‘Easter? I’m not sure. I don’t want to say we will be, then disappoint everyone.’ Something about the way Wes was looking at her, the intensity in his gaze, was disturbing, and it somehow triggered a strange awareness she hadn’t noticed before. It made her feel not exactly uncomfortable but more self-conscious. She tried to dismiss the foolishness and couldn’t. ‘I don’t want the twins to miss too much schooling, so, yes, we’ll most likely be back well before Easter.’
Good. He knew how long he’d have to wait. And because she was going, he decided that she should know how he felt. It was a risk telling her—it might frighten her off or make her wary of him—but he just had to let her know.
‘Okay, Brooke. Go and do what you have to do, but,’ he paused and took a much-needed deep breath, because these were the most important words he’d ever said to her, ‘wherever you go, and no matter how long you’re away, at home there’s someone who cares for you—cares deeply—and is waiting for you to come back.’ Having said his piece, he reinforced his avowal by leaning forward to kiss her lingeringly on the lips, something he had never done before.
‘What!’ Her lips tingled from his kiss and her fingers automatically rose to touch them. In an instant the noise of the airport—people talking, loudspeakers announcing flights—receded, and it was as if there were just the two of them standing there alone. Wes cared! For her! She shook her head in disbelief. No, surely she had misunderstood him.
He watched her brown eyes widen in confusion as she stared up at him. ‘I know it’s too soon,’ he said, ‘that my timing’s off, but I wanted you to know, if you haven’t already guessed, that I’ve been in love with you for a very long time.’
He smiled down at her. ‘I love you, Brooke d’Winters, and I’ll be waiting for you to come home. When you do, I hope that in time you might begin to feel something for me too.’ He raised an optimistic eyebrow. ‘A feeling deeper than friendship.’
‘Wes, I…I…’ His declaration had hit her like a ton of bricks. She’d never imagined, never thought…Wes! ‘I don’t know what to say. I never guessed.’
The flight attendant announced that the flight to Launceston was boarding and at the same time the children came back with their purchases, causing a scramble to get organised.
‘Don’t say anything,’ Wes said gently as he helped her and the kids get their cabin luggage together and get in line to embark. ‘Just think about what I told you. I’ll be happy with that.’ He gave her a rakish grin. ‘And don’t forget, I want lots of postcards.’ Continuing to grin as if he’d just won first prize at a country show, he took in Brooke’s still-stunned expression. ‘Go off and enjoy yourselves now. That’s an order.’
He ruffled the twins’ hair then shook their hands, and gave Sheridan a mighty hug and Brooke one as well, holding her close for as long as decency permitted. Then he shooed them off down the corridor to the entrance of the plane.
Leaning back in the seat as the plane took off, listening to the hum of the engines, Brooke admitted to being in a mild state of shock. She closed her eyes but, as soon as she did, the image of Wes’s earnest, craggy face swam beneath her lids. Her mind went into mental replay. Over the years she’d taken so many things for granted. Little kindnesses: teaching her to ride, supporting her when Jason was in hospital and afterward. So much! Yes, she could see it now, that he cared, and she understood too that when she’d caught him off guard, staring at her as if…as if…
Oh, God! Her cheeks suddenly flamed. Finally it all began to make sense, especially why Sharon Dimarco had disliked her so passionately. It was because Wes had feelings for her!
A funny shiver ran through her body as she remembered what he’d said in the airport. Someone at home cares for you—cares deeply. A smile hovered about her lips as she realised how good it was to feel cherished by him. She opened her eyes and stared at the seat in front of her. Wes’s declaration gave her food for thought and, while it was too early to think about relationships—it was, wasn’t it?—she knew that while they were away she would think about him and what he’d said. Yes, she would think about him a lot.
Sheridan touched her arm and when she spoke there was concern in her young voice. ‘You okay, Mum?’
‘Yes, love, I’m fine.’ Brooke’s smile widened and she reached across to pat her daughter’s cheek. ‘I think everything’s going to be fine.’
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Selwa Anthony, literary agent extraordinaire, for her knowledge of the Cowra region. To Dr Kathy Cristofani, for her medical expertise. To Ellen Weston, for her general knowledge of country life. And to my editors, Linda Funnell and Jane Morrow. Cowra on the Lachlan, edited by Joan Marriott, was also a mine of information.
About the Author
Lynne Wilding published eight novels with HarperCollins: King of Cane Valley, Heart of the Outback, Whispers Through the Pines, Turn Left at Bindi Creek, This Time Forever, 52 Waratah Avenue, Outback Sunset and Sundown Crossing.
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Also By Lynne Wilding
from HarperCollins:
Heart of the Outback
Whispers Through the Pines
This Time Forever
52 Waratah Avenue
Copyright
HarperCollinsPublishers
First published in Australia in 2000
This edition published in 2010
by HarperCollinsPublishers Pty Limited
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Copyright © Lynne Wilding 2000
The right of Lynne Wilding to be identified as the moral rights author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000 (Cth).
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission.
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National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data:
Wilding, Lynne.
Turn left at Bindi Creek.
ISBN: 0 7322 6795 1. (pbk.)
ISBN: 978-0-730-45082-5 (ePub)
I. Title. A823.3
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