The Legacies of Brigadier Station

by Sarah Williams

  “He remembers Birdsville.”

  “Huh? What?” Paige asked.

  “We did sleep together, and Lachie remembers doing it.”

  “Are you sure he’s telling the truth?”

  “No, he’s not lying. He remembers my birthmark. It’s on my rib and not something I show or tell people about. He remembered its shape and exact location.”

  “Oh.” Paige exhaled thoughtfully.

  “He asked when Hannah’s birthday is.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “Nothing. He confronted me at work, and I told him to leave me alone.” Abbie slumped onto the couch and curled her legs under her.

  “Maybe you should come clean. You said so yourself—he’s a changed man, and maybe having Hannah in his life will keep him sober and responsible.”

  “Do you think so?” A spark of hope flickered to life.

  “He’s never been responsible for another person’s happiness before. Sure, he’s had the property but that’s not the same. These country men take family values pretty seriously.”

  “I guess he deserves to know. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  “I think you need to lay it out. Give him the chance to walk away or be involved.”

  Abbie nodded, grateful she had asked her friend’s advice.

  “But you have to make this all about Hannah, which means you and him can’t get involved. No matter what,” Paige said.

  “You’re right,” Abbie said resolutely. It was all about her daughter’s happiness and what was best for Hannah.

  She just hoped that Lachie would see it that way too.

  Chapter 15

  Abbie’s heart thumped in her chest when she pulled up in front of Lachie’s house the next day. She knew what she wanted to say and only hoped he would take the news well. Wings whooshed overhead as a group of cockatoos landed in the old eucalyptus tree.

  Harriet waved from the kitchen window as Abbie approached the screen door.

  “Hello. I wasn’t expecting to see you today.” The older woman said as she wiped her hands on her apron. The strong, homely smell of meat roasting warmed the air.

  “I need to talk to Lachie. Is he around?” Abbie asked.

  “He’s repairing the chicken coup. A snake got in last night and ate one.”

  Abbie shivered. If there was one thing she hated it was snakes. Fortunately, living in town, she hadn’t seen any yet.

  “Just follow that path and you’ll find him.” Harriet pointed.

  Abbie squared her shoulders and started toward the coup. It didn’t take long before she heard the thud of a hammer.

  She paused for a moment and took in the sight of him nailing the chicken wire into a wooden post. He wore a navy singlet and his muscled arms gleamed with sweat. Dark patches stained his back. He was wearing a brown Akubra and dark sunglasses, so when he turned to her she couldn’t see if he was shocked by her appearance on not.

  “Hi Lachie.”

  He dropped the hammer and straightened, turning his body toward her. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have confronted you at work.”

  She shrugged. “I didn’t give you much of a choice. I’ve been avoiding you.”

  “Yeah, I figured that much,” he said. “Why?”

  “Hannah was born on June the fourth.” She let the words sink in.

  “So Birdsville …”

  Abbie wrung her hands together. “I went to Birdsville to blow off some steam. I just wanted to be young and carefree for a change. I got plastered though and don’t remember anything. A few weeks later, I found out I was pregnant and didn’t have the first clue who the father was.”

  Lachie pulled off his sunglasses and tossed them on the ground before stepping toward her. “I remember us being together. I think I might be Hannah’s father.”

  Anxiety had a way of stealing her words and her confidence when she least expected it. She forced herself to take two deep breaths before telling him the news that would upend his world. “As soon as you said you’d been to the same races, I started to wonder about that. Then I stole some hair from your brush so I could get a paternity test done.”

  “That’s why you were in my room that day and acting so strange?” He raised his brows at her.

  She nodded sheepishly. “I didn’t want to worry you with my suspicions, especially if it turned out I was wrong.”

  He placed his finger under her chin so he could look straight in her eye. “What did the results say?”

  She swallowed but her mouth was dry. “The results said that you are her father. Without a doubt.”

  When he remained silent, she continued talking. “I don’t need anything. We’re doing just fine.”

  He put a finger against her lips to silence her. “Without a doubt.”

  She had prepared herself for a variety of reactions, horror and disinterest being the main two. But he was anything but. His grin stretched from ear to ear as he bounced from leg to leg, punching the air, as if giddy with excitement.

  Abbie couldn’t help but giggle at him. “So, I take it you’re alright with this?”

  “Alright?” He turned to her, all seriousness now. “I never thought I wanted to be a dad as much as I have the last few days when I thought I might be. This is the best news I have ever had in my entire life.” He put his hands on top of her shoulders. “Hannah is mine. Ours. We really are family now.”

  “Yes, but listen to me, Lachie.” She turned on her no-nonsense tone. “Hannah is everything to me. My whole life. If you want to be involved, you have to put her first too.”

  He nodded in reply.

  “There have to be rules and boundaries. We have to make a plan.”

  “Okay. Yes, I understand.” He moved closer as though to kiss her then, and she pulled back abruptly.

  “That means that nothing can happen between us. We’re parents not lovers.”

  His jaw tightened. “Why can’t we be both? Why do you presume that us being together isn’t the best thing for Hannah?”

