Outback Angel

by Margaret Way

  The main match, the Marsdon Cup final, was played under brilliantly hot cloudless skies. This didn’t appear to deter either players or spectators though the liquid refreshments disappeared at express rate.

  The women, looking cool and glamorous, sat on rattan chairs beneath peppermint-striped and fringed umbrellas, slowly sipping long frosted drinks, locked into general conversation and gossip interspersed with cries of bravo and much clapping. The men who weren’t playing confined themselves to closely following the match and rehashing their days of glory in the saddle. Polo was the game.

  Jake’s team, coming in as the underdogs because they had lost one of their best players, was pulling together strongly. On a hunch Jake had substituted Charlie as the Number 1 front player. Charlie, it had to be admitted, had a bit of a wild streak he hadn’t yet tamed, but he was a crack horseman and suited to the job of keeping well up the pitch, taking forward passes and shooting for goal.

  Both of them, Angelica considered, along with the rest of the female spectators, looked outrageously sexy, the only two golden boys among the dark-haired competitors.

  “Charlie’s not in love with me, is he?” sighed Gillian, who was looking very chic thanks to a smart new outfit and a little help from Angelica with her hair and make-up. “Why did I ever think he was?”

  “Maybe you were in love with love?” Angelica turned lazily to smile at her.

  “He’s handsome, though, isn’t he?”

  “He sure is.” Angel gave a nod of assent. “He’ll be handsomer in a few years.”

  “You’re the one he fancies,” Gillian said, surprising her. “He fancied you right off.”

  “Oh nonsense!” Angel straightened in her rattan chair. “Charlie and I are friendly, that’s all. He’s very good company, also he was a big help to us.” Besides, I’m madly, deeply, wildly in love with your half brother, she omitted to add.

  Gillian shrugged that off. “No. I’m not glamorous enough, or exciting enough for Charlie. I’m the girl next door. You’re more his style. The truth is I’m far more suited to Ty Caswell. Jake’s right.”

  “To really find out, Gilly, you should do what Charlie’s doing. Spread your wings,” Angel suggested.

  “How exactly?” Gillian eyed her.

  “Why not take a job in the city for a while?”

  “They’d sack me,” Gillian said.

  “Why not undertake a course of study? There must be something you’d like to do?”

  “I’m not terribly bright, you know,” Gillian asserted wryly. “Father was always going on about what a fool I was. He told me I took after Mum. Seems odd, doesn’t it, when Jake excelled at everything, academically and on the sports field. All the McCords are clever, influential people. Anyway I don’t have to work. Father left me a lot of money. He did it because he had a low opinion of me no doubt.”

  “It sounds more like he robbed you and your mother of all confidence,” Angel said gently. “We’ll talk about this some more. Your mother told me she’d like the two of you to visit the cities more. Oh, look, Jake’s turned the play back to attack.”

  “That’s why he’s the captain,” Gillian said smugly. “He’s the strongest and best player and he’s trained his ponies to be very agile and responsive. They’re fast and quick-thinking, too. We should win. That will put Ty’s nose out of joint. His team thought they would take it.”

  Jake’s team did win by the narrowest of margins, making for a thrilling, cliffhanger finish. The cup was presented by the wife of one of the biggest property owners in the country—a philanthropist polo devotee—and soon after the grounds cleared as everyone took advantage of the cooling down of late afternoon. The women were all in favour of resting before the expected high jinks of the ball. These functions were known to go right through the night as Outback people extracted every ounce of enjoyment from these legendary weekends.

  Coori homestead was crowded with the guests quarters and staff quarters so full that the neighbouring stations helped out with the accommodation. The homestead was looking magnificent and very festive. The splendid tree was such a talking point. They had all worked hard to make sure everything gleamed, sparkled, shone. The flowers, lavish and beautifully arrange had been flown in, as had seasoned professionals in the hospitality business, with capabilities well known to Angelica. The catering, later described in a glossy magazine as sumptuous, was well in hand.

  The Great Hall looked marvellous thanks to Leah’s loving, whimsical, imaginative efforts, but no way could Angelica get Leah to agree to joining in the social events.

