by Margaret Way
“Fat good it did me,” Siggy said bitterly. “I should have been a man.”
“Why? Is being a woman too much for you?” Nicole again tried to joke.
“I’m saying no woman could run this place. It’s not a little farm with a few cows. It’s a vast cattle station. I can’t easily see you doing it for all your smarts. You’re an artist, for God’s sake. I know the men would do anything for you, but you have to be able to tell them what to do. You know as well as I do this is a man’s world. A hard, tough man’s world.”
“I agree. Regardless, I’m going to give it a go. We’ll get a hard, tough man to run it. A man who understands power and how to use it. I retain my position as owner. Whoever that man is he’ll work for us.”
“And where are you going to get such a man?” Siggy demanded as though there was no possibility of finding one. “It’s not as if they’re thick on the ground. The good ones are taken. A lot fail. The qualities you’re talking about are bred in the bone. They belong to people with a whole background on the land, like Drake McClelland. Drake is already a force in the industry, and he’s not yet thirty. The McQueens, to the north, the Claydons. The latest addition while you’ve been away, Brock Tyson. He’s back. He inherited Mulgaree from his grandfather. The cousin, Philip, missed out. Brock’s going to marry that little Logan girl, the nice one, what’s her name again? I should remember. You were friends. A redhead like you, only her hair is titian.”
“Shelley!” Nicole exclaimed in delight. “Indeed we were friends, though she’s younger. I must get in touch with her again. I didn’t see her when I was here in June. I must let her know I’m home.”
“Well, she’s found her man,” Siggy said, a touch of snideness surfacing. “Fell right on her feet.”
“Good for her!” Nicole said stoutly. “Life hasn’t been easy for Shelley. I remember Brock, of course. He was absolutely wild, but so handsome and dashing. Shelley will make him the perfect wife. Help him settle down. I’m so glad his grandfather came to his senses. What happened to Philip? I always found him a pain in the neck.”
“He’s running another station in the Kingsley chain,” Siggy answered brusquely. “It’s what I’m saying, young men like that are born and bred to the job. They know how to handle the demands instinctively.”
“So what, then, went wrong with Joel?” Nicole asked, staring across the table. “He’s not on top of it, Siggy.”
“He wasn’t the grandson Father wanted,” Siggy said as though that answered it.
“Oh, Siggy!” Nicole felt pained.
“It’s true.” Siggy drummed her fingers on the table. “Father was very special, but he broke a lot of hearts. Emotional deprivation it’s called. He never gave Joel a sense of confidence like he gave you. No, that’s not right. You were born a holy terror with chunks of charm. Joel was different. An introverted boy who didn’t bond easily with anyone but you. Father never treated him in the right way. His attention was always focused on you. He admired your spunky ways. The way you used to stand up to your father. Even when Heath was right, your grandfather always took your part. It had the effect of undermining your father. Maybe Alan and I didn’t handle Joel properly, either. I’ve spent my life trying to push Joel. I had to give up on Alan. We’ve all agreed Alan is at his best doing nothing. But Joel! It’s awful trying to act as a partner. He won’t cooperate, but he does a reasonable job.”
“Not reasonable enough, Siggy.” Nicole shook her head sadly. “We don’t just want to keep afloat. We need to lead. It isn’t as if we couldn’t be gobbled up. Drake admitted he’d make it his business to acquire Eden if it ever came on the market.”
“I can promise you that.” Siggy laughed harshly. “In my opinion he’s determined on it. As a family they can’t find closure with us on their border. He must be feeling he has a good chance. What interest have you shown in Eden these past years, Nikki? The grand inheritance Father left you. Five years in all. Five years is a long time.”
“Not when you’re fighting your way out of a terrible trauma, it isn’t.” Nicole’s response was equally fervent. “I needed that time, Siggy. Obviously what happened affected me far more deeply than you. I was a child. It was my mother. Finding her was horrendous.”
Siggy looked away abruptly, her vision blurred. “I know that. I’m sorry. But I haven’t been able to count on you. You left me carrying the ball.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted? I wouldn’t hear a peep out of you if Joel was up to speed.”
