Deep furrows appeared in the unsealed road, probably the results from trucks driving over the muddy earth. He checked out the area, and with the considerable amount of rain they’d received it was a wonder more damage hadn’t been done. When he reached Raven, there were roof tops covered by blue tarpaulins. On either side of the roads, piles of debris lay heaped for collection.
He slowed when he reached the main street lined with a few houses and shops. It appeared there hadn’t been any damage in this part of town. After reversing into the kerb, he scrambled out, and noticed the thick crust of red clay caked over his tyres and splattered up the sides of his vehicle.
His heartbeat pumped hard as he jogged up the steps and into the post office. After producing his identification and providing a signature, he walked from the small office, and stood on the footpath, tapping the envelope against his free hand.
He loved Sam more than a brother should love a sister and if his suspicious were true how could he walk away and never see her again? It would be impossible to ignore the feelings he had for her; to do so would be downright soul-destroying. If his assumptions were true, it’d be agony; a painful curse he wasn’t prepared to face, but how could he let her know, and destroy what the Osborne family had built at Raven Falls? He couldn’t and wouldn't.
He’d have to be satisfied that he once knew his sister, and that she was safe and happy in the company of the Osborne boys. Then he’d burn all evidence of any sibling, his mother’s house if he had to, so Samantha could live out a happy and contented life. There was no other way. For crying out loud, how could his sister be the soul mate of his life? Perhaps it was due to the intense feeling of wanting someone to call family, of needing that family connection. What a bloody scenario.
He climbed into his four-wheel-drive and tossed the envelope onto the passenger seat before firing up the engine and starting the air conditioner, although his body continued to heat with expectation; his guts were combusting.
He stared at the letter on the seat, checked out his surrounds and glanced back at the letter knowing he had to open it. He snatched it up and ripped it open. His gut rolled with dread. His mother’s words read, ‘The secret lies at Raven Falls.’
Bloody hell, was that all?
So now it was a secret. What in the hell did she mean by that? A bloody big secret.
Did she mean one of the Osbornes’, or was there something else at Raven Falls to discover? Another clue.
Veering his vehicle from the main street, he headed toward home having no idea who to turn to or what to do next.
Chapter Thirteen
Samantha hung up after speaking for about an hour to a woman at the Births, Deaths, and Marriages in Sydney.
They’d been busy and therefore her request was put to the bottom of the list. She’d already provided the necessary details, yet the woman had stated the dates weren’t coming up. It was then Samantha questioned her age and Cameron’s age.
She headed into her parents’ office almost in a trance and closed the door. After wandering around the office, she sat, but her blank gaze combed the room. She had to be one hundred percent positive if she was to make any announcement and she wondered if Brad had received the letter from his solicitor.
When the last of her brothers sat down at the dinner table, Samantha picked up her wine glass with a shaky hand. She glanced at Christopher, then to Steven, and onto Cameron with a heavy heart and swallowed against a stubborn lump in her throat as she took a mouthful of wine.
For some moments, she tried to control the searing pain sliding slowly down her windpipe and when she recovered her senses she looked up at Cameron.
‘I’ve got something I want to say, to discuss.’
Steven and Christopher continued to talk.
‘Did you hear me? Hello.’
‘Sorry sis, what did you say?’ Steven asked.
‘I need to talk to you all about something that’s important.’
‘Yeah. What’s up?’ Cameron inquired.
‘Cam, you know when I said I wanted to get birth certificates for us.’
‘Yeah.’
‘I have a weird feeling that I'm Brad's missing sibling. I look like his mother, and I also look like the baby in the picture that May Hinder had. She even said I had the same hair colouring as the baby in the photograph. Although I’m not certain of what she says is true. I could be Brad’s sister.’
All eyes directed toward her.
‘Shit. That’s what this is all about. That’s why you’re moping about the place.’
‘What would you do if you were in my shoes?’
‘Wait it out Sam. Don’t analyse everything.’
