‘I’m sure, Sam. It’s not something a man talks about, but considering.’
‘Yes, considering.’ She beamed at him, feeling her cheeks burn.
‘The doctors aren’t sure...aren’t sure if I can have kids. It’s one of the main reasons I didn’t want our relationship to go any further.’
‘What?’ She let out on an exhale, shaking her head. ‘You’re saying you might not, or can’t have any children?’
‘I need to have some tests done. The doctors wanted me to have them undertaken earlier, but seeing I was fed up with anything to do with doctors and hospitals I let it slip. It wasn’t important at the time.’
‘And you feel it’s important now.’
‘I want to know for sure before our relationship goes any further.’
‘No wonder you tried to push me further away.’ She shook her head. ‘What’s involved. I mean what tests do you have to have done?’
‘I have to see a urologist. I received a pretty nasty blow to my testicles in the accident.’ He glanced away, seemingly checking that no one was within earshot. ‘After a physical examination, I have to give a...’ He cleared his throat. ‘A semen sample for it to be analysed.’
‘It’s nothing to be ashamed about. I gather many men would undertake such a test.’
‘Yeah. If it’s normal, then usually they do a second test to be sure. I’ve put it off due to feeling a bit sheepish about it, I know that. Now I need to have it done.’
‘It’ll settle your fears and concerns.’
‘You’ve always wanted children. I can’t deny you the chance of having a family, of having all the babies you deserve. It wouldn’t be right. You’d make a terrific mother.’
Her eyes glazed and she blinked quickly. ‘I love you Brad, that’s all that matters. I figure when my brothers marry there will be lots of children about. I can help take care of them. After all, I’ll be their Aunty Sam.’
‘It won’t be the same.’
‘Near enough.’
‘Let’s wait until I get the tests done and we’ll take it from there.’
‘It won’t change the way I feel about you.’
‘God, I love you.’ He stepped closer, wrapped his arms around her and they stood like that for what seemed like ages. It felt good to have his arms around her, the gentle touch and warmth of his body so close to hers and she prayed that when he did have his tests done that they could have as many children as they wanted.
‘Are you two coming in? Cam could be gone for hours,’ Christopher called from the door.
‘Yes, Chris. In a tick.’ She looked up into Brad’s eyes, eyes that she fell in love with from the moment she’d met him. ‘We should head in. We need to talk some more. I have a lot of questions left unanswered.’
‘I’ll do my best to answer them,’ he said as he followed her into the house.
‘I hope Cam is okay.’
‘He will be.’
‘It won’t change anything around here. Come on. Let’s go into the lounge room.’
Samantha sat down with Brad beside her and they talked at length. Cameron hadn’t returned and now she found herself worrying about her half-brother.
‘Don’t worry, he’ll be back.’
She put on a brave face. ‘I hope so. He has to come back. This is his home. After all, he’s still an Osborne. We share the same mother.’
***
There hadn’t been a sign of Cameron that morning. With everything that had been going on, a newer disturbance now closed in around her. It was the same apprehensive feeling she had the morning they heard about their parents’ car accident.
It had been good news that Brad wasn’t related to her, but it didn’t change the fact that he hadn’t told her he was once married. How many more skeletons would be revealed if she pried his door all the way open?
Stepping out into the morning air, Samantha made her way toward her car.
‘You heading out early, Sam.’
‘Yeah, Mike. Have you seen Cam about’?
‘I spotted Steven and Christopher heading down to the machinery shed earlier.’
She changed direction and spun on the heel of her boot. Perhaps they had news about Cameron.
Steven sat on an empty fuel can, while Christopher kicked at a dirt mound beside him.
‘Hey guys.’
They looked up. ‘Sam. We’ve rung everyone we can think of. No one has spotted Cam since last night.’
‘Would he call in and see Brad? Perhaps he’s sorted himself out and feels the need to see him,’ Steven remarked.
‘I’m heading out on a search party of my own. Keep your mobiles close.’
