Moonlight Plains (25 page)

‘I guess it would have been expensive to send you off to law school.’ It was the only explanation Laura could think of. Why else would his father object? Where she came from, fathers
boasted
about their law graduate sons.

‘Well, Dad had made a big shift when Mum inherited Moonlight Plains. He left his work as a carpenter in Townsville to become a cattleman, but he really took to the life, and he raised all of us to be handy bush kids. Riding, cattle work, mending fences, mustering. You name it, we could do it. Then, at my twenty-first, he pulled me aside and asked if I was really sure about giving up the bush for law. I reminded him I’d always loved books. At boarding school I’d loved debates and even a bit of theatre. I wanted something different from cattle and mustering camps.’

Jim kicked at a stone with his boot and Laura studied his profile. His face was a little longer than her father’s, his nose sharper, but he had the strong Langley cheekbones.

‘I expected Dad to blue about it,’ he said. ‘But he just nodded and gave me this strange look. And he told me to take a walk with him.’

Laura found herself leaning forward, tense as a tripwire.

‘I thought it was a bit weird,’ Jim said. ‘I wanted to ask him what was going on, but I more or less sensed I should just shut up. Dad said he needed to show me something and he brought me here.’

‘To this crash site?’ she whispered, fearing what must come next.

Jim nodded, but he kept his gaze fixed dead ahead. ‘He put his arm around my shoulders and he pointed to the pieces of charred metal.’ Jim’s throat worked as he swallowed. ‘He said, that’s where your mum helped to pull your father’s mate out of the wreckage.’

‘Oh my God.’

‘And he told me that over there a bit was where my father landed.’

So there it was, the brutal truth, spoken so calmly, and now out in the open.

‘You – you must have been so shocked,’ she said.

‘I was. It was a terrible shock, but in some ways it was a relief, too. I’d always felt a bit different. And there was something about the way Dad told me the story, with his arm around me – I don’t know – I could feel his love and that helped so much.’

Tears burned in Laura’s eyes, but instead of weeping, she felt strangely numb. She supposed her true reaction would come later, but for now, she was pleasantly surprised by her composure.

‘I knew it, as soon as I saw you,’ she said. ‘You’re even more like my father than my brothers are.’

A corner of Jim’s mouth flickered as he attempted to smile and failed. In the distance, a crow called its universal cry.
Ark, ark, ark.

Laura shifted her foot away from a line of ants that trailed dangerously close. ‘My father was wounded in New Guinea,’ she said. ‘He was blinded and shipped home to the States. He was lucky and later recovered his sight, but I guess –’ She shrugged and then said, softly, ‘Jim, I don’t think he ever knew about you.’

‘I’d say you’re probably right.’

‘Do you mind?’

He gave his jaw a thoughtful scratch and then offered her a sad, sideways grin. ‘On and off, I’ve been curious, but I can’t say I’ve
really
minded – not till now, at any rate.’

‘I’m sorry if I’ve stirred things up.’

He turned now, letting his dark gaze rest on her, as if he was taking in details. Searching for a deeper connection? ‘I’m glad you came. It means a lot to have met you.’

‘And I’m glad to meet
you
.’ The tears came now and she swiped at them roughly.

In the trees nearby, birds began to squabble. A family of kangaroos hopped quietly out of the shadows and began to nibble at dry stubbled grass. Laura saw them in numbed amazement.

‘Are you married?’ she found herself asking Jim.

He shook his head. ‘Divorced.’

‘Oh, really? Me too.’

They shared another shaky smile.

‘And yet my parents were very happily married.’ She felt it was important to tell him this.

‘So were mine,’ he said softly.

‘So Ed and Kitty were both lucky then.’

‘They were either lucky or they worked damn hard at their marriages.’

In a tree nearby, a bird cried a warning note. The kangaroos stopped grazing and went very still, ears pricked. Then they took off, bounding away on their astonishing long, hinged back legs.

‘They’re so cool,’ Laura said.

‘Have you seen roos before?’

‘No. This is a bonus. But sorry, I distracted you. I don’t think you finished your story. I’m curious about Kitty. It must have been so hard for her to be pregnant and alone in the middle of a war.’

