Raven Falls: Australian Rural Romantic Suspense

by Suzanne Brandyn

  ‘I’ve heard of that property. Apparently it’s one of the best cattle properties in the area.’

  ‘Thank you. I’m looking for someone that is trustworthy. Do you have references.’

  ‘Yes. Several.’

  ‘Tracey has given you a good reference already. If she thinks you’re the person for the job, you can have it on a three-month trial.’

  ‘Oh, thank you so much. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was going to head back to Sydney to find work.’

  ‘When can you start?’

  ‘This afternoon if you like.’

  ‘That’d be great. It’s the basic wage. We do everything by the books.’

  ‘I can’t thank you enough. I’ll be there say around two this afternoon.’

  ‘Sounds good. I’ll organise the usual employment documents as soon as I get home. See you then.’

  Pleased with what she had organised, she bought up on supplies and made her way back to the property, excited that her work load would be lifted.

  ***

  Cameron chatted to Mike, and lifted his head to the sound of a vehicle, one he didn’t recognise. He walked around to the front of the stables.

  ‘Get a load of that.’

  A shiny red convertible eased up to the house, and the engine shut down.

  ‘What are you hollering about?’ Mike brushed his hands down over his jeans.

  ‘Wow, fancy wheels,’ he said, coming to a stop beside Cameron.

  ‘Even a fancier driver. I wonder who she is, what she’s doing here.’

  ‘One way to find that out mate,’ Mike jested.

  ‘I might go and say howdy.’

  Mike chuckled and returned to the stable, while Cameron took off his Akubra and pushed his untamed curls from his face.

  ‘Can I help you?’ He stopped on the other side of the vehicle noticing the curves to her hips and the big wide smile she was delivering for his enjoyment. God, she was a looker. Blonde hair fell in waves to her waist and when she walked around the front of the car toward him, her legs went on forever. He wondered if she realised the sunlight made a direct path through the flimsy dress she wore.

  ‘I hope so. I’m looking for Samantha Osborne.’

  ‘She’s in the house. Just go up and holler.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  As she headed toward the house Cameron stood dumbstruck. He should have asked why she was looking for his sister, but he gathered he’d eventually find out who she was. He had to. She was the type of woman he could lay his head next to at night.

  Upon reaching the house she glanced over her shoulder and he spun around feeling a little guilty that he was sprung ogling over her. He made a quick dash back to the stables.

  A knock sounded on the front door at exactly two that afternoon. After Samantha filled in the paper work she’d printed out from the internet she’d been organised an hour earlier. She hurried to answer the door, hoping it was the new housekeeper.

  Upon pulling the solid timber door open, Samantha stared.

  ‘Hi. I’m Charlotte Somers. We spoke on the phone.’

  For a few moments, Samantha thought she’d made a terrible mistake.

  ‘I thought trying to make a good first impression by the way I dressed would work. When I arrived moments ago, one of the workers outside reacted quite differently to how I had expected. It dawned on me that I should have worn an old pair of jeans. I must apologise. I don’t dress like this all the time.’

  Samantha smiled. ‘That’s okay. If you worked in Sydney, it was probably expected. Not out this way. The place is full of men. It’ll be a pleasure having another female staying. Come in. Come in.’

  Samantha pushed the screen door open, allowing her to enter.

  ‘The house is not as fancy as most people imagine, but it’s warm and comfortable and it’s home. There are five bedrooms upstairs and as you can see, it’s pretty wide open plan. The lounge room is through there, just past the dining room and kitchen.’

  ‘It’s lovely,’ she said as she looked around.

  ‘If you’d like to come into the office we’ll get organised and then I’ll show you to your room. It’s upstairs with an ensuite.’

  ‘My own bathroom. Thank you.’

  ***

  Samantha prepared dinner that night, allowing Charlotte time to settle in. She seemed nice enough, but very much a lady and Samantha wondered if she could handle the work. By the time the kitchen and dining room filled with her brothers, Brad made a show.

  ‘I asked Brad to dinner. I hope you don’t mind.’

