It didn’t help that Hannah kept talking about him and asking when they would see him next, like he was a part of the family. Abbie hoped that today would show him in a different light and that the man he had been with them was just one side of Lachlan McGuire. At home, in his own surroundings, he might be someone quite different.
The countryside all looked the same out here: long, dusty paddocks with minimal amount of livestock. The odd kangaroo or emu picked at a tussock.
Abbie had driven this way a few times before when visiting Maddie and Dylan. As they passed the driveway of their friends’ house, Abbie stared down the long dirt road and wondered what Maddie would say if she knew Abbie spent her nights fantasising about Lachie McGuire.
Abbie and Hannah continued down the road another few minutes before reaching the sign welcoming them to Brigadier Station. Her stomach flip-flopped knowing that within minutes, she would see him again. Hannah started chatting loudly, her excitement rising the closer they got.
Finally, the modest, white homestead appeared and Abbie pulled up out front. The door to the house opened and Harriet and Lachie came spilling out. Hannah was out of the car and running to them before Abbie had even unclicked her seatbelt.
“Hi.” Abbie waved as she emerged from the car. Lachie was kneeling in front of Hannah, deep in quiet conversation.
Hannah was so attached to him. This could only end in disaster.
After a warm embrace, Harriet took Abbie’s hand and led her inside. “How about some smoko? I’ve made Anzac biscuits.”
The smell of baked goods filled the house, and Abbie’s stomach rumbled just thinking about it. The two women chatted while they drank tea and waited for Lachie to come in with Hannah. When he finally did, the little girl’s cheeks were pink and there was dirt on her shirt.
“I want a chicken,” she announced as she pulled on her mother’s sleeve. “They have six hens and one rooster and there are eggs that will hatch into chicks, and Lachie said we could have one.”
“I said if your mum agreed you could have one.” Lachie picked up a biscuit before sitting in the vacant seat next to Abbie.
Hannah turned pleading eyes on her mother. “Can we? Please?”
“I’ll think about it.” Abbie used her go-to response.
“Let’s wash your hands,” Harriet said, directing Hannah to the hall. “Do you like lemonade or juice?”
Abbie smiled at their retreating backs then turned to Lachie. “She’s been talking about you ever since you left.”
Lachie’s gaze was surprised but thrilled. “Has she?”
Abbie nodded and hid behind her cup. “Have you been resting?”
“I have. You can ask Mum if you don’t believe me.”
She put on her most crisp, professional voice to hide the thundering of her heart. “And how’s the pain?”
He shrugged. “Getting used to it.”
She wanted to ask him if she could take a look at the wound. To reassure herself he was healing and not just telling her what she wanted to hear. But she didn’t trust herself to touch him. Not when the images of his shirtless torso were still so vivid in her mind.
She swallowed. “When’s your follow-up appointment?”
His blue eyes fixed on hers. “In two weeks.”
She nodded, caught in his stare. “I’ll make sure I’m rostered on then.”
He had missed her. Lachie had tried not to think about Abbie Forsyth since he had returned home. When he hadn’t been working on the computer, he had been reading a novel Darcy had lent him. The love story in it had particularly struck a chord. The hero didn’t believe he was worth loving until the right woman came along and loved him for the man he was, warts and all. It had made Lachie wonder, hope really, that maybe Abbie would do the same for him. If she was willing, that was.
Hannah was as bright and bubbly as always. He had certainly missed her cuddles and sweet words. Being with them had shown Lachie what he was missing. He was in his mid-thirties, all his friends had settled down, and he was still single. Was that really the life he wanted?
Could he find someone who would love him despite his history and all his bad decisions? Could that person be Abbie?
Hannah made herself the centre of attention and Harriet gushed over her. She had so much love and affection to give the young girl, and Hannah seemed to enjoy their time together as much as Harriet. Lachie laughed at Hannah’s jokes and, when she came over and perched on his knee, he bounced her gently, enjoying her closeness.
