by Jane Corrie
Holly poured out two cups of coffee after the tray had been brought to her. With her eyes on the coffee pot, she said quietly, 'It wouldn't do any good, Hal, he practically owns Green Paddocks. Did you know Father was heavily in debt to him?' she asked. Hal glanced at her sharply. 'I knew someone was backing him, but I thought he'd got a state loan. How much did it amount to?'
Holly looked down at her cup. 'I'm not sure,' she sighed, 'somewhere in the region of fifty thousand.' She gave him a look of despair. 'If you'd stayed, Hal, I'm sure something could have been worked out— we weren't doing too badly, were we?'
He whistled through his teeth. 'So that's why I got the big send-off, and like a fool fell for it,' he commented grimly. His eyes narrowed. 'Sure, we could have worked it off. Would have to have been on a long term basis, though, we were just pulling ahead.'
'That's what I thought,' Holly said dully. 'But he doesn't want it done that way.'
'You mean he's insisting on full payment?' demanded Hal. 'He doesn't need the cash, it's chicken feed to him.' He was silent for a moment or two, then his sun-bleached eyebrows rose. 'Oh, I get it,' he said slowly.
Holly's flush confirmed his deductions. 'What was the proposition?' he asked sardonically. 'A partnership?'
Holly nodded dumbly. 'Matrimony,' she said miserably. In the silence that followed, she noticed with surprise that there was no violent reaction from Hal. She looked at him, her eyes wide. 'You expected it !' she said in amazement.
Hal's smile was not one of amusement. 'Anyone else but you, honey, would have seen it coming. He's crazy about you. You don't really think it was your dad he came to see all that time, do you?'
Holly's eyes fell from his, she studied the check tablecloth. 'He said it was what Father wanted,' she said in a low voice. 'The finishing school, Hal. He must have paid for it—he didn't say so, of course, but Father couldn't have afforded it—and it couldn't have been his idea in the first place. It didn't make sense at the time, but it's beginning to add up now,' she said miserably. 'Hal, I can't marry him, I just can't !'
'Have you said so?' he queried.
'Yes,' she said bitterly, 'but he only smiles, and says I'll come round when I've thought it over. He also said there'd be no changes apart from the fact that he'd be moving into Green Paddocks.' She bit her lower lip to stop it trembling. 'No changes,' she repeated softly. 'He said that after firing you, and now he's gone and upset Dave and Tim and they're thinking of moving on.' Her small hand clenched into a list. 'Why he has to insist on moving into Green Paddocks when he has a perfectly good home of his own is beyond me. He's got more mod cons than we've ever been able to afford. He'll change that too !' she said fiercely. 'I know he will—and there's Milly to think of,' she rushed on. 'If I go, so will Milly, she'll follow me, you know she will.' She rubbed a hand across her forehead. 'How could Father have put me in this position?' she said dejectedly.
Hal gave her a considering look. 'Guess he thought it was for the best, honey. I know he used to worry about you. He'd consider Pete Mills a suitable match. He was a mighty proud man, you remember, and you used to like Pete at one time.'
Holly gave an exasperated shrug. 'I don't dislike him now. I mean, I'm sorry I can't feel anything more for him than a tepid friendship, which at the moment is being sorely tried. If he weren't so highhanded and so dogmatic a partnership might work out.' She shuddered. 'But never marriage! If I could persuade him to stay on at his place and leave me to manage the men, we could get by.' She looked hopefully at Hal. 'If I could persuade him, would you come back, Hal?'
Hal met her eyes levelly. 'The way I see it,' he said slowly, 'is, no way. I'm sorry, girl. Having bounced me out he's not likely to agree to take me on again, and if it means working under his orders then I want no part of it. I'd have no authority, you see, and I'm damned if I'd stand by and see you hustled into a marriage you didn't want. That's why he shot me off the place so fast, reckoned I'd put a spoke in his wheel if I got the chance.' He gazed bleakly out of the dining room windows to the green plains stretching into the distance.
Holly squeezed his hand. 'So I'm hogtied, that's what it amounts to, doesn't it? I guess I knew it all the time,' she sighed.
Hal caught her hand hard. 'I can give you fifteen years, honey,' he said gravely. 'What I'm trying to say is, only by marrying you myself can I protect you.' His eyes searched her face.
