Return to Roseglen

by Helene Young

  ‘Ivy bought champagne? When?’ Felicity’s voice was faint.

  ‘Just be a good little mother and do what I say for once,’ Ella said, and danced out the door.

  ‘Ella’s right,’ Georgina said. ‘We owe it to Ivy to celebrate at some point. Today was a damn fine outcome. The jury’s still out for me as to what we do with this information.’ Georgina waved at the notebook and certificates. ‘Presumably the police could investigate if they want to. And Dot and Ernie are buried in the cemetery. It might make it harder for Ken to appeal, but the bottom line is I’m kind of relieved he’s not our brother. He can have a couple of pieces from the house but that’s it. Take the mess he’s created and stand on his own two feet. I’m not crying over his history. He was given everything a young baby could wish for and then some.’

  Dan stirred and moved next to Sean, who was still silent. ‘How’re you doing, buddy?’

  Sean nodded. ‘Yeah, I was just getting used to the idea that Granny D’s gone and now this? She was always so quick to give a lecture, so right all the time, so . . .’

  ‘Sanctimonious?’ Georgina supplied.

  ‘Yeah, I guess? Like she was better than everyone, but look what she was hiding?’

  ‘Or you can look at it this way. She gave a baby a home, kept him safe, and loved him as much as she could. That’s a big ask under the circumstances,’ Mitch said, ever the voice of reason. ‘Her family meant everything to her.’

  Sean looked down, but Georgina caught the sheen of tears in his eyes. So much had changed in his life this year, too. She had no idea how this latest revelation fitted into his thinking about the divorce.

  Mitch was still watching Felicity, his hat crushed beyond recognition now. ‘Can we talk, Lissie,’ he said quietly, nodding towards the front door. ‘Please?’

  She led the way, her footsteps slow. Mitch hovered a respectful distance behind her. It would take time, but Georgina figured Mitch had waited too long for Lissie to give up now. He’d find a way.

  Ella returned with the champagne. ‘Where’s Mum gone?’

  ‘With Mitch. They need to talk,’ Georgina said.

  ‘Right. So I should stop pushing and leave this on ice.’

  Georgina nodded. ‘A cup of tea’s a good idea, Ella. You’ve organised everything for lunch and it really will be a celebration, but just give her some space.’

  ‘Okay, I won’t argue. Steph and Paula should be back soon, too. We can lay the table in the meantime. Come on, Sean.’

  Her brother followed her from the room leaving Georgina and Dan looking at each other.

  ‘So what will Ken do now?’ she asked.

  ‘I’d be very cautious of Ken,’ Dan replied. ‘He’s not rational at the moment. Maybe he’s further in debt than anyone realises, but I wouldn’t cross the road in front of him.’

  Georgina laughed. ‘What the hell’s he going to do? Murder someone? He can appeal all he wants and I’ll take him head on. Lissie finally gets her dream.’

  ‘And you?’

  There was no mistaking the question in Dan’s eyes, but she wasn’t ready to answer that yet. ‘I get to be a grazier with the biggest spread this side of the Great Dividing Range,’ she replied. ‘I need to get me a horse and a hat.’

  He laughed at that. ‘Who knew retirement could be so busy?’

  ‘Plenty of free parking for your van.’

  ‘Ah, Georgie. When you’re bored of playing farmer you can always come exploring with me.’

  ‘And I just might take you up on that, Captain Dan,’ she replied, relenting enough to give him hope.

  ‘I’ll hold you to it.’

  ‘Dan? Dan! Can you come work out the barbecue?’ Ella called. ‘I don’t think it’s been used since Grandad was alive.’

  ‘Go,’ Georgina said. ‘We have all the time in the world to talk about the future.’

  ‘Coming,’ he called, before stopping in front of Georgina. ‘I would have thought Ivy’s fall showed you that tomorrow waits for no man, Gina. Don’t leave it too late.’

  She shivered as he pressed a kiss to her cheek and strode from the room.

  A few hours later, with the table set in true Ivy style, Ella, Steph and Paula were putting the finishing touches to lunch while Dan and Sean manned the barbeque. Georgina went looking for Felicity. Mitch had left a couple of hours ago, but promised to be back for a late lunch. Felicity was sitting on the front steps, her chin in her hand.

  ‘Hey kiddo, how are you doing?’

