Raven Falls: Australian Rural Romantic Suspense Read online

She looked up. ‘Yes, thanks Chris. How was school today?’

  ‘It wasn’t bad. There’s a few new kids in town and it was good to meet someone else for a change.’

  His eyes twinkled, and he appeared calmer than usual. She stopped what she was doing. ‘I suppose one of them is a female by that look on your face.’

  He grinned. ‘Yeah. Her name is Julie. She’s a looker and nice as well.’

  ‘Step carefully Chris. I don’t want to see your heart broken.’

  ‘No chance of that. My heart died when Mum and Dad died.’

  Samantha’s stomach muscles tightened as she continued to prepare the table. She’d have to ask Cameron to have a talk to Christopher. Although they had already spoken, it was years back. It’d do Christopher the world of good to talk about their parents’ death, to share with another male what he was obviously still going through.

  ‘Can you put the dinner plates on the breakfast bar?

  ‘Yeah. Sure. Where’s the new guy sitting?’

  She was about to say, as far away as possible from me... ‘Next to Cam. I’ll sit at the other end of the table.’

  Samantha didn’t know how she’d survive the night. She checked out the place settings. With Cameron at the head of the table, Brad on his right, and Steven on his left, she’d put Christopher next to him, and in that way, she’d be at the far end of the table. It’d be ample space so no one would hear the rapid beating of her heart.

  ‘What’re you doing all the way down there, sis?’ Cam said, as he walked into the dining room.

  ‘You sit in your usual place. I’m giving my seat to the new guy. Give you some space to chat guy talk.’

  ‘So how long were you with Brad?’

  Samantha’s insides did a duck dive. ‘I... I...’

  ‘He told us you two had met when you went for your holiday about a year ago. Is that when you met him?’

  ‘I can’t remember, Cam.’

  ‘Surely you’d remember meeting a guy.’

  ‘Cam. I don’t want to talk about it, okay,’ she snapped.

  He nodded. ‘Now I see. Could it be he’s the guy that broke you into shards?’

  ‘No, he’s not. Let it go please.’

  Steven and Brad walked into the room.

  Samantha glanced up before stirring the pot of stew, giving it a few quick forceful circles.

  ‘Smells good,’ Christopher said.

  ‘There’s some sour dough as well.’

  ‘Thanks Sam,’ Steven said, as he approached the breakfast bar, and helped himself to a heap of stew. He grabbed some bread and sat at the table while the others helped themselves.

  ‘It’s a great set up you have here,’ Brad said.

  ‘Yeah. Mum and Dad did their best,’ Cameron replied.

  ‘It’s got star potential though, especially with the Falls. That’s a good indication.’

  Samantha scooped up some stew, and sat at the table.

  ‘We got lurgy or something?’ Cameron remarked.

  ‘Ha ha. Funny. I want to sit here.’

  ‘Anyone would think we have an infectious disease,’ Cameron chided.

  ‘Lay off okay?’ Samantha beamed one of her looks at all three of her brothers, and they retreated.

  The men chatted amongst themselves, and Samantha concentrated on her meal.

  ‘Irrigation is your answer,’ Brad stated.

  ‘Yeah but the Falls are set at the back off the joint. It takes over an hours’ ride to get there, and it’s barely a drip these days. Our parents didn’t put the cattle too close to the Falls due to the rocky slopes. There’s some pretty steep inclines out there and the paddocks aren’t fenced off out that way.’

  ‘Exactly. Irrigation. You can draw it up from the underground spring. A lot depends on where the spring is situated.’

  Cameron chuckled. ‘And you think we don’t know that?’

  ‘The water quality of the bore should be assessed to ensure it’s suitable for stock drinking. Poor water quality has the potential to reduce animal production and health.’

  ‘So, there’s a lot to do, to think about?’ Cameron remarked.

  ‘Leave it all up to me and my team. With the necessary approvals, it isn’t a big deal if everything goes according to plan.’

  ‘I heard about the irrigation system they’ve got going on a cattle station near Hay. Mighty impressive, but the guy that owns the joint is loaded.’ Steven directed his gaze toward Brad. ‘Is it possible to have gravity fed instead of a windmill, or perhaps solar?’