He observed Abbie from the corner of his eye. She was ever watchful, making sure her child was safe and enjoying herself. Lachie could only imagine what it must be like to be solely responsible for a whole human being. To know that their entire happiness depended on the choices you made and your actions.
Moving to the outback could have been a terrible mistake, but instead, Hannah was thriving, learning and discovering new things, like how to pick up a chicken.
“Has Darcy left then?” Abbie asked.
Lachie nodded. “He and Meghan had an appointment to get to in Townsville so they flew out yesterday.
Harriet collected the empty mugs. “It was just like old times having him here. But he couldn’t wait to get back to his wife.”
Lachie rarely envied either of his brothers. They were both happy living their lives with the women they loved and doing jobs they enjoyed. But over the last few days, when Darcy spoke about Meghan, or when Lachie heard them speak on the phone, Lachie was reminded that they had something he didn’t. The love of a good woman. Someone to share everything with. The good and the bad times. He realised now that he’d always held a part of himself back, even when he’d been engaged to Meghan. He’d never found a woman who made his breath falter or made him want to risk everything for.
He’d never realised how much he wanted that.
He stole a glance at Abbie. She was exactly the kind of woman he liked—long, wheat-blonde hair, full, luscious lips, and eyes that saw into your soul.
Hannah leaned back against Lachie’s chest and looked up at him with her big round eyes. “Could you show us around the station?”
“Are you sure? There’s nothing much to see except dirt, dust, and broken fences.” He shrugged.
“I wanna see where you grew up,” Hannah insisted.
Lachie glanced at his watch. “Okay, we could have a quick tour.”
Abbie stopped him before he stood up. “We wanted to drop by and see Maddie and Dylan on our way back. Are you sure there’s time? I don’t want to interrupt them while she’s making dinner.”
“There’s still plenty of time,” Lachie said. “Like I said, there’s not much to see.”
“Is this why I got the front seat?” Abbie asked as she clipped her seatbelt back in. “So I can open and close all the fences?”
Lachie sent her a heart-melting smile. “There are only a couple more.”
In the back seat, Harriet was pointing out various birds and landmarks to Hannah who seemed totally engrossed by the tour.
“Do you own all of this or do you share it with your brother?” Abbie asked.
“Brothers—I have two. Darcy you know, and Noah is working in WA with his girlfriend, Riley,” Lachie explained as they bounced over a pothole. “But to answer your question, yes, I own it. I inherited it when our father died over ten years ago now.”
“What’s it like? Being in charge of all this?”
“Well, there’s always something to do and always bloody bills to pay.” He shifted the gear and his hand bumped her leg.
“Ten years, huh? Isn’t that about as long as this drought’s been going?”
He nodded. “Drought’s been going a bit longer actually. We did get a little bit of rain a couple of years back, but not enough to make a difference.”
Abbie smiled and tried to imagine this landscape in shades of green and cream instead of the browns it was now. “What was it like before the drought?”
He caught her eye and held her
gaze for a moment before turning back to the road ahead. “The pastures were full of beautiful fat Droughtmaster cattle and we had frogs.” He smiled. “They would croak so loud we couldn’t sleep. Now, it’s quiet. So very quiet.”
Abbie watched him as he gazed longingly ahead. “I hope the rain comes soon. I’d like to see that.”
“See what?” Her daughter chirped up from the back seat.
Abbie turned to look at her. “We were talking about frogs.”
“Where?” Hannah moved closer to the window and studied the landscape.
“You won’t see any out there, squirt,” Lachie said. “When it starts raining, that’s when they’ll come back.”
They continued their short tour to the windmill, then to the paddock by the river where a handful of creamy cows were dozing under the shade of some gum trees.
“Those are the only ones left here,” Lachie explained as they watched from the vehicle. “All the others are on agistment down south.”