  She looked up. ‘I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. My dream is within reach, but the truth about Ernie and Dottie is devastating.’

  Georgina eased down beside her. ‘It’s sad, but really, it’s ancient history.’

  ‘Ken’s hardly ancient history.’

  ‘No, but he has less of a claim than he did twenty-four hours ago. And who knows what’s in the documents Ivy left with Kate. Ivy was complex, complicated even, but perhaps she and her parenting style had more reasons than I ever gave her credit for. It makes me wish I’d paid closer attention to her stories of when she and Dad first married and lived in the station manager’s cottage.’

  They sat in silence for a minute.

  Georgina broke it. ‘And Mitch?’

  Felicity shook her head. ‘I listened to what he had to say this morning and it all makes sense. But I don’t know . . .’ She shrugged. ‘Maybe after the lies Todd’s told me I’m extra wary, but I feel like Mitch lied to me by omission.’

  Before Georgina could respond, Ella spoke from the doorway behind them as she came to join them. ‘Sorry to barge in, but really? Let me get this straight, Mum. You’d wish Mitch had broken Ivy’s confidence and told you her business? That’s just plain weird. He’s honourable. He kept his promise to his friend. You were what? An old girlfriend? A possible friend with benefits? His friend’s daughter? I’d think less of him if he had told you.’

  Georgina managed to stifle her laugh at the look of outrage on her sister’s face. Ivy’s straight-talking gene was alive and well.

  ‘That’s not what I mean, Ella. And I’m hardly a friend with benefits,’ Felicity retorted.

  ‘No, but you so easily could be. And I don’t see why Dad should have all the fun. You’re separated, soon to be divorced. I don’t have a problem with you seeing Mitch. It’s pretty clear he makes you happy.’

  ‘Ella!’

  ‘She’s got a point,’ Georgina added, leaning into her sister.

  Ella grinned. ‘And I need you in the kitchen, Aunty Georgie.’ She didn’t need to ask twice. They left Felicity sitting on the top step.

  ‘Do you think she’ll listen?’ Ella whispered.

  ‘Give them time, and maybe some extra champagne. You sure you don’t mind? It’s a bit sudden.’

  ‘Mum deserves to be happy. Dad’s not made her smile in a long time. And what about you and Dan?’

  ‘You can keep your nose out of my business, thanks,’ Georgina retorted with a laugh. ‘Stick to your mum’s.’

  They sang a rowdy, off-key ‘Happy Birthday’ to Lissie. As she looked around at the faces Georgina was glad she’d made the decision to come home. The knot of anger, of defiance, that had driven her throughout her career, seemed to have loosened, dissipated. It was time to let go, live in the moment, whatever it may bring. She caught Dan’s eye and raised her glass as they finished three cheers. What was it Ella had called Mitch? Friends with benefits? That sounded like a damn fine idea for now.

  The flicker of headlights strobed across the wall and Felicity jerked awake. She peered at her phone. Two in the morning. Something must be wrong. Sinbad was sitting sphinx-like on the end of the bed, his attention focused on the French doors. She heard an engine cut off.

  Felicity flung back the sheet and flicked on the lamp, her heart hammering. Georgina and Dan hadn’t stirred and she padded towards the front door, the Persian runner smooth under her bare feet. She eased the door open and walked onto the verandah, the air warm on her bare legs
and arms. Sinbad wove around her, a warning rumble in his chest. Out back the dogs were silent.

  Across the home paddock nothing moved. Not even the heads of dry grass. Whoever it was must have stopped at the gate. Or maybe they’d done a U-turn, realised they’d come the wrong way.

  The bunkhouse was in darkness so Ella hadn’t heard anything. Once Sean, Steph, and Paula headed back to Brisbane Ella had chosen to stay in the converted ringers’ quarters. ‘Give everyone some space, Mum,’ she’s said. ‘Happy to cook and clean for you, but if I have an early start I can be gone without disturbing anyone.’

  Had someone come to pick Ella up? Or visiting her? The quarter moon, rising behind the ridge, cast enough light that Ella’s car was visible out front of the bunkhouse.

  Felicity turned to go back inside. Sinbad was still ramrod straight, his eyes glowing as he looked at her.

