The McCalister Legacy

by Nicole Hurley-Moore

  ‘Hey.’

  She turned to see Nate striding towards her from up the hill. Damn it, she swore that her heart did a weird little tremble.

  ‘Hey yourself. What brings you here?’ she said with a grin.

  He smiled in return, one of those ones that can melt a target at twenty paces.

  Berry drew in a deep breath.

  ‘Well, I’ve been busy at the farm for the past few days and I wanted to make sure that you were okay.’

  Berry gave a shrug. ‘I’m fine. How about you?’

  ‘Not bad,’ he said. He glanced around the orchard. ‘It’s a pretty spot.’

  ‘Yes, yes it is,’ Berry replied. ‘The orchard was planted about sixteen years ago. I remember as a little kid helping plant one of the trees over there with my mum.’ She tilted her chin in the direction of a row of trees to her right.

  She prattled on about finding the map of the orchard’s layout in the box of her father’s papers, all the time trying to ignore the fact that Nate was standing only two steps away from her. His proximity was making it hard for her to concentrate.

  ‘Do you always do that when you’re nervous?’

  Berry glanced up at him. ‘Do what?’

  ‘You talk faster,’ he asked.

  ‘No, I don’t,’ Berry said quickly before adding with laugh. ‘Well, maybe I do.’

  He looked down at her with a hint of a smile. ‘Do I make you nervous?’

  ‘Oh, don’t be ridiculous. Listen, I should get back to the house,’ Berry said as she went to take a step away.

  ‘Stay … please.’

  She halted in her tracks and turned to look at him. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because there’s something between us. I can feel it—can you?’ Nate spoke softly with an open, earnest look on his face.

  ‘I don’t know what you mean … I …’

  ‘Yes, you do.’

  The heat rose in her cheeks. Half of her wanted to stay and the other half run away as fast as possible.

  ‘I like you, Berry, and I’m fairly sure you feel the same way,’ he said.

  Berry was trying her best to avoid his gaze, knowing she could almost drown in those eyes. ‘Um, maybe we shouldn’t complicate things. I mean, I don’t even know how long I’ll be here,’ Berry said with a shrug and a half-apologetic smile. ‘It’s probably wiser if we leave things as they are.’

  Nate smiled gently. ‘That aside, you feel the same way I do?’

  Berry raised her head and looked back at him. ‘Yes … but as I said I’d better go back to the house.’

  She had walked about three steps past Nate when he reached out and gently grabbed her wrist. The warmth of his fingers seemed to burn into her flesh. One moment melted into another as they stood in the flowering orchard.

  ‘Stay,’ he repeated softly. ‘Please.’

  They were the same words he had said minutes before, but this time they carried a longing she hadn’t heard before in his voice. She could have easily pulled her hand away and kept walking but she didn’t—she couldn’t.

  Nate tugged her wrist and she spun around into his waiting arms. He drew her closer and searched her face, giving her one last chance to break away. But in that moment, there was nowhere else Berry wanted to be.

  Slowly he inched closer until his lips touched hers.

  Their first kiss was slow and hesitant, as if Nate were giving them both a chance to stop. But after so many weeks of tiptoeing around each other, that was the last thing on Berry’s mind. Her arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him closer to her, close enough for her to feel the firm planes of his body.

  Nate’s hand trailed up her back and cradled the nape of her neck as the kiss deepened. Berry was acutely aware of the sensation of being both on the brink of jeopardy and utterly safe as he held her in his arms. The pressure of his lips and the scent of his watery aftershave spun her into a seductive trance that she hoped wouldn’t end. She ran her hand up his arm, to his hard bicep and then over his shoulder. As the heat began to unfurl within her, the knowledge that she wanted him, that she needed him, hit her. Perhaps it was the whole delayed pleasure thing but all Berry knew was that she wanted more.

  The tip of her tongue ran across Nate’s lip and caused something that sounded like a soft growl from the back of his throat. He lifted her up and Berry instinctively wound her legs around him as they continued to kiss. She wasn’t sure where he intended to take her but at that moment she didn’t give a damn.

