Second Chance At the Ranch

by Maxine Morrey

  ‘It’s not a good idea. It’s a great idea!’

  Jules looked up from ironing Pete’s dress shirt and saw the pained look on her sister’s face. Standing the iron on its end, she crossed the room to Hero, resting her hands on her sister’s shoulders, talking to her reflection. ‘It’s going to be fun. It’ll do you good to get out.’

  ‘I’m fine here. I like it here.’

  ‘Hero. The Sullivans’ ball is one of the social events of the year out here, and believe me,’ she laughed, ‘there aren’t all that many, so you have to make the most of the ones that do come along.’

  Hero frowned, turning away from the mirror. ‘I’ve had enough social events to last a lifetime.’

  ‘Oh, come on. It’s a great laugh and it’ll be nice to see the boys dressed up for once.’

  Hero faced her sister. ‘And that’s another thing. It was unfair of you to lumber Nick into taking me.’

  Juliet took a deep breath, trying not to lose patience. She knew it was just nerves on Hero’s part. This would be the first major social event for Hero since the accident. It was a huge step, and Juliet did her best not to lose sight of that.

  ‘Nobody would consider taking you as being “lumbered” as you put it. Besides, he volunteered.’

  ‘Yeah, I bet,’ Hero mumbled.

  ‘Look. The invitation has been accepted and we have to leave in an hour, so just go and get ready, will you?’

  ‘But—’ Hero stopped mid-protest as she caught a look at her sister’s face. ‘Fine.’ She pushed herself up from the dressing table to leave. As she did so, Pete strolled in.

  ‘Thought you two would have been getting ready by now.’

  Hero winced at her brother-in-law and risked a glance back at her sister. Juliet flashed her husband a filthy look. ‘In between putting the children down for a nap, getting yours, mine, and their clothes ready, not to mention persuading my sister to actually even attend this evening, I’ve been rather busy!’

  Hero’s gaze had dropped to the floor. When Juliet had finished, Hero looked up and exchanged a look with Pete. He pulled a face that said ‘Oops’ and crossed to where his wife fumed. He dropped a kiss on her head, and slipped his arms around her waist, as she half-heartedly batted him off. Hero turned to leave.

  ‘Don’t you want to go now?’ Pete asked.

  Hero turned back. ‘Actually, I never wanted to go but somebody answered on my behalf.’ She raised an eyebrow.

  Juliet was unapologetic. ‘You could hardly refuse. They’re our neighbours. It would have been rude.’

  ‘Not thinking of standing me up, are you?’

  Nick stood in the doorway, a hand resting at shoulder height on each side of the frame. He wore black dinner suit trousers and no shirt. His hair was dark and damp from the shower. Hero opened her mouth, then closed it. She tried again.

  ‘Um.’

  Nick raised his eyebrows in anticipation as he awaited his answer, his body still blocking the only exit.

  ‘I … um,’ Hero stumbled.

  Juliet ended her sister’s anguish. ‘Of course not. She was just on her way to get ready, weren’t you?’

  Hero dropped out of her daze. ‘Yes. Just … on my way.’

  She pointed needlessly towards her own room and walked to the door. Nick shifted to the side. Just enough. His eyes lingered on the curlers nodding on Hero’s head as she passed.

  ‘I can see you.’ Hero edged past him, before glancing back over her shoulder. It was easier to talk the further away she was from Nick’s half naked body.

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’ll leave them in if you’re not careful.’

  Nick straightened away from the doorframe. ‘Is that a promise?’

  Hero rolled her eyes and shook her head, but there was no mistaking the smile on her face as she reached her room.

  ‘Go and put a shirt on. You’ll scare the children,’ she called as the door closed behind her.

  Nick’s smile widened.

  ‘Where’s Bounce? Dad! I haven’t got Bounce!’ Bridie wailed as she wriggled under the seatbelt.

  ‘Isn’t he in the bag?’

  ‘No! I was going to carry him. Dad!’

  ‘All right, Bridie. We won’t go without him.’

  Pete and Nick had been given the task of packing the car and the children. A job that was now pretty much done, except for the missing Bounce. Juliet appeared on the porch.

  ‘Have you got Bridie’s Bounce?’ Nick asked as he approached.

  ‘No. Should I have?’

