Obsession Down Under (9 page)

“There’s no structural damage that I can see. It will be dark soon, so if you’re game we’ll make a move.”

Mark reached for her hand and helped her to her feet. Her legs were a bit wobbly, so she leaned on his arm for support.

The fall had shaken her up more than she let on. Mark threw his leg over the saddle. “Climb on, Jess.”

Still feeling a bit unsteady, she crawled on behind and gripped his waist tight. No way was she going to risk another tumble.

Mark turned and asked, “You ready?”

When she nodded, he kicked down. The bike made a noise but didn’t fire. He kicked down again with the same result. She crossed her fingers and sent up a silent prayer that God answered when Mark kicked down for the third time.

The trip back to the homestead was slow and easy. She was grateful they hadn’t been way out at the boundary when she took the spill. Mark was taking it steady, but she still felt every bump, dip, and hollow, and guessed she’d be pretty sore and bruised tomorrow. She also feared Whip’s reaction. Would he think her useless for being so clumsy? Then there was the matter of the repairs. She’d foot the bill, of course, that was only fair as she was the dolt who’d wrecked the bike. It would eat into her savings, but that couldn’t be helped.

When they arrived at the homestead outbuildings, the afternoon sunlight was indeed fading. Mark didn’t go to the garage, but rode straight on up to the house, and for that she was grateful. Her body was now feeling mighty stiff and rather bruised, and the graze to her arm had developed quite a sting.

As they rounded the barn and the big house came into view, they could see Whip and Drew sitting on the veranda enjoying a beer.

Mark uttered a profanity under his breath.

She patted his shoulder, hoping to set his mind at ease. “Don’t worry, I’ll pay for the damages.”

“Hang the damages, that’s the least of my worries,” he replied, pulling the bike to a standstill and switching off the ignition.

She loosened her grip as they both turned toward the two brothers on the porch.

Whip grinned and lifted a hand in greeting. The instant his brain registered her disheveled appearance was obvious. The welcoming smile slid off his face and a thunderous scowl replaced it. His clear eyes hooded and darkened to gunmetal.

“What the hell’s happened?” He glared at his brother, and springing up from his chair, thumped down the wooden stairs three at a time.

“I’m okay, it’s not as bad as it looks,” she hastened to reassure. It was obvious Mark was in the proverbial knee-deep with his oldest brother, and it was about to get ugly.

“I asked you a question, Mark.” Whip’s jaw clenched, his voice gravel rough but low. It seemed more menacing than if he’d shouted. His eyes were cold and harsh as a wintry day but softened to pearl when he turned to address her. “Jessie Rose, are you sure you’re okay?” He caught her by the waist and lifted her off the bike, examining her injuries as he did.

“Yes, I’m fine. A few scratches and wounded pride perhaps, but it was my own silly fault.”

“I’d hardly call that a scratch,” he said, pointing to the three-inch bloody laceration on her arm. Then taking her chin in his hand, he narrowed his eyes and examined her face. “Your cheek’s grazed and swollen too, so how did it happen?”

“I turned the throttle too hard. The bike took off, and I lost control and took a spill.”

“What the hell were you doing riding a motorbike? You can barely sit a bloody horse.” The delivery was loud, barbed, and unexpected, and set her hackles on the rise.

“I sit a bloody horse just fine, thanks. And apart from a few cuts and bruises I’m all right.”

“You look pretty shook up to me,” he shot back but then his face softened and he traced the graze on her cheek with a gentle finger. She thought he was about to apologize, but then Mark intervened.

“Settle down, Whip, no need to go ballistic.”

“Butt out.”

Jessica placed a hand on Whip’s arm and reiterated, “I’m fine, really I am. No harm done. It was my own stupid fault anyway, I should never have accepted the dare.” Her words didn’t have the desired effect and only inflamed Whip more.

“Dare!” The word exploded from Whip’s lips like a crack of thunder, he could not believe his ears. Jessica was injured as a result of a stupid dare, and from the damage the bike was sporting, they were both damn lucky she got off so light.

“Jess is fine, Whip, no bones broken, just—”

“Fine!” He rounded on them both. “No harm done! She’s got bark off her arm, her clothes are ripped to shreds, and have a good look at the side of her face before you tell me she’s fine!”

“Ease up, Whip,” Drew hollered from his seat on the porch where up until now he’d remained a spectator.

