by Diana Fraser
James shook his head and looked at all three of them. “Christ, you three. All this drama for nothing? Well, Callum? It’s your land. What do you think?”
“I think… it’s a good proposal. I haven’t found the right use for the land till now. This should work.” He narrowed his gaze thoughtfully onto Morgan. “Is this for Joe?”
Morgan nodded. “And for Rebecca. And for me.”
James extended his hand to Morgan. “Looks like you’ve got yourself a deal, Morgan. Congratulations.” He turned to the lawyer. “Now, if that’s all agreed, perhaps we could move on with the rest of the business.”
Callum stepped forward and dropped the papers on the desk and scrawled his name at the bottom. Morgan countersigned and stepped away. “I’ll leave you to it.”
“Thank you, Mr. West. I’ll have the paperwork finalized and my office will be in touch.”
Morgan nodded and without looking at any of the brothers walked out the door. He’d done what he’d come to do. He didn’t expect them to like it and he didn’t expect their friendship to survive it.
As he stepped out onto the cold Lake Tekapo street he glanced up at the land he’d shown Rebecca all those weeks ago, the land that was now his to farm, his to build a house on, his to begin a new life with Joe… and maybe, if she’d have him, Rebecca too. But he didn’t feel the thrill of ownership that he’d expected. He glanced back at the office where the shape of Callum could still be seen by the window. No, he felt only disappointment.
With the deed done, Gemma and Rebecca sneaked back into the homestead, giggling like two school kids.
“I’ve never done anything this naughty before,” said Rebecca sitting down, stunned at what she’d just done.
“Becks, I’ve done so many things that are wrong, that I know when something is right or not.” She poured them both coffees and brought Rebecca’s over to her. “And this is right, believe me.”
“I do.” Rebecca sipped the coffee. “Or at least I think I do.”
The sound of cars approaching made Gemma jump up from the table and look out the window. “Looks like we made it just in time. The guys are back.”
Rebecca followed Gemma’s gaze as Dallas, Callum, and James got out of the car. Dallas and James came straight up the steps into the house while Callum walked purposefully across the paddock toward the barn.
Rebecca and Gemma looked at each other in alarm. “The barn! You said Callum wouldn’t go there.”
Gemma grabbed her coat. “There’s nothing there for him to do. He must be wanting some time on his own. I’ll go and stop him.”
As Gemma left through the back door, the other door opened and James and Dallas stepped inside.
“Rebecca! What a lovely surprise.” James kissed her on both cheeks while she blushed furiously.
Dallas poured a coffee and sat down at the table, looking at her intently. “We’ve just been in a meeting with Morgan.”
“Oh,” breathed Rebecca, wishing she were anywhere but here. She took another sip of her coffee but when she raised her eyes, Dallas was still looking at her.
“So when’s the happy occasion?”
She frowned. “What happy occasion?”
Dallas snorted. “Don’t tell me he’s not popped the question yet? He’s as bad as Callum—doing things back to front. God, I don’t know why we didn’t see the similarity between them before.”
Rebecca took her coffee cup to the sink and rinsed it out before stacking it into the dishwasher, trying to figure out what the hell Dallas was talking about and how to make her escape. This was getting way too complicated for her liking.
“Anyway, I hope you’ll all be very happy together,” Dallas continued.
“I’m sure they will,” said James.
She took a deep breath and turned to face them. “Thank you.” She smiled, wondering what else she could add when she didn’t have the first idea what they were talking about. “I’m… sure we will.” She shrugged on her coat and picked up her bag. “I’m off.”
“See you later then?”
She turned, frowning, to James. “Why?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about the famous Glencoe ice-skating party?” He nodded his head to all the activity around the frozen lake, where street vendor carts were being set up offering the traditional roasted chestnuts and the expected hot chips, as well as enough hot drinks to warm the insides of the coldest skater.
“Oh yes, that. Sure.”
“I’ll see you later, then. And Rebecca?”
She turned to James. “Yes?”
“Don’t give Morgan too hard a time. He adores you, that’s plain to see.”
“Hm.” She smiled a brief and non-committal smile, and went out the door. She didn’t look behind her, or even glance at the activities around the lake. All she could think about was getting in the car and finding Morgan and giving him a very hard time. And not in a good way.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Morgan drove into the Glencoe yard which had been set aside as a temporary car park. He’d been in town with Joe looking at alternative accommodation all afternoon. No way was he going to continue to stay at Glencoe. He wouldn’t be here now if it weren’t for the numerous text messages he’d received from Rebecca.
It had been Joe who’d discovered his phone, on silent, slipped down the side of a seat. And it had been Joe who’d carefully read out message after message from Rebecca saying she needed to see him urgently. The last message had been the clincher. Something about Joe being expected at the ice-skating party… some activity he’d been working on. The message had been vague and Joe had looked puzzled. But when he’d received another text message from Gemma along similar lines Morgan had decided to come. After all, it would give Joe a chance to say goodbye to everyone before they moved their things into a motel.
And it’d give him a chance to see Rebecca… to talk to Rebecca.
