Obsession Down Under

by MACADAM, LAYNE

“I turned the throttle too hard. The bike took off, and I lost control and took a spill.”

  “What the hell were you doing riding a motorbike? You can barely sit a bloody horse.” The delivery was loud, barbed, and unexpected, and set her hackles on the rise.

  “I sit a bloody horse just fine, thanks. And apart from a few cuts and bruises I’m all right.”

  “You look pretty shook up to me,” he shot back but then his face softened and he traced the graze on her cheek with a gentle finger. She thought he was about to apologize, but then Mark intervened.

  “Settle down, Whip, no need to go ballistic.”

  “Butt out.”

  Jessica placed a hand on Whip’s arm and reiterated, “I’m fine, really I am. No harm done. It was my own stupid fault anyway, I should never have accepted the dare.” Her words didn’t have the desired effect and only inflamed Whip more.

  “Dare!” The word exploded from Whip’s lips like a crack of thunder, he could not believe his ears. Jessica was injured as a result of a stupid dare, and from the damage the bike was sporting, they were both damn lucky she got off so light.

  “Jess is fine, Whip, no bones broken, just—”

  “Fine!” He rounded on them both. “No harm done! She’s got bark off her arm, her clothes are ripped to shreds, and have a good look at the side of her face before you tell me she’s fine!”

  “Ease up, Whip,” Drew hollered from his seat on the porch where up until now he’d remained a spectator.

  “Ease up! What if she’d been maimed and ended up in a wheelchair? What if she’d broken her neck and died, Drew, answer me that! You two are so bloody irresponsible, you always jump in feet first without considering the consequences. Jessie Rose is only wearing a cotton shirt, she’s lucky not to be needing a skin graft. Didn’t you think to wait until she’d at least had on some protective clothing before you issued your lame arse dare? She’s a city girl, for God’s sake. She’d never even been on the back of a bike until this week!”

  “It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, and we were just having a bit of fun.” Mark rubbed a hand over his head.

  “Fun. Yeah, ‘it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye,’ isn’t it?” Whip repeated his mother’s favorite quote. She’d recited it countless times whilst patching up either he or Travis when their skylarking resulted in blood being shed. Perhaps he was overreacting, but when he’d seen Jessie Rose injured his stomach flipped over and he felt physically ill. His reaction demonstrated how important she was to him, and he couldn’t bear to see her hurt or in pain.

  “I know it was stupid, and I’m sorry, all right!” Mark hung his head, his voice faltering.

  Sure, it was an accident. Mark wasn’t a bad kid, he just didn’t think, and it was about time he did before someone really did lose an eye.

  “Come on, bro, cut him some slack.”

  “Zip it, Drew,” Whip barked, determined to make a point.

  “Please, Whip, don’t,” Jessica interrupted. “It’s not his fault. I made the decision, I could have said no.”

  “Ah-hmm.” Cyril poked his head around from the side of the house, a hand rolled dangling from his lip.

  Four sets of eyes turned to him and waited. Cyril removed the cigarette from his mouth, exhaled a plume of smoke, and scratched his chin. “Gladys said when you three boys are done squabbling to bring the little lady into the house to be patched up.”

  Mark rubbed the back of his neck but didn’t speak. Drew likewise remained mute.

  “Thanks, mate,” Whip acknowledged and turned to Jessie Rose. “Come on, babe.” He cocooned her and ushered her up the stairs and into the kitchen where he knew Gladys would be waiting.

  The day following her spill, Jessica relaxed at the homestead. Whip had insisted she take it easy, so she baked a bit and read a lot.

  On the second afternoon she went out with Mark and Drew who were drenching the cattle. Whip made them take the Ute rather than the bikes and gave explicit instructions she was to do nothing other than watch. He was being way over the top with his protective attitude, but truthfully, she kind of liked it.

  The day after that, heart in mouth, she stood next to Cyril watching Whip and Travis break in the new horses. Travis had bought them at auction earlier in the week. When Whip took a tumble, she wanted to leap the fence and examine him for broken bones, but he just got up, dusted himself off, and got back in the saddle like it was no big deal.

  A big barbeque was planned for Saturday night in her honor to show her off to friends and neighbors. Laughter gurgled up her throat when he told her that. Still, she was both a little daunted and secretly pleased, and hoped she’d do him proud.

  Then from out of nowhere, Donna popped into her mind and darkened her day. Would the other girl be on the guest list? She and Annie were still friends, and Travis wanted them all to get together. Whip had been noncommittal. Annie had told her when he and Donna dated they’d all expected a wedding, so what was the story there?

  When Friday morning arrived, so did a phone call from Brenda’s school. There’d been an epidemic of influenza, and the principal, not wanting any of the unaffected girls falling ill, was seeking permission to send Brenda home a week early for summer vacation. With a number of teachers also stricken, it wasn’t as if she was going to miss out on any work. Whip agreed and said a family member would collect her later that morning.

