Claire's Prayer

by Yvonne Cloete

  It had taken a while for joy to return to Impunzi, but Naomi had never stopped loving the ranch. Even on her first day back after the tragedy, she had stood outside it with her eyes closed, absorbing the smells and sounds that were home. At her request, Seth and Tony had unwillingly left her to re-enter the house alone. Opening her eyes, arms flung wide, Naomi had spun slowly around. How she loved this place, and how she had missed it.

  Naomi wandered slowly through the house; everything seemed pretty much the same. Taking a deep breath, she walked into her parents’ room. It looked cold – every trace of them was gone. She sighed and closed her eyes, trying to capture the scent of her mother’s perfume. Nothing. There was no lingering presence here. Feeling a deep sadness invade her heart, Naomi hugged herself tightly and let the tears trickle freely down her cheeks. Falling to her knees in grief she collapsed against the bed her parents had shared and sobbed brokenly. This is too hard to bear, she thought. Then, seemingly from nowhere, strong arms lifted her up. She curled into Tony’s warm, vital body and clung there as her grief played out.

  Tony held her close, tears in his own eyes as he realized that he couldn’t make this better for her. Hurt like this needed to run its course, this he knew from bitter experience. From the corner of his eye, he saw Seth hesitating in the doorway, his eyes bright with unshed tears and his fists clenched in helpless frustration. Tony gathered Naomi closer and silently nodded to Seth. Turning away from them, Seth stalked off.

  After a long while, Naomi calmed. Tony poured her a cup of strong, sweet tea; then they opened the front door and walked slowly around the garden. For the first time, Naomi noticed that the sandbags were gone from in front of the windows, the only evidence of their existence the brown, dead patches of lawn that had been left in their wake. It was good to have the sun shining into the house again.

  Naomi had, from then on, kept herself occupied with ranch business. Her newly-completed design qualifications were put to immediate use as she spent many hours going over Seth’s plans for his vision of turning Impunzi into the big game viewing and fishing resort it now was, trying to imagine how their home could look. His excitement was contagious, and together they had formed a picture of their future.

  Now those plans were a reality, and Impunzi had gone from strength to strength since the day the antelope had come. With only one guest to care for, Naomi thought, this winter will be idyllic. Then she looked around and, almost bursting with joy, saw Seth’s sleek BMW pull into the ranch grounds and crunch to a halt.

  Claire stepped out of the car and stretched herself. She was still gazing at Impunzi’s rolling lawns, and was smiling ear to ear. Seth began to follow Claire as she started towards the house.

  “Let’s see about getting you that tea…” he began. Before the sentence was finished, though, Claire came to a halt, causing Seth to bump firmly into her.

  Running up the pathway towards them was a beautiful, vivacious young woman. Her dark eyes sparkled and her chestnut hair rippled behind her in the breeze, until she came to a sudden stop, right in front of Claire. Even though, at first glance, Claire judged them to be about the same age, this girl had a worldliness and independence about her that set them years apart. Claire’s heart sank – but, before Seth or Naomi could utter a word, she extended her hand.

  In what she hoped was a friendly tone, Claire said, “Hello, Mrs Henderson; I’m Claire.” Letting her eyes roam again over the beauty of the setting, she continued, “I think you have the loveliest home.”

  Taking Claire’s extended hand, Naomi grinned. “Hi, Claire – it’s such a pleasure to meet you.” She glanced at Seth, and suppressed a giggle. “But I don’t have the dubious honour of being Seth’s wife. Being his little sister is bad enough. I’m Naomi, and I’m glad you like the ranch.”

  Claire seemed to have caught Naomi’s contagious grin as the brunette rushed on past her, and threw her arms around Seth’s neck.

  “Hi to you too, big brother. How was the trip? Did you collect my parcels in town?”

  Lifting his hands in mock surrender, Seth pushed past both of them. “Slow down, Naomi! Could Claire and I have a drink before you bombard us with questions?”

  Naomi stuck out her tongue at Seth, but practically skipped back towards the ranch house to start making them a pot of tea.