  ‘No. It’s all right. I’ll go and get him. You get in. Where’s your sister?’

  ‘Just coming, she said.’

  Nick jogged into the house and towards the stairs. As he placed a foot on the bottom one, he heard a step above him and looked up to see Hero stood at the top. She held an evening bag in one hand and Bounce in the other. And she took his breath away.

  ‘I assume Bridie probably wants this chap?’ She held up the toy kangaroo.

  Nick swallowed. ‘I … um … yeah. I was just … coming to get it.’

  ‘Everyone ready now?’

  Nick nodded. Far less effort.

  Hero descended the stairs. She wore an emerald green, full-length silk gown, with ribbon straps and a cowl neck. The bias cut skimmed her curves and caused the fabric to shimmer in the late afternoon light now streaming through the window. Nick, mesmerised, remained where he was, reaching out to take Hero’s hand as she approached his position.

  ‘You look very nice.’ She smiled up at him.

  Nick was still staring. ‘You’re beautiful.’ His voice was soft.

  Hero smiled, almost shy, her hand still in his.

  ‘Nick!’ Pete’s voice bellowed from outside, shattering the moment.

  ‘Coming!’ Nick yelled back.

  ‘Bring Hero as well, will you?’

  ‘Yep.’

  Silence returned. Hero risked a look at Nick and grinned. ‘We’d better go.’

  Nick took Bounce with one hand and Hero’s hand with the other and walked out to the porch. Pete and Juliet were already in, their bodies twisted around, talking to the children. Nick stuffed the soft toy under his arm as he paused to lock the house, his other hand still holding Hero’s as they began walking to the car. Nick’s pace was fast, and Hero laughed as she gripped his hand tighter.

  ‘Hang on! I’ve got a dodgy leg and I’m incredibly out of practice with these shoes!’

  Nick glanced down at Hero’s feet as she walked. Her skirt was hitched up revealing strappy, block heeled sandals in the same fabric as the dress, adding another three inches to her height.

  Juliet glanced up, seeing Nick approaching the vehicle. Bounce was in one hand, and with the other he held tightly to her sister. Hero was laughing as she held up the hem of her dress, concentrating on her steps in the now unfamiliar heeled shoes. Happiness radiated from both of them.

  ‘Wait, wait!’ Juliet called, quickly pulling her phone out of her sequinned clutch as she got out of the car.

  ‘Oh, Jules.’ Hero dipped her head and made to push past Nick.

  ‘Come on. You look so beautiful! Let me have a picture.’

  Hero shook her head, still not looking at the camera. ‘There’s plenty of pictures out there, Jules. You don’t need any more.’

  ‘Come here.’ Nick smiled, catching her waist. ‘Let your sister take a photo.’

  Hero glanced up at him, and he saw the insecurity in her face.

  ‘Come on. You look bloody gorgeous. I need evidentiary proof that I got to take the most beautiful woman in the state to this party.’

  Hero shook her head, laughing up at him.

  ‘Auntie Hero! You look like a princess!’ Bridie breathed, her little hands resting on the open window.

  ‘There you go, Princess.’ Nick grinned, pulling her close. ‘Now, smile for your sister.’

  Hero turned her head, looking out from under her fringe. The scarring had faded a lot in the past year, and
in years of modelling she’d learned plenty of tricks from the talented make-up artists she’d worked with. But, suddenly faced with a camera, even one in the hand of her own sister, her insecurities kicked right back in. Nick felt her body tense. He kept his arm at her waist and bowed his head, laying it gently against hers.

  ‘Just breathe,’ he said, echoing the phrase he had calmed her with all those years ago at the wedding.

  Hero looked up, meeting his eyes. She nodded, almost imperceptibly, then leant her head against the front of his shoulder, smiling at Juliet, letting her take the picture she wanted.

  Reaching the car, Nick presented his niece’s toy with a flourish. Bridie squealed, grabbing her companion.

  ‘Thanks, Uncle Nick.’

  Nick helped Hero in to the back seat. Marcus was peering out of the window, already pulling at his tie, and patiently ignoring his sister as she bounced Bounce on his head. Hero shuffled next to her niece who grabbed her hand.

  ‘Budge up.’ Nick jumped in, nudging Hero with his hip.

