What had she hoped for, Vicki wondered wistfully, this mother of Wade's who had died before her son was properly grown? What would she think now, if she could come back, to see and feel the unhappiness and bitterness at Baccaroo? In the house she had probably meant to fill only with love and laughter.
Vicki eventually found the Old Man in the main office, a building set some way from the house.
'For a girl who's taken to fainting all over the place, you're up and about early enough,' he grunted, when she appeared in the doorway.
'I don't think I'll be doing that any more, Mr. McLeod,' she replied. From the way his eyes narrowed she knew he was wondering why she didn't continue calling him Grandfather. Well, she never would, not until he asked her, and this he had never done, probably never would. Coolly she looked at him, trying not to allow her gaze to wander around the room which had once been so familiar. Hadn't she been here when Wade had come seeking her, on the day he had asked her to marry him? She clenched her hands, shutting off her thoughts, and spoke quickly to his grandfather. 'I'm going to try and make myself useful around the house, so I came to see if you would like coffee. Misilgoe mentioned that you usually have it in the drawing room, these days, and rest afterwards.'
'What I'm reduced to,' he snarled, without offering an explanation. Then, as Vicki made no reply, 'Why should you want to make me coffee, girl, after the way I bawled at you in Melbourne?'
'Is this an apology, Mr. McLeod?' Vicki glanced at him wryly, unable to think for a moment that it was.
She was right. 'No, just curiosity,' he retorted shortly. The overseer came in, but halted abruptly when coming face to face with Vicki. He was a man in his early thirties, expert at everything but so nice with it that his smartness never jarred. Vicki had liked him; she still did. He had always been pleasant to her, and oddly protective, especially before she had married Wade. That her marriage had been a small shock to him she had guessed, although to what extent she had never known.
Now, although paling slightly, he smiled at her warmly. Tm pleased to see you back, Vicki.'
She didn't doubt his sincerity as she shook his hand. He didn't seem surprised at finding her here, so she supposed Wade must have told him she had returned.
Jeff Curry didn't pretend not to be studying her keenly, but made no personal comment on her over-fragile appearance, although his smile faded as he looked her over. Instead he spoke of Graham. 'You've got a really fine youngster there, Vicki. Old Ned was saying he's exactly as Wade was at his age. And Ned should know.'
Why can't someone say he's a bit like me? Vicki stifled such a retort and kept a smile pinned on her lips.
The Old Man interrupted. Tm going back to the house, Jeff. I reckon I'm not much help here, anyhow. I've just been talking to Ada Court, from Montgoora. They were delighted with my great-grandson when they were over the night before last. She was just enquiring if Wade was back.'
Vicki felt her lips tighten as she followed him out. The whole Territory would have known Wade was back,-almost as soon as he flew in. And his wife with him! They apparently, at least some of them had, lost no time in coming to look Graham over. Were they awaiting further developments? Vicki had never found it so herself, but a lot of people found life in the Outback occasionally monotonous and uneventful. Without their battery-operated transceivers, which many of them listened to regularly, they would find their days very dull indeed.
With the news out that Wade McLeod's missing wife had returned with a son, people would be visiting. Few of them could have any idea of the true circumstances, and their neighbours, being mostly kind-hearted to a fault, would make a great fuss of Graham. Graham, young though he was, or perhaps because he was so young, would lap it all up. When the time came it might be impossible to tear him away. A feeling of despair rose inside her.
After the Old Man went! Frowning, as she poured his coffee, Vicki pondered on the best way to discover the exact condition of his heart. The opportunity came more easily than she had expected.
'So you're going to try taking up where Annie Clover left off?' He drank from his cup noisily, not looking at her.
T don't think I'll be able to do that, exactly,' Vicki replied cautiously, 'but there can't be any harm in trying.'
'Oh, you were always one for trying,' he retorted harshly. 'Give you an inch and you'd take a mile, as I soon discovered. You connived to get in where you were never wanted.'
