Outback Flames: Australian Rural Romantic Suspense (15 page)

By the time Zoe reached the
outskirts of Tamworth, the long flat drive had grown monotonous. She couldn't
wait to book into a motel, and grab the last few hours of the shops before they
closed.

The sergeant
hadn't called, and she wondered if she should give him a ring but thought
better of it. He would be most probably busy with other police matters and she
didn't want to irritate him. She'd be patient and wait.

Passing by
large wheat silos, she slowed her ute when the speed zone dropped to fifty
kilometres. A little church to her left caught her attention, and she hoped she
had time to check it out. She parked in Peel Street, which was lined with amber
trees, providing cooling shade. A new car was on her purchase list, one with an
air conditioner. The heat on the drive there had been unbearable, and for some
reason it affected her more than it usually had.

Two hours
later, she carried five shopping bags to her ute. These contained necessary
items such as a new pair of work boots, jeans, a dress, and other items of
clothing. Her next stop was the furniture store ten minutes away by car. When
she ordered the furniture, the assistant said it would be delivered within a few
weeks. She almost died at the quoted delivery cost. Although her bank balance
was more than healthy, she didn't want to waste money. Some of her inheritance
had to be invested, some put aside for a rainy day, and the rest could keep
Montagreen afloat until she had it in good working order.

After some
thought she told them she'd arrange her own pick up and asked them to ring her
when the furniture had arrived in store. Hopefully she could find an empty
truck heading back to Munna at a fair price.

After returning
to Peel Street, she sat at a table outside a coffee shop and ordered a salad
sandwich and coffee. Contentment filled her body. Montagreen was the salvation
she needed and now her future. She wondered what Jordan was up to, although he
said he'd be busy either in her garden or at his father's property. She took a
bite of her sandwich before glancing up and checking out the street. She was
awed at how busy the streets were compared to Munna.

All the air in
her lungs shot up her throat, and she almost choked. She reached for a
serviette and edged backwards, hoping the potted plant beside her would give
her the camouflage she needed. As she wiped her mouth, her heart thumped hard
in her chest. It was as though someone had spiked her with a shot of epinephrine.

Her aunt
strutted across the road, heading in her direction. She couldn't believe her
luck. Of all the days she had to visit town, she'd chosen this particular day.
Her aunt came to a standstill beside her, and Zoe glanced up. Her aunt's face
was red as the Outback sun.

'Well, is this
where you got to, you ungrateful child? William said you were in town buying up
big. I suppose it was you who sent the cops out asking questions.'

Zoe swallowed,
lost for words until her insides kicked up with assertiveness, something she'd
never displayed in front of her aunt.

'I'm no
concern to you now. You have no right in or over my life.' Her knees knocked
together under the table, and anxiety fed her stomach.

'Well for your
information I do. You see I promised your mother I'd take good care of you.'

'I can't see
you making any such promise to my mother. Besides, you failed, if there were
ever such a promise. I'm over eighteen. Go away.'

'I will do no
such thing. A few cops came to my door asking if you had lived with me for the
last fifteen years. Naturally I said no. Imagine that. Now why would they ask
such a question? I told them I hadn't seen you since you were ten.'

In the corner
of her eye, she spotted her aunt's partner, her so-called Uncle William standing
behind her. She swallowed. He tapped the side of his hip, and pulled his
flannelette shirt aside. Zoe glared as she spotted the top edge of a handgun.

'I...I haven't
done anything wrong.'

'You got all
that money didn't you? William said you've been shopping up big. Little miss
rich bitch. That money is mine.' The heat and hate in her aunt's twisted face
horrified her. Zoe couldn't believe that this woman had been her mother's
sister. They were complete opposites.

Zoe flicked
her gaze about and was thankful not many people were on that side of the
street. She jerked upwards to her feet. 'You lied to me about Montagreen.
You've lied to me all my life. You led me to believe the entire house had burnt
down, and that my parents were poor. You destroyed my childhood over money. You
never helped me with my memory and left me to stumble alone through my teens
like a zombie for years.'

