Obsession Down Under

by MACADAM, LAYNE

  There was so much to see, and she drank in every sight, every sound. When they at last arrived at the northern pasture, Travis, Cyril, and a couple of roustabouts, were already there, hard at work.

  Whip pulled up, and she jumped off before he’d switched off the engine and kicked down the stand. He had a few words with Travis, who caught him up on progress before introducing her around.

  The next couple of hours were spent mending and replacing the fencing. She pitched in, making herself useful wherever she could. Mid-morning saw the project finished.

  “Come on over for a cup of tea and a bite to eat.” Travis was quick with the invite and his mouth curved into a smile. “Our cottage’s not far from here,” he explained.

  She was eager to accept but looked to Whip for his input.

  “To misquote the Bard, ‘Lead on, Macduff.’ You know I can’t resist Annie’s baking.”

  Both men straddled their bikes, and she climbed on behind Whip. It wasn’t far as the crow flies, but it was a bumpy, bouncy, teeth-rattling, ride over some arid rough country. The grass was the color of ripe wheat, and trees were few and far between on this patch of the property. At one point Whip pointed to his left.

  Jessica turned her head and spotted a couple of red kangaroos grazing in the distance. It was exciting seeing the marsupials, but by the time they arrived at the cottage, she was glad to get off the bike.

  Travis and Annie’s home could be called many things, but a cottage wasn’t one. Although not as big or grand as the homestead, it was a sizeable structure all the same.

  Annie met them at the door and smiled a greeting at her and Whip, but her face transformed when she saw Travis, who followed them inside.

  “I hope you don’t mind Whip and I dropping in unannounced?”

  “Good gracious, no! Take a seat the kettle’s just boiled. These guys will have regular tea, but we have any number of flavors, as well as coffee, hot chocolate, or perhaps you’d prefer a cold drink?”

  “No, tea’s fine.” Whip pulled out a chair, and she took a seat at the large kitchen table. He took the seat beside her and Travis sat opposite them.

  “How do you take it? Annie asked, measuring tealeaves into a pot.

  “White please, no sugar.”

  “Coming right up.”

  The tea and pastries Annie set before them went down a treat as they sat around the dining table in the big country kitchen.

  “This apple turnover is amazing.” Jessica licked cream from her fingers. “I don’t know when I’ve tasted anything so good.”

  “Yeah, Annie’s known far and wide for her baking. If Travis hadn’t snapped her up when he did, I would have married her.”

  “Now you tell me. If I’d have known that, I would have held out.”

  “Turn it up, you two. I was the catch of the county, and everyone knows Whip was too busy drooling over Donna Macklin to notice anyone else.”

  “Speaking of Donna, I heard she’s back in town.” Annie narrowed her gaze and turned her attention to Whip as she spoke.

  “Is that so?” He shoved the last piece of apricot pie into his mouth, thus avoiding further comment.

  “Really, I hadn’t heard.” Travis scratched the line of his jaw. “We’ll have to get together for a catch-up.”

  Jessica watched Whip for his reaction to Travis’ suggestion, but his face was a blank mask and gave nothing away. She only hoped her face was just as schooled.

  When it was time to go, Annie issued her own invitation.

  “I’m off to town tomorrow for a little R and R and retail therapy. You’re welcome to join me Jessica, if Whip can let you out of his sight, that is.” Hazel eyes sparkled and her lips parted, showing small even white teeth.

  “Ah, thank you, but I’m not sure what Whip has planned for us.”

  “You go honey and have a good time. I really should put in some hard yards with the irrigation system. Cyril said there were a few problems, and you’d only be bored.”

  “Okay, then that’s settled, I’d love to tag along.”

  “Great. I’ll swing by for you about half nine.”

  The morning was on the downhill run by the time Whip and Jessica arrived back at the barn to swap their wheeled transport for the four-legged kind. Whip saddled Rocket, his big roan stallion who was tossing its head and stomping the ground, eager to get out for a run. After saddling Millie too, the little bay mare whinnied as he gave Jessie Rose a leg up.

  She shifted in the saddle and patted the mare’s sleek neck.

  “She’s a gentle soul,” he reassured her as he vaulted onto the stallion and trotted out of the stable.

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “Mark’s got the calves on the eastern ridge. We can cut across by the dam, that way you’ll see a different aspect of the property, and we’ll still be there in time to give a hand with the branding,” he called over his shoulder and then stopped, amazed. Jessie Rose was nowhere in sight. With a flick of the reins, he wheeled the stallion around and headed back to the stable.

  “Giddy up. Giddy up. Oh come on Millie, cooperate. Please don’t be stubborn or I’ll have to get really cross.”

  His face split in a grin at Jessie Rose’s attempts to coax Millie into a walking start with mere words alone. “How many lessons did you say you had, babe?” His throaty chuckle must have grabbed her attention, because she raised her eyes to his.

