Return to Riversleigh

by Anne Ashby

  Luke held the trembling boy, not having a clue what he could do or say to improve Thomas’s situation.

  “I hate her. I hate her so much.”

  This Luke could counter. “No you don’t, Thomas. You might hate what she does or says, but you don’t hate her.”

  Thomas eased away and wiped a sleeve across his face. “She thinks I’m like my dad.”

  Luke swallowed. How much did Thomas know about his father’s exploits? Did he know the unnecessary risks Eric had taken, how far he’d been willing to push the envelope to achieve his objectives? “What do you think?”

  Thomas shivered. “I’m nothing like him.”

  Luke noted the venom in the words. Perhaps Thomas has had issues with his father, as well. He slung an arm around the rigid shoulders. “Let’s see if we can figure some way to change your Mum’s mind about you, aye?”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  Luke had his doubts, too, but he wasn’t about to share them. “You don’t know, boy. We just might achieve a miracle.”

  “It’s gonna take a miracle.”

  At least Thomas’s voice had lifted a little. Luke forced a chuckle. The boy’s mood needed to lighten by the time they got back to the house or who knew what might happen. “Between the two of us, we might just pull one off.”

  Thomas stopped so abruptly Luke bumped into him. He lifted the torch to illuminate the boy’s face. “You’d try and make her see I’m not a baby anymore?”

  “Sure I would.” Luke gripped a scrawny shoulder. “You’re mum’s a pretty cool lady, Tom. I know she has a hang-up about your safety, but she does have her reasons.”

  Thomas swallowed. “Yeah, I know it’s ’cause of my dad.”

  “So we should give her a little slack, right?”

  Thomas tensed.

  He’s not going to give an inch. “You’re turning out a real asset around the place, Thomas. Least I can do is go to bat for you with your mother.” He urged Thomas to continue down the track. “But we’re not going to antagonize her. The last thing I want is her quitting on me.”

  If she ever did… Luke refused to consider this possibility.

  Luke reined in the horse when they were halfway back to the house. He turned to Thomas sitting behind him. “You want my help, I expect no silly nonsense from you. You clear on that?”

  Thankful when Thomas nodded, Luke added. “You apologize to your mother for worrying her, grab a quick shower, and straight off to bed. Okay? You’ve got school tomorrow.”

  Thomas’s nod took a little longer this time. Finally he mumbled, “Yeah, okay.”

  “Nothing’s going to change overnight, boy, but eventually we’ll get you onto those zip lines.”

  Luke was rewarded with a slight smile before he urged the horse on.

  Shannon tore out into the yard as the horse approached. She dragged Thomas off the back of the horse and into her arms.

  “Oh Thomas, I’ve been so scared. Are you all right?”

  Thomas jerked away from his mother and turned toward the flat.

  “Thomas?” Luke’s tone was a clear warning.

  “I’m sorry you were worried, Mum. I got lost in the bush.”

  Thomas’s glance up at Luke had him guessing the falseness of this, but Luke let that go.

  Shannon tried to hug him again, but Thomas shrugged her arms aside.

  Luke swung off the horse and reached for the cinch. “Shower and bed, Thomas. Away you go.”

  Shannon would have followed her son but for Luke’s hand on her arm. “Leave him alone tonight, Shannon.” When she opened her mouth, he continued, “He’s had a hard day. Just leave him be.”

  Steel straightened her back. Her head shot up and she glared at him through the darkness.

  “Thank you for finding him.”

  The words must have nearly choked her.

  “Now I’m going to see if my son is all right.”

  “Your son doesn’t need you tonight,” he snapped back. “He doesn’t want any of your pampering right now. Leave him alone.”

  Luke turned and, saddle over his arm, led the horse back into its paddock. He half expected her to chase him, but she stayed rooted to the ground for some moments. She’d disappeared off into the flat before he came out of the tack room.

  I sure as hell hope she leaves that kid alone. No telling what he might do or say if she hassles him tonight.

  ****

  Luke refused to allow the frosty atmosphere in the office to impact on him. At least Shannon had turned up for work this morning.

