Raven Falls: Australian Rural Romantic Suspense

by Suzanne Brandyn

  Water covered at least a quarter of the land stretched out in front of her. Cattle congregated on whatever dry land they could find on the top of hills, rivulets joined the creek but there wasn’t a sign of Brad or any of her brothers. She idled downward, trekking through the muddy earth that she suspected would be dry within a few days. The ground had been so baked it was sucking in moisture like there wasn’t going to be a tomorrow.

  As she manoeuvred the quad toward the top edge of the creek beside the mountains, she drew back a gasp. The back fence on one of the paddocks had vanished and several cattle lay dead. She ran a sweeping gaze downstream, and decided to follow the creek as best as she could.

  After combing downstream, and with no sign of Brad, she turned and took the rise further upstream from where her brothers found her. It took a while to navigate through the mud and slosh and when she couldn’t spot Brad, she ventured toward the mountains away from the creek.

  As she came up over the top of the rise, she spotted him walking away from the creek.

  ‘Brad. Brad!’

  She sped closer, and he glanced up.

  ‘Sam. Sam you’re okay.’

  She pulled up and tried to climb from the quad, but her injured foot slowed her down considerably.

  He closed the distance between them.

  ‘I combed this bloody creek all night looking for you. When I couldn’t find you downstream I thought perhaps you headed upstream looking for me. I still couldn’t find you so I was going to take a breather near the Falls.’

  ‘I did the same thing, that’s why I’m up this way.’ She managed to climb from the quad and leaned back for support.

  ‘You don’t look too good. Are you okay?’

  ‘Sleep is all I need.'

  'There are a few things I’d like to say before we head back.’

  ‘What’s so important that it can’t wait?’

  ‘Sam. I was distraught when I couldn’t find you. So knocked about, I found it difficult to concentrate. I thought I’d lost you.’ Desperation carved through his words.

  ‘You won’t get rid of me that easily.’ She plastered a fake grin to her lips. ‘Climb on. We’re friends that have experienced a few hiccups, that’s all.’

  ‘I guess so. Let’s forget about the past and look toward to the future.’

  Samantha wasn’t so sure about his last statement. Look toward the future. A shudder wobbled up her backbone as she positioned herself back on the quad.

  With the feel of his hands over her hips, and tears in her eyes Samantha knew this was and had to be the last contact she had with him. It wasn’t wise to disrupt her heart all the time. If she kept on going it would invite a heart attack, especially with the way it throbbed in her chest all the way back to the house.

  Cameron, Steven and Christopher had already returned and were out on the back veranda when they pulled up.

  ‘Bloody hell. Look what the cat’s dragged in. Brad. We’re pleased you’re safe, mate. We were heading out again after a quick bite.’

  ‘No need. Your sister came to the rescue.’

  ‘Where in the hell were you? After we found Sam, we combed downstream looking for you,’ Cameron stated.

  ‘I took the rise and went upstream after I’d covered downstream searching for Sam. I thought she might have managed to get to safety and was looking for me.’

  ‘You did it, Sam. You found him.’ He directed his words toward Samantha.

  ‘There was no sign of him downstream. What other choice did I have?’

  ‘Apparently the storm was pretty intense.’

  ‘I need to ring Tracey to see if she’s okay.’

  ‘My mobile. God no. It’s gone. I lost it in the creek.’ Samantha shook her head. Panic set in. She had all the photographs she taken on her holiday in her phone. ‘That’s just great. I’ve lost all my photographs, everything.’

  ‘Didn’t you upload them to the computer?’

  She slowed in the course of her panic, and eased out a breath. ‘That’s right. I’d forgotten.’

  ‘I’ll order you another phone. You can use mine.’ Steven pulled out his mobile and handed it to her. ‘You could use the landline, you know.’

  ‘It’s a struggle to get around if you haven’t noticed.’

  ‘I still have my crutches. They’re adjustable. You can use them.’

  ‘Thanks Chris.’

  When he returned, Samantha couldn’t remember a time that she had to use a pair of crutches. After Christopher adjusted them, she propped one under her arm and pushed up on her good foot. When she positioned the other and took a step, she almost toppled. Brad reached out and grabbed her in time. If he left it any longer she would have been flat out on that floor.