‘That’s easier said than done. I’ve been beside myself.’
‘What’s the harm if it were true?’ Steven remarked.
She glared at him, shook her head. ‘Steven, it would mean none of you are related, that you aren’t my brothers.’ Samantha couldn’t bear the thought. Her eyes glazed.
The room quietened and the loud ticking of the grandfather clock in the lounge room marked out the passing moments.
‘Wait and see. I don’t think Mum adopted anyone,’ Cameron said.
‘I know, but she could have. You know what Mum was like. She’d take anyone in if needed. She’d give the clothes off her back to anyone in need, her shoes, and that includes taking in an unwanted child.’
‘And she’d analyse everything down to the colour of stitching on the clothing they wore. Give it a break for a while. You’ve made yourself sick with worry.’
‘I know but circumstances don’t just happen like that, they happen for a reason, Cam.’
‘If there is a reason for all this to be happening, be patient and wait,’ Steven advised. ‘We won’t love you any less sis.’ Cameron and Christopher backed him up.
Tears filled her eyes. ‘But you are my brothers. We’ve been through so much together since Mum and Dad died.’
‘And we’ll continue going through things together. It doesn’t matter. If it is true, you’ll stay here with us, and we’ll continue on like normal. Hell, do you think we’d kick you out after everything you’ve done for us, after all the work you’ve helped put into this place?’
A stray tear ran down her cheek and she sniffled, picked up her glass and took a few swallows of wine, feeling some consolation.
Cameron walked over and knelt beside her. He placed a hand on her knee. ‘You’re our sister and always will be. Adopted, whatever, it won’t change. Don’t worry so much.’ He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.
‘Thanks.’ She forced a grin to her face but it wasn’t lasting. Their words didn’t distract from the fact that she could be Brad’s sister. The man she was in love with, the man she’d slept with. How morbid was that? And she considered herself to be a moral woman.
‘We haven’t heard from Brad for a while now, so my guess is that he hasn’t got any news. You can bet on it when he does find out something he’ll let us know,’ Cameron added.
‘I guess so.’ She pulled a quirky face and pushed to her feet. ‘I might retire for the night. I’m drained. Cam, do you mind cleaning up?’
‘Go ahead Sam. I don’t mind. It’s no wonder you’re drained carrying around so much burden. This is your home as much as ours.’
Samantha carried her glass up to her bedroom and closed the door only to sit on her bed with thoughts of Brad. Never in all her days would she think it possible to be in a situation such as this. Tomorrow she’d head into town, and chase up some of her mother’s old friends. Surely someone could vouch for her, someone that knew her mother when she was born.
It didn’t matter what her brothers said, they didn’t know the entire story. If they found out would they be so obliging, so set in their ways? It scared her to death?
***
A knock sounded on the front door moments before Samantha was about to leave for Raven. She opened the door a crack and drew back with a start. ‘Brad.’
‘Sam. Can I come i
n?’
‘Yeah. Sure.’ She allowed the door to open wider. The muscles in his face flexed, and perspiration dropped from his temples.
‘Are you all right?’
‘I’m not too sure. I received the letter.’
Samantha tightened her grip over the door handle as he walked in. Drawing in a calming breath, she closed the door and took a second to compose herself.
‘Um. Kitchen. Cam and Steve are having a coffee before they head out. They’re down at the machinery shed. They shouldn’t be too long.’
Brad followed her into the kitchen, and pulled out a chair.
‘Would you like a cold drink, coffee?’
‘Cold drink if you don’t mind.’
After pouring two lemonades with ice, she put the glass in front of him, and sat at the head of the table. He took a mouthful of drink.
‘What have you found out?’ She twisted her hands in her lap as the air thickened with such unease she was beginning to feel sick.
‘Sam.’
‘Yes.’ She drew in a slow steady breath, held it.
He coughed, looked directly at her and cast his gaze aside. Her insides couldn’t take much more.
