‘Not alone. Take Adam with you. He won’t mind. Mike can find him for you.’
‘Okay.’
‘Don’t go further than the first few paddocks Chris.’
‘The cops got them, didn’t they?’
‘Yes. But remember the boys from school.’
He hesitated. ‘Can I take a rifle?’
Samantha stilled and looked over at Cameron. ‘Yes. You know where the key is.’
‘You beauty.’ He pushed his arm into the air as excitement fixed in the rush of his voice.
‘Just remember a warning shot sometimes is all that is needed. You’ve been over it with us and Dad a hundred times.’
‘Yeah. I remember, Cam. I’m not about to shoot anyone.’
‘I have to get going as well. I have a Skype meeting at twelve. I need to prepare for it.’
Samantha turned to Brad with a questioning gaze.
‘It’s work. I may have another irrigation job out near Dubbo.’
‘That sounds promising.’
He pushed to his feet, and leaned in to give her a peck on the cheek.
‘I wanted to say a few things, but I gather it can wait until tonight.’
‘If it’s another obstacle, or stress or more worry, I don’t want to know about it.’
‘It’s not. Wait until tonight.’ He grinned.
***
‘What did you do to my newest brother, Sam?’
Samantha glanced over at Cameron who sat at the dining table reading over the details of the irrigation system.
‘Why’s that? You were the last person to see him this afternoon when you went to his place. Oh and one more thing, how can you drive with that sling on your arm? Isn’t it painful?’
‘No more painful than a broken toe.’
Samantha giggled. ‘I remember that time. You were rushing through the house and kicked your bare toes against the skirting board not looking where you were going. We heard the loud crack.’
A chuckle rose from Steven who sat in the background nursing his chest and head.
‘It killed, admit it Cam, until Anna knocked on the front door for the first time.’
‘It did not.’
‘It did so.’
Laughter filled the lounge room.
‘It’s after seven and Brad’s not here.’
‘How would I know what he’s up to, Cam?’
‘Well, you two are an item, aren’t you?’
Samantha hesitated, and glanced up again, taking her mind from the salad she’d finished preparing. ‘You’d have to ask him.’
‘Oops the barbie. They might be charred by now.’ Cameron jumped up and rushed outside.
Christopher ambled into the kitchen.
‘I heard a few shots this afternoon, Chris. Was that you?’
Samantha knew it was Christopher taking pot shots at old tin cans but she asked the question nevertheless. Mike had filled her in when she went rushing to the front door.
‘Yup. That was me. Just testing my aim.’
‘And the rifle.’
‘Is back where it belongs, all nice and cosy. The key is near the safe.’
‘Thanks. Sometimes it’s good to have things all locked up nice and cosy like.’ She smiled, and Christopher shot her a wide grin.
‘The chops and snags are almost done. Where in the hell is my new brother, half-brother or whatever he wants to call himself?’ Another chuckle followed and Christopher joined in.
‘You all think it’s a joke, don’t you? Don’t you realise it’s not a joke? Brad has found someone to call family. That means you, Cam. Imagine not having a brother or a sister; imagine not having any family at all? Well that was Brad before he found you. He won’t be taking you from us, we’d never allow that, but we are willing to share you.’
‘Yeah. It’d be tough. I know it’s serious.’
‘Well show him a little courtesy and decency when he arrives. He’s over the moon that it’s you he’s found. We need to get something more legal to verify that it’s true.’
‘How do we do that?’ Steven asked as he pulled out a chair, scraping it over the floorboards, sending a chill up Samantha’s spine.
‘Can’t you pick up the chair when you pull it out? The floor will be worn down before we know it, and then it’ll be another expense.’
‘Gee Sam. Give it a break.’ Steven shot her an annoyed glance.
‘Drag it over the floor all you like. I won’t interfere. When it comes around to spending money on new floorboards you can pay for it.’
‘It’s a bit bloody hard when I can hardly use my arm.’
Samantha hesitated. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said. I forgot about your injuries. Are they painful?’