  ‘Pumping water is the least of our concerns at present, although the choice is varied. The pumping system can be electric, diesel, windmill, or solar. We need to know how far down the spring is, and the density of the surrounding rock. It might not be worth it. We’ll undertake some tests and if they’re positive we can drill a bore.’

  Samantha wasn’t going to say a word tonight, but while ‘Mr Know It All’ voiced his opinions about Raven Falls she couldn’t help her herself. He got under her skin, ripped open one week of her life that she tried so desperately to forget. He had a hide to make a show now and pretend everything was honky dory.

  ‘There’s also the consideration of what type of overhead sprinkler system you’d like to have. It can be a fixed pivot head or one that you can move from paddock to paddock.’

  ‘It sounds like a heap of work,’ she commented.

  ‘It will be a heap of rewarding work. It will make this place one hundred percent viable. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions until after the testing is undertaken. And then we have to consider a number of things like the pipe location, distance, peak flow rate and materials to be used.’

  ‘My brothers and I aren’t dumb, you know? The extent of the irrigation, the pipes, wouldn’t be worth it.’

  ‘It’d be worth it. Believe me.’

  ‘Why should we believe you?’ Samantha piped up. After all, there didn’t seem to be much truth in his words. She’d had first-hand experience with that. He was acting as though they hadn’t shared those four nights of sheer...she drew in a slow breath, and tried to shove the memory aside.

  ‘Brad has all the knowledge Sam.’

  ‘Knowledge means nothing, in my books. It’s actions, not words that count.’

  God, why did she say that? She scooped up a spoon full of stew, and shoved it into her mouth. It was obvious he lacked in the action department.

  ‘The prolonged drought, along with last year’s dip in cattle prices has forced us to destock somewhat. We kept whatever was in calf on the place and we’re trying to let the property recover,’ Cameron stated. ‘There’s only about 6,000 head left.’

  ‘How many head did your parents run?’

  ‘In good years they had 15,000 head of cattle, plus bumper wheat crops. The property is well over twenty-five thousand hectares. But as I said some of that land is useless, being steep rocky cliffs that even a goat would find difficult to tackle,’ Cameron commented.

  Brad whistled, and Samantha’s stomach knotted. She tried to steady the gallop of her beating heart.

  ‘Brad has offered to set up the irrigation, arrange for the licences and pay up-front costs. All we have to do is pay for the materials. We would then pay him a sum of instalments when everything is up and running.’

  Samantha jerked her upright and beamed down the length of the table.

  ‘No way. Over my dead body. I’m not agreeing. It will cost a fortune. The price of cattle last year doesn’t justify setting up an irrigation system. Why now?’

  ‘Even if he uses his own company to set it up?’

  ‘Own company?’

  ‘I’m the sole owner of an irrigation company. My company has set up quite a few irrigation systems since the drought. Our last one was in the Hay area. The irrigation system you decide upon will be a compromise between capital and operating costs, efficiency, labour and management requirements. With your case, it will be cost supply of equipment only.’

  Samantha couldn’t s
ee how it’d work. ‘Owing money or accepting handouts is not something an Osborne does. We are debt free.’

  ‘Sam, let loose for a change.’

  ‘What?’ She glared at Cameron. ‘Let loose. We don’t know anything about this man and here he is offering to pay for an irrigation system, and he’s willing to jump in and take a slice of the action.’ She looked at ‘Mr Know It All’. ‘What’s in it for you?’

  Brad placed his fork down on the edge of the plate. ‘Seeing I am a neighbour, it’s the neighbourly thing to do. It won’t be a handout, if that’s what you think. We’ll draw up something, a legitimate contract, but the expense will be for the cost of the equipment only. Naturally, with clauses to cover you and your family if anything happens.’

  Samantha stood and picked up her plate as her nerves escalated. She walked into the kitchen and placed her plate on the sink. Turning back, she said, ‘It’s not going to happen until we know more about you. Neighbour you said.’ What a load of hogwash. He’d told her he lived in Sydney. How many lies could this man spin and get away with?