  ‘Oh! I thought you were getting in the other side.’

  Hero slid herself and Bridie up to make room for Nick.

  ‘Marcus likes the window seat.’

  Hero didn’t answer, her attention on Bridie who now had hold of her aunt’s wrist and was absorbed in catching the sunlight with the diamond bracelet that glittered there.

  Pete heard his brother’s comment, catching his eye in the rear-view mirror. Nick flashed him an innocent look as they pulled out. Both of them knew that Marcus wasn’t fussed in the slightest about what seat he had.

  All the local children were running around in the garden when they arrived. Pete parked the car and released Marcus and Bridie into the fray. The Sullivans pulled out all the stops for this ball, including hiring staff to show guests to their rooms, take their coats, fetch them drinks and any other little chore that might be too trying.

  ‘Websters,’ Pete said, handing their luggage over.

  ‘Very good, sir.’

  They were staying over tonight, as were several other families who, like the Websters, would all be in the same room. One family, one room. The women and children had already claimed possession of the bed. Pete and Nick would be on the floor tonight.

  ‘Shall we go in?’ Juliet put on her poshest voice, not that different to her everyday one but without the slight Australian twang she had picked up during her marriage. She slipped her arm through her husband’s. Nick offered his arm to Hero, glancing at her as she curled her hand around his forearm. He saw the shake in it as she did so.

  ‘You all right?’

  She smiled but it was a little lopsided. ‘I haven’t done this sort of thing in a long time.’

  Nick put his other hand over hers. ‘Don’t worry. It’s only the dress that’s formal. Everyone is just the same.’

  She nodded but looked far from convinced.

  ‘Don’t you all look gorgeous?’ Sarah Sullivan rushed over in a swish of blossom-pink taffeta, kissing and hugging them all. Bill followed at a more leisurely pace, kissing the women and shaking hands with the brothers.

  ‘Good turnout,’ Pete noted.

  He knew most of the people, but there were a few new faces.

  ‘Yes. You know, I worry every year that we’ll do all this and then no one will turn up—’

  ‘And then everyone does,’ her son finished for her as he reached the group. He too exchanged handshakes, kisses and compliments, though his eyes lingered a little longer on Hero. Nick saw it, feeling a glow of pride in his chest as she still clung to his arm.

  ‘Now, girls. One of my nieces is going off to Europe. Seems to be the thing to do these days, I don’t know. Anyway, I told her you were from London and she has a pile of questions for you. You don’t mind if I borrow them for a while, do you?’ Sarah turned to the Webster men. They shook their heads, knowing that it was a rhetorical question anyway. Hero let go of Nick’s arm, seeing the slight nod and smile of encouragement from him as she did. Sarah whisked them away as Bill began asking Pete’s opinion on a new stock line he was thinking of introducing. Nick and Paul stood in companionable silence, watching the retreating figures of the three women.

  ‘Lucky bugger,’ Paul stated.

  Nick grinned.

  Hero was surprised by how much she was enjoying herself. She knew a lot of the people, even if only by sight. She had been sitting with Sarah’s nieces for nearly an hour now as they bombarded her and Juliet with questions on what they should see, where to stay and what they shouldn’t miss on their trip to Europe. When Nick passed by and smiled, one of them proceeded to blush furiously, as the others giggled.

  ‘He’s so gorgeous,’ she said dreamily.

  ‘He’s Hero’s date,’ her sister added, pointedly.

  Hero felt for the girl as she turned a deeper shade of crimson.

  ‘Not exactly,’ Hero replied, smiling, and tactfully changed the subject.

  Eventually one of them plucked up the courage to ask Hero about modelling. Hero knew it was bound to happen at some point. She answered the young girl’s questions, and found that it was easier than she had expected to talk about the life she had left behind. The way she had lived a lifetime ago.

  ‘Hello.’ Hero walked over to stand next to Nick.

  He turned and smiled. ‘Hello yourself. Having fun?’

  ‘I am.’

  ‘You sound surprised.’

  ‘That too.’

  ‘Would you like to dance?’

  ‘I think that would be very nice.’