When she made no reply apart from taking a deep breath and clenching her fingers, he rumbled on with a strange change of tone, 'All my life others have worked against me, and I only had their interests at heart.'
'You mean you only thought of Baccaroo!'
'Same thing, isn't it?' His bushy eyebrows in his lined old face drew together.
'Not exactly ...'
'I miss Annie Clover,' the increasing harshness in his voice might have hid emotion. 'She was a good woman, when she made the effort.'
'You liked her because she never attempted to assert herself, but that didn't mean she was blind to what went on.'
He ignored the last part of her sentence. 'Hardly her place to assert herself, young woman.'
'Nor mine? Are you trying to issue a sort of Warning, Mr. McLeod?'
'Annie Clover probably saved my life.' He stared past Vicki's head as if he were seeing another, scene, if reluctantly. 'I owe her ...'
Vicki took it he was referring to some incident from his youth. 'It's a bit late, isn't it?'
'Yes,' for a moment his eyes closed and his mouth compressed, 'far too late. I wasn't able to speak to her before she died.'
Puzzled, Vicki asked why not.
'Because,' he cleared his throat and glared at her, as if only impatient, 'of all the damn fool things, I took a turn when I saw she'd taken-one! Annie wasn't far short of me in years, but she was younger, so I guess it was a shock to see her lying there. Only a fool wouldn't have known she was done for. Anyway, when that fool of a doctor flew in he said I'd had a heart attack too, but not as bad as Annie's. He said Annie's collapse had likely saved my life, that I could have had a much worse attack anywhere and been a goner before I'd got help. Now I have these miraculous tablets, girl. I take two and, suppose I say it myself, they're real good.'
So Wade had been telling the truth about his grand-father's heart. Her own problems momentarily forgotten Vicki stared at him almost sadly. Whatever else he had been, the Old Man was a fighter. Still was, if the glint in his eye was anything to go by, and for this she respected him. Something dejected about him, as he resumed his staring into space, caught at her heart, until she realised he had never invited sympathy. He probably wouldn't know what to do with it. Hadn't he always brushed any show of affection aside as if it was to be mistrusted? Well, at least she knew now about his heart.' I'm sorry,' she muttered dully, becoming aware that the Old Man's health had put an end to her immediate hopes of escaping with Graham.
She was on the point of getting unhappily to her feet when Mr. McLeod spoke again.
CHAPTER FIVE
"They won't keep me alive for ever,' Vicki was startled to hear the Old Man say. 'Wade and Doc Evans think me a fool, but I know my time is almost up. Just as long as I live to see Wade married to a proper wife.'
Vicki stood up abruptly. Tm sure you'll do that, Mr. McLeod.' Crushing a sudden panic under anger, she warned him sharply, 'But don't think you'll be able to get rid of me and keep my son I'
'Wade needs more sons.' The Old Man didn't look pathetic any more, his mouth set stubbornly. I think I know the very girl for him.'
'Surely you're running out of suitable candidates, Mr. McLeod? Why not give up and let Wade choose for himself? He's old enough.'
This observation seemed to disturb the Old Man to such an extent that his face went red. As Vicki's eyes widened with alarmed dismay, his high colour faded to a ghastly white and he gave a funny little gasp and slumped sideways.
With a presence of mind she was far from feeling, Vicki asked quickly, 'Where ar
e your tablets?'
'Here,' he groped for his pocket clumsily and she carefully pushed his hand aside to extract them.
She gave him two with some lukewarm coffee, holding the cup to his lips carefully as he was unable to lift it himself. In a very few seconds he recovered a little, and the bluish tinge around his mouth disappeared.
'Don't think you've saved my life, girl, like Annie did,' he gasped, when he was able to speak. Tm well used to managing myself when this thing hits me. It's easier when someone's around, that's all.'
'Yes, I understand.' Vicki stared down at him anxiously, the acid taste of near-defeat in her mouth, convinced now she couldn't tackle him about anything much. She wouldn't want to be responsible for another attack like this, no matter what happened. She must resign herself to- having to face die enemy without being able to fight back. There was still Wade, of course. Somehow she must find a way of defeating him so his grandfather would suffer no ill effects.
