by Sarah Barrie
‘It’s gorgeous. How long did it take to build?’
‘Probably longer than it should have. But it’s turned out exactly how I wanted it.’ When he’d shown her around, he opened up a set of French doors to the front veranda and guided her outside.
Ally found herself by a long pool overlooking a panorama of moonlit mountains. She drew in a breath of fresh, night-scented air and stared in awe. ‘It’s breathtaking. You can see forever from up here.’
‘Just about. You’ll have to take a look when it’s not dark.’
As the moment stretched, she became more and more aware of the man beside her and she tried to think of something to fill the silence. Her fingers moved automatically to her tee.
‘Something wrong?’
‘What? Why?’
‘You fidget a lot.’
‘I do it when I get nervous.’ Oh, Ally, shut up, just seriously, shut the hell up.
Of course, as heat flooded her cheeks, he took that up. ‘I make you nervous?’
‘Sometimes. Just about everyone, everything, does from time to time and on this occasion it’s because I was thinking I should probably explain about the other day. As you know, the real estate lady wasn’t talking about Mavis’s place. I’m selling my place in Sydney, which I should have explained, except I have a bit of a temper. Sorry.’
He shrugged, but his mouth tipped up to one side. ‘I should probably apologise too. I don’t usually jump to conclusions. It just seemed to fit. And I haven’t worked you out yet.’
She laughed. ‘I have a psychologist who has enough trouble with that.’ As soon as the words were out of her mouth she wondered just why the hell she’d said it. Was she trying to make herself look like a head case?
‘What would this psychologist have thought about your run-in with Martin Sullivan?’
‘Ebony told you about that?’
‘Half the town’s talking about it.’
‘Well, that was Mia, not me. I just got hold of Ebony.’
Cam grimaced. ‘My sister is usually very well mannered, but put a case of animal cruelty in front of her and her temper goes through the roof.’
‘Wait until you see Mia in action. I don’t think they should be allowed to know one another.’
His grimace turned into amusement. ‘As she dumped orange juice on Martin’s shorts, I have to agree with you. When’s she back?’
‘When I can get her to spend another night in the house full of rodents. She doesn’t particularly enjoy listening to the living things in the roof all night, let alone having dead things being eaten next to her bed.’
‘And you?’
She grinned. ‘I’m getting used to it.’
‘Have you thought about staying? Ebs said you’ve got nowhere else to be.’
‘I can’t.’
One side of his mouth lifted a touch. ‘Why not?’
‘Because.’
He waited a beat, then said with a half-laugh, ‘I assume there’s going to be a bit more to that?’
‘Because that’s not the plan.’
‘That sounds more like an excuse than a reason. What’s the plan?’
‘To sell the place to you.’
‘Then what?’
She dragged a hand through her hair. ‘That plan is still under construction.’
When he just continued to grin at her, she frowned.
‘What?’
‘You’re entertaining as hell, you know that?’
‘By entertaining you mean screwy.’
‘No.’ He tipped his head to the side and thought about that. ‘Engaging. I’d call it engaging. We got off to a rough start, but I think I’m going to enjoy getting to know you, neighbour.’
She didn’t know what to say, was glad of the near darkness.
‘Ally, what was with the drugs?’
She released a slow breath and closed her eyes. ‘I have post-traumatic stress disorder. I don’t always get like I was the other day … I shouldn’t have. It’s just been a bit full on.’
‘What’s it from?’
‘The fire. The day you found me like that, I’d gone into the shed, I was going to feed. The sight of the feed bags, the smell of the hay, the whole thing triggered a flashback and I panicked.’
‘I heard a few things about it round town, Mavis said some more. Something about horses and being overseas? I wouldn’t mind hearing what really happened.’
She lifted her hands, then dropped them heavily at her sides. ‘I’d bred a stallion to my mare, Magna, using artificial insemination and because we were competing, we transferred the embryo to a recipient mare. The stallion we used is in Germany, and his owners had invited me over to see some of his other progeny, to talk about the possibility of me taking Magna to Europe and competing over there, as well as campaigning one of their younger stallions for them.’
