Unknown (16 page)

‘You don’t
need
her for that, Hudson.’

‘I know that. But if the ring is not found I have to take her to the Police Station tomorrow to make an official statement of loss, and I will be standing by to see that she gives them the correct story. She also has to be taken to the insurance company to complete formalities concerning her car and receive her cheque.’

‘Hudson, she can do all these things in Christchurch. I guarantee that I will see that she does them.’

‘Furthermore,’ he continued harshly as if Madeline had not spoken, ‘I made a deal with Miss James and when I make a deal it stands. She will stay here and work her passage for four weeks, there’s no telling what a little hard labour might do to her character. And I'll bet even money she’ll regret each and every day she spends here.’

‘I won’t stay,’ Serenity cried passionately. ‘You can't make me stay.’

‘I wouldn’t count on that.’ The look from his hazel eyes sharpened dangerously. ‘You agreed you would stay. You gave me your word on it. Is that a fact?’

‘Yes, but circumstances have changed. I'd rather starve than work for you.’

‘Yours might have, but mine haven’t. I still need a housekeeper. You were the one talking so loudly last night about being committed to a project. Well, I'm giving you a chance to prove your words. For once in your life make an honest effort to fulfil a contract. Who knows, it might be the turning point in your life. You might even enjoy going straight.’ He was bitingly sarcastic.

‘Right, I will, and I won't be the only one who’s sorry. I will get John to come down here and tell you the truth. He’ll tell you he still wants to marry me, and that he begged me to go on wearing his ring. He wants the wedding to go ahead. I was the one who changed my mind. You'll apologise one day for treating me this way.’

‘I wouldn’t hold my breath, if I were you. I am sure it’s entirely possible that you could twist that besotted young man around your finger, and even bring him down here to confirm your outrageous lies. I said you were a cool customer, Serenity James, but you’ve gone even further than I would have predicted. The deal is on then, you’re staying.’

‘Yes, I’ll stay,’ Serenity said threateningly. ‘Remember it was at your request.’

‘I’ll remember. Now clear this table off and look smart about it. I’ll see Miss Buchanan out, then catch the horses, and you’d better be ready when I shout.’

‘Aren’t you going to count the silver before I touch it, or do you prefer to frisk me when I leave?’

Ignoring her, he shepherded the still very voluble Madeline out to her car. Serenity sat down weakly on a chair. If only she had talked to him on the way home. They had been friends then, he would have believed her. What had she done by agreeing to stay? He would never change his mind about her because he thought she was a liar and a cheat.

Almost blinded by tears she started to clear the lunch things away. What had Cam said? if he ever finds out about the engagement being off, you’d better watch it. He will look on you as fair game.’ She shivered. Was
that
why he was making her stay?

Serenity
had finished the dishes, changed into jeans and casual top, and was waiting at the gate when Hudson stopped with the horses.

‘Bring your bikini and a towel, we’ll have a quick dip on the way over.’

Serenity hesitated. She would love a swim, because it was boiling hot, but with Hudson in the mood he was in, she preferred to stay hot.

‘You don’t need to be scared of me,’ he jeered as if reading her thoughts. ‘I wouldn’t touch you with a forty-foot barge-pole.’

She ran through the house fighting back her tears. He needn’t be quite so brutal. She stripped off her clothes and put on her bikini, then dressed again, grabbed a towel and a windbreaker and ran out to take her horse.

‘Here’s your hat. Do you think we should get another colour? White is hardly appropriate.’ He threw it at her feet.

She picked it up and swung on to the horse. It didn’t matter what he thought of her—she knew she wasn’t a liar and a cheat. He hadn’t given her Misty today because he didn’t want her too close to him. If she fell off in the river, he probably wouldn’t even bother to pull her out. Well, she wouldn’t drown to satisfy him.

At the river he waved towards the bush. ‘You can change over there. Tie your horse securely or you’ll walk the rest of the way.’

After slipping out of her clothes, Serenity stood on the bank watching him ploughing his way across the green depths and then plunged in herself. She came up gasping for breath. Cold, it was glacier cold! She struck out for the other side, enjoying having something to fight against. It was a release to do something violently physical, and by the time she had made it back she felt refreshed and invigorated.