‘Not too bad during the day, but at night the pain wakes me up.’
‘You’re taking those tablets that Dan prescribed for you, aren’t you?’
‘Yeah. At night before bed.’
‘Good. Where were we? That’s right. Besides having a birth certificate, I think we need something else legal. Cameron has a birth certificate, so that pretty well tells us the truth. It’s up to us to search this house for more clues. Perhaps Mum has something else stored away. And there’s always a DNA test. If we don’t find anything and even if we do, a DNA test would be good to have done.’
‘If Mum’s like you there’s bound to be more.’ Her brothers’ laughter rattled the walls and a proud grin slipped to her face.
The shrill of the telephone sounded through the room and Samantha gave her hands a quick wipe before walking to one side of the kitchen, and lifting the receiver from the wall.
‘Hello. Osborne residence.’
‘Oh hello. I’m not sure how to say this. I need to speak to Samantha Osborne or Bradley Harper.’
‘This is Samantha. Brad’s not here at present.’ She glanced up. Her brothers had stopped chatting and now listened with curiosity. She glared at them, and signalled to remain quiet.
‘How can I help you?’
‘My name is Cathryn. Kerry Campbell was my younger sister. You spoke to my mother and father a while back.’
‘Hi Cathryn. Yes, we did.’
‘Since you spoke to Mum and Dad they’ve been upset and I still can’t tell them.’
‘Tell them what?’
‘Kerry’s baby died with her. It was bad enough for my parents to find out about Kerry, but her baby girl died when she gave birth. I told the police that day that my parents wouldn’t be able to handle the news. My husband is a police officer so we kept it quiet. We buried Kerry and her baby together.
‘Mum and Dad are getting on in age now. Mum is in her late seventies and Dad is eighty. They haven’t gotten over Kerry’s death and I haven’t got it in me to tell them. If I did, it’d kill them and they’ll wonder why I hadn’t told them earlier. I can’t face it.’
‘It’s not up to me or Brad to tell them any such thing. I think I can speak for Brad as well. We won’t tell them. I know how difficult it must have been for you and your parents.’
‘It keeps them going thinking that Kerry’s child might turn up one day. I’ll let them live with that if you could as well.’
‘I’m sorry we brought it up with your parents, but it was something that had to be done. I’ll let Brad know. I’m sure he’ll be upset.’
‘Thank you for understanding.’
‘Thank you for telling me. I’ll relay everything to Brad. Your secret is safe with us.’ Samantha replaced the receiver in a trance as Cathryn’s words repeated in her mind.
‘Hey Sam. We got most of it.’
She turned to her brothers. ‘Kerry and her baby girl died during childbirth. She was alone in a unit. Imagine that. Being alone, having no one when she needed someone to help her. The poor girl. So there isn’t another half-brother or sister.’
‘Brad will take the news hard when he hears.’
‘I already heard.’
Samantha whirled around. ‘Brad. I’m sorry.’
<
br /> Brad walked into the kitchen. ‘Don’t be. In some ways, it’s worked out well for all of us, although it’s a little disheartening to discover. It proves how callous the old man was. I never want to bring the subject up again. Never.’ He glanced at Cameron. ‘No offence, Cam.’
‘None taken. He was my father as well and I dislike him as each day passes.’
Brad was dressed in black jeans and a white shirt. He looked good, and when their gaze met Samantha melted, knowing she’d found that special man, the one her mother spoke of. Samantha knew how lucky she was to be surrounded by the men she loved.
‘The baby Timothy held in the photograph at Mary Hinders’ place was probably Cam.’ Samantha glanced at Cameron.
‘How in the hell did he get hold of me?’
‘Perhaps he asked Mum if he could see you for a while. He didn’t want to let on to anyone whose baby it was, although Dianne must have known.’
‘It’s a wonder Mum would have let him see me.’
‘Mum wouldn’t deny anyone seeing their own flesh and blood, their child. She wasn’t like that. I guess Dad must have agreed.’
