Leath's Legacy

by Anne Ashby

  Her widening eyes drew a chuckle. “Probably about the time you set the cops on me.”

  Leath felt heat rising into her face again. How could she have ever suspected him of stealing from her? Stealing her heart, maybe, but nothing else.

  “Then that night with Fiona. Something happened that night.”

  Leath’s head nodded.

  “You felt it, too?” Kirk stared into her eyes.

  Leath nodded again, her heart racing so fast she felt dizzy.

  “I fell in love with you.”

  Leath gasped. Her body jerked ramrod stiff. She’d recklessly expected something from Kirk, but a declaration of love? That was too much to take in, too overwhelming to consider.

  “I love you, Leath,” he whispered.

  He gathered her in his arms. “Could we spend time together, get to know each other better, see if you could ever learn to love me?”

  Learn? He thought she needed to learn to love him. The galloping thump-thump-thump of his heart under her hand sent fire burning through every pore.

  Delightful shivers clawed up and down her back as she pressed closer to him. Leath tried to navigate words around the obstruction in her throat. When they wouldn’t come out her open mouth she reached up and threaded her fingers through his hair. Anchoring her lips against his, she revelled in the pressure of his body clamped to his.

  “I’m way past learning, Kirk,” she sassed against his mouth when they broke the bond.

  Leath laughed as she was flung around and around, her bare feet flying across the sand. Clutching at his shoulders for support his jubilant expression filled her with excitement she’d never experienced before.

  “I can’t believe this.” He finally let her feet touch the sand. “I never dreamed you might feel the same.”

  His hands cupped her cheeks and he looked deeply into her eyes. “When will you marry me?”

  Delicious tremors wracked her body. “Whenever you want.” She wriggled herself closer.

  A ragged sigh escaped him and he stepped away. “Let’s walk.”

  Coldness seeped into her where his body had been, but his lopsided smile and an attempt to surreptitiously adjust his shorts brought the heat back. Clasping her hand, they began walking.

  “I talked to your brother.”

  Dread surfaced. She’d forgotten all about Robby and how he felt about Kirk.

  “I wanted to know exactly what he’d said to upset you.”

  Leath turned to him with surprised eyes.

  “It was rather obvious. I just couldn’t believe you might consider I wanted this place enough to seduce you.”

  He smiled across at her, giving her hand a squeeze. “The seducing bit wasn’t a problem—well, actually it was. Dreams of doing all sorts of things to you kept me awake far too many nights.”

  Leath’s face burned, remembering some of her own dreams.

  “I figured he must have worked pretty hard to have you convinced I’d sink that low. Turned out he didn’t need to argue much at all, I heard.”

  He shook his head at her downcast look. “Anyway, I told him straight I didn’t give a damn anymore about the motels, or the land, or Dad visiting. I loved you and I hoped you’d agree to marry me one day. I told him I’m not giving up a chance like this because of any stupid misunderstanding. If he didn’t like it, well stiff!”

  Leath’s feet halted. Her mouth dropped open.

  Robby’s apprehension last night had been so real, his anger against Kirk so strong. Could Kirk have erased his concerns so easily? “What did he say?” Trepidation was clear in her voice.

  Her joy would be overshadowed if Robby opposed her relationship with Kirk. They were the only family each other had. The possibility Robby might have difficulty accepting Kirk’s word drove a nail into Leath’s heart.

  “It doesn’t matter what he said.” Kirk tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and started walking. “He didn’t hit me. That has got to be an improvement on last night.”

  Leath shuddered.

  “You two are pretty close, aren’t you?”

  Biting her lip, Leath nodded.

  “We’ve come to an understanding. I doubt we’ll be best friends right off, that might take a while, but we know where each of us stands.”

  He smiled across at her. “Don’t worry, it’ll work out. Give us some time to get to know each other.”

  His smile grew. “One thing I discovered within the first minute, he’d do anything for you. He made it pretty clear. I ever hurt you...and look out!”