  When he hung up the phone, his face was lit with undisguised pleasure. “I’m glad you’re going to get to meet Brenda. She’s a terrific kid, you’ll just love her.”

  “If she’s half as nice as the rest of your family, I’m sure we’ll get along like a house on fire. I can’t wait to meet her.”

  As it turned out it was Annie who volunteered to collect Brenda from school. Annie said breaking the news of Whip’s houseguest might be easier coming from her rather than one of the brothers. Although almost fifteen, Brenda was young for her age, and the boys had sheltered her all her life, so Whip’s sharing his bedroom with a lover might come as a bit of a shock.

  Annie and Brenda had not been in the car long when Annie dropped the bombshell.

  Whip had a female houseguest.

  This was the first time any of her brothers had a girl sleep over. Not even Annie had stayed with Travis before they were married. Of course, Brenda knew they’d slept together before the wedding. Duh. Despite what her brothers and Annie might think to the contrary, she wasn’t that naive.

  On the hour’s drive it took to get from school to Highland Glen, Brenda pondered long and hard on what Whip’s bringing Jessica to their home meant. The conclusion she drew was their relationship must be way serious. Annie assured her Jessica was real nice, and Brenda figured she’d have to be pretty special to replace Donna.

  When they arrived home she went upstairs and changed into her riding gear. But before heading to the stables she wanted to say hi to Gladys, who was predictably found in the kitchen baking.

  “Glad to have you home early, Princess.” The grandmotherly lady opened her arms, and Brenda stepped into her embrace for the customary hug.

  “So what’s she like, and tell the truth now?”

  Gladys’ pruned face transformed into the radiant smile reserved for special occasions. “Your brother’s done good this time, she’s a keeper and already like part of the family.”

  Brenda’s mouth formed a circle, but no words came out. That was high praise indeed coming from Gladys.

  “When will they be back?” she asked, taking a glass from the cupboard and filling it with water from the dispenser in the refrigerator door while she pondered where to ride.

  Gladys looked up at the kitchen clock and gave an indirect answer. “You’ve got time for a ride,” she said. “Mark and Drew are laying out feed in the West paddock.”

  Brenda
’s eyes widened and she coughed, almost choking on her drink. “How is it you always know what I’m thinking?” She spluttered. The old woman was uncanny like that.

  “Don’t take up poker.”

  Brenda laughed and putting her glass aside dropped a kiss on her papery cheek. “I won’t be too long, see you when I get back.” She skipped out of the house and went to the stables to saddle Misty.

  Less than ten minutes later she was trotting out of the barn. Once clear of the buildings she let the horse have its head and galloped out to where her two brothers were unloading fodder for the cattle.

  On spotting the duo she reined in the mare and dismounted when Misty came to a standstill.

  Mark, who was driving the Ute, pulled up and got out. Drew jumped down from the tabletop and reached her first.

  “Hey, Mudrat, how are you going?” He leaned over and gave one of her braids a tug. “Extra-long holiday this year, hey!”

  “Not bloody likely, Whip’s put a list of jobs as long as my arm on the fridge for her to do.” Mark grinned and tugged the other braid. “No slacking around here sis, best ride on home and get changed into your working gear.”

  “Bite me,” she shot back. “I may have fallen for that crap when I was a kid but not anymore, I’m up to your tricks.”

  “So, have you met Whip’s Yankee chick yet?”

  “Yankee? You mean she’s not Australian, she’s from the States?” Her earlier excitement fizzled out replaced by fear and uncertainty.

  “Yep, that’s usually where Yankees hale from.”

  “Annie conveniently left that bit out. I guess it can’t be too serious then?” Arched eyebrows puckered and drew together. Misty whinnied. Brenda patted the horse’s neck, settling the filly.

  “Serious, heck yeah. Thick as thieves they are. If it gets any more serious your big brother could tie the knot and move to the States.”

  “What!” The word was a screech, and her jaw dropped open in disbelief. Whip leave? Over her dead body. He ran Highland Glen, heck he was Highland Glen. Sure, Travis was too, but he lived with Annie now. If Whip moved out too, nothing would be the same.

  “You’re making it up,” she accused, unsure whether to believe them or not. Her brothers were notorious for tormenting and playing tricks on her, but they weren’t cruel, and they were very well aware that Whip’s leaving the country would be unbearable for her.

  “Making it up, uh-uh, no way, sis.” Mark laughed and hauled himself back into the Ute. “Look at it this way Bren, you’ll have somewhere exotic to holiday during vacation instead of working your butt off on the property.”

  “She could decide to live here.” The optimism in her voice was hard to misconstrue.

  “Nah, she’s made it clear the States is where she belongs.” Brenda dropped her head, her mouth compressed. “Cheer up Mudrat. I’m sure Jessica won’t mind having you to stay once in a while,” Drew added as he jumped up onto the back of the Ute, his laughter mixing with Mark’s.

