Outback Flames: Australian Rural Romantic Suspense

by Brandyn, Suzanne

  He turned and glanced through the opening of the front door hoping he'd spot her that morning, but like the past few mornings she hadn't made a show. His gut clenched. Perhaps she wasn't as in love with the place as she had made out. Perhaps she'd taken off to see a boyfriend, someone. It was obvious whatever it was she was far too busy to worry about the transformation going on at Montagreen.

  The more he thought about her in the company of another male, and alone, his jealously belt tightened. But he didn't have any right feeling like he did, and he wondered where it came from. He'd never held a jealous bone in his body. He spent some time analysing his concern and arrived at the conclusion he was concerned for her wellbeing.

  A woman alone, without memories, without something to keep her street-smart wasn't his ideal of safe. So where in the bloody hell was she?

  Perhaps she'd turn up and announce the place was for sale and then where would that leave him? Would he stand by and watch her go walkabout for a second time? He couldn't chance that and he realised he didn't have her mobile number to contact her in a real emergency. He let out a stifled groan. He should have kept her number when she'd rung to tell him he had the job.

  He was finishing the final repairs on the staircase. The cleaners had come and gone, the bedrooms upstairs were completed, walls sealed, painted and the entire house rewired. The afternoon he showed her the photographs and when they ran into each other in the supermarket was the last time he'd seen her.

  He flicked a gaze down the stairs toward the front door, before walking along toward the main bedroom to install the built in robe doors. The distant sound of clicking caught his attention. As the sound moved closer, he listened closely.

  'I was wondering where I'd find you.'

  Jordan glanced toward the doorway as Zoe walked in. The sight had him mesmerized. He couldn't take his eyes from her. A white strapless dress clung to her figure, and strapped to her pretty feet were a pair of heels that made her legs go on forever. As she stepped closer, her perfume arrived as a floral explosion, hitting his senses hard. He pushed upwards to stand.

  When she stopped at arms’ length, her fragrance drowned him. She was an evocative flower bomb sending his imagination way past decent. He steadied the runaway beat of his heart. Even her skin appeared to hold a brighter glow, and he was positive that glow wasn't there before she'd left.

  'God Zoe. Where in the hell have you been?'

  Chapter Six

  Jordan's work clothes; feet encased in work boots, with a tool belt slung low over a pair of shorts, suited him well, and those warming parts inside Zoe began to kindle.

  She swallowed. 'What do you mean?'

  'You ask me to rebuild the place but you've been gone for a week, and now you show up.'

  'It is my place, and I'm allowed to 'show up'.' She raised her hands and accentuated her index fingers in mid-air.

  'You could have told someone you were going away.'

  'I didn't think I had to report to you or to anyone in this town. You seem to have handled things well in my absence.'

  'Yes, but what if there was something I needed to ask you about? I had no way of contacting you.'

  'You should have stored my number when I rang you about the job. I thought you would have. Anyhow, it couldn't be helped. I'm here now. Have there been any problems?'

  'No. '

  'So everything is all right.'

  'Well, yes.'

  'I'm moving in tomorrow morning.'

  'Moving in? The place is not finished. There are still a few things to take care of.'

  'I noticed the cleaners have been in, and the master bedroom and ensuite are finished. The entire downstairs area looks completed. The other rooms can take as long as they want.'

  'They're almost done as well. The painters left about ten minutes ago.'

  She flicked her gaze to the built in cupboard doors he'd installed.

  'I know they're not like the old free standing cupboards but it's the changes you ordered.'

  Zoe nodded. 'Yes. Thank you. They're much better.'

  He put the power tool down on the floorboards. 'I'll clean up any left over mess before the carpet is laid.'

  'I rang them and they are laying the carpet tomorrow at seven. I said there are a few rooms that might not be finished, and they'll come back if necessary to finish the job.'

  He stepped closer. 'We haven't spoken much since I first showed you the photographs.'

  'Um, yes I know. Thank you for those. I'm having them copied and will return them soon.'

  'No rush. Those photographs are only a glimpse at all the good times you had.'

  'With you?'

  'Yes. Zoe. With me.'