“I didn’t get Eden,” Siggy wailed. “I got big bucks, instead.”
“So when do you intend to spend it?” Nicole challenged so swiftly her aunt blinked. “Most people would consider big bucks enough. You needn’t sound so outraged.”
“Eden is worth more than money,” Siggy declared passionately, giving Nicole a shocked glance. “It’s the land. I love my desert home. I have no place else to go.”
“So who’s pushing you out?” Nicole demanded. “Look, no offense, but there’s a big wide beautiful world out there, Siggy.”
“It’s not Eden.” Siggy stuffed her hands deep in her pockets.
“Perhaps not, but wouldn’t you and Alan like to spend some time in the great capitals of the world? The best hotels—no need to be tight.”
“Are you saying I’m tight?” Siggy asked very coolly.
“Aren’t you?”
“Maybe,” Siggy admitted grudgingly. “I was never in your league, floating around in all your beautiful clothes. By the way, you’re too skinny.”
“Slender’s the word, Siggy,” Nicole corrected. “Let’s get off me. I expected you to keep Joel on his toes.”
“Ah, God, Nikki! I told you, Joel doesn’t want direction from me. He’ll do anything but take it. Every time I try to talk to him, he tunes me out and just waits for me to leave. Sometimes I think he doesn’t have the balls for the job.”
“Well—” Nicole gulped and waited a moment “—he’s fairly desperate to convince people he does. Have you been checking on what he’s doing?”
“Of course I have!” Siggy retorted in a voice that suggested she was mortally offended. “I’m not as young as I used to be. Not as limber in the saddle, either.”
“I’ll have to speak to him.”
“Go ahead!” Siggy invited. “He’ll take it from you. He’s thrilled out of his mind you’re home. Talks to you constantly. Honestly, I’m his mother and all I get out of him is grunts. It doesn’t make sense. Any of it. He has never been jealous of you and he had every right to be. The sun rose out of your arse—excuse the language. I’ve deteriorated dreadfully. Joel always looked on you as his gorgeous little sister when you stole all of Father’s affection. Father wasn’t fair to my boy.”
“Why swipe at Granddad?” Nicole finished off her cold cup of tea, grimaced. “I just don’t buy it. I never saw Granddad being anything but kind and tolerant with Joel. It was always Joel who had problems.”
“Joel’s way of trying to get some attention,” Siggy said moodily. “No, Nicole, Father wasn’t fair to my boy. Or me. First it was Corrinne, so beautiful! Father was a collector. He loved beautiful things. Corrinne was perfect even when she messed up. I was just the frumpy one with the abrasive tongue. Then you turned up, the premature baby.”
Nicole’s quick intake of breath made a hissing sound. “Ouch! You’re saying I wasn’t? Swell! Thanks a lot, Siggy.”
Siggy shrugged. “Sorry about that,” she said, but didn’t sound sorry at all. “You were the bonniest, most robust little premie I’ve ever seen.” She shifted the subject. “Corrinne was just so bedable. You can bet your life she and the oh-so-gallant, that really superior gentleman, David, were lovers. Corrinne was so sexy she should have been tied up. Then you arrived. Who needed to start counting? Father devoted his entire life to you from that moment on. It was really sweet except it was a giant pain in the ar—neck. The rest of us missed the attention. He left you Eden and most of the loot. The irony is, you won’t keep i
t.”
“I’d just love to prove you wrong.” Nicole tossed out the challenge briskly, well aware of her aunt’s accumulated resentments. Eden, not money, was the thread that ran through everything.
Siggy sighed deeply. “Your friends the Bradshaws mean a lot to you. You’ve rung them two or three times since you’ve been home. You’ve settled into New York. You’ve changed your whole way of life. Your career is there. And that’s great. New York is the center of the world. Eventually you’ll go back. You won’t want to keep Eden going. Drake McClelland has brought himself right back into the picture for a very good reason. Hasn’t it crossed your mind it might all be an act asking you to Kooltar? I can’t believe he’s sincere. He needs to learn of your plans. It would be a perfect time to try and talk you into selling.”
“It’s a possibility.” Nicole frowned for a moment, considering. Manipulation was certainly in Drake’s line.
