Whispers At Wongan Creek

by Juanita Kees

  Travis grinned against Heather’s mouth and lifted his head. ‘You know what you’re taking on, right?’

  ‘Yes. I wouldn’t have it any other way.’

  Then he was kissing her again and her mind wandered far away from the festivities.

  Chapter 24

  Travis hugged Heather closer and pressed a kiss to the creamy skin on her shoulder. He couldn’t believe his luck. She’d come back. To stay. And she was Harry’s granddaughter. Could it get any better than that? He’d woken up every morning for the last three weeks and thanked her for coming home—Travis Bailey style—with his heart and his soul.

  She’d loved the plans for the lifestyle village and was full of ideas for the running of it. They’d agreed to adopt Casey as a couple and she hadn’t hesitated to put her signature to the papers which made him love her even more. Casey’s smile was even bigger, and life was great.

  Heather stretched against him and sighed so he let his hand play on her hip and trail over her thigh then make lazy circles on her stomach. She snuggled closer and he knew exactly how to wake her up. He nibbled her ear and when she yelped and turned her head towards him, he pressed his lips to hers.

  ‘Morning, beautiful.’

  She smiled. ‘Hey.’

  God, he loved her smile, her face, every inch of her body and soul. ‘I missed you when you were gone.’ He told her that every morning in case she forgot and didn’t realise how thankful he was she’d come back. Hopefully she never got tired of hearing it because God help him, he meant every word. He’d never thought it possible to love someone so deeply.

  Heather cupped his face in her hands. ‘I missed you too.’

  ‘Can I show you how much?’

  ‘I think you showed me well enough last night. And the night before.’

  His hand travelled up her belly to her breast. ‘I need a reminder.’

  She turned her body to align with his. A perfect fit, his body agreed, so he continued his exploration with his lips. ‘Was that a purr?’ he asked against her throat.

  ‘A little one.’

  He covered her body with his. ‘I like it when you roar.’

  Heather laughed and dragged his head up to kiss his mouth hard. He was happy to reciprocate but just as things were getting interesting, Heather stiffened under him.

  ‘Travis, is that Mrs Everett’s bus coming up the drive?’

  Robbie barked out a friendly rap from his spot on the veranda outside the window.

  Travis sighed and rolled away to find his boxers. ‘And here I was hoping it was your engine running on high revs.’ He pulled them on and pushed the blinds aside with his finger. ‘Ah, shit.’

  Heather propped herself up on her elbows and he turned to look at her. ‘Who is it?’

  ‘It’s my parents. This could be good or it could be very bad.’ He ran a hand through his hair and searched for his T-shirt. He found it near the bedroom door, picked it up and dragged it over his head, shoving his arms through the sleeves.

  Heather got out of bed and pulled her clothes on. ‘I’ll put the coffee pot on and wake Harry and Casey.’

  Travis pulled her closer and kissed her hard. ‘Sorry, baby.’

  ‘Don’t be sorry. Go out there and welcome them home.’

  Her encouraging smile said she had his back—and his front—so he squared his shoulders and made his way through the house onto the veranda. He pulled the fly screen closed behind him just as the campervan pulled up in front of the house. He waited as his parents climbed out and received a warm welcome home from Robbie who danced in circles and peed himself with excitement.

  The first thing that struck him was how beautiful his mum looked with her short, greying hair cut in a bob and the healthy colour to her skin. The second was how much his dad had aged since he’d seen him last.

  Travis stamped down the disappointment that it had taken them so long to come home. He’d tried to call them to let them know about Zac but they were out of mobile range. So he’d left a message and hoped they’d healed enough to come back for the trial.

  ‘Hey, guys, you’re home!’ It would always be their home, no matter how much they tried to avoid the sad memories the farm raised. He walked down the steps into his mother’s open arms, wincing as she hugged him tightly. ‘Jeez, Mum, have you been working out?’

  Barbara Bailey laughed. ‘Got to get rid of the bingo wings somehow. It’s good to see you, son. The place looks great.’

  ‘Thanks. Hi, Dad.’

  ‘Travis.’ His father’s features remained stony.

  Great. Nothing had changed. There’d be awkward silences all through breakfast, lunch and dinner as usual. When would he ever forgive Travis for screwing up?

  ‘Oh come on, Edward. You can do better than that,’ Mum scolded. ‘For God’s sake, lighten up.’

  His father scowled but moved forward to give him an awkward man hug. His mother smiled and then her gaze rose to the veranda.

  ‘Oh, who’s this then, Travis?’

  Travis looked back over his shoulder and smiled. ‘Mum, Dad, this is Heather.’ He walked up the stairs and put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her into him, seeking her warmth and comfort before pressing a kiss to her temple. ‘She’s going to be my wife.’

  ‘Are you asking me or are you telling me?’ Heather nudged him in the ribs.

  ‘I propose to you every morning, sweetheart. Every night too. And sometimes in the middle of the day when we get the chance.’