  They clung together as a breeze danced through the orchard, taking handfuls of blossoms as it went. The petals in the wind may have been a pretty sight, but all Berry was aware of was Nate. It was a perfect moment and one she intended to treasure—but all good things come to an end, especially when you don’t want them to. Unfortunately, Berry could vaguely make out a voice in the distance calling her name. At first she did her best to ignore it, but the voice was persistent and appeared to be getting closer.

  A sigh escaped her mouth as she and Nate broke apart and he lowered her to the ground. He gave her a wink and they stood side by side as someone entered the orchard.

  ‘Miss McCalister! Oh, there you are. I tried at the house but I thought I’d look around. I didn’t want to miss you.’

  Berry let out a groan and screwed up her face as she glanced at Nate. ‘Well, that’s all we need,’ she muttered. ‘Laurie Worth. Worst timing ever.’

  ‘Yep, I never liked that guy,’ Nate whispered back as he reached over and smoothed out a lock of her hair.

  It was a small gesture but it made her smile. The feeling was short lived, though, as Laurie Worth hurried up to her.

  ‘Miss McCalister, I really need to have a word with you,’ he said as he looked pointedly at Nate. ‘In private.’

  Berry shook her head. ‘No, we’re right. What do you want, Mr Worth?’

  ‘Well, I have a business proposition for you. I really think it’s best if we talk alone,’ he said quickly.

  ‘Like I said, we’re right,’ Berry answered as she squared her shoulders and stood her ground. ‘Whatever you’ve got to say, you can say it in front of Nate.’

  He was silent for a second before giving Nate another look that couldn’t be called pleasant on any level. ‘Oh, I see how it is.’

  ‘I’m not sure what you’re implying, but did you have something to say to me or not?’ Berry said.

  ‘I want to renew my offer for Stone Gully Farm. I know that you said you’re not selling, but I’ve generally found that everything has a price—I’m sure this won’t be the exception.’

  Berry gave Nate a sideways glance before continuing. ‘I promise you that we’ve made our minds up. There’s no way we’re selling at present. I’m sorry you wasted your time coming all the way out here.’

  ‘I don’t think you understand. I’m willing to give you a substantial price for the property,’ Worth said. ‘You won’t get a better offer.’

  Berry took a deep breath. ‘No, I don’t think that you’re listening to me. My family and I have decided not to sell, and that’s the end of it. You badgering me won’t change my answer.’

  Worth appeared taken aback for a moment but he recovered quickly. ‘Right—I’m stupid, I should have seen this coming. It just goes to prove that sometimes you really should believe the rumours.’

  ‘Mr Worth, I have no idea what you’re talking about,’ Berry said as she took Nate’s hand and started walking away. ‘Please excuse us, we have work to do.’

  ‘Just so you know—at least I was up-front about wanting to buy this place and give you a fair price. Whereas he—’ Worth said as he pointed to Nate ‘—he’s just trying to romance the place from under you.’

  Berry stared at him coldly. ‘I think you’d better leave—we’re done here.’

  Chapter Twenty-six

  In the Gully, 1906

  Neddy tumbled down the steep side of the gully, the sharp rocks and brambles scratching and pulling at him as he hurtled past. He rolled and skid
ded all the way to the bottom and landed with a bump.

  For a moment he lay there, staring up at the blue sky—his heart pounded and he wasn’t even sure if he could move. The tears welled in his eyes as he tried to sit up; everything seemed to hurt. Looking down he saw that his pant leg was torn and a big red scratch arced up his shin. He hands were filled with dozens of tiny cuts and nicks where he’d tried to grab on to anything as he fell.

  Hot tears splashed down his cheeks. He wrapped his hands around his legs, and rested his head on his knees as he cried. Slowly the tears began to subside but the feeling of wanting his mam’s arms around him didn’t. The warm breeze blew over him, ruffling his hair as it passed.

