, Casey quickly showered and shampooed her hair, greatly comforted by the realization Troy in his grief wanted to be with her. She dressed in a new blue tank top with an ornamental black zipper down the side. Black sandblast jeans. In the heat her towel-dried hair was a mass of long loose ringlets but she could brush them out. Afterwards she threw a few things into an overnight bag and went downstairs.