The Bridesmaid's Wedding

by Margaret Way

  Corrie Gordon’s twenty-first birthday ball.”

  And Ally was sixteen. Overnight turned from a tall, graceful, skinny, tomboy who used to pop up out of nowhere into the most alluring woman. How had it happened so fast? One day she was still caught up in the craze to go fishing for barramundi, the next she was wearing a dark green velvet dress with long tight sleeves, a low oval neckline that showed the sweet curve of her delicate breasts and a swaying bell of a skirt. Instead of

  riding boots, evening shoes with the glitter of diamanté adorned her feet, her customary untidy plait as thick as a rope transformed into a gleaming dark cloud of curls that framed her beautiful vivid, face.”

  “My God, would you look at her!” Brod, at his shoulder, had cried, the brotherly pride vibrant in his voice.

  “If she isn’t Aunt Fee all over again!”

  Even then Brod’s remark had struck at him forcibly like a cold fist, though he had buried the remark deep. Fiona Kinross had gone away when she was only a few

  years older than Ally.

  Now Ally slowed up to face “You’re not a bit fun any more,” she accused.

  “I’m not into dancing any more.”

  “It’s a bit early to give it up,” she lightly mocked. “You were a wonderful dancer. Everyone used to stop to watch us. It’s funny how big men can be so light on

  their feet. I expect in your middle years you’ll stomp around like John Wayne.” She lifted her curly head.

  “This one for me? Please, my Raphael. My angel.”

  “No man in his right mind should get so close to you, Ally,” he. said, feeling skeins of desire unravelling.

  “Remember how I used to call you that? My angel. You with the golden hair and the golden skin and the dazzle of your eyes.”

  “Lay off, Ally,” he said, his iridescent eyes flickering with deep buried hostility.

  She arched her swan’s neck and gave a great big sigh. “Hell, Rafe you’re not going to turn into a frog?”

  His reaction was immediate. Fierce, a little savage. He threw out one arm and jerked her to him, holding her body very closely against him, his breaths coming deep and harsh. “What is it you want?”

  She strained back a little so she could stare into his taut, handsome face. “I want you to marry me.” Now that she had said it, it almost stopped her breath.

  “What?” His deep voice was a thunder. She could feel the force of his anger like it was live.

  “I said, I want you to marry me.” A sudden rush of tears giittered in her eyes.

  He knew he was a heartbeat from losing it. Maybe less. “Do you actuall mean it or is this some cruel joke?”

  “Never.” She shook her head. “I want you. I need. I love you.”

  “You mean you want to ruin me.” He gave her a terrible look of contempt.

  “How could I ever do that?” She tried to put everything she felt for himinto her eyes.

  “I couldn’t stand your going away, Ally.” he grated. “I couldn’t stand it then. I couldn’t stand it now. My wife has to be with me. I have to know she’s there. I have to know she’s someone who’s going to want our children. Who’s going to be there for them. Look how Fee wrecked lives. Your cousin Francesca had a miserable childhood. I suppose to this day her husband doesn’t feel free of her.

  All of which was true, but Ally fought . back. “Don’t transfer Fee’s curse to me, Rafe. I am not Fiona Kinross, I’m Ally.”

  “And you want me to take you back?” he asked with hard incredulity.

  “You’re going to take me back,” she flared with her own powerful temper.

  Incredibly he laughed. “You’re right, Ally. I’m going to take you. You want me to make love to youl, don’t you? Like wild sex is going to heal everything?”

  “Not wild,” she said very gently, touching the tips of her fingers to his sculptured mouth. “You have to be careful with me, I’ve got fading bruises all over my body, I have this forearm l have a big scar buried in my hair.”

  “You know all about seduction, don’t your?” He took her face between his hands, outlining her wide beautiful mouth with the tip of his tongue, deliberately teasing her

  when he could feel that rising, head-spinning, extravagant passion.

  “I’m not ashamed of it,” she said, her dreamily beautiful emerald eyes closed. It wasn’t said in arrogance, or triumph, but ar simple statement of fact. Yet it gave him the lash -he needed.