  Claire, unaware that Seth was watching her, finally had the chance to take in her surroundings fully. The actual house was very large and built right up against a rocky outcrop. Huge boulders balanced precariously on top of each other, seeming as if they could topple over at any moment. As Claire drew closer to it across the lawn, she noticed that paved pathways had been laid, leading up into the massive granite display. Behind it, trees of magnificent height and proportion swayed in time to the silent melody of the breeze. The natural beauty of the place took her breath away and, for long moments after Naomi had run inside, she stood in silence just drinking in the beauty of her surroundings. Lifting her eyes to the cloudless blue sky, she softly thanked God for picturesque beauty of his creation. Claire found herself forgetting that she was not alone.

  Throughout her silent communion with nature, Seth stood unmoving, watching every emotion flit across Claire’s lovely, expressive face. He found himself strangely captivated by this sad Irish girl he had known for such a short time. Trying to make out the words she was mouthing to herself, Seth caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. Wanting to protect Claire somehow, from what he was not sure, Seth touched her shoulder gently. Then he turned and noticed two familiar members of his select summer staff, Moses and Josiah, hurrying to the car.

  Turning to face Seth, Claire felt the warmth of his hand and saw something else in his fathomless brown eyes – something she did not understand. Wide-eyed, all she said was, “Seth, it really is lovely.”

  Introducing Claire warmly to Moses and Josiah as the most capable of handymen, Seth asked the two colleagues quiet questions about the welfare of the ranch. Smiling as they lifted Claire’s bags, Moses, Josiah and Seth guided Claire towards the house. On the porch, Claire met Tony just as Naomi bounced back out, followed closely by a white-clad man pushing a tea trolley.

  “Claire, this is the last member of our extended family, Joseph,” Seth said. “He pretty much runs the household! He heads up all of the house and lodge staff when we have a full house, so he’s acting head chef now – and general behind-the-scenes miracle-worker. Any problems you have, Joseph will know how to fix them.” Seth winked at Joseph, who handed Claire a teacup with a wry smile. “And he’ll admire your appetite as much as I do!”

  Claire swiped at Seth playfully, but couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.

  Linking her arm through Claire’s, Naomi muttered something about domineering older brothers and proceeded literally to drag Claire into the cool interior of the entrance hall. Claire went willingly, deciding that she already liked Naomi – her enthusiasm was hard not to emulate. The women stopped and Claire took in the tastefully unusual décor of the entrance hall. A zebra skin dominated one wall, and a large, bronzed milk urn filled with dried grasses sat in the corner. A massive wall hanging made up of random oranges, greens and browns blended beautifully with the other autumn tones in the room.

  As her eyes darted around, trying to take in everything at once, Claire continued slowly to follow Naomi. To her left, a sign indicated that a closed door led to the office and reception area. Naomi went on ahead, and Claire followed her and Seth into the lounge. The far wall was, she now saw, the outside edge of one of the huge granite boulders she had seen as they arrived. Colourful rugs were scattered on the polished wooden floor, and large windows allowed a fantastic view of the garden, its trees and the massive ferns that grew amongst the boulders. Again, the colour tones were both warm and calming: muted golds, browns and oranges. An impressive television and video set stood on a wooden cabinet containing a veritable library of VHS, dominating one corner. In the other, a welcome fire blazed. Claire sensed that this house had be
en decorated with thoughtfulness and love.

  Seth handed Claire back her cup of tea, and said, “Have a seat, Claire – no need to stand on ceremony here. For tonight, you’ll sleep in the main house with us. Tomorrow, we’ll settle you into a lodge.”

  “We hope you’ll feel at home here,” added Naomi gently, her voice sounding unusually hesitant.

  “I already do,” Claire beamed.

  Chapter Five

  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.

  (1 Corinthians 10:13)

  Sunset found the four of them out on the patio, and again the awesomeness of Impunzi’s vista left Claire amazed. She was content to let Seth, Naomi and Tony carry the conversation as she gazed out into the expanse before her.

  The beauty of her surroundings seemed to wash over her soul in waves, restoring and soothing her. Tuning out the conversation between brother and sister, Claire revelled in the new peace that invaded her heart. She wondered, with this majestic beauty all around, how some people could deny the existence of God the creator.