Holly's eyes were misty. 'Oh, Hall! Would you really go that far for me? You, the dedicated bachelor ! No, there must be another way.'
Seeing a shadow in the doorway, she glanced towards it. Hayes Chester stood there. Holly didn't know how long he had been there, but sensed he had not just come. 'I believe Mr Chester wants you,' she said.
Hal gave a surprised start and looked towards the doorway. 'Boss?' he said.
Hayes Chester strode towards them. 'That storm last night tore the west side fences down,' he said abruptly. 'The wires too; they couldn't get through until now. Those fences will have to be fixed before the run on Thursday.'
Hal nodded and half rose, then looked down at Holly. She guessed his dilemma; he didn't want to leave her like that and yet he had to do his job. She smiled at him. 'It's all right. Hal, don't worry,' she said bravely, feeling despair creep over her. Hal couldn't help after all. 'Something will turn up.' She held her hand out to him. 'I'll let you know,' she said, trying to sound breezy about the whole thing.
Hal straightened up and looked at her hand. Taking it, he said firmly, 'Now you stay put, do you hear? You're not going back there until we've worked something out. I'll think about it.'
Holly hesitated, very much aware of Hayes Chester's intent watch on them. 'I can't stay too long, Hal,' she said quietly. 'And honestly I oughtn't to have worried you.' Her firmly moulded tips clamped together. 'I'll see it through,' she said.
Hal looked at her, and Holly knew that look. 'You'll do as you're told,' he said quietly. 'If you mean what I think you mean by seeing it through, then you'd better think again. Loan or no loan, you're not going through with it. Understand?' His eyebrows rose in query.
Holly found herself unable to meet those blue eyes, she nodded dumbly. Yes, Hal,' she muttered.
Satisfied, he nodded and picked up his hat. Holly watching him leave, then became aware of Hayes Chester still standing there watching her. For a brief second it occurred to her that the scene must have presented an intriguing puzzle to him, and she wondered what he made of it. He ought to have left after giving his message and she felt a surge of resentment against him. Was he afraid Hal might take off? She looked back at him again and met those enigmatic grey eyes of his. She shrugged and gave a little grimace. 'Tell him ?I had to go, will you, Mr Chester?' she said, and added with a bitter half smile, 'I ought not to have come. Don't worry, you won't lose your head stockman.' Then she got up and collected her bag.
He still stood there and she wondered whether he was always so immaculately turned out, his crisp striped shirt tucked into fawn gaberdine trousers that looked made to measure, his highly polished brown shoes no ordinary shop purchase. She almost started when he spoke. 'So after giving your word, you're going back on it,' he said curtly.
Holly stared at him. What an odd man he was! It was none of his business anyway.
'Of course,' he continued smoothly, 'I have no idea of the ins and outs of the situation, but I'd say if you went back to wherever it was you came from I have a feeling Munt would follow.' He gave her a sardonic look. 'Wouldn't he?' he asked.
She flushed and looked away quickly. He was right, of course. Hal would follow, if only to prevent her carrying out her threat. What a mess ! It would have been better if she hadn't found him. She sat down again slowly.
Hayes Chester nodded. 'So I was right, then,' he said. 'Well, young lady, I suggest you do as you're told and stay put. Have you enough money to pay the bill?' he asked abruptly.
Holly's surprise showed in her eyes, then she nodded. 'For a week anyway,' she said.
He stared round the roo
m. 'I suggest you come to the ranch-house this evening. You'll hardly get the privacy here that you require; or in Munt's quarters, come to that. I'll send transport for you at six.'
Holly's eyes widened. She was puzzled; on the face of things it was a very generous and kindly offer, but she felt there was more to it. 'Thank you,' she said quickly, 'but perhaps you've forgotten I have my own transport. It's very good of ...'
He interrupted her with a half raised hand, a gesture almost of disdain. 'No, Miss Drew, I haven't forgotten, nor have I forgotten your exit. Whoever taught you to drive could do with a few lessons themselves. I have,' he informed her haughtily, 'a highly valuable mare about to foal, and you will appreciate that a loud revving engine is hardly appropriate at such times, particularly when dealing with a nervous animal.'
