by Julie Kenner
A soft knock sounded at the door and Teague pulled it open. The resort manager stood there, a solemn expression on his face. “The helicopter will be here in ten minutes. Would you like me to take your bags?”
Teague nodded, then stepped aside to let him pass. The manager gathered up their meager belongings. “I’m sorry your holiday had to end so abruptly,” he said.
“I am, too,” Teague said. “But it’s been wonderful. Truly, the best holiday I’ve ever had.”
“We hope you’ll come again soon.”
Teague closed the door behind the manager and walked across the room to the veranda door. “Ten minutes,” he said.
Hayley turned around. Her face was wet with tears. In three long strides, he crossed the veranda and gathered her into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “Everything will be fine.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. Harry is being stubborn. It always takes him a while before he gives in.”
“He’s not going to want to see me. He thinks I deserted him. For you.”
“Well, now you’re coming back. And if he doesn’t forgive you, well… I’ll have to set him straight.”
Teague gave her a fierce hug, picking her up off her feet and shaking her. A tiny giggle slipped from her lips and he kissed the top of her head. “Come on. Let’s go.”
As they walked to the helicopter pad, Hayley held tight to his arm. This wasn’t the way he wanted their holiday to end, but he couldn’t help but wonder if it might finally breach the last wall between them. Hayley needed him right now, needed his strength and his counsel. He’d help her through this hard time and perhaps they’d come out better for it on the other side.
7
TEAGUE GLANCED UP from the newspaper he was reading as Hayley approached. She’d left him in the hospital waiting room nearly an hour ago. With a soft sigh, she sat down beside him, glad for a break from the endless conversations with doctors and nurses.
They’d arrived at the hospital and she’d gone directly into a meeting with Harry’s doctors. Teague had asked if she wanted him there for support, but Hayley had prepared herself to deal with the crisis on her own during the flight to Brisbane.
In truth, Hayley knew Teague had his own opinions about her grandfather, none of them very good. He thought Harry was a cranky old bastard who seemed to take delight in making Hayley miserable. Teague would always stand up for her first, especially against Harry. And now was the time to avoid conflict at all costs.
“He’s refusing an IV,” Hayley finally said. “And he won’t even consider surgery.”
Teague took her hand. “He’ll change his mind once he gets tired of lying in that bed.”
She tried to control the tremble in her voice, but then realized it didn’t matter. She was talking to Teague. He could handle her emotions. He’d seen plenty of them over the past few weeks. “But if he doesn’t get enough fluids, then they can’t do surgery. And if he doesn’t have surgery, he won’t walk again. I don’t know what to do. He won’t listen to me.”
“Would you like me to talk to him?”
“No! He’d probably break the other hip trying to chase you out of the room. They’re bringing in a counselor to talk to him later today. They asked that I get some of his things from home. They think if he has some reminders of his life at Wallaroo, he’ll be more apt to want to get well so he can return home.” She turned to him. “I don’t want to leave. I—I made a list and I was hoping you could go to Wallaroo and pick up a few things.” She handed him the piece of paper.
“I’ll do that,” Teague said, taking the list from her. “But first, why don’t we get you settled in a hotel, somewhere close by.”
Hayley shook her head. “No, I’m going to stay here. They have a small room for family members. There’s a bed if I need to sleep. I think I should try to talk to Harry again later tonight after the counselor leaves.”
“Why is he doing this?”
“He told the doctor that he’s finished living. He’s done. If he can’t ride a horse without falling off, then he’s pretty useless on a cattle station.”
“He’s feeling sorry for himself.”
“Well, he has good reason. Wallaroo isn’t what it used to be. I think all of the troubles at the station might come from this anger of his. He’s mad at his body, that it doesn’t work the way it should, that he can’t spend twelve hours in the saddle, seven days a week. He’s seventy-five years old. What does he expect?”
“I suppose I can sympathize. I know I’d be pissed off with the world if I were stuck in that hospital bed. He’s always been so independent and now he needs help. Harry Fraser has never needed another human being in his life.”
Hayley leaned over and rested her head on Teague’s shoulder. “I often wonder whether he would have been different had my grandmother lived. I never knew her, but he has a picture of her next to his bed.”
“How did your grandmother die?”
“Complications after childbirth,” Hayley replied. “Three days after my father was born. She gave birth on Wallaroo and I guess everything was fine until a couple days later. She got sick and by the time they got her to the hospital, it was too late.” Hayley paused. “I can see why Harry hates hospitals. Can you blame him?”
“How come you never told me that story?”
“I didn’t know it until just a few years ago. I asked Daisy Willey and she told me.” She sighed. “Maybe Harry would have had a happy life and they’d have moved off the station in their retirement and lived in a cottage on the ocean. Or maybe they would have gone to the city, like your parents did.”
She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already three in the afternoon. Teague needed to leave for the airport soon or he’d be spending the night. “You should go. You’re not going to make it to Kerry Creek before sunset if you don’t leave now.”
“I’m going to stay. I’ll fly to Wallaroo tomorrow morning. We’ll get some dinner and I’ll get a room. That way, you could rest for a while before coming back here.”