  “Four, but they were on a horse. You didn’t tell me Millie was a mule.”

  He chortled at her stubborn expression. “Dig your heels into her flanks and show her who’s boss.”

  Jessie Rose spent the next few minutes trying to do just that. He relaxed in the saddle and watched with glee, but when she cast a woebegone look his way, pity took over. He edged Rocket closer and leaning down slapped the mare on the rump to get her moving. “There you go, babe. That’s all there is to it.” He grinned as she trotted past him, and pulling on the reins turned Rocket to follow her out.

  Jessie Rose, though, hadn’t been born to the saddle, and Millie proved to be more than a handful. He realized her riding instructor’s comment of her being unbelievable was not meant in a good way, but she was enthusiastic and determined to persevere and followed his instructions without complaint.

  Whip and Jessica arrived to the smell of burning hide, dust clouds, and a loud racket. She wrinkled her nose and tried to ignore the odor and wailing cattle as she reined Millie in, but the smell was pungent and the noise a deafening din. Two or three cattle dogs yapping and nipping at the cows’ hooves added to the noise and confusion.

  Nearby, half a dozen men who were busy attending the cattle acknowledged them with a wave. She recognized Mark and Drew as they broke away from the group and lobbed over. Drew helped her down.

  “Hey, Jess, glad you could make it.”

  “Yeah, we weren’t sure whether you’d have the stomach for it, being a city girl and all.” Mark made it sound like a challenge.

  A muscle twitched in her cheek and her chin came up. “It is a little daunting, but I’m anxious to experience as much of station life as I can. I might never get another opportunity.” She spoke louder than normal so her voice could be heard above the noise of the complaining cattle.

  “Come on then, and I’ll show you firsthand what we do from start to finish. You can help me and the boys separate the calves from their mammas if you like.” Drew clasped her hand and towed her after him without waiting for her agreement. She threw a backward glance to Whip, who cheesy grinned her and shrugged his shoulders. He and Mark then set off in the opposite direction to join the other men who were busy branding the first lot of calves in the enclosure.

  “Now don’t get too close, Jess, ‘cause the mamma cows can get a wee bit cantankerous,” Drew understated as he led her over to where tw
o young men and a couple of cattle dogs were busy herding the calves away from their mothers.

  It was kind of sad. The cows were kicking up a ruckus at being separated, and the dogs snapped and yipped at their hooves like a pair of demons. At first glance it looked like total chaos, but as she watched it became evident there was, in fact, a method to it.

  “You just stand by the gate and close it after we herd this lot through.”

  “Sounds simple enough.” She wiped her brow with the back of her hand and then took up her position and waited. When the calves were chased through, she swung the gate closed and latched it.

  “Now that you’ve got another set of hands, I’ll head on over and pitch in with the mustering,” one of the young men said, and then tugged the brim of his tan Akubra before vaulting onto a horse and riding away.

  She continued to work with Drew for the rest of the afternoon. The temperature soared and the dust and grime got up her nose and onto her clothes. Apart from that her job was easy. But when Gladys, Cyril’s wife, arrived with sandwiches, a Thermos of coffee, and fresh-baked banana bread, Whip called a halt to activities and she was not about to complain.

  The snacks were delicious, and Whip and his brothers had Gladys blushing like a young girl with their sweet-talking praise. It became apparent that the wizened little female was a pivotal member of the McGregor family.

  The break was over all too soon and it was back to work. Jessica groaned as she stood, but she didn’t hesitate getting back to the job at hand.

  The work didn’t require much concentration on her part, despite that the afternoon flew, and it was late when the last of the calves were herded into the pen for branding.

  “Jess, are you sure you don’t want to reconsider and give it a go?” Drew asked for the third time in the last hour.

  “Uh-uh, no way. I’m usually willing to give most things a go and I know it has to be done, but I feel so sorry for the little guys. And what if I messed up?” she said as she let a calf nuzzle her hand.

  “Last chance.”

  “No, I’m good.”

  “No argument from me, babe.” Whip arrived, catching the tail end of the conversation.

  “Last chance for what?” Mark asked, coming up behind.

  “Branding. Jess has been a huge help. I thought she might like to give it a go.”

  “Huge help — I don’t think so.” Jessica rolled her eyes. “A minor one, maybe, but it’s nice of you to say so.”

  Whip glanced at her with inquiring eyes. A definite shake of her head had him turning back to Drew.

  “She looks all done in. I think it’s time I got this little lady home.” He looped his arm around her shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze.

  “See you back at the homestead then,” Mark said, and Drew lifted his hand and waved.

  “Okay.” She raised a smile, and then Whip guided her over to where he’d tethered their horses.

  Millie was grazing under a lone tree.

  “Hello, girl.” Jessica patted the horse’s neck.