  ‘Chris, can you get some bowls and spoons for dessert?’

  ‘Sure.’

  Upon returning to the dining room, she placed an apple pie in the centre of the table, along with some whipped cream and peaches.

  ‘Dig in.’

  Christopher placed the bowls and spoons on the table. ‘Thanks Sam. You know how much I love apple pie.’

  ‘Mum used to make it. It’s her recipe.’

  Samantha sat back at the end of the table and fidgeted. She needed to talk to Brad without her brothers about. She wanted to settle her concerns but how could she manage that?

  ‘Really nice meal, thank you Samantha.’

  Oh hell and Brad said it as though he meant it. He’d told her he didn’t particularly like stews or steak which was the very reason she’d made it that night. Her insides burned.

  ‘Getting back to the irrigation.’

  ‘Oh yes, let’s.’

  ‘Don’t be sarcastic Sam.’

  She pulled a face at Cameron.

  ‘Most water extraction works used for irrigation such as a pump on a creek, river or dam must have a works approval. So, it’s baby steps at first.’

  Samantha looked at Brad, but concentrated on his shoulder. Those eyes were a toxic mix of a dark river pebbles, with a hint of polished bronze.

  ‘Another investment, however minor, is good. It will also give the neighbours a chance to know what type of work I deliver.’

  ‘If you haven’t noticed our nearest neighbour is six kilometres down the road, and the next one after that is another twenty or so.’ She hesitated. ‘If you’re a neighbour, you’re saying you live at the Harpers’ place? Dianne Harper, the woman that died… um… about nine months ago.’

  ‘Dianne Harper was my mother.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realise. I’m sorry about her cancer.’ Samantha’s face filled with heat. Her stomach knotted.

  ‘She’s at peace now. After Mum died I decided to run my company up this way. Spread the word. Mum’s property was called Coopers Stud Farm. It was her parents’ property. They bred horses and at one stage it was one of the best stud farms in this area. Mum loved horses and tried to keep the farm up and running, but with her sickness she had to sell out. There’s not a horse left.’

  Samantha listened intently. A stud farm. It was her dream to own her own property one day. Run a vet clinic and breed horses. But lately her dreams didn’t often come true.

  ‘That’s a shame...I can’t believe you’re Dianne’s son.’ She shook her head, scanning her memory, trying to slot him in with her younger years. It was difficult to believe, especially when everything else he told her had nothing to do with the Raven area.

  ‘I don’t recall seeing you about when you were a kid.’

  ‘Mum sent me to boarding school when I was four or five years old. I came back for holidays and helped out whenever I could. After I finished school, I went to uni in Sydney and I came back here before she died.’

  ‘Oh.’ Samantha helped herself to a piece of apple pie, and topped it with three scoops of cream.

  ‘You said you own a few companies.’

  ‘I did well on the stock market for a while, got out while the going was good and invested money in the irrigation business and a computer company. I’ve recently cashed in the computer company.’

  ‘What’s the name of your irrigation business?’

  ‘It’s called Harper Irrigation Systems.’

  ‘Come on Sam. Let our guest at least eat his dessert instead of badgering him with so many questions.’

  Samantha dropped her gaze. She’d check out Brad and his company later, on the internet. After she’d finished her dessert, she left the men to chat and made her way into the office. It was a large room, allowing seating for at least six people, surrounded by a book case, a filing cabinet and an old heavy desk, one that appeared to have been around for centuries. Behind the desk, a grey safe was imbedded into the wall. They’d only cover it up with a painting if no one was about which didn’t happen often.

  Easing down onto a worn leather chair, she switched on the computer and waited for several slow pumping seconds through the initial booting up. The computer needed updating and the internet wasn’t efficient out this way even at the best of times, but she had to make do in some areas of life, and she didn’t mind. They’d get through the drought, and get the property back to how it was before their parents died.

  The moment she did a search of Bradley Harper, his company came into view. While scanning the details, her shoulders dropped. He’d been telling the truth.

  Cameron popped his head around the doorjamb. ‘Sam, are you going to have a drink with us? You need to relax.’