  ‘Come on, little buddy,’ she murmured. ‘Back to bed.’ He didn’t move, ears swivelling towards the gate. ‘Nothing to see,’ she said, scooping him up. His body was tense and she ran her hand down his spine. ‘Relax, buddy. It’s nothing.’ He wriggled and she set him down again. ‘Okay, suit yourself.’ He darted off into the house.

  The duet of snoring coming from Georgina’s room made her smile as she climbed back into bed. Dan had graduated permanently from the caravan. With the sheet pulled up to her waist she stretched. Muscles she didn’t remember were aching. She’d ridden the fences of Roseglen in the last two weeks, either on horseback or quad bike. There was some work to be done.

  Work on the tourist camp was well underway at the caves. Patrick was in his element as the head ranger and manager. ‘We’ll make a go of it, I reckon,’ he told Felicity. ‘Make your mum proud, eh?’ Ivy would definitely have approved.

  She’d heard from Kate. Apparently Ken had stormed into her office, but after she went through the material Ivy had given her he left, threatening that she hadn’t heard the last of him. Kate didn’t seem concerned so Felicity had decided to stop worrying about him. Get on with turning Roseglen back into a profitable station.

  The divorce was proceeding via the lawyers. Sean had moved in with Mandy, Ella was gainfully employed for now, and Georgina and Dan seemed to have found each other again. Life was good and getting better.

  She rolled on her side, sleep creeping over her, and snuggled into the pillow, the fine cotton soft against her cheek. She must check out the linen press. One of Ivy’s embroidered doilies would be perfect under the flower vase on the dressing table.

  Lady’s sharp bark jolted her wide awake again. When Wex joined in, she shot out of bed. The crash of breaking glass at the front of the house and the whoosh of an explosion preceded the flare of light outside her window by a second.

  ‘No!’ she screamed, as she ran out of the bedroom, rushing to the front door and frantically dialling her phone.

  ‘Stop!’ Dan yelled behind her. ‘Don’t open the door. You don’t know what’s out there or who’s out there. Do you have fire-extinguishers?’

  ‘Yes, in the kitchen. Two by the back door.’

  ‘Grab them and do your best.’ Dan turned and ran back down the hallway. The back door banged behind him just as the French doors in the lounge room shattered inwards. Through the open door from the hallway Felicity glimpsed flames leaping to take hold of the long drapes. She screamed again, snatching her coat and hat from the stand by the front door and headed for the kitchen.

  ‘Hello? I’m at Roseglen, out on Limestone Ridge Road. The house is on fire. Someone’s firebombing us. Please we need help. Now! I have to go. You got that? Roseglen, Limestone Ridge Road. The RFS will know it.’

  She hung up as Georgina appeared beside her, pulling a long-sleeved shirt over her head.

  ‘Here!’ Felicity yanked the fire-extinguishers out of their bracket and thrust them at her sister. ‘You know how to use these?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Do what you can inside. Once they’re both empty, get out. I need to get the irrigation pump running.’

  ‘Right.’ Georgina pulled the pin on the first extinguisher as she raced towards the front of the house where the flickering light and the smell of burning was intensifying.

  Felicity bolted out the back door, stopping to shove her feet into her boots, before sprinting to the pump shed. She shone her phone on the start switches. ‘Come on, come on,’ she ground out as the diesel motor chugged. ‘Come on!’ It finally caught and she opened the water valve.

  Someone yelled from the front of the house. A man’s voice. It sounded like Ken. He wouldn’t, would he? She sprinted towards it, dragging the irrigation hose from the reel as she went, water pouring from the nozzle. A torch was bobbing over from the bunkhouse.

  ‘Mum? What’s happening?’ Ella yelled. She was carrying the extinguisher from her room.

  ‘I don’t know. Some bastard’s firebombing us.’

  ‘Shit! Where’s Dan?’ Ella asked as they ran to the front of the house.

  ‘Outside, that’s all I know. I’ve rung the fire brigade, but they’ll never get here in time. It’s up to us.’

  ‘Oh no!’

  The flames had engulfed one end of the verandah. The iron roof lifted like bat wings, dark against the orange glow.

  ‘Dan! Dan!’ Felicity screamed.

  ‘He’s over there,’ Ella yelled. Lit by the flickering light two men were wrestling. Snarling and snapping, Lady and Wex circled the duo. ‘It’s Uncle Ken.’