  She wanted to believe that. She wanted to have the happy old-fashioned, traditional family. “I’m sure Hannah would love that, but if we broke up, she would be caught in the middle of it.” She shook her head. “No. Parents only, nothing more.” She extended her hand. “Deal?”

  He studied her for a moment before slipping his hand in hers. “Fine. Now can we tell Mum? She’ll be so excited.”

  Lachie couldn’t wipe the grin off his face as he and Abbie walked up the path to the house. This really was the best day of his life.

  He was a dad.

  Hannah Forsyth was his daughter.

  He was the luckiest man in the world.

  “What was she like as a baby?” He wanted to know everything. “How old was she when she started to walk? What was her first word?”

  Abbie smiled back as only a proud mother could. “She was pretty good. I mean, she didn’t sleep through the night until she was eight months old and I put her on formula.”

  His heart clenched. He had missed those late-night feedings, nappy changes, and watching his daughter grow from a baby into the little girl she was now. He had missed six years.

  Six years he hadn’t known she even existed.

  “Her first word was Dadda,” Abbie said tightly. “She said it to my father. I wasn’t there for it.”

  Lachie stopped walking as his heart clenched. He should have been there. Hannah should have been calling him Dadda. “She called Adam Dadda?”

  Abbie nodded. “I moved back in with them when I found out I was pregnant. My dad was the only man in her life for a long time.”

  Lachie liked and respected Adam Forsyth. He seemed a smart, sensible man and, unlike Lachie’s own father, had a strong sense of family and commitment to putting their needs first.

  Daniel McGuire had been an abusive drunk, and Lachie was glad he wouldn’t be a part of his daughter’s life.

  Lachie held the door open for Abbie to enter the house in
front of him, then they sat Harriet down for the news. She eyed them both with a furrowed brow. Harriet had always been a perceptive woman, she may have guessed already.

  “It turns out Abbie and I met at the Birdsville Races seven years ago,” Lachie said, trying to avoid all the details he was sure his mother didn’t really want to know.

  “We’d both forgotten until recently,” Abbie added.

  Harriet nodded encouragingly.

  Lachie threw caution to the wind and blurted out his news. “It turns out Hannah is actually my daughter.”

  Harriet’s eyes widened in surprise. Nope, she hadn’t seen this coming. “Your daughter Hannah?” She pointed at Abbie. “Is yours?” She turned to Lachie. “Which makes her my …”

  “Your granddaughter.” Abbie placed her hand on Harriet’s and smiled kindly.

  Harriet put her other hand to her heart. “That’s incredible. I’m so happy.”

  The three exchanged hugs and congratulations. Lachie felt his heart bubble over with contentment.

  Right now, life was good. He was happy, even if he couldn’t be with Abbie right now. He had confidence that he would be able to win her over eventually.

  Hannah was his priority and he was resolved to be the best father he could possibly be.

  Lachie followed Abbie back into town so they could tell Hannah together. He used the long drive to call his brothers and share the news. Noah was thrilled with the addition to the family and promised to make up for all the birthdays and Christmases they had missed.

  Darcy put the phone on speaker, and Lachie told both of him and Meghan the news in a flurry of excitement and anticipation.

  “Wow,” Darcy exhaled. “Congratulations.”

  It was a disappointing reaction after Noah’s excitement.

  “I told you you looked alike.” Meghan’s voice was flat, and it surprised him. She always tried to be so positive and upbeat.

  “What’s wrong? Has something happened?” Lachie asked.

  He heard Meghan sob and then her voice got quieter as though she were running away from the phone.

  “Are you there?” Lachie asked.

  “Sorry, Lachie,” Darcy said. “Meghan just had another miscarriage. She’s not doing too well at the moment.”

  “Shit, I’m sorry.” He felt like an asshole. This was probably the worst news she could get right now.

  “It was early, and we’d tried not to get our hopes up. But it still hurts, you know?”

  No, he didn’t know. He’d spent his adult life trying not to impregnate the women he slept with. Now, without meaning to, he had a beautiful healthy daughter while his brother and sister-in-law were going through such a heart-wrenching experience.

  “I guess we thought we’d be the first to give Mum a grandchild. It sounds silly-”

  Lachie cut him off. “No, it doesn’t. You guys are married and in love. Kids were always part of your plan and they still will be. I’m sure of it. What does the doctor say?”

  Darcy sighed into the phone. “To keep trying. We’re going for another round in a few weeks.”

  “Good luck. We’re all here for you.”

  “Thanks and congratulations. Hannah is a great kid, and the offer is there if you want to bring her out here for a ride.”

  Lachie grinned, remembering Hannah’s love of horses and all other farm animals. “She must get her horsemanship from our side of the family.”

  “From her uncles, you mean.”

  They said their goodbyes and Lachie ended the call. Just when his life was going so well, Darcy and Meghan were suffering the loss of another baby. Even if it was early in the pregnancy, he knew it must be a terrible thing to experience.

  He wondered again at the gift he had been given. Abbie had a six-year head start on him. She knew all Hannah’s likes and dislikes and different quirks. She had also had six years of worrying if her daughter was happy and healthy and wondering what kind of a woman she would grow into.

