by Mandy Magro
Taylor swallowed hard, Patty’s frankness unexpected. What was she meant to say? She thought fast. ‘Jay’s told me about your terrible loss. I’m so very sorry. It’s hard losing someone you love.’
Patty eyes were wet with unshed tears. ‘Don’t apologise, my love, it’s not your fault.’ She pointed to the basket. ‘And what do we have here?’
‘Oh, I made some scones for morning tea and thought you might like one.’
‘. . . Or two,’ Patty said, a smile starting to appear.
Taylor grinned, instantly liking her. ‘Well, in that case, you can have as many as you like.’ She squeezed Patty’s arm.
‘I’ll go pop the kettle on then, follow me you two.’
The cuckoo clock came to life, announcing it was twelve o’clock. Taylor wriggled in her chair, trying to relieve her numb bum. She was amazed she and Patty had been talking for close to three hours, about anything and everything. It was as though they were longtime friends who’d just caught up after years apart and had basically picked up from where they’d left off.
‘So why did your mum never speak to you about your dad, then?’ Patty asked, pouring herself another cuppa from the teapot.
‘Oh, she reckons he was a bad man and that I’m better off not knowing him. I don’t know whether to believe her or not.’
‘Trust your instincts,’ Patty replied, pouring a large dash of brandy into her tea. ‘It stops the shakes,’ she said, noticing Taylor’s disturbed glance. ‘Wish I could stop drinking altogether, but I can’t. The alcohol dulls the pain of losing Greg.’ Patty clucked her tongue. ‘Poor Jay, I know my drinking breaks his heart. I feel like a terrible mother.’
Taylor reached out, placing her hand over Patty’s. ‘I bet you’re the best mother in the world. You’re just lost at the moment, that’s all. But like you just said to me, trust your instincts, Patty, and you’ll find your way back.’
Patty nodded, sniffling. ‘Yes, that’s very true, and very wise.’ She covered her face with her hands, shaking as sobs escaped her. ‘Oh, Taylor, I’m so sorry love. I’m such a mess and I hardly know you and . . .’
Taylor stood, her chair tumbling backwards as she leapt to Patty’s side. She took Patty in her arms, not saying a word, just holding her, as Patty crumbled.
‘I . . . have to . . . snap out . . . of . . . this . . . I . . . can’t . . . keep . . . going . . . on . . . like . . . this . . . I . . . hate . . . myself . . . I . . . used . . . to . . . be . . . so . . . strong.’
After a few minutes, the sobbing began to subside and Patty straightened up, her hands clutching Taylor’s. ‘Oh, you beautiful angel, where have you come from? You don’t know how much your visit has meant to me. No one drops by here any more — I’m the drunken woman who’s a wasted cause. I can’t even go into town without hearing the whispers. I’m so ashamed of myself.’
‘Oh, Patty, I honestly don’t believe everyone in Driftwood thinks like that of you. How about Faith, down at the pub? She’s lovely.’
‘I don’t know her. I’ve never been to the pub. Believe it or not I’d never touched a drop of drink until Greg died.’ She snorted cynically. ‘My own daughter couldn’t even look me in the eyes before she left. After Greg’s death she went inside herself, couldn’t even bring herself to hug me, and looked down on me, like she found me repulsive. I still love her with all my heart but she was always Daddy’s little girl.’ Patty gently let go of Taylor’s hands, reaching for a tissue from the box on the table. ‘I like you, Taylor. You make me feel safe, like I can open up to you.’
Taylor blinked back her own tears, moved by Patty’s vulnerability and anguish. ‘I am here for you, any time, Patty.’ She stood, hands on hips. ‘I know — how about we get you something that will help you feel happy? You know, fill your days with a bit of fun.’
Patty smiled. ‘And what might that be?’
Taylor clapped her hands together. ‘You just leave that to me. But first, you need to go take a shower, brush that hair and get dressed. We’re going for a drive.’
‘Taylor, this is Adam. Adam, Taylor,’ Jay said, pointing from one to the other as he removed his boots and made himself comfortable on the couch.
Adam placed his bag down and smiled his trademark sexy smile as he held out his hand. ‘Hey, Taylor, great to meet you, darls. I hear you’re going to be joining us on our muster.’
