When Heath reached Clare, it was already late afternoon, and he had no idea where to start looking for Miss Abigail Scottsdale. Alfie had given him a description of her, but that was all he had to go on. He stopped every person he knew and asked if they’d seen the woman, giving them a vague description, but no one had seen or heard of her. He was standing in the main street, looking around and trying to work out where she would go and what she would do, when he saw Milton Sharp coming out of his employment agency, and he had an idea.
Heath knew Mr. Sharp quite well, as the employment agency owner often supplied Martindale Hall with farm labourers and drovers when cattle and sheep were to be moved.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Sharp,” Heath said, approaching him.
“Good afternoon, sir. What brings you to town?” Mr. Sharp asked.
“Actually, I’m looking for someone, and I was hoping you could help,” Heath said.
“Intriguing. Who is it?” Mr. Sharp asked. It had been an unusually slow day at the office, so a diversion was welcome.
“Her name is Abigail Scottsdale. Has someone of that name stopped at your agency asking for work?”
“As a matter of fact, she fainted outside the agency,” Mr. Sharp said.
Heath was delighted, not that she had fainted, but that he was back on her trail.
“She was an attractive girl, but rather dishevelled,” Mr. Sharp said. “Apparently, she’d walked to Clare from Mintaro in this heat wave.”
“That must be her,” Heath said excitedly. “Do you know where she is now?”
“Indeed, I do. I had Jack Hawker and his mother in my agency at the time, and Mr. Hawker offered Miss Scottsdale employment.”
“Really?” Heath said with narrowed eyes. “So, I will find her out at Bungaree Station?”
“That’s right. Mr. Hawker hired her as his mother’s companion.”
“Thank you for your help, Mr. Sharp. Good day,” Heath said, heading back to his carriage in a hurry. That was easy, he thought happily.
Most farmers in the Gilbert Valley region knew each other, so Jack Hawker and Heath were acquainted, but not exactly friends. Even so, Heath had no hesitation about visiting Bungaree Station uninvited.
CHAPTER 8
Abbey, Jack, and his mother were having dinner when Heath reached Bungaree. Sabu, who’d stood guard over the kitchen with a meat cleaver since dawn, had prepared the meal. The food was a fiery lamb korma, and Jack and Abbey were perspiring copiously.
“Sabu has overdone the chili in this curry,” Jack complained, dabbing his forehead with a napkin and gulping down half a glass of water.
“It is quite hot,” Abbey wheezed as she reached for the water jug to refill her glass for the third time, hoping to put out the fire in her mouth and throat.
“I think it’s delicious,” Sybil said in defence of the cook. She had avoided Abbey all day by staying in her room. At loose ends, and wanting to steer clear of Sabu, Abbey had spent a good deal of the day in the garden with Frank Fox, discussing plants. Later she had helped Marie and Elsa feed the dogs.
Jack cast his mother a weary look. “I don’t know how you can say that, Mother. You know Sabu is just trying to prove a point.”
Sybil was about to argue, but was silenced by the sound of horse hooves on the gravel road. From his seat at the table, Jack could see a carriage through the living room window. “We have a guest,” he said, rising to answer the door.
Abbey’s heart began to race as she wondered if the police had caught up with her. She strained to see through the window, but she did not recognise the gentleman coming up the path.
Sybil noted that her hired companion looked anxious. “Is something wrong, Abbey?” she asked suspiciously.
“No,” Abbey said breathlessly, but she’d gone very pale. “Why should anything be wrong?”
“I haven’t any idea,” Sybil said, studying her attentively.
Abbey wanted to be excused from the table, but knew she’d arouse the older woman’s suspicions even more, so she continued to eat as casually as she could. It was difficult; her throat was so tight that it was almost impossible to get anything down.
The two women fell silent and strained to hear any snippets of conversation as Jack opened the front door just as Heath climbed the steps to the veranda.
“Mr. Mason, what brings you to Bungaree?” he asked in a friendly tone.
“I must apologise for the hour,” Heath said, consulting his pocket watch. “Have I disturbed you?”
“We were having an early dinner, but I’m pleased to step away from it.”
Heath looked confused.
Jack lowered his voice. “It’s a very hot curry, and my lips are on fire. Please, come in.” He drew Heath into the living room. “Would you like some refreshment, a glass of wine or perhaps some tea? Or perhaps, if you’re game, you’d like to join us for dinner.”
“I had a very late lunch, so nothing for me, thank you,” Heath said, wanting to get on with the business at hand. He glanced from the living room through the open doors to the dining room, where he could see two women. He presumed the older woman was Jack’s mother, but he’d never met her. The younger woman had her head down, so he couldn’t see her face.
“What can I do for you this evening?” Jack asked when he was seated.
“I’m looking for someone, and I believe she’s in your employment,” Heath said, glancing into the dining room again.
“Oh,” Jack said.
“I was told you recently hired a young woman as your mother’s companion.”
“That’s right,” Jack said, becoming curious. “Miss Scottsdale.”
