FOLLOW THE MORNING STAR (24 page)

‘I understood George Bannerman was looking after that. I do have a couple of quiet horses and two Shetlands lined up for trail rides though.’

‘George will be sending you a horse in a few weeks, just to look after. He might be raced later but we don’t want him stuck out at Tamworth. We’d hoped he might be the horse we’d use in our betting syndicate. But Ambrosia is a better horse. George wants to give him one last chance to see if he’s any good. He used to be apparently.’

‘Does he need working out? So who’s going to look after him?’ asked Colin.

‘Whoever you get to run the horse rides, I s’pose. Your problem.’

Colin shrugged. ‘Fair enough. How are the casino plans?’

Tony looked at his personal assistant who had said nothing. ‘We’re working on it.’ He put down his cup and rose. ‘Thank you. I will tell Alfredo his investment here is in good hands.’

On the weekend Colin paid a visit to the coast to see Dina. She greeted him with an embrace,
curling her arms about him and pushing her hips against his. ‘Umm. I’m glad to see you,
caro.
I have been sooo bored and lonely this week.’

Dina’s sensuality had an immediate effect on Colin. He felt himself becoming aroused before he’d even dropped his briefcase. He thrust himself back at her. ‘I’m pleased to see you too . . . Can’t you tell?’

Dina licked his ear and started to lead him towards the bedroom. ‘Hey, steady on, Dina, let me put my bag down. Get me a drink, there’s no rush, I’m not going anywhere.’ Colin sank into a chair putting down his briefcase.

‘Well that makes a change, you’re always rushing off somewhere.’ Dina poured two glasses of wine and handed Colin one and perched on the arm of his chair. ‘Caro, I’ve been thinking, why don’t I come and visit this resort of Pappa’s. This Harmony place that keeps you so busy, eh?’

Colin glanced at Dina in surprise. ‘Why? I mean, sure. But it’s not really your cup of tea. It’s not glitzy, in fact quite the opposite. Very simple, wholesome and healthy. Definitely not your scene,’ teased Colin.

Dina pouted. ‘Ugh. Are you trying to turn me off coming there?’

Colin gave his wife a shrewd look. She was playing the role of neglected and doting wife, but she obviously suspected he was up to something, seeing how he spent so much time there. Colin relaxed. This time he had nothing to hide. Well, only a few papers. There was no
secret mistress tucked up at Harmony Hill. ‘I think it’s a great idea, Dina. I’d like you to see it. It’s different, and I’m really trying to get it established. Eventually it might be like those health farms you like to visit in America. It’s not plush and glamorous but it has its own charm. Like the people who work there.’

Dina stood up. He’d agreed too easily. ‘All right then. I just like to know what my husband is doing. Friends ask, and I can’t tell them any details. Now I’ll know all about it.’ She drained her glass and headed for the bedroom. ‘Pour me another wine, and bring it with you. Let’s take a Jacuzzi together.’

The next day they headed into the hinterland. Colin was telling Dina the background of Harmony Hill and what to expect, but she seemed rather bored with the idea now.

‘Stop making excuses. This isn’t a tour of inspection for Pappa. I’m just curious to see what you like so much out here.’

They drove through the grounds past the office where ripening papayas hung from a tree, to the two-bedroom cabin Colin had commandeered as his own. He led Dina into the open-plan sitting and dining area lined in honey pine. The floor was polished wood and the furniture casual rattan. She walked onto the small balcony and stared up towards the hill to one side and green patchwork of distant farmlets.

‘Pretty, isn’t it?’ said Colin, coming up behind her and putting his arms about her waist.

She turned back inside. ‘Yes, very sweet. Colin, there is no air-conditioning in here.’

‘You don’t need it, there are ceiling fans and there’s always a breeze.’ She flopped into a chair. ‘How about a drink?’

‘There’s cold ginger beer and lemon squash. Home-made,’ he added apologetically. ‘I’ll get some wine later; we’re having dinner with Bruce and Ria.’

‘Umm . . . I was thinking more of a gin and tonic. Like now.’

‘Dina, it’s only eleven in the morning! How about I show you round the place instead.’

‘I forgot, this is a health farm. All right, I’ll wait till lunch time.’

Colin helped her into the small dune buggy they used to drive about the place. ‘We’ll start up at the top of the hill where the yurts are. The sauna and spa are working, maybe you’d like a massage and spa? Ria gives a great massage.’

‘Oh does she? And what sort of a place is this?’ She gave him a penetrating look.

Colin laughed. ‘Dina, you’ve got a dirty mind. These are health massages guaranteed to help aches and pains and just make you feel relaxed and fit. Ria is a naturopath, but she doesn’t practise at a clinic anymore since she had Greta. That kid is the funniest little thing. I’ve got some horses for trail rides which aren’t set up yet, and for the kids I got two Shetland ponies; one is a bad-tempered bastard, very set in his ways; the other one, Pansy, is as sweet as can be. She and Greta are inseparable, the kid is nuts about the horses. All of them.’ Colin changed the subject — he knew Dina was not interested in children.

Colin had arranged a picnic lunch by the creek, but Dina found the grass uncomfortable, the occasional fly bothered her, she hated eating with her fingers and worried about dirtying her white linen slacks. Colin shelved his plan of making love to her on the grassy bank beneath the trees, and they returned to the cabin where Dina hung up her clothes, closed the shutters, turned on the fan and slept the afternoon away.

At sunset Colin mixed her a drink, which he handed to her as she emerged from the shower. ‘A dressing drink for you. Feel better?’

‘I will after this,’ she said, lifting the cocktail from his hand.

Dinner at the Gadens was the usual informal occasion. They sat at a long wooden table in the garden spread with a variety of vegetarian dishes, salads and a baked Moroccan chicken dish.