‘What’s happened?’
‘I’d like to wait until your brothers are here if you don’t mind.’
Her nerves tingled, as though she’d been electrocuted. Every muscle tensed. Spotting her brothers behind Brad, she eased out a breath.
‘Speak of the devils.’
‘Did we hear a reference to us?’
They took off their boots at the back door. Cameron slipped off his hat, wiped his forehead with a bandana and walked into the kitchen with Steven following.
‘It’s warming up out there. I can’t believe the heat in this weather, especially at this time of the year,’ Cameron said.
Samantha stood. ‘I’ll get you a cold drink.’ She busied herself pouring two more drinks and sat them on the table. Steven pulled out a chair at the opposite end, while Cameron remained standing beside the seat she originally occupied.
‘Brad has something to tell us.’
She looked at Cameron who was rolling his shoulders. Steven stretched his neck as though he had a kink in there somewhere, and Brad heaved out a heavy sigh before his jaw clenched. As for Samantha, her palms perspired and her chest tightened.
‘What is it mate?’ Cameron asked.
‘The letter. I received the letter from my solicitor.’
‘What did it say?’
‘It said the answer lies at Raven Falls.’
A deathly silence filled the room, and Samantha sent a cautious gaze over her brothers.
‘Brad. To be honest with you mate we’ve had our suspicions that it could be any one of us, but it’s not confirmed. And then again, we know that Mum and Dad, Shirley and Jack, were our blood parents.’
Samantha placed an open palm to her chest suddenly refusing to believe it could be her. ‘It’s not me. I know it’s not me.’ Her heart hammered, while she denied any such thing. It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be. She was too much like Christine Osborne her mother and why would her mother want to adopt her, or keep her if she could have children of her own? Her insides screamed refusal at any such thought while all along she believed there could be a possibility.
‘We can’t sit here and surmise. If the answer is here, we need to figure out what it is,’ Steven said.
Samantha picked up her glass and emptied the contents.
‘I’ve combed Mum and Dad’s office. There’s nowhere else to look.’ She pushed to her feet unable to take in much more. Pulling back slow deep breaths did little to calm the hive of activity throbbing through her body.
‘Hang on, yes there is, in your room Sam. I know we cleaned it out. But there’s got to be something somewhere.’
‘Mum didn’t leave any of us a letter. She didn’t know she was going to die so young.’
‘Who said anything about a letter? Surely there’s something you’ve overlooked, perhaps in the office, in the safe.’
‘Like what, Cam?’
‘I don’t know. I’ll take a look. Do you wanna come with me, Brad?’
‘What now?’ Samantha questioned.
‘It won’t take long. You can oversee if you like.’
‘I’ll be in there shortly.’
Cameron and Brad started for the office. She curled her hands into fists, the tips of her nails digging into her flesh.
‘It won’t make any difference if you aren’t my blood sister. Mum and Dad raised us all as a family and well, hell...you’re my family.’
Samantha looked at Steven. His eyes glassed.
‘Thanks Steven. You will always be my brother no matter what. I should make sure they’re not making a mess of things.’
Steven chuckled as she walked from the room.
Samantha leaned on the edge of the architrave and watched closely. ‘Make sure you put everything back where you found it.’
‘Yes, Mum.’
Samantha’s lips thinned. Although Brad wasn’t searching, he studied Cameron’s every move as he pulled out the top drawer of the desk.
‘What about the safe?’ Cameron looked up.
‘I’ll check it again later, although I’m certain there aren’t any birth certificates, letters or information that we need.’
She walked in and ran her fingers along the bookcase. ‘You know Mum loved books as much as Dad.’
Then it dawned on her that she hadn’t cleaned or even pulled out a book out since they died. Perhaps she’d run a feather duster over them but she had never moved them. ‘I’ve got it. Maybe something is behind the books, in the books, I don’t know. I’ve never looked.’