Holly flushed as she recalled the way she had left the ranch; then her eyes sparked. She wouldn't have been in such a fury if he hadn't have treated her as an unwelcome distraction. It was obvious he was still of the same opinion, hence his strange invitation. In other words he intended to keep an eye on Hal! She drew herself up to her full five foot four and with stiff features remarked coldly, 'Thank you for the invitation, Mr Chester, but on second thoughts, I think I would prefer to see Hal here. There's always my chalet, we should be perfectly private there.'
She noticed the way his eyes narrowed. No, she thought, he hadn't liked that one bit—too bad!
'I don't,' he said smoothly with an undercurrent of irritation in his voice, 'know whether you have any idea of a stockman's role. For your information, they do not work to a set number of hours. In other words, Miss Drew, I merely suggested your discussion should take place at Coomela in order that my head stockman would still be available at short notice. I have more to do than chase after him as I had to do this morning.'
Holly's hands clenched by her side. She was beginning to feel extremely sorry for Hal; his new boss was nothing short of a tyrant! Even Pete wasn't that bad! 'And for your information, Mr Chester,' she ground out, 'I happen to know a great deal about a stockman's life. I also know they're entitled to a certain amount of time off. When,' she said, emphasising her words slowly, 'Hal worked for my father, the men's welfare always came first. We kept our hands; there was no such thing as a staff turn-over.' Except now, she thought bleakly.
Hayes Chester's eyes blazed for one split second, and Holly had a feeling he would have liked to shake her hard, then just as swiftly his mood changed and she sensed he had decided she wasn't worth getting riled up about. 'Then it must have been your father who died,' he said smoothly, adding a cutting rider, 'and Munt chose to work elsewhere.' He gave her a hard stare. 'Finding things a bit hard going without him, are you?' he said harshly. He looked down at his well polished shoes. 'I think I'm beginning to get the picture. Well, young lady, Munt is contracted to me for three years. He's a good man and I've no intention of allowing him to break that contract; the circumstances would have to be pretty unusual, and considering that he has no encumbrances, that is most unlikely.' His eyes met hers levelly. 'So I warn you, you're wasting your time if you came in the hope of getting him back.'
Holly's eyes glinted green sparks. He was insufferable! If it was the last thing she did she'd rescue Hal from such an employer! Why, she would even marry him ! Wouldn't that come under the heading of unusual circumstances? 'How about marriage, Mr Chester?' she asked innocently, noting the swift start at the question.
'Whose?' he queried insolently.
She chose to ignore that. 'Mine,' she said challengingly. 'To Hal Munt. If he were my husband, I would naturally want him to run the ranch for me,' she said airily.
His eyes narrowed. 'I would have thought he had more sense,' he commented waspishly.
Holly gasped. Never in her whole life had she been thus treated. Her mind was now made up; she would marry Hal. As her husband he could take over Green Paddocks and in all probability raise the loan from the State to pay Pete back, and there was no reason why they shouldn't be very happy. Hal should be married—every man should marry t She looked at the man facing her. She certainly pitied any woman he got his fastidious sights on— perhaps he was married? Her eyes narrowed in speculation. No, she was sure he wasn't, some sixth sense told her.
'No, Miss Drew, I'm not married,' he drawled, correctly reading her thoughts. 'Like Hal Munt, I prefer my freedom.'
A flush stained her cheeks. Drat the man! there wasn't much he missed. He hadn't answered her question, though, and she waited.
'Is that what you're using as bait?' he queried. 'The ranch, I mean.'
Holly's arm swung out swiftly and her hand was about to make contact when it was caught in an iron grip. 'I shouldn't,' he murmured. 'I'd dearly like to give you what your father apparently didn't. I can assure you if you provoke me enough, you'll see what I mean.'
Holly's eyes widened to their full capacity and she stared at him incredulously.
'No, I don't think Hal Munt's the one for you,' he observed casually. 'He couldn't handle you.'
Holly found her voice. 'He's the only one who can!' she burst out before she realised how childish it sounded, not to say boastful, but she really wasn't thinking too sanely at that precise moment.
He gave a sardonic smile. 'Of course,' he murmured, 'he tells you to stay put and you're off. Now if you were my concern and told to stay put, believe me, you'd do just that,' he said grimly.
Her feelings were mirrored in her eyes. 'That, Mr Chester, is something that's never going to be put to the test,' she retorted icily.