Zoe sucked in
an angry breath. 'I had no guidance whatsoever. I suppose you're happy about
that. I've got to go.'

'No you don't.'
She reached out, grabbed Zoe on the arm. 'I want some of that money. It's mine.
I raised you for all those years, clothed and fed you under my roof. You have
to pay me back.'

'Pay you back
for what? For living like a pauper for years, for eating breadcrumbs, for
working like a slave and living in such fear? And how can I forget the terrible
scars you left me with, not just the physical, but the mental scars. You're a
wicked woman. One who deserves to rot in jail.'

'It's a wonder
we didn't do away with you years ago.'

'Why would
you? You got what you wanted. A cook, a washer woman, a slave.'

'It was hard
figuring that one out, wasn't it kid? The only reason you didn't die years
ago.'

A shudder ran
through her as Zoe lifted her head. She shot William a spiteful glare as she
struggled out of her aunt's grasp. She snatched up her handbag and made a dash
toward her ute, regretting it almost at once. Now they knew she still had the
old ute, and they were probably jotting down the number plate, if they already
didn't know it, as she drove off with a screech of tyres.

The sight of
her aunt took her mind back to her teenage years. Tears dropped to her cheeks.
She thought she was stronger than this, thought she'd be able to overcome any
obstacle, and that included her aunt and uncle. She'd been mistaken. She had
always been terrified of her aunt, and perhaps that fear had been embedded
years ago. Zoe was unable to shake it.

She turned
into a car yard after spotting a silver Toyota four-wheel drive, one that she
had seen in a magazine a while back. She arrived with two hours to spare before
they closed. The salesman was pleasantly surprised when she said she would pay
cash. After he took the details, she made a dash to the bank to get a bank
cheque.

When she drove
from the car yard, she checked the surroundings, making sure her aunt wasn't
following her. She wasn't about to return to the motel. The further away from
the area the better and safer she'd feel.

After leaving
the city covered by twilight, relief moved to her shoulders, and especially now
she had a decent vehicle to get around in, and one with air-conditioning. It
even had one of those automatic cruise things so the car could stay on the same
speed without her foot being on the accelerator. That put a smile to her face,
and she wiggled in her seat, getting comfortable for the long drive home.

Her plans to
stay overnight to see the Pattersons the following morning were put on hold.
Perhaps if she had someone to accompany her next time, she'd hang around a little
longer. Jordan came to mind.

Her eyes grew
sore and tired under the strain, and she glanced at her mobile phone sitting on
the passenger seat beside her and suddenly realised it wasn't turned on. She
shuddered, not ever recalling switching it off.

She reached
out, pressed the button on the top, and waited until it lit up. There were no
messages or missed calls.

***

Zoe had enough
of waiting around. She rang the local police station.

'Constable
Berry, it's Zoe Montgomery. Is the sergeant in?'

'No he isn't
sorry, Zoe. He hasn't returned from Tamworth as yet.'

'Oh, okay.
Tell him I called when you see him next.'

'Will do.'

Zoe clicked
end and walked outside, gazing at the sky and her surroundings. As she turned
she spotted something in the corner of her eye, under the tree.

She stepped
down the few steps and headed toward the table and chairs. Her curiosity got
the better of her and she peered closer, unable to believe her eyes. She looked
over her shoulder, then back to the swing attached to one of the large fig
branches. She reached out, and touched the thick rope entwined by a wide,
yellow ribbon. Another glance at the tree, and she discovered it was the same
ribbon she'd spotted on her arrival, the one tied around the base.

Giving her
head a shake, she grinned when Jordan's name popped to mind. He remembered how
she loved swings. He said he had a few things to do yesterday and she gathered
this was one of them.

Turning, she
eased down onto the swing, and pushed off from the ground into a gentle sway. A
grin edged to her lips, and she worked the sway higher. Behind her, the sound
of a vehicle pulled up, and when she managed to turn she spotted Jordan walking
toward her.

'I see it's
been put to use almost at once.'

'It's
beautiful.'

Jordan walked up
behind her and gave the swing a gentle push, then another.