“Ease up! What if she’d been maimed and ended up in a wheelchair? What if she’d broken her neck and died, Drew, answer me that! You two are so bloody irresponsible, you always jump in feet first without considering the consequences. Jessie Rose is only wearing a cotton shirt, she’s lucky not to be needing a skin graft. Didn’t you think to wait until she’d at least had on some protective clothing before you issued your lame arse dare? She’s a city girl, for God’s sake. She’d never even been on the back of a bike until this week!”

“It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, and we were just having a bit of fun.” Mark rubbed a hand over his head.

“Fun. Yeah, ‘it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye,’ isn’t it?” Whip repeated his mother’s favorite quote. She’d recited it countless times whilst patching up either he or Travis when their skylarking resulted in blood being shed. Perhaps he
was
overreacting, but when he’d seen Jessie Rose injured his stomach flipped over and he felt physically ill. His reaction demonstrated how important she was to him, and he couldn’t bear to see her hurt or in pain.

“I know it was stupid, and I’m sorry, all right!” Mark hung his head, his voice faltering.

Sure, it was an accident. Mark wasn’t a bad kid, he just didn’t think, and it was about time he did before someone really did lose an eye.

“Come on, bro, cut him some slack.”

“Zip it, Drew,” Whip barked, determined to make a point.

“Please, Whip, don’t,” Jessica interrupted. “It’s not his fault. I made the decision, I could have said no.”

“Ah-hmm.” Cyril poked his head around from the side of the house, a hand rolled dangling from his lip.

Four sets of eyes turned to him and waited. Cyril removed the cigarette from his mouth, exhaled a plume of smoke, and scratched his chin. “Gladys said when you three boys are done squabbling to bring the little lady into the house to be patched up.”

Mark rubbed the back of his neck but didn’t speak. Drew likewise remained mute.

“Thanks, mate,” Whip acknowledged and turned to Jessie Rose. “Come on, babe.” He cocooned her and ushered her up the stairs and into the kitchen where he knew Gladys would be waiting.

The day following her spill, Jessica relaxed at the homestead. Whip had insisted she take it easy, so she baked a bit and read a lot.

On the second afternoon she went out with Mark and Drew who were drenching the cattle. Whip made them take the Ute rather than the bikes and gave explicit instructions she was to do nothing other than watch. He was being way over the top with his protective attitude, but truthfully, she kind of liked it.

The day after that, heart in mouth, she stood next to Cyril watching Whip and Travis break in the new horses. Travis had bought them at auction earlier in the week. When Whip took a tumble, she wanted to leap the fence and examine him for broken bones, but he just got up, dusted himself off, and got back in the saddle like it was no big deal.

A big barbeque was planned for Saturday night in her honor to show her off to friends and neighbors. Laughter gurgled up her throat when he told her that. Still, she was both a little daunted and secretly pleased, and hoped she’d do him proud.

Then from out of nowhere, Donna popped into her mind and darkened her day. Would the other girl be on the guest list? She and Annie were still friends, and Travis wanted them all to get together. Whip had been noncommittal. Annie had told her when he and Donna dated they’d all expected a wedding, so what was the story there?

When Friday morning arrived, so did a phone call from Brenda’s school. There’d been an epidemic of influenza, and the principal, not wanting any of the unaffected girls falling ill, was seeking permission to send Brenda home a week early for summer vacation. With a number of teachers also stricken, it wasn’t as if she was going to miss out on any work. Whip agreed and said a family member would collect her later that morning.

When he hung up the phone, his face was lit with undisguised pleasure. “I’m glad you’re going to get to meet Brenda. She’s a terrific kid, you’ll just love her.”

“If she’s half as nice as the rest of your family, I’m sure we’ll get along like a house on fire. I can’t wait to meet her.”

As it turned out it was Annie who volunteered to collect Brenda from school. Annie said breaking the news of Whip’s houseguest might be easier coming from her rather than one of the brothers. Although almost fifteen, Brenda was young for her age, and the boys had sheltered her all her life, so Whip’s sharing his bedroom with a lover might come as a bit of a shock.

Annie and Brenda had not been in the car long when Annie dropped the bombshell.

Whip had a female houseguest.

This was the first time any of her brothers had a girl sleep over. Not even Annie had stayed with Travis before they were married. Of course, Brenda knew they’d slept together before the wedding. Duh. Despite what her brothers and Annie might think to the contrary, she wasn’t
that
naive.

On the hour’s drive it took to get from school to Highland Glen, Brenda pondered long and hard on what Whip’s bringing Jessica to their home meant. The conclusion she drew was their relationship must be way serious. Annie assured her Jessica was real nice, and Brenda figured she’d have to be pretty special to replace Donna.

