Australian Outback Kings / The Cattle King's Mistress / The Playboy King's Wife / The Pleasure King's Bride (36 page)

Sam couldn't smile. Her face was impossibly stiff, aching with the build up of tears that were beginning to swim into her eyes. She couldn't speak, either. The lump in her throat was so huge she could barely swallow.

Tommy had asked her to trust him. And she hadn't. She hadn't. She had believed the accusation against him, and multiplied it to even worse proportions, doing him a terrible injustice, turning him into much less than the decent man he was. How could she have got it so wrong, she who had known him all these years, most of her life, and knowing he always treated people well, knowing he was essentially fair-minded and generous of heart?

Except with her.

But hadn't that been her fault? And this was her fault, too. She'd made a habit of judging him meanly. The leaden weight on her heart grew heavier. Was it any use, asking him to forgive her? Would he give her another chance?

Her father's words slid through the dark anguish in her mind…
Christmas Day…peace and goodwill
…and a bare sliver of hope whispered—why would Tommy come today if he wanted to lay blame on her?

Slowly, almost blindly, she folded the pages of Janice's letter into its original creases. Please, she prayed. Please let Tommy be here because he still wants me, despite everything. She wasn't aware that the tears had overflowed and were rolling down her cheeks. She was only conscious of desperate need.

“Don't!”

The harsh command jerked her head up, fear jabbing through her that she'd done more wrong. Her vision was too blurred to see him clearly.

“Don't cry.”

Not a command. A plea. Yet the difference barely had time to register before Tommy stepped forward and wrapped her in his arms, hugging her to him so tightly, there was no room left for fear. And her own arms wound around his waist, hanging on, hanging on for dear life.

Then his voice, throbbing into her ear, “Say you still want me.” And the words lifting the weight off her heart, bringing such sweet relief, instantly drawing the reply, “I do. I do want you.”

His kiss, his body, the pent-up passion pouring from him, left no doubt about what he felt. And Sam gave herself up to it, shedding all her fears and uncertainties, caring only that she have this…this blissful togetherness with Tommy.

Neither of them thought about ghosts.

There were none to come between them anymore.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“W
ILL YOU COME
with me?”

The passionate intensity of his kiss was echoed in Tommy's murmured words, and to Sam's giddy mind he was asking if she would travel with him on whatever path took them into a future together.

“Yes,” she breathed fervently, not hesitating for a second.

She felt his chest heave with relief. Then in an action so swift it left her breathless and bewildered, he scooped her off her feet and had her firmly slung across that very same chest, her legs dangling over one of his arms while his other arm held her very securely to him.

“I'm taking you to a very special place,” he stated, striding back towards the plane.

“You don't have to carry me,” she assured him, although she happily wound her arms around his neck, loving his strength and the determined purpose that included her.

He grinned, his eyes dancing with devilish pleasure. “I like knowing I've got you.”

She laughed and it was so good to laugh, to feel free and full of the joy of being alive. Over his shoulder, she caught sight of her family, still watching from the verandah, but it didn't matter what they thought. They'd be happy for her, too, if they knew how much this meant.

“You haven't said hello to my family and I haven't said goodbye,” she said, reminded of this oversight.

“We'll wave,” came the unabashed reply.

Sam hitched herself up a bit to smile and wave at her parents and brothers. Greg flashed her a V for victory. Pete raised his arms above his head like a champion boxer. Her father held up a salute while gathering her mother close to him, hugging her shoulders. They were smiling at each other, prompting Sam to wonder how much they had talked about her and Tommy between themselves. It was very apparent her whole family was well pleased she was going off with him, and far from spoiling their Christmas day, it seemed to have topped it off very nicely. Which added to her sense of brilliant well-being.

Tommy bundled her into the cockpit and she wriggled over into the passenger seat, smiling to herself at the novelty of not being at the controls. Today she was not flying
for
Tommy King. She was flying
with
him, up into the wide blue sky and wherever he wanted to take her.

He waved to the Connelly family before climbing in and settling himself, ready for take-off. Before switching on the engine, he shot her a sharp, searching look. “Any questions?”

