Raven Falls: Australian Rural Romantic Suspense

by Suzanne Brandyn

‘Okay then. Thank you Brad.’ She could look out the passenger window, enjoy the view, or so she thought.

  ***

  ‘Who do you think I should ask about my missing sibling?’ Brad said, keeping his eyes on the road.

  ‘Tracey. She knows most of the older people in the area. Perhaps she can give you a few names.’

  ‘I’ve spoken to her a few times. Do you mind...well?’ He glanced at her and then back through the windscreen. ‘Do you mind tagging along?’

  ‘No... I don’t mind. If I was in your shoes, I’d want to find out, to know what happened to him or her. I’d be wondering if they knew about me. You have to remember if you do manage to contact them, they mightn't want anything to do with you, or even realise they have a brother.’

  ‘I know. Just to find out would be another weight off my shoulders.’

  Samantha wondered what he meant about another weight. She’d add that to her next list of questions when he wasn’t so torn by emotion. During the past few weeks, he hadn’t come close to being the man she’d met on the coast, although being at the hospital in Tamworth she saw a side to him that she liked a hell of a lot, a caring side, and she knew that Brad would never be like his father.

  Brad pulled up in the dusty street and reversed back into the kerb. Samantha met him on the footpath.

  ‘I’m heading to the store.’

  ‘Great. I’ll come with you. After we get our supplies, how about we fire a few questions around the joint?’

  Samantha nodded, and they walked into Tracey Johnson’s store. The tinkling of the overhead bell caught her attention, and she looked up. ‘Well Sam. I haven’t seen you since the dinner.’

  ‘Hi Tracey. We’ve been a bit busy.’

  Another customer walked in behind them, and Samantha turned, finding she didn’t recognise the tall stranger. His long strides ate up the distance between the door and the counter to where Tracey stood.

  ‘Good morning. What can I do for you?’

  ‘Not much. I’m going to look around.’

  ‘Let me know if you need any assistance.’

  The stranger walked toward the back of the store, while Samantha and Brad grabbed a basket. ‘I think I might need a trolley.’ She replaced the basket and grabbed a trolley, before pushing it down the first aisle.

  Brad followed, stopping here and there to pick up an item and placing it in his basket, or returning it to the shelf.

  By the time Samantha had finished, and Tracey rang up her list, the stranger was gone.

  ‘He seemed weird, didn’t he?’

  ‘Yeah. Be careful Tracey. We had cattle rustlers checking out the place last week.’

  Tracey covered her mouth with a cupped hand. ‘Oh no. I was wondering how long it’d take for them to come snooping about the place.’

  ‘They were interrupted before they took what they came for. We ran them off, although Christopher got beat up by some older guys from school.’

  ‘Sorry to hear. Did you report it?’

  ‘No. It’s a tricky situation. I’ll tell you later.’

  ‘How is he?’

  ‘His leg is in plaster. They bashed him up a bit.’

  ‘He’s strong and can take a punch,’ Brad added.

  Samantha gave him an inquisitive glance. ‘You’ve met Brad, haven’t you?’

  ‘Yes, it was a few years back. I also saw you at the dinner.’ Her face flushed and she gave Brad a big wide smile, causing Samantha’s stomach to knot.

  ‘How are you going these days?’

  ‘Good. Yourself?’

  ‘Good too.’

  Tracey turned to Samantha. ‘What did you want to ask me?’

  Samantha looked at Brad then back to Tracey. ‘We were wondering if you knew much about Brad’s father’s death. The reason he took his life and about a brother or sister. Brad’s mother left a letter and before she died, she said, ‘find your sibling.’

  Tracey shook her head, and glanced past them to a woman who entered the store. ‘Wait until Betty leaves,’ Tracey whispered, leaning over the counter. ‘If she hears anything, it’ll be hightailing its way to Tamworth before you know it.’

  Samantha nodded. ‘We’ll pack our things in the car and come back.’

  Moments after they finished packing, Brad closed the tailgate, only to be interrupted by a voice.

  ‘Bradley Harper.’

  Brad looked up into the eyes of an older woman, with a round plump face.