  Thomas’s surly attitude was apparent in the few seconds Luke saw him before school this morning. He wanted to tell the boy things would work out but he wasn’t sure yet how he was going to help. He just knew he had to. Much more of Shannon’s overprotecting would drive the wedge deeper between mother and son.

  He guessed Thomas was a forbidden subject between him and Shannon this morning but somehow he intended to lessen that boy’s angst.

  He smiled at the little girl seated on a barstool next to the bench, helping him prepare lunch. Amy’s casted leg didn’t cause her much pain anymore, thank God. And apart from this situation with Shannon and Thomas—he grimaced as he glanced toward the office—life was good.

  The plans for the park were proceeding—albeit more slowly than he’d expected—and he and the kids were doing great. In fact he’d begun hoping Marcia might find some reason to extend her stay in Christchurch even further.

  “Hey, I can hear a car. Who’s coming to see us today?”

  “Not Aunt Marcia?”

  Luke registered the disappointment evident in Amy’s voice. “Aren’t you looking forward to seeing Aunt Marcia?”

  The smile he expected didn’t arrive. Instead Amy’s mouth drooped as she gave a little shrug.

  Frowning, Luke stopped. He leaned over the breakfast bar. “What’s up, pumpkin?”

  Amy squirmed a little. Her thumb landed in her mouth.

  “C’mon, you can tell me,” Luke urged, casually flicking the thumb away.

  “W-will I still be able to come to your work s-sometimes?”

  Warmth radiated through Luke. Laughing, he leaned over and hugged the little girl. “You can come to work with me every day if you want.”

  In that second, Luke resolved to carry her beaming smile with him forever.

  “Now let’s see who’s here.” He swung Amy into his arms, taking care not to bump her leg, and headed for the door.

  He waved a welcome as Jase and Debra McEwan got out of their vehicle.

  “Hey, what are you guys doing up this way?”

  “Rumors in town suggest there’s a massive amount of earthworks being done somewhere.” Jase grinned as he ushered his wife toward the door. “We wanted to find out how everything is going.”

  Luke clapped his friend on the back as he entered the kitchen. “We’re just organizing some lunch. Come and join us.”

  “We don’t need lunch thanks, mate, but a coffee wouldn’t go amiss.”

  Debra smiled at Amy as she entered the kitchen. “What have you been up to?”

  With her hair hanging down around her shoulders and dressed in jeans and a red down jacket, this woman appeared nothing like the woman Luke remembered from the resort. She didn’t look scary at all—although Amy did clutch a little tighter to Luke’s shoulders and refuse to reply to Debra’s question.

  “Grab a seat.” Luke waved them toward the table. “Are you sure you won’t join us for some soup and toast?” He had a huge pot bubbling on the stove and the toaster popped as he settled Amy in her seat. “There’s plenty.”

  “It does smell delicious.” After a quick glance at his wife, Jase accepted.

  “Great.” Luke slipped more bread into the toaster and grabbed more plates. “Cutlery’s in that drawer behind you.” He pointed behind Jase. “Help yourself. I’ll just give Shannon a yell.”

  He’d been sure Shannon wouldn’t join them for lunch. In her mood, she’d
have disappeared into her flat. A stickler for working her allotted hours, she’d sat through an awkward morning thumping away on her keyboard.

  What the hell had needed such close attention? Shoving his hands into his pockets he marched down the hallway. Surely she’ll come out to the kitchen now with Jase and Debra’s arrival as an incentive.

  “I’ve got some soup and toast ready.” It was the first time he’d spoken to her since his offer of coffee had been refused earlier. “Jase McEwan and his wife dropped by to see how things are progressing. You’d better come out in case Debra has any questions I won’t be able to answer.”

  Damn, Shannon knows the hotel isn’t financially involved. Will she believe I’ve still been taking more advice from Debra?

  Shannon’s close-lipped glare wasn’t encouraging, but she did slam her chair back and rise.

  “Thank you.” He took a step back as she sailed past hoping the presence of others might lighten her contrary mood.

