by Anne Hampson
'Your friend Miss Courtenay thought fit to insult me, Mr. Copeland, and had it not been for the fact that I happen to be a guest in your house, and that others were in a position to overhear, she would have received an answer—an answer she did not bargain for.' Her voice, like that of Mark, was lowered, but as her words were stressed Cherry just managed to catch them and as Kate met her gaze she saw the look of amazement in her eyes, for, unlike Lin, she was in ignorance of the interchange which had taken place earlier between Harriet and herself.
'Miss Courtenay insulted you?' A shake of the head and a frown between Mark's eyes. 'I'm afraid I can't believe that.'
Anger drove the colour into Kate's cheeks. How she longed to repeat what the girl had said, but manners forbade that she should put her host into an embarrassing position and Kate merely lapsed into silence, turning her attention to the screen. Cherry and Mark murmured softly together after a while and, glancing sidelong at her friend, Kate noted with some anxiety that Cherry's face was all aglow and although a certain shyness characterized her manner with the Boss of High Creek Downs she was undoubtedly endeavouring to keep his attention and to have him notice her. Kate bit her lip, frowning heavily as she allowed her mind to dwell on this situation. Was Cherry as deeply affected by the charm of Mark as she herself? If they weren't both very careful they would find themselves in the most damnable position… in fact, there would be nothing for them to do but go back home.
When the film was finished they all went on to the verandah for a sundowner before departing in their respective vehicles. Cherry and Mark sat together, again talking quietly to one another. James and Lin were also sitting close, engaged in conversation which was shared by Harriet's parents. Kate's lips curved wryly as she imagined Lin's feelings at having to be sociable with that woman, Harriet's mother, of whom she had spoken most disparagingly on managing to get a few minutes alone with Kate and Cherry after dinner.
'Why the amused smile?' from Paul, who had brought his drink over to where Kate was seated, by the passion-fruit vine tumbling over the wrought-iron decorations at the end of the verandah. 'Secret thoughts?' His handsome face was as bronzed and lean as his brother's, his eyes inquiring and faintly puzzled.
'They were secret thoughts, yes,' she replied apologetically.
'Pleasant?'
Involuntarily her glance darted away in Mark's direction. She spoke without due consideration as she said:
'Not particularly.'
The merest frown touched his brow.
'You dislike my brother excessively, don't you, Kate?'
Faint colour fused her cheeks.
'We didn't make a very promising start, Paul. I've mentioned that once before.'
'But that's all in the past. If you intend remaining here you can't go on for ever being at loggerheads with Mark.' No censure in his words or tone, but merely advice. Kate glanced again at the man being discussed; his eyes met hers and for a fleeting moment she held his gaze before lowering her lashes. Springs seemed to tighten inside her; she looked at Cherry and noted the flush on her cheeks, relieving the natural pallor.
'You talk as if it would be the easiest thing in the world to be friends with Mark, but how do you know he wishes to be friends with me? He hasn't made any noticeable move up till now.' Far safer as it was, she mused, her eyes straying towards Mark again. To become friendly… No, it would be too dangerous by far.
'You haven't given him much encouragement,' Paul returned, slanting her a glance.
'We haven't had much to do with one another. And besides, I shall always remember his unforgivable conduct in allowing me to make such an idiot of myself. I still go hot whenever I think about it.'
'I expect the temptation was too great. As I said once before, Mark can't resist punishing those who oppose him.'
Kate had nothing to say to that, simply because her chief emotion was anger, and she had no intention of quarrelling with Paul, or even creating a situation where unpleasantness could creep in. Both Cherry and Lin were in his employ and a certain amount of respect was, therefore, due to him. To her relief one or two people were already preparing to depart and good nights were being said. Harriet's father must previously have mentioned a gymkhana which was being held at Kennilong Downs and he now said, his glance embracing Kate along with everyone else:
'We'll see you all a week on Saturday, then?'
Abstractedly she nodded and said yes, going on to thank him for the invitation. Would she be riding, he wanted to know, and Kate was just about to shake her head when Paul spoke, offering to lend her a horse.
