Outback Dreams (36 page)

‘So that's it? End of thirty years friendship?' He couldn't believe she could throw it all away like that. ‘You hate me that much?'

‘I don't hate you, Monty. For some crazy reason I'm madly in love with you, and that's why it has to be this way.' She paused a moment, pursing her lips. Her chest rose and fell slowly as if it were a real effort to speak. ‘Just being friends with you now would hurt too damn much.'

And then she did something he didn't expect.

She leaned forward, stretched up, and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Goodbye, Daniel. And by the way, I'm not pregnant.'

As Faith turned and walked away, relief flooded him, but it was short-lived. He'd lost his best friend over a non-existent baby, all because of one night and one week. It was the best sex of his life but had it been worth it?

Faith meant so much more to him than that.

More than happy to close the door on the day, Faith had just slid beneath the covers when her mobile started ringing on her bedside table. She eyed it suspiciously, wondering who could be calling at such an hour. Of course, curiosity and the stupid hope that Monty had experienced a life-changing epiphany got the better of her. Picking up the phone, she groaned when she saw Kat's caller ID. Could her day possibly get any worse?

‘Hello,' she said with a sigh.

‘Oh, my God, Faith, I'm terrified. I heard noises outside and now I'm sure there's someone walking around inside. I've locked myself in the bathroom. This damn cottage doesn't have a lock on the front door but thank God the bathroom does. I've tried to ring Adam, but his number is unavailable.'

‘Katarina, relax. I'm sure it's just a possum or something. I'll try his home number.' Faith sat up, trying to reassure her. ‘Actually, stuff that, I'll be over myself in five minutes.' No way she'd get any sleep tonight anyway, so no point in both her
and
Adam being exhausted tomorrow. ‘Try to stay calm.'

‘Can you stay on the line?' Kat begged. ‘That way if I start screaming you can call Constable Noble as well.'

For a second Faith wondered if this was Kat's ploy to get Drew to rescue her—you'd have to have been dead to have missed the way she was flirting with him that evening—but surely she'd have called triple zero straight away if that was the plan. ‘Yes, I'll stay on the line.'

Climbing out of bed, she put the phone on the bedside table while she threw a jumper over her pyjamas and yanked on her boots. If there was an intruder, he'd chosen the wrong night to mess with Faith Forrester. Still fuming over her fight with Monty, she wouldn't be afraid to attack if Kat really was under threat. It would actually be cathartic to have someone to take her anger out on.

She picked up the phone again. ‘I'm just getting a torch, and then I'll be on my way.'

‘Hurry,' Kat pleaded.

At the last minute, Faith decided to also grab her dad's gun. She was fairly certain the intruder was a figment of Kat's overactive city imagination, but it didn't hurt to be prepared.

Ten minutes later, she slowed her four-wheel drive and dimmed the lights as she headed up the Burtons' long gravel drive. She had to pass the main homestead and Adam's new house to get to the cottage. The usual prickles tickled her neckline as she crossed the dark property; maybe Kat had picked up on the same weird vibes. Scratching her neck and trying to forget the unease she felt whenever she visited Annadale, she picked up speed past the homestead and in less than a minute the cottage came into view.

‘All right. I'm here,' she comforted Kat down the phone line.

The surrounding paddocks were pitch black, and it would be hard to see if anyone was actually lingering around outside. Feeling braver than usual, Faith stopped the car, grabbed the gun off the passenger seat and got out. She disconnected her phone, slid it into her pocket and stomped up the path, gun at the ready— hopefully giving off a don't-mess-with-me message to potential intruders. As she climbed the steps to the porch, she scanned left and right. Although she was a little jumpy, she didn't register anything suspicious.

‘Kat?' she called as she pushed open the front door. ‘It's Faith. I'm checking the house, then I'm coming to get you.'

Turning lights on as she went, Faith searched the lounge room, the kitchen, the laundry and the two bedrooms—it wasn't a big house—before rapping on the bathroom door. ‘There's nobody here. You can come out.'

After a few seconds, Faith heard Kat turning the lock before cautiously opening the door. When she peered around the edge of the door, her face was as white as a ghost. Her bloodshot eyes suggested she'd been crying.