After sitting with him quietly for a while and satisfying herself he was recovered, Vicki returned to the kitchen. Her morning's schedule was well behind time and she felt herself growing agitated. In the kitchen she found yet another cause for dismay. Misilgoe was there, alone, and only half of Vicki's orders had been carried out.
'Boalere says to tell Missus she come back later,' Misilgoe said stolidly.
'Later!' Vicki snapped, feeling, that for one morning, she had had about enough. Then, seeing the recurring alarm on Misilgoe's face, 'Oh, well, I imagine between the two of us we can manage lunch.' 'Boss come back?'
'No. That is, I don't suppose so.' He had rarely been in for lunch in the old days, but things might have changed. 'Does he usually?' she tried to ask casually.
'Sometimes, since Old Man got bad ticker,' Misilgoe replied carelessly.
Could this be because he cared? Vicki hadn't thought either Wade or his grandfather could confuse her further, but it seemed they could. 'I see,' she smiled slightly at the girl, trying not to reveal that the news wasn't welcome. She had planned to concentrate on dinner, rather than the midday meal. She must get her room done and, understanding Wade's silent warning, she must do this discreetly. She could have done with Boalere's help, but perhaps it was just as well she was out of the way.
Perspiration beaded her brow and body, making her thin dress cling. Impatiently she wondered why her strength didn't return-faster. There was still almost the whole day to be got through', and already she felt ready to collapse.
Giving .the impression, without" resorting to deliberate " lies, she pretended she had upset something, and gathering a bucket and dusters went upstairs. Breathless before she reached the top, she wished fervently that Wade's mother had built the usual Outback bungalow type of house instead of a two-storey affair.
Two hours later she had almost completed everything she had set out to do and stood back to survey her handiwork. The bedroom didn't look much different, but it was greatly improved. All the dust had gone and the paintings had been washed and cleaned, the floor scrubbed. Clean linen covered the bed and she had found a pair of lacy curtains, but these would have to wait until another day. She had no strength left to hang them herself, although she had managed to remove the old torn ones from the window.
Horrified to discover herself so tired she could scarcely move, she sank on to the chair beside the bed, deciding she might be wiser to remain where she was until she recovered a little. She felt thankful she had told Misilgoe not to disturb her. As she sat, she heard Graham's childish treble floating up from the garden and old Mr. McLeod's deeper, answering tones. The Old Man must have recovered. Vicki felt relieved but also envious that he could join Graham and Miss Webb, while her legs felt so weak again she dared not even try to.
There carried the sounds of lunch, the distant clatter of plates and cutlery from the kitchens, then Graham going to his room for his afternoon rest. Vicki felt hurt that he hadn't come searching for her. He had probably been forbidden to when it was supposed she was resting and he seemed happy enough, if his bright chatter was anything to go by. She dared not call to him as he went past her door for fear Miss Webb saw what room she was in. After this there was silence, a long, quiet interlude which she passed by worrying about almost everything, punctuating each fresh problem she thought of with hopeless little prayers for a cup of tea.
When the door opened abruptly she wasn't prepared to find Wade striding in, holding one in his hand; Feeling rather like Aladdin with his lamp, she stared at him, unaware how her white face, covered with streaks of dust, reminded him of the day he had found her in her room in Melbourne.
What the devil!' he exploded, closing the door behind him, with an almost identical bang. 'What the hell have you been up to now?'
'I've only been cleaning my room,' she replied stiffly, not attempting to evade the issue, adding with a dignity belied by a faint tremor in her voice, 'As it's really your dressing room and was much in need of a good scrub out, you shouldn't object.'
'That needles you, doesn't it?' He put down the cup he carried sharply on the low table by her side. 'You're still annoyed I didn't offer you my bed as well as your board. Well, let me. tell you, girl, it took long enough to eradicate the image of your exotic little body from my pillows four years ago. I wouldn't go to the same trouble again, not unless you were to be there permanently.'