  Naomi’s voice came to her through her pondering. “So, Claire, you’ll be with us for a while – that’s great! In no time at all, you’ll be just like one of the family.” Claire returned her smile, then started as a hollow metallic call came from the house.

  “Oh, good,” Naomi beamed; “there’s the dinner gong. I bet you’re hungry. Joseph finds it easier just to hammer on the gong at meal times – that way even if we’re far from the house we can still hear it.”

  Seth grinned and, watching Claire, commented, “I bet Claire’s starving – she sure can pack it away! A healthier appetite I have yet to see. You could take a few tips from her, Naomi. All those carrots and things you eat can’t be good for you.”

  Noticing the blush on Claire’s cheeks, Naomi playfully punched Seth, and ordered him to keep his unwanted opinions to himself. Grinning, Seth gave Claire an apologetic wink and led her into the dining room.

  A long, wooden table dominated the room. It was a deep, mahogany brown, and could probably, Claire thought, accommodate at least a dozen people comfortably. A woven grass mat covered the far wall, intricately designed in red and ochre, the background a smooth beige. One wall consisted of two long, sliding glass doors and, instead of pelmets for the sandy-coloured curtains, thick wooden rods spanned the length of the glass doors, the curtains being attached by wooden rings. Hostess trolleys and a long side cabinet took up the other side of the room.

  Claire ate with relish; the three-course meal that Joseph had ‘cobbled together’, as he had said apologetically, could have put any restaurant to shame. The liver pâté starter was followed by a succulent roast accompanied by fresh green vegetables and crispy roast potatoes, all cooked to perfection. Claire chewed her first mouthful of meat with slow deliberation, trying to identify the taste.

  Watching her, Seth questioned, “How do you like venison, Claire? This is Joseph’s speciality: he initiates all of our foreign guests with his stuffed impala joint.”

  Claire was surprised to find herself eating the very game that Seth was preserving on the ranch. Swallowing, she aked, “Is it impala from Impunzi? I thought you only did game viewing?”

  “We do,” Seth responded, with a smile. “It’s not from here – but you’ll soon see that venison’s almost more common around the bush than beef! Most of our neighbours are farmers.”

  “Plus it’s delicious!” added Naomi enthusiastically, her fork raised to her mouth.

  Reassured, Claire savoured the individual flavour of the meat and answered Seth’s original question. “Well… it’s really tasty! Different, but good.” So saying, she proceeded to clear her plate. Seth caught her eye as her final forkful disappeared, and smiled teasingly.

  “So, Naomi, what were you up to while I was gone?” Seth asked.

  Smiling, Naomi put a forkful of salad into her mouth and chewed before answering. “Well… I got Claire’s lodge ready and went around the ranch with Tony – we made a list of all the repairs and touch-ups that need to be done on the lodges.”

  “Mmmm?” Seth responded, and swallowed. “That’s good. We need to make sure everything’s sorted out before the next season.”

  “How many guests do you usually have in a season?” Claire addressed them both.

  “Depends,” Seth answered. “We’re stepping up our advertising, so when we’re open to the public again we should have a constant flow of tourists.”

  Naomi grimaced. “It gets really hectic around here. Some guests are easy-going but others can be very demanding. I do enjoy them all, though – helps to know the difficult ones are only here for a short while!”

  Lingering over the strong coffee brought to the table after their plates had been cleared, Claire marvelled at the changes the last forty-eight hours had wrought in her life. Just two short days ago she’d been still in Dublin, and now she could barely recall the biting wind or grey skies of home. Suddenly, she wished her parents were with her. For a moment she hadn’t been thinking about them – and now, unstoppably, she remembered everything. Claire felt suddenly guilty for enjoying herself. A rush of moistness filled her eyes, and she hastily rose from the table.

  “Thank you, Seth and Naomi – that was delicious. I’m… I’m just exhausted. Naomi, please would you show me to my room? I’d like an early night. It’s been quite a day and… well, thanks for everything.”