‘We’ve covered the main road from here to halfway into Raven. He’s not about.’
‘I’ll check for myself. What would you do if you were in the same situation, Steve?’
‘Hang out alone until I got my head around it. It’d be tough. All his life he thought his father was our father.’
‘I don’t know how I would feel. I guess I’d probably be the same. I'd want to be alone, to hide out.’ She excused herself, and sat in her car before firing up the engine. After spending fruitless hours driving up and down the main road and calling into Brad’s property, there hadn’t been an answer. Disheartened, she returned to Raven Falls and made her way around to the back veranda.
‘Seems to me everyone is taking the day off,’ she said as she eased down beside Steven.
‘He’s not here, or anywhere. We’ve searched everywhere.’
‘Give him time, he’ll be back.’ It was then Samantha doubted her words. God, she prayed he’d return soon.
They were finishing lunch on the back veranda, when Brad arrived looking a little forlorn. As he sat on a bench seat he let out a deep sigh.
‘Bit like that, isn’t it?’
‘I’ve combed everywhere looking for him.’
‘So have we.’
‘Have you had lunch, Brad?’
‘Yeah, I had a quick bite to eat earlier, thanks.’
‘Before you sit down.’ Samantha stood and walked up to Brad. ‘Can we talk in private?’
‘Yeah, sure.’ He glanced at Steven. ‘We won’t be long mate.’
‘You’re right.’
Samantha walked into the lounge room, and spotted Charlotte in the kitchen. ‘I think the office would be more appropriate.’ Samantha closed the office door after Brad had walked in behind her.
‘What’s all this about?’ He leaned his shoulder on the window frame, and crossed his legs at the ankles, while she fidgeted with a manila folder on the desktop before looking up.
‘I want to know what Charlotte meant when she spoke about you, and said, ‘not a man like that.’ She told me she wasn’t interested in a man like that, meaning you.’
Brad ruffled his hair with his hand, and blew out a breath.
‘She’s been ringing me on and off since we divorced. During the last year or so it became frequent. When she discovered I was living back at the property, she moved back to Raven. I told her I wasn’t interested. Hell.’ His face twisted with anguish.
Samantha listened closely. ‘So, she wants you back.’
‘I gather that’s the reason for the calls, the reason she’s moved here.’
Samantha swallowed, feeling mortified. ‘And I had to hire her.’ She dropped onto the chair, propped her face with her hands. ‘I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it.’
‘I’m sorry Sam.’
‘It’s not your fault. Thank you for being honest with me.’
‘Hey Sam. Brad. Come out here,’ Steven hollered.
‘Come on, let’s see what else is going on. It seems there’s one problem after another lately.’
Chapter Fifteen
Samantha walked out onto the veranda with Brad not too far behind. Steven was sitting at the outdoor setting, his body twisted, with his arm looped over the back of a chair as he looked out into the backyard.
Her gaze followed his
. She slammed to a sudden stop and placed an open palm against her chest. Cameron ambled up the steps and onto the veranda with his hands deep in the front pockets of his worn jeans. It appeared he’d slept in the hay shed for the night. Tell-tale signs of straw jutted from his tousled curls.
‘Cameron.’ The tension in her shoulders lessened. ‘Where have you been?’
‘I thought you of all people would know where to find me. I’ve been at the Falls.’ A cheesy smirk slipped to his face.
‘Well blow me down. We’ve been looking for you since you took off last night.’ Steven said, and stood leaning his back onto the railing. ‘Did you bunk out there?’
‘As a matter of fact, I did. Now I know why you love the place so much Sam.’
‘It looks as though you’ve had a rough night.’ She took a step forward, picked out the pieces of straw from his hair.
He chuckled. ‘It’s from my makeshift pillow.’
Samantha grinned and thought of the time she was at the Falls alone, and she wondered if he experienced a similar connection with their mother as she had.
Brad moved forward. ‘Are you okay?’