‘I’m not sure I get the ins and outs of all that, but it sounds pretty impressive.’
‘It was a great opportunity, but just so expensive. David was all for it, but because we’d bought Mavis’s place and still had a loan for that, I had to sell Magna’s foal in utero to help pay for it. Once I had, I flew out to Germany for a couple of weeks to sort out the details.’
She sighed, took her time. ‘I flew back into Sydney the night before I was originally due home. David and I had been having a few problems and it was our anniversary, so I thought I should make the effort. I wasn’t sure what to expect but when I went to the stables to see Magna and the other horses on the way up to the house, there was a candle, a rose and a note saying to go upstairs. I thought he must have got my message to say I’d changed flights. I thought he’d set something special up.’
‘If this is too personal …’
She grinned wryly at that. ‘It’s pretty much public knowledge. I think you probably know this part. He had set something up, but not for me. He had a girlfriend from out here with him. The main breezeway doors were kept padlocked because the horses were so valuable, but there was access through the office. That’s the way I went in and out. I think that’s how I started the fire. The candle was on the windowsill and I remember slamming out the door. It must have fallen off and lit the place up. I should have blown the damn thing out.’
‘There’s plenty of fault there – but it’s not yours.’
‘I drove straight to Mia’s place. I’d only been there half an hour when I got the call. I went back with Mia, but I was too late. The firefighters wouldn’t let me in. I could hear the horses, but I remember thinking David would have gotten out. It wasn’t until I woke up in the hospital a few days later that I found out he – they – hadn’t.’
She absently rubbed her scarred palm while he digested the story.
‘The mare carrying your horse’s foal. Was it –’
‘No.’ She sighed, managed a small smile. ‘No, like I said – I’d sold it and the mare was at the buyers’ property. She sent me a picture when the foal was born. It was a filly, looked just like Magna. I shed about three buckets of tears over that picture.’
‘And you blame yourself.’
‘I knew David was unfaithful – at least, I had a strong suspicion. He was the poster boy for the National Showjumping Team, idolised by masses of horse-crazy young women, and he enjoyed it. He liked to party. The more popular he became, the worse he got. There would be nights when he just didn’t come home, long stretches when he stayed out here. I told myself he was just passed out at a mate’s place or spending time with Mavis, but looking back, I think I just didn’t want to face it. We’d built our whole lives around each other, around our business. It was comfortable, it worked. I was living in denial. When I found out, it was a bit more hurt to add to his death, but it didn’t really surprise me.
‘But then a detective decided I might have burned the stables down on purpose. That I was angry enough about finding David with another woman that I could murder them, murder everything. It was too much. It made me so sick.’
‘It woul
d make anyone sick. I don’t begin to pretend to know how to put something like that behind you.’
Ally gave herself a little shake. ‘Anyway, I’ve been avoiding everything remotely horse related ever since. When I got out here I was faced with it all and I just fell apart. I’m not very courageous.’
‘Coming out here with an issue like that? It sounds courageous to me.’
‘Well, thanks.’ God, had she really just poured all that out? She took a deep breath. ‘I should get back.’
‘It’s pretty dark. Lucky you left a light on.’
She looked down at the house, frowned. ‘That’s the shed light, and I didn’t.’
‘Maybe one of the guys left it on going in and out with fencing stuff late this afternoon. I’ll follow you down – check it out.’
They returned to Mavis’s in their separate cars. Cam checked the shed while Ally waited on the veranda.
‘All clear. Want me to check the house?’ Cam asked a few minutes later.
Ally shook her head. She was already feeling silly for dragging him down here over a light being left on. ‘No, it’s fine. Thanks for coming down.’
‘Any time. It’s worth being careful. Go inside, lock up.’
‘Okay. Goodnight.’
‘Ally?’
She paused in opening the front door. ‘Yes?’
‘You’re more than welcome at any of our pizza nights. You should come. Tomorrow.’