He nodded infuriatingly. 'For once, I'm in perfect agreement with you,' he answered coolly. 'However, getting back to the original subject, from what I've seen of Hal Munt, it's my opinion he's unlikely to be bribed. When I arrived I gathered he sought some other way put of whatever dilemma you'd got yourself into—and I must say,' he continued coldly, 'I rather feel his good nature is being exploited. I happen to know his employment was terminated.' Holly's eyes dropped hastily away from that cold stare of his, and she felt her cheeks crimson. 'Cattlemen, Miss Drew, have ways of knowing these things,' adding bluntly, 'Hal Munt's name is a well respected one, and the way he was treated considered deplorable.'
Holly bit her lower lip, he was hitting her where it hurt most. He wasn't through, though.
'Perhaps now,' he went on in a smooth impersonal voice, 'we understand each other. I should have thought you would have had more pride than to seek him out again. As for throwing yourself at him,' his voice held disdain, 'No, Miss Drew, I keep my stockman. If you persist in your quest you will soon find I'm a man of my word. For Munt's sake I hope he won't let his good nature override good sense. I shall tell him where to find you.' He walked towards the door and was gone without a backward look.
CHAPTER TWO
A VARIETY of emotions surged through Holly. She knew an urge to stamp her foot in sheer frustration. The waitress came to clear away and Holly was only vaguely aware of her presence. 'My, but you're a popular person,' the girl murmured skittishly. 'Two of the local heart-throbs dancing attendance on you. Isn't Hayes Chester fab?' she went on, oblivious of Holly's preoccupation. 'The other's his head stockman, isn't he?'
Holly started and stared at the thin slight fair-haired girl still in her teens, and with an effort brought her thoughts back to the girl's questions. As for Hayes Chester being fab—! Her thoughts on that point would shock that dreamy look from the girl's face.
The girl sighed dramatically. 'Now I could really go for that blond he-man of a stockman. Seems too good to be true that he's a bachelor.' She darted a quick inquisitive look at Holly as she placed the remainder of the liquid breakfast on a tray, and then sighed again as it became apparent that Holly was not in the mood for light conversation. Holly's green eyes were fixed on that expanse of plain now shimmering in the heat of the sun. Undeterred, the girl still lingered; Holly supposed she had time on her hands. 'I'd plump for the blond one if I were you,' she advised. 'Hayes Chester is a hard nut to crack. Goodness
knows plenty have tried to storm that fortress. I must say,' she continued slyly, 'I've never seen him holding a girl's hand before.'
Holly's reaction was immediate; to be linked with that insufferable character was more than she prepared to take. The girl had obviously not seen the incident that led up to the action. 'I'm afraid you're on the wrong track,' she said quietly. 'I'm here purely on business.' She reached for her bag and gave the girl a quick half smile, hoping she had not sounded too stuffy.
The girl winked at tier. 'Have it your way,' she teased. 'Some folk have all the luck!'
Back in the chalet, Holly went over her recent clash with Hayes Chester. As much as she disliked him, she had to admit he had been right. She was trading on Hal's goodwill, and he had been deplorably treated. It was not her fault, and the more she thought of Pete's underhand action the more furious she got. Even if she had contemplated marrying him, his treatment of Hal would have effectively quashed the idea. Her eyes narrowed; it hadn't been intended that she would find out. Pete had anticipated Hal's reaction to the dismissal note signed by her; what he hadn't anticipated was Holly's determination to get to the bottom of the affair and not accepting Pete's bland, 'Guess he felt there wasn't any future here for him now that your father's gone.'
Her hands clenched as she recalled him saying it. It would be the first thing she would tackle him on when she returned. With a slight start Holly realised her mind was made up. She would not wait for Hal. Accepting his offer of marriage was also trading on his good nature, and she couldn't do it. What she needed was a manager—someone dependable who could see about a State loan. Pete had no right to just walk in and start giving orders; he might own most of the stock, but he didn't own the ranch-house, and his decision to move in on the slight excuse that he wanted to be on hand was ridiculous. He had added that her father would have expected it of him, that he would not have wanted Holly to be left on her own. Her lips twisted; she had Milly and the boys. They would see that she was well looked after, but it had been no use pointing this out to Pete.