  ‘I thought it was you. Oh, you are so much like your father.’ The elderly woman who appeared in her seventies came to a standstill beside them.

  ‘Hi Samantha. How’s it going?’

  ‘Good thanks, Mrs Hinder.’

  ‘Oh nonsense, girl. Call me Mary. Mrs Hinder was my mother-in-law. Thank heavens she’s dead now.’ She waved a hand in the air and directed her next sentence at Brad. ‘I’ve forgotten my manners. ‘My name is Mary Sue Hinder. I knew your mother well.’

  Samantha’s heat beat raced. Just the person they needed to speak with.

  ‘It’s nice to meet any friends of my mother’s.’

  ‘I’m sorry about your mother Brad. She was a lovely woman. The service was finished before anyone found out. Was there a reason for that?’

  ‘It was Mum’s request. She didn’t want to bother people.’

  ‘It happened so fast.’ Mary reached up to straighten her fancy cream and black hat. ‘I’ve heard you’re living back at the Harper place now.’

  ‘That’s correct.’

  ‘Mary. We have a few questions if you don’t mind. It’s about Brad’s father.’

  Mary’s face blanched. ‘I don’t know much about Timothy. He disappeared one day and that was it. No one knew where he’d got to, and Dianne didn’t say too much about him. After they found him, she withdrew. She was different.’

  ‘Death does that to some people,’ Brad remarked.

  ‘I’m not sure. I don’t think it was because he died. Something else was bugging her, something happened.’

  ‘Did she ever mention another child besides me?’

  Mary glanced around. ‘Listen, this is not a place to be speaking of such things. Why don’t you two come out tomorrow for afternoon tea and I’ll tell you what I know?’

  ‘Thanks, Mrs Hinder.’

  ‘Mary.’

  ‘Okay, Mary,’ Brad said. He redirected his gaze at Samantha. ‘Are you okay with that?’

  ‘Yes.’ She nodded. She didn’t know why she had to hold his hand, but knowing that he wanted her beside him while he faced such upheaval drew her closer. She truly wanted to help him in any way she could. Perhaps if he found out more about his family he would return to being the man she met on the coast. Either way, she couldn’t say no. It was in her blood to help others, just as it was in her mother’s blood.

  ‘I should get going. I’ll see you at about three.’

  ‘You sure will. I’ll be looking forward to our visit. See you at three.’

  They watched her waddle down the street.

  ‘There you go. It’s a start. Let’s go back in and have a brief chat to Tracey.’

  The bell tinkled and they approached the shop counter. Tracey appeared in the doorway behind the counter.

  ‘There you are.’ She walked around the counter, and leaned back. ‘Where were we...yes that’s right? Your father...he shot himself. They found him thirty kilometres from town near an abandoned gold mine. I only found out the other day.’ She looked at Samantha. ‘After you came in I asked around. I originally thought he took off, and that was that, but apparently he took his own life.’

  ‘Shot himself. We knew he’d taken his own life, but to shoot himself.’ Brad glanced down to the worn floorboards then up again rubbing the back of his neck.

  ‘I didn’t expect that. I guess it’s a bit of a shock.’

  ‘It was out near Blackmans Point.’ Her big blue eyes scanned the shop, and drifted over the front door before she continued. ‘They didn’t find him for at least
two years after he disappeared. I’m sorry Brad.’

  ‘Don’t be. I didn’t know the man, although I need to know the circumstances surrounding his death. It might help me put a few pieces of my puzzle together.’

  ‘Dianne, your mum, reported him missing after a week. She thought he’d taken off to the city again. He did those sorts of things. Like not tell her where or when he was going, but at that time she knew or had a feeling he wouldn’t be coming back.’

  ‘That’s something I didn’t know. He took off to Sydney without telling her.’

  ‘So I believe. It happened many times.’

  ‘Is there anything else you can tell me?’

  ‘Your father is buried here at Raven’s cemetery. Your mother had a private service for him. It wasn’t in the papers, so no one knew he’d died until after the funeral. He was listed as missing. Even the local police kept it quiet for a time. I think it was your mother’s choice. Mind you, this is what I've heard but it's from a reliable source.’