  “Well, it’s not on, Ally.” Very slowly he released her, gratified his voice sounded cool, and ironic though it cost him a huge effort. “You ’re as spellbinding as ever you were, but I’m older and wiser now. l still retain a handful of my marbles. It don’t.know what’ s the matter with you today. I suppose the ordeal that Harper put you through has made you a little afraid. Your injuries have slowed you down, but in another few weeks you’ll be out of that cast. Your head will be properly healed and you’ll be thinking about resuming life. Your real life, that is.”

  All her blossoming hopes plummeted. Sure she hadn’t thought it was going to be easy. “So what do I have to do to prove I’m on the level?”

  He looked down his straight nose at her. “I don’t know if you can, Ally,” he said, trying to sound philosophic. “Maybe you are. Maybe you aren’t. Who knows with a woman? Let alone your kind of woman. I tell you what..-” He took her, arm with great courtesy. “Why don’t we leave the whole thing alone until you’re feeling more like yourself? I was thinking we could have an early lunch then take the horses out. I’ve heard all about your exploits in the jeep, now I can find you a quiet hack, not the usual temperamental firecracker you go for, and ride to Pink Lady creek. It’s literally covered with the most dazzling waterlilies. You’ll like thatl”

  “Thanks, Rafe,” she said quietly, knowing she was outmanoeuvred.

  But not outmatched!

  “It was midafternoon. They were returning to the house after a ride of real companionship based on their mutual love of the land when they heard the sound of a chopper splitting the quiet air. It was apparent the chopper wasn’t putting down at the airstrip, the sound was coming even closer.

  “That’ll be Grant,” Rafe said, screening his eyes with his hand and looking skyward. “He’s early, I didn’t expect him until sundown.”

  “It will be nice to see him,” Ally said, with genuine affection. It would have been marvellous to spend the rest of the time alone together, but Ally had always been

  fond of Grant. “He’s been mad about aircraft since he was a kid. Now he’s made a thriving business out of it. I suppose you worry?” She knew he would. None of them after the Cameron fatalities had ever felt really safe.

  “I try not to,” Rafe sighed. “But it’s not easy. Grant’s all I’ve got.”

  “And me. And Brod.” She glanced at him.

  “And Lainie,” he added slyly. “I expect you’ll see her one of these days.”

  They saw her a lot sooner than expected. Grant set the helicopter down as lightly as a bird-on the lawn While they watched from the verandah.

  “He’s got someone with him.” Ally crinkled up her eyes against the brilliant sunlight. All hopes of having Rafe to herself were vanishing.

  “I’m afraid so. Party’s over.”

  The rotors slowed, then stopped. Grant was out on the grass helping his passenger to alight.

  Lainie.

  “Speak of the devil,” Ally moaned.

  “How can you say that of such can sweet girl? Smile, Ally, they’re on their way.”

  “Howdy, you two!” Lainie yelled, and began to wave. “I cadged a ride with Grant.”

  “That’s just awful!” Ally glanced wryly at Rafe. “Did Grant really have to tell her I was here?”

  “Surely you want to have a word with one of your biggest fans?” he countered, amusement in his hazel eyes.

  “I suppose I must,” Ally sighed. “I don’t know why I’m speaking like this. Ilike Lainie. There was a time we used to laugh ourselve
s silly.”

  “I take it you’ve sobered up?”

  “Especially since she’s taken a great interest in you,” Ally told him tartly. “I expect you’re the one she’s really come to see.”

  “Let’s find out.” His face under the black akubra he still wore had a casual poer.

  Lainie and Grant made their way across the lawn to the front steps, Grant looking very much the action man in his khakis. Lainie dressed attractively in a rather fetching drawstring peasant blouse of many colours teamed up unexpectedly with tight designer jeans. Her thick fair hair, one of her greatest assets, flapped in the breeze as beautifully groomed as a show pony’s mane.

  “Ally, great to see you!” Lainie gave her infectious laugh. “As soon as Grant told me you were visiting I insisted he let me join in the fun.” Her sparkling eyes moved to Rafe. “Why didn’t you let me know, Rafe Cameron? Ally is one of my dearest friends.

  “I would have, Lainie,” he drawled, “only it took me ages to clean up the house.”

  Lainie leapt up onto the verandah, about to give Ally at big hug, stopping when she saw the cast on her forearm. “Oh, you poor thing! That’s awful. We were all absolutely dismayed when we read what had happened to you in the papers. Mum said you made one mistake when you left the bush.”