Morgan slammed the ute door behind Joe who’d immediately run off to join Lily. It made Morgan feel bad. The lad had settled into Glencoe these past few weeks and now he was going to take him away again. But what choice did he have? This place wasn’t—and would never be—his home. He sighed and looked around Glencoe—at the trees, the land, the pale gold of the grass topped with the white sheen of frost which still held its grip on the cold land. Joe wasn’t the only one who’d miss this place. Morgan began to make his way toward the lake.
There were people everywhere. The Mackenzies sure knew how to throw a party. Now the afternoon was fading into evening, the lights in the trees around the lake had been lit and twinkled like stars in the sky, reflecting on the ice of the lake, as children and adults alike swept around the ice, skimming along in fancy figures, while others staggered around the shoreline. Laughter and shrieks of delight filled the air.
He looked about for Rebecca but didn’t see her. Instead of joining the others, he walked to a quiet corner of the property, where he could observe without being observed, where he could watch Joe and look out for Rebecca without having to mingle with the Mackenzie brothers.
He could see Joe from his vantage point. He hadn’t been skating yet and was sitting to the side amongst his new friends drinking hot drinks from which steam billowed out into the cold air.
He should be down there with him, but he couldn’t bring himself to face up to Callum and the rest of the family. His mother had been right. Glencoe was a beautiful place. But it was a place where he wasn’t wanted and after all he’d been through he could do without being hated by the bloody Mackenzies.
He kicked the heel of his boot against the wall behind him, venting the anger that simmered as he watched Lady Mackenzie greet the public as if she were royalty. And Callum—a man who he’d always thought of as more friend than boss—how could he have believed that Morgan would have taken the things he valued most?
And where the hell was Rebecca? He pushed himself off the barn wall and began to walk away.
“Morgan!” He turned to see her st
riding toward him with a very determined look on her face. The setting sun shone on her dark hair that escaped the brightly colored beanie. “What’s all this about you making plans about me, about my future without even telling me?” Her breath formed clouds in the increasingly frigid air. She stood in front of him with her hands on her hips.
“What? Who told you that?”
“It doesn’t matter who told me. Is it true?”
“Yes, it’s true. But—”
“So...” Her lips tightened and he knew he was in for a telling off. But the way her flushed cheeks and bright eyes reminded him of making love to her, made him think that being told off by her wouldn’t be without its pleasures. “So you think you can be this big macho cowboy and go around making decisions not only about your and your son’s future, but about mine too?”
He shrugged. “I guess.” Her eyes looked almost violet in the changing light. He could look at them for hours. He only just managed preventing a smile of pleasure from settling on his lips.
“You guess, do you? And what gives you the authority to go around making life decisions for me?”
He shrugged again, desperately trying to refrain from pulling her to him, of feeling the warmth of her body against his and of burrowing his face into her hair and inhaling her. “I thought we could get married.”
She stepped back, hands on hips. “Did you, indeed? And why exactly did you think we could do this? Don’t tell me you have a list and I fit the criteria, because I won’t believe you.”
“No, I leave all that kind of stuff to you. I know I’m not your ideal man, Rebecca, but I reckon we could make a go of it.”
“Go of it? Man, you could really do with some help in the charm department. Maybe I should arrange a meeting with you and James. He can charm the birds from the trees.”
Any thought of her lovely eyes, the feel of her hair against his cheek disappeared in an instant. He didn’t need to hide a smile any more. He folded his arms. “If you want charm, then perhaps you’re right. Perhaps you should see him.”
“Maybe I will.” She turned on her heels and began to walk away.
“Before you go, you might answer my question.”
She stopped suddenly and shouted over her shoulder. “I might have done, if you’d damn well asked me one!” And then she continued to walk away.
Women! Morgan whistled for Annie—the only female who seemed to understand him. He watched Rebecca walk up to a surprised James who instinctively flashed her a flirtatious smile. He pitied the woman who fell in love with him. He doubted if James knew the meaning of the word “faithful”.
He started to walk away from the party, out to the open fields, when he heard his name being called. He turned to see Gemma running up to him.
“Morgan! Glad I found you. Looks like some kids have got into the barn and loosened the hay bales. It’s pretty dangerous apparently. If any more kids get in the lot could fall down on top of them. Would you mind dealing with it?”
He frowned, wondering why she’d asked him when there were other estate workers whose job it was. No doubt instructed by Callum, he thought bitterly.
“Sure.”
He watched Gemma return to the party before walking quickly over to the barn which was some distance away. He scanned it. It looked fine to him. He briefly wondered how Gemma could have known about it. Maybe one of the kids alerted her. Then he took a closer look. Someone had tampered with it. It wouldn’t have taken long but he wondered who’d done such deliberate damage. It would take hours to set right. But it was too dangerous to leave. It’d have to be done there and then.
In the time it took to collect his tools and begin work, the light from the open door darkened and Callum entered. “What the hell?” he said as he plucked away loose straw.
“Looks like kids,” Morgan said without looking up.
Callum swore under his breath as he inspected the damage. “Everyone else is skating or drinking.”
“Best give me a hand then.” He tossed Callum a wire cutter. He caught it and came around and looked at what Morgan had done.