‘It's all right,' Faith said, her heart softening at the realisation Kat was just as human as the next person. ‘I'll stay with you tonight, but let's see if we can find a something to make a warm drink with first. Come on.'

Still sniffling, Kat followed Faith out into the kitchen, her head constantly darting about checking for shadows. ‘Are you sure you didn't see anything outside?'

‘Nothing.'

Faith located the kettle and everything necessary to make hot chocolate—not surprisingly, since Ruby had also helped Mrs Burton stock the cottage.

‘I've never been so terrified in my life. How old is this place? Could it be haunted?'

Faith smothered a laugh. ‘I doubt that. Probably just country noises—could have been a possum. They've been the cause of many broken nights.'

‘Really?' Kat plonked herself down on a kitchen chair. ‘I feel like an idiot. Sorry for waking you up.'

‘It's okay. I hadn't got to sleep yet,' Faith admitted, joining Kat at the table while they waited for the kettle to boil. ‘Things on my mind.'

Kat nodded as if she understood. ‘I'm sorry to hear about you and Daniel. You looked like the perfect couple.'

Faith raised one eyebrow. ‘Looks can be deceiving.'

‘Tell me about it. I thought I had a faithful, sweet and loving husband. Turned out he was none of the above.'

‘What?' Faith couldn't hide her shock.

Kat let out a half-laugh and shrugged one shoulder. ‘My marriage. It's a debacle. Paul cheated on me, but somehow I'm the one in the wrong. The kids are barely out of nappies and they all want to live with him because he buys them better presents. I can't afford to keep up. I quit work so he could further his career.'

While Faith made hot chocolate, Kat spilled her woes as if Faith were her long-time best friend.

They drank and talked, and as she listened, Faith began to reassess her own situation. It was another wake-up call about judging people. Yes, she was heartbroken. Sure, she'd lost her best friend in the world. But there were plenty of people worse off than her. Imagine if she had been pregnant and had someday had to tell her son or daughter that the reason daddy wasn't around was because he hadn't wanted them.

‘I guess we'll both recover eventually,' Kat said with a sigh. ‘And I suppose we should try and get some sleep as well.'

‘Yeah, you're probably right.' Faith stood, collected their mugs and dumped them in the sink. ‘Will you be okay if I sleep on the couch, or do you want me to drag a mattress into your room?'

‘I'll be fine.' Kat sounded as if she were trying to convince herself.

‘Don't worry, I'm physically exhausted but emotionally wide awake.' Faith gestured to the gun on the table. ‘No one will get past us.'

‘Thanks. And Faith? Between you and me, the ball was outstanding. I know you haven't got a final total yet, but I believe you'll be pleasantly surprised by how much you've raised. I think you stand a real chance at winning.'

Faith smiled as Kat turned and headed back towards the bedroom. Although she was pleased that the ball had been a success, it was hard to enjoy the happiness such a thought deserved. Looking back, it had never been about winning but, rather, doing something meaningful with her life. Hopefully her efforts tonight would mean a lot to a family with an autistic child who might now be able to get a dog.

Locating a couple of thick blankets in one of the cupboards, she settled on the couch. She didn't expect to get any sleep at all, so when she woke to the sound of an approaching ute and saw the sun shining in through the gap in the curtains, Faith was surprised at how late it was. She leapt off the couch, dumping the blankets on the floor as Adam knocked, entering before waiting for a reply.

‘What are you doing here?' he asked, eying her suspiciously.

Faith yawned, stretched and rubbed her eyes. She needed coffee, and fast. ‘Protecting your guest.'

‘Huh?'

She gave him a condensed version of the night's events.

‘Haunted?' Adam looked genuinely concerned. ‘You don't think Uncle Tom is annoyed we've done over his place and has come back to spook it do you?'

‘We both know I don't believe in ghosts.' Faith squeezed Adam's arm and whispered, lest their guest hear, ‘Look I wouldn't worry about it too much. I don't think Kat's spent too many nights alone in the bush before. It was probably a possum.'

‘I hope you're right. I'd hate for rumours of a ghost to ruin my plans for this place.'