Taylor clutched his hand, praying Adam couldn’t feel her shaking. He was as gorgeous in person as he was on telly. ‘Spunk’ was the word that came to mind. She laughed shyly. ‘Yeah, I am. And we’ll be roommates too. Well, I mean, um, not in the same room or anything but under the same roof,’ she stuttered, her face turning a brighter shade of red by the second. Oh my fucking God. I am talking to Adam Brand.
‘Yeah, I’ve been told — hopefully you can put up with four blokes under one roof. Mind you, we’re pretty harmless and house trained. I can even cook a damn good meal, if I say so myself.’ Adam smiled cheekily, sending Taylor’s head whirling. ‘Jay’s told me heaps about you, darls. Apparently you sing like an angel sent down from country heaven.’
Taylor waved her hands about. ‘Oh, pfft, I’m not that good.’
‘If Jay says you are then I reckon it’s true. We’ll have to have a singsong ’round the campfire one night, so make sure you pack your guitar. Out under the stars and surrounded by nature is the best place to sing your heart out. That’s where I write most of my songs. I can’t help but get inspired from this great land of ours.’
Taylor slapped her hands to her red-hot cheeks. ‘I don’t think I’ll be able to sing in front of you, Adam. I’ll get stage fright.’
‘Ah, you’ll be right. Just imagine me naked. They say that helps.’
Taylor choked back a giggle, unable to speak as images of her country idol stark naked flashed through her mind’s eye.
Jay chuckled, giving Adam a friendly shove. ‘Ah, probably not the best thing to tell the sheilas, Adam, they all think you’re hot stuff, remember?’
‘Oops, I forgot.’ Adam laughed, blushing slightly, making Taylor feel a whole lot better. He really was human, and as Jay had said, completely down-to-earth. This mustering trip was going to be a hoot! Imagine telling all her friends she had been out mustering with the one and only Adam Brand! They were going to be so jealous!
‘Righto, who’s up for a beer then?’ Tom called from the doorway of the kitchen.
‘Hey, fella, it’s been too long, mate!’ Adam said as he gave Tom a manly hug, including the few crucial slaps on the back. ‘I just got here. My bloody Cruiser decided to overheat near Mossman, put me back a few hours. Where are Fang and Graham?’
‘They’re just over at the stables, finishing up with the horses and packing all the gear and swags into the Toyota, getting ready for the early start. They’ll be in soon, following their noses to the beef stew I’ve had in the slow cooker all day.’ Tom chuckled, his eyes crinkling in the corners.
‘It’ll be great to see them both. I’ve missed the pair of larrikins,’ Adam said, turning his attention back to Jay. ‘So who’s driving the Toyota with all the swags and gear this year? I hope it’s not Graham; he damn near sank the thing last year in that mud. I can’t believe he thought he’d make it through that slush pit while trying to take a short cut — he was bloody embarrassed when we had to help push him out.’
The three blokes chuckled.
Jay glanced at Taylor, smiling warmly as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. ‘Actually, thanks to Taylor, Mum’s offered to drive this year and be camp cook. I told her we’d love the help, but she needs to stay off the grog because it’s a dry camp. I can’t have her endangering her life, or any of ours, out there. We’re all too far from help if something happens.’
‘Really?’ Adam and Tom replied in unison, eyebrows raised to their hairlines.
‘Yep, and she’s at home at the moment, sober as, running around after a kelpie cross puppy, actually smiling for once. Once again, thanks to Taylor.’
<
br /> ‘What the hell did you do with her?’ Tom asked, crossing his arms as he leant against the kitchen doorway, his eyes wide.
Taylor shrugged. ‘Nothing, I just listened to her, gave her a hug, and then we went out and got her a puppy at a farm about fifteen clicks down the road. I spotted the sign advertising the pups for sale on the way over here yesterday. They were only fifty bucks and so bloody cute. I had to stop myself bringing one home too. Floyd would have been very put out if I did.’
‘Shit me. We’ve been trying to get her out of the house for about six months and you just waltz in here and drag her out the first day. I don’t know what magic spell you used, but good on ya, Taylor. We all really appreciate it,’ Tom said, strolling over to her and squeezing her shoulder. He looked up at Jay. ‘You hang onto this one. She’s a bloody keeper, boy.’