Dina peered into the earthen dish. ‘What’s in it?’ To Colin it didn’t sound like a polite enquiry but more of a hint she could possibly be poisoned.

Ria was unfazed. ‘Oh spices, honey, nuts. Oh, here’s Greta. Look who’s here, sweetie.’

There was a general feeling of relief as the little girl rushed in and went to her father, climbing onto his lap and giving him a hug. ‘What have you been up to?’ he asked.

‘Tea party in my room.’ She looked shyly at Dina.

‘This is Auntie Dina,’ said Bruce. Dina nodded and gave a tight smile, hoping the child
wouldn’t jump onto her lap. But Greta climbed down and stood demurely before Dina and held out her hand. ‘Come.’

Dina stared at the child, wondering what to say.

Ria came to her rescue. ‘She probably wants to show you something in her room. She’s been awfully quiet down there for a while.’

‘Shall I?’

Bruce got up and headed indoors to the kitchen. ‘I’ll make you another drink, Dina. Don’t let that little monkey rope you into an involved tea party.’

As Dina was led away by the small tot, Colin muttered to Ria, ‘Not much chance of that, Dina’s not into tea. Scotch is her tipple. I know you don’t drink so I have some wine in the — ’

There was a sudden shriek and Dina’s voice echoed from the back of the house, ‘Colin!’

Bruce reached Greta’s room first and burst out laughing. As the others crowded into the doorway they too started to laugh. Greta had a tea party set up on a little table and the guest of honour standing at the table wearing a bib and paper party hat was Pansy the Shetland. The pony stood placidly and was obviously quite at home. Dina, looking bemused, was standing at the far end of the room.

Ria pushed into the room and pulled the hat and bib from Pansy, saying crossly to Greta, ‘Now look, miss, I’ve told you before, you are not to bring Pansy into your room to play. Now take her back outside and put her outside the fence away from my garden.’

‘Do as your mother says then wash your hands and come to the table for dinner,’ added Bruce sternly.

The adults all grinned broadly as they watched the little girl lead the pony by its shaggy mane down the hall and out of the front door.

Bruce shrugged. ‘She loves the horses, she’s going to be underfoot at the stables, I’m afraid.’

‘We’ll have to keep an eye on her,’ said Colin tersely. Greta unwittingly reminded him of Queenie as a child.

Dina was not amused, which made everyone uncomfortable, and throughout dinner it was obvious she felt she was mixing with her social inferiors. ‘I understand you’re the gardener here, Bruce, and you give massages, Ria?’ She managed to give a lewd twist to the pronunciation of massage and her manner to Bruce was condescending.

Ria appeared not to notice. ‘Greta, it’s your bedtime; would you like Dad to read your story?’

Bruce picked up the child, glad to leave the table. By the time he had supervised teeth brushing, read a chapter of
Blinky Bill
and returned to the table, all was calm again. He noticed Dina had a full glass of wine and was the only one drinking, but she seemed happy enough telling some involved story about a palace in Italy where they’d lived for a time.

By the time Dina fell into bed, she was well and truly drunk, having had a nightcap while Colin got ready for bed. In the few minutes it
took him, Dina fell asleep and he found her snoring lightly on her back in her underwear, her make-up still on and the half a glass of Scotch by the bed. Colin tipped it out and replaced it with water, knowing her nighttime thirsts and demands for water, then switched out the light and curled up on the other side of the bed, thinking how different his marriage was to that of the Gadens.

Dina had remained negative throughout the meal, scoffing in a forced gay manner when Ria had tried to explain some of the health treatments they planned, and as for the idea people would willingly pay money to try and change the pattern of their lives, Dina thought it was crazy. ‘People pay money for a good time. Not to torture themselves with health food, vitamin drinks, exercise and emotional confrontation,’ she said firmly. Colin secretly agreed with her, but wished she wouldn’t air these views with Bruce and Ria.

‘Well, it’s the end result people are interested in, like becoming healthy, feeling better and approaching life in a new, less stressful, more fulfilling way,’ said Bruce gently. ‘And if they can have a good time doing it, so much the better. Because, Dina, it may surprise you, but some people find a place like this rather enjoyable.’

‘Give me the Gold Coast any day,’ said Dina and they changed the subject.

Colin squeezed his eyes shut, willing sleep to come. Life with Dina was no picnic, but at least it wasn’t dull. He suddenly realised a smooth placid marriage like the Gadens’
would bore him. Dina did spend a fortune on herself but provided she hadn’t drunk too much, her sexual energy didn’t diminish and she was always ready to experiment or try something new and lascivious. Colin was the envy of many men who yearned to bed Dina; and on occasion, his spoiled and shallow wife could be fun.

As he finally drifted to sleep Colin decided to keep his options open, and that meant keeping Dina happy . . . for the time being. One never knew where lady luck might pop up next.

Chapter Seventeen

Tango drove under the archway to Tingulla and slowed his truck as he caught sight of Snowy in the distance. He was standing by a tree, his back to the homestead, looking towards the low range of Blue Hills. There was no mistaking the bent figure in his favourite red shirt, his white hair shining like silver in the sunlight.

Tango stopped and watched him for a moment; then, turning off the engine, got out, glad to stretch after the long drive, and vaulted the old post-and-railing fence. Snowy hadn’t shown any sign he’d seen him, though he must have heard the Toyota. Tango put two fingers in his mouth and gave a long musical whistle. Slowly the old man turned towards the sound and even at that distance Tango knew Snowy hadn’t seen the view before him but had been lost in deep thought or staring into his Dreaming. But now a wide
grin spread across his lined face and he lifted an arm in a loose salute.

Tango ran over to him and impulsively hugged the tribal elder he regarded as his grandfather. ‘Watcha doing, Snowy? How’s everything at the house? Is TR home?’