  What did I do? So I told her a couple of home truths about her son, so what? He no longer believed her attitude was solely wrapped up with Thomas.

  He punched the doorjamb and stomped after her, muttering under his breath. She’s cranky with me for some other reason.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “There’s another reason for our visit,” Jase admitted as he put his empty mug down and stretched his legs out under the table. “The resort is interested in sponsoring a charity mud run and we wondered if your new earth works might be an ideal venue before you develop it too much.”

  Jase shared a glance with his wife before continuing. “We figured it would also be a way to circulate what you’re doing up here, too.”

  “A mud run? Like the Muddy Buddy held over near Winton a couple of months ago?”

  “Exactly.” Jase leaned forward. “Now it’s warmer, I figure we could drum up plenty of interest. They had something like five or six hundred competitors at Browns.”

  Again he glanced at his wife. “The resort would take care of everything to encourage participation. Other businesses in Riversleigh would support us, too. Think what that sort of exposure would do for your park.”

  “To say nothing for your resort or the town,” Luke added dryly.

  Jase grinned. “You’re right on the dot. I see it as a win-win situation.” He laughed. “It would be good for Riversleigh to have something new to attract people to visit. We might see it as becoming an annual event, encourage teams from further afield.” His expression sobered. “As long as you’d be willing to have some of your earth works messed with a bit in a trial run.”

  Luke’s interest was tweaked. A glance at Shannon showed her leaning forward toward Jase.

  “So what do you actually envisage?”

  Jase shrugged. “Maybe a couple of courses of differing lengths with any types of stumbling blocks we could think of. They could be anything, from something as simple as a few bales of hay to more complex and difficult obstacles.”

  Luke, with eyebrows rising, turned to Shannon. “The mountain bike track and part of the motor-cross?”

  Shannon’s head bobbed up and down. “Perhaps extend from the motor-cross down into the creek?”

  Luke rubbed a finger along his jaw, his mind taking off with possible ideas. Then he forced himself to rein in his enthusiasm.

  “Shannon? What do you think? Should we involve ourselves with something as crazy as this? It will take our attention away from our real objectives.”

  For a second, Shannon looked taken aback he’d asked her to share in the decision-making. The silence was broken only by Amy’s whispered conversation with her little character toys.

  Shannon fiddled with her coffee mug, running a finger around the handle as she chewed her bottom lip. When she looked up at him this morning’s simmering animosity appeared to have lessened.

  Luke grimaced. “For God’s sake, Shannon, I’m not going to bite your head off. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  Her response was hesitant. “It wouldn’t need to interfere that much.”

  “And? Or are we waiting for a but?” Luke snapped.

  After taking a noticeable deep breath Shannon glared across at him. “There are other areas where we could continue to develop your plans,” she retorted. “From a business viewpoint”—she glanced at Debra for support—“Jase is right. This would be an ideal way to advertise what you’re doing up here. It’s both free publicity and the possibility you’ll garner interest in your other pursuits.”

  Luke allowed the aggravation evident in her voice to roll over him. He wasn’t getting into anything with Shannon in the presence of others, although she appeared to have no such hesitation.

  “Okay, let’s go.” Luke jerked his chair back and rose.

  “Go? Go where?” Jase looked confused, his gaze darting between Luke and Shannon.

  “To show you the site, let you decide whether you’re interested or not.” Luke picked Amy up and disappeared out the door, uncaring whether the others followed him or not.

  ****

  “You go ahead,” Shannon said as she gathered the dishes together. Heat burned her cheeks. She wanted to throw something, or at least stamp her foot. “I’ll tidy up here and then get back to work.”

  She couldn’t quite meet their eyes. “It was nice seeing you both again.”

  They hesitated before they headed out the door.

  As she stood at the sink, a glance out the window revealed them in whispered conversation while they hurried down the pathway.

  Damn. Why couldn’t I act calm and civil? She scrubbed the table with sharp, jerky movements before throwing the dishcloth into the sink. Now they’re wondering what’s going on here.