  ‘But I like words, Bailey.’

  Heather smiled at him and his heart melted a little more. If she wanted words, he’d give her every single one in his vocabulary until she kissed him to shut him up. ‘I’ll give you words. And actions.’

  His mother walked up onto the veranda with his dad close behind her. Her gaze flicked between them, taking in Travis’ arm around Heather’s shoulders and the look on his face he knew would tell her all she needed to know. He loved Heather with everything left in him to love.

  ‘Well, this is a wonderful surprise. Lovely to meet you, dear.’

  ‘She’s also Harry’s granddaughter,’ added Travis.

  ‘Harry’s granddaughter?’ Edward’s eyebrows got lost in his hairline.

  Heather smiled and held out her hand for him to shake. ‘That’s right. Harry and Eileen’s granddaughter.’

  ‘Oh my!’ gasped Barbara. ‘So the rumours were true then!’

  ‘Close your mouth, Barbara. Things like that happened. Even back then.’

  ‘Oh shut up, Edward. See what I have to put up with?’ She hooked an arm through Heather’s and drew her away from Travis’ side. ‘I hope you’ve got the coffee pot on, love. I think I’ll need a strong one to hear this story.’ With her hand on the fly screen door, she turned and said, ‘Edward, you be nice to Travis now while Heather and I catch up. If you’re good, I might even save you some coffee.’

  Travis tried hard not to chuckle and failed. He muffled it with his hand as he caught the warning in his father’s look. ‘Sorry.’

  Edward placed his hands on his hips and watched his wife disappear into the house. ‘Don’t be.’ He turned his head to peer out over the paddocks. ‘You sold the cattle.’

  Travis rubbed his nose. Was that an accusation or an observation, he wondered. He’d never quite known with his dad. ‘The south-west is Angus beef country now, Dad. The cows didn’t like getting gold dust in their teeth.’

  ‘You always were a smart arse, Travis. You’re growing canola.’

  ‘It’s the new gold.’

  Edward nodded. ‘Looks good. Why are Harry’s sheep in our paddock?’

  ‘He keeps losing them. This way I know where they are. And he and Robbie are living with us for a while.’

  ‘Fair call. He’s bad then?’

  Travis sighed and rolled the stress from his shoulders. ‘He has good days and bad days. Now we have Heather, it helps. He might not remember who you are though, so be prepared.’

  Edward nodded again.
‘Heather seems like a nice girl. Eileen’s granddaughter, hey? Go figure. Your mother has a sixth sense about these things and I can see she likes her.’ He looked around. ‘You kept the sofa.’

  Travis patted the worn arm. ‘It has good memories.’

  ‘I used to sit out here and read stories to you and Tracy, show you the stars.’

  ‘I know, Dad. I remember.’

  ‘It was hard. Losing her. Twice.’

  No one knew that better than him, so Travis kept his mouth shut.

  ‘It wasn’t your fault, son. Not what happened at the party and not when she … went missing.’

  ‘Did Mum tell you to say that?’

  Edward ran a hand through his hair. The white patch of fringe used to be gold like his son’s. It stood out against the grey streaks in his dark hair. ‘No. I just realised I never said it when I needed to.’ He tossed the campervan keys in his hands. ‘I never meant to make you feel like it was your fault. I should have listened to you that night. Let you go to that damn party and bring her home. Your mother and I should never have let her go in the first place. I heard they put him away.’

  Travis sat down on the sofa and put his feet up on the rail. He didn’t need to ask who his father was referring to. ‘We nailed him, Dad. He’ll be paying his dues for a very long time. I’m sure he’s a favourite with the inmates already. Hopefully they’ll let him live long enough to stand trial.’

  Edward sat next to Travis and toed off his running shoes. ‘Good job, son. You stuck to your guns on that one.’ He put his feet up on the rail. ‘I heard Harry’s building a retirement home next door.’

  ‘Lifestyle village.’

  ‘Will they play canasta on Fridays?’

  ‘Canasta, chess, play dates—whatever.’

  ‘I think I might buy one of those cottages for your mother and me. What do you think?’

  Travis raised an eyebrow. ‘Does that mean you’re hanging around for a while?’

  Edward shrugged. ‘Can’t run away forever. I’m sorry I did. I shouldn’t have left it all up to you.’

  ‘Maybe it’s what needed to happen, Dad.’

  Edward held out his hand to his son. ‘Are we good?’

  Travis looked at the hand shaped so like his own. ‘We’re good.’

  They shook on it and spent a few quiet moments staring out over the creek at the hills rising above it.

  ‘Trav?’

  ‘Dad?’

  ‘Why does Harry have a daisy field where his canola used to be?’

  Travis grinned. ‘So he still feels like a farmer.’

  Harry pushed through the fly screen door. ‘Where the hell are my bloody sheep?’

  Travis laughed hard and rubbed his eyes, his fingers coming away damp, happiness bubbling in his gut. ‘Shift up, Dad. Make space for the old bastard so he can see his sheep.’