‘I thought you said you combed this office.’
‘Yeah. I did. I meant the filing cabinet and desk drawers.’
Samantha lifted a book from its position, and followed with several more until the top of the desk was covered with books. ‘There’s nothing so far.’
After spending considerable time searching, the men retired to the lounge room leaving Samantha alone. She folded onto the chair and stared into space. This was getting out of hand and she didn’t know how much longer she could put up with the stress each day. It was affecting her health. Something had to be done.
As she wandered from the office, the sound of Brad’s vehicle pulled away and she eased out a slow breath before joining her brothers.
‘Sam. Just the person we need to see.’
‘Yes.’
‘We have taken a vote. We’re going to hire a live-in housekeeper. ‘
Samantha stopped in the centre of the room, swung back to Cameron and placed two hands on her hips. ‘We can’t afford it.’
‘Yes, we can,’ Steven said. ‘We’ve still got our rainy-day money.’
Samantha squinted. ‘Rainy-day money.’
‘There’s more than plenty to pay a housekeeper for at least a year or so.’
She shook her head. ‘Any more surprises?’
‘We thought you’d jump at the chance.’
After a few moments, she said, ‘Yes. I agree. It’ll give me more time outdoors. Thank you for being so considerate. All of you.’
‘So, it’s decided.’
‘I hope we can find a woman that doesn’t mind shacking up with three single men and a woman.’
‘Cameron is that all you think about?’
‘Basically.’
Steven and Cameron’s laughter filled the room.
Samantha shook her head. ‘Leave it to me.’
‘Yeah I can picture the scenario. It’d be someone like Mary Hinder, round, grey and fat.’
‘Someone like that,’ she jested.
‘Let’s hope she can move a lot faster.’
***
By the time Samantha arrived in Raven, her car was coated with splatters of red clay. The land held a tinge of green but she wondered how long it would last. If they didn’t get follow up rain, it’d be as though the storm
hadn’t arrived.
She reversed her car into the kerb and stepped out into the warming sun and into the grocery store. Tracey was busy serving a customer, so she browsed the many knickknacks nearby.
‘Hi ya, stranger.’ Tracey looked in her direction as the customer left the store.
‘Tracey. Hi.’
‘This is a surprise.’
Samantha walked over to the counter. ‘How’s business?’
‘Yeah, okay I think. One day it’s slow with two customers if that, and the next day it changes. Take yesterday, I had fifteen people in here wanting all types of goods.’
‘That’s great.’
‘It is if you stock the items everyone wants. I would like to expand one day, but until the area recovers from the drought it would be senseless.’
‘Do you recall when you told me about a woman, Charlotte Somers? She was looking for work.’
‘I remember. She still is.’
‘I’m looking for a housekeeper. I’d like to see her and organise a live-in arrangement at Raven Falls.’
‘Wow. She’d be pleased with that. What made you change your mind?’
‘My brothers suggested it and to tell you the truth, it’s all getting a bit much for me. I want to get outdoors, do other things beside housework.’
‘It’s about time. Charlotte lives out of town. Her father died a few years back. The place had been empty until six or so months ago until she returned from Sydney. She’s a lovely girl. You won’t regret it. I’d hire her at once if I could.’
‘Do you have her number?’
‘She has an account here. Hang on.’
While Tracey went out into the back room, Samantha made sure her mobile had service. Sometimes it would have five bars, and then at times one bar and the connection wasn’t that good.
‘Found it,’ she said when she returned.
After Samantha keyed the number into her phone she walked outside and waited through the few ring tones.
‘Hello, Charlotte speaking.’
‘Charlotte. My name is Samantha Osborne. Tracey from the store said you were looking for work.’
‘Yes, I am.’
‘I’m looking for a live-in housekeeper. Basic work, like washing, ironing, cooking, that is if you like to cook or whatever needs doing at Raven Falls.’
Raven Falls: Australian Rural Romantic Suspense Page 21