Cameron looked at Brad. ‘I am now. Well half-brother, it’s great to finally meet you.’ A chuckle rose up his throat. They exchanged a manly hug, thumping each other the back with open palms before exchanging a solid handshake.
‘I never thought it’d be true,’ Cameron remarked.
Brad grinned and a light switched on in his eye, as it did in Cameron’s.
‘Neither did I.’
‘How are we going to handle this?’
‘Nothing’s changed except you have a half-brother.’
Cameron turned to Samantha. ‘You, Steven and Christopher also have a half-brother, me.’
‘You will always be my older brother Cam. Half or not. I don’t consider anything any different. There’s something else. You said Brad and I might have a lot of catching up to do. What did you mean by that?’
Cameron shot Brad a wry grin and looked at Samantha.
‘Well, don’t keep me in suspense?’ She propped one hand on her hip.
‘Sit down, Sam. You look as though you’re all riled up.’
She shook her head, and sat on the nearest chair, her back facing the mountains. Brad pulled out a chair beside her, and Cameron sat at the head of the table.
It was as though they had some sort of mental telepathy going on. ‘Okay what is it?’
‘Do you remember when you went on your break? I ran into Brad two weeks before you left.’
‘I thought as much. You knew each other before he arrived here to install the irrigation system.’
‘That’s right,’ Cameron replied. ‘Brad was turning into his property when I was coming back from Raven. I pulled up to introduce myself and we chatted. We ended up having a beer together. He mentioned he was heading back to Sydney for business, but was also taking a few days out to relax by the beach to recharge. And...’
‘And what?’
‘I was going to ask him if he minded looking you up. In fact, I did, but didn’t get around to telling him the details.’
‘That’s just dandy, isn’t it?’
‘But I didn’t get to tell him your name, or where you lived.’ Cameron pushed to his feet, scraping the chair over the floorboards.
Samantha cringed, but didn’t say a word.
‘Come on Steve, we’ve got work to do. Let’s leave these two alone for a while. I’m sure they have a lot to sort through.’ When Cameron walked past Brad he slapped him on the back. ‘Good luck mate. You might need it. We’ll talk later.’
Samantha seethed, and tucked a stray piece of hair behind one ear. ‘How could you not tell me my brothers knew about us?’
Brad turned to one side facing her. ‘I didn’t tell them about our personal details. I’m sorry Sam. I was going to let you know.’
‘And you were married.’ She shook her head with violent shakes. ‘You failed to tell me that little piece of information as well. There seems to be one problem after another with us.’
Samantha pushed to her feet and walked toward the door.
‘Sam.’
She dashed inside and up the stairs to her bedroom only to drop down onto her bed. It was too much to take on board and for a split second she wondered if he or any man was worth the torment. What a way to start a relationship! The worry, the confusion, and even fear had worn her down, stripped away a part of her sanity and she was hanging onto the edge of a life raft. One more slip and she’d slide under.
A knock sounded on the door.
‘Sam, we haven’t finished talking.’
‘I have,’ she called, her voice icy.
The door opened a crack. ‘Can I come in?’
‘You’re half way in so what’s the difference.’
He pushed the door open further and took a few steps into the room. Anguish set in his eyes, and the muscles in his face flexed. She realised that he hadn’t meant for any of this to happen and it hadn’t been his fault. Perhaps she’d been hasty to dash off like that. But her nerves were stripped raw. She’d had enough.
‘As for me being married…’
‘There’s no need for an explanation.’
‘Can I sit?’ He indicated the edge of the bed.
‘By all means.’ She patted the white doona cover, splashed with sunflowers, and sniffled. ‘I guess it was the shock of finding out from Charlotte that she’d been your wife. You were married once and you forgot to mention something as important.’
‘I was trying to avoid any more issues. We’re divorced now.’ Brad eased down on the bed. ‘I want to explain a few things.’
She pushed upwards into sitting position and crossed her legs, and pressed her back against several large pillows.