  ‘Thanks.’ Her voice trembled, but that wasn’t the only part of her autonomy that experienced a slight flutter.

  An uncomfortable feeling pressed into her back. ‘Ouch.’

  ‘What’s ouch for?’ Steven asked.

  ‘My back’s a bit sore.’

  ‘Let me have a look,’ Cameron stood and approached her. She turned her back toward him, and pulled up her shirt a little.

  ‘Hell, Sam. Sit down. That needs dressing.’

  ‘What is it?’ Samantha eased back onto the lounge, sitting askew.

  ‘It’s a bloody mess. The skin is broken and it’s black and blue, bigger than my fist. It doesn’t look good.’

  She recalled the thump in her back. ‘I know now. A log rammed into me.’

  Cameron disappeared and returned with some ointment and dressing.

  ‘You should become a nurse, Cam.’

  ‘Yeah, as if. Hell, you were lucky, mighty lucky you didn’t come out in worse shape.’

  ‘Give us a look sis,’ Christopher stood and took a look. ‘Wow it’s an egg for sure. A bloody big black egg.’

  ‘Christopher.’

  ‘Well it is.’

  While she held her shirt up Cameron dressed the spot and Brad and Steven had a peek also.

  ‘You didn’t feel it? I mean the pain.’

  ‘I felt it when it hit me, but it was only a little sore.’

  ‘She’s a tough one, this one, boys. You should know that.’

  Samantha wasn’t sure what he meant, but said nothing. Being tough was one of the requirements if you lived on a cattle property, especially looking after three men. Samantha wondered how tough she was deep down. Would she be tough enough to deal with the future?

  When Cameron finished, she attempted to use the crutches once again. It took a few more steps until she got the hang of how to use them, but it didn’t matter how hard she tried she skipped and hobbled until she reached the kitchen.

  ‘Skippy. Hey Skippy. Sam’s got a new nick name.’ Cameron’s chuckle was contagious.

  ‘You wait and see when you’ll be needing crutches. I can give back what you give out.’ A lopsided grin moved to her lips and Brad’s face took on an impish expression. ‘That goes for you too, Brad.’

  His grin remained and she shook her head. It was bad enough having three brothers’ wit to tame, but to add Brad to that list was becoming frustrating.

  She hobbled from the kitchen, down the hallway toward the office.

  ‘Let us know if you need a hand.’ Cameron’s voice hollered after her.

  Samantha closed the door, and dropped onto the chair, placing her crutches aside before ringing Tracey.

  ‘Sam. Are you guys okay down that way?’

  ‘Yeah. I was worried about you.’

  ‘When we want it to rain, it tosses down as though it’s making up for lost time.’ She giggled.

  ‘We asked for it. How’s everyone?’

  ‘There’s some damage about the town. The main street isn’t too bad. It was the torrential downpour that had me worried, and the winds weren’t as strong here. A few roof tops are missing, either half, or bits of metal dangling over the sides of houses, but no one was hurt, thankfully. Margaret and James are fine, as with everyone else. The S
ES were onto the damage at once. They worked out in the storm to stop water entering homes. I don’t know how they do it. What about you?’

  ‘I sprained my ankle and I’ve got a bruise on my back, but I’m fine, we’re all fine. It was a horrific storm. I’m pleased to hear you’re safe.’

  ‘That’s not good to hear. How’s your ankle now?’

  ‘Cam wrapped it up. It’s fine. I’m hobbling around on Christopher’s old crutches.’ A chuckle left her lips. ‘You should see me. They’re calling me Skippy.’

  Tracey laughed. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. I can imagine your brothers. They’re only trying to make you laugh, to humour you. I have to go, I have a customer. We’ll talk soon.’

  ‘Sure will. Bye.’

  Samantha hobbled back into the kitchen and they used heat ups from the freezer for the evening meal. She was pleasantly surprised when her brothers and Brad took over the kitchen, prompting her into the lounge room where she imagined the mess she’d have to clean up when they finished dinner.