They watched as some cockatoos flew between the branches above the cattle, then Lachie put the Land Cruiser back into gear.
“We should head back if we’re going to see Dylan and Maddie before it gets too late.” Abbie said.
She let her mind wander as they drove the short distance back to the house. Could she see herself living out here? So far removed from town? It had the potential for being devastatingly lonely. Not for strong, hardy women like Harriet and Maddie though. Those women seemed made for country living.
It couldn’t be that bad. Could it?
From the way Hannah chatted, she would be very happy to move out here this very moment. She had already named the chickens and was trying to convince Lachie to get her a poddy calf next breeding season.
Lachie parked the car and everyone got out. After collecting her bag and keys, Abbie said her goodbyes to Harriet.
“You two are welcome here anytime. It’s been such a pleasure having you.”
“Thank you for having us. It’s been lovely.” Abbie hugged Harriet before turning to Lachie.
“Would you mind if I came with you?” he asked. “To Dylan’s? I haven’t heard from him since the party.”
Abbie nodded. “Of course. Did you want to drive with us?”
“No, I’ll follow in my ute.”
“Can I go with Lachie?” Hannah turned to her. “Please?”
Abbie knelt down to her daughter’s level and spoke softly. “He doesn’t have a car seat and it’s only a short drive to Maddie’s.”
Hannah’s shoulders slumped but she didn’t argue. Instead, she climbed into her seat and waited patiently.
The convoy pulled up at the neighbouring homestead a while later. Maddie came out and hugged them in greeting. “To what do I owe this visit?”
Abbie smiled and nodded at Lachie who was being led away by Hannah and Jamie.
“We were visiting Lachie so thought we’d drop by.”
“Were you now?” She quirked an eyebrow. “Is something going on between you two?”
Abbie looked away from her perceptive friend. “No, of course not. Just checking in on a patient.”
Maddie put an arm around her shoulder. “I like Lachie. He’s a nice guy, but he has a past.” Her tone was serious and tender. “He used to be quite the womaniser. And drinker. Most nights of the week he was at the pub, so just be careful. I don’t want to see you or Hannah get hurt.”
Abbie nodded. She knew Lachie’s reputation before he had sobered up, but that wasn’t the man she knew. That was the old Lachie. He hadn’t even made a pass at her and the little flirting he’d done had been in good humour.
Unless he wasn’t interested in her. Maybe he simply wasn’t attracted to her after all.
Then Lachie was beside her, shaking hands with Maddie. “Where’s Dylan?”
Maddie’s face glazed over with concern. “He went out a few hours ago.” She looked at her watch. “He should’ve come home by now actually.”
Abbie swallowed and caught Lachie’s eye. Dylan wasn’t in the best mental state these days, and Maddie had confided in her that they were on the brink of bankruptcy.
“Is he alone?” Lachie asked and pulled out his phone.
Maddie nodded and the women waited while Lachie called his neighbour.
He shook his head. “Voicemail. Did he take the radio?”
Maddie nodded, but when they tried that there was still no answer. Abbie had to push down the rising panic in the pit of her stomach. “Why don’t Lachie and I go and look for him? Can Hannah stay here with you?”
Maddie’s lip quivered. “We had an argument. I told him I had applied for a job. Telemarketing I could do from home.” Abbie hugged her friend as her voice hitched. “What if he’s done something stupid?”
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Lachie said, climbing back in his ute. “Stay close to your phone.”
Abbie gave her a squeeze before following Lachie to his vehicle. “It’ll be okay,” she called as they drove away.
Lachie handed her his phone. “Call Mum and ask her to come over straight away. I have a bad feeling about this.”
Abbie did as he asked without question.
She had the same bad feeling.
Chapter 8
The engine hummed and the ute bumped over the sun-hardened ground. Neither of them spoke. Abbie prepared herself for the worst. She had learnt to listen to her gut, and all signs were pointing to there being something terribly wrong.