  Nick led Hero out onto the cherry wood dancefloor that had been laid especially for the event. Slipping one arm around her waist, he gently took her hand in his, and closed his fingers around hers. They moved slowly to the music. Although Hero’s leg had improved, helped by the fact she’d finally taken up the offer of using the pool, there was certainly not going to be any jitterbugging in her future. This, though, was just fine. Actually, it was a lot more than fine.

  Hero tipped her head back a little. Even with the heels, Nick still had the height advantage.

  ‘Are you having a good time?’

  ‘I am now.’

  ‘Ooh! Mr Smooth!’

  ‘That’s what they call me.’

  ‘Really? That’s not the name I heard,’ Hero teased, an even look on her face.

  Nick squeezed her waist, and she giggled. Releasing the squeeze, he kept her close as the song changed. He brushed his cheek against her hair, breathing in the smell of her. Hero’s own breath caught. It was the slightest touch, but it sent flames of desire soaring up her spine.

  ‘Glad you came?’ he whispered into her hair, smiling as the soft curls nodded against his cheek.

  Chapter 17

  Much to Sarah’s disgust, Pat McKenna had indeed brought Susannah. In Sarah’s opinion, which she made no bones about stating, the woman’s heels were too high, her neckline was too low, and her dress was too short. Nick and Paul exchanged a look. Hero tactfully looked at the floor and remained silent.

  ‘Oh hell. She’s coming over.’

  They all looked involuntarily to where Susannah was pushing through the crowd, a distinct wobble in her gait. It was unclear as to whether that was due to the too-high heels or the champagne. Probably both.

  ‘Hello, Mrs Sullivan. Lovely party.’ She leaned a little as she said it, the already unstable cleavage now looking dangerously close to the edge. She batted her eyes in hello to Nick and Paul, blatantly showing them what she thought they were missing.

  ‘Thank you, dear.’

  Pat strolled up behind them. ‘G’day.’

  Nick and Paul nodded their G’days. Susannah leant heavily on her date’s arm.

  ‘And this is Juliet’s sister. Remember I told you about her.’

  I bet you did, Nick thought, glancing at Hero, seeing the smile she had fixed on her face. He flicked his gaze to Paul who met it, understanding the unsaid words.

  ‘Pleased to meet you.’ Pat stuck ou
t his hand and smiled.

  Hero took it, her fake smile replaced seamlessly with a genuine one. She couldn’t blame him for having poor taste in women.

  Hero felt Susannah’s eyes boring into her. ‘What a lovely dress!’ Susannah looked it up and down. ‘I bet it was expensive, or was it a freebie from when you used to be able to get stuff like that?’

  Hero shrugged her shoulders, the fixed smile now back in place as she did her best to ignore the dig. ‘I don’t really remember to be honest. It’s quite old.’

  Susannah smiled, just as falsely. ‘Of course, I could never get away with a neckline like that. Too much cleavage.’

  She glanced at Hero’s far flatter chest with an icy look, a triumphant smirk on the scarlet lips. Her smugness fired something protective in Sarah.

  ‘Yes, dear, well, you do seem to have rather a lot,’ Sarah said, with a smile.

  Paul snorted, deftly turning his laugh into a cough as Nick slapped him on the back.

  Susannah’s head snapped around to face her host, unsure as to whether she had just been insulted. Smiling stiffly, she excused herself and left. Pat nodded slightly awkwardly and strolled after her.

  Hero and Juliet were the daughters Sarah had never had. When Hero arrived, Sarah had to admit that she’d had hopes for her with Paul, especially now he’d moved back from the city into the annexe of his family home. It was obvious Paul would have been more than happy to go along with that, had things gone that way. But Nick Webster was his best and oldest friend and it was clear to him, to all of them, that Nick already had pretty strong feelings for Hero. The boys had fought once before over a woman, but she knew her son had learned a lesson and, thank goodness, they’d managed to rebuild their friendship. She just had to hope now that Paul found someone equally as lovely as his friend had.

  Sarah had watched the exchange between her neighbour and Susannah with interest. Susannah was a trollop, it was that simple – but she was also jealous. And jealousy was an ugly thing. Hero had been through enough. Yes, Hero was beautiful and yes, she did have Nick, or she would have if the boy ever got around to doing something about it, but she had not asked for either. And God knew she had suffered for her art. Enough was enough.

  ‘Mum!’ Paul laughed when he was sure Susannah was out of earshot.