Raven Falls: Australian Rural Romantic Suspense Read online

  ‘Gee, he’s made a few changes to the house.’

  ‘I think it’s a general tidy up. The place was pretty run down.’

  ‘See you in town.’ Steven called, as he climbed from the car made his way toward the front door.

  ‘See ya.’

  ‘What were you about to say, Cam?’

  ‘Nothing much.’

  ‘Cam? About the house.’

  ‘I dunno. I guess if he’s got to live here, he’ll tidy the joint up a bit.’

  At times her brothers frustrated her and she wondered if all men were the same.

  ***

  When they reached Raven, Samantha checked out the area near the entrance to the cafe. Soft lighting fell over the timber balcony, and a thick grapevine draped from overhead rafters.

  ‘There’s not many here.’

  ‘It’s still early, we’re early.’

  Moments after they’d taken a few steps from the car, Steven and Brad pulled up in separate vehicles. They waited for them to catch up.

  ‘Do up your tie, Cam.’

  ‘It’s so hot I feel like I’ve got a noose around my neck.’

  ‘Steven, can you button up your jacket?’ She indicated toward his open jacket front. ‘You can take it off when you’re seated. Come on, please make an effort. Make it a nice night for once. No drinking excessively either.’

  ‘Can you lay off Sam? You sound like Mum.’

  ‘Someone’s got to look out for you.’

  ‘She’s right Steven, Chris. Come on. Let’s do what Mum says.’ Cameron slowed his strides, looked over his shoulder.

  ‘Hey Brad. You look like a city slicker.’

  ‘Used to suits, although I’ve come to love kicking around in jeans lately.’

  ‘We’ll beat the city out of you yet.’

  ‘I don’t think there’s much of that left.’

  Brad smiled, and it was one of the widest white smiles, under deep smouldering eyes, and she suddenly realised she hardly knew anything about him. He flicked a wide-eyed gaze in her direction.

  ‘You scrub up pretty good too Sam.’

  ‘Gee thanks.’ Is that all she’d get? She didn’t really expect much more, after all, they were merely friends. He’d already seen her dressed in something more than jeans. In fact, he’d already seen her without her clothes on. A wave of insecurity ribboned through her.

  ‘Hey Christopher. How’s it going?’

  ‘It’d be a hell of a lot better if I didn’t have to wear this stupid outfit. I can’t wait to sit down, rip off the tie and jacket and roll up the dang sleeves.’

  Walking into the cafe, Samantha’s breath hitched in her throat. ‘It’s...beautiful.’

  Three tables, each with ten or more chairs, formed a semicircle in front of a smaller table, which held a candelabrum, alive with the flame of twelve candles. Fairy lights dipped low above every table, while soft music, along with the aroma of roast beef, filled the atmosphere.

  ‘It smells divine.’

  A few of her mother’s friends were already gathering at the back of the cafe and Samantha gathered they had parked their cars out back.

  Cameron pulled out a chair for Samantha and she set a black clutch purse on the seat.

  ‘Thanks. I want to go and say hello to everyone. It’d be good also if one of you boys welcome the guests as they arrive.’

  ‘I’m onto it,’ Steven said, already heading back toward the entrance door.

  While Brad and Cameron chatted, she greeted some of her mother’s friends.

  ‘Hi Samantha. Your mother would love this, God bless her soul.’

  ‘Thanks Helen. She would, wouldn’t she?’

  ‘I can scarcely believe it’s been six years. It only seems like yesterday that I saw her friendly smiling face. She was a godsend to this town. We all miss her.’

  ‘Yes…we do.’

  As the small room filled, most of the talk was about the drought and how much of a struggle it’d become for people in the area. Samantha chatted to the guests, pleased by the growing crowd.

  ‘I miss your mum. She was like a sister.’ Betty shook her head. ‘How are you going with your brothers? They look on the wild side tonight.’

  ‘I think they have some type of game going on, perhaps a bet. You know, with the not shaving business. Even Brad Harper hasn’t shaved.’

  ‘Brad Harper. You mean to say he’s back in town?’ Betty stood on tiptoes looking around the cafe.

  ‘Yes... he’s staying at his late mother’s property. Apparently, he works from there now.’