  ‘That’s fine Cam. All the more the merrier.’ She busied herself in the kitchen.

  ‘Sam. Who owns the car in the spare shed?'

  ‘Our new housekeeper.’

  ‘What? She doesn’t look like a housekeeper.’

  ‘She is. She worked in Sydney and her references are superb. She should be down soon.’

  ‘Boys. We have a new woman in the house and she’s joining us for dinner.’

  Brad looked at Cameron. ‘What’s the occasion?’

  ‘New housekeeper. She’s going to give Sam a hand with whatever needs doing.’

  ‘So, you took up my suggestion.’

  ‘Yeah mate. It’ll do Sam good to be able to get out in the fresh air, to do some of the things she’s wanted to do.’

  It surprised Samantha how punctual Charlotte was when she walked into the dining area at precisely seven, appearing very different to the girl who pulled up in her snazzy car that afternoon.

  The room fell silent for long moments and she noticed Brad jerked in reaction to her presence. Charlotte dressed in jeans, knee high brown boots, with a long-sleeved pink flowing top covering a white singlet. Her locks were pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck and she wore very little makeup. But by the stunned reaction of all the males they were presently locked onto her natural beauty.

  ‘Charlotte. I’d like you to meet my brothers. This is Charlotte Somers, our new housekeeper. Charlotte this is Cameron the oldest, Steven and Christopher. Brad is a friend of the family, so you’ll be seeing him around a lot of the time.’

  A smile lit up Charlotte’s face as she shook hands with Cameron. ‘I’m sorry. I thought you were one of the workers this afternoon, otherwise I would have told you who I was.’

  ‘No worries.’ Cameron’s smile almost reached his ears. It was obvious he was infatuated.

  She shook hands with Steven and Christopher but hesitated the moment Brad stood.

  ‘Um...it’s kinda weird. I’ve already met Brad.’

  The air between Brad and Charlotte intensified, and Brad’s gaze pierced right through her.

  ‘Charlie.’

  ‘Brad. How are you?’

  ‘I’m doing really well. You?’

  ‘Yes, a new job. I think I’m going to enjoy working here.’

  ‘That’s good to hear, Charlie.’ Brad’s voice was strained, and he sat as a hint of a wry smile moved over his face.

  He called her Charlie. They must have been close. Had they been lovers? Samantha didn’t know what to think. Charlotte was two years younger than Samantha, twenty-six.

  Over the meal that night Samantha remained quieter than usual while she listened to her brothers tell Charlotte all about the property. Even Brad added his version. But every time he spoke to Charlotte, Samantha sensed something was going on under the veneer he’d cloaked himself with that night.

  The usual after-dinner drinks were in the lounge room and when Samantha arrived Brad and Charlotte were sitting close together. Her brothers’ rowdy voices drowned out their conversation. Talk about feeling ill at ease! When she’d finished her first port Cameron poured her another and she realised if Brad is her brother it couldn’t have been a better outcome.

  ‘So, what’s the plan sis?’ Christopher called over the chatter.

  ‘I’ll go over things with Charlotte in the morning. Not too much though on her first day. Just a bit of guidance of how we r
un things here. Is that okay with you Charlotte?’

  Charlotte smiled. ‘That’s fine with me.’

  ‘We start at six.’

  ‘In that case I should get some sleep. Thank you for a lovely evening everyone.’

  Comments were exchanged and Charlotte excused herself to retire for the night, followed by Sam’s brothers.

  Samantha lingered near the bar, straightening things haphazardly. Her inside burned but they shouldn’t have.

  ‘I want to explain,’ Brad pleaded walking up to her.

  She glanced over her shoulder.

  ‘No explanations needed.’

  ‘You probably have a thousand things going around in your mind and I want to set it straight.’

  ‘As I said there’s no need. I’m fine, Brad. I should head off to bed.’ Her stomach muscles tensed, and when she glanced up into his eyes her heart leapt to her throat. She scolded herself. Why did she allow him to affect her as much?

  ‘I should head off, if that’s the case.’ He ambled toward the door, hesitated and turned back. ‘Great meal again, Sam. Thanks.’