  'I gathered we were more than kissing friends.'

  'Yes we were. We were girlfriend and boyfriend in those days.'

  A shudder worked its way up her spine and she wondered...nah… not at thirteen, surely. But she had to know. 'Well did we...?'

  A smirk rode over his face, and mischievous lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. 'No Zoe, unfortunately we didn't.'

  She clasped a hand to her chest. 'Thank heavens for that.'

  His smile disappeared. 'Why do you say that?'

  'I was a child. I was thirteen when I left here.'

  'I know. That's why nothing happened. We caught the bus together every day to school and back. We hung out together on the weekend; we even did our homework together.'

  'That tight, eh?'

  'Yeah. Real tight.' He grinned.

  She smiled. 'It appears we were friends, but you know even after looking at the photographs I can't remember you. I'm sorry.'

  'That's okay. Now you know where I stand.'

  She screwed up her face. 'Meaning.'

  He closed the gap between them, stopped centimetres from her. A landslide of emotions pressed over her heart when his lips brushed hers, only to repeat but this time much deeper. His arms slid around her waist. The tug was strong, and she returned the kiss, inhaling his scent, devouring his touch as her arms slipped up around his neck. Her breasts squashed against his chest, and the kiss continued, finally drawing to a close when she had to come up for air.

  She blinked and gazed at the one man that had tipped her almost over the edge. An edge she didn't think possible. But something had kicked up her insides and now a tickle remained deep in her belly and she wanted a repeat of that kiss. Instead of slipping forward, she slid a step backwards. 'I have to go.' She turned. Her legs felt as though they weren't attached to her body and she floundered until she was out of his sight. Taking a breather downstairs near the front door, she looked out toward the fig tree.

  A flash passed through her mind, and she blinked, trying to erase the bright light. It persisted until an image of herself and Jordan stood under the fig tree with his arm draped around her shoulder. A quick shake of her head and the image faded, and she escaped to her ute.

  Relief arrived the moment she sat behind the wheel staring at the house that reflected images of her mother and her father. She must have sat in her car for at least fifteen minutes allowing the memories to fit into the slots they had escaped.

  So Jordan was practically family. A small amount of contentment rose, and her lips tugged at the edges. What other memories lay in waiting when she moved in the following morning?

  Excitement coursed through her veins, but alongside that excitement, fear had her tripping over the what-ifs. This is what she had wanted wasn't it, to remember, to have her memory intact? She closed her eyes for seconds. Yes, this is what she wanted and she'd continue until her dream was completed, until every memory was cornered and locked in a safe place like everyone's memories, and that included memories of Jordan.

  Upon returning to the motel she gave Jade a call and they agreed to meet for dinner that night. Zoe took a shower and painted her toenails, a luxury she couldn't afford while with her aunt. If her aunt suspected she'd saved as much money as she had, she would have confiscated it. Zoe had to be careful and
that meant she'd only been shopping a handful of times. There wasn't anywhere she could hide anything personal so she didn't bother.

  The few times she did accompany her aunt into Tamworth, she kept her head down and didn't say a word although the many feminine products, and the glittery wrappings of chocolate wooed her. She'd managed to contain her wants, knowing one day she'd have both and resemble someone normal, someone who held it all together.

  She was now her own person and her life was beginning to look up. She'd even purchased a few treats while in Tamworth, the white dress she couldn't ignore in the store window, and the perfume she wore that day. She'd never owned a bottle of perfume, and she thought she deserved a small bottle. It was expensive, but she'd make it last.

  The knock of the motel room was at precisely seven. Zoe swung the door open, spotting Jade dressed in jeans and a silver top. She wore silver accessories. Where Jade was a silver girl, Zoe had only one item of jewellery, an engraved gold bangle encircling her wrist. She tried getting it off once, but it refused to budge.

  'Hi ya'.'

  'Hi Jade. I'm ready. I'll get my bag.'

  Zoe swung around and picked up her handbag from the bed.

  'How's the house going? Jordan's busy lately so I don't get to talk to him much.'

  'I'm moving in tomorrow,' she said as she looked up.

  'Wow. That was fast.'