‘You know what?' Faith said. ‘I reckon rumours of a ghost might not be a bad thing. Lots of people are interested in stuff like that. They'd come specifically in the hope of getting a sighting of Annadale's resident ghost.'

‘Ya think?'

She nodded. ‘I do. Either way, I wouldn't lose sleep over it.'

‘Yeah, I suppose so.' Adam puffed out a breath.

At that moment Kat appeared behind them. ‘Oh, good morning, Adam. I suppose Faith told you about my embarrassing attempts to scare myself to death last night?'

Adam chuckled. ‘Yeah, sorry you couldn't reach me.'

‘It's fine. I was just being silly.' She glanced between Adam and Faith. ‘Would you like me to make you a cuppa? Then I'd better be on my way.'

‘Not for me thanks,' Faith sat again to shove her feet into her boots. ‘I've got to get stuck into the clean-up anyway. Thanks for coming, and safe travels.'

As she gathered her car keys, phone, torch and gun, Adam said, ‘Are you okay? That looked like a pretty serious disagreement between you and Monty last night.'

‘I'm fine.'

He raised his eyebrows and she knew she hadn't fooled him one bit.

‘We broke up,' she answered simply. ‘Irreconcilable differences. And no, I don't want to talk about it.' That was all anyone was going to get from her.

Never one to push things, Adam escorted her to her four-wheel drive. ‘I'll be down later to help. And Faith, I'm here if you need me. Always.'

‘Thanks Adam. You're a great mate.'

***

Faith arrived at the hall to find a crew of willing volunteers already getting into the clean-up. Frank and Stuart were removing the tables and Jenni was wielding a mop up on the stage, but Monty was noticeably absent. Although she'd made it clear last night she didn't want to see him, she couldn't help the disappointment in her gut any more than she could help loving him with all her heart.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Jenni come down from the stage and cross the hall, but she recognised her tender embrace as it pulled her close.

‘I'm sorry Daniel has hurt you.' If the hug wasn't bad enough, Jenni's gentle words threatened to unravel all the hard work Faith was doing trying to hold herself together. ‘You mean the world to me, and I don't want you to shut yourself off from us simply because you and Daniel have some things to work through.'

Bless Jenni
. ‘I don't think we can work through this one.'

‘He told me,' whispered Jenni. ‘He told me you might be pregnant and that he hadn't factored fatherhood into his future. If it's any comfort, his announcement surprised me too. I think he'd make the perfect father.'

‘Oh.' Faith hadn't expected Monty to offer that information freely, even to his mum.

‘I'd been waiting for something bad to happen since I dreamed about the raven in the tea leaves, but I didn't expect this.' Jenni shook her head sadly. ‘I can't help feeling partly responsible.'

‘Did he tell you why?'

‘Of course he didn't. He's a man, he probably doesn't know the whole reason himself. But I'm a mother and I haven't thought about anything else all night.'

‘I see.'

‘I'm guessing it's got something to do with Will.' She paused and rubbed her lips together, as if in standing up for one son, she might be doing an injustice to another. ‘I know Daniel loves his brother, but life wasn't easy growing up with him. Daniel has always been such a strong person, but all the sacrifices he made for Will have taken their toll. My guess is he's scared. Scared he'll have a child like his brother.'

‘Yes.' Faith nodded, her anger at Monty sparking once again. ‘He's selfish. He can't see that Will and me and any children we might have are more important than possessions, than farms.'

‘Please don't hate him for that, Faith. Life's not always so clear-cut. It's partly my fault and for that I'm sorry. Maybe I spent too much time with Will, and…' Jenni sighed.

‘No,' Faith rushed to reassure her friend, putting her hand on Jenni's arm in a show of support. ‘You were a fabulous mother. Don't ever question that. Monty didn't miss out. He had a great life. If he can't realise that, it's his problem, not yours.'

‘But it's yours too,' Jenni said simply, ‘because you love him.'

Faith wanted to deny it, but her brain refused to send the signal to her mouth.

Jenni took her hand and squeezed it gently. ‘I'll be praying he comes to his senses, but I want you to know that Stuart and I will be here for you no matter what. If you are pregnant, we'll be proud to be grandparents.'