Jay gave Taylor a cautious look sideways. ‘Me and Taylor, we’re, um, not —’
‘Too right,’ Adam said, raising his beer, unintentionally cutting Jay off. ‘Patty’s been confined to that house for way too long. With her parents gone, no brothers or sisters and Jay’s dad’s side of the family all down south, she’s been doing it tough. You’re a champ, Taylor.’
Taylor hugged herself, blushing with their compliments. ‘Thanks, guys. But honestly, she wanted to stop. Desperately. I just gave her a little shove with something positive, instead of lecturing her about her drinking. You know, took her mind off things by getting her a dog. Patty’s a clever lady and she’s well aware what she’s doing is wrong. Telling her that over and over is just making her feel more humiliated with herself. Now she’ll have something to look after every day and it will make her feel worthwhile again. And give her loads of love and attention all day long.’
‘Bugger me, you women are clever creatures,’ Tom said, smiling. ‘Right then, I reckon I can hear Graham and Fang traipsing up the stairs. Who’s up for some grub?’ He pushed himself off the doorframe and turned back into the kitchen.
‘Me!’ said five voices, two of them from the front door as Graham and Fang swaggered in, covered head to toe in dirt but smiling broadly as they hung their soiled Akubras on the hatstand and removed their boots.
His belly contentedly full after second helpings of Tom’s mouth-watering stew Jay stood at the front door, leaning on the flyscreen, one foot in and one foot out, his heart begging him to stay, but he couldn’t. He was falling for this tender-hearted woman — hard. But he needed to get his life back on track, to get the muster over with so he could pay the bank the huge sum of money that was outstanding and hopefully get his mum on the straight and narrow along the way. He just prayed Taylor would understand, and not take it to heart, her lingering looks and desire-fuelled eyes telling him just how she felt each and every time she looked at him.
‘Night, Taylor, and again, thanks for helping Mum out today.’ He blinked, shaking his head, his jaw clenching as he fought back pushed-down emotions. ‘What you’ve done —’
‘Hey, it was nothing heroic. Your mum’s doing all this herself. She just doesn’t know it yet. I’ll catch you in the morning, bright and early.’ She brushed her lips across his cheek. ‘Night, Jay, sweet dreams.’
They will be if they’re of you, he thought as he turned away. All the way down the path he fought the urge to spin around and capture a glimpse of her pretty face once more. The beautiful woman he’d stumbled upon that night was here, on his station, to stay, for now. But maybe — if he could find the courage to open up his heart and love her with all he had — Taylor would be different to Becky and stay forever. The familiar doubts crept in once more. You’re not good enough for her, Donnellson! You’re a fool to think she would stay here with you. Damn it! Why couldn’t he find a way to get over his shit, once and for all, and get on with his life? He heard his late Nanna’s words in his head: A true love story never ends. Did true love really exist? He shook his head as he wandered through the darkness towards home.
CHAPTER
17
1866 — Far North Queensland
Using all his might, William pulled the trapdoor open, grunting and panting from the exertion. Standing at the edge of the abandoned mine shaft, he peered into the seemingly bottomless pit — the soil and dirt looked as if it had been sucked neatly out of the earth. He clutched the jewellery box that he’d dug out of Anne’s hiding place firmly. Part of him didn’t want to let it go because he knew the jewels inside would be worth an absolute fortune, but the voice of reason was telling him it had to be done: he couldn’t risk being found with it in his possession now Ben had gone blabbing about town in his drunken stupor. William had only escaped Goldbury by the skin of his teeth and Hocking’s death must surely have raised suspicion — right now he had to act sensibly. One day, in many years time, he hoped one of his descendants might come across the jewellery box and use the contents for Waratah Station’s benefit. As for him and Anne, this jewellery box meant nothing but trouble.
Drawing in a deep breath, William held the ornate box over the cavernous hole, watching as the box toppled from his hands and disappeared into the depths below. Seconds later, a distant echoing clatter announced when it had finally hit the bottom. The deed done, he bent down and heaved the trapdoor shut. Once Anne found out the jewellery box was missing she was going to hit the roof, her high hopes that he would one day use it as evidence to clear his name shattered. But how could he blame her? She was none the wiser as to why he had to get rid of it. In her eyes, he’d never killed a soul. And that’s how he wanted it to stay.