She dressed and was ready waiting by the time Hudson reappeared. She crossed the river carefully behind him and was aware that he was choosing much deeper channels for her to negotiate. Perhaps this was the shortest route but she had a feeling that he was deliberately testing her. She wouldn’t panic in front of him, she thought grimly, nor would she call out for help, even if she was going down for the third time.

He waited on the edge of the furthermost stream. ‘Why can’t you keep up?’

She glared back at him. ‘I’ll swap you horses and see if you can make this one keep up with Rajah.’

He then galloped away and was soon lost from sight. She had no idea where the track was to get off the riverbed and turn in by the cattle yards. She was sure she had not even been in this part of the country the last time she was out with him. Well, there was only one way to go. She slapped the stocky horse into a gallop, saying cheerfully, ‘Righto, Dobbin, it’s all yours. You take me there.’

Hudson was just leaning down to fasten the gate as she galloped through the small stream in a shower of spray, and as he swung it open for her she saw the gleam in his eye? Was it admiration? He had hoped that she would spend the whole afternoon lost in that wilderness. He didn’t intend to do her any favours. She rode through without speaking, her head held high.

Terry Goulder was waiting for them to arrive and only too eager to demonstrate his marvellous machine.

Serenity was fascinated as she saw it sweep the ground and bleep bleep each time it crossed some metal.

‘Don’t know how it will work inside the woolshed. It’s liable to bounce off nails in the walls and floor. Can you rig up something, Hudson? I need a table without metal in it.’

‘How about swinging a couple of these bales around and then putting a sheet of hardboard across? Is there any chance you can pick it up if it’s actually in the bale?’

‘Only if it’s near the outside. The scanner will only pick up to a maximum depth of three inches, but we could zoom over them just in case it’s near the surface.’

By the time the first bale was tested, Serenity had some idea how long the job was going to take . . . hours and hours, as the scanner was only the size of a tennis racquet. When the table was set up, she followed Terry’s instructions and spread the wool from under the shearing board out at a three inch depth and waited anxiously.

As he swept over it suddenly it began to bleep madly and she ran forward and searched the wool, only to come up with a five cent piece. She was utterly downcast.

‘That’s my test bit,’ Terry informed her. ‘That’s how I can tell if it’s really working. There’s nothing here, clear this off and get some more.’

Hudson had stood by watching the demonstration. ‘Great little gadget that. Put that wool straight into the press, Serenity, save moving it a third time. You carry on here, I’ll be back later.’

The scanner was very good, even to picking up a piece of silver paper, and once a broken sliver off a shearer’s comb. Each time it bleeped Serenity felt madly excited, then terribly disappointed. Terry kept her interested by telling her all the different things he had found and how he used it hunting for gold. He even gave her a spell with it and she was fascinated, but it was so slow. They had hardly touched the huge mass of wool even after two hours solid work.

‘Tell you what, Serenity,’ Terry said. ‘I won’t be using this next week. If you like I'll loan it to you, You can come here in your spare time and go through the rest of it. It will take you ages, but if it’s there this wee beauty will search it out. What do you say?’

‘I'd be most grateful, and I'd be very careful with it. If I were to tease that wool by hand I'd be here for the rest of my life.’

‘It’s all yours then. And I do wish you luck. Just drop it in to the Store at the Creek when you’re in for the mail. I’ll be off then.’

Serenity waved him away and then carried on for another hour before Hudson poked his head in. ‘Where’s Terry?’

‘He had to go home, but he’s lent me the scanner for a week. Isn’t that great?’

‘Great,’ Hudson said sourly. ‘At the rate you’re going you'll need to work night and day for the next month to get through it all. As you’re working for me during the day, you can spend your nights here.’

‘That’ll be a pleasure. It means I won't have to put up with your sarcastic comments, day and night,’ Serenity answered tartly. ‘Where will I leave this for safety?’

‘You’ve got very security conscious all of a sudden. Pity you hadn’t been more careful with Bellamy’s ring.’

‘My ring,’ Serenity corrected him carefully. ‘I think I’ll hide the scanner under this pile of wool. No one will think of looking for it there. See you don’t press it up.’