  “Better I don’t,” she told Angelica, not really disappointed. “I’ve had a great time. Though I couldn’t have done it without you, Miss.”

  “Just you wait until others can see what you can do, Leah,” Angelica promised. Prophetically as it turned out.

  Being in charge of the festivities Angelica had little time to sit around, though several times she tried it. Her job was to circulate and see Coori’s guests were being well looked after. With everyone so complimentary, smiles, nods, waves all ’round, Dinah Campbell emerged the odd woman out.

  Dinah let loose her poisonous envy and jealousy the moment she could. It had begun at her first sight of Angelica standing on the homestead verandah, looking like some film star in her prime. But since she had caught sight of Angelica emerging from Jake’s room at dawn, wearing only a man’s navy silk robe, her outrage had reached massive proportions. Who was this woman to push the man she loved from her life? Dinah burned with anger and humiliation at the utter unfairness of it. She had survived Jake’s other affairs. If she put her mind to it she could survive this one equally well.

  At her first opportunity—it wasn’t easy because Miss De Campo was being made welcome everywhere—Dinah yielded completely to the jealous ferment that was in her.

  “Aren’t you a piece of work?” She forcibly steered Angel away from the crowd with a tight grip on her arm.

  “You’re too kind.” Angelica smiled sweetly as people appeared to be watching their every move. “But please do get your hand off my arm. I have a brother with a black belt. He’s shown me a few moves.”

  “God knows you’re big enough,” Dinah sneered. “Why you wear high heels I’ll never know.”

  They were a distance off, standing beneath the shade of a coolibah, before Dinah released Angelica’s arm. “I take it you have a problem?” Angelica eyed the other woman closely, a trifle unnerved by the odd expression in Dinah’s eyes, which had turned a livid green.

  “I do,” Dinah confirmed.

  Angelica looked back at the milling crowd. The match was over. Tea, coffee and drinks were still being served in the big marquee. It had been an afternoon of triumph for Coori station. Now this! She wondered whether Dinah was capable of making a scene. She decided she probably was. For all her disdain and general air of superiority Dinah was short on grace. “I only hope you’re going to tell me because I have many things left to do.” The best part making herself beautiful for Jake.

  Dinah looked at her with great contempt. “Like sleeping with Jake? That’s right. Don’t look away. I saw you sneaking away from his room first thing this morning.”

  Angelica sighed. “I just knew I couldn’t get a clean getaway. Not with you in the house. No wonder you look so jealous.” Though she spoke mildly, she was angered by the thought Dinah had been spying on them. “So tell me, what were you doing up at dawn? And at Jake’s end of the house? Or don’t you need an excuse?”

  “Not me!” Dinah glared at her. “You think I haven’t been there before?” She flashed Angelica a pitying look. “How could you be such a fool? I’ve been Jake’s girl ever since I can remember. Don’t think he’s seriously interested in you. What he sees is earthiness. And availability. You exude vulgar sex. You’re the one who’s been making all the play. Men are permanently unfaithful. Even Jake.”

  Angelica merely stared at her. “Are you saying this happens in your happy family? I’m sorry. My parent
s have had a wonderful thirty-year marriage loving only each other. As for Jake, I’d be shocked to know he was promiscuous.”

  “You know absolutely nothing about Jake,” Dinah hissed. “Ever since you arrived you’ve been working hard to drive him to the limit flaunting that long black hair and your bosom. You’ve bewitched him if you ask me.”

  “What would you have me do?” Angelica mocked, secure in the knowledge she had a beautiful body. “Bind my chest down?”

  “You might be more modest. You’re the kind of woman tailor-made for an affair. Not walking up the aisle. Jake has these affairs from time to time. But he always comes back to me.”

  “I don’t believe that. I can’t,” Angelica answered quietly, feeling the happiness of the day slipping away.

  “No, because you don’t want to,” Dinah said. “He’s dropped all the others. Not me. I’m prepared to hang in there for as long as it takes. As for you! You shared an experience. Fighting the fire together. Jake gave in to lust. That’s all it was. You were just an extra service.”

  “The Bimbo and the Cattle Baron,” Angelica mocked. “Forbidden fruit.”