Cameron shook his head. ‘I guess so.’
‘I’m getting dizzy thinking of how everyone is related, and to add someone else. Well, wouldn’t that be another half-sibling for Cam as well?’ Steven said.
‘If the father was Timothy Harper, yes.’
‘One half-brother is enough for me,’ Brad said and chuckled.
‘Seems to me I have a few, and a half-sister,’ Cameron added.
‘We are all family.’
‘No, you’re not Sam. You and Steven and Chris are not related to Brad.’
‘Thank God,’ Brad said and turned to Cameron.
‘Pull up a chair, mate.’
‘I need to ask you something, Cam. In private.’
‘Sure thing.’ Cameron pushed to his feet, and they walked toward the office. Samantha heard the door close leaving her heart pounding, and her curious nature took over.
She walked into the kitchen to help Charlotte.
‘Everything is ready Sam.’
‘Thank you.’
Charlotte lingered close by, and Samantha stopped with what she was doing. ‘Is there something wrong?’
‘I’ve given this a lot of thought and I know I shouldn’t be here. I know we’ve signed an agreement for three months, but do you think you could let me go.’
Samantha was taken back. ‘What brought this on?’
‘I see the way Brad looks at you. He has never looked at me like that, even when we were married. He didn’t love me. We married because I was pregnant and then I lost the baby.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. But if you want to leave, if you feel it’s a little uncomfortable here, I won’t stop you.’
‘I’d like to leave now. Tonight.’
Samantha widened her eyes. ‘If that’s what you want.’
‘I’ve packed my bags. Thank you. It was nice knowing you for the short time. I’m heading back to Sydney tomorrow. I have a few friends there.’
Samantha could only manage a nod. Although she was pleased Charlotte was leaving she felt sorry for her and felt the need to help. ‘Before you go, let’s wait until the office is empty and we’ll finish this conversation in there.’
‘Thank you.’
As the women set the plates and cutlery on the table, Samantha looked toward the hallway leading to the office door, several times.
Finally, about another ten minutes later, the office door opened and Brad and Cameron walked out.
‘Come on Charlotte.’
Bypassing the men in the hallway Samantha said, ‘We need to use the office for a moment.’
They walked in and closed the door, and Samantha went around to the other side of the desk and opened the safe. She checked over her shoulder, noticing Charlotte was looking at the books on the shelf.
‘You can have one, if you like. They were my mother’s.’
‘That’s very kind of you.’
Samantha pulled some money from the safe, and placed it in an envelope leaving it unsealed.
‘I wanted to give you this before you left. It will cover the time you did here, and there’s a bonus.’
Charlotte’s eyes glazed. ‘I can’t thank you enough. I’m sorry. I thought perhaps Brad would learn to love me over time. It’s obvious the only woman he’s interested in is you. I do hope you’ll find a good replacement housekeeper.’
‘Don’t you worry about that.’ She passed the envelope over the desk. ‘Good luck. I hope you find a suitable job in Sydney.’
‘Thank you.’ Charlotte left the room, leaving the office door open. Samantha stayed back for a few moments until she heard her footsteps moving down the staircase, and out onto the veranda. She walked out into the kitchen, and the sound of Charlotte’s car faded in the distance.
‘Who’s that?’ Christopher remarked.
Samantha walked into the lounge room, and took in a breath. ‘It was Charlotte. She’s left us.’
‘What the?’
‘What’s the go there?’
‘She wanted to get back to Sydney. Her friends are there.’ It was the truth. There was no need to elaborate, although Samantha would miss her. It was nice having another female in the house for a change. Perhaps in the near future, she surmised thinking of sisters-in-law and the many children to fill the house.
‘Chris, can you make the gravy thanks? It’s all ready to go, just add boiling water.’
‘Yeah. But I’m still trying to fit the pieces together. It’s so confusing.’
‘We’ll go through it after dinner.’
Christopher ambled over toward the kitchen and Samantha swore that her brothers all walked the same. Come to think of it, Brad ambled at times, as though he didn’t have a care in the world.