Heath glanced through to the dining room again, where the young woman still had her head down. “Would that be Miss Abigail Scottsdale?”
Upon hearing her name, Abbey almost fainted. She had no idea who the man was, but she suspected he was an investigator, possibly hired by the staff at Martindale Hall.
“Yes, that’s right,” Jack said. “Do you know Miss Scottsdale?”
“I’ve not met her, but I’d be grateful if I could have a word with her.”
“She is presently dining,” Jack said protectively. “If you’d like to wait?”
“It’s important,” Heath stated gravely.
Abbey dared to lift her gaze to meet the other woman’s glare. Abbey then glanced into the living room, where Jack appeared to be mildly bewildered. After what he’d done for her, she felt terribly ashamed for not having been honest when he had offered her a position in his home. It was time to make amends, and she knew that was what her father would expect her to do. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and walked into the living room.
Sybil watched her with interest.
“I’m Abigail Scottsdale,” Abbey said, standing before the two men.
Heath stood up and took her measure. He’d been anticipating that she might be quite pretty, but now he was startled by just how attractive she was. Just for a moment he was stabbed with jealousy that his father had married such a beautiful, young wife, even if it had only been for a few hours. Her raven hair was tied back, but he could see it was thick and wavy, and her skin was velvet smooth, although the bridge of her nose was tinged pink from the sun. Her dazzling blue eyes mesmerised him, and for just an instant he forgot what he’d come for. Then he thought of his inheritance, and his anger surged.
“My name is Heath Mason, Miss Scottsdale,” he said. He once would have found it difficult to believe that someone so young and beautiful could be cunning, but Miss Meredith Barton had opened his eyes, and now he knew that deception came in all kinds of packages.
Upon hearing his name, Abbey felt light-headed. Her heart began to race. This must be Ebenezer Mason’s son. “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Mason,” she said in little more than a whisper. She couldn’t see any resemblance between this man a
nd his father, but she had yet to compare their characters.
“I’ll leave you to discuss your business,” Jack said, going back to the dining room table.
Abbey glanced back at him, wishing he and his mother were not within earshot. Feeling quite faint, she sank down onto the nearest chair.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Mason?” Abbey asked in a soft voice. She held her breath, dreading the answer.
“I think you know why I’m here,” Heath said sternly, sitting back down. “I’m sure you recognise my name, since I believe it is now your name, too.”
Abbey stared at the man silently. She hadn’t given a thought about her name changing.
“You did marry my father just two days ago, didn’t you?” Heath stated tersely.
Abbey opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
“Well, Miss Scottsdale, or should I say Mrs. Mason, that is what happened, isn’t it?”
“I didn’t know I had married him,” Abbey whispered.
Heath regarded her suspiciously. “How is that possible, Miss Scottsdale? How does someone marry and not know it?”
In the dining room, Jack and his mother had heard what was said, and were looking at each other in astonishment.
“I know it sounds difficult to believe,” Abbey said, flustered.
“Indeed,” Heath replied sarcastically.
Abbey was becoming more agitated by the second. She wanted him to understand, but she could tell he didn’t really want to listen. “I was at the Hall two days ago, and the last thing I remember, before waking up, apparently married to your father, was having a glass of wine in the dining room.”
“Surely you are not claiming a lapse in your memory, Miss Scottsdale,” Heath said angrily. “I want a satisfactory answer, or I’m going to call in the police on this matter.”
Confronted with her worst fears and Heath’s hostility, Abbey burst into tears.
“Oh, dear Lord,” Heath said angrily. “Don’t think tears are going to work on me, lady.”
Jack came through to the living room. “Now see here, Mr. Mason, I don’t think I appreciate the tone you are using with my employee. Can’t you see how much you are upsetting her?”
Heath stood up. “I want an explanation of how my father died while sleeping beside her,” he said angrily. “I don’t think that is too much to ask.”
Abbey had her hands over her face, so she didn’t see Jack looking down at her in a state of shock.
“Perhaps you had better come back when Miss Scottsdale is more composed,” Jack said after a few moments.
Heath was fuming. He’d expected tears, but he hadn’t expected the girl to have Jack defending her.
Abbey got to her feet. “No, wait,” she sniffed. “I’ve nothing to hide, so I’ll tell you all I know,” she said. She looked at Jack with watery eyes. “I should have told you what happened before you hired me. I didn’t want to deceive you, but I was in shock. I’d lost my father and then”
“And then you found yourself married to a wealthy man, and he died a few hours later,” Heath said spitefully.
“That’s enough, Mr. Mason,” Jack said sharply. “I understand you are grieving the loss of your father, for which I’m very sorry, but please don’t shout at Miss Scottsdale.”
Heath pursed his lips in frustration.
“If you are up to it now, Abbey, I think an explanation would be most welcome,” Jack stated.
Abbey nodded, relieved to have Jack’s protection. “I’ll start at the beginning,” she said. “My father and two other men were killed at the mine a few days ago.” She looked directly at Ebenezer Mason’s son. “When your father came up to the cemetery, after my father’s funeral, I told him I thought he was responsible for the loss of lives at the mine because he hadn’t maintained the equipment.”