Dylan hadn’t answered his phone or radio. That meant he couldn’t reach it. Even with spotty reception, Lachie had assured her phones would work anywhere out here.
Farm accidents were a common cause of injury in the outback and the cause of most of the emergencies she dealt with at the hospital. Vehicle rollovers, electrocution, and drowning were all possibilities.
But given Dylan’s state of mind and the fact he had argued with Maddie, Abbie was worried it was something else. Either he had disappeared or worse.
Lachie straightened in his seat, and she felt the tension transmit from his body. She turned and looked in the direction he was staring.
The fading sun glimmered off the top of Dylan’s red ute like a beacon drawing them in.
Abbie gulped as Lachie sped towards the vehicle. She studied the scene as it came into view. Lying on the ground were a pair of denim clad legs and workboots; the rest of the body was hidden behind his vehicle.
No sooner had the car rolled to a stop than she was throwing open the door and running over. Her sandals filled with the gritty dirt as she ran and she inhaled the dry air, thick with the stench of death.
She froze. Vomit filled her mouth.
Birds. Pieces of skull. And blood.
Oh, so much blood.
Lachie moved and shielded her view of the scene with his body.
She stared at the buttons on his shirt and focused on her breath. She would never be able to forget what she had just seen. It would be stored away with the other victims and patients she had lost.
She had never seen anything like this before though. Never known the victim before.
“I have to check for a pulse,” she said, more to herself than him.
He turned and looked over his shoulder briefly. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Their eyes met in shared pain and anguish. “I have to help if I can. You need to call triple zero.”
He held her gaze for a moment as though assessing if he could possibly talk her out of it. Then he nodded and pulled out his phone.
She listened to him explain the situation as she walked slowly to the body.
The rifle he had used lay on the ground to his right.
She waved her hands and shooed the pair of crows who were feasting on the meat from the hole in the back of Dylan’s head.
He was dead. She knew it before she pressed her fingers to his neck and felt nothing but cold, hard flesh.
Dylan Sears, husband, father, and friend, had taken his own life.
The smell of bodily fluids and blood finally got the better of her, and she stumbled to her knees then crawled away from the body before heaving up her stomach.
Lachie pulled back her hair and gently rubbed her back. “The police and ambulance are on their way.” His voice helped to calm her from the panic she felt rising. “There’s nothing we can do. Or could have done.”
Tears blurred her vision. She wiped her mouth then turned into his open embrace, wanting, needing his comfort and assurance.
“I didn’t think he would do it. I thought he was over the worst part.” She hiccupped.
“Me neither.” He stroked her hair, and she felt a warm wetness drop onto her forehead.
Abbie wrapped her arms around his back, and they held each other tightly as their sobs joined together as they mourned the loss of their friend. She had the feeling that this would irrevocably change them.
Both separately and together.
“Did you find him?” Maddie voice was full of hope at the other end of the phone, and Abbie steeled herself to deliver the news.
“Is Harriet there yet?” Abbie asked. Maddie would need someone there with her.
“Yes. Abbie, tell me.”
Abbie closed her eyes, hoping for the blank darkness they offered, but instead she saw Dylan’s mutilated head and the glassy, faraway look in his eyes. “I’m sorry. There was nothing we could do.”
There was a thump on the line as though the phone had been dropped, then all Abbie could hear was her friend’s wailing cries and Harriet’s soothing voice. She hung up and said a silent prayer, hoping she could send her love and strength to her.
Lachie had found a blue tarp in his ute and had covered the body.
The crows were finally gone, but the stench remained.
“Have some water,” Lachie said and handed her a bottle. She took it from him and drank deeply. Her throat was dry and scratchy from her earlier despair.
“How long do you think they’ll take?” she asked, referring to the emergency services.
“Maybe another half hour. Did you check on Hannah?” He stood next to her, leaning against the ute as the sun descended.
The Legacies of Brigadier Station Page 6
