FOLLOW THE MORNING STAR (64 page)

‘They’re beautiful opals,’ TR whispered to Queenie.

‘You don’t remember them?’

TR looked distressed. ‘Oh dear, should I?’

Queenie could hardly speak. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she whispered. Guests crowded around, and Queenie and TR were separated in the crush.

Saskia extricated herself from the well-wishers to give Queenie a hug. ‘Thank you, thank you. You know I always loved these opals.’

Queenie hugged her back. ‘We’ll save Grandma Rose’s pearls for your wedding. Off you go and have fun, darling.’

‘You too. By the way, I’ll make a speech when we cut the cake — Millie’s made me a Pavlova.’

Alf had done a grand job at the barbecue and spit and with many willing hands, a feast was spread along a massive buffet table. Guests helped themselves to salads, quiches, vegetables, side dishes and condiments, then carried their plates to Alf for lamb or beef from the spit. Fresh tropical fruit, Millie’s fruitcake and Tingulla cream and pastries were laid out
for dessert with the promise of the birthday Pavlova to come with the coffee later in the evening.

During the woolshed dance that followed, the band leader declared a ladies’ choice. Jenni tapped TR on the shoulder. ‘Shall we?’

He smiled warmly at her and held out his arms. ‘I’m much smoother on my feet since last time we danced.’

They circled the floor without speaking, then TR looked down into her face. ‘You okay?’ It was a question that implied a lot more than it asked.

She nodded. ‘And what about you?’ TR nodded and they turned round one more time before Jenni asked, ‘And what conclusions have you come to? You left Harmony Hill before I could really talk to you. Have you made a decision?’

‘About myself? About us? About what I am going to do with the rest of my life?’ His voice had a hard edge to it.

‘You don’t seem happy about things,’ said Jenni wondering what was in his mind and his heart. She took a deep breath. ‘TR, about us . . .’

He interrupted her, drawing her tighter to him. ‘Jenni, you will always be terribly important to me. You have seen me through some rough times. But I realise I’ve been leaning on you and using you and that’s not fair to you. I don’t want to hurt you, but our relationship kind of got off on the wrong foot . . .’ He hesitated and Jenni smiled at him.

‘TR, don’t worry about me. I’m all right.
Really I am. I’ve made a lot of adjustments to my life. I’m enjoying being out in the world away from the hospital. And I think I know where I’d like to end up.’ She stole a swift glance across the room to where Tango was dancing with Queenie. Tango smiled at Jenni over Queenie’s shoulder.

‘You reckon you can do a lot better than being tied to a bloke with a bad leg and confused head, eh?’

‘I have to confess I’ve been enjoying Tango’s company. He reminds me of you.’

TR stared down into the young woman’s clear and honest eyes and for a moment a flash of jealousy flared then just as suddenly died. He nodded, ‘I understand. You’re definitely part of this family now. But I have to sort my life out on my own, Jen. And you and I will always be friends.’

‘I still worry about your happiness though.’

‘Don’t do that. I have enough people worrying about me. But I’m glad you’re friends with Tango, and mates with Saskia.’

‘And business partners,’ Jenni laughed. ‘I thought I was going to collapse when Toffee won the race.’

TR laughed with her and from across the woolshed, Queenie saw the two so at ease together and Tango felt her stiffen as she looked away.

‘She’s been a good friend to Dad. And I hope she’ll always be a good friend to us,’ said Tango softly.

Queenie nodded but didn’t answer. Tango debated talking to his mother about Jenni, but
decided tonight was not the time or place. He didn’t want to lay anything else on Queenie right now and he was still unsure about how she felt towards Jenni. Telling her he was falling in love with Jenni might stop her feeling so threatened, but equally his mother might feel Jenni was coming between her and her son. Best to let things ride for now and grow gradually.

Tango found Jenni after the dance and led her out into the cool air and darkness. The lights strung around the woolshed sparkled like a multicoloured jewelled necklace. The song was a romantic ballad and Tango took Jenni in his arms and they reached immediately for each other’s lips. Their bodies pressed together and Tango felt the softness of her tiny figure moulding to his own and it aroused a deep passion in him. ‘I want you, Jenni,’ he whispered against her ear.