‘Have you sorted it out?’ she said, as Brad and Cameron walked into the dining room.
‘Yup.’ Cameron’s grin stretched from ear to ear. They were up to something.
‘It’s a shame about Charlotte,’ Christopher said.
‘What about Charlotte?’ Cameron’s interest perked up.
‘She’s left. Heading back to the big smoke to see her friends.’
‘What, permanently?’
‘Yes, Cam.’ Samantha witnessed a wave of disappointment pass over his eyes.
‘The right one will come along Cam.’
‘I better believe it.’ He chuckled. ‘Come to think about it, the right one did, except she kept walking past. I’m an idiot.’
Samantha grinned. ‘There’s still time. Anna is single. She’s also taken a job at Mary Hinders’ place, just in case you want to find her.’
They made eye contact. ‘Thanks sis.’
‘What for?’
‘For everything.’
Samantha’s heart warmed at her half-brother’s comment. But to her he would always be the Cameron she’d known and grew up with. Her elder brother.
When everyone was seated, chatter flowed about Cameron being related and about their mother Christine. Where Samantha once sat at the end of the table, she now sat beside Brad who sat next to Cameron.
She had finished her meal, and waited until everyone else had finished. ‘What was the big pow-wow in the office all about?’ She looked at Cameron and then settled her gaze over Brad.
‘Well.’
Brad pushed his chair out as he stood. ‘I’d like to say something.’
‘You don’t have to stand to speak.’
Cameron chuckled.
‘Sam, it is with your elder brother’s permission that I do this.’ He turned and walked into the kitchen, retrieved something and returned to the table.
‘It’s getting late. Don’t keep us in suspense.’
Surprise washed over her face when he knelt on the floor beside her. She pushed her chair out and angled it to face him. When he held up a small red box, she realised what was happening. Her insides turned to mush with anticipati
on.
‘Samantha Osborne, I would like you to become my wife. I promise to love you forever, well as long as possible.’ He grinned, looked at her with the most wondrous river pebble eyes, eyes that held her spellbound and delirious.
‘I...um...’
‘Well, are you going to answer the man, Sam?’
‘Yes. I’ll marry you.’ She stood and met him with a passionate kiss, which had her brothers cheering in the background.
‘Yes. Yes,’ Cameron said, and punched the air with satisfaction.
‘Good one!’ Christopher grinned.
‘Way to go sis,’ Steven said.
Brad broke the kiss, and moved back a little. ‘You didn’t open the box.’
Her heart filled with such love and contentment as he flipped the lid open. Withdrawing the engagement ring consisting of a brilliant diamond, he slipped it on her left hand.
‘I love you Sam. I have loved you since that afternoon on the beach.’
‘I love you too.’
‘How long is this going to take?’ Christopher asked. ‘It’s getting a bit mushy to watch.’
‘You don’t have to watch, Chris,’ Samantha said, looking over at him, noticing a huge grin plastered over his face.
He shot her a wink.
Samantha glanced around the table at her brothers. She was proud to be an Osborne, proud of what their parents had left, and even prouder that they’d finally discovered the truth.
Contentment was hard to find, and that special someone much harder.
She’d hold onto what she had.
‘Does this mean you’re moving out?’
‘Chris,’ Cameron reprimanded.
‘No, it doesn’t. It means Brad may be moving in for a time. What do you think everyone, Brad?’
‘It’s okay with us,’ Steven said.
She turned to look at her fiancé.
‘Whatever makes you happy. I know you belong here. We’ll work something out.’ Brad put his hands over her hips and drew her against him.
Chairs scraped and her brothers retired to the lounge room.
‘I’ve waited for this day for so long.’ She gazed into his eyes.
‘Sam. I want it to work for us. I need to show you my scars for you to make your final decision. I want you to be one hundred percent certain that you’re willing to take a big leap in your life. I haven’t got the body I had when we first met.’
Raven Falls: Australian Rural Romantic Suspense Page 26