  Leath was filled with the warmest, fuzziest feeling she could ever imagine.

  She gripped Kirk’s hand and stared across the darkening sea. “Robby got caught up in the break-up of a relationship I was in. He blamed himself. Needlessly, of course, but it took me a long time to convince him he’d actually saved me.” She smiled across at Kirk.

  “You don’t have to tell me anything about your past, Leath.” Kirk’s voice was gentle.

  “I want to explain. So you understand Robby’s attitude.”

  Leath took a deep breath. She hadn’t thought about Peter for so long. In fact, closing her eyes, she couldn’t even imagine a clear picture of his features.

  “I met Peter at a party. He was so popular, funny and carefree, without a worry in the world. I felt so good being with him, so relaxed. I couldn’t believe he wanted me.”

  Kirk’s hand tightened on hers. “He could have had any girl. I thought he was everything I’d ever dreamed of in a man. We’d known each other for about six months when he asked me to move in with him. I was over the moon. Mum and Dad would have preferred we’d got married, but they liked Peter well enough and we all thought it would just be a matter of time before the wedding.”

  Leath shot Kirk a glance as they wandered along the sand. “I spent two years in oblivion preparing for our lives to always be together. Then Mum and Dad died.”

  Leath stumbled a little as the horror of those days flooded back. “Robby was devastated. He was fifteen, still at school. Naturally, he came to live with us.”

  Her tone must have alerted Kirk to the negative impact this had had on Peter. “Peter didn’t like it, but things should have sorted themselves out. It only needed to be for a few years until Robby was grown.”

  Leath sighed. “But then all these crazy schemes Dad had got involved with started coming to light. He owed so much money to so many people. Even after I’d sold the house and everything else of any value, there were still thousands owing. Peter didn’t understand I felt duty-bound to honour those debts.”

  She shuddered as memories of their rows returned. “Our arguments just got longer and louder. We lived in a small apartment. Robby couldn’t avoid hearing those disagreements. Peter made no attempt to disguise his opinion most of our problems rested with Robby being in the apartment with us.”

  Leath shook her head. “I don’t know why I put up with him for so long. He’d turned from this loving, carefree guy into a mean, sniping miser who demanded to know where every cent I earned was going.”

  She took a deep breath and for a moment, forgot to release it. “He showed his true colours when he convinced Robby to leave school the day he was sixteen. He forced the issue, made Robby feel so guilty he was bludging off me. Nothing I could do could convince Robby otherwise.”

  Pulling her hand free from Kirk’s she raked fingers through her hair. “I was going crazy, worrying about what he’d do. I definitely wasn’t going to expect him to look out for himself. Not at only sixteen. Thank heavens he ended up where he is now. He got a building apprenticeship with a great boss and he loves it. He’ll be a qualified builder by the end of the year.” She couldn’t keep the pride from her voice.

  “And Peter became a mere memory?”

  “Pretty much. Once we had no money to spare, I hardly moved in the same circles as Peter anymore. It wasn’t so hard. Not like I saw him around a lot or anything.”

  “Robby and I found a flat and struggled t
o get on with our lives.” She shot him another glance. “We’d just managed to pay off the last of the debts a couple of months ago.”

  “So getting the advice of your good fortune from Penny’s solicitor was like winning a lottery for you?”

  “We’d fought for so long to clear Dad’s debts. We often resorted to baked beans as payday drew close. I did learn a lot about which foods give you the most nutrition for the least cost.”

  “And then some bully turned up determined to take this security away from you?”

  Leath grasped his arm and faced him. “I didn’t tell you this to make you feel bad,” she gasped. “I wanted you to understand why Robby is coming on so heavy. Why he feels so strongly—”

  “I understand. I do.” His hand cupped her cheek. “He’s protecting something precious to you both. Something you’ve had to do without, through no fault of your own.”

  The thumb caressing her cheekbone made way for lips skipping across to add to the promise of his words. “This place will be your security forever, Leath. Yours and Robby’s. And then your children’s and their children’s. I promise no-one will ever get the chance to change that. Ever,” he pledged.