  ‘No worries.'

  'Goodnight.’

  ***

  Samantha went over the daily tasks with Charlotte early that morning, ensuring she knew what was expected of her.

  ‘Do you mind if I talk openly to you Samantha?’

  Samantha looked up from the file sitting on the office desk in front of her.

  ‘No. Go ahead.’

  ‘Firstly, most people call me Charlie. I should have told you last night.’

  ‘No, that’s okay. I like the name Charlie.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘What else did you want to say?’

  ‘It’s Brad.’

  Samantha’s body stiffened. ‘Yes. What about Brad?’

  ‘We were married once.’

  The slow burn over Samantha’s heart almost exposed her true feelings. She swallowed, composed herself. ‘It’s a wonder he didn’t mention it, especially to my brothers.’

  ‘I don’t suppose he did.’ Charlotte twisted her hands in her lap, and a hue of crimson rose to her cheeks. ‘It’s over and done with now. I don’t have any feelings left for a man like that.’

  Samantha nodded and a knock sounded on the front door.

  ‘I’ll get that. So, you’re all set to start.’

  ‘Thanks Sam.’

  As Samantha swung the front door open, Adam, one of the jackaroos, lifted his Akubra from his head.

  ‘Miss Osborne.’

  ‘It’s Sam, remember?’

  ‘Yeah well. One of the pipes has broken.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘There’s water gushing all over the place. This side of the third paddock, near the ridge.’

  ‘Did you tell my brothers?’

  ‘I can’t find them. I think they’re out further toward the Falls.’

  ‘They were herding more cattle up closer to the house. That’s what they said they were going to do. It’s a wonder they hadn’t noticed it.’

  Alarm highjacked her nerves. ‘Find my brothers and tell them what’s happened. I’m heading down there now.’

  After a quick change, she grabbed her hat and ran from the house. Mike wasn’t in sight. After guiding Raven from the stable, she threw a saddlecloth and saddle over his back and did up the girth in record time, before positioning the bridle. Double-checking that everything was secure, she led him out of the stables and placed her left foot in the stirrup before swinging up onto the saddle.

  It hadn’t taken long until she was heading in the direction of the busted irrigation pipe, knowing she should have kept an eye on what was happening when they first started putting in the system. Surely new pipes wouldn’t crack just like that or have any problems weeks after being installed.

  Over the second hill, she spotted water spearing into the sky and she wondered why someone hadn’t shut the pump down. Directing Raven toward the overflow she slowed when she noticed the water gradually easing before it stopped flowing. She screwed up her face. Had the pump broken as well?

  Cameron rode in from the opposite direction.

  ‘Cam.’ She guided Raven closer and slowed to a stop beside him.

  ‘Hey Sam. Someone’s been tampering with the system.’

  ‘How long has it been overflowing like that?’

  ‘Quite a bloody while by the looks of things.’

  Without a word, Samantha galloped toward the Falls, picturing her mother’s favourite place nothing but a wasteland. The midday sun pricked at her flesh, and she hadn’t taken any water. Her only concern was the Falls. She needed to know that the drop hadn’t been affected.

  When she arrived at the watering hole, a horse was tethered under the trees. She studied it cautiously as she dismounted Raven. With continual checks over her shoulder to ensure no one was about, she approached the horse. Nothing gave her any indication that it belonged to Raven Falls.

  She trekked up toward the Falls, and wound her way through the inviting shade the rocks and shrubs provided. Upon reaching the top, she jarred to a stop when she spotted Brad sitting at the top. She cleared her throat, but she was unsure if he’d heard her. She stepped out from behind the rocks only to be distracted by the full force of water spearing over the edge of the rocks into the drop. It reminded her of the times when she visited there with her mother.

  ‘Fancy seeing you here,’ she called out.

  He turned, but the sight on his face wasn’t something she’d ever seen.

  ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘Yeah. Just taking a bit of time out. I needed to think.’

  She walked toward him, and eased down on a rock not too far away.

