by Julie Kenner
It had been a quiet death, in his sleep, and though the doctors wanted to give her all the details and the cause, Hayley really didn’t want to listen. She knew why Harry had died. He’d done as she had asked, and then chosen his own time, on his own terms. In the end, Hayley was grateful that he never had to know a long, debilitating illness.
She had wanted to grieve for him, but she knew Harry wouldn’t approve. There had been tears, but after the tears had come comfort in knowing that Harry’s spirit would always live on at Wallaroo, in the beautiful sunsets and wide, sweeping vistas, in the shimmer of light off the slow-moving creeks and in the soft breeze that brought the rain.
“This looks like a nice spot,” Teague said. “With the creek and that outcropping right there. It’s very peaceful.”
“It is,” Hayley said. “What should I do?”
“Open the window and take the top off once you’re holding the urn outside. Then tip it toward the tail of the plane.”
Hayley slid the window open. “Goodbye, Harry.” She followed Teague’s instructions and watched as the cloud of ashes flew past the plane and drifted down to the ground. It was difficult to believe Harry wouldn’t be there when they got to the house, sitting on the porch, watching over his property. She’d never have to cook him supper or pick up after him again. She’d never have to listen to him complain.
Hayley had been so young when her parents had died that she barely remembered feeling anything then. One day, they were there and the next day they weren’t. The minister had told her to be brave. The people at the funeral home had patted her on the head and whispered behind her back. And though she felt the loss, she hadn’t been old enough to understand the true impact it would have on her life.
“He was all I had left,” Hayley said.
“You have me.” Teague reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Cal asked if I’d bring you over for dinner tonight. Gemma is going to be leaving soon and she wanted to say goodbye.”
Hayley smiled weakly. “I can’t. I’d really rather go home. I’ve got a lot to do.”
“Nothing that can’t wait,” he said.
“I have to make some decisions. I have to get back to Sydney. I’m supposed to fly to Los Angeles next week. And I’m due at the studio right after that to finish taping Castle Cove.”
“So you’re going to leave?”
“I don’t have much choice,” Hayley said.
“The station is yours now. You’ve watched Harry run it. You could do the same. You could raise horses, give the Quinns some competition. And you’ve got free vet services. There are plenty of station owners who’d kill for that.”
“I can’t live out here alone,” she said.
“You wouldn’t be alone,” Teague replied. “I’d be here. I could move my things over and come and go from Wallaroo.”
Hayley felt her cheeks warm. Was this a marriage proposal or a business proposal? “And what would we be?”
“Whatever you wanted us to be,” he said. “Friends? Lovers? Partners? Roommates?”
She turned away, her pulse racing at the thought of accepting his offer. She could have Teague with her for as long as she wanted. Or as long as he wanted, whichever came first. Though the thought of losing him terrified her, it wasn’t half as bad as the thought of never having him in the first place.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Teague said. “Where’s the parachute? I gotta get out of this plane.”
Hayley couldn’t help but laugh. “You planned this so I couldn’t escape?”
“It looks that way. You don’t have to give me an answer now, Hayley. But at least consider the option.”
“Good. Because I don’t have an answer now,” she replied.
“But you’ll think about it?”
Hayley nodded. It was the least she could do. Besides, it was a plan worth examining. She could imagine a life on Wallaroo with Teague. It would be simple, but satisfying. She could also picture her life in Sydney, her career, making movies and traveling the world.
If she decided not to stay, the sale of the station would provide her with the kind of lifelong security she’d always wanted. She could take the time to choose good projects, to build a film career slowly and carefully. And she’d never have to depend on another person for her day-to-day existence.
But Teague wouldn’t understand that reason, her need to be able to survive without help from anyone. He seemed happy to have her dependent on him, to provide for her and make sure her life was easy.
They landed on the airstrip on Wallaroo, then rode to the house in Hayley’s car. They bumped along the rough dirt track, Teague bracing his hand on the dash. “If you’re going to live on Wallaroo, you’re going to need a better way to get around. The suspension on this thing will last about a week.”
“Right,” she said softly. As she focused on the road ahead, she thought about the other changes she’d have to make. She’d have to sell her place in Sydney, give up acting and walk away from the life she’d built for herself. To live in the middle of nowhere.
But here, on the station, she would have love. And no matter how she turned it over in her head, there was no possible way she could have both.
When they reached the house, Hayley stopped the car and got out. But she couldn’t bring herself to go inside. She’d spent the past week wandering around the station, cleaning the stables and the yard, taking long rides in the outback with Molly, sitting on the porch and memorizing her lines for the next three episodes of Castle Cove. She’d avoided the house as much as possible, knowing she’d have to face sorting through Harry’s things.
Teague had been occupied with work and had only spent a few nights with her, sleeping by her side while she passed the night wide-awake and restless, her mind a jumble of disparate thoughts.
“I can’t,” she said, staring at the house. “I can’t go inside. Not now. It’s too sad.”