  After dinner curiosity got the better of her but to her delight the kitchen was spotless. ‘Don’t tell me you guys know how to clean up like professionals.’

  ‘It’s a one-off thing Sam.’ Cameron said.

  ‘Don’t bet on that. Now I know your talents...be prepared.’

  Cameron’s mobile rang. ‘Yo.’

  ‘Doctor Porter. Dan. That’s okay. She’s doing well. Okay, we’ll do that. Thanks.’ He clicked end. ‘The road to Raven is blocked. He can’t get out.’

  'It’s not as though it’s an emergency. It’ll be okay. It’s just a sprained ankle.’ She’d been lucky, and even luckier that everyone at Raven Falls was safe.

  ‘He said to keep off it as much as you can.’

  She raised her eyebrows. ‘That’s a bit impossible.’

  ‘That’s what the crutches are for.’

  ‘I can see what’s been happening. If I didn’t have the crutches someone else would have to cook.

  ‘I heard on the radio that they haven’t identified the two people who were killed on the other side of Raven,’ Steven said.

  ‘It’s terrible. I don’t think I could have handled it if anything happened to anyone here.’

  ‘That’s likewise Sam.’

  She glanced at Cameron.

  ‘None of us died so let’s be thankful,’ Steven remarked.

  ‘Good idea. At least the tanks are full and if we get some follow-up rain everything will prosper.’

  ‘You’ll have more than enough water to pump up to the top paddocks.’

  Samantha pictured watering her mother’s plants, pictured the place oozing with colour and having lush green lawns. ‘I hope so.’

  Cameron turned on the television to hear the local news, and the room hushed while reports of destructive winds, intense downpours and flooding filled the headlines.

  ‘I can’t believe it. Look at that. It’s old Moore’s house. He’s lost the entire roof.’ Samantha cupped her mouth.

  ‘The wind wasn’t quite as bad this far down.’

  The town of Dingo Creek was flooded. Images of people with desperation over their faces was devastating to watch.

  ‘It’s either droughts or floods. Why can’t we have a steady in-between?’

  ‘Mike says it’s a cycle. That everything goes in cycles.’

  ‘He said those same words to me, Chris.’

  ‘He’s right. It’s one of the worst storms I can remember,’ Cameron added.

  Samantha could do nothing but shake her head and glare at the television while her stomach clenched. The news finished and Cameron turned the television off.

  ‘Wow that was a shock. I didn’t think it was as bad as that, although we’ve lost quite a few cattle.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘We’re not out of the woods yet Cam. I saw several dead cows on land and a few floating in the creek. I’d say we’ve lost about twenty to thirty cattle.’

  ‘Bloody hell. Thirty. Are you sure? I spotted around ten.’

  ‘It could be twenty, perhaps thirty. I didn’t stop to do a headcount.’

  ‘I’ll head out first light with some of the jackaroos. We’ll give the place a thorough go over.’

  Samantha was about to say, ‘I’m coming with you,’ but she looked down at her foot. ‘I’m no help at present.’

  ‘Just rest up Sam.’

  ‘Dad’s stash would be running out by now, wouldn’t it Cam?’ Samantha inquired, watching Cameron pour another port.

  He shot her a cheesy grin. ‘Not even close.’

  ‘Come off it. It wouldn’t have lasted this long.’ She shot him a look in question.

  ‘I’ve been topping it up here and there.’

  ‘I knew it. I thought someone might have been. Good idea though.’

  ‘I thought so too.’

  Brad had almost swung his arms around Samantha when he first spotted her riding toward him on the quad earlier that day. The surge of relief flowing through him was so powerful he could hardly contain his emotions. After it subsided he put it down to the fact that if she was his sister, it was that brotherly love he’d told Tracey about and his protective instincts kicked in overdrive.

  When Helen had said Kerry’s child was a girl, he hadn’t told Samantha. He didn’t want her to shoulder the unnecessary burden. Why hadn’t his mother said, find your brother or sister? Perhaps she didn’t know.