  Brad nodded as though he was digesting the information. 'It's something. Thanks.'

  After they chatted for some time, Samantha and Brad headed back toward Raven Falls.

  ‘Thanks for coming with me today and for what you did.’

  ‘You helped me with Christopher so I’m returning the favour.’ It was more than returning the favour. Samantha enjoyed his company and something prompted her to want to help ease his pain, to lessen his burden.

  ***

  Brad pulled up in front of the rundown cemetery and climbed from his four-wheeler. Feeling the intense bite of the sun, he grabbed his hat, positioned it on his head and headed toward the front gates.

  His boots crunched over dry leaves, and a ghostly eeriness set in the atmosphere. Even the flowers on some of the graves appeared to have dwindled weeks ago. The wind picked up and fled through the tall gum trees overhead, as well as kicking up dust he thought he would have grown accustomed to by now.

  It took some time to jiggle the old gate loose and to force it open. When he did manage to open it, he wandered for the good part of fifteen minutes, and slowed when he spotted a grey headstone. Inscribed in black lettering was the name Timothy Harper.

  His gut twisted with aversion.

  His body numbed. There wasn’t any rising emotion, regrets, nothing. Instead, abhorrence for what his father had done burned his soul. How could any man kill himself, especially if he had a wife and child, perhaps two children, to care for? The bastard. He’d left his wife alone to deal with excruciating pain. If he were alive today, Brad had a good mind to fist him in the face.

  He read the date of his father’s death. Brad had been about six years old. He squinted. It wasn’t possible. He didn’t know his father at six or even when he was five years old. Then he recalled Tracey saying they didn’t find him for a while after he went missing. Hell, he didn’t even know his father was missing. At that age, there were a lot of things he didn’t know, and probably wouldn’t have understood. But why hadn’t his mother told him when he was old enough to understand?

  What about the baby? Didn’t his father want another kid? Did he do away with him? Questions tore through Brad’s mind, questions to which he feared the answers, but Brad knew he wouldn’t rest until he had every answer slotted into place.

  He walked over toward his mother’s grave site, and noticed some greenery and a few withered flowers hanging limp in an empty vase. They hadn’t been here the last time he’d visited and he wondered who would have put them there.

  He knelt. ‘Hey Mum. How’s it doing? I hope you’re feeling better now without all that pain. I saw the look on your face. It was as though you looked forward to your dying moment. I didn’t blame you. I’m not sure if you ever knew but I hid my pain from you during those last months. I had to. I had a bloody car accident. But I’m fine now, or getting there. One thing I wanted to say is I met this wonderful woman, but I’m not sure now. Since the accident, I’m unsure of a lot of things. It scares the hell out of me. I’ll come back and talk to you from time to time. After all, I knew you always loved me talking.’ He chuckled, and brushed at the dust lingering over the fine marble.

  ‘I’ll bring some silk flowers back, the ones you love so much. They’ll survive this heat. I recall you loved those white lily things. Keep an eye out. Love you Mum. I wish you would have told me more about this brother or sister of mine. See you soon.’

  With glazed eyes, he pushed to his feet, gazed about and spotted an elderly man not too far away sitting cross-legged in the dirt. He was probably speaking to a loved one just like he had.

  When Brad was leaving, he couldn’t get over the place’s state of disrepair. It wasn’t a nice place to visit. When all this was over and done with he’d grab the Osbornes’ and get a working bee happening. Surely it could look better, feel better, when people wanted to come and chat?

  Leaving the cemetery, he veered his car back into Raven and headed toward Tracey’s grocery store, hoping she could point him in the right direction.

  ‘Why don’t you do an internet search of deaths? I’m sure it’d be on the net. I always look things up I need to know, especially living out this way. There is another possibility...you could try Tamworth, the archives from the local papers. They cover out this way, and do a big write up when something like that happens.’

  ‘Thanks Tracey.’

  ‘That’s okay.’

  ‘One other question. Do you know where about at Blackmans Point he was found?’

  ‘There’s a turn off to the left before the creek crossing. It was about five kilometres from the main road. The old gold mine. It’s not too hard to find.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  Where’s Sam this morning?’