As she stared at him wordlessly, wondering whether that was a statement or query, or something else again, her face seemed to go even paler.
This brought another snarling exclamation. 'Look at you! Almost ready to drop. I've seen more life in a baby calf after it had been savaged by a wild dog. There was no need to start on this today.'
Tm quite all right!' Weakly she considered his comparisons might be appropriate. The two men in this house, for all their civilized urbanity, did remind her sometimes of the savage wild beasts Wade referred to. Tm just having a rest,' she protested.
His face couldn't have been colder, or more uncaring. 'Listen, Vicki, I've told you, I don't care if you want to kill yourself, but you won't do it while you're staying here.'
The pain of that stabbed, but she tried to ignore it. 'You agreed this morning that I could do as I liked.'
"When I said you could take over the house I didn't mean like this. I've just been hearing about what you've been up to, both here and in the office. My grandfather tells me Jeff almost swooned at the sight of you. During the next few weeks I'd advise you to keep out of Jeff's way. I don't want you running to him like you used to do, with your complaints!'
'It wasn't like that and you know it!' she gasped. 'I talked to him sometimes, that was all.'
'Jeff's always been half in love with you. Deny that, if you can? The Old Man'
'Your grandfather, Wade!' she broke in sharply, disregarding his cold expression as anxiety struck her. 'Is he all right? I don't know how I forgot.'
'Sure,' Wade's voice was clipped. 'He's out, right now, with Jeff as a matter of fact. Stop worrying about him.'
She had never intended worrying, yet was surprised to hear herself cry indignantly, 'Someone ought to!'
'Not you. Take a look at yourself!' Fury edged his voice. 'Come on, into bed before I lose my temper completely.'
'No!' She was aware, from his glittering eyes, that his control was slipping, but she must defy him, It was like a battle from which she could see' no way of making a dignified retreat. 'No, I won't,' she repeated stubbornly, while every one of her aching bones just cried out for the rest he advised.
As if tried beyond everything by her time-wasting procrastinations, Wade bent down from his great height and took hold of her. Before she could say another word he had lifted her on to the bed and began undoing the buttons on the front of her dress. 'I'm your husband,' he snapped, 'if only for the next few weeks, and with a child you're surely a very much married woman. So we'll have no more of your childish protests. It's not as if I had anything else in mind but the necessity of getting you into bed.'
Givin
g in at last, because of the frightening surge of feeling that went through her, in spite of her weakened state, when he touched her, she struggled feebly and said she could manage—would manage, if he left her, but he appeared to be past taking any notice." He slipped the dress from her shoulders, his hands too lean and strong to be pushed aside. Utterly humiliated, she felt herself lifted as he removed it completely, leaving her sitting there shivering with nerves, in her brief underclothes.
Her bra, just a silken scrap of material, scarcely covered the high, rounded curves of a figure which was no longer that of a young girl, and was. emphasized by the extreme slenderness of her waist. Below her waist the fine bones of her hips were slight, but behind these more pronounced curves of flesh appeared seductively enticing. Attempting to cover herself and hide her burning embarrassment, she drew up her long, slender legs and began wrapping her bare arms around them.
Wade wasn't having any. For a moment he stood staring at her and she saw a dark red creeping along his taut jaw line. A peculiar floating sensation hit her and she didn't think she breathed. Suddenly she wanted to raise her tightly clasped arms and hold them out to him, to lose herself entirely in the smouldering caverns of his dark, narrowed eyes.
When his hands lifted again she thought, for one black, pulse-racing moment, that he was going to drag her to him, to relieve his masculine feelings as urgently as he had once done in the past. Instead she found herself almost thrust beneath the blankets, with a dexterity she found difficult to follow, and Wade was striding into the bathroom.
'Stay there,' he commanded curtly, his body noticeably tense when he came back with a damp flannel. This he passed to her. 'You can rub your face with this until you're able to make the bathroom yourself. After you've cleaned up you can drink your tea and stay where you are for at least the remainder of the afternoon.'
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