‘Yes, I’m sure it was. But the way Dad told it, he’d always been sweet on her even when they were young. Then he went off to fight and he was missing in action, and everyone at home thought he was dead. He and two mates spent a couple of months in the jungle behind enemy lines, and he reckoned the only thing that kept him going was the thought of Mum. Apparently, he was mad with himself for not standing up to her grandfather and marrying her before he enlisted.’

‘Really?’ So Kitty had already been on the brink of an engagement? This was a new twist. And then her father had met young Kitty and swept her off her feet, and vice versa.

‘Anyway,’ Jim went on, ‘Dad was in bad shape by the time he got back to his lines. He was in hospital up there for a while and then shipped back to Townsville for a spot of leave. He said it was fate to be sent straight back home for a second chance with his girl.’

‘I’m guessing Kitty was already pregnant by then?’

‘She was, yes. Apparently, Dad knew or was told that he wasn’t the father, but he told me he hadn’t cared. I challenged him on that. Most blokes wouldn’t be interested in marrying a woman who was carrying someone else’s child. But he reckoned he’d made a pact with God while he was up in the islands. If he survived, he would come back and make sure Kitty understood how much he loved her.’

‘Wow.’ In a weird kind of way, it was beginning to make sense, the pieces fitting together like patches in a crazy quilt. ‘And you learned all this at twenty-one?’

Jim nodded.

‘Weren’t you upset? Angry?’

‘Sure, but then again, not as much as you’d expect. As I said, Dad told his story so calmly and patiently, I felt strangely okay about it. Of course, I wanted to know all about my American father, but he could only tell me that the Yank pilot was injured and sent back to the States. Dad said he was a decent man, but he never knew about me.’ Jim shrugged. ‘The rest was Mum’s business.’

‘You must have been curious.’

‘Yes, I was, but Dad asked me to promise two things. Not to pester Mum about it and, more importantly, not to go chasing after my American father while Mum was still alive.’

The ants were back, threatening to climb Laura’s leg. She moved again, crossing her legs. ‘Your father – Andy – must have been incredibly tolerant.’

‘I’m not sure tolerant is the right word. That suggests he endured something he wasn’t totally happy with, but I never saw any evidence of that. Dad was a good man. We might question his decision, but for him it was the right thing to do. He said you’d have to experience a war to know how it can change your life in ways you’d never imagine.’

Laura thought about her father’s letters and the turmoil of thoughts and emotions revealed there that he’d never shared with his family. ‘Perhaps that’s why my father and your mother both made successes of their marriages,’ she said, thinking aloud. ‘After living through the war, they knew the true value of peace and – and family.’

‘I’m sure it didn’t happen overnight, but from my earliest memories my parents seemed to be happy. They were not only good parents, but they also seemed to love each other deeply. It was so obvious to all of us kids.’

‘The real thing?’ Laura asked softly.

‘Well, I reckon it can’t be faked. Maybe for a while, but not in the long term. I’ve worked in family law for long enough to know that, and I’ve suffered my own failed marriage.’ Jim noticed the ants and scowled. ‘This isn’t such a good seat after all,’ he said, jumping to his feet.

Laura stood too, and dusted off her capri pants.

‘I guess we should get back.’ Jim squinted at the sun, which seemed to be sliding rather quickly now to the west. ‘We’ll arouse suspicion if we’re away too long.’

Once again, he held the wires while Laura climbed through the fence, and together they crossed the paddock.

‘So, does anyone here know the truth about my father, other than Kitty and you?’ she asked.

Jim shook his head. ‘I’ve kept my word. And I think that keeping it private made us closer – Dad, Mum and me.’

‘And I’m guessing that you certainly wouldn’t want it out in the open now.’

‘Not at this party, hell no.’ Jim stopped walking and stood with his hands propped loosely on his hips. ‘Look, it’s been a secret, Laura, but not a dark secret. I’ve lived with it for fifty years now and it hasn’t been a huge burden. I was happy enough to tell you, because – I don’t know – perhaps there’s a touch of fate in all this. But I plan to keep my promise and I hope you’ll respect that.’

‘Of course.’ She was still surprised by how calm she felt about this news. Perhaps it was the way Jim had shared it. For some reason she felt lighter. ‘What about Kitty? She knows we’ve met, so she’ll be wondering, won’t she?’

