Boomerang bride

by Margaret Pargeter

The doctor, called one evening on his way back to Alice Springs. It was not Frank Evans; apparently he had moved on and, while she missed seeing him, she felt strangely relieved. He and Wade had been friendly and he had known so much about her. He wouldn't have asked questions, but she would have had to endure his curious glances, and she had had too many of those to put up with.

  Before he went the new doctor contrived to speak to her discreetly. 'Mr. McLeod's not too good,' he said frankly, as she walked to the door with him.

  'I've felt that.' Vicki spoke anxiously, having noticed herself how easily tired he became, how, in spite of trying not to, he slept the greater part of each day. 'My husband is away, but I'm sure he would return if ...'

  'No immediate need, Mrs. McLeod,' the man looked at her kindly. 'I don't think there's anything you can do for him, more than you're already doing, and your husband has been keeping in touch. Mr. McLeod's condition hasn't really changed. It's just that I can read other small signs.' 'How long would you give him?'

  'Well,' he smiled faintly, 'there's very rarely a specific answer to that one. One can never tell, especially with a man like him. It could be days—or weeks.'

  In spite of the doctor's reassurances, Vicki couldn't help being worried. She found it difficult to know if she was doing enough. The Old Man hated people fussing over him, but it seemed necessary to keep him under fairly constant surveillance. When she gave an evasive answer as to what the doctor had been saying to her, he merely laughed and replied that there was still a lot of life left in him yet!

  Miss Webb was a great help and, as they grew friendly, Vicki came to like and appreciate her. The nurse, she discovered, had many good qualities. It was she who insisted that Vicki went out for an hour each afternoon. She said Vicki was too white and would not be much good to anyone if she did not have some relaxation.

  So, while Miss Webb kept an eye on Mr. McLeod, she and Graham went riding. Jeff Curry often came with them. Whether by accident or design he was usually around when they went to seek their horses and Vicki felt she couldn't very well object to his company. During the short time they were out they talked idly, always of things which didn't matter. Somehow she couldn't bear mentioning anything that did, even though she often longed to talk to somebody.

  Then Wade was back. He was in touch, flying from Alice. When Jeff came up to the house to tell them Vicki felt a surge of joy mixed with relief. She felt tense with a wild elation and had to turn away as tears sprang to her starry eyes. Doing this she missed the expression of discomfort on Jeff's face.

  Stiffly he told Mr. McLeod, 'I'm taking the truck out to meet them—thought you'd like to know, sir.'

  'Meet them?' Vicki swung around sharply, but didn't immediately suspect anything. 'He isn't alone, then?'

  'No' Jeff stared at her and suddenly she hated his air of embarrassment. 'He asked me to tell you Miss Morris is with him, and to have her room prepared.'

  When he was gone Vicki didn't look at Mr. McLeod. She turned and ran straight upstairs. In a peculiar, dazed fashion she stumbled blindly to the room Miss Morris usually occupied, stopping just outside the door. It was here that she had met Wade coming out of it on that night long ago. It had been here that he had kissed her for the first time. Half sobbing, she recalled it vividly. Not until then had she realised exactly what a kiss could do.

  Drawing a deep breath in an effort to stop weeping, she rubbed a hand over her wet eyes. So he had carried out his threat. He was bringing a woman back with him, moreover, one he knew well. Was Miss Morris to be his next wife, Hadn't he warned her that as soon as his grandfather passed on they would be divorced, and hadn't she agreed? Agreed blindly, little realising just what it would do to her, but she certainly had never expected he would . bring his next bride here until she had gone.

  Seeking Miilgoe, she instructed her to air and dust the room. It was a beautifully appointed room, much nicer than the one Vicki occupied, but she felt too numb to be envious. She made up the bed herself with the best linen then carefully closed the door. Miss Morris should be quite comfortable!

  She was downstairs, cold with a kind of artificial composure, to greet them when they arrived. Leoda Morris was blooming and looked no older than when Vicki had last seen her. Laughing, she hung on to Wade's arm as they came through the open verandah into the drawing room.

  The Old Man was delighted to see their new guest and made no attempt to hide it. 'How are you, my dear?' he smiled at the radiant Leoda, who bent to offer him her cool hand. 'I'm delighted to see you. How is your dear mother?'