  Nervous hands jerked on Misty’s reins. Brenda peered long and hard after the vehicle as it took off, spraying a cloud of dust in its wake. To say she was surprised, Mark and Drew were making light of the situation, was an understatement. Didn’t they realize what it would mean for all of them if Whip left? She loved all of her brothers, but Whip was head of the family. He made all the final business and financial decisions and he ran the property. Sure, Travis, Mark, and Drew, helped out, but Whip was the boss. If he left, where would that leave Highland Glen? Their breeding program was second to none in Australasia. Their cattle prime stock, were exported around the world all thanks to Whip. No, he couldn’t just up and leave - he’d be miserable in no time, and if her brothers were just going to sit on their bums and watch him ruin his life, then it was up to her to save him.

  Chapter 13

  As Brenda plodded back to the big house, mouth bowed down and shoulders slumped, her concentration focused on trying to engineer a plan to send Jessica packing. Whip was loyal to a fault, and if he cared about Ms. USA the way Mark and Drew implied, then her plan had to be foolproof and believable to keep him out of her clutches.

  Back in the barn she tended to Misty and then headed for the homestead. It wasn’t fair. Why oh why would Whip fall for an American? With dragging feet and drooping shoulders, she left the barn and made her way across the yard to the homestead and onto the veranda. The front door was open so she ambled into the cool foyer and then stopped. The door to Whip’s office was ajar, and a woman who could only be Jessica was seated at the computer.

  On impulse, she stepped behind the potted Golden Cane palm and with stealthy fingers, parted the fronds to better study the interloper hell-bent on breaking up her happy family.

  Long, shiny, dark hair, and kind of chubby, first glance revealed she was nothing special. Not glamorous or elegant like Donna. So what was the attraction?

  Brenda was still lost in thought when the telephone trilled, making her almost jump out of her skin.

  The shrill made Jessica turn from the computer and peer out the door. Their eyes connected as Brenda popped out from behind the plant. Jessica smiled, but Brenda didn’t return the greeting and instead ran down the hall to answer the call.

  “Highland Glen, this is Brenda speaking.” Her voice was breathy from running.

  “Good morning young lady, this is Reverend Butler-Reid. I’m trying to contact my daughter, Jessica. We’ve had a bit of a family emergency and I need to speak with her. I believe she is staying at your establishment.”

  “Establishment?”

  “Guesthouse, motel, whatever you call them down there. She’s there on a business trip with Book Browsers scouting for possible locations for new stores.”

  The penny dropped with an almighty clang. Business. Yeah, right, monkey business more like it. So Jessica had her own secrets. “Oh, right, just hold Reverend while I check the guest list.”

  She made a pretense of rustling some papers and smirked. Perhaps this was something that could be used to her advantage. “Yes, she is here. I do hope it isn’t bad news, Reverend.”

  “Well yes and no. Her mother had a health scare, but she’s recovering thank the Lord, and I felt Jessica needed to know.”

  “If you’d don’t mind holding, Reverend, I’ll see if she’s in.”

  “No, I don’t mind at all.”

  She rested the phone on the table and went to get Jessica.

  On entering Whip’s office she exclaimed, “I take it you’re Jessica.”

  “Yes and you . . .”

  “Your father is on the phone, there’s been some kind of family emergency or something. He wanted to know if you were staying at our . . .” Her voice drifted away, and she did the air quotes thing with her fingers. “Guesthouse. You can take it in the kitchen.” She made no apology for the blunt delivery or for her rudeness. Even when Jessica sprang up, her face ashen, the brief pang of guilt Brenda did feel left the room along with Jessica.

  Brenda wasted no time slotting into the vacated chair to check out what the other girl had been up to. She assumed she’d been on the Net, and her assumption was right. Jessica had been in the middle of answering her e-mails, and like manna from Heaven her account was still open. Sweet.

  A semi-composed e-mail to someone called Trish was in progress, and she had no qualms in reading it.

  Whip is nothing like we discussed, and Highland Glen is no two-bit ranch. I definitely struck the jackpot with this one!! Can’t wait to tell you . . .

  Gold digger. She’d read enough to get the drift so didn’t bother to read on. Instead, she rifled the inbox and found an e-mail from the Reverend. Quick as a wink it was forwarded to her e-mail account, his contact details might come in handy. Then she spotted a folder called ‘Whip’ and her heart gave a little lurch.

  There were s
cores of e-mails inside. They must have been carrying on for months. One that caught her immediate attention as she scrolled through the subject lines was All expenses paid trip to the land Down Under.

  She sat up straight and pulled back her shoulders. So, the skanky ho made him pay for her trip, did she? That e-mail too was sent to her account before continuing.

  The list seemed endless. Conscious that Jessica could come back at any moment she skimmed the titles with haste, but then, Dirty Talk and Scandalous Thoughts jumped out at her. Intriguing. Will I or won’t I? Whip would be furious if he found out, but she was doing it for the family. Her fingers flew over the keys, taking the decision out of her hands, and hey presto - that e-mail too was dispatched to her own inbox.