'Will you?' she said, eyes suddenly shining. 'Thank you, Paul; I'd love to ride.'
'You ride, Miss Beresford?' from Harriet, who now stood by her father, elegant and poised under the bright lights from the lamps above the verandah.
'A little… not very well.' Already she was regretting her impulsive response to Paul's offer. By her very eagerness it must seem that even though she might not excel at riding at least she was good. Lin was the expert, with both Kate and Cherry coming into the mediocre class. When mounts were available at a moderate fee from the riding-school they had indulged, every Saturday morning for a couple of hours, but as Lin had said, the cost had become too high and for the last month or so before leaving England they had not ridden at all.
'Well,' drawled Harriet in very emphasized accents, 'we shall soon have an exhibition of your prowess.' A hand was extended languidly. 'Good night, Miss Beresford.' Silky tones, and yet Kate was quick to note the underlying animosity. No one else had caught it, though— Suddenly Kate was meeting the keen blue eyes of Mark; she and he were both thinking of her assertion that Harriet had insulted her. So Mark had also noted the underlying animosity in Harriet's tone. The conviction became rooted instantly, and as if to strengthen it she saw Mark's mouth go tight and points of blue ice enter his eyes as he transferred his gaze to Harriet. Did he really think all that much about her? One of the stockmen had said that Mark and Harriet might one day get together, but the way Mark was regarding Harriet was far removed from friendliness, let alone giving sign of any deeper emotion. Cherry was also staring at Mark, and she seemed to be faintly pleased by the expression in his eyes.
Why, wondered Kate some few minutes later when all the guests had gone except her own party, Paul and Mark having fallen into a discussion of some problem appertaining to the cattle train, did Harriet so resent her, and yet not Cherry who at every function had received more of Mark Copeland's attention than Kate and Lin put together? For it was very evident that Harriet did resent her; right from the first she had adopted this unfriendly way with Kate, and Kate had early gained the impression that Harriet had been no more pleased than Mark Copeland by Kate's appearance at High Creek.
'What an unpleasant girl that Harriet is,' remarked Cherry, whose thoughts had plainly been running on similar lines to those of Kate. 'Why is she so catty, I wonder?' Cherry's voice faded somewhat and her expression suddenly changed as she looked full and hard at Kate. 'She might almost be jealous of you,' she ended slowly and with pensive lack of expression.
'Jealous?' echoed Kate, amazed, as well she might be. 'Are you crazy?' Impelled by some force, Kate turned her head in the direction of the two brothers, so tall and straight, both of them, so alike in looks and build, tough lean graziers of the Outback, bronzed and sinewed from an active life lived under the merciless sun.
'She could be jealous.' Cherry's own eyes strayed; her mouth seemed to move a little, convulsively. 'Mark admires your courage, and he could just have mentioned this to Harriet—'
'Admires my courage?' Kate stared. 'No such thing! He considers me stupid. In any case, we're all in the venture, so if there's to be any admiration it would have to be shared.' She shook her head firmly. 'No, Mark Copeland couldn't possibly have mentioned anything like that to Harriet.'
'The property's yours,' murmured Lin, entering the conversation and speaking quietly. 'So if he was admiring anyone it would be you…' Her voice tra
iled off thoughtfully. 'It's a funny thing, but more than once I myself have had the idea that he might secretly be admiring your courage.'
'Really,' interrupted Kate with a hint of impatience, 'you're both talking rubbish! What foundation have you for saying a thing like that?'
Lin did not reply at once, but remained in thought for a moment or two. Cherry also waited, her eyes on Mark as he stood, in a languid sort of pose, leaning against one of the pillars, a hand thrust into his jacket pocket, the other outstretched, idly resting on the rail.
'Have you never wondered why he allows Paul to give us so much help?' asked Lin at last. 'That help does nothing to further Mark's hopes of acquiring the land—on the contrary, it must be dashing his hopes altogether.'