  Before Ally, could react, Grant went to her and kissed her cheek. “Hi, Ally. It’s true, we’ve all been anxious about you.”

  “And you’ve got so thin.” Lainie’s tone suggested Ally was visibly losing weight by the second. “That dress is hanging on you.”

  “That’s what it’s supposed to do, Lainie,” Ally said. “I need things that are easy to put on.”

  “And end up with something very easy on the eye.” Rafe’s mouth curved in an appreciative srnile.

  “Thanks for that.” She turned her head to him.

  “Not really. I just loved looking at your bare legs when we were out riding.”

  Lainie wheezed abruptly, then started to cough “You rode in that?”

  “I’ve, got nothing to hide. I tried but there’s no way I can manoeuvre myself into jeans,” Ally said. “I’ll have to wait until the cast comes off.”

  “Yes, but…”

  “Shut up, Lainie,” Grant said calmly.

  “I’ve had some news from Fran that might interest you, Grant.” Ally briskly changed the subject. “She’s quit her job.”

  “Blimey. I thought girls like her didn’t need a job,” Lainie interrupted. “Lady Francesca de Lyle. I thought Fran was just filling in time until she married a jolly old lord.”

  “So what is she going to do now?” Grant locked onto Ally’s gaze, ignoring Lainie entirely.

  “I think she wants to spend more time with her mother.” Ally had the air of a woman who thought it a very good idea. “She can always get a job here.”

  Lainie fought to contain herself, failed. “It’s all your fault, Grant. You were making goo-goo eyes at her at Brod’s wedding. Leading her on,” she teased.

  “I was not!” he clipped off, bristling just a little. “Don’t get my goat, Lainie, or I won’t drop you back home.”

  “Only joking. Can’t you take a joke?” Lainie punched him playfully on the arm. “I think Francesca is absolutely lovely and she sounds such a princess. I quite see why you were smitten.”

  “What about a coffee or a long cold drink?” Rafe smoothly intervened. “Are you going back right away, Grant?” He turned to his brother.

  “I’ll wait for Lainie,” he said in an all-suffering voice. “Relax for a while. What else did Fran have to say?” he asked Ally as they all walked indoors. “More to the point, when is she thinking of coming?”

  “I expect she’s after him,” Lainie confided to Rafe in a whispered aside. “Some of those old aristocratic families haven’t got a razoo any more.”

  In the kitchen Lainie took over the making of the coffee with brisk efficiency, the men wandering off as soon as they saw she was handling it. “Aren’t you a bit nervous over at Kimbara all on your own?” she asked Ally, going to exactly the right cupboard for coffee cups and saucers.”

  “I’m not on my own, Lainie.” Ally stood over by the window, looking out. “There’s Ted and Cheryl. All our people. Any one of them would come to my aid if necessary.”

  “I know. I meant on your own at the homestead.” Lainie ground fresh coffee beans, continuing to talk over the noise. “Heavens, I could never manage to find my way around.”

  “Not for me. So what have you been up to?” Ally asked, trying to divert Lainie without real hope of success.

  “We’ve got a new dog, Kaiser,” Lainie announced, looking pleased and proud. “He’s magnificent.”

  “Don’t tell me, a German shepherd.”

  Lainie laughed, selecting the largest plunger. “We love the breed. I know cattle dogs are more to your taste.”

  “Kimbara is a working station.”

  “So, when are you off again?” Lainie. asked brightly, making heroic efforts to hide her jealousy.

  “Give me time, Lainie,” Ally pleaded wryly. “What’s all this about?”

  Lainie bit her lip. “You and Rafe are just friends. So you said?”

  “So?”

  “Gee, I don’t appreciate having to ask you this, but have you any plans for staying over?” Lainie’s fair, attractive face grew hot and ruddy.

  “The things people ask you,” Ally sighed. “Actually I packed my toothbrush.”

  “You didn’t!” Lainie stared back at her horrified, glancing swiftly in the direction of the hallway asRafe came back into the kitchen.

  “Can I carry something out? ” He couldn’t fail to notice Lainie’s open-mouthed expression. “What’s up?”

  Lainie felt so close to crying she couldn’t hold back. “You’ve never asked me to stay over.” She couldn’t control her sudden hostility, towards Ally.