  Leath turned her head so her lips could capture those whispering across her face. The kiss wasn’t filled with passion or desire, but bespoke of their commitment to each other and the land they stood upon.

  Snuggling into his arms, her gaze swept from the sea across the farmland and bush to the buildings they’d renovated—the place she’d hoped would give her and Robby security. Leath’s gaze settled back on the man.

  Her arms tightened around him. She knew she no longer hankered for security from material things. Being with Kirk would fill her life with all the love and security she could ever need.

  And it seemed likely whatever the future held, however their mystery evolved, the two important men in her life would soon become friends.

  Epilogue

  They were married four months later on the exact spot Kirk had proposed.

  Surrounded by friends and family, the local minister led them through the vows they’d each written. Tents and caravans dotted the garden beside the beach in response to Leath’s invitation to have a weekend-long wedding.

  What a wonderful day. Leath felt her face might split if her smile widened any further. Watching her husband’s expression as he carried her hand to his mouth and kissed the inside of her wrist, she shivered. Leath proclaimed, “Perfect, isn’t it?”

  Could tonight be better than any of the other nights she’d spent in his arms? She doubted it, but the smouldering promise in his eyes prepared her for the possibility.

  “Absolutely perfect,” Kirk agreed. The nibbling of his teeth up the inside of her arm suggested he wasn’t talking about their wedding day.

  Leath turned into his arms, feeling them tighten around her. She sighed, knowing she would never experience a day like this again.

  Now the formalities were over, the photos taken, the speeches made, they could all relax and enjoy themselves. Loath to get out of her lovely dress, Leath warred with her desire to slip away with Kirk for just a little while—just to get changed into more suitable attire for a beach barbeque.

  As if reading her mind, Kirk’s assault on her arm ceased. He tugged her toward the house. Occupied since New Year by the widowed mother of two who managed the units, the house was blessedly empty as they rushed up the front steps.

  The largest bedroom had been allocated for the exclusive use for the bride and groom to change, but Kirk grinned as he hauled a dresser in front of the door the second they entered.

  “I’m not taking any chances,” he ground out. “Way too many kids here who don’t know better than to leave a newly married couple alone.”

  Shucking his jacket and tie as he approached, he started tearing at his shirt.

  Giggling, Leath extracted the tiny floral dressing allowing her hair to flow down around her bare shoulders.

  “It feels like I’ve been waiting forever for that to fall down.” His gaze was on her strapless top.

  With a tug on the tie holding the laced-up back of her dress together, and an exaggerated wriggle, Leath faced him as the white dress slithered to pool at her feet. “This better?”

  “Infinitely,” he croaked, as he touched the orbs teasing him. “Now get rid of those ridiculous shoes.”

  Leath laughed, making no attempt to undo the straps around her calves. The thin heels hadn’t really been suitable for a beach wedding, but Leath knew Kirk was a man who appreciated a woman’s legs. Standing before him in only her underthings and very high strappy sandals made her feel sexy as hell.

  “I guess you need some help.” His voice was thick.

  She grasped his hair as he knelt before her, his hands lingering as they slowly unstrapped her shoes. A shiver ran through her as lips soon followed his fingers.

  “Kirk—”

  “Ssh.”

  She stepped out of the shoes and fell back onto the bed, her giggles soon giving way to a much more primal sound of satisfaction.

  ****

  “Happy?” Kirk stood behind her, his arms around her waist.

  Leath nodded. Soon they would leave for Auckland where they’d overnight in Kirk’s apartment before heading off to Vanuatu for a ten-day honeymoon.

  From Vanuatu they’d fly to Sydney and then onto Singapore where Kirk had meetings he hoped would secure him a new business offshoot.

  Not understanding completely, Leath knew if his plans were successful, Kirk intended to delegate more of the day-to-day running of his company and spend his time designing new software.