  ‘Coming.’ She did need to unwind, but she wondered why Brad hadn’t been up front and told her brothers they had more than a brief meeting, that he promised to ring her and he hadn’t. What a scam...she had no one to blame except herself. She’d fallen for the guy. At the time she thought he was the sincerest man she’d ever met. Perhaps he was but not in the area where his love life was concerned.

  She shut the door to the office and wandered into the lounge room. Cameron stood behind the bar, on the far side of the room, while Steven, Christopher and Brad sat at bar stools.

  She crossed the room and slowed her steps when Brad stood.

  ‘Sorry. Looks like I’ve taken your seat.’

  ‘No, sit down. I’ll sit on the lounge. It’s much more comfortable.’

  It was odd now, being in the same room with Brad. Distance replaced the closeness they once shared the last time they were together. She’d sat on his lap and his arms were around her. Now, he sat on one side of the room, and she on the other. How could she ever trust him again? And that included any dealings with Raven Falls.

  Cameron finished pouring their drinks. ‘Port tonight Sam.’

  ‘Yes, thanks.’

  A good stiff port. Her mother used to have a brandy occasionally, saying it helped settle her nerves and to induce a restful sleep. Port reacted in a similar way with Samantha.

  Taking her drink, she turned, trying to ignore the sizzling currents zinging through the atmosphere between her and Brad. Or was she the only one that noticed, the only one that felt so wrangled? Dropping onto the couch was a godsend. She kicked one booted foot over the other as the men chatted behind her.

  ‘You can stay here in the house if you like Brad. We have a spare room, and Sam wouldn’t mind, would you Sam?’

  Samantha felt like scurrying through the crack in the wall, the one beside the fireplace.

  ‘Sam?’

  ‘No. That’s...okay,’ she blurted, keeping her gaze fixed over the fine crack that seemed to have grown wider within moments. He lived down the road. Why would he need to sleep here in the house, at Raven Falls?

  ‘All settled then. I know you can drive home, but there’s no one waiting for you there, is there?’
>
  Brad let out a throaty warm chuckle. ‘No. There’s nothing to keep me there.’

  ‘I can’t believe you were sent to boarding school at such a young age,’ Cameron said.

  ‘I don’t think my mother could cope. Aside from crippling arthritis, she’d been fighting cancer most of her life. The chemotherapy knocked her about. She went into remission for years and then two years back it returned with a vengeance.’

  ‘Hell, I wouldn’t like to be in a boarding school,’ Christopher remarked.

  ‘You get used to things, to people. It wasn’t all that bad.’

  ‘I bet you mucked up when you could.’ Steven chuckled.

  Samantha turned, and shot Steven an irritated look.

  ‘Yeah, pretty much.’

  Samantha didn’t want to hear this; didn’t want to hear about his many conquests, which were probably laced with lies. She pushed to her feet.

  ‘I’m off to bed. I’m a bit tired tonight. You guys know how to make a bed.’

  ‘All’s good Sam.’

  ‘Thanks Cam.’

  ‘Thanks again for a tasty meal and for the apple pie. I don’t think there’s a man around that doesn’t like apple pie.’

  ‘I’m glad you enjoyed it Brad. Night, everyone.’

  While she walked upstairs, her mind filled with questions. Tasty meal. Not a man around that doesn’t like apple pie. That shot what he originally told her about the food he ate. He said he liked seafood. He didn’t like fattening food and rarely ate dessert. The man was an outright liar and a promise breaker, a heart breaker. She made a grumbling sound. He irritated her to the max.

  After taking a shower, she changed into a cool nightie and sat on the bed brushing her shoulder-length hair.

  Although she didn’t mind looking after her brothers, and taking care of the things her mother would do, Samantha often wondered if this was all that life would dish out. She pictured herself at fifty, still cooking and cleaning, and her anxiety grew.

  A knock sounded on the door.

  ‘Come on in. I’m decent.’

  The door creaked open, and she looked up. Eyes glazed with a sheen of something she couldn’t pinpoint stared back at her. Realising she was sitting in a see-through nightie, she grabbed her shirt and thrust it to her chest. ‘I thought you were one of my brothers,’ she spluttered, feeling her cheeks burn.