  ‘You know the talk about his father. I’d watch that one if I were you. If he’s like his father well...’ She leaned closer. ‘I wouldn’t like to see you get mixed up with someone like him. Your mother wouldn’t either…if she were alive.’

  Samantha’s stomach rolled with dread. She knew there was more to Brad but it was much too late. She’d fallen for him months ago. She said, ‘Thanks for the heads up, Betty. But I think my brothers would let me know if he wasn’t a good person.’

  ‘I’m sure they would sweetie.’

  ‘I’ll talk to you later. I’d like to chat to a few more people before dinner.’

  Betty waved a hand in the air. ‘Oh, get to it. Folk love to see you out and about.’

  Samantha dashed to the side of the cafe looking for the owners, Margaret and James.

  She stopped midway when she spotted an elderly couple snuggling together in a corner. If her mind remembered correctly her parents had them out to the property for lunch one Sunday. The man held her hand and she smiled up into his face with such love and conviction Samantha wondered where her life was heading. A touch of nostalgia wound through her before she managed to redirect her gaze and continue toward the back of the cafe.

  ‘Margaret. There you are. Can I have a word?’

  Margaret wiped her hands on a towel, set it aside and walked up along the counter.

  ‘Hi Sam. Do you like what we’ve done with the place?’

  ‘I absolutely love it. Thank you for going to so much trouble.’

  ‘It’s been no trouble at all. James and I are thinking of opening the cafe as a restaurant on a Saturday night. I know people are finding it tough, but it’s a way for the community to come together. We’re discussed ten dollar meals. Make it less expensive.’

  ‘That sounds wonderful. I’d like to pay for tonight...for everyone’s meals.’

  Margaret put a hand to her mouth. ‘Really. Have you checked with Cameron about this?’

  ‘No... but I have some money that is separate to the family’s money. I’d like to treat everyone.’

  ‘It does sound lovely but the meals have been paid.’

  Samantha frowned. ‘What? By who?’ She looked around, checked that no one was within close range.

  ‘The cash was left here in an envelope not long ago. It had a note saying an anonymous friend. I’m not one to argue with a Good Samaritan.’

  ‘Oh, okay then. As long as you’re sure.’

  ‘All paid, except for the drinks.’

  Samantha nodded. ‘Okay. Thanks. I should get back to it.’ She had an idea that Brad might have paid for the meals.

  ‘It’ll be five minutes until we begin serving.’

  ‘Thanks Marg.’

  Samantha made her way toward the table in the centre, stopping to chat with several people until she arrived beside the chair where she’d left her purse. She glanced about. It was the only spare chair at their table, and although two vacant chairs were on the table to her right, it was proper to sit with her brothers. She leaned in and picked up her purse before sitting.

  ‘Good to see you could make it.’

  ‘I was chatting with the guests. Marg said five minutes until they serve dinner.’

  ‘I should get to it then.’ Cameron stood. His towering height of six foot one had most of the eligible single females in the room sighing. Samantha imagined his good looks added to their murmurs, and breathless sighs espe
cially emitting from the Brown sisters on a table nearby.

  Cameron eased his way toward the front of the crowd, and slipped his hand inside his jacket pocket, but hesitated and looked up. The background music softened.

  ‘Hello everyone. Thank you for coming.’ He waited a few moments until the guests quietened.

  ‘We all know why we are here.’ His commanding tone hushed the few mumbles, and dampened the whispers coming from the Brown sisters.

  ‘As you are aware Mum and Dad were taken six years ago today. Bailey’s crossing at Dingo Creek is a notorious black spot and although Dad was a good driver, the truck couldn’t stop, couldn’t prevent such tragic deaths. Tonight is in memory of my...our parents, Samantha, Steven and Christopher’s mother and father who were taken far too young, and who always looked out for their kids.

  ‘I’d like you to raise your glasses to two well-loved people, people this community loved and respected. To Mum and Dad, may you rest in peace, always. We’re doing as best as we can, considering without you two, life has changed dramatically.’ He raised his glass. ‘To the life of Christine and Jack Osborne.’

  The guests stood and raised their glasses. ‘To the life of Christine and Jack.’