  Vicki tried, but couldn't keep the bitterness from her eyes as Wade stooped down to speak to Graham, who had rushed in, aglow with excitement. No one apparently realised she existed.

  With determination she stared away from him, finding it easier to concentrate on Miss Morris. At least Miss Morris didn't make her feel as if something was tearing the very heart from her body.

  Wade wasn't having any. His hand shot out, before she had taken more than her first step. He caught her wrist and she was aware he could feel how her pulse was jerking and racing. As she silently hated him for being so devious he said, under cover of Graham's furious chatter, 'Hello, Vicki. How have you been?'

  'Very well.' She still didn't look at him. Never, now, must he be allowed to see how much she cared.

  'Missed me?' His voice was low but beat insistently on her sensitive ears. He had a nerve, sounding as if it really mattered that she had!

  Quickly she shook her fair, glistening head. 'No!'

  His eyes glinted, but he let it go. He even dropped her wrist, as if not interested any more.. 'Grandfather hasn't been so good, I believe?'

  'No.' She made an effort. 'He hasn't been confined to bed ...' Why were they talking like this, like two strangers? Desperately Vicki tried to stop her eyes from clinging to Wade's dark face, his tall, broad-shouldered figure. He wore a pair of light tan pants with a smart shirt and tie and she felt her breath catch somewhere in her lower regions. He had no right to look so devastatingly attractive! -

  Miss Morris came back to them, holding out an elegant hand. Her smile was cool, as wholly condescending as ever it had been, regarding Vicki. 'How are you, my dear child? You've come up in the world since I last saw you.'

  'Or down.' For sheer effrontery, Miss Morris had always taken some beating, 'Oh, I wouldn't say that! I think you've done very well for yourself.'

  Vicki swallowed hard. 'Depending on how one looks at it. I hope you're keeping well, Miss Morris?'

  'Oh, call me Leoda,' Miss Morris smiled brilliantly, not at all put out, when Vicki's frankness matched her own. 'We must have some time together, you and I.'

  'Are you planning to stay long?' Vicki forced an answering smile. She felt ashamed to be asking such a question yet couldn't keep it back. If it was impertinent she doubted Miss Morris would notice. This was, after all, a land where hospitality was almost taken for granted.

  'I hadn't made any plans.' Miss Morris wrapped her arm around Wade's again, smiling up at him. It will depend on Wade, here, won't it, darling?'

  Vicki felt sick and the contempt in her eyes showed as she looked at them. She hadn't really expected him to, but Wade had made no attempt to protect her from Leoda Morris's pointed remarks. He was glancing down at the woman now, with a- kindness in his eyes which was never there for Vicki; A little amusement,' too, which changed to ice as his glance shifted to enfold Vicki.

  'Miss Morris has only just arrived,' he drawled. 'She couldn't think of leaving yet.'

  'No, of course not.' Vicki, suddenly remembering her manners, flushed uncomfortably. If you like—Leoda, I can show you to your room?'

  Leoda managed to look weary most charmingly. 'To tell the truth, Wade darling,' she purred, I do feel rather tired. I could do with a wash and perhaps a tiny rest before dinner.'

  'Naturally,' he agreed sympathetically.

  'What about your grandfather, though?' Leoda's brow creased as she nodded towards old Mr. McLeod who had
resumed dozing in his chair. 'Shouldn't I have a talk with him first?'

  'No.' Wade had exchanged a brief nod with the Old Man but not much else. 'You go on upstairs. He'll hear more than enough from me. You can take your turn tomorrow. Or after dinner, if he doesn't go to bed.'

  On the way upstairs Leoda said to Vicki, 'You really don't have to show me to my room, you know. I've stayed here too often not to know where it is.'

  'It doesn't matter. I was coming up, anyway.' Why did she feel Leoda Morris was laughing at her? Tilting up her chin, Vicki spoke evenly, trying not to let her agitation show. 'I'll see you at dinner, then. I hope you'll soon feel better.'

  'I will.' Leoda's laughter tinkled like glass chips. 'I'm not that exhausted. Wade looked after me so well on the way here.'