  'The main bedroom and ensuite are finished. There're only a few more rooms left to go. The carpet layers will be there at seven and I'll move in after they finish. I can do more if I'm living there. I've ordered some furniture. A bed, dressing table set and a dining table, which are also being delivered tomorrow. That should do me until I have time to decide what I can afford and what I need.'

  'You work fast, that's all I can say.'

  Zoe smiled as she locked the motel door, and the women strolled down the street to the one and only restaurant in Munna.

  'Take a seat ladies. One of the waitresses will be with you soon,' a man in his fifties called out as he tied an apron around his thickening mid-line.

  'Thank you Mr Owens.'

  'Well, well. I didn't recognise you Jade. And who is your gorgeous friend?'

  'This is Zoe, Mr Owens.'

  'Well hello, Zoe. You can call me Trevor. Most people do. Jade forgets all the time. Do you have a last name?'

  'Hello Trevor. It's nice to meet you. My last name is Montgomery.'

  Trevor moved in closer. 'My god it is you.' His right hand moved to his mouth, fingers pressed over his lips before he dropped his hand to speak. 'The rumours are true. I didn't believe it until now. Little Zoe Montgomery has returned.' He looked her up and down. 'Not so little anymore I see.'

  A few heads turned, making her feel uncomfortable. It was as though Trevor had announced her name over a loudspeaker.

  'What happened to you? You were listed as missing. The entire town...my apologies little one. You found your way back home.'

  'Yes. I'm back.' She tried not to let anyone hear the deep thudding of her heart and wondered if every encounter would be similar.

  'Zoe is restoring the house at Montagreen,' said Jade.

  Trevor gave her an inquisitive look. 'That's an admirable thing to do. Are you going to run cattle?'

  'As a matter of fact I am,' Zoe piped up, feeling somewhat dissected by the continual stares from the surrounding customers.

  'That could only be a good thing, right.'

  'It sure is Mr Owens. She's a trained jillaroo.'

  Mr Owens let out a chuckle. 'Sounds as though you have it all organised.'

  'Come on Zoe, let's find a seat.'

  'Good idea.' Zoe followed Jade toward the corner of the restaurant, away from prying ears.

  'I'm sorry about all that. He talks so loud. His wife told him to get a hearing aid but he wouldn't take a bar of wearing one.'

  Zoe smiled as she sat down. 'It feels strange after all these years, running into people that actually knew my parents, and knew me.'

  'Is that a good strange or a bad strange?'

  'It's good, but I didn't think I'd feel so uncomfortable.'

  'Perhaps if we talked about what I know, which isn't much…' Jade let out a chuckle. 'It might help you to settle. It would be a big thing to go through. Have you spoken to anyone about what happened?'

  Zoe adjusted her handbag hanging over the spare chair beside her and then looked up at Jade. 'Yes. I saw a doctor in Tamworth last week about it. When I went to the house today, I had a passing image of my parents, and one of Jordan when he was younger. Not much to go on, but it's a start.'

  'It sounds promising. We don't usually pry Zoe, but seeing you're alone in this and you kinda reached out to me, I'll help you in any way I can.'

  'That's so kind of you.' Zoe propped one elbow on the table. A waitress walked up to their table with the menus in hand and passed one to Jade, then Zoe.

  'Here you go, Jade.'

  'Thanks Patricia.'

  'Would you like to order a drink first, Jade?'

  Jade looked at Zoe. 'Zoe.'

  'I'll have a glass of white...um what do you keep?'

  The waitress ran through the list of wines, which was a total of three.

  'The riesling, thank you.'

  'I'll have the same,' Jade said, and the waitress left the table.

  Zoe checked the door as it opened, revealing an elderly couple entering the restaurant. To her left, some distance away, a young couple sat snuggled together, and a grin touched her lips. From the way they touched each other, and exchanged the occasional kiss, no one could pry them apart. Farther down, opposite the entrance, was the bar area where about six people sat with their backs to the room.

  'So what happened when you left here, Zoe? You vanished. No one knew where you were.'

  'I had no idea about the missing broadcast. I was with an aunt. She took me away that night. I didn't have a choice.'