“Looks good. You just putting some more wire around it?”
“Yeah, giving it a bit of a tidy up at the same time. Should be fine.”
Callum nodded and dropped to his haunches beside Morgan. “You do that, and I’ll pull it tight behind.”
They worked in silence for some time with only the distant sound of the people on the lake, and the wind rustling in the leaves of the tall trees that had grown out of the original fence posts planted behind the barn.
“Do you think we’ll get it fixed before dark?” Callum looked at the work they had still to do.
“Temporarily fixed at any rate.”
Callum set to work beside Morgan. “Bloody kids.”
At the end of an hour, Callum stood up and stretched, watching as Morgan finished. Morgan put the tools back in his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “That’ll do for now.”
Callum grunted and nodded as they both surveyed their handiwork. Then Callum turned to Morgan and held out his hand. “Thanks, mate. I’ll get some men to fix it permanently tomorrow.”
Morgan hesitated only a moment before he took it and they shook. “No problem.”
Together they walked out into the now dark evening except for the lights around the homestead and the lake.
Morgan pulled down his hat and looked up into the sky in which stars were beginning to appear. “I don’t want anything from you, you know. Just the leasehold, at commercial rates. That’s all.”
It was Callum’s turn to hesitate. He didn’t look at Morgan either. “Yeah, I know. Sorry, it’s just…”
“Yeah, I know.”
They shuffled a little on the icy ground. “We’d better get back to the party. They’ll be wondering where we are.”
They fell into step across the paddock. “You maybe,” said Morgan.
“Oh, I can think of at least a couple of people who’d be wondering where you are.”
It was Morgan’s turn to grunt noncommittally.
“I told Mother.”
“About me?”
“Yeah. She knew of course about Dad and... your mother. But had no idea you were the child.”
“Don’t tell me, she wants me gone.”
“No. She wants to meet you. Properly, this time.” They stopped at the rear entrance to the homestead. “Have you got a few minutes?”
“I guess.” Morgan began to open the back door.
“No,” Callum said. “Mother was clear that she wanted you to use the front door.”
Morgan laughed and shook his head, remembering his first night at Glencoe when she’d turned him away.
“I know what you’re thinking, but Mother’s from a different generation. She’s trying to apologize.”
“Must be hard for her.”
“It is.”
They walked around the front of the house where Lady Mackenzie stood, framed by the light spilling out from the hallway. She was as beautifully dressed as ever. She extended her hand to his. “Morgan.”
He reached out and shook hands. She stepped to one side. “Please come inside and have a cup of tea.”
“I can’t, Lady Mackenzie. Joe’s outside. I’ve left him for long enough. But thank you.”
She nodded and bit her lip. Morgan could see the effort it cost her, could see she was trying to do the right thing. “Of course. I just want you to know that I’m sorry for the way things worked out. For you and your mother. My husband, well he...”
“It’s history, Lady Mackenzie. History. Forget it.”
Then she looked at him with her piercing blue eyes that were full of sadness. “I don’t forget anything. Least of all my husband’s weaknesses, nor my mistakes. I shouldn’t have dismissed her like I did. It wasn’t right.”
Morgan was shocked and by a quick glance at Callum, he could see he was equally astonished at his mother’s admission. They were both speechless.
“I tried to
make amends. I hope the money I sent her came in useful?”
Morgan’s mouth fell open. “You? It was you who gave Mum all that money?”
“Yes, of course. I wanted to do the right thing... after I’d done the wrong thing, you see.” She gave him a brief unhappy smile. “I hope it helped.”
He nodded. There was no way he could tell Lady Mackenzie that his mother hadn’t been able to access the funds while they’d been held virtual prisoners in the bush for so many years. He nodded again, focusing on the time when they’d returned to Hokitika. “Yes, Mum and I eventually settled in Hokitika and we invested your money. Thank you,” he added as an afterthought.
“Good. She was a good woman. A lovely woman. She was my friend once. Before...”
His mother had never told him this bit. “She thought highly of you, too. I heard all about life at Glencoe and about you.”
Her smile was warmer now as she remembered earlier times. Then she nodded sadly. “Thank you, Morgan. You go and join your son. I think I’ll retire now.” She looked up at Callum. “Callum? Would you make my excuses to our visitors?”
“Of course, mother. Are you feeling well?”
“Quite well, thank you. Quite well.”
Callum and Morgan watched her walk across the wide hallway, her head still held high but without her usual brisk gait.
Callum and Morgan walked outside and stood for a few moments looking down at the party. “I’ve never seen my mother like that before,” Callum said in a wondering, low voice. “It’s like she’s a different person.”
Morgan caught his eye. “I reckon we all do what we have to do in difficult times. Cover up what we’re really like to hide the hurt. And she must have had a lot of hurt to hide because of Sir Hugh.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Callum sighed and then glanced over at Rebecca and Gemma who had their heads together cooing over Violet. “You and Rebecca are serious then?” Callum continued.
“I’m serious about Rebecca. Not so sure she is about me.”
“Don’t think you’ve any problems there. Gemma says she’s head over heels over you.”