  Miss Webb caught up with Vicki before she reached her own room. Graham was having his tea before going to bed. 'When he's asleep I'll see to old Mr. McLeod, if you like. He may intend going down for dinner, but I'll try to persuade him otherwise. From what I know of him he would only talk and drink too much, which wouldn't be good for him.'

  'Oh, would you?' Vicki smiled gratefully. Nurse Webb really was a godsend. 'He has a great deal of respect for you,' she admitted generously. 'If anyone could persuade him, you could.'

  Miss Webb smiled appreciatively as she went on her way.

  Gazing after her, Vicki felt guilty for leaving so much to her. She was about to call and say she could see to one of them when she remembered they had a guest and there was dinner to cook. Tonight she couldn't leave that to Misilgoe, and she couldn't be in two places at once. Naturally Wade would consider Miss Morris more important than either his grandfather or Graham. He wouldn't thank her if Miss Morris had to eat a burnt meal, as they had done the last time she had left the cooking entirely to the coloured girls. That had been a major disaster., In her room Vicki sat for a few minutes trying to plan the best thing to do. She tried also to subdue the terrible ache in her heart. This, she realised, wouldn't interest Wade nearly as much as the way he affected Miss Morris. If Miss Morris were to suffer any emotional distress no doubt he would be very willing to offer comfort!

  Shaking herself out of her painful lethargy, Vicki took a quick shower and put on a long dress. Old Mr. McLeod was very adamant over dressing for dinner and it was a custom Wade seemed disposed to continue. Sometimes she would just as soon have dined in her jeans at the kitchen table, but had soon learned that this was frowned on. It was something she had found rather confusing when she had first come to Baccaroo, the grand formality of the evening contrasted to the more casual way of life during the day.

  After zipping up her dress she brushed her hair and pinned it up to keep it out of the way before leaving her room again. It was still early, but she didn't want to risk bumping into Wade and there would be too much to see to later for there to be any time to spare to change. She could always put on an overall.

  This way she had hoped to escape seeing Wade upstairs, before dinner, but to her dismay she met him at the turn of the corridor before going down.

  'That Was quick!' As she slid to a gasping halt, his eyes swept her closely, his mouth curling at the corners as his quick glance took in her disinclination to' so much as speak to him. 'So you didn't wait to welcome me home in private?'

  She flushed at his sarcasm but retorted coldly, 'I can't think we have anything to say to each other—in private!'

  It wasn't a lengthy speech I had in mind,' he said harshly.

  Vicki flinched as if he had struck her and her face paled. 'Since you now have Miss Morris you can't possibly want me.'

  > 'Allow me to judge who and what I want,' he grated, his mouth hard. 'And leave Leoda out of this. Sometimes a man gets tired of struggling, and you've made it very plain you have no use for me yourself.'

  He mustn't know her, she thought with dull gratitude, to say that! Her own words, she decided desperately, must be a lot nearer the truth. 'You left me in no doubt that you didn't want me either.'

  He came closer, so she could see the lines etched deeply across his forehead, the glinting anger in the depth of his dark eyes as they met hers. 'I don't mind you,' he replied insolently, 'when there's nothing else available—and before you start throwing that lethal little fist of yours about, remember I warned you I won't take that lying down any more.'

  If she couldn't hit out at him one way there had to be another. Vicki's slender body tensed with sudden fury. It just, wasn't possible she could allow him to stand- there jeering at her, without finding some means of retaliation, of hitting him where it hurt most.

  Her eyes sparkled up at him, sapphire orbs of definite beauty, set in the flushed pink of her face. 'You've been gone almost two weeks. Two weeks in a place like this, carrying huge numbers of stock, almost a hundred men. Can you wonder if I'm tense!'

  'You had Jeff.'

  His utter calmness infuriated her to foolish lengths. 'Of course I had Jeff!' she almost screamed, 'and I don't know what I'd have done without him, but he could have done with your advice. He told me so himself ...'

  I see,' silkily, as she paused. 'What else has he been telling you, I wonder? That you've turned into an elegant young queen? That neither he nor a lot of my other men can keep their eyes off you? That you curve too much in all the right places yet remain as slender and as supple as a young willow? That your hair floats on the breeze like waves of sunshine? Don't think I've taken leave of my senses,' he sneered, 'it's just what I've read in Jeff's eyes.' He grasped her arm, as she half crumbled with tense shock, and the cruelty of his grip couldn't be questioned. 'Is it just his eyes he can't keep off you?'