Siggy lowered her voice as though he was right outside the door. “Just so long as you know. Drake can be extremely persuasive, as many have discovered before they quite knew what was happening. It’s not friendship, believe me. I know. He’s being a bloody hypocrite. They’ll never invite us to rejoin the circle. They’ll always hate us. They’ll never forget about David, the guy that was cuckolding your father. Callista especially. The tragedy sent her off the deep end.”
“In my opinion she was in the deep end before that,” Nicole said crisply. She leaned forward, speaking as gently as she could. “Siggy, what’s all this about Joel gaining a reputation for violence?”
Siggy looked mortally offended. She’d been sitting slumped, now she came as grim-faced and erect as an Easter Island statue. She didn’t reply for a very long moment, either. “Where did you hear that?”
“A reliable source.”
“Yeah, the mighty Drake McClelland,” Siggy intoned. “You should have told him to mind his own ruddy business.”
“Look, just answer me. Is it true?”
“Okay, one incident,” Siggy threw up a hand, suggesting it was all a wild exaggeration. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention the fight to Mother. Lord only knows how she’s kept that sweet innocence. Joel had a few drinks, and some guy at the Koomera pub made him furious.”
“What did this guy say? Any idea?”
“No.” Siggy looked down at her weathered hands with their blunt nails. “I asked, but he wasn’t interested in telling me.”
“Maybe the guy made a pass at him. Asked him if he wanted to move in.” Bemused, Nicole attempted black humor. “It had to be something really untoward to start a fight. I hear they don’t want Joel at the pub anymore, and Mick’s pretty easygoing.”
“Nothing to it!” Siggy said. “They’ll let him back in soon.” She didn’t sound confident.
“Joel can’t do this.” Nicole looked directly into her aunt’s eyes. “I won’t have it. Had he been an ordinary employee, he’d have been told to pack up and leave. Granddad was very proud of the station’s good name.”
“Sure. That’s what got Heath off the hook. The Cavanagh name.”
Nicole reached out and gripped her aunt’s wrist.
“Ouch, that hurts! For a featherweight, you’re strong.” Siggy sounded very hard done by.
“I’m not releasing you until you tell me exactly what you mean by that.”
“Don’t take any notice of me.” Siggy’s shoulders drooped. “The older I get the more garbage I spout. I’m a bit like you, Nikki. The way we lost your mother and that prize dope, David, pushed me over the edge. Poor old Heath had nothing to do with it. He was miles away.”
“Only one person could vouch for that and he’s dead.”
“That was the man’s third accident on his motor-bike. He was no Evel Knievel. Away from Eden he drank heavily. He once came back from Darwin wearing a big silver hoop earring in one ear and a really weird headband made out of crocodile skin. Alan liked it so much he actually sent for one. But the man didn’t lie about your father. Actually, I’m very proud of you for giving your father refuge. The way you strode off from our first meeting last week had Mother and I really worried. We thought you were determined to throw him out. Maybe by yourself.”
“No one could throw him out the way he looks,” Nicole said, her expression bleak. “I think he should be hospitalized.”
“Would you want to die in a hospital when you could die at home?”
“I guess not.” Nicole sighed deeply.
“Just thought I’d ask.”
“I don’t know what it is, but you’ve always had a crazy soft spot for Heath.” Nicole sought her aunt’s eyes.
Siggy flashed a wry grin. “If I did, it was a big mistake. People were having it off all around me. I missed all the action.”
“Oh, Siggy,” Nicole breathed, “what lives we’ve led! It might come to hospital for Heath all the same. I can’t believe the change in him. The way he used to look, the way he looks now.”
“He was the handsomest man I’d ever seen,” Siggy reflected. “So macho. Those eyes of his would have lured any woman into his bed. No wonder Corrinne went temporarily insane. That was your father in those days.”
“Were you in love with him?”
“As if I would tell you,” Siggy said, brushing the question off.
“He was never very kind to you.”
“Well, who cares! That in itself doesn’t mean a great deal.” Siggy’s thin cheeks grew flushed. “Things being what they were, Heath was married to my sister. I kept my wild fantasies to myself.”