  ‘Back at the Falls. She’s pretty busy trying to keep up with things there.’

  ‘Yeah. Poor thing. She thinks it’s her responsibility to care for her brothers like her mother did. She gives but doesn’t get anything in return.’

  ‘I don’t think she’d want anything back. Knowing her brothers are cared for would be enough for someone like Sam.’

  ‘You do like her, don’t you?’ Tracey’s hand flew to cover her mouth. ‘I shouldn’t have asked such a personal question.’

  ‘Yes. I do like her.’

  ‘I thought so.’

  ‘She’s like a sister I didn’t have.’

  An eager grin spread to her lips. ‘Oh. Oh yes, she is a lovely girl. I’ve known Samantha for years. We went to school together.’

  ‘I should get going. I have a Skype meeting in a few hours. Thanks for the information.’

  ‘Anytime Brad. You’re welcome anytime.’

  ‘See you.’

  ‘Yeah. Bye.’

  Brad left the store as quickly as possible. He didn’t need the needle of a female to spike up his testosterone levels not in his state of mind, or body.

  Samantha spotted Brad’s vehicle at exactly two that afternoon as he pulled to a skittering halt, sending a thick dust cloud into the air. It was as though he’d outrun a stampede of cattle. She wondered what was so important. She rushed toward the door and called out, ‘Well that’s a stop if I ever saw one.’

  A lazy slow smile curved his lips and his eyes highlighted playfulness. It was obvious his disposition had changed.

  ‘I thought you’d be used to it considering you have three brothers.’

  ‘Ha ha. Cameron is down near the stables with Mike. I think Steven is off with some of the jackaroos keeping an eye on the cattle.’

  ‘It might pay to get that other line in soon. Move some more cattle closer to home.’

  ‘You and Cam think alike. He mentioned that to me only hours ago. The few hundred head closer to the Falls are being watched closely. Mike sends a rotation of workers out twenty-four hours a day.’

  ‘Good. How’s Christopher going?’

  ‘He’s bored, poor thing, but healing well.’

  ***

  They turned off the main road and trave
lled along a gravel driveway for a few kilometres until the enormity of the property drifted into view.

  Brad whistled. ‘I never.’

  ‘It’s impressive, isn’t it?’

  ‘Especially out this way. It’s got to be over a hundred years old.’

  ‘The original building was built in the eighteen thirties, but from about eighteen eighty-eight to the early nineteen hundreds it’s had a few changes, repairs, things like that. It now includes elegant and extensive Edwardian furniture.’

  Intricate white latticework decorated the top balcony of the building, matching the numerous archways below, with a prominent thickset chimney jutting out from the green iron roof.

  ‘Mary’s husband died some years back. The property’s been in the family name for as long as I can remember.’

  ‘What does she do?’ Brad asked, while stepping from the car and closing the door, only to turn and admire the homestead.

  ‘She’s retired.’ Samantha walked around to the front of the car. ‘It was a successful rural property in its day. Her husband put a lot of hard yards into this place.’

  ‘The gardens are colourful. I’ll give her that. It’s something you’d see in a garden book.’

  ‘It is nice. It’s a cottage garden.’

  Roses decorated an arbour to her left, and many flowering shrubs thrived close by. As soon as they reached the front door, there was no need to knock. The door swung open.

  ‘I saw you coming. I’m glad you could make it. My, my, you make a lovely couple. Do come in.’

  ‘We’re friends, Mary.’ Heat rose in Samantha’s cheeks, and she flicked a disconcerting gaze at Brad before she walked into the foyer.

  ‘Nice to see you again, Mary.’

  Samantha tried to take her mind from Mary’s words and admired the splendour of the high ceilings and the complex work put into the home.

  ‘Why don’t you go into the sitting room? I’ll have tea served in there.’

  They entered a small room to their left. Samantha wished they had such a room at Raven Falls. It was somewhere to have visitors without shooing her brothers from the lounge room. She sat on a red sofa with fancy timber legs.

  Mary spoke to a woman by the door, while Brad took a seat next to Samantha, but kept a reasonable space between them.