  Samantha tried to blink her tears aside, willed them to remain put, knowing Brad’s gaze lingered for far too long. He lifted his hand, moved it under the table and patted the top of her palm before he leaned over and whispered, ‘It’s okay to cry. I still shed a few tears about Mum at times.’

  She sniffled, nodded, but kept her gaze ahead over Cameron. Brad’s touch had feathered her hand and sent warm ripples up her arm.

  When Cameron returned, Brad withdrew his hand and she let out a sigh only to pick up the glass of wine and scull its contents.

  ‘Hey Sam. What’s up?’

  ‘Nothing...nothing Cam. I’m just thirsty.’

  He reached out and picked up a pitcher of water, pouring her a glass. ‘I think that’ll quench your thirst better than the wine.’ He grinned, and plonked himself down on the chair beside her.

  ‘Water, mate?’ Cameron leaned forward to look at Brad.

  ‘I’m right thanks.’

  ‘That was a nice speech Cam.’

  ‘Thanks, sis.’

  The wine hadn’t dampened the burn inside, so Samantha picked up the glass of water and sculled its contents as well. She sensed that Cameron was aware of her situation. He smirked again, and she whacked him on the thigh under the table, only to prompt another widening grin.

  ‘Stop it,’ she ordered under her breath.

  ‘Could it be you’re attracted to a certain someone?’

  ‘No it couldn’t. I was upset by what you said, about Mum and Dad. God I miss them Cam.’

  ‘I know you do, we all do. Pity you didn’t have a sister. It might have made things a bit easier for you.’

  ‘I’ll have three sisters-in-law when my brothers marry.’

  ‘That’ll be the day.’

  ‘I thought you’d get back with Anna. She was lovely.’

  His disposition changed and sadness shadowed his eyes, or was it regret?

  ‘She’s still single you know.’

  ‘Yeah. I know. I spoke to her on the phone the other night.’

  ‘You did?’

  ‘Yeah. I might go and have lunch with her sometime. See where that takes us.’

  ‘Why didn’t you invite her here tonight?’

  ‘I did, but she’s up in Tamworth with her folks visiting relations.’

  Samantha nodded. So there was a chance that she’d have a sister in law one day. But it wasn’t one she hoped for, it was three.

  ‘The eldest Brown girl is making eyes at you. What’s her name again?’

  ‘It’s Shelly.’

  ‘She’s got the hots for you.’

  ‘If that’s the case you’ve got the hots for the guy sitting to your right.’

  Brad was speaking to Steven when she discreetly turned to glance at him. She looked back at Cameron.

  ‘No, I haven’t Cam. I may have a while back but not anymore.’ She lied.

  ‘What happened between the two of you?’

  ‘He broke a promise and I’ll never forgive him for that.’

  ‘Did he tell you why he didn’t keep this so-called promise?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And.’

  ‘He promised to call me and he didn’t. His phone was destroyed in an accident and I didn’t give him my last name, or tell him where I lived.’

  ‘Well what’s the guy supposed to do? Why didn’t you give him your details?’

  ‘I don’t give out personal information so readily. I’d only just met him.’

  ‘He had no way of contacting you. That’s pretty clear.’

  ‘I know. He couldn’t.’

  ‘So he didn’t break his promise did he?’

  Samantha shrugged and glanced in Brad’s direction to ensure he couldn’t hear their conversation.

  ‘I don’t think Shelly is the girl for me.’

  She looked back. ‘Anna was the right one.’

  ‘Yeah. That I know. I made a huge mistake.’

  ‘We all make mistakes Cam. Okay then, what about Tracey?’

  ‘She’s got a kid.’

  ‘Yeah, but she’s about your age and she’s down to earth and a nice person.’

  ‘Come off it Sam. Tracey is a friend.’

  ‘So.’

  She was about to tell Cameron that Tracey had eyes for him, but decided against it. Surely he knew how much she was over the moon when he was close by, that he witnessed how her big eyes brightened whenever they spoke. All the single girls seemed to have eyes for Cameron.

  ‘Oh wow. It’s lovely. Thank you,’ Samantha said when a waitress began delivering meals to their table. ‘It looks yummy.’