A long and profound silence followed as Kate dwelt on this, dazed by the possibility of Mark's really admiring her courage, and also conscious of a tiny thudding near her heart, like something tapping softly on her ribs. If Mark were in fact secretly admiring her courage; if he were watching all she and the others were doing… if he were not quite so distant after all… Put it away! she told herself, coming to. What if he admired her courage—that did not mean he admired her, as a person. In any case, Cherry came into this somewhere, Cherry who was sweet and gentle and had never had a boy-friend in all her twenty-three years, Cherry who was white now, with that familiar pallor, and whose eyes had become dull suddenly.
'Your courage has been noticed by him,' Cherry murmured almost to herself. 'I've sensed it just as Lin has. Also—' Cherry's voice fell almost to a whisper '—you're very beautiful, Kate.'
Kate swung right round at that.
'Don't be ridiculous, Cherry!' She stopped, aware that her voice was raised and that the two men had automatically stopped talking, each turning his head in a gesture of curiosity and surprise. 'I think we'll change the subject,' finished Kate, hot and flustered, and angry with herself for having arrested the attention of Mark and Paul.
To her intense relief they came over immediately, perhaps realizing that the girls were being neglected, and the five of them stood talking together, on the verandah of Mark's lovely house, with its mellowed facade floodlit, though subtly, by hidden lights somewhere in the bushes. The sweet heady perfume of daphne, so potent at night, filled the night air all around them. Above, flaring across the purple Capricornian sky was the Southern Cross, and Sirius shone like a huge white diamond. Betelgeuse glowed red, that giant star of the southern constellation, and the gentle Milky Way trailed off into infinity.
Good-nights were being said at last; Mark, standing by the car, looked down into Kate's face, an odd expression in his eyes. She swallowed convulsively and would very much have liked to escape his searching gaze, but it seemed he held her compulsorily, because it pleased him to do so, and afforded him a measure of satisfaction, as would a victory of some sort.
He smiled all at once, and her heart caught; she felt the colour creep into her cheeks, and the fingers resting on her lap moved spasmodically until, becoming aware that his eyes were on them suddenly, she managed to keep them still.
'Good night,' he said in that attractive drawl of his that always seemed so lazy and faintly tinged with boredom. 'We shall all meet again at the gymkhana, I expect.'
'Do you ride?' Kate asked impulsively, and Mark shook his head.
'I shan't be riding in the gymkhana,' he said, and added, 'but I shall look forward to seeing you all making your contributions.'
And you'll see me making a fool of myself, decided Kate as she thought of Harriet and somehow knew she would prove to be an expert horsewoman.
Paul had switched on and the engine caught. The great homestead car slid away as Mark stepped back. He stood there, in the light, and all three girls turned and waved. His hand lifted, then he swung round and with a couple of leaps had dispensed with the verandah steps. The car followed the drive as it curved under the eucalypts meeting overhead. Mark was still standing there as Kate looked out of her window. And then he was just a shallow silhouetted against the backcloth of the homestead… a shadow, but a reality of which Kate was now vitally aware. No use pretending or striving to escape the net which had already captured her and was remorselessly tightening its hold.
The redoubtable attractions of Mark Copeland had proved too strong for her.
CHAPTER EIGHT
When the utility arrived for Cherry the following morning the driver handed a note to Kate. It was from Paul, inviting her over to Cunya River Downs to try out one or two horses and choose the one which suited her best.
'I can't leave the work,' she frowned, but Cherry pointed out that as long as the cow had already been milked and the chickens fed all else could wait.
'We'll probably come back together,' she added, giving a last pat to her hair. 'You can watch me work—cooking mountainous roasts of beef and fruit pies and all the rest.'
'I'll give a helping hand,' promised Kate, rushing off to get herself ready.
It was a dewy morning steeped in the fresh clean odours of the bush and despite a night of waking and sleeping, of tossing and turning as her thoughts continued to disturb her peace of mind, Kate managed to forget everything except the exhilarating drive through the silent country, over the bush tracks to the gleaming modern homestead where Paul lived.