  “Whatever he does, Jake knows he can come back to me.”

  “Do you realise you could be wasting your life?” Angelica asked almost kindly.

  “I know what I’m about.” Dinah’s green eyes blazed. “Your little flutter will add up to a great big nothing, you’ll see. Try to remember, in a few days’ time you go home. And I’ll be absolutely ecstatic to see you go.”

  “Hang on a moment. I believe the family are hoping to see you go first?”

  “If you’re talking about Stacy and Gillian, they’d better get used to seeing me around. Jake has asked my entire family to the Christmas party, didn’t you know?”

  “So you figure you can hang around until then?”

  “Why not?” Dinah shrugged.

  “At least you’re thick-skinned,” Angelica said. “I wouldn’t be too certain if the real lady of the house doesn’t politely suggest you buzz off. I think she’s had enough of you, but she dislikes unpleasantness.”

  “You mean she’s a real wimp. Everyone thinks so.”

  “You’d better not let Jake hear you say that.”

  “As if I would. I’m not a fool, you know.”

  “That’s a matter of opinion,” Angelica snapped. “I know exactly what I think of you. Now you must excuse me. It’s a shame to waste such a lovely afternoon talking bunkum to you. ’Bye now.”

  Dinah’s response was to turn on her heel, lips drawn back in a single word. “Bitch!”

  It came out quite loudly. Several people turned to stare at her. Some had had a taste of Dinah Campbell’s sharp tongue in the past and it still rankled. Good to see the uppity Miss Campbell blow her cool.

  By ten o’clock the ball was in full swing. The award-winning band, flown in by charter, played joyously. Everyone was exhilarated and on great form, the women dressed in many bright hues resembled a field of multi-coloured sparkling flowers, smiling radiantly at their men. Leah’s billowy cloud ceiling was a great success, the talk of the evening in fact. Guests when they first entered the Great Hall stood in rapt silence to consider it, heads upturned, their expressions filled with pleasure, interest and a measure of surprise. The improvised waterlily lagoon beneath a canopy of trees was rhapsodical, very much suggesting Coori’s landscape, inspiring the wealthy philanthropist to remark he could find work for such a talented young lady.

  Iridescent dragonflies dipped over the silvered green waters, the magnificent waterlilies painted in their range of colours—pink, white, red, blue, cream—holding their lovely heads above the floating emerald pads. Others admired the floating umbrellas and sporting cups, the way Leah had captured the action of the three polo players, the Number 3 player clearly identifiable as Jake. The whole effect was captivating with considerable technical fluency.

  “Gosh, you can even hear the thundering hooves,” said Charlie, resplendent in black tie. “Jake looks like a god, doesn’t he?” he laughed. He turned to look at Angelica, thinking her a perfect vision. “You look absolutely gorgeous. Tall, slender, beautiful!” He tore his eyes away exclaiming, “That dress! I love it. Did I tell you?”

  “At least twice.” Angelica smiled, laying a hand on his jacketed arm. “But I don’t mind hearing it again.”

  “This is grand.” Charlie was determined to make a night of it. “What I’d really like is to dance. Game?”

  “I’d love it!” Angelica answered promptly.

  Charlie led her out onto the floor chortling. He’d dreamed of having a flutter with a magnificent female. Maybe he might finally get lucky. His two-year stint on a great Australian cattle station had been an adventure. He didn’t believe he would ever forget it. But he accepted he would be going home. One day, like Jake, whom he admired enormously, he would have to take his father’s place. But for now? Angelica was smiling at him and her big beautiful dark eyes looked so inviting. She was without question the most beautiful woman in the room. And the most exciting. His sense of adventure was at work again!

  Standing in the middle of a crowd of friends, Jake saw them take the floor. They looked spectacular. Charlie, off duty, dressed in a dinner jacket, was every inch the Honourable Charles Middleton. And he had such a great zest for life. Not that it hadn’t gotten him into his fair share of trouble. No one could miss the fact either that Charlie found Angel a real knockout. His expression, which he didn’t bother to hide, was a dead give-away. Much as he liked Charlie, Jake was startled to discover he didn’t like the way Charlie had Angel locked in his arms. Charlie, frankly, looked in seventh heaven. Angel looked what? Indulgent? The two of them got on well. Ah well, enjoy yourself for the time being, Charlie, Jake thought silently. That woman is mine.