  ‘One of the irrigation pipes has been tampered with. We don’t know how long it’s been overflowing. I came up here because I was worried. I didn’t think stop to consider after the rains the Falls would be magnificent.’

  He turned to one side, concern etched over his face. ‘What do you mean tampered with?’

  ‘A pipe is broken, it’s spewing water all over the place. Cameron is down there now. After I spoke to him I headed up here.’

  He pushed to his feet. ‘I have to check it out. Will you be okay?’

  She chuckled. ‘I’ve been here many times alone,’ she lied. ‘I’m going down for a drink as I didn’t bring any water with me.’

  He shook his head. ‘You of all people should know better.’

  ‘Before you go.’ She scrambled to her feet, faced him.

  ‘You have suspicions just as I have, don’t you?’

  The pain and despair she witnessed over his face couldn’t be dismissed.

  ‘Yeah, Sam. I had all along.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘What? All along. You mean to say you’ve suspected...since when?’

  ‘It’s haunted me since the first time you looked at the photograph of my mother taken when she was about your age. When you left I took another look. Close resemblance. The second time was at Mary Hinders’, then the day in Sydney. I’m sorry Sam. If it’s true we’ve done something wrong.’

  Tears welled in her eyes. ‘It’s not as though we meant it. It’s not as though we knew.’

  ‘I know that, you know that, but will anyone believe us? It’s best to keep it quiet, especially in a small community like this. Things could get mighty ugly and quick. Get out of hand.’

  A cold shiver wobbled up her backbone. ‘I know what you mean. Oh, and another thing. You didn’t tell me you were married. Imagine when I found out that Charlotte was your ex-wife.’

  ‘That’s a long story. I didn’t marry her for love. I’ll tell you one day. Until this sibling factor is proven we shouldn’t say much or do much.’

  Their gazes locked. The pulse in her neck intensified. It was as though they were saying one silent last goodbye to what they once shared.

  ‘It has to be like this, Sam.’

  ‘I know.’ Her voice crackled as emotion thickened her words. He tur
ned, leaving her alone with tears brimming her eyes and a quickening heartbeat. One she didn’t know how to slow.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Samantha stripped off her jeans, long-sleeved shirt and singlet top, exposing her underwear, and made her way to the bottom of the drop. Ensuring it was safe; she eased into the coolness and scooped a couple of handfuls of water to her mouth.

  Making sure the area was safe, she dipped below the surface and swam for what seemed like hours, the coolness calming her heated skin. Taking a break, she pushed upwards, and eased down onto a rock, allowing her legs to dangle in the water. As she absorbed the tranquillity, she closed her eyes.

  ‘You worry too much my darling Samantha.’

  Samantha jerked, snapped her eyes open and glanced about. She remained alone. It was her mother’s voice, she was certain. She closed her eyes once again.

  ‘Your brothers can take care of each other. You only get one shot at finding your soul mate. If you miss your chance it may never happen again. You work too hard. Don’t continue to pretend you love what you do. You often said you wanted a family, a husband and children. Don’t deny yourself the simple pleasures that life can give you. I love you my darling. I’m here in the water that runs, in the air that flows. Look for me and you will find me. You’re not alone.’

  Samantha snapped her eyes open, her body shuddering. She was positive that her mother spoke to her, or was she merely thinking what her mother may have said if she were alive? She glanced upwards. Sunlight speared through the sprays of water creating the colours of a rainbow. Samantha stilled. Just look for me and you’ll find me. But there wasn’t an indication one way or the other, if she were related to Brad.

  The sun had disappeared from the side of the rocks and she pushed to her feet, knowing if she left it much later to ride home, she’d be travelling most of the distance fighting shadows.

  The scent of rosemary and mint wafted from the house as she drew closer. Was that the aroma of a casserole? She pushed the front door open and the exotic scent wafted around her nostrils. It was as though she’d opened the door to a fancy city restaurant.

  Whatever Charlie was cooking, it smelt divine. She made a direct path upstairs to shower and change before entering the kitchen where to her surprise, the table was set, the meal cooked and port glasses glistened on the top of the bar in the lounge room.