  ‘Forget them. Fight the fire!’

  Ella pointed the fire-extinguisher at the front stairs where flames licked at the handrails. Felicity directed the stream of water on the fiercest part of the blaze, near the two men. Dan was being pushed back towards the flames with Ken raining blows on his head.

  ‘No!’ Georgina hurtled out of the darkness, fire-extinguisher still in hand. She swung the cylinder, catching Ken on his ribcage as he raised his fist. His arms flailed as he lost his footing and fell backwards.

  ‘Dan!’ She flung the cylinder towards Lissie and grabbed Dan under the arms, hauling him clear.

  Lissie turned her attention back to the house. Georgina would look after Dan. Dimly she saw Ken crawling towards her. Fury lent her strength. ‘Get away,’ she yelled. ‘Get away.’

  He was on his feet, his eyes blazing.

  ‘You won’t stop it!’ he snarled at her. ‘It belonged to me, to my parents. Not to your parents. This is my birthright, not yours.’

  Felicity kept the hose on the house while she faced her brother. ‘You’re insane. Mum and Dad gave you everything, Ken. Everything! Yet still you stole from them. Left Mum struggling at her age. Now this? I hope you rot in prison!’

  He swung away, searching on the ground, his shirt flapping where Dan had torn it. A shower of sparks rained down, catching the trailing edge, and it ignited. Ken’s howl was inhuman and Felicity turned the hose on her brother as he dropped to the ground, beating at the flames, the bottle in his hand smashing as it fell. The smell of fuel was intense. With a woof it ignited, flaring in rivers as it ran across the ground.

  ‘Dear God, you’re mad!’ She sprayed more water on him and he didn’t move, but his clothes were no longer alight.

  ‘Ella, over here,’ Lissie shouted to her daughter, who was beating at embers with her jacket. She knew better than to spray water on the fuel in case it spread further. ‘See if you can put this out.’

  A siren sounded faintly in the distance. The grand old homestead, full of memories, of a thousand treasured possessions, everything that Ivy had worked so hard to build might yet be saved from the anger of a man to whom she had given so much. Felicity’s eyes were streaming, not just from the smoke.

  She moved closer to Ella who was now attacking the trickles of burning fuel.

  ‘I’ve got this, Mum. Get the house,’ Ella panted.

  A truck turned in at the gate, followed by three other sets of lights. The fire was contained to the far right corner now and Felicity edged up the stairs
wetting down the blackened walls and floorboards. If Dan hadn’t stopped Ken they would have lost everything.

  The fire truck slammed to a halt and she could hear shouting as they rolled out the equipment. The other vehicles arrived close behind. Someone took the hose from her. Another person wrapped a blanket around her shoulders, steering her off the verandah and down the stairs.

  ‘Lissie!’ Mitch’s voice rang out above the babble of voices and the sound of the pump running on the truck. ‘What happened?’

  ‘Ken.’

  ‘You’re kidding me.’

  In the firelight, the anger carved in his cheeks and his jaw was a living thing. Behind him the blast of water from the fire truck cut a white arc through the air.

  Felicity shook her head. ‘No, he firebombed us.’

  ‘Where is he?’ Mitch barked.

  ‘He’s over there. Ella’s with him. No, Mitch!’ Felicity grabbed him before he could storm away. ‘No! He’s not worth it. Let the police handle it. He’s already beaten Dan up. Don’t do it.’

  Mitch stopped with his back to her.

  ‘Pulverising him won’t change the outcome. Let him face us in court. Please,’ Felicity begged, tugging his arm. ‘Don’t do it.’

  His shoulders slumped in capitulation. ‘Only for you. He deserves a beating and more. Ivy . . .’ He ran out of words then turned back to her. ‘How did it come to this? To have so much hate that he wanted to destroy everything?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Felicity replied. ‘But this isn’t the end of Roseglen. He won’t win.’ She was incapable of stopping the tears that dripped off her chin.

  ‘Hey, Lissie, this one yours?’ One of the firefighters had Sinbad in his arms. ‘He was over the other side, near the bottles I almost tripped over.’

  ‘Bottles?’ Felicity reached for the cat, who burrowed into the crook of her arm.

  ‘They got rags sticking out of them. It’s pretty obvious how the fire started. Did you see anyone throwing them?’