He pulled her along, holding tight to her hand. “We don’t have to go inside,” he said. “Let’s ride out to the shack. We haven’t been there for a while. It’ll be fun.”
Hayley nodded and they walked toward the stables. She sat on a bale of straw as Teague saddled Molly. When he was finished, he gave her a knee up and then settled himself behind her. He gave Molly a gentle kick and they started out into the gray daylight.
“When I go home to Sydney, I want you to take Molly to Kerry Creek. Find someone to ride her every day.”
“I can do that,” Teague said.
She sank against him and closed her eyes. Exhaustion seemed to descend on her all at once, the gentle gait of the horse lulling her toward sleep. Everything seemed so right when Teague was with her. He was strong when she couldn’t be and he made her laugh when she felt gloomy. He talked to her when she needed an opinion and listened when she didn’t.
From the moment she’d seen him standing outside Molly’s stall, Hayley had known what she was risking. And now, she was left to deal with the consequences of falling in love with Teague all over again. Only this time, she’d be the one to walk away and leave him behind.
Somehow, that didn’t make her decision easier. It made the prospect of leaving almost impossible to bear.
“I’M NOT QUITE SURE why I’m here,” Teague said, looking around the interior of the solicitor’s office. Both he and Hayley had been summoned to Brisbane for the reading of Harry’s will. Teague had assumed that it had to do with the land he’d given Harry.
The solicitor cleared his throat as he rearranged the stacks of files on his desk. “Since both you and Miss Fraser are mentioned in the will, it’s customary.”
Teague frowned. “I’m in the will? How can that be?”
“Harry made some last-minute changes. He called me over to the hospital the morning of his surgery so he could sign the new addendum.”
“Let me guess. He left me the Quinn land that I gave to him.”
“No,” the solicitor said. “He left you half of Wallaroo.”
&nb
sp; Both Teague and Hayley gasped at the same time, then looked at each other. “Say that again,” Teague murmured.
“You two are to share ownership in the station. Fifty-fifty. Harry decided if his granddaughter did not want to keep the station, then it should go to the Quinns. You are both required to live on the station for at least six months out of the year or you will forfeit your right to ownership. After ten years, if you both agree to sell, then you will split the profits from the sale fifty-fifty. If there is no agreement to sell, then this arrangement remains in force.”
“But I can’t live on the station,” Hayley said. “I have a career in Sydney.”
“Then I’m afraid the station will go to the Quinns, as long as Mr. Quinn is following the residency clause. Are you willing to live on Wallaroo?”
“Yes,” Teague said.
“Of course he is,” Hayley said. “It’s perfect. The Quinns have always wanted Wallaroo. And now they have it.” She turned to Teague. “What kind of deal did you make with him? Did you talk him into this?”
“No!” Teague said. “I’m as surprised as you are.”
“You’re sure you didn’t figure out some way to force the issue, to make me stay on Wallaroo? Because this seems awfully suspicious to me.”
“Well, it seems downright crazy to me. Harry asked me to take care of you, but I never thought—”
“And what did you say?” she demanded. “Did you tell him you would?”
“Of course.”
“See. That’s what it was. He assumed you’d marry me and we’d live happily ever after on Wallaroo.”
“Well, it’s not such a bad idea,” Teague said. “Didn’t you say you’d always dreamed we’d have a station together, with horses?”
“I was a kid,” Hayley said. “And it was just a stupid dream. I have a life of my own now. I don’t need you making decisions for me.”
“Would you two like a moment alone?” the solicitor asked.
“No!” Hayley said.
“Yes,” Teague answered.
The solicitor got up and Hayley shook her head. “Why do you listen to him and not to me?”
When the solicitor shut the office door behind him, Hayley turned to Teague. “You can’t force me to live on Wallaroo.”
“I’m not forcing you to do anything, Hayley. This was Harry’s deal, not mine. But I can understand his thinking. Wallaroo has been in your family for years. He didn’t want to see it sold. And you shouldn’t, either. It’s part of your heritage.”
“I make my own decisions about my life. Not you, not Harry, me.”
“So you don’t want to be with me?”
“Not because of some scheme you and Harry cooked up,” she said.
“I see.” Teague shrugged. Hell, there were times when Hayley’s ability to reason flew right out the window. Instead of thinking things through, she reacted. They could make this arrangement work. Teague could run the station and she could come and go as she pleased. He wouldn’t hold her to the residency clause—at least not down to the letter.
But if he did decide to enforce the rules, he’d have her for six months out of the year. If he couldn’t convince her they belonged together given that amount of time, then maybe they didn’t belong together at all.
“If you don’t like the terms, then don’t follow them.”
“I’d lose my share of Wallaroo,” she said.
“You hate Wallaroo.”
“I don’t hate it. I just never appreciated it until I came back this last time.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Give me your half,” she demanded. “That’s the only fair thing to do.”
“No,” Teague said. “You aren’t prepared to run it alone. And it’s the perfect place to raise horses. What land we don’t use for that, we can lease to Callum for cattle.”