“No,” she promptly replied. “None at all,” she added emphatically, wanting to assert her intention never to lose faith in him and his feeling for her again.

He smiled, whatever inner reservations he'd held, wiped out in a burst of elation at her decisiveness. “No going back on that, Samantha Connelly. I won't let you,” he warned.

Which instantly reminded her of the promise she'd made and hadn't kept, once Janice's claim had seemed ratified. “What about you, Tommy? Do you have any questions of me?” she asked gravely, impelled to probe how much of a scar her lack of trust had left on him.

The smile tilted into wry self-mockery. “How could you know my truth, when I've given you every reason to doubt it? Right now I'm feeling very lucky that you have such a constant heart, and I hope nothing I do will ever test it again.”

“I'm sorry I…”

“No!” Silencing fingers on her lips and his eyes burning with intense resolution. “We're not going to do any more of that…looking back to what we did wrong. We've got it right now, haven't we?”

She nodded.

“There's a lot of life ahead of us, Samantha. Let's start from here. Okay?”

She nodded again, grateful for his understanding and the answering of her own hopes and needs.

He relaxed, flashing her another brilliant smile. “No clouds. Come fly with me.”

“Yes,” she happily agreed.

They flew to Kununurra where Tommy exchanged the plane for a helicopter from the KingAir charter service fleet and quickly grabbed some picnic supplies from the office. Her curiosity piqued, Sam asked him where they were going, but Tommy would only say it was a surprise. Since there was no mistaking the undercurrent of excitement in his manner, Sam reasoned the
special
place he had in mind, was very special to him, and she hoped it would have the same appeal to her. It would add so much more to the sense of sharing if it did.

It was a very short flight. They landed on a hill overlooking Lake Argyle which always looked fantastic—the largest manmade lake in Australia covering about two thousand square kilometres, and perfect for swimming, boating and fishing. The many bays and inlets and islands added an interesting landscape to the huge expanse of water, which definitely had a cooling effect on Outback heat—very welcome to Sam when she flew tourists here.

Though not exactly
here
. She had never landed on this hill. It wasn't a tourist place, which made it all the more attractive, having this lovely view to themselves. She smiled delightedly at Tommy as he finished laying a groundsheet under a nearby stand of gum trees so they could sit in the shade.

“Did you scout all the surrounds of the lake to find this hill?”

“More or less,” he admitted.

“It's glorious, Tommy. Very special.”

“I'm glad you think so because I chose it specially.”

“What for?”

His eyes sparkled happy anticipation as he stepped over to her and slid his arms around her waist. “This is my land, Samantha. I set about buying it soon after I found this place. To me, it was perfect for what I wanted.”

She frowned, relating his planning to business. “Another tourist lodge?”

He shook his head and lifted a hand to smooth the lines from her forehead. His eyes smiled into hers as he warmly answered, “To build a home on. A home that would be here for me and my wife and my family.”

Sam's heart turned over.

His fingers stroked gently down her face. “Would you be happy to share it with me, Samantha?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“To marry me and have my children?”

“Yes.”

He sighed, a deep contentment in his eyes. “I shall love you all my life.”

Sam didn't doubt that promise for a moment. Her hands slid up to link around his neck as she huskily answered, “And I you, Tommy. I you…always and forever.”

And the words themselves—spoken, meant, felt—put all the magical reality of the future they wanted within tangible reach as they kissed and revelled in a totally uninhibited giving of each other. Clothes were discarded, the need to satisfy every sense of absolute union sizzling through them, and for a long, blissful time they lay on their hill, on the site of the home they would build together, making love with all the tenderness of caring, the elation of knowing, the fierce urge for mutual possession, the ecstasy of fulfilment, the sweet sensual contentment of peace and harmony.

Sunset…always an hour of relaxation at King's Eden, though Elizabeth wished Tommy was with them—Tommy and Sam. Nevertheless, it was very pleasant, sitting out here on the wicker furniture spread along the western verandah, sipping cool drinks and watching the river below them turning into a stream of gold.

