Inheritance (17 page)

‘That sounds like a good idea. I like the idea of the spa, too. And I think I’d like to put in one of the two bedrooms, as well.’ Cassie looked over at Lorna and Rosie, who were watching intently. ‘What do you think?’ she asked them.

‘Looks great,’ Rosie responded enthusiastically, her curls bobbing as she nodded.

‘It looks pretty good on paper,’ Lorna said. ‘You’ll need to check sizes and costs and that sort of thing, won’t you, Cassie?’

‘Of course. I must be sure it comes within my budget.’

‘I worked on the figure you gave me,’ Gary told her. ‘We need to discuss it more fully; it depends on which ones you choose, of course, and the types of material you want. I have some figures with me, perhaps we can discuss it now, if you have time.’

‘Yes, I have plenty of time.’

‘Rosie, why don’t you make coffee for everyone,’ Lorna said. ‘I have to go and see Jessie about the order. If you don’t need me?’ she asked Cassie.

‘No. Gary and I’ll probably be a while, working this out.’

‘I’ll come and help with the coffee,’ Ben said. He followed Rosie into the kitchen.

‘So…what do you do here, Rosie?’ he asked.

‘I guess you could say I’m a jack-of-all-trades,’ she replied as she busied herself preparing the coffee. ‘Sometimes I’m working with the guys on the station. Sometimes I’m helping my mother here. And sometimes I’m running errands.’

‘Your mother, that’s Lorna, isn’t it? What does she do here?’

‘She’s the housekeeper. She and my father Tom manage the station for Cassie.’

‘Ah! So Cassie’s the boss lady, is she? Does she own the station?’

‘Yes.’

‘Nice house. Reckon I could have a bit of a look around?’ he asked, moving towards the door into the hall.

‘No. You certainly cannot!’

Ben shrugged and turned back. ‘She’s got a nice place here. And she’s going to build these cabins, too.’ He whistled appreciatively. ‘She must have plenty of dough. She’s not wearing a ring. Any boyfriend?’

‘You ask a lot of questions. And if you fancy your chance with Cassie, I can tell you you’d have no show.’

Ben laughed. ‘That’s the story of my life. The rich ones always get away. Anyway, she looks a bit serious for me. Not my type at all. But you, now. That’s a different matter. You look just my type. You look as if you like a bit of fun.’ He wiggled his eyebrows up and down and grinned. ‘Maybe we should get together. We could go to a pub one night and listen to a band…or…or something.’

‘Are you asking me to go out with you?’ Rosie asked flippantly.

‘I guess that’s what you’d call it. What do you say?’

Rosie laughed. ‘We’ve just met. I’ll have to give it a bit of thought.’

‘Okay. I’ll be working here with Gary, so you’ll be seeing plenty of me. But don’t take too long to decide, will you?’ Coming close, he put his arms around her waist as she was placing the coffee and cups on a tray. ‘You’re so pretty I bet you’ve got a date every night. But you’ll find I know how to give a chick a good time.’ He bent his head and nibbled on her ear. ‘How about a little kiss on account? Put that down and turn round.’

Rosie did so, but only to push him away with both hands. ‘Knock it off, Ben, I’ve got work to do! Here, carry this out for me.’ Her voice was still light as she put a plate of biscuits in his hands.

‘Yes, ma’am.’ He made a small bow, still with a broad smile. ‘Your wish is my command. But you’ll find I’m really a loveable character when you get to know me better.’

‘Take those outside,’ she laughed. ‘You’re hopeless!’

‘Thanks, Rosie,’ Cassie said as they took their cups from the tray. ‘Sit down, I want to tell you what we’ve decided. We’ll have one cottage, one two-bedroom cabin and four of the smaller ones, the studios. The budget’ll run to that and, hopefully, we’ll also be able to have a lodge. Like the cabana at Binbin, but smaller.’

‘Sounds good. What’ll the lodge be for?’

‘Recreation. Information. Details of local attractions; what to do, where to go, that sort of thing. Some of the guests’ll just want to chill out and relax, enjoy the surroundings. But others’ll want to be more active; it’s important they know what we have to offer, tours and so on. If they’re going to spend money, we want them to spend it with us. It’ll help the bottom line.’

Ben laughed. ‘That’s the way. Get the suckers to shell out.’

Cassie looked at him sharply. ‘This is a business venture, Ben. People will get value for their money, but making a profit is what business is about. Otherwise, why risk your capital and put in the effort?’