'There was a
swing here, wasn't there?'

'Yep and there
still is.'

'Thank you
Jordan. Thank you. Can you stop it now please?'

'Sure.' He
grabbed the ropes from behind and eased it to stop. She turned, looking over
her shoulder.

 'It suits a
beautiful woman.' He bent down a little, leaned in closer and kissed her on the
lips.

'Hmm... I
could take more of that but first things first.' She pulled up from the swing
and stood in front of him, the swing at the back of her knees, while his arms
cocooned her.

'The yellow
ribbon. It's the one that was tied around the base of the tree when I first
arrived, isn't it?'

'That'd be the
one.'

'Jordan.'

He ran a hand
to her back and she turned to face him.

'I put it
there years ago in the hope you'd return.'

Zoe squinted.
'You mean to say the yellow ribbon symbol.'

'In the hope
you'd return.' Sentiment bubbled to the surface.

'You know the
song. Tie a yellow ribbon round an old oak tree. In my case, it's a fig tree.'

She looked up
at him, a grin edging to her lips. 'Thank you.' It was a whisper as it left her
lips, and he tugged her closer kissing her lightly and then pulled back,
dropping his hand.

 'Have you
heard from the sergeant?'

'No. I thought
he'd ring you.'

'I did too.
But he hasn't, and Constable Berry said he hasn't heard from him.'

'What the...'
He grabbed his mobile from his pocket.

'Hey Matt.
It's Jordan Townsend.'

'Hey Jordan.
What's up?'

'The sergeant
isn't about is he?'

'Yeah, he
arrived not long ago. He said he took a bit of time out with the Tamworth
team.'

'Did he say
anything about Shirley Mayberry?'

'Apparently he
spoke to her. I don't know the details.'

'Thanks mate.
We'll catch up with him later.'

Jordan pressed
end while Zoe wandered over to the table and chairs. She sat down and looked up
as Jordan sat next to her.

'Did you hear
that?'

'No.'

'The sergeant
is back. I didn't speak to him, but we'll catch up soon.'

'It's a wonder
he didn't ring.'

'He's probably
got a lot on his mind. This place is almost how it used to be. It's such a
great home, Zoe. You should be proud of what you've achieved.'

'I'll be
prouder when I have a substantial number of cattle on the place, and the
culprit, the real culprit is charged and put behind bars for a lifetime for
what they did to my family, and for what they did to you.'

'I agree.'

Jordan's phone
rang and he dug it out of his pocket pressing the answer button.

'Yo. Jordan
here.'

Zoe grinned at
the way he'd answer his phone.

'You've got to
be joking? Where's the fire? I'm on my way.'

The mention of
fire had Zoe's mind picturing the flames of that night. She retreated to one of
the benches and gazed up at the house. Imaginary flames leapt from the windows,
screams echoed in her mind, and she dropped her head, her body trembling
against the onslaught. 

Jordan had
finished his call and sat beside her. He put his arm over her shoulder. 'Hey,
you okay?'

Zoe looked up.
'I hope so. The mention of fire gave me a flashback.'

'It's only
natural. Are you okay now?'

She nodded.

'Something's
come up and I have to go. There's a fire on the other side of town. They have
it under control but I want to check it out. I'll be back later this evening.
Are you still up to going to the pub tonight?'

'Sounds good.
I look forward to it.'

He looked at
her and moved closer, kissing her on the lips with slow, loving movements. Zoe
responded with a whole heart. She caught his lip with her teeth, nibbled and
let go. He groaned, and broke from the kiss.

'You keep
doing things like that and I won't be going anywhere.'

She laughed.
'You should go.'

'Um, I guess.
I'll pick you up at seven. Is that okay?'

She nodded.
'Yep. See you then.'

Zoe watched
him leave, and contentment poured through her heart, although that one little
fact of his son lingered in the back of her mind. They couldn't stay this way
forever and usually a relationship moved on, and that meant one day there may
come a time when she'd be living with them, or Jordan and his son living with
her. She shuddered at the thought and put it from her mind.