“Absolutely wise, considering you were married to Uncle Alan. By the same token, I have the unsettling feeling you’re not telling the truth.”
Siggy started to haul herself up. “Bless you, you should have been a detective. It’s all long ago, Nikki. No one cares anymore. Are you really going over to Kooltar?”
“Not yet. There’s too much I want to see here, but maybe toward the end of next week, if it suits Drake.”
“It’ll suit him,” Siggy observed very dryly. “You’re aware he’s got a girlfriend?”
“I’m not planning to seduce him.”
“You probably will, anyhow. It’s something over which you’ve no control. Just don’t eat any pancakes for breakfast if Callista offers them to you. They could be laced with the weedkiller she picked up at the Koomera store.”
CHAPTER SIX
JOEL WAS UTTERLY DISMAYED when she asked him to ferry her over to Kooltar in the helicopter. His narrow features drew together, giving him a curiously pinched look.
“I can’t for the life of me understand why you want to go.” He turned hard, reproachful eyes on her.
“Look at it this way. Wouldn’t it be better if we stopped the feud?” Recent comments about Joel had done funny things to her. She almost felt as if she didn’t know him at all. “We mightn’t ever get back to being friends exactly, but I think it’s about time we all tried to put the past behind us.”
“Oh, cut it out!” Joel began to pace the terrace where they’d been sitting. “You’ll have me in tears next. It’s McClelland, isn’t it? You’re attracted to him.” Joel came closer, looking as if he was about to grasp her arms.
She leaned back in reaction. “You think so?” She made her voice distant. His pronouncement was far too close to the truth.
“It’s my gut feeling. He always had a powerful effect on you. What happened to all those hostile angry feelings?”
Good question. “I expect they’ll resurface from time to time.” She sat straighter, ready to get up and leave.
“We can never forget the past,” Joel said with fierce certainty. “It’s cemented in place. Mum’s right for once. They hate us. They truly hate us. He wants to absorb Eden into Kooltar. We’ve got a tremendous asset in the Minareechi.”
“That could well be it,” Nicole agreed tightly. “There are a lot of wild guesses, half-baked rumors, ideas I have to track down. I’d like to sort them out first. It might all come to nothing.”
>
Joel glared at her. “I have to tell you I’m dead set against this.” He shook a fist in anger. “I don’t trust McClelland. He’s a guy who goes about acquiring things. He’s already got a foot in the door. Who’s to know what’s going on in his arrogant head? He’s a man of dangerous ambitions. A man of power. They reckon he’s increased his father’s fortune several times over. He might be set on acquiring you. Wouldn’t that be a tremendous coup? At the same time he’d get Eden. Everything would come together. Aren’t you troubled by this?”
“Dammit, he’s got a girlfriend! Karen Stirling.” Nicole was really on edge now. She didn’t want to listen to Joel’s ranting. “You told me yourself.”
Joel stared at her, his hands jammed into his pockets. “He’s been mixed up with a string of girlfriends all begging for him to marry them. It’s so easy to get women when you’re rich and high on the social register.”
“Why feel so sorry for yourself? What’s holding you up?”
He gave a faint smile. “No one will measure up to you, Nikki.”
Some shade of expression in his eyes left her shaken. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m your cousin. We’re family. Remoteness does have its drawbacks. It’s very difficult for you to meet eligible women except at the functions that mercifully get organized so the opposite sexes can come together.”
His moody face lost its smile. “Don’t start trying to marry me off.” He turned away, visibly ruffled. “I get enough of that from Mum. I have a sex life, Nikki. I’ve bedded my fair share. But you’re my goddess.”
Nothing could have dismayed her more. “Goddess? Good grief, I hope that’s a joke.” She braced herself.
Suddenly he was laughing. “When I look at you, goddess comes to mind. You can melt men to honey.”
“Oh, stop it.” Nicole was disgusted. She rose from her chair, looking out over the garden with its magnificent date palms and desert oaks.
“If we weren’t first cousins, would you marry me?” Joel followed her. She stood beside a white column that looked bare, stripped of its thick veil of jasmine.