  Neddy looked up and wiped the tears away with the back of his hand. The gully was narrow with tall sides running along its length, the ground was dry and rocky with only a few straggling plants trying to cling to life. A ribbon-thin trickle of water splashed its way through the almost dry creek bed. In winter the creek would have gushed its way through the gully, probably all the way up to where Neddy was sitting, but this was summer and the fact that there was still water was a miracle in itself.

  At the end of the gully was a clump of wattle trees, and on the other side of the creek a series of rocks that stood higher than Neddy’s father against the far gully wall. Not far from Neddy was a tangled bush of blackberries. Another puff of wind blew against him and he could smell the sweet scent of the sun-ripe fruit.

  He glanced at a fragile everlasting daisy, which seemed to be growing against the odds in such a hard place. He reached out and touched its pink petals but left it alone. Normally he would have picked the flower and given it to his mam because she always said that they were her favourite. But this time he left the little daisy; his mam wasn’t here but somehow it made him feel that maybe she wasn’t that far away.

  Neddy slowly stood up. The scratches were still stinging a bit, but other than that he was fairly certain that he was all right. He scanned the gully and wondered just how hard it was going to be to get out of it. As he turned around he spied his friend the rabbit not far away.

  ‘Did you fall down too, Peter?’ Neddy asked as he walked towards the rabbit. He expected it to hop away like it had done for most of the afternoon, but this time the animal stayed put. Encouraged, Neddy slowly edged his way closer.

  ‘It’s all right, I won’t hurt you,’ he said quietly. ‘I promise.’

  The rabbit went to hop but it was clear that one of its legs was hurt and made it impossible for the animal to scurry away.

  Neddy scooped the rabbit up in his arms. It struggled for a moment but then settled down.

  ‘I’ll look after you. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be scared,’ he cooed as he patted it gently. ‘We’ll be fine, I promise.’ Neddy said the words but maybe they were more for him than the rabbit. The sun was dipping and the shadows were beginning to lengthen. All he wanted was to be home and show Mam his new friend—and hoped that she’d let him keep it. But the night was coming and he wasn’t sure which way was home. Staying here by himself was scary but walking around in the bush at night might be even worse.

  He patted the rabbit. ‘Well, Peter, what should we do?’

  Neddy walked over to the trickle of water, there were a few little clumps of long grass. He picked a couple of blades and held them up to the rabbit, which nibbled on the end of one.

  Neddy smiled. Even if they stayed here tonight, at least he wasn’t alone.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Berry hadn’t visited The Queen’s Arms in weeks but she felt like a local when she walked in and was greeted by name.

  ‘How’s the reno going, Berry?’ the owner asked. ‘House all sorted yet?’

  She gave him a smile. ‘Yes, thanks. It’s all coming together nicely.’

  ‘That’s great. Now, what can I get you?’

  ‘Um, can I just have a lemon squash … oh, and a chicken parma?’

  ‘You got it,’ he said.

  But before he could turn away Berry asked, ‘Is Young Ned here tonight?’

  ‘Sure—he’s sprawling on his favourite chair. If you want to talk, you probably should do it before he gets through that pint he’s cradling.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Berry said as she gave him the money. ‘I’ll just be over there.’

  She walked over to the end of the bar and found Young Ned sitting on a stool with his back against the wall.

  ‘Hello, do you remember me? I’m Berry McCalister.’

  Young Ned stared at her for a moment but then the recognition sparked in his eyes.

  ‘Of course I do, girly,’ he said as he pulled out the vacant bar stool with one hand. ‘Sit down. Can I get you a drink?’

  ‘Thanks, but I’ve already got one coming,’ she said as she sat down.

  ‘Good-oh. Now, what can I do for you?’ the old man asked.

  ‘Well, actually I was hoping you could tell me the story of your ancestor finding the gold,’ Berry said. ‘You’ve told me before but I’d like to hear it again if that’s okay?’

  Young Ned grinned. ‘You got a case of gold fever, do you?’

  Berry shook her head. ‘No, it’s not really that. I found a box of my father’s papers. A lot of it was to do with your story.’