  'I'm so sorry.'

  'I don't like speaking ill of anyone...but in this case... She was a mean person with a nasty streak.'

  'Meaning.' Jade leaned in closer, and adjusted her chair.

  'I remember the ride in the car. That's all. I wasn't allowed to finish school and she put me to work the next day.'

  'Work. At thirteen. The next day. Oh, you poor thing. She sounds horrible?'

  'She said she couldn't afford to send me to school. So I worked for my keep, cooking and washing. Her washing and cleaning, until I was fifteen and she insisted I work for the next-door neighbours as a cook. Luckily for me the Pattersons were lovely people. They didn't have any children, and took me under their wing. Mr Patterson hired me as a cook at first and then after a while as a jillaroo. He even helped me through my studies...' Zoe looked toward the door then back at Jade. 'I passed all my tests without my aunt knowing. She told me I didn't need any fancy certificates.'

  'That was so kind of your neighbours.'

  'It was and they kept it a secret from my aunt. Anyhow, after years of hard labour mustering cattle, caring for livestock, repairing station equipment, as well as clerical and administrative duties I know how to operate and run a cattle station. I can now do it with my eyes closed.' She smiled. 'After work I'd trudge on back to my aunt’s to prepare meals and attend to housework, whatever needed doing. '

  'Oh my god, that is so cruel. Like a Cinderella.'

  Zoe's lips thinned. 'I suppose you could call it that. But I survived and here I am.'

  'I wonder why she put you to work when your parents were well off.'

  Zoe felt colour rush to her face before shaking her head acknowledging no. 'No. My aunt told me they were flat broke. She said the house wasn't insured, and there wasn't any money. That was the reason I had to get to work.'

  'Well, I shouldn't be saying this but I think you should check it out. I think Mr McPherson should be back by now. Zoe...the house was insured so I heard, and both of your parents had life insurance and more.'

  Zoe blinked with scepticism. 'Are you sure?
'

  'So Mum tells me. Montagreen was the best cattle station round these parts. I can't believe that woman told you your parents had no money. They made a lot of money at Montagreen.'

  'Thanks, I'll check it out.' Another one of her aunt’s lies, but she'd find out if there was any truth in Jade's words before jumping to conclusions.

  The waitress arrived and after a quick look over the menu, Zoe ordered steak and vegetables.

  'You've come a long way, Zoe. You're so independent. As for me, my husband is always off shearing. He's barely home and I've got two kids. Kate, we all call her Katie, she's four and Adam is six. They're pretty good kids.'

  'How nice. Where are they now?' So Jordan was an uncle.

  'Mum said she'd keep an eye on them tonight.'

  'Oh that's right. You're lucky you have your mother.'

  'She doesn't mind. She said I need a break from time to time.'

  'I do have a question. You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but Jordan… I know he's your brother but did we well, were we an item?' Zoe already knew the answer from Jordan and felt a little guilty checking out their past relationship once again, but the trust factor wasn't running on full strength. She didn't want any more misunderstandings, or conflict of any kind. She'd had enough of that living with her aunt.

  Zoe watched Jade's face hint on tender pink. Her shoulders rose. 'Yes. Um. He was infatuated with you. You were best mates.'

  'That close?'

  'More than close. Lift up your hand.'

  'What?'

  Jade reached out, lifted Zoe's hand from the table and turned it around. 'See there.' She ran her thumb over a small scar on her left palm, at the hub of her thumb. 'You both have that same scar. The blood brother, sister thing.'

  Zoe blinked, gazed at her palm. 'I thought it was from my aunt...um...I mean.'

  'Your aunt? Hell, Zoe, did she hit you?'

  'Please don't tell anyone, but yes. Several times. She threatened if I ever left she'd make up stories, get the authorities onto me.'

  'Oh that's so mean. You should report her.'

  Zoe looked up. 'God no. I can't. It's best forgotten. I don't want her to know where I am. It's best this way.' Her words hinged on desperation. Zoe couldn't go through any more turmoil. She wanted her life at Montagreen to be peaceful and happy; a place she could finally call home, a place where her aunt would never be able to touch her, a safe place.