‘Sorry, sorry.’ Ben leant back and raised his hands. ‘I was only being facetious. I didn’t mean to offend you.’

Cassie regarded him for a few seconds. ‘Perhaps we can move along, then,’ she said coldly. She turned to Gary. ‘When will you be able to start?’

‘I’ll have to do full plans and submit them to the local council for approval, then there’s various other permits to be obtained. I’ll take care of all that. You’re never certain how long these formalities will take but if there’re no hold-ups, we should be ready to start in a month, maybe two. I have more men who’ll be free to work on the job by then. We’ll move along fairly quickly once we start. How does that sound?’

‘I’m happy with that.’

‘Shall we go over now and decide which ones go where?’

‘Yes. You come, too, Rosie. I want your input.’

Rosie’s car stood outside, alongside Gary’s utility.

‘Can we take your car?’ Cassie asked her. ‘It’ll save going to the garage for mine.’

‘Of course.’

Ben looked at the snappy little red Hyundai and whistled. ‘Nice car, Rosie. Nearly new, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, I’ve only had it a few months. It’s my pride and joy.’

‘I should think so. See you over there.’

He waved and climbed into the utility with Gary and the two cars headed across towards the track into the forest.

‘What do you think of Ben?’ Rosie asked as she drove.

Cassie wrinkled her nose. ‘Seems a bit brash. Why?’

‘I think he’s rather fun. He’s asked me to go out with him.’

‘Oh. He didn’t waste much time. What did you say?’

‘Told him I’d think about it.’

‘Are you going?’

‘Probably. Yes, why not! But I won’t tell him just yet.’

***

Cassie led the way along the path into the forest. When she reached the cedar tree, she stopped.

‘I think the lodge should go here, by the tree.’ She patted the trunk. ‘It becomes a focal point then.’

‘Right,’ Gary agreed, ‘then we locate each cabin a short walk from here. Make the lodge in the center with paths radiating out, like the spokes of a wheel. That way, each one’ll be private, as you want.’

Cassie nodded. ‘I like that idea. Each one easy to reach, yet apart. What do you think, Rosie?’

‘Won’t they be a bit isolated? What if someone falls over and breaks a leg, or has a heart attack or something?’

‘Yes, we need to think of that. There’ll have to be a phone connection to each cabin. Anything else?’

‘Not off the top of my head.’

Gary picked up a stick and drew a large semicircle behind the cedar. ‘Come with me and we’ll work out where each one should go,’ he said to Cassie, ‘starting from here.’

He started to mark out a track, walking back into the trees. Cassie followed him.

Ben caught Rosie by the arm. ‘Let them go. You stay here with me,’ he whispered.

He waited until the other two were out of sight before speaking. ‘Now then, when are we going to get together?’

‘We’re together now,’ she said airily.

‘You know what I mean. When are you going to come out with me?’

‘I haven’t said I will.’

‘But you will, won’t you? Look, there’s a rodeo on next Saturday. How about coming with me to that, and then we’ll do something else after?’

Rosie’s eyes gleamed. ‘I’m a big fan of rodeos. Do you often go?’

‘Sure. Love ’em. It’s the most fun you can have with your pants on.’ He laughed. ‘So you’ll come?’

‘Seeing it’s a rodeo, yes.’

‘That’s my girl. We’ll have a great time together. This could be the start of something big, you know. I can feel it here.’ He put his hand on his heart.

‘Cool it, Ben. You’re full of bullshit,’ she laughed.

‘No, I mean it.’ He bent and kissed her quickly, his tongue darting briefly into her startled mouth. ‘This’ll have to do till Saturday, but I’ll make it up to you then.’ His hand came to rest on her breast.

Rosie stepped away with an indignant, ‘Hey, none of that.’ But she sounded more startled than angry.

Ben laughed. ‘I can tell we’re going to get on fine.’

He ran his fingers down her bare arm, but she pulled away.

‘Okay. We’ll wait. Now, on a different subject. Your boss lady seems to want to know your opinion on things. Have you worked for her for long?’

‘Don’t call her that. Cassie and I have been friends all our lives.’

‘So you’ve been here all your life?

‘Since I was three.’

‘Then you must know pretty well everything there is to know about the place.’

Rosie shrugged. ‘Most things, I guess.’

‘And she’s lived here all that time, too?’

‘Cassie only inherited the station a few months ago. Before that, she came for all her holidays. It belonged to her uncle but he was killed in a car crash.’