  Spending their time between Greene Valley and Auckland hadn’t been too difficult so far. Leath could see it continuing to work for some time to come. Only the advent of school-age children would cause difficulties. Leath’s hands went to her stomach, hoping, praying. They’d decided they shouldn’t wait, knowing nature could take away this option all too soon.

  “Robby should at least have the roof on by the time we get back, don’t you think?” she asked.

  “I guess it depends on the weather. He told me he hoped he’d have it weather-proofed, so that’s the windows in and walls done as well.”

  “Oh, how wonderful. Then we could stay up here next time we come up.” Leath whirled around the space, her arms outstretched. She grinned back at Kirk’s indulgent smile and poked out her tongue. “It’s going to be wonderful.”

  They’d planned their tree-top dream house, and Kirk had contracted Robby’s firm to undertake turning their dreams into reality. Now the floor was in place they could imagine their home more clearly.

  Newly out of his apprenticeship, Robby had responded to the faith Kirk placed in his expertise. Leath knew this house would be the best-built a house could be.

  Her initial concerns, after the rocky start of the two men’s friendship, were unfounded. Their personalities were too different for them to ever become best mates, but a relationship of mutual respect and affection had grown over the months.

  Humming, Leath twirled around again, her arms outstretched. She knew Kirk would still have an indulgent expression on his face if she looked. She didn’t care about acting like a silly schoolgirl for a moment. This house would be so great. Kirk was so great. Everything was so great.

  Beverly Bell, who had started as their motel cleaner, had proved to be a godsend. When the popularity of the units exceeded all their expectations, Leath and Robby realised they must have someone living on site.

  Beverly had leapt at the offer to increase her responsibilities when rent-free accommodations were offered as part of the remuneration package. Not only was she scrupulously honest and hardworking, but also she had cared for her Alzheimer’s-afflicted mother for some years before she’d passed away.

  Mary and Terry often visited and worked in Penny’s garden. Kirk had also insisted on paying Beverly for one day father-sitting a week, which eased his mother’s burden.

  Continuing to
stay at the farm a few days every week had been no imposition for Leath. She had grown to love her in-laws.

  “Are you definitely okay about putting all this genealogy stuff behind you now?”

  Leath was standing in what would be their bedroom. Windows would overlook the property Penny Maguire had left to her and Robby. She stood now and stared down at what was becoming, thanks to the Buchanans, a very tidy acreage.

  Some of their wedding guests had already left, but a couple of tents remained. Cars and caravans still dotted the area. People moving around looked hardly bigger than ants.

  What would her grandmother think if she could see it now? Would she be happy? Content? Pleased they were trying to return it to its former glory? Or would she have cared less?

  It was a bitter pill to swallow, but Leath had come to the realisation there was nothing more she could learn.

  Aunt Amy had known nothing. In fact she’d been shocked when Leath told her the story, surprised she hadn’t heard anything about it. But as Amy pointed out, she’d emigrated to Australia before Leath’s mother had married, so their contact after that had been emails and phone calls with only occasional visits. Discussing a topic like this wasn’t something to do over a casual email.

  Their other possible lead, Penny’s brother, turned up a dead end. He had died some years prior to Penny and had never married.

  With Joyce’s help, Leath had discovered their grandfather had employed the woman they knew as Gran as a nanny for his baby son. They had married when the boy was two. Leath held fast to the certainty they had loved each other and was saddened they’d never had children together.

  The coroner’s report into the death of little Margaret had highlighted a lack of supervision and care extended to the little girl. It made mention of her mother’s total absorption with her son, much more than what was necessary for the wellbeing of the infant.

  The fall which had resulted in Margaret’s death had been pronounced an accident, but concerns had been raised about the possible safety of children in the care of Penelope Grace Robson.

  Still struggling with yet another indication of Penny’s fascination with all-things-male, and the complete exclusion of the female gender, Leath made an appointment with Penny’s solicitor. Leaving the property solely to her male descendant, Robby seemed more in line with Penny’s emerging personality.