  Harry squeezed into the tight gap on the sofa and stretched his legs out as far as his arthritic knees would allow. ‘Ah, there they are. My little beauties.’ He looked at Edward. ‘Who are you?’

  ‘You don’t remember me? Edward Bailey. Travis’ father.’

  Harry grinned. ‘I remember you. Just making sure you remember who you are. Took you long enough to remember where you lived.’

  Travis shook his head. ‘Harry, you really have to learn to play nice with the other children.’

  Edward sighed. ‘He’s right. I can’t argue with that.’

  Casey came padding out, her princess pyjamas wrinkled and her red curls tangled. She climbed onto Travis’ lap and stared at the man next to him. Frowning, she looked at Travis.

  ‘What’s up, sweet pea?’

  ‘I’m confused, Uncle Trav.’

  He smoothed her curls down and watched as they sprang up again. ‘Why are you confused?’

  ‘Well, when you marry Heather she’ll be my new mum because you’re my new dad and then Harry will be my new poppy so what do I call my old poppy?’ She took a breath and let it out on a sigh.

  Travis chuckled. ‘That’s a good question, sweet pea.’

  Edward ruffled her curls. ‘Sounds like one we need to figure out over coffee. Should we go inside and work it out?’

  ‘Might wanna put some pants on first, young bloke,’ said Harry, pointing down the drive and reminding Travis he still only wore his boxer shorts. ‘The cavalry’s arrived.’

  Through the dust kicked up by the tyres, Mrs Everett’s bus appeared, followed closely by Doc Benson’s four-wheel drive and Riggs’ police wagon.

  ‘Oh man,’ grumbled Travis as all hope of being alone with Heather any time soon evaporated. ‘Casey, go warn Heather to clear some space in the fridge. I see casseroles and apple pie coming.’

  The bus pulled up to a stop and as the door opened, the ladies of the CWA poured out, arms laden with goodies.

  ‘Heard you and Barbara had come home, Edward,’ said Miss Turner. ‘About time too.’

  ‘It wasn’t like I had a choice, Virginia. I believe your instructions were quite clear. Something about getting my backside home to Wongan Creek or I wouldn’t be able to sit for a month? I guess it was just as well we were on our way home already.’ He turned to Travis. ‘We had no mobile signal for a while and only got your message about Harry going missing and Zac’s arrest when we got to Darwin.’

  Travis shrugged. ‘Doesn’t matter, Dad. You’re here now.’

  Edward squeezed his son’s shoulder. ‘It’s where I want to be.’

  Doc Benson and Riggs joined the crowd on the veranda and there was a bit of back-slapping and man-hugging before they all filed into the kitchen through the fly screen door. The noise level rose as the ladies reunited with his mum.

  Travis spotted Heather at the kitchen table, her hands cupped around a mug of tea. He walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She patted his forearms with one hand and kept a hold on her mug with the other.

  ‘It might be a while before we get the place to ourselves around here,’ he whispered in her ear.

  She turned her head and smiled then pressed a kiss to his lips. ‘We can always sneak over to Harry’s old place,’ she whispered back.

  ‘It’s a date.’ He sealed the deal with a kiss before pinching Heather’s mug out of her hand but kept his face close to hers.

  ‘Hey!’ She made a play to get it back. ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Take a look around you.’ He let his gaze follow hers around the table.

  Mrs Everett sat at the table with her knitting out and showing Casey … Oh my God, is that a pink baby beanie? The thought made his heart pound. The kettle and coffee pot were getting a workout with the ladies of the CWA gathered around the kitchen bench. His dishwasher would be pretty busy cleaning all those cups and mugs Miss Turner had taken out of the dresser. Mum reached into the fridge for bacon and eggs. Dad and Riggs argued at the back door of the kitchen over who could cook them best on the barbie, and Robbie sat next to Harry’s chair all dopey-eyed from an ear scratch.

  He watched Heather’s face as she saw what he did—the smile that spread her lips, the light in her eyes as she took in the scene around them and the kiss she pressed to his cheek that almost made him forget the point he was trying to make. He raised her mug in a toast. ‘Say hi to your new family, sweetheart.’

  Thanks for reading Whispers at Wongan Creek. I hope you enjoyed it.

  If you’d like to know more about me, my books, or to connect with me online, you can visit my webpage www.juanitakees.com, follow me on twitter @juanitakees, or like my Facebook page www.facebook.com/juanitakeesauthor.

  You can also follow me through my publisher’s page here www.escapepublishing.com.au

  Reviews can help readers find books, and I am grateful for all honest reviews. Thank you for taking the time to let others know what you’ve read, and what you thought.

  If you liked this book, here are my other books: Under the Hood and Under Cover of Dark (The Tag Raiders Series)

  This book was published by Es
cape Publishing. If you’d like to sample some more great books from my fellow Escape Artists, please turn the page.

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