When they arrived home she went upstairs and changed into her riding gear. But before heading to the stables she wanted to say hi to Gladys, who was predictably found in the kitchen baking.

“Glad to have you home early, Princess.” The grandmotherly lady opened her arms, and Brenda stepped into her embrace for the customary hug.

“So what’s she like, and tell the truth now?”

Gladys’ pruned face transformed into the radiant smile reserved for special occasions. “Your brother’s done good this time, she’s a keeper and already like part of the family.”

Brenda’s mouth formed a circle, but no words came out. That was high praise indeed coming from Gladys.

“When will they be back?” she asked, taking a glass from the cupboard and filling it with water from the dispenser in the refrigerator door while she pondered where to ride.

Gladys looked up at the kitchen clock and gave an indirect answer. “You’ve got time for a ride,” she said. “Mark and Drew are laying out feed in the West paddock.”

Brenda’s eyes widened and she coughed, almost choking on her drink. “How is it you always know what I’m thinking?” She spluttered. The old woman was uncanny like that.

“Don’t take up poker.”

Brenda laughed and putting her glass aside dropped a kiss on her papery cheek. “I won’t be too long, see you when I get back.” She skipped out of the house and went to the stables to saddle Misty.

Less than ten minutes later she was trotting out of the barn. Once clear of the buildings she let the horse have its head and galloped out to where her two brothers were unloading fodder for the cattle.

On spotting the duo she reined in the mare and dismounted when Misty came to a standstill.

Mark, who was driving the Ute, pulled up and got out. Drew jumped down from the tabletop and reached her first.

“Hey, Mudrat, how are you going?” He leaned over and gave one of her braids a tug. “Extra-long holiday this year, hey!”

“Not bloody likely, Whip’s put a list of jobs as long as my arm on the fridge for her to do.” Mark grinned and tugged the other braid. “No slacking around here sis, best ride on home and get changed into your working gear.”

“Bite me,” she shot back. “I may have fallen for that crap when I was a kid but not anymore, I’m up to your tricks.”

“So, have you met Whip’s Yankee chick yet?”

“Yankee? You mean she’s not Australian, she’s from the States?” Her earlier excitement fizzled out replaced by fear and uncertainty.

“Yep, that’s usually where Yankees hale from.”

“Annie conveniently left that bit out. I guess it can’t be too serious then?” Arched eyebrows puckered and drew together. Misty whinnied. Brenda patted the horse’s neck, settling the filly.

“Serious, heck yeah. Thick as thieves they are. If it gets any more serious your big brother could tie the knot and move to the States.”

“What!” The word was a screech, and her jaw dropped open in disbelief. Whip leave? Over her dead body. He ran Highland Glen, heck he
was
Highland Glen. Sure, Travis was too, but he lived with Annie now. If Whip moved out too, nothing would be the same.

“You’re making it up,” she accused, unsure whether to believe them or not. Her brothers were notorious for tormenting and playing tricks on her, but they weren’t cruel, and they were very well aware that Whip’s leaving the country would be unbearable for her.

“Making it up, uh-uh, no way, sis.” Mark laughed and hauled himself back into the Ute. “Look at it this way Bren, you’ll have somewhere exotic to holiday during vacation instead of working your butt off on the property.”

“She could decide to live here.” The optimism in her voice was hard to misconstrue.

“Nah, she’s made it clear the States is where she belongs.” Brenda dropped her head, her mouth compressed. “Cheer up Mudrat. I’m sure Jessica won’t mind having you to stay once in a while,” Drew added as he jumped up onto the back of the Ute, his laughter mixing with Mark’s.

Nervous hands jerked on Misty’s reins. Brenda peered long and hard after the vehicle as it took off, spraying a cloud of dust in its wake. To say she was surprised, Mark and Drew were making light of the situation, was an understatement. Didn’t they realize what it would mean for all of them if Whip left? She loved all of her brothers, but Whip was head of the family. He made all the final business and financial decisions and he ran the property. Sure, Travis, Mark, and Drew, helped out, but Whip was the boss. If he left, where would that leave Highland Glen? Their breeding program was second to none in Australasia. Their cattle prime stock, were exported around the world all thanks to Whip. No, he couldn’t just up and leave - he’d be miserable in no time, and if her brothers were just going to sit on their bums and watch him ruin his life, then it was up to her to save him.