  Lachie had missed six years. He didn’t want to miss another moment.

  “Maybe I should go buy her a toy first?” Lachie said when they pulled up in the driveway.

  “She doesn’t need any more toys, trust me,” Abbie said, leading the way up to the house. It was almost three, and Hannah would be home soon. She would be so surprised to see Lachie here and even more surprised when she found out he was her father.

  Harriet was so lovely and so were Lachie’s brothers and their partners. It was a relief to know that Hannah shared their DNA and would have them in her life. She had sometimes feared the man she had slept with had been someone horrible and manipulative. But Lachie wasn’t like that at all. He was kind to his neighbours and respectful of her wishes.

  Inside the house, Lachie made coffee for them and a chocolate milk for Hannah while Abbie opened a packet of cream biscuits. “Special occasion,” she said when she caught Lachie’s eye.

  When Hannah burst through the door, they were ready for her.

  “Lachie!” She squealed and threw herself into his arms.

  “Hey squirt.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I missed you,” he said and brushed her hair off her face. He studied her as if for the first time. She really did look like him. How had Abbie not realised it the moment she first saw him?

  “Hannah, Lachie made you some chocolate milk.” Abbie handed it to her and watched as she took a gulp.

  “Thank you, Lachie.”

  “You’re welcome.” He kissed Hannah’s forehead, and Abbie swallowed the lump in her throat.

  He turned then and caught her eye. They hadn’t had time to plan what to say. How did you explain something like this to a little kid?

  She chose her words carefully. “Hannah, you know how I always said your father lived a long way away and that was why you never met him?”

  The little girl nodded and looked from one adult to the other.

  “Well, sweetheart, Lachie is your father.”

  Hannah stopped slurping her milk and looked at him for confirmation. “You are?”

  He grinned at her, shiny-eyed. “I am.”

  Hannah slowly stood and handed her cup to her mother before climbing back onto Lachie’s lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. “My Christmas wish came early.”

  “What?” she asked.

  Hannah looked at Abbie. “I already started wishing that Santa would make Lachie my new father.”

  Lachie chuckled and Abbie felt her cheeks warm.

  “Does that mean you two will get married?” she asked Lachie very seriously.

  “No, not right now at least.” He looked at Abbie like he wanted nothing more. It caused Abbie’s heart to race once more with the idea that this was where she truly belonged. Not in the city with the constant hum of activity and people. But at Brigadier Station. In the small outback town where Hannah’s father and their family lived.

  Hannah shrugged. “Can I at least call you Dad?”

  Lachie nodded enthusiastically. “Yes please.”

  “I love you, Dad.”

  “I love you too, squirt.”

  Chapter 16

  Abbie yawned her way through story time that night with Hannah. It had been a big day for all of them, but Hannah was coping with the news well.

  “Will we move to Lachie’s house?” she asked as Abbie snuggled in for a cuddle.

  “What? No.”

  “Why not? I’d like to live there.”

  Abbie’s guts churned. “Because we live here. I go to work here and you go to school here. Things won’t change that much.”

  “But I could do School of the Air like Brooke and Scotty,” she said, referring to two of Paige’s step-children.

  “But I still have to go to work. That would be a long drive for me.”

  Hannah nodded and fell silent for just a moment. “Can I at least have sleepovers out there?”

  “We’ll see.” Abbie stroked her daughter’s hair. She knew she would have to compromis
e on things like sleepovers and holidays, but she didn’t want to worry about that right now.

  Hannah finally had a father, and of course they would want to spend time together. Lachie would be able to teach Hannah things and share experiences with her that Abbie wouldn’t be a part of.

  Abbie wouldn’t be the centre of her daughter’s life anymore. She would have to get used to sharing that role with Lachlan McGuire.

  The control freak in Abbie reared its ugly head. After all, that was the whole reason they had left Brisbane. Her parents had become too involved and too opinionated about how she chose to raise her daughter. It was one thing coming from her parents, but coming from Lachie … she wasn’t sure how she would handle it.

  A lot had changed since Abbie and Hannah had moved to Julia Creek. Gone were the days of high society and housekeepers. Abbie's parents had promised they wouldn't interfere with Abbie's style of parenting, that they would complement it. Abbie should have known better. As soon as she’d moved back into their riverside townhouse in Brisbane, single and with a baby on the way, they had started making arrangements. It had taken five years for the tensions to finally boil over. So when the opportunity came up for Abbie to continue her nursing career in outback Queensland, she had jumped at the chance. Her daughter, always one for adventure, had happily agreed, even though it meant leaving the only home she had ever known and her beloved grandparents.

  But it had turned out alright. Hannah was happy here. She was having a true country childhood where she could run around barefoot, swim in creeks, and go to public school with kids of various upbringings and financial situations. Not that preppy private school her grandmother had enrolled her in.

  “I can’t wait for Father’s Day,” Hannah said, her voice deep with sleep. “This will be the first time we can celebrate it.”

  “Yes it will be,” Abbie whispered into her hair. “And his first too.”

  It had been a long time since Lachie had walked the grounds of the Julia Creek State School. It looked like not too much had changed. It was still a small country school doing the best that it could for its community.