  A hum of chatter filled the cafe, backdropped by soft country music. It appeared everyone was enjoying their meals, and Samantha beamed quietly inside, pleased by the outcome. After eating a piece of lemon meringue pie for dessert, she excused herself from the table, needing to visit the restroom.

  Upon returning, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Cameron, Steven and Brad sat at the front of the crowd. Shelly was shaving Cameron’s moustache and beard. Then she realised what had been going on. Movember. It was late November and they grew their fuzz to raise funds and awareness for men’s health.

  People dropped gold coins into a jar on the table beside Cameron. She heard someone call, ‘We thought you all were turning feral. Never thought about your cause.’

  ‘Very thoughtful,’ someone else called.

  Shelly moved on to shave Steven’s face.

  It touched Samantha knowing that her brothers were so considerate. She made her way around the tables and dropped a gold coin into the jar. Turning, she stood beside Cameron.

  ‘You could have told me what you were up to,’ she whispered.

  ‘We wanted to surprise you.’

  ‘It worked. I had no idea. It’s a kind gesture Cam.’

  ‘Brad’s idea. He said he does it every year to support the Movember Foundation.’

  ‘Oh...I thought it was about growing a moustache.’

  ‘Yeah it is, but we went the full hog for fun.’

  Samantha digested his words and noticed that he looked handsome after the shave. She wandered back to her table, and not long after Cameron followed. Brad was the last one to return to the table with a freshly shaven face.

  ‘Everyone looks half decent now,’ she chided, admiring the men in her life.

  Cameron rubbed his chin and grinned.

  Samantha’s legs grew restless and she stood to mingle. As she spoke to the guests, she ran a sweeping gaze over the crowd, and hesitated on her table. She drew in a sharp breath. The Brown girls were in action. Shelly was sitting in the seat she previously occupied, and the younger Brown girl was drooling over Christopher, while the middle sister appeared she was about to have sex with Brad right there on the chair. He
r legs dangled around him as she sat on his lap.

  Samantha’s insides melted, fumed, melted. She clenched her fists, and unclenched them. What; jealously? Surely not. She couldn’t be jealous; he wasn’t a boyfriend or even a lover. He was a friend of her brothers, someone who was installing an irrigation system at Raven Falls, and at a cost. Nothing more, but her heart insisted on a few unpredictable beats.

  Edging closer toward the bar, the thought of ordering a port came to mind, but she decided to stick to wine. She’d had enough of feeling nauseous without self-inflicting a cocktail of drinks.

  Brad was about to stand when she returned to the table.

  ‘I’m right. I’ll grab my purse and sit at the next table. Have a chat with some more guests.’

  She leaned in, picked up her purse, and met the sultry blue-eyed gaze of Amy Brown. ‘Hi Amy.’

  ‘Samantha. Nice meal tonight.’

  ‘Yes it was. How’s things?’ Samantha straightened, clutching the stem of her wine glass.

  ‘Really good. You?’

  ‘Couldn’t be better.’ Samantha didn’t mean her words to sound so sharp. She made her way to a vacant seat farthest away, praying her face wasn’t highlighting the result of the embarrassment hurtling through her system, or the pendulum of her heart throwing her a little off balance.

  The feel of the seat underneath didn’t help ease the discomfort she was experiencing. She crossed one leg over the other, sat the wine glass down and shuffled in her seat. Placing her elbows on the table, she propped her chin with her right hand. It wasn’t long until she gave up that exercise and she picked up the glass of wine, swirled its contents and took a sip.

  Why couldn’t she fathom that he wasn’t interested in her? Why? Her mother once told her you can’t help falling for a certain person. When you do, you’ll know he’s the one. She’d fallen hard, but it was apparent he wasn’t ‘the one’. She concentrated on a fancy vase containing a bunch of wild daises, sitting in the centre of the table. She was better off pushing her feelings aside, if that were possible, and getting on with life.

  Surprise washed over her when, under lowered lashes, she noticed Brad walking toward the small table at the front of the crowd.

  Cameron tapped a glass with a spoon. ‘Can everyone find their seats? Brad has something he wants to say.’