The sound of a helicopter coming in jarred the peace and set Elizabeth's mind and heart racing.

“Tommy,” Jared murmured.

“He flew off in a plane,” Elizabeth reminded him.

“Yes. Interesting that he's returning in a helicopter.”

No doubt in his voice about who the pilot was, coming in at dusk on Christmas Day. It had to be Tommy, Elizabeth conceded, and fiercely willed the change to a helicopter meant something positive.

“The question is…with or without Sam,” Nathan remarked, speaking what was on all their minds.

No one commented. No one moved. There was nothing they could do, either way. Impossible for any of them to direct Tommy's life. Elizabeth knew they were all hoping his quest had been successful and he was bringing home his
gift of a lifetime
, but if he'd failed…well, he certainly wouldn't appreciate any open fuss about it.

They waited. The helicopter landed. The whirling clatter of its blades stopped. The ensuing silence stretched Elizabeth's nerves. She imagined Tommy trudging up to the homestead alone. Surely he would have stayed with the Connellys if…

Voices!

“That's Sam!” Jared said with certainty, his face breaking into a delighted grin. “He's got her!”

Elizabeth heaved a huge sigh of relief. This had to mean peace and good will, if nothing else.

“We're out here on the verandah, Tommy,” Nathan called out, his voice booming with a big welcome. “Come join us!”

“Be right there!” came the happy reply.
Happy!

Then quick and eager footsteps along the verandah, approaching the corner to the western side. Elizabeth put her glass down and leaned forward in her chair, her own eagerness to see and assess the situation brimming up in her. Tommy and Sam swung into view, hand in hand, their faces beaming so much joy there was no possible doubting they were in perfect harmony.

“This is most fortuitous!” Tommy declared. “Here you are all gathered precisely where Samantha and I shared our first kiss on Nathan's and Miranda's wedding day. Isn't that right, darling?”

She laughed, both nodding and shaking her head at him.

“And before anyone says anything,” he went on, bubbling with obvious exhilaration. “Let me introduce my future wife…” He halted, turned and tenderly cupped Sam's face, bringing her gaze directly in line with his. “…who will truly be to me…” his voice dropped to a warm caress of love “…the most beautiful bride in the whole world.”

Tears glistened in Sam's eyes. Elizabeth sensed those words meant a great deal to the woman she had always been inside, the woman who had wanted Tommy to recognise and love her. Now the love was so evident Elizabeth found tears pricking her own eyes.

Her heart was so full, she was the last to get up to congratulate them on their forthcoming marriage. Jared, Nathan, Miranda…all of them swarmed around the newly announced couple, hugging, laughing, showing their pleasure. Finally she was on her feet, joining the others.

“Mum…” Tommy grinned at her, his eyes dancing wickedly. “…it really goes against the grain for me, at my age, to say
Mother knows best
, but I'll grant it this time.”

“And I do, too,” Sam agreed, her lovely blue eyes sparkling with appreciation.

Elizabeth gestured helplessly, realising they were both acknowledging her words to them before Nathan's wedding. “It was always up to you two,” she reminded them. “I just can't tell you how pleased I am that you finally found each other.”

That was the truth of it. She might have prodded them a little, but it had still been their choice to open their hearts and minds to each other. And thank heaven they had!

Much, much later when the homestead was quiet, Elizabeth lay in the bed she had once shared with Lachlan, counting the blessings of this Christmas and feeling very content with the way the future was shaping—two sons married to women who were surely their soul mates, one grandchild on the way.

If she could see Jared similarly settled… Was Christabel Valdez the right woman? Would the enigmatic Brazilian ever open her heart to him? Was there anything she herself could do to foster a clearer situation between them? Or should she let that relationship fly all by itself?

Elizabeth sighed and settled herself for sleep. Today, all was well at King's Eden. Lachlan would have been so pleased and proud. And Jared was the youngest son. His time would come, too, she told herself, with or without Christabel Valdez. It had been a good year. A very good year. Nathan and Miranda and the baby, Tommy and Sam. No need to worry about Jared.