‘I said I didn’t love Charlotte. That was true. She told me she was pregnant and we were married. We were pretty young. She had a miscarriage and we divorced. It was as simple as that. We were married for approximately thirteen months.’
Samantha’s eyes widened. ‘That would have broken the record, wouldn’t it?’
He grinned. ‘She told me she was on the pill when we met.’ He shook his head. ‘Imagine my surprise when she said she was pregnant.’
Samantha nodded. ‘So she tricked you into marrying her.’
‘Basically.’
‘You’ve had it pretty tough over the years.’
He shrugged. ‘I got over it and tried to get on with my life.’
‘I’m sorry that Cameron felt the need to ask you to keep an eye on me.’
‘Sorry. What’s there to be sorry about?’
‘Our past relationship, everything, it was due to Cameron’s concerns. It was like you were forced into something you didn’t want for a second time round.’
‘I didn’t know it was you Sam, I swear. As Cam said, it was general talk. He said his sister was taking a holiday soon, and that he was worried about you being alone. He said, seeing I was heading in the same direction, it would be good to have someone keep an eye on you as it’d ease his concerns. I didn’t see him after that afternoon, therefore I didn’t get your name or where you were staying. I left early the following morning.’
‘Thank heavens for that.’
‘Sam, I fell in love with you when I got to know the caring, considerate woman that you are. When I first met you on the beach, I made love to you, Sam. It wasn’t a random thing. I knew when I took that first step I wouldn’t be able to stop wanting you.
‘The accident, the aftercare, Mum’s death, and then all the concern about a missing sibling forced me to rein in my feelings. There were several setbacks. The accident destroyed me. The man you met. It destroyed my dreams, everything I wanted in life.
‘I’m still concerned about my scars. At first I didn’t want to tell you. I’m pretty embarrassed by them, and I was doubtful that I could have a normal relationship. I also didn’t feel worthy of your love and I certainly didn’t deserve it for not keep
ing my promise.’
‘It wasn’t your fault that your mobile was destroyed in the accident.’
‘You’re a remarkable woman, Sam.’
A smile touched her lips.
‘You said you fell in love with me when we were on the beach.’
‘And I’m still in love with you. I have been all along. You’re the only woman I want, or will ever want.’
He wriggled a little closer, and slipped an arm around her waist, drawing her to him. She inhaled his masculine scent, a scent of fresh summer rains amongst eucalypt trees.
‘Is this legal? You know, considering.’
His lips curved into a wide smile. ‘We aren’t related. Cameron and I are but you missed out.’
‘I’m so glad it turned out like it has. I didn’t know how I’d handle it otherwise.’
‘Why? Would it have worried you?’ His breath teased her cheeks, sent a skitter of warmth to her tummy.
‘It’d be difficult finding out that the man you’re in love with is your brother or half-brother. It’s illegal, isn’t it?’
‘I’m pretty sure it’s called incest.’
‘Thank heavens for that, I mean knowing we aren’t related. I don’t want to think about it anymore. It’s done enough damage.’
His eyebrows rose, and he moved a stray piece of hair from her eyes. ‘I don’t want to go there anymore either.’ A groan gurgled up his throat. ‘It’s been a nightmare, in more ways than one.’
His lips touched hers with such warmth and passion she fell against him, and one of his hands slipped to her back pulling her closer. Samantha automatically wound her hands up around his neck, urging him to continue, responding with deep desire until he disconnected the kiss, leaving her breathless and starry eyed. He’d never kissed her like that before. His hands remained on her hips and she looked up into his eyes glistening like polished river pebbles. His touch burned her senses and lit her soul on fire.
‘I prayed that we’d get together, that you’d eventually ring, or come and find me. I didn’t expect to go through so much heartache though, not to get to where we are now.’
‘Are you regretting meeting me?’
‘No. It’s just that it’s been a hard slog until today. So difficult.’
Raven Falls: Australian Rural Romantic Suspense Page 24