‘Yes, and I don’t want to stress her. I suggest we go straight back to the homestead now and put her mind at rest.’

The afternoon was sliding towards dusk and Moonlight Plains was coming into its own. The long trestle tables on the lawn were now covered with white cloths and laden with plates, cutlery and rows of shiny wine glasses waiting to be filled.

The coloured paper lanterns that Bella had strung in the trees near the dance floor glowed softly in the purpling light as everyone dispersed to the homestead or to their tents to change into their party clothes.

Sally and Megan were sharing a tent, as predicted, and Sally had barely opened the flap when Megan began firing her questions.

‘I thought everything was fine and dandy between you and Luke.’

‘It is.’

‘Really?’ The scepticism in Megan’s tone was hard to miss.

‘I thought I told you. We’re keeping a low profile today, so Luke’s family don’t get the wrong idea about us.’

Megan’s eyebrows took a hike. ‘What wrong idea would that be again?’

‘Don’t be dense, Megs. Luke doesn’t want his mother or his sisters to think we’re too serious.’

‘But why?’

‘Because we’re not bloody serious.’ Sally snapped this a little more brusquely than she’d intended. Keeping up the pretence with Luke had been a source of nonstop tension for her today, but she wasn’t prepared to admit it. ‘I agreed with Luke. I think it’s a perfectly sensible plan. We don’t want everyone jumping to conclusions. It’s bad enough having you and my parents watching me like a hawk.’

At this, Megan pouted, then poked her jaw stubbornly forward. ‘Pity,’ she said. ‘I really like Zoe and Bella. I think the whole family’s nice. And Luke seems like a really great guy.’

He is, Sally wanted to moan. He is, believe me.

‘Really nice and extremely hot,’ Megan added for good measure.

And that was when Sally almost caved in and admitted that she was
not
having a good time. Sure, she understood that Luke had come up with their subterfuge to protect her from his family’s embarrassing assumptions and questions, and that was considerate of him. But still.
Honestly.
How could she have guessed it would be so hard to pretend that the two of them weren’t an item?

Which begged the question: what
was
their status? Truly? Friends with benefits? Two casual lovers who hadn’t discussed a future beyond the end of this project?

She had tried not to think too deeply about this. But she was certainly stewing over it now, as she collected her towel and toiletries and headed for the makeshift shower in a canvas cubicle that Luke had ingeniously rigged up under a tree for the guests who were camping. As Megan had never been camping before and she was a bit anxious about the shower, she’d suggested that Sally try it out first.

No sooner was Sally inside, however, stripped, clutching a bottle of shower gel in one hand and fiddling with the nozzle above her head with the other, than her thoughts whizzed straight back to Luke.

So far, today had been totally dismal on the Luke front. Each time his gaze had met hers, he’d swiftly and purposefully switched his attention elsewhere, leaving her with a miserable weight pressing under her ribs.

When she’d run into him in the hallway outside Kitty’s bedroom it had been even worse. Their brief conversation had been strained and awkward and deep-down
wrong.
In despair, Sally had nearly hurled the basket of cutlery to the four winds and leapt into Luke’s arms in the hope that a display of impromptu passion might have resurrected the guy she knew and loved.

Loved?

This startling thought struck just as the shower water stopped, leaving Sally with a huge unanswered question and an equally huge spread of unrinsed soapsuds that she had to wipe off with her towel. Served her right for not concentrating on the job in hand.

Still, the question remained. Was
love
an appropriate word to describe her feelings for Luke Fairburn?

She’d seen him in a new light today. He’d morphed from a quiet, easygoing and slightly shy cattleman-cum-builder into the confident host of Moonlight Plains, and she’d been impressed by how smoothly he’d balanced the supervision of the final party preparations with greeting people and making them feel welcome.
And
he’d been
incredibly
sweet to his grandmother.

Sally had been genuinely touched when she’d watched the solicitous way Luke took Kitty under his wing, making sure she was comfortable with a cuppa and then helping her into the homestead for a nap before the party.

And when Bella had come running up with the bad news that the band had rolled their car on the last bend before the creek crossing, Luke had been remarkably calm, checking first that there were no serious injuries requiring an ambulance, and then racing off in a truck to rescue them.