  If his suspicions were true he’d be surprised, heartbroken, happy, every damned emotion he could imagine would hit his senses like an out of control concrete truck. He wasn’t sure if he’d survive the final impact. He wanted to find his brother or sister, but at the same time, he didn’t want it to be Samantha. Hell, they’d been to bed together. How bloody awkward would that be?

  What a bloody predicament. His guts hadn’t been the same since he’d returned home from Sydney to be with his mother, and then to run into the one woman he thought he’d never have any hope of locating he’d found out she lived kilometres from his property. He looked up when Cameron passed him a port.

  ‘Thanks mate.’

  ‘Here’s to health and happiness.’ Cameron raised his port glass, and they held their glasses up, tinkling them together to toast.

  ‘To health and happiness,’ Brad said, eyeing Samantha as they touched glasses. He sculled his port, feeling the burn in his stomach and the despair knowing he may have to walk away from all of this.

  ***

  ‘How’s the foot doing now, sis?’ Cameron asked while making a coffee.

  ‘It’s been almost a week and I can hardly tell anything was wrong with it.’

  ‘Good to hear. Brad hasn’t been around for a while has he?’

  ‘He’s finished his job here, there’s no need now, is there?’

  ‘I thought we were mates. We got on well.’

  ‘I suspect he’s busy installing irrigation systems elsewhere and searching for clues about his missing brother or sister.’

  ‘Or he’s probably trying to get over you, the same way as you’re trying to get over him.’

  ‘It’s not like that.’

  ‘I heard he was leaving soon Sam. He was going to get the letter and if nothing eventuated from that, he’s heading back to the big smoke.’

  That perked up her interest. ‘What?’

  ‘His job’s done here so there’s nothing to keep him up this way.’

  ‘I thought he’d stay on at his mother’s place. He did mention once that he’d like to run a stud farm. Did he mention anything to you?’

  ‘Yeah.’ Cameron poured a bourbon. ‘Do you want one?’

  ‘No thanks.’

  ‘That’s not like you.’

  ‘I don’t feel like one, that’s all.’

  ‘Why don’t you go to him, tell him how you feel.’

  ‘What...what do you mean?’

  ‘It’s written all over you. You’re in love with him and he’s leaving.’

  ‘The problem is he’s not in love with me
.’ After all, she wasn’t sure. He’d told her he loved her like a sister, even though he’d kissed her. And she couldn’t come out and tell Cameron that she might be his missing sibling. The resemblance in the photographs were almost identical, too close to dismiss. Cameron would tell her she was overreacting, that she analysed it too much. It was worth being quiet and not saying a word for now.

  ‘I don’t know about that. You two seem to be happy when you returned from the Falls.’

  ‘We’re friends, Cam.’

  ‘Bullshit.’

  ‘Believe what you want. It’s how it has to be.’

  Brad couldn’t believe that his property was virtually untouched by the storm. He double checked the overgrown stables, and put a booted foot on the bottom rail. He pictured how it’d once been when his mother was young and pain free. The photographs he’d seen and the stories he’d heard about the place when his grandparents were alive overwhelmed him. A touch of melancholy rose. There was no use wishing he could marry and raise a couple of kids here. He doubted he had any wishes left. He’d used his last one when he wished to meet someone like Samantha.

  He walked around one of three huge sheds further back on the property. A few trees were down, branches scattered about but he’d been lucky. Even the old corrugated iron roof on the house withstood the downpour, which amazed him.

  He’d received a text message from the post office at Raven saying a registered letter had arrived. He’d waited it out, waited until the water had subsided and when he heard that the road was blocked with trees, he had to wait until the emergency services had cleared the debris.

  During the last few days his apprehension increased and he knew he was avoiding the drive. Was it fear that prevented him from doing such a simple task? He’d have to find out what was in the letter, and the sooner the better, but still he wandered around his property making up any excuse he could think of until thoughts of not being related to Samantha had him climbing into his vehicle. It was all conjecture, he needed facts.

  The road was quiet and he pushed it up a notch, travelling five kilometres over the speed limit. The answer to all his questions could be in his mother’s letter. He turned off the highway, and took the ten-minute journey into Raven.