  Hell, she was wondering that herself. Why be so wound up?

  She hadn’t slept well last night. She wasn’t sure she’d slept at all. She’d been afraid for Thomas. In the hours he’d been gone she justified her stance to herself. No matter what Luke suggests, it’s my job as his mother to keep him safe.

  Thomas didn’t speak to her before he’d left for school. He didn’t even glance in her direction.

  She’d tried to engage him, wanting to explain how afraid she’d been, but he’d resisted her efforts. She hated their relationship was slipping back to what it had been before they arrived at the farm.

  Luke had virtually ignored her this morning, too. Sometimes his gaze landed on her, but he’d initiated no conversation.

  She’d felt so mad she’d wanted to hit something. Or yell at Luke to mind his own business. It’s just as well he kept quiet, or I’d have given it to him with both barrels. So much for her ability to control her emotions.

  Surprise rooted her to the spot. During her marriage she’d learned to hide her feelings, to cover her pain, anger, or trepidation with a blank face and supposedly calm disposition. She never verbalized her feelings. Never let on what was going on inside her.

  What the hell is Luke Prescott doing to me?

  Before she could begin to analyze the turmoil rolling in her head, a horn started tooting.

  Stepping to the window she saw Luke angrily gesturing out the truck window. He took his hand off the horn long enough to yell, “Shannon. Hurry up and get in this bloody truck.”

  Her glare appeared to have little impact on him as his hand punched the horn again.

  Thumping the table on her way, Shannon stalked out the door, grabbing one of the many jackets hanging there. She had no hesitation in slamming the truck door behind her after she climbed in.

  Forgetting what Luke might see in the rear vision mirror, she sent Debra, sitting beside Amy, a weak, apologetic smile.

  Debra’s glance from her to Luke and back again sent Shannon’s gaze toward the back of Luke’s head.

  Catching his gaze in the mirror, they stared icily at each other. His expression showed smoldering anger ready to explode at any moment.

  “If this isn’t a good time?” Jase murmured.

  “It’s a perfect time,�
� Luke contradicted. “Right, Shannon?”

  “Oh yeah, absolutely.”

  Again she shared an embarrassed glance with Debra giving half a shrug at Debra’s enquiring rise of her eyebrows.

  “Are we going into the bush today, Uncle?”

  Glad of Amy’s presence, Shannon’s body slumped against the seat. When Luke made no effort to answer Shannon slipped her arm around the girl.

  “Not today, sweetie. We’re going to show Debra and Jase the motor-cross track.”

  “Why?”

  A multitude of questions from Amy kept Shannon busy, and allowed no necessity for other conversation.

  Luke stopped at the knoll above the earthworks. Ignoring Shannon, he lifted Amy out and sat her on the bonnet of the vehicle. Her shout of delighted laughter was infectious and even Luke’s expression lightened.

  “You want a course where the teams do circuits?” Luke led Jase closer to the earthworks and began discussing mud run possibilities, leaving Debra and Shannon standing beside the truck.

  The silence lengthened. Shannon scuffed her sneakers in the grass, looking everywhere but at Debra. Her face heated as she threw Luke a frustrated scowl before storming around the other side of the truck so he was no longer in her line of sight.

  Debra followed her. “How’s everything working out?”

  Shannon shrugged.

  “Bit hard to concentrate?”

  Shannon’s gaze shot to Debra. Her gentle tone and sympathetic look stiffened Shannon’s back. Damn. How could I have let others see my turmoil?

  “Ahh, if there’s anything I could do?” The doubt shadowing Debra’s voice and the way she stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets surprised Shannon. It also told her a lot about the other woman. While Debra might be some international business expert, her confidence didn’t appear to roll over into her social dealings with others.

  Shannon’s exasperation wilted. She rubbed the back of her hand across her face and even managed a smile. “Thanks.” She couldn’t quite meet the other woman’s gaze.

  Debra’s answering smile eased a little more of Shannon’s embarrassment.

  “Oh, come on, I’ll show you the mountain bike track. Amy, you stay up there. Don’t try to get down, will you?”