‘Okay, I’ll – thanks.’
She dragged herself inside, tired and sore. A few hours’ solid labour and she was destroyed. She’d been so fit last time she’d attempted any manual work that it seemed ridiculous. Maybe that’s why she’d spilled her guts – she was overtired. And Cam was a good listener, quiet and attentive. If he got more than he’d bargained for, well, he’d asked.
She kept finding more and more to like about him, but she wasn’t going to get stars in her eyes about Cameron William Blakely, she lectured herself as she stood under the shower for too long, treating her tired muscles. No matter what Mia seemed to think, he was completely out of her league.
Exhaustion finally had her stepping out of the shower, then snuggling down in the armchair, grateful for sleep.
She was just about all the way there when she heard it: a rhythmic tapping – no, footsteps? Was it footsteps? Jolting upright, she scrambled for the lamp. The room flooded with light. Instantly hyper alert, she wondered how she could be so wide awake. Then she realised: she hadn’t taken her pills – she’d fallen asleep without them. But she’d celebrate that later, because what was the noise outside?
The blood pounded in her ears, making it difficult to hear anything. She waited until her heart rate slowed and her breathing gradually returned to normal.
Nothing.
After several more minutes, she breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Okay, I think I’m all right.’
She had her finger on the remote when Luna appeared.
‘Didn’t I lock you up?’
Luna whined, her ears pricked. With a bark, she took off towards the front door.
‘Trust you to need to go out now.’
Ally chewed on her lip. Convincing herself there was nothing to worry about while in her house was fine. But outside? What if Luna didn’t need to go out? What if someone was trying to get into the house?
‘Oh for heaven’s sake, don’t be stupid.’ Whatever noise had woken her was probably due to Luna. She climbed off the lounge. ‘Luna? Where’d you go?’
When the tapping started up again, she felt her knees buckle and had to lean on the wall to steady herself. Slowly, heart in her mouth, she looked around the corner to the front door. It was swinging lightly, gently hitting against the frame with the breeze. Tap, tap, tap.
Again? She fought back the fear that crept along her spine. ‘Luna?’ she called quietly. Where was that light coming from? She moved silently to the front door and looked out. Her stomach took another dive.
The shed light was back on.
‘That’s not possible.’
Her first instinct was to call Cam. She hesitated, tried to think. He’d flicked it off. But maybe there were two lights in there. That would make sense. It was a big shed, and Luna was racing around the front of it. Perhaps she’d triggered a sensor light? There had to be a harmless explanation. No one turning up to kill her would hang out in the shed all night and announce his presence by turning on the lights.
Bess’s nose appeared in the doorway a second before Luna bounded in and leapt, grabbing Bess’s ear on the way down. The old dog snapped and sent Luna darting between Ally’s legs. Ally breathed a sigh of relief at the puppy’s return.
‘Perfectly explainable.’ She pulled a bone out of the fridge and fed it to Bess, who settled on her bed. Ally stared again at the shed. Plenty of logical possibilities. But she was afraid.
And she couldn’t make herself go out there to see for herself. Instead she locked the door, wedged it shut, and decided the shed light could stay on until morning.
CHAPTER
11
The sound of the puppy skidding along the floorboards made Ally open her eyes.
‘What are you doing out of the laundry again?’ She stretched. ‘Ow.’ Everything hurt at least a little bit. She’d forgotten she owned some of the muscles that were currently complaining from a day and a half of fencing. Her gaze landed on something Luna was playing with, a little wooden cat. She frowned, reaching for it. Luna snatched it and raced off. When Ally didn’t follow, she stopped and dropped the figure, then when Ally moved, quickly snatched it up again and took off.
‘Luna! I’m not playing!’
Ally checked the laundry door. It was wide open. The whole house was dysfunctional. And speaking of cats, she decided hers was probably thinking he’d been abandoned. Though she didn’t know how she could possibly have gotten there sooner, Ally felt a pang of guilt about keeping Tom prisoner in one of Ebony’s pens for two days. She got herself down to the clinic early, and was at the door when Ebony turned the sign to Open.