  It was hard to listen to what the senator was saying when he couldn’t take his eyes off them. Angel was wearing the most beautiful dress he’d ever seen and there were some stunning dresses out there on the dance floor. The young women in particular, just loved these social occasions as it gave them the opportunity to dress up. Everyone made sure they looked their very best, going all out on the gowns. Gillian in a deep pink strapless organza dress with a skirt that looked like petals had never looked prettier. Stacy, too, had done him proud in sequined blue that showed off her youthful petite figure. But Angel. Wow!

  How to describe that dress? It was very, very sexy and very imaginative. Not like the usual evening dress at all but a creation in gold, silver and sage green with ribbons and all kinds of fancy beadwork and sequins. A man could never describe it. The slip bodice was low-cut, revealing the swell of her beautiful breasts, the skirt had a deep flounce that showed a lot of leg. She looked like a film star. God, yes! Charlie thought so, too. He’d go and cut in just as soon as the senator stopped talking.

  Charlie was a fast worker. Challenge dictated his every move. Not that Charlie knew anything about his involvement with Angel. Neither of them had put their feelings on display. Rather the reverse. Charlie was light-footed, light-hearted. Angel appeared to be floating… Hell, Charlie was tap dancing!

  “…so in the end it was my lucky night!” the senator concluded, while they all laughed heartily.

  Dinah, in emerald-green silk satin, her platinum hair artfully tousled, laughed, too, though her gaze had long since shifted away from the senator to follow Jake’s. That woman with too much of her body on display was dancing with Charles Middleton! Surely that wasn’t cracking Jake up? She was hardly the solid, faithful type.

  And didn’t Charles look polished. Unrecognisable, really, from the station jackeroo. Not that he’d ever been treated like one. As far as she knew Gilly had had a crush on Charles. That was a cause for amusement. Not that one could blame the poor little thing, though she did look remarkably glamorous tonight. Stacy did, too.

  It was getting tiresome, Miss De Campo’s interference. Apparently she had helped them achieve what they had never achieved before. An appearance in li
ne with the McCord family status. Stacy had sprung another surprise getting it together with Leif Standford, the financier, who owned a string of winning race horses. Leif, a widower, would eventually remarry, but Dinah would never have thought ineffectual little Stacy would take his eye. Yet they’d been glued to one another’s side all night. Extraordinary!

  To top it off, Charles, it now appeared, was very interested in the dark-eyed, dark-haired Miss De Campo’s anatomy, if nothing else. Unless she was very much mistaken, Jake didn’t like it at all. His golden eyes might look lazy beneath his marked, bronze brows, he had a smile on his beautiful mouth, but she knew Jake. He was watching Charles and the Mediterranean sex goddess like the proverbial hawk. Surely this was a god-sent opportunity to do a little mischief? Jake really should see that woman for what she was. Specifically, a tart. There must be some way to work it, to push Charles and Miss De Campo together.

  This was a party, after all, and there was plenty of alcohol. The last time she’d seen Charles at one of these do’s he’d been quite frenetic. What she had in mind was a dawn orgy. Her Jake wouldn’t be happy about that. Well now it was payback time! Revenge was her middle name.

  Charles handed Angelica over without demur. “That was great, Angelica!” he said, laughing into her beautiful, black-lashed eyes. “Now the boss is here, I’ll have to hand you over.”

  “Goodbye, Charlie,” Jake drawled. “Stay away.”

  “I’ll be back!” Charlie grinned boldly.

  “I feel I can’t let you out of my sight,” Jake muttered, gathering her hungrily close. It was an action that plunged them into passionate intimacy.

  “Sounds fine to me,” Angelica answered huskily. She’d been having fun with the debonair Charlie, but she’d been longing for the moment when Jake would cross the room and take her into his arms. He wore a white dinner jacket and the effect against his tawny colouring and golden-bronze skin was startlingly attractive. He was a powerfully sexual man yet he seemed quite unaware of it and his extraordinary looks.