There had only been one event that seemed to throw Luke today, and that was the arrival of his uncle Jim from Brisbane. From the moment Jim stepped out of his car, there’d been a strange vibe between him and the American woman, Laura. Luke had noticed and he’d been tense about them too, although Sally had no idea why.

Unfortunately, there was no way she could ask him about it. She was a complete outsider and she wasn’t enjoying that status. And yet, ironically, while she and Luke had only exchanged a handful of words all day, let alone kissed or touched, she’d developed a new respect for her supposedly casual boyfriend, a feeling that could not be classified as mere lust or fondness.

‘Everything okay in there?’ Megan called from outside.

‘Oh, yes, sorry. Coming!’

‘I was beginning to think you must have drowned.’

Apologetic and slightly flustered, Sally hauled on a beach shirt, thrust her damp feet into thongs and grabbed her belongings.

With her hair still dripping, she stepped outside to find Megan ready to fill the shower bucket with the hose hooked up to a tank on the back of a ute.

‘Do you need a hand with that?’ Sally asked.

‘No, I think I’ve got the hang of it. Luke’s uncle showed me how it works.’

That was another thing, Sally thought as she gave Megan a wave and hurried back to their tent. Her friend’s comments about Luke’s family were spot-on. They’d both thoroughly enjoyed working with Zoe in the kitchen, and not simply because Zoe was a professional cook and had passed on several great tips. Apart from picking up some gorgeous recipes, like Zoe’s watermelon, feta and black olive salad, and her superb flourless chocolate lime cake, it had only taken a matter of moments for both Sally and Megan to feel completely comfortable, as if they were long-time friends of Zoe McKinnon’s.

And when they’d met Luke’s sister, Bella, she’d been as warm and friendly and as instantly likeable as Zoe, as were their husbands, Gabe and Mac respectively. In no time, Sally had felt totally at ease with the whole Fairburn–Mathieson crowd.

Admittedly, Sally knew she was particularly susceptible to the charms of the big-happy-family scenario. As an only child whose relatives, apart from her parents, all lived far away in southern states, she’d frequently envied other people’s large family gatherings. For Sally, there was something magical about their noisy celebrations in suburban backyards, or at the beach, or around barbecues in national parks.

Today, as Luke’s sisters and uncles and their assorted extras arrived, piling out of cars and greeting each other with laughter and hugs and family in-jokes, she’d almost felt as if she’d found a tribe she wanted to belong to.

And not one of them had grilled her about Luke.

Luke . . .

Back in her tent, towel-drying her hair and then searching through her backpack for clean knickers and a matching strapless bra, she couldn’t keep her mind away from him.

She knew he would soon be getting dressed in another tent nearby and she could so easily picture his naked body . . . his broad shoulders and tapered waist, his toned butt and strong thighs . . . the play of muscles in his back as he raised his arms to haul a clean shirt over his head . . .

Luke, showered, and dressed in crisp, clean clothes, was going to look gorgeous. He would probably smell good too, although she wouldn’t get close enough to know. Which left her feeling miserable again as she stepped into the brand-new dress she’d bought for the party.

‘Oh, wow!’ Megan appeared at the tent door and her jaw dropped when she saw Sally. ‘That dress is sensational. You’re going to drive Luke mental.’

The halter-neck dress of copper-toned silk had seemed like a good choice when Sally was trying it on in her favourite Townsville dress shop. The colour suited her perfectly and the style brought out her best features. She’d hoped to tantalise Luke by looking her most alluring, in spite of their charade, but after Megan’s reaction, the plan felt a tad childish, even thoughtless.

‘It’s not too try-hard, is it?’ she asked.

‘No, it’s perfect.’ Megan sent her a wry smile. ‘That’s the problem.’

Sally winced. She hadn’t brought an alternative outfit, so, to make amends, she applied only the barest makeup and didn’t bother with jewellery. Then she grabbed her camera and hung it, purposefully, around her neck. It was time to get over her downbeat mood and to remember she was here as a journalist and not as
anyone’s
girlfriend.

It was almost dark by the time Luke and Gabe had finished helping the harassed band guys to roll their vehicle upright before towing it back to the homestead. Luke was relieved to see for himself that there were no serious injuries, although one of the band members, the lead singer, had hurt his arm. Gabe volunteered to run him into the Towers to have it checked out, but the guy was stubborn, insisting he’d be fine for the evening.