“No, you should go,” Hayley insisted. “You’ve been away from work for three days. And you’ll be back tomorrow with Harry’s things, remember?”
Though it was generous of Teague to offer to stay, Hayley felt it was her duty to deal with Harry. He was her family, her responsibility. Besides, it felt good to do something. She’d been all but useless to Harry for most of her life. Now she could help him get through this, help him get well.
Teague pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed her fingertips. “Walk me down to the door?”
“I should—”
“Harry isn’t going anywhere. He’ll be fine.” Teague stood, then drew Hayley up beside him. They headed toward the lift and once inside, Teague gathered her into his arms and kissed her softly. She held on as tightly as she could, hoping to draw some strength from him.
He always knew exactly the thing to make her feel better, to lift her spirits. She closed her eyes as he gently smoothed his hand over her hair, her face nuzzled into his chest. A memory of her childhood flickered in her mind. Her mother had often done that when Hayley had awoken from a bad dream, soothing her fears until she’d fallen back asleep.
But this wasn’t a bad dream. It was bad reality. She had no one to blame but herself for this disaster. She’d been the one to take off with Teague, leaving her grandfather to fend for himself. If she’d been watching over him at Wallaroo, he would never have gotten on a horse and ridden to Kerry Creek.
Hayley couldn’t believe they’d run out of time. She wanted some of those years back, years that she could have used to get to know her grandfather better. She barely remembered her parents, had never known her grandmother and she couldn’t face losing the last member of her family. Without Harry, she’d be utterly alone in the world.
The doors opened and they stepped out into the lobby of the hospital. She sat down while Teague walked to the reception desk to call a taxi.
If Harry agree
d to the surgery, she was willing to deal with all the consequences. There would be a long rehabilitation, but the promise of going home might tempt him to work harder. And he would go back to Wallaroo, to live out his days on the station he loved.
Harry wouldn’t sell. He had never looked at his land as a financial asset. It was part of his family heritage, something that didn’t have a monetary value. In truth, the station was part of who she was, too. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, the land she’d played on as an adolescent was more a parent to her than Harry had been.
He’d always lived his life by his own rules and he had a right to make his own choices. Hayley closed her eyes. Maybe she ought to respect Harry’s wishes now and let him do as he wanted—no IV, no surgery. Who was she to stop him? If he wanted this to be the end, then maybe it should be, on his own terms.
But she didn’t want to lose him—not yet. Hayley had always held out hope that she’d find a way to make him love her. When she’d run away, she’d wanted him to come looking for her, praying he’d show that he really did care. But Harry had never once tried to find her. And when Teague had tried, Harry had stood in his way.
Grandparents were supposed to love their grandchildren. Yet she’d managed to get the world’s worst set of grandparents. Three were long gone, her mother’s parents unknown to her and her grandmother just a photo beside Harry’s bed. And then Harry, who’d never come close to the kindly, indulgent old folks she’d seen on the telly.
“Hayley?”
Startled out of her thoughts, she turned to find Teague standing in front of her. “Yes?”
“The taxi’s outside,” he said. “I have to go.”
She quickly rose, then pushed up onto her toes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you,” she said. “For bringing me here. And for the holiday. With the rush to leave the resort, I never told you how much fun I had.”
He grinned. “We’re going to do it again. Remember? You’re making the plans.”
“And thank you for going to get Harry’s things from Wallaroo. I feel like you give so much to me and—”
“Don’t,” he warned. “Don’t even say it. If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be here. It’s as simple as that.”
“You’re a good friend, Teague,” she said. “My only true friend.” She suddenly wanted to drag him off to a dark corner and lose herself in a frantic seduction, anything to take her mind off her troubles. But the distraction wouldn’t last. Harry would still be lying in a hospital bed once they were through.
They walked outside and stopped next to the waiting cab. “I’ve been thinking,” Hayley said. “I wonder if Harry is the way he is because he’s been alone for so long. Because he lost the one person he loved in the whole world.”
“I think Harry was born mean.”
“But what would you do if you lost the person you loved?” Hayley asked. “I mean, not if she went away. But if she suddenly died? Wouldn’t you turn bitter like Harry did?”
He considered her question for a long time, lazily playing with her fingers as he did. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but, yeah, maybe I would. I guess it does explain his behavior a little better. He had his reasons.”
“He did,” Hayley agreed.
Teague reached for the door of the taxi. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” he said. “Ring my satellite phone if you need anything. In fact, call me later and let me know how things are going.”
“I will.”
Teague pulled her toward him, his mouth coming down on hers in a deep and stirring kiss. Hayley felt her legs go weak and she clutched at his shirt to maintain her balance. When he finally drew back, she remained limp in his arms, her eyes closed. Just hours ago, she would have tumbled him into their comfortable bed at the resort. Now, he was leaving.
When she looked up, he smiled softly at her. “Love you,” he murmured.
“I love you,” she replied, the words coming without a trace of hesitation.
With that, he let go of her, the impact of his revelation slowly sinking in and stealing her breath away. He jumped into the taxi and then gave her a wave as it drove off.