‘I’m so sorry, we got caught up on the fence and I just ran out of time.’
Ebony waved away her concerns. ‘No problem. It won’t hurt him. Cam said you’ve been fencing the cows in.’
‘They kind of trashed his garden. Though I guess there’s really not much “kind of” about it.’
‘I heard. I think that’s four times now. Tom’s fine. I don’t have any appointments for an hour – do you want a tea? I’m trying out ginger and ginseng. It’s supposed to be a good wake-up remedy.’
‘I’m game.’
She followed Ebony up a set of stairs just inside the back door. At the top, Ebony unlocked the door to her apartment and pushed it open. The space was airy and light, with pale timber floorboards and white walls, lots of rugs and cushions in neutral colours, white wicker furniture and lacy curtains.
‘It’s so pretty.’
‘Thanks. I was going for French Provincial in here.’
‘And Mediterranean in the courtyard?’
Ebony flashed her a grin. ‘Exactly. I like to experiment.’ She made the teas and accompanied them with large, irregularly shaped biscuits.
‘Are these the ones we had the other day? They were delicious.’
‘They’re made in town. These ones are peanut. Elaine Campbell – Bella’s mum – is a genius.’ They went out onto a generous balcony that overlooked the park. ‘This is my favourite spot.’
‘It’s a lovely view.’
‘Yep, look that way. See that mountain in the distance between those two smaller ones? Cam’s on the other side of it, so your place is down the bottom there. Seems further away than it actually is.’
‘What about Lee?’
‘Other direction, over that way. Distant and gorgeous.’
‘Lee or his property?’
‘His property.’
‘Did you just hesitate?’
Ebony laughed. ‘You threw me with the question.’
&nb
sp; ‘Right. Because the way you two talk about each other, I thought you might have been together.’
Ebony blew gently at the steaming tea and shook her head. ‘I’m Cam’s little sister, Ally. That’s it.’
‘That archaic old don’t touch the little sister mentality?’
‘Absolutely Neanderthal, right?’
‘Wait.’ She laughed a little. ‘Is that why you call him that? Does he know that’s why you call him that?’
‘I call him that for all kinds of reasons. I think he actually likes it. But okay, mostly because of that. And no, of course he doesn’t know.’
‘Do you think if he wasn’t Cam’s friend …’
‘I don’t know. Sometimes I think so, but the guy is a serial flirt. It’s hard to tell.’
‘So Cam and Lee have been friends a long time?’
‘You know Cam was a lawyer, right?’
‘Yep. The third one.’
Ebony choked out a laugh as she sipped her tea. ‘God, he hates that. He used to say to Dad, “Aren’t two Camerons in the family enough? Why did you need a third one – couldn’t I have had my own name?” He refused to be called Cameron – ever. It had to be Cam. No one called our father or grandfather anything but Cameron – or sir – so Cam felt that was his glimmer of individuality.’
‘That explains a comment Lee made. So Lee was a client of Cam’s?’
‘Not exactly – not to begin with. The last case Cam and our father worked on together.’ Ebony paused and chewed her lip as though wondering whether she should say anything, then shrugged. ‘They both knew the client they were defending was guilty. But of course, it’s their job to get him off, right? Lee was the detective who made the arrest, and our father used a line of questioning that made Lee look at best incompetent, at worst, a crooked cop.
‘It was completely bogus – our father knew Lee had followed procedure – but he’s a damn good lawyer and he had a job to do. He’s just so good at twisting arguments and painting whatever picture he wants to the jury, that he got the client off on reasonable doubt and caused a spin-off investigation into Lee’s actions. It all got very nasty and Cam, being Cam, went against all the rules, swapped sides, if you like, and got involved in clearing Lee. You can imagine how that went down. Cam managed to prove Lee innocent but put himself in a position where he really didn’t have any choice but to stop practising. Cam walked out on the firm.’