  He gave her a sympathetic look. ‘It was a bad business. I’m sorry that it happened to you. I have to say that your dad was one of the best people I knew. I reckon I could think on what happened for a hundred years and still not be able to work out why Jordy did what he did.’ Young Ned took a mouthful of his beer. ‘It was right out of character. The man would have done anything for your mum. Never seen a bloke so whipped before.’

  Berry took a deep breath. This wasn’t what she wanted or needed to hear. Thankfully, the barman arrived with her lemon squash and that stole Young Ned’s attention for a second.

  He wiggled his half-full glass in front of the barman. ‘Can I get another one of these?’

  ‘Only if you promise to eat something. You know what you get like if you drink and don’t eat.’

  Young Ned gave the barman a scowl before he finally nodded in agreement. ‘Oh, all right, might as well if you’re going to harp on about it.’

  ‘Nah, I don’t harp—I’d just tell your dad next time I see him,’ the barman said as he gave Berry a wink.

  Berry bit back a smile. The whole thing was ridiculous—the barman was threatening to dob a seventy-odd year old man in to his father.

  Young Ned wrinkled his nose. ‘Oh, bloody hell—fine, give me a steak sandwich.’

  ‘A good choice,’ the barman said with a laugh as he walked away.

  ‘He’s always so pushy. I don’t know why I bother coming in here every night,’ Young Ned said. ‘So, you want to know about the gold, do ya?’

  Berry smiled. ‘Yes, I do.’

  Ned looked at her for a second. ‘Well, the first thing you’d better know is that most of the people who live here don’t believe in it. They think it’s just an old story made up by a little kid. Added to that, there’s been people snooping around for decades looking for the gold seam but no one has found it yet. And, lastly, you’re not the first one from your family to ask me about this stuff.’

  Berry’s eyes widened. ‘What?’

  ‘Your father asked me a whole lot of questions all those years ago. In fact he’d pester me for any little detail that would help him build a better picture. I was never sure what he was doing but after a while I started to think that maybe he was on to something.’

  ‘On to something? You mean like he’d found a clue to where the gold was?’ Berry asked excitedly.

  ‘Well, I’m not saying that as a fact—it was just a feeling I got. You see, he already knew the legend, just wanted other details about the family. I told him everything I could, but you have to realise that the story was my great-grandad’s to tell, not mine.’

  Berry took a sip of her lemon squash as she tried to process the information. ‘So, what you’re saying is
that you’re not sure about what happened?’

  Ned gave her a smile. ‘I know that Little Neddy found the gold, if that’s what you’re asking. But the story was handed down through the family. Some details were embellished, some were added, and sometimes things are forgotten altogether.’

  ‘Okay, so what makes you think the gold exists?’

  Ned held up a finger. ‘One, it’s the family legend. We know for a fact that Little Ned went missing. It was documented in the local newspapers of the time.’

  ‘Okay, sure, that works,’ Berry said.

  Ned held out two fingers. ‘Two, the family never wavered in their belief in his story. And three,’ he said as he held up a third finger, ‘there was proof.’

  ‘Proof? Really?’ Berry said.

  ‘I say it’s proof—others say that it was just a coincidence,’ Ned answered. ‘Not long after Little Neddy was found, the Doherty farm got a few upgrades.’

  ‘Such as?’ Berry asked with a frown.

  ‘Another couple of rooms were added to the house and a big verandah wrapped around the entire thing. My great-great-grandad stopped working as a carpenter and started building up the farm. All of a sudden they purchased another three acres and bought some sheep. But you have to understand just how poor they were before Neddy’s disappearance. So my question is, if he didn’t bring home some gold, where did the money come from?’

  ‘That’s intriguing. Have you looked into where else the money might have originated?’

  ‘I’ve tried but I couldn’t find anything. At first I thought that maybe my great-great-grandad had been working on a big project and got paid in a lump sum, but I haven’t found any evidence of that. He had a few jobs around the same time—he fixed a roof, built a new counter for the general store and a cupboard for a local woman—but not enough to buy the extra land,’ Ned explained.

  ‘So, you think Little Neddy found some gold and brought it back home with him?’ Berry asked.

  ‘Well, I don’t see how to explain it otherwise.’