  'You're despicable!'

  You've said that so often I don't hear it any more. It even makes your voice tremble. Anything you deny is a sheer waste of time!'

  'I realise that. Like water off a duck's back!'

  'If that's one of your more refined pommy sayings, I don't get it, but maybe you'll understand this.'

  Before she could guess his intention he had jerked her to him, so that her head went back with an audible crack. The way in which he dragged her against his hard chest was ruthless, but nothing to the purpose behind his mouth. It was too much. He gave her no chance, as the savage, bruising pressure of his lips forced hers apart, to respond. Utterly shaken, she felt the havoc their impact was making throughout her whole body, but could do nothing about it. It was like being crushed by a strength and weight vastly superior to her own, but she was more frightened of the sensuous current which seemed to link them than by any physical damage he might do.

  When he released her she swayed, putting a hand carefully over her hurt mouth, but as she opened wide, dazed eyes, the wild clamour of her pulses triumphed over the fluttering apprehension of her nerves.

  Wade looked so uncaring of any damage he might have wrought, so immune to any emotional disturbance himself that she shivered. Quickly, fleetingly she closed her eyes again, hoping he wouldn't notice how easily he could reduce heir to such a state.

  Unfortunately she wasn't quick enough. His sharp glance pierced her small secrets before she could hide them and there was no mercy in the tight set of his mouth. 'That might teach you to show a little more enthusiasm when I return after an absence of almost two weeks. It's about time I started dealing out a few reprisals.'

  'How did you expect me to welcome you,' she whispered, staring at him, 'after everything you've done and said? Ours isn't a normal marriage. I don't belong here.'

  Wade said curtly, his eyes black, as they so often were when she said something to arouse his displeasure, 'You'd better get down to the kitchen. Maybe that's where you really belong!'

  It was bewildering that, having left her abruptly with such a callous remark, he should appear in the kitchen a couple of hours later, just when dinner was almost ready to serve. Misilgoe and Boalere stood back respectfully but with dimpling smiles as he walked in, superbly handsome in his dark jacket and tie. He looked vital, intensely male and very well groomed. N
othing spared, tonight, to impress Leoda Morris, Vicki thought dully, clutching a tea-towel as if her life depended on it, her small face white.

  She was unhappily aware that by contrast her own dishevelled appearance had little to commend it, but stiffened involuntarily, against the derisive remarks she fully expected would be forth coming. A meal, she was ready to retort, especially a special one, couldn't be prepared and cooked without considerable effort. And they didn't have Mrs. Clover any more.

  Her mouth was still bruised. She wished it had been smaller, then Wade wouldn't have .noticed. Because notice he did. He came nearer, his eyes trained on it, with satisfaction in their glinting depths.

  Brute, she thought dismally.

  There was also satisfaction in the grunt he gave as he deliberately dipped a finger into the sauce, she had just made and tasted it. Her ears pricked with astonishment as he said laconically, 'You're a superb little cook, Vicki, but I dislike you wasting your energy in a kitchen.'

  'Someone has to do it!' She fell back sullenly on the age-old cry of women.

  'Granted,' he wasn't impressed, 'but not my wife!'

  The arrogance of the man! Vicki's eyes flashed. 'You must know women all over the world have to turn their hand to all sorts of things nowadays, And willingly.'

  'So I believe,' he agreed, without relenting, 'but my wife doesn't—except in an emergency. And I think this one's gone on long enough.'

  'How do you mean?'

  'Let me enlighten you, Vicki.' His voice was softer but the hint of steel still there. When I was in Sydney I consulted an agency regarding the kind of housekeeper we need. I went to a great deal of trouble to find exactly the right woman. She'll be arriving in time for Christmas.'

  'You never asked me!' Vicki knew her voice sounded strange, but the fright behind it wasn't disguised easily.

  'There was no point in asking your advice,' he rejoined coldly.

  Her advice! Oh, yes, she got the message! She bit her lip hard and winced. She would probably be gone before Christmas. It would be Leoda Morris he had in mind. Leoda's elegant white hands had obviously never been acquainted with a kitchen sink, nor the task of preparing a delectable dinner!'