  Avoiding Seth’s searching gaze, and not waiting for him to speak, Claire left the dining room. Seth and Naomi shared a glance.

  Naomi, sensing Claire’s distress, quickly followed her. The bedrooms were upstairs, and each had a bathroom ensuite, Naomi told her calmly, hoping to distract her suddenly pale guest. She lay a hand on Claire’s arm as they reached the landing and Claire’s door.

  Thanking Naomi softly again, Claire stepped inside and closed out the world, friendly though it was. A wave of homesickness overwhelmed her and tears ran down her cheeks. How she missed her parents. Her heart ached as she wished they could be experiencing the beauty of Impunzi with her. After a while, the tears dried and a quiet acceptance filled Claire’s heart. Puffy eyed and slightly headachy, Claire drew and finally lay back in a full, hot bubble bath. She felt better now. Tears cleansed the soul and set the heart on the road to recovery. After unpacking clothes for the next day, Claire fell asleep with the words of Psalm 23 going through her mind. The Lord is my Shepherd…

  Downstairs, Naomi had gone back to the dining room. Not finding Seth there, she’d looked in the lounge. At first she did not see him. The main lights were off; only the firelight flickered, and cast strange shadows around the room. Just about to continue her search elsewhere, Naomi caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. Seth stood in the shadows, his back to her. He raised his hand and ran his fingers distractedly through his already-ruffled hair.

  “Seth, what happened just now? Did we do something wrong – say something wrong? She looked so sad.”

  Turning to face his sister, Seth walked over to the drinks trolley and poured himself a brandy. At Naomi’s refusal of a drink, he sank down in an armchair. With a sigh, he explained some of what Claire had told him during their long journey to the ranch – about how she was still coming to terms with her parents’ deaths. The shadows deepened and the fire slowly died down to glittering embers as Seth and Naomi sat together. Few words passed between brother and sister. They knew the pain of losing parents. Naomi rose from her chair, patting Seth on the shoulder. About to leave the room, she turned.

  “Seth…” she faltered. “Seth, maybe Claire’s someone you could talk to, about… about all of it.” In the silence she’d expected to follow her words, Naomi quietly left him.

  Alone in the darkness, Seth tried to analyse his feelings. There was something about Claire that really got to him – fascinated him. She touched something deep within him. He found himself watching her, and wanting to comfort and protect her.

  Suddenly angry with himself, he swallowed the re
st of his drink and went to his bedroom. Seth lay in the darkness, unable to sleep. He kept seeing Claire as she had been when leaving the dining room. So vulnerable and fragile, and so beautiful. Almost like a small child, trying to face up to life’s blows alone. He had wanted to go to her, and hold her, somehow to make her pain go away. Thumping his pillow agitatedly, Seth tried to block her image from his mind. She was just another guest at Impunzi. After her stay she would leave. Determinedly stilling his wayward thoughts, Seth shut his eyes and waited for sleep to claim him.

  Claire awoke to birdsong and the rustling of leaves. Despite the morning chill, she opened the windows and breathed deeply of the crisp country air. It was a lovely day. Life is good, Claire told herself, and God is still in his heaven. For a moment, all was well in her world – as well as it could be. Answering a soft knock on the door, she found a tray of tea had been left on the landing table. Lifting it to her bedside and climbing back under her covers, Claire enjoyed two cups of tea as she methodically tried to plan the days ahead. Eventually, hastily changing into jeans, a pink sweater and Reebok high tops, she tidied the room and zipped her cases closed. It was very quiet.

  Carelessly, Claire’s subconscious self wondered what Seth was doing. She felt a strange affinity to him that she could not understand or explain. As a person, he had won her respect; as a man, he had captured her full attention. The growing attraction she felt for him was strong and novel – and, she insisted, unwelcome. Her life had always been too full to bother too much with men. The boys that she knew in Ireland were younger than Seth, and had generally not elicited any reaction from her. Even with Rory, who had always tried so hard to make an impression, something had always been lacking. Seth was different: he was intriguing, handsome and strong. She got pleasure from watching him, the way he smiled, the way he walked, his lips when he spoke. He was solid, larger than life and… and best avoided.