  Millie whickered, and Whip gave her a leg up. She settled into the saddle and took a firm grip of the reins. Whip then vaulted onto his stallion, and they all set off at a slow walk.

  About an hour later, when they arrived back at the homestead, one of the hired hands attended to the horses, and that was a godsend. A hot shower, a cold drink, and if truth be told, a good nap was tempting, but bone weary or not, she’d promised to cook dinner.

  Whip told her not to bother, that they’d fix something light later and insisted she go upstairs and relax in a hot bath while he attended to some paperwork. But the men had worked so much harder than she, and her mother’s words echoing in her head haunted her. “A promise is a promise, Jessica. Your word is your bond, remember that.” So when Whip disappeared into his office, although feeling like a shattered wreck, she ambled down the hall and into the kitchen, her intent to wash her hands and then check out supplies.

  A pleasant surprise awaited her, and an automatic smile bloomed on her face when she pushed open the door. Gladys was bent over the oven humming a tune and busy putting two chickens in to roast.

  “Please tell me they’re for dinner?”

  Gladys looked up, her gray eyes crinkling. “I figured you’d be tired after helping out all day, you being a big city girl.”

  “You’re a life saver, Gladys.”

  She would have kissed the thin, birdlike little woman if she’d had the energy. “Can I do anything at all to help?”

  “No, it’s all under control. You go on upstairs and freshen up,” she said, adding a large tray of vegetables to the oven. “And put on a pretty frock, get gussied up for your man.” Her tone softened, and her eyes brightened at the reference to Whip.

  Jessica didn’t need to be persuaded. Whip had mentioned that Gladys had commenced work as the station cook when he was knee high to a grasshopper. But when the McGregor parents were killed in an air crash when the twins were eighteen and Brenda not even two, she’d stepped in and taken on the role of housekeeper, disciplinarian, and surrogate mother, leaving the shed cooking to a newcomer named Riley. Not that anyone called him that nowadays. To everyone he was just Cookie.

  “If you’re sure, then I’ll go and get cleaned up.”

  “You do that, love.”

  Jessica headed straight upstairs and into the bathroom. After a long hot soak in a rejuvenating bubble bath, she took Gladys’ advice and put on a pretty dress. Whip was already showered and dressed. He waited while she added a touch of makeup and perfume before leading her back downstairs for dinner.

  The family was gathered in the dining room. Drew handed her a cold glass of white wine and Whip a beer. They settled into an easy discussion about the day’s progress that continued over dinner.

  Many hours later and back upstairs in the master bedroom preparing for bed, Jessica was glad she’d taken Gladys’ advice.

  “Well, babe, it seems you’ve accomplished the impossible,” Whip announced, studying her from his chair.

  “How so?” she asked, intrigued, releasing her hair from the French roll and kicking off her high heels.

  “You’ve won Gladys over.”

  “I think it must have been the dress that did it.” She laughed, slipping out of her red spaghetti-strapped dress. “She told me to get gussied up for you, and I was too intimidated not to.”

  “She’s fiercer than a mother hen in the chicken coop when it comes to us McGregors. She and Cyril don’t have kids, so when our folks were killed, she stepped in and took over. Having no other family I guess you could say she’s the closest thing to a grandmother we have.”

  “You’re lucky to have her.”

  “Yes we are, and I’m lucky to have you here too. So get into that bed woman and let me show you just how appreciative I am.”

  Girlish laughter bubbled up Jessica’s throat. Naked and eager to be ravished, she slipped under the sheet and held it up in open invitation. He crossed the room in a heartbeat, slid in beside her, and folded her into his arms.

  “Did I ever tell you, you have the best tits ever?”

  “Mmm, but I don’t mind hearing it again,” she informed him as he leaned down and drew the tip of one into his mouth.

  Her fingers tunneled his hair, and she sighed with rapture when he started to show her just how much he did appreciate her, and it was divine being made love to by this most extraordinary man.

  Chapter 12

  The next day, Annie arrived midmorning as arranged dressed in a sleeveless print dress and sandals. Jessica was eager for their shopping spree. “So where are we off to?” she asked.

  “Armidale. It’s a quaint little town a good hour’s drive away. Very different from New York.”

  “I don’t doubt it. So have you bee
n to the Big Apple?”

  “Mmm, two or three times. Travis and I went there for our honeymoon, and the guys sometimes cross the pond for business. I tag along now and then.”

  “That must be quite a drain on the property?”

  Annie widened her eyes. “Not at all. It’s just a drop in the ocean.” She paused and tapped her lip as if contemplating what more to say if anything, and then she expelled a breath. “The family was left very well provided for and Whip’s acumen for business has increased their worth exponentially. The property is Travis and Whip’s passion. I guess they take after their dad in that regard, it was a hobby of his, but it’s not their only source of income. The twins currently run the other companies, but when Drew and Mark finish their business degrees they’ll step in and take control.”