Hayley fought the urge to run after him, to demand an explanation. What did he mean? How could he say such a thing and then leave? He loved her like a best friend loves a best friend, right? And what about her? What did she mean?
She sat down on a nearby bench, numbly staring down the driveway, a frown wrinkling her brow. Maybe he’d said it to make her feel better, to boost her spirits. Hayley swallowed hard. Or—or maybe Teague really loved her.
A shiver raced through her body and she rubbed her arms to smooth away the goose bumps. Love. Such a simple word, a word they’d used so many times as teenagers. But back then, they hadn’t known what it meant, how deep the feelings could run, how strong the bond could be. Did they know now? Or was it still only a word with vague emotions behind it?
“Are you all right, miss?”
She looked up to see an orderly standing beside the bench, a wheelchair in front of him.
“Yes. I’m fine. Just getting a little air.” Hayley drew in a deep breath, then let it go. From the moment she’d first seen Teague again in the stables at Wallaroo, she’d felt as though she were clinging to the neck of a runaway horse. She wanted to jump off, to take some time and reestablish her bearings, to clear her head and think. But if she got off, could she climb back on or would the ride suddenly be over?
She pushed to her feet, the weight of emotional exhaustion making it hard to move. Perhaps the hospital had a nice quiet psychiatric ward where she could spend the next few days sorting through her feelings.
“I’VE NEVER ASKED YOU for anything, but I need this.”
“No,” Callum said, shaking his head. He shoved away from his desk and began to pace the width of the room. “I can’t believe you’d even ask.”
Teague schooled his temper, knowing only a calm discussion would get him what he wanted. Callum could be so stubborn at times, but he was also a reasonable man. And though Teague was asking an awful lot, he hoped his brother would relent. “I’ll give you whatever you want for it. You know I’m good for it. I have the practice. I’ll pay you back with interest.”
“That’s Quinn land,” Callum said.
“Harry Fraser would dispute that.”
“Now you’re taking Harry’s side?” Callum cursed beneath his breath. “I should have known this would happen.”
“She doesn’t have anything to do with this,” Teague said. “It’s me. I’m making this request.”
The door to the office swung open and Gemma stepped inside before she noticed the two of them. “I’m sorry,” she said, turning to leave.
Callum’s expression softened. “No, come on in. We’re done here.”
Teague stood and walked to the door. “We’re not done here. Could you excuse us?”
Gemma glanced at them both, then nodded and quickly made her retreat. Callum made a move for the door, but Teague blocked his way. “We’re going to finish this,” Teague said.
“We are finished.”
“You forget that all three of us have a share in this station. You may have a larger share because you run it. But I’ve been providing free vet service for over a year now and that’s worth something.”
Callum sat down at his desk and pulled out his check register. “How much do I owe you?”
“I don’t want to be paid. I want you to sell me the land at a fair price.”
“I’m not selling that land,” Callum insisted.
“If you don’t agree, then I’m going to have to call Brody and we’ll bring it to a vote. If he votes with me, then you lose.”
Since his father had moved off the station and turned the operation over to Callum, he’d given his sons an equal vote in any major decisions that had to be made regarding their birthright. Though Brody might side with Callum, the threat of bringing any subject to a vote underscored the serious nature of Teague’s request.
&
nbsp; “If there was one thing you could do to make Gemma’s life happier, you’d do it, right?”
“Yes,” Callum said.
“And I’d do the same for Hayley. That’s why I need to give her grandfather that land. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t really important. You’ll need to trust me on this, Cal. It will all work out in the end.”
Callum gave Teague a shrewd look. “You’re not a stupid bloke. But I honestly think you’re being suckered into this.”
“You know when it comes to the land, we each own a third. That piece doesn’t even come close to a third. I’ll take it and you can have the rest of my share.”
“You’re mad. You’re willing to give up everything for a few hundred acres and a water bore?”
“I am,” Teague replied.
Callum shook his head. “No. I’m not going to let you do that.” He slowly closed the check register. “I’ll sell you the land. But for the next five years, anything comes to a vote, you vote with me.”
Teague smiled. “Thank you. This will all turn out in the end. I promise.”
“I’m going to hold you to that promise,” Callum warned. “Now, get the hell out of my office. And tell Gemma she can come in.”
Teague had one more request and knew it wouldn’t go over very well. “If it’s possible, I’d like the agreement today. Before I head to Brisbane.”
“Today? Why today?”
“Because I need it today.” He glanced at his watch. “In the next hour or two would be good.” Teague walked to the door, then turned and sent Callum a grateful smile. “Thanks, Cal. I owe you. Free vet services for the next fifty years.”
“That would about cover it,” Callum said. “As long as you throw in ownership of the plane, too.”
Teague left the office and climbed the stairs to his bedroom. He’d have to pack for at least a week if he expected to run his part of the practice out of Brisbane and spend his nights with Hayley. Though he’d use extra fuel flying back and forth, he could extend his workday by at least three or four hours by landing in Brisbane at the end of the day, taking advantage of the illuminated runways there.