“Were you after money?” Heath asked in an acid tone.
Abbey was shocked by the suggestion. “I was angry that he didn’t care enough to come to the mine after three of his employees were killed, or to the cemetery for my father’s funeral. I had wanted him to pay for the funerals, yes, but that is all,” she said defensively.
“Go on, Miss Scottsdale. I’m intrigued to hear how you married a man you thought responsible for your father’s death.”
“That was not just my view, Mr. Mason, but also the opinion of most of the miners. Your father disagreed, but he also told me that my father and he had come to an agreement that involved me.”
“What kind of agreement?” Heath asked with narrowed eyes.
“From what my father said the night before he died, I believe your father wanted to marry me,” Abbey said. “However, I did not want to marry him. I was in love with Neal Tavis, who was killed alongside my father.” Tears began to stream down Abbey’s cheeks again. She missed Neal so much. Jack handed her his handkerchief, which she gratefully accepted.
“Are you trying to tell me that you wanted to marry a miner, but you were not interested in marrying a very rich man?” Heath said in disbelief.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying, and that’s what I told my father. When your father mentioned this so-called agreement, I told him I didn’t believe such an agreement existed, and to be honest, even if I had believed him, I don’t think I could have honoured it. I couldn’t tolerate the thought of marrying an old man that I didn’t love.” Her voice trembled with emotion.
Disbelief was written all over Heath’s face, but Abbey went on.
“I told your father that I was going to find employment and support myself.”
“And did you?” Heath asked with a hint of sarcasm.
“No. I couldn’t find work anywhere, and I believe your father was responsible.”
“How so?” Heath asked in an openly hostile tone.
“It’s no secret that he has a lot of influence in Burra.”
“That may be true, but why should it matter to him whether you found work or not?”
“I can see you find this hard to believe, and I did, too, but I think he was trying to force me to be reliant on him.” Abbey knew her story sounded preposterous, but she was desperate to be taken seriously. “My circumstances were dire when your father’s carriage driver brought me a note from your father. The note said that he had reconsidered his responsibilities towards the miners’ families, and he wanted to discuss compensation.”
Heath didn’t think this sounded like his father at all. He never parted with a penny unless he had to. Heath did know the note existed, though, because Alfie had told him about it. As for the contents, he’d need to see that for himself. “Do you still have this note?”
Abbey thought about it. “I did, but I must have left it where I was living in Burra.” She prayed it would not be needed as evidence in her favour as she thought about how angrily she had torn the note into pieces.
“In the dugout,” Heath said derisively.
Abbey blushed, but nodded.
“How convenient,” Heath sneered. “So, you jumped at the chance to discuss compensation, and yet you didn’t want my father’s money, except for funeral costs.”
Abbey became very upset. “Neal’s mother died just hours after her son, from a broken heart. That left his two sisters orphaned. Your father owed them something, surely. I had no money to give my father the funeral he deserved,” she said, with tears streaming down her face. “Yes, we lived in a dugout, but my father was a good, hard-working man, and his coffin was a plain pine box.” Abbey began to sob uncontrollably.
Heath finally felt a tinge of sympathy for her, but he didn’t feel so sorry that he would let her have his inheritance. “I didn’t mean to be so harsh in my treatment of you,” he said. “But put yourself in my place. I’ve just found out my father married you and died the same night.”
Abbey blew her nose and took a few deep breaths, while Sybil entered th
e room and passed Jack a glass of water to give to Abbey. Jack handed the water to Abbey and introduced his mother to Heath.
“What happened next, Abbey?” Jack asked gently when Abbey had sipped the water and composed herself. He thought it best to get the whole matter out in the open.
“I went to the Hall. When I got there, Mr. Mason said we were going to have dinner. I told him I wouldn’t share a meal with him when I believed he was responsible for my father’s death. He insisted I have a glass of wine. I drank only a little, but I felt very strange afterwards. I hadn’t had a real meal in days, though, so I thought that was why. The next thing I remember was waking the following morning to a woman screaming.”
“Who was it?” Jack asked.
“At the time I had no idea, but I later realised it was one of the Hall’s maids. I was in a strange room in a strange bed. Then I saw someone beside me. It was Ebenezer Mason. At that point, I didn’t know he was dead, but I was horrified to find him lying beside me. I leaped out of bed just as the maid and the housekeeper came back into the room. They told me I’d married Mr. Mason. I didn’t believe them because I had no recollection of doing so, but the housekeeper pointed to the ring on my finger. I thought I was having a bad dream. The housekeeper then examined Mr. Mason and said he was dead. I didn’t believe it and tried to wake him, but she ordered me out.” Abbey looked at Ebenezer Mason’s son, who appeared more confused than ever. “I’m sorry you lost your father. I don’t know why he died, but I had nothing to do with it, and that’s the truth, honest to God.”
“Then why did you steal my father’s horse to get away?” Heath asked angrily.
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