  “What do you mean?” Rafe looked from one young woman to the other.

  “If Ally’s staying, I’d like to stay, too,” Lainie told him firmly. “We could make up a foursome and play cards.”

  “Are you crazy!”

  “Now there’s a mood booster,” Rafe drawled. “The only snag is, Ally isn’t staying over, Lainie. Neither are you. I’ve learned how to protect my reputation.”

  All anxiety left Lainie’s face. “You tease, Ally,” she said. “You and the toothbrush!” You always like to kid around. I was just asking Ally how long she’s going to

  stay with us, Rafe. When are you going back to Sydney, Ally?”

  “When it’s safe,” Ally offered laconically.

  “I can never work out if you’re, fooling or not,”

  Lainie complained. “That wretched Harper. Y ou’ll have to make sures he stays away. Anyway, now you’re going to be a famous movie start you’ll be surrounded by security people. It’s so exciting when you come to visit us. We envy you all your glamour.”

  She was jealous. Of course she was jealous,” Ally thought, but she’s making her point and being Lainie, hammering it home.

  “Where’s that coffee?” Grant’s voice called nearby. “I feel like I’ve een waiting for hours.”

  Laiuie smiled brilliantly in Rafe’s direction. A woman who would be relied on to be there. “Be right out!”

  CHAPTER TEN

  ALLY had Cheryl up to the house to help her, prepare for Fee’s and David’s visit. They were arriving at the weekend, taking a domestic flight to the nearest Outback terminal where they would be picked up by Grant.

  Bedrooms were opened up and aired, fresh linen fragrant with the scent of the native boronia, placed on the beds. Little welcoming touches were brought in, books, ornaments, the bathroom stocked with fresh fiuffy towels, bath mats, washers, soaps, bath gels, toothpaste, hand creams, little luxury items. Cheryl went down the list, marking everything off. Fresh flowers would be placed in the rooms on the morning of arrival. A It was exciting to have members of the family at home, Cheryl thought, happily going about
helping Ally. Brod andRebecca, the new Mr. and Mrs. Kinross, would

  return home at the end of the month. Kimbara would blossom. Stewart Kinross hadn’t used friendliness as a means of communication. His children did.

  With a couple of hours of daylight left Ally decided to take the jeep. out for a short run. She needed to think and the desert fringe was the place to do it. She’d received a long, newsy letter from Bart Morcombe, the director, with an accompanying script for a film the brilliant young New Zealand director, Ngaire Bell, was seeking to make. It was an adaptation of a fairly recent prize-winning Australian novel set in colonial times and

  offering a very challenging role for the female lead.

  “This will take you right up the ladder of success,“Bart had written. “Haven’t I told you all along you’ve got the right stuff for a major actress?”

  She wasn’t the only actress Ngaire saw in the role but apparently the brilliant director had been very impressed when she spotted Ally in an episode of her country doctor series. “She loved your appearance and personality, Ally,” Morcombe wrote. “The kind of passion you’re able to generate. I really think you should forget the other project and concentrate on getting into Ngaire’s film. I tell you it’s a showcase role. And you being a Kinross from a landed family would have the background off to a T.”

  Ally read the script through in one sitting. She couldn’t put it down. But strictly speaking, wasn’t her interest professional, much in the way she would devour the performance of an acting icon like Dame Judy Dench or Katharine Hepburn. Where was her own drive to success? The absolute conviction she wanted to play this part, allowing Ngaire Bell would even settle on her for the lead. Surely she would snap up established stars. It was a risky business starring a relative unknown. But then it happened. Bart hadn’t talked about budget, big or small. The film would be shot on location in and around Sydney before moving inland for the Outback scenes. No exact location as yet.

  Ideas were buzzing in Ally’s head as she headed out to the sand gravel flats. She she had seen them so often smothered in wild flowers, “the white and golden glory of the daisy patterned plains,” as some bush poet had put it. She only intended to run out a few smiles to Moorak Hill, another monolithic red rock to the northwest. It was a spot that gave her great pleasure. A small stream, more a tranquil shallow, billabong lay at its feet, a haven for waders and small birds who made their nests out of the large hollowed-out branches of fallen trees. Desert rivers and streams were marvellous places, their cool refreshing beauty providing such a contrast to the