“You have it all planned out, don’t you? This plays right into your hand. Why don’t we both agree to break the rules and sell it. You can come to Sydney with me and start a practice there.” She raised her brow. “How about that scheme? Now you have to turn your life upside down for me.”
“Would that make you happy?” Teague asked. “Would that mean we could spend the rest of our lives together?” He waited for her answer, knowing it wouldn’t come. The question actually seemed to make her even angrier.
Had he really expected the fairy tale to last forever? Everything had been going so well for them, beyond Harry’s passing. Hayley had been quiet and thoughtful, though a bit confused. But here was the Hayley he’d always known. Scrappy and opinionated, a girl who didn’t let anyone push her around. Until she was backed into a corner. Then she clawed like a tiger to escape.
“I’m going to fight this in the courts,” Hayley said, snatching up her bag and getting to her feet.
“Great!” Teague replied. “Now that one feud is finally over, we’ll start another one.”
“Tell your solicitor that he will be hearing from mine,” she said as she strode to the door.
“How are you going to get home?” he shouted. “It’s a long walk.”
Hayley slowly turned. “I am perfectly capable of getting to Wallaroo on my own. I see you share Harry’s rather low opinion of my intelligence. You two should have made friends long ago. You’re so much alike.”
She yanked on the door. At first, it didn’t open, and when it did, it hit her on the head. Teague winced, jumping to his feet to help her. But Hayley warned him off, waving her finger at him.
Teague sat down in the chair, cursing softly as she slammed the door behind her. A few moments later, the solicitor returned, a file folder clutched in his hands. “I suspected she might be upset,” he murmured as he took his place behind his desk. “These last-minute changes are always a problem. But the doctors assured me that Harry was of sound mind and all the necessary signatures were made. If there is a lawsuit, I’d be happy to testify.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Teague said. He stood and held out his hand. “Thank you. I’ll be in touch.”
Teague half expected Hayley to be waiting in the reception area, but when he got there, she was gone. Her behavior wasn’t surprising. He’d been expecting it for some time. It was Hayley’s way of coping when she felt herself growing too close to someone, depending too much on another human being.
She’d done it when they were teenagers, refusing to speak to him for days after some silly fight. He’d always figured that must be the way all girls behaved. But now he saw it for what it was—a defense mechanism. It probably would have come earlier had her grandfather’s death not delayed her.
It was the “love you” he’d mumbled to her outside the hospital that probably set it off. Too much, too soon. It’d seemed like the proper thing to say, considering the situation. He’d wanted to reassure her, not box her into a corner. But his declaration and then the will were enough to convince her that he expected to be a part of her future—and she had no say in the matter.
“What the hell were you thinking, Harry?” Teague muttered as he walked to the car park. Though he suspected Harry had noble motives for changing his will, it only proved that he’d never really known his granddaughter. If he had, he’d have realized she’d see the move as another attempt to control her life.
Harry had suspected Hayley wouldn’t want to run the station, so he’d given half of it to a Quinn. He’d thought Hayley might sell the station, so he’d made it impossible for her to do so without a Quinn’s permission. If Hayley did want to run the station, then she would have help…from a Quinn.
Harry’s attempt to keep the two of them together, in at least a legal and working arrangement, may have driven them apart emotionally. But Hayley would have to see the sense in it. She had a career away from the outback. And Teague was in the perfect position to make something out of Wallaroo. If he succeeded, she would profit from it, too.
Teague walked up the stairs to the second level of the car park and searched the rows of cars fo
r his rental. He spotted it parked at the far end, right where he’d left it. As he approached he noticed Hayley leaning against the passenger-side door, her arms crossed over her chest, an annoyed expression suffusing her pretty face.
Teague ignored her, unlocked the driver’s side and got in. Two could play this game. If she wanted a ride home, she’d have to ask. He wasn’t going to offer.
God, she could be so exasperating. There were times when he almost believed they’d be better off giving up on their romance and beginning a chaste friendship. She wouldn’t be half so skittish and any disagreements between them could be worked out in a rational fashion.
“Are you going to get in or will I have to drive over you?”
She turned and pulled on the door handle, but the passenger side was still locked. Hayley sent him a withering glare and he pushed the button to unlock it. She got inside, looking straight ahead and refusing to speak.
“You’re really beautiful when you act childish,” he said.
“You don’t think I have a right to be angry?”
“No. Because you’ve assumed things that aren’t true. I didn’t ask Harry to do this. I was as surprised as you were. And I understand why you’re angry, but don’t take it out on me.”
“Why not? I’m sure you think this is a perfect solution. With the station between us, you’ll have exactly what you want.”
“And what is that?”
“Me,” she snapped.
Teague shoved the key in the ignition and started the car. “And what’s so bloody wrong with me wanting you? I happen to like spending time with you. I think you’re the most beautiful woman in the entire world. And I think we’d make a good team. We could make a success of Wallaroo, turn it into something really grand. But you’ve got your knickers in a twist because of the way it happened.”
“I can’t be tied to that station.”