‘Oh Tango.’ She was overcome with the rush of emotion and desire that welled up in her. ‘I’ve never felt like this before.’

‘Me neither. Jenni . . . when I said I want you, I meant want you as a person, to spend time with you, but I also want to make love to you. I’d love to sneak into your room tonight, but I won’t. I don’t want any sneaking between us. I’ve spoken to TR about my feelings for you, and I think he understands now. But I want to make sure you and I do things right. Do you know what I’m saying?’

Jenni nodded, her eyes shining, her heart touched at the words Tango spoke with such feeling. A mischievous smile danced at her
mouth. ‘Do I get another invitation back to Guneda?’

He hugged her. ‘You bet. But you’d better warn Bruce and Ria you might not be back. I think I’ll keep you all to myself.’

As soon as Saskia had cut the cake and the woolshed rafters had rung to the strains of ‘Happy Birthday’, Queenie discreetly went around bidding people goodnight. Sarah took her hand. ‘I’ll come up to the house with you. Let’s have a nightcap and leave these youngsters to it.’

‘Youngsters! Dingo is still holding forth around the keg with Alf and your father,’ laughed Queenie. But she was grateful for the support. She knew Sarah was also thinking back to the night of Queenie’s twenty-first when she’d slipped away early and walked into the nightmare at the homestead and found her mother’s broken body. The two old school-friends went back to the house where they found Millie and Auntie Maud talking in the kitchen, making plans to get together on regular visits.

‘We’ll go back down and start clearing up a bit more in an hour or so,’ said Millie. ‘Don’t you girls worry about anything. Maudie and I are talkin’ about going back to the convent and mission schools to try ’n’ piece together what happened to us and the rest of the family.’

‘Millie, that’s a wonderful idea,’ said Queenie. ‘Sarah and I are going to have a drink in the library. Do you want to join us?’

‘No, I’ll be off with the kids first thing in the
morning,’ said Maud. ‘So I’ll say hooroo for now. Goin’ bush is gonna be a bit of a change after this weekend, but it’s done them good in lotsa ways.’

‘I’m glad, Auntie Maud. Please come any time you want. You’re part of the family too now. Goodnight.’ Queenie gave the two sisters a hug.

Settled in the library, Queenie and Sarah talked about the past, their children, and the future of Tingulla Fashions. Then Sarah asked, ‘What news of Colin?’

‘From what I hear from Saskia via the Gadens, it seems he bet heavily on the race, and couldn’t meet his bets, so Camboni bailed him out, though he lost a lot of money too. Apparently he was involved in some casino project and that’s fallen through as well, lack of funds or something. Anyway, now Dina has a certain hold over Colin, and she has decided they are going back to Europe for six months each year. I wish I’d been a fly on the wall when Dina confronted him. Poor Colin, in a way I feel sorry for him. He’s just weak. I often think back and wonder where things changed for him, or was this always how it was going to be?’

‘It’s always been his nature,’ said Sarah thoughtfully. ‘I don’t understand why when I think of your wonderful parents, but that’s how he is. Accept that, don’t lose any sleep over it and who knows, one day he might become a new man — though I won’t hold my breath.’

‘Speaking of new men, how do you think TR
is coming along?’ asked Queenie. ‘It’s not going to be easy settling back down to life here, but we can only press ahead.’

Sarah chose her words carefully. ‘He does seem concerned, and withdrawn, but I sense he has come to some sort of decision in his mind. I just hope it’s the right decision. But all you can do is get on with your life, Queenie, and hope for the best. Well, I’d better go rescue Mum and Dad and John and head home. Tim and Pauline are staying here tonight with the rest of the gang.’

She stood and the two hugged each other. ‘You did a lovely job, Queenie. It’s been a great party, a lovely wedding and Millie finding Maud has been the icing on the cake.’

‘I am tired now though, I’ll talk to you when you get back to Sydney. And thanks for all you’re doing, Sarah.’

‘Hey, I’m a shareholder in Tingulla Fashions. I’m not doing things purely out of the goodness of my heart!’