She stretched her aching back. ‘Are we going home now?’

‘Yes, get moving. I’m hungry and it’s getting dark.’ He walked out of the shed with an impatient stride.

Serenity hoisted herself into the saddle dispiritedly. It was going to be a horrible month, with Hudson snarling at her all the time. At least he wasn’t galloping away on her this time. Probably because he’d find it embarrassing explaining how he came to lose a new chum on the riverbed, and not out of any concern for her.

She stumbled with tiredness as she unsaddled her horse and Hudson just stood there, stern and impatient, not offering to help. It had been a long long day, and she felt drained from the emotional upheaval as well as not having any sleep the night before.

She showered and changed into fresh clothes then began to prepare the vegetables for dinner. Hudson had gone through to the lounge and was watching a television programme. Even yesterday he would have helped her prepare the meal, would have made the task lighter by teasing her. But at least the silent treatment was better than his sarcasm.

The phone rang and Hudson answered it. ‘One of your admirers,’ he snapped at her.

Serenity ran to the phone, ‘Hullo.’

‘Cameron Blair here. How are you?’

‘Fine.’

‘What’s the matter? You looked wonderful this morning, now you’ve got all the bounce of a flat tyre. Didn’t you find your ring?’

‘Oh, that . . .’

‘So that’s not the reason you’re down. Do you want me to have twenty guesses, or are you going to tell me? Remember me? I’m your friend.’

‘Oh, Cam . . .’ Tears flooded down her cheeks. ‘You don’t know what a mess I’m in.’

‘No, I don’t, but I’m going to find out. I’ll be over in an hour.’

‘I can’t ask you to come so far. We haven’t even had dinner yet. I’m so tired. I wish I was dead.’

'I'm coming down. You haven’t asked me, but I’d like to see you. Would you like to see me?’

There was so much real concern in his voice that she could hardly answer him. ‘More than anything else.’

‘See you then. Goodbye.’

She returned to the kitchen rubbing her eyes, and started to get the table laid. She ignored Hudson standing grimly looking at her.

‘Going to make a play for young Cam now. He’s an impressionable chap, but once I let him know what you’ve been up to you can whistle and he won’t come running. He’s got honesty too, but not like you, he’s the genuine article.’

She looked at him, her grey eyes huge with hurt and tiredness, and pushed her hair wearily away from her face. ‘And Cam has got some things you’ll never have . . . discernment, compassion and he loves people. He wouldn’t take the word of a smart city lawyer.’

‘Why did you lie to me, Serenity?’ he asked quietly.

‘Because you were such an easy mark,’ she replied savagely and went back to the range scrubbing away her tears. She couldn’t wait for Cam to come. He would comfort her. Even if she had done the things Hudson said, she knew Cam would have still tried to help her. Some things you knew without being told.

She served the meal, but the thought of eating was repugnant. ‘Your dinner is served. I’ll be in my room if Cam arrives.’

‘I don’t think I approve of your entertaining members of the opposite sex in your bedroom.’ He attempted to say it lightly.

‘That privilege reserved for the Boss only, is it?’ Serenity said bitterly and started for the stairs.

‘Serenity,’ he called so sharply that she turned towards him. ‘Come and join me at dinner. You’ve had a hard day. No breakfast, hardly any lunch, you must have some dinner.’

Her mouth quivered, ‘No, thank you.’

Suddenly angry again, he sat down. ‘If you want to starve yourself to death you’ll get no sympathy from me.’

‘I wouldn’t expect any.’ She continued up the stairs, then flung herself on her bed in a flood of tears. She had wanted to be alone to cry ever since Madeline had launched her attack. She had never been a cry-baby, but now she couldn’t stop. But then she had never been so deeply hurt. Of course it was all her own stupid fault, that didn’t help, it just made it so much worse.

Hudson had trusted her completely. Last night he had told Madeline that he would stake his reputation on her honesty. Last night he had kissed her. What a fool she had been. When she heard Cam drive up she went through to the bathroom and washed her face. There was no use trying to disguise the fact that she had been crying so she brushed her hair and put on some lipstick, then went downstairs.

Cam and Hudson were talking in the lounge, but as soon as Cam saw her he came straight to her.