The garden, immaculate as that at High Creek Downs, boasted lush lawns and a shrubbery spilling with colours. Flowers abounded; trees grew tall and straight and from within their branches could be heard the sounds that go with avian bustle. A pair of jackos laughed heartily as the door of the utility swung open and the two girls got out. A rosella flew into the avocado pear tree and perched on a branch, watching them. Away in the distance stockmen moved about among the cattle and closer to brown children and white children ran from the bright bungalows and made for the neat little school set among the trees.
Paul came smiling to the front door.
'I'll see you later,' said Cherry, glancing at her watch. 'I've to rustle up some tucker for those hungry men out there—steaks and porridge and lashings of tea.'
'Lin's already well organized,' said Paul, shaking his head as Cherry began to apologize for being late. 'I expected you to be delayed when I'd sent Kate the invitation. In fact, I thought you'd be even later than this. Obviously you've been up early, doing your milking and the rest.' He threw Kate an amused glance and she laughed.
'We're always up early,' she admitted. 'These mornings are too precious to miss.'
'Not used to them yet, apparently,' he said, watching Cherry as she went off, through the hall towards the back regions of the house. 'Come on in and have a cup of coffee before we get down to business.'
They sat in the large airy lounge, by the enormous picture window which looked out towards the sepia hills, misted yet but gradually becoming unveiled as the sun's rays began to vanquish the vapour.
An hour later Kate had chosen a bay gelding with the attractive name of Summer Song. It was good to be on a horse again and Kate was thrilled when Paul said she could take it home and get used to it before the event at Kennilong Downs.
'You're awfully kind, Paul,' she said when, after he and she had ridden for about an hour, they returned to the house. 'I don't know what we should have done without you. Life has been made so much easier for us, in every way.' Naturally upon these words came the memory of last evening and the discussion that had taken place among the three girls. 'Your brother doesn't seem to mind at all that you assist us,' she added, unable to suppress the remark.
'Strangely, he doesn't,' musingly from Paul. 'Not that he would interfere even if he did mind,' he added swiftly. 'Mark's the Boss of both outfits, but I do run this place in my own way, without either advice or orders from my brother.' A small pause, an odd pause, as if Paul were dwelling on something faintly unpleasant, and for no reason at all Kate found herself recalling Mark's flash of anger when she had mentioned that Paul was merely the manager of Cunya River Downs. Gould it be that Mark disliked the idea of his brother's
not being left a fair share of their father's property? But if this were so then the obvious course was for Mark to make this station over to Paul. It was as simple as that. 'Mark has what might be termed a peculiar personality,' Paul continued at length. 'Although he wants the property so that these two stations can be joined, he would never do anything even remotely unfair in order to achieve his objective. He asked David Gleaves several times to sell out to him, offering as I said a sum far in excess of its worth. But as the man grew older and Mark realized that he would probably die of a broken heart were he to move, Mark let the matter drop, although by this time the old man's brain was feeble and in all probability it would have been a simple matter to make him part with High Creek.'
'You—you paint a most attractive picture of Mark.' Kate looked down at her hands, unwilling to reveal her expression. No one must ever know what had happened… that she had been foolish enough to become attracted to his brother. Attracted? A mild word for what she felt, but as yet she had not actually admitted the one vital word into any thought connected with Mark. She was close to the precipice's edge—but not close enough to lose her foothold altogether and be plunged into depths from which there could be no possible escape.
'Mark is the straightest man I know,' came the quiet and simple statement from Paul. And, his gravity suddenly being replaced by a hint of the more familiar humour, 'Mark is also a very kind man, Kate, but obviously you'll want to argue about that?' Half question, half statement, and Kate had to laugh.
'I must admit,' she said after a small hesitation, 'that I'm beginning to change my opinion of your brother.'
'Fine.' A jacko dropped on to the lawn and both he and Kate turned their heads to watch it for a while. Another joined it and their mirthful laughter filled the whole garden and drifted in through the open window. 'Can you imagine,' said Paul, changing the subject, 'anyone's saying that our laughing jackasses emit horrible peals of semi-human laughter?'