Queenie didn’t bother turning on the lights in the bedroom as she slipped out of the shimmering dress which dropped to the floor and lay on the rug like a pool of moonlight. Wrapping her robe about her, she stepped out into the darkness of the upper balcony and stood staring into the night. In the distance she could still hear the revelry from the woolshed. How familiar was every shape and shadow of this place. The darkened stables, the trees and shrubs, the deeper line of the Blue Hills against the night sky. Clouds obscured some
of the stars and a watery ring around the moon was a good sign of rain. Yet despite the apparent tranquillity, she had a feeling that the spirits of Tingulla were restless. She thought of Snowy and realised she hadn’t seen much of him this evening. He had disappeared quietly during the festivities. But looking out over Tingulla, she knew he was close by. She drew a deep breath and spoke aloud, talking to the stars, ‘TR, please come back to me, so we can be as we were. I miss you, my darling.’ Sighing, she went inside and closed the French doors and slipped into her cold and lonely bed.

The next day after a massive breakfast of sausages, chops, bacon and eggs cooked on the barbecue by Alf, the goodbyes began. There were hugs, jokes and a few tears.

Tango found Jenni and pulled her into the deserted library and gave her a lingering kiss. ‘When are you coming down to see me at Guneda again?’

‘When are you coming to see me at Harmony Hill?’ she countered with a smile.

‘Well, Saskia is coming to work with us once she’s found a replacement to run the trail rides up there, so I’ll have to get you down to Guneda regularly.’

‘I’ll miss Sas when she goes,’ said Jenni sadly. ‘But now that Ria and Bruce have a free hand running Harmony Hill they shouldn’t have too much trouble finding the right staff.’

‘Yeah, Colin did a bit of a moonlight flit, didn’t he? Dina couldn’t wait to drag him off to Europe.’

Jenni grinned. ‘With creditors hot on his heels we hear. Bruce and Ria have bought Harmony Hill for a near peppercorn fee from Alfredo Camboni. He was glad to get rid of it, I think.’

‘Yeah, he has more than a few problems with that casino scheme, which has fallen over in a heap.’

‘Too bad,’ said Jenni and they both chuckled.

Millie’s voice could be heard calling for Tango, so he kissed Jenni quickly, whispering, ‘Think of me. I’ll call you soon.’

‘Bye, Tango.’ She pulled him back towards her and kissed him hard on the mouth. She’d be thinking of him more than he knew.

Tango ran outside and threw his knapsack into the back of the Toyota and turned to Saskia. ‘Have a good birthday, kid?’

‘Yes. Thank you for my horse. He’s so beautiful and I’m sure he’s going to be a winner. I’m off back to Harmony Hill but I’ll be at Guneda as soon as I can. I feel like my life is finally really starting.’

Tango looked into her sparkling eyes and grinned at his half sister. ‘I know I tease you, and I’ll probably give you a hard time occasionally, but never forget I love you, Sas.’

She hugged her tall and handsome brother. ‘Me too. If only things were working out for Mum and TR, everything would be perfect.’

Tango squeezed her hand. ‘They’ll be fine. We can’t do it for them. Just let them know we love them both.’ Saskia nodded and Tango withdrew his hand and gave her a wink as he slipped in behind the wheel.

Dingo appeared beside Saskia and dropped an arm around her shoulders. ‘Cheers, Tango. I’ll be heading west again, why don’t you come and visit. Bring Sas and Jenni next time. There’s always something going on. You know me.’

‘You’re on, Dingo!’ Tango gave a cheery wave and headed down the driveway. He glanced up at the upper balcony and seeing Queenie standing there, blew her a kiss.

‘Now, you look after that camel of yours,’ said Dingo turning to Saskia. ‘She’s a little beauty, even if I do say so myself.’

Saskia hugged him. ‘You’re the best friend any family could ever have, Dingo.’

He smiled and touched her curly head. ‘Now don’t you worry about your mum and TR, these things have a way of working themselves out.’ He sighed, ‘It’s too bad TR isn’t himself. He’d be so thrilled to have both his kids working under his wing. Well, I’d better find Millie and tell the old girl hooroo.’

He ambled off and Saskia watched the grand old man square off the brim of his battered bush hat as he walked with bandy-legged jauntiness back into the house.

By late afternoon Saskia and Jenni were packed up and Saskia found TR helping Jim pack away the last of the equipment. She said goodbye and thanked Jim who discreetly melted away as she turned to TR.