Luke wasn’t happy about this, but given the timing, he wasn’t going to argue too hard.

As soon as he got back, though, he found one of his cousins from Richmond, a med student home on holidays, who’d come to the party with his physiotherapist girlfriend. Between the two of them, they were able to make the singer comfortable with his arm in a sling. Painkillers would do the rest, and Luke could breathe a little more easily.

With that problem solved, at least temporarily, he headed for the homestead for one last check and found his mother hurrying from the main bathroom with Zoe’s youngster, Callum, bundled in a huge, fluffy towel.

‘He was playing in the dirt with his Tonka truck and ended up covered from head to toe in red dust,’ Virginia told Luke with grandmotherly pride.

The kid, straight out of the bath, had a just-scrubbed glow about him. His dark hair was still damp and his cheeks were pink, and he radiated the amazing cuteness that, as far as Luke could tell, was universal among toddlers.

For an instant Luke couldn’t help thinking that he wouldn’t mind a kid of his own one day, and slap on the back of that thought flashed an image of Sally with a cute little bundle in her arms.

Jeez, he was losing it.

‘How’s Gran?’ he asked, quickly scratching that errant thought and switching to the business at hand. ‘Everything okay with her?’

‘As far as I know, Luke. But I must admit it’s about forty minutes now since I popped in. I took her another cup of tea, but since then I’ve been looking after Callum. Zoe’s busy getting ready, and Mac’s keeping an eye on the barbecue, so I offered to give Callum his bath and his tea and put him to bed. We’ve set up his portacot in my room.’

‘Okay, that’s fine. I can make a quick check on Gran. I’ll only give you a hoy if she needs you.’

‘Thanks, darling. Tell her I’ll be along to help her get dressed just as soon as I’m free.’

‘Sure.’ Luke was already hurrying on to his grandmother’s room.

The door was closed, so he knocked.

There was no response from inside and he wondered if his grandmother had dropped off to sleep again. He supposed he should check on her, and he was reaching for the doorknob when the door opened.

The last person he’d expected to see was his Uncle Jim.

‘Hi,’ he said. ‘I was – ah – just checking on Gran to see if –’ Luke stopped in mid-sentence and totally lost his train of thought.

Laura Langley Fox was sitting on the edge of his grandmother’s bed and holding her hand.

What the fuck was
she
doing here? And why was his uncle here too? What was going on? The three of them seemed to be having a private conversation behind closed doors.

Damn it, why?

Fine hairs rose on the back of Luke’s neck. He knew this was none of his business, yet he was sure it had to be linked to Laura’s dramatic reaction to Jim’s arrival.

It was like being thrown from a horse and smashing into the ground, winded. ‘I – I didn’t realise –’

‘No problem,’ Jim said with an easy smile. ‘Laura and I were about to leave Mum in peace. Your grandmother’s keen to get ready for the party.’

Laura was no longer holding his grandmother’s hand and she’d risen from the bed. Luke thought she looked rather washed out, but perhaps she was one of those women whose appearance changed dramatically when their make-up wore off.

He switched his attention to his grandmother, but it was hard to tell if she was upset. Just the same, he had the uneasy suspicion that this trio’s discussion had involved World War II and Laura’s father, the American pilot – subjects his grandmother had always avoided.

Damn. He’d behaved rashly when he sent that invitation without Kitty’s permission and now guilt roiled uncomfortably inside him. What problems had he stirred up by inviting the American woman out here?

‘We were about to leave anyhow,’ Jim said smoothly, and he held the door open for Laura.

In the doorway, she paused and sent his grandmother a shy smile. ‘Thanks, Kitty.’

Thanks for what? Luke wanted to demand.

‘We’ll see you soon, Luke,’ said Jim. ‘I’m looking forward to this evening. It’s shaping up to be a great party.’

They left, shutting the door behind them. Luke crossed the room towards his grandmother’s bed.

‘Is everything okay, Gran?’

‘Yes, dear.’ She looked up at him with wide-eyed innocence. ‘Perfectly okay. Why? What’s the matter?’

‘I know there’s something going on. Laura was really upset earlier, when Jim arrived. I – I wasn’t sure what to make of it.’