‘Aah…I see. Interesting. So she’s a rich little heiress, eh?’

‘Why are you so interested in everything?’

‘I always like to know the lie of the land. You never know when it’ll come in handy.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Nothing. I’m interested in people, that’s all. And in what’s going on. Nosy, my mother always said.’

‘She was obviously right.’

‘I’m interested in you. Do you all live in the big house?’

‘No. My parents live in their house, the manager’s house. I live with Cassie in the homestead.’

‘The two of you all on your own?’

‘Yes. But that’s where everything happens. Mum’s there a lot during the day and we usually have our meals there. The station office is there, underneath, so Dad’s always in and out. The place is always busy.’

‘What about at night? Aren’t you nervous on your own?’

‘Not way out here. And there’s an intercom to the manager’s house if we ever needed anything.’

‘So you’ve lived on Yallandoo most of your life?’

‘For as long as I can remember. Dad’s been manager for years. Cassie’s uncle was very good to work for. It was like we were all good friends.’

‘Nice. Lucky to have a boss like that. I suppose he looked after you all pretty well.’

‘Yes, Dad never wanted to work anywhere else. It was terrible when he and Isobel were killed. We were all very fond of them.’

‘Sounds like a really nice guy. I bet he remembered you all in his will, too.’

‘Yes, he did.’

‘Is that how you got that neat car?’

‘No. My parents gave me that for my birthday.’

‘Cool. You must be an only child, for them to give you a present like that.’

‘I am, as it happens. What about you? You haven’t told me anything about yourself. I don’t even know where you live.’

‘Oh, I’m just staying with some friends at the moment, not too far away.’

‘And just what do you do?’

‘You heard Gary, I’m his off-sider. I’m a chippy and a damn good one.’

‘A chippy?’

‘Carpenter to you.’

‘Do you come from round here?’

‘Nah. I’m from down south. Been moving round a bit, seeing a bit of the country, you know. But I suddenly like it here, a real lot.’

Ben moved over close to her again and smiled down at her, his gaze unwavering. He had dropped his usual bantering manner and spoke softly now. His hand caressed her hair gently. Rosie looked at him as if she were mesmerised. ‘Yes, I think I’ll stick around here for a long time. Maybe permanently, if I find I’m appreciated.

Nadia’s voice came over the phone, her accent recognisable immediately. ‘Cassie, my dear, I am so pleased to catch you. We are arranging a special outing for next Saturday, for Gemma’s birthday. We are taking the boat out for the day to a small island that Mark knows and Gemma is most anxious to invite you and Larry to come with us.’

‘That is sweet of her.’

‘Oh, she is most insistent. We will be taking a picnic lunch and there will be swimming. Mark knows this place. He says it is quite tiny and he has never seen anyone else there, it has always been deserted when he has been there. He says there is a small coral reef close to the beach and he wants to teach Gemma to snorkel.’

‘It sounds fun. I’d love to come. Thank you. I’ll have to check with Patty to see if Larry can come. Can I let you know?’

‘Of course.’

‘They seemed to get on well together yesterday, didn’t they?’

‘Yes, I was so pleased. Gemma doesn’t have any friends up here and it is lonely for her. I hope they may become friends.’

‘I’ll let you know if he can come after I see Patty. What time will we be leaving?’

‘It will be quite a long day. I am told it takes about an hour and a half to reach the island by boat and we have to drive to the coast first. Would it be too early for you if we pick you up about eight o’clock?’

‘No, that’ll be fine. What can I bring?’

‘Don’t worry about food. I will organise that. Mark has snorkelling gear on board, too.’

‘Oh, I have my own so I’ll bring that. I don’t know about Larry, though.’

‘Mark will make sure there is some to fit him. Don’t worry about it.’

‘It sounds as if you’ve organised everything.’

‘Just bring yourself, and Larry, I hope.’

‘I’ll speak to Patty today and let you know.’

‘Thank you, my dear. Goodbye for now.’

Cassie checked with Patty and rang Nadia later that day to tell her Larry was able to come with them on Gemma’s birthday trip.

***

Rosie was in a state of mild excitement all week. ‘I know you don’t like Ben,’ she told Cassie, ‘but I’ve never met anyone like him, I think it’ll be fun to go out with him.’

‘I don’t know him well enough to dislike him. I just found him fairly flippant, that’s all. If you like him, that’s all that matters. You’re the one going out with him.’