Satisfied he’d done what he’d come for, he turned on his heel and strode off towards the bough shed, his fists clenching as he recalled Ben’s outburst last night. How dare he come back into his life and try to blackmail him, the hide of him! For Christ’s sake, they used to be best of mates. Now that Ben was sober, and after a decent night’s sleep, he was hoping to get more sense out of him and find out what had caused him to be so bitter.
Stomping up the path, William reached out and pushed the front door of the bough shed open, not feeling the need to knock. This was his home, not Ben’s, and he had no reason to be hospitable. Ben sat on the edge of the fold-out bed, a sheepish smile on his grotty face as he tried to avoid William’s menacing stare. William leant on the door jamb and folded his arms, his hat throwing shadows across his face. A few uncomfortable seconds passed as he waited for Ben to speak. Ben shuffled anxiously, wringing his hands, his feet tapping the timber floor nervously. William thought he could see tears in Ben’s eyes, but he couldn’t be sure, it was too dim to see clearly.
Ben cleared his throat, one time too many. ‘I’m, um, I’m real sorry, Will. I’m so ashamed about what I did and said. I should never have threatened you like that.’ He dropped his head in his hands. ‘I’m a no-gooder. I don’t know why you’re even giving me the time of day right now, or offering me a job. You should have just shot me when you had the chance last night and put me out of my bloody misery.’
William snorted. ‘Believe me, Ben, I thought about it. But then I would have had too many unanswered questions. Like, how are you so sure I was the one who killed Hocking?’
Ben gave a wry laugh. ‘You don’t have to be a genius to figure that one out, Will. In hindsight, don’t you reckon it’s a bit obvious, when you skipped town with Anne on the same night Hocking is found burnt to death in his cottage? The traps have put it down to Hocking being drunk and falling asleep with a cigarette because there was no evidence to prove otherwise, but I know better.’
William felt a jolt of optimism. The knowledge that Hocking’s death had been put down as accidental was a huge relief. But the New South Wales traps would still be on the lookout for him for the Ballinger murder, so he wasn’t out of the woods completely. He blinked, focusing on keeping his voice even. ‘So, it was a hunch hey, Ben? Well, sorry to burst your bubble but your hunch is wrong. I didn’t have anything to do with Hocking’s death.’ William shifted his weight. ‘And now that’s settled, my next question is
, how come you have no money, you look like shit and you smell like a piece of meat that’s been left rotting in the sun?’
Ben huffed. ‘To cut a long story short: I lost it all gambling. I thought I could rely on David to help me out but the bastard went and shacked up with some cheap whore down in Victoria and she’s got him on a short leash. He thinks he’s in love but she’s just there to use all his money. Stupid bastard. I told him so, in front of her, and she told me to bugger off, and David agreed with her.’ Ben finally met William’s eyes. ‘It’s taken me almost six months to ride all the way up here, living off scraps of food and with the clothes on my back all I own, only to arrive in Driftwood to hear that you and Joey are magnates round these parts. I was so down and out, the jealousy of your good fortune took over. Then I got drunk and acted like a complete and utter fool. I hope I haven’t done too much damage, Will, and I also hope that my hard work here will prove how much I want to make it up to you.’ Ben shrugged, shaking his head. ‘And in time, maybe you can even forgive me?’
Satisfied Ben was being honest, William unfolded his arms and wandered over to sit down beside his long-lost mate. Jealousy could be a curse, and in Ben’s case, it had been. He slapped Ben on the shoulder, recoiling a little from the stench wafting off him. ‘I already forgive you. Just don’t prove my trust in your sincerity wrong, or I will pull my gun and shoot you in the foot so you can’t walk out of here.’ William chortled. ‘And if you don’t go and have a bloody bath soon, I’m going to have to sack you before you’ve even started. You smell rotten, Ben!’
Ben chuckled heartily. ‘I know I bloody do. At least you can get away from the pong, Will, I can’t! You reckon you could spare a ration of soap?’
Will smiled broadly, his teeth almost glowing in the dimness of the room as he pulled soap from his pocket and passed it to Ben. ‘I came prepared, and when you’re finished, come up to the cottage. Anne will be happy to see you, and you can meet my two kids.’
