Silver Clouds (36 page)

‘There is no way you could've found out who posted those photos. Tessa, I'm really hurt you could even entertain the idea it was me.'

‘Hold on a minute. Tell me this: whose job are you in now?'

‘Yours,' she said, sounding defiant.

‘Exactly. Did you set me up so you could get my job?'

There was a pause and then Jaz lowered her voice. ‘You've lead a charmed life, haven't you? Even with everything that happened to Kendra, you got away with it. You deserved what you got. Yeah we both lied, but it was you who covered for me. Should I be grateful? Yeah, but I wasn't. I owed you. I wanted you out of here, out of my life. Every time I saw you, I hated myself more. If I didn't see you, I wouldn't have to remember. To feel what I feel. So yeah, I posted those photos. Happy?'

‘You're the one who egged Kendra on, teasing her that she couldn't climb the windmill,' Tessa shot back.

‘It was
you
who did that, or have you forgotten?' Jaz hissed.

Tessa reared back, shocked. She hadn't forgotten. It had been Jaz who had done all of that. But had she said something? She didn't think she had.

‘Jaz, that was you. You said all those things.'

‘Yeah, and it was your idea to hide it.'

‘I didn't hide it. I just never dobbed on you for egging her on. Bloody hell, I had enough guilt because of it all without this. But I'm not letting you heap it on me again. For what it's worth, I'm glad you did it! My life now is much better than I could have ever imagined and it's because of you. So instead of ringing to have it out with you, I'm actually ringing to say thanks.' And with that, Tessa hung up, breathing hard.

Harrison took the phone, nodding. ‘Well done. That was great. At least now we know.'

She shook her head. ‘I don't get how her mind works. I just don't get her!'

Harrison grabbed her by the shoulders. ‘Don't go there. We're not going back. It's fixed. Leave it and don't ever think about it again. Hear me?'

‘Yeah, but . . .'

‘No, don't. Come to bed. You need a release.' He smiled and raised his eyebrows at her. ‘You can put all your anger into passion. With me, and enjoy it.'

She reached out to him and he pulled her close.

The next morning Tessa slipped out of bed before Harrison. She set off along the road to the homestead, only to run into Paul, who was heading out to do a water run.

‘You're up and about early,' Paul said, slowing the ute to a stop.

‘Couldn't sleep. Dad, I've got to talk to you.'

‘No problem. I've got a Thermos of tea. We'll have a cup.'

Tessa poured out the story of Grace and Ali, holding nothing back. She watched Paul wince when she talked about the rape, and he rubbed his hands over his face when she spoke of the twins and Grace's death.

‘That's a hell of a story,' he said, momentarily stunned, when she'd finished.

‘Isn't it,' Tessa said flatly. She felt emotionally exhausted, like she had been run over by a truck. The weight of her family's history and the strain of tracking it down had become quite a burden in the last few days. Let alone the discovery and phone call to Jaz.

‘But you know, Tessie, Elsie is right. It doesn't change anything. We are who we are. I'm still Paul Mathison, husband of Peggy, father of you and Ryan, and owner of Danjar Plains. It's nice to know, sure. But we already know who we are.'

Tessa smiled and threw her arms around her dad. ‘I love you,' she muttered into his warm shoulders.

‘And I love you, Tessie. Don't worry yourself anymore. It's all fine.'

‘I'm so glad I came home. I nearly didn't.'

‘We're glad you did, too. And I bet Harrison is as well.' He grinned as Tessa shot him a horrified look.

‘Dad!'

He laughed.

‘The other thing I wanted to tell you was that Brendan came over a couple of days ago. I'm sure he only made a beeline for me because everyone thought I'd be cleaning out her house. There must have been something in there that implicated him and his dad in something illegal.'

‘Okay, it's my turn to tell you a story,' said Paul.

Tessa smiled, hoping nothing more shocking could be revealed.

‘I know Ryan told you about the missing stock?' said Paul.

Tessa nodded.

‘Well, he took it upon himself to find out who was doing it. I suspect he was pushed a bit by Spider. She hated anyone who profited by anything other than hard work.' He sighed and scratched his chin. ‘I also found out later he was taking Spider with him on the nightly patrols. Not just taking her – she insisted on camping out there. By herself.' Paul shook his head.

Tessa gasped. ‘By herself?'

‘If I'd known I would have had something to say, I can tell you, but she'd sworn Ryan to secrecy.'

‘What would have happened if she'd found out something? She could have been killed. My Lord! Ryan needs his head read for agreeing to it,' she burst out.

‘She did come across someone. Brendan. Up on the top side of the place.'

‘Brendan? And you didn't tell me?'

‘I would have if I'd known,' Paul replied. ‘That camera you found had photos on it. It was dawn when Brendan came along to drop the fences. From what Ryan has told me, she got the photos and then confronted him. I think we have to be grateful it was Brendan, not Ray, she came across. Ray wouldn't have thought twice about hurting her, especially after Joe, 'cos like you, I suspected there's more to Joe's death.' He twisted around for the Thermos. ‘Top up?'

Tessa held out her cup. ‘When did you find all this out?'

‘Only in the last few days. Ryan had to find someone that would develop the old film, then when he saw the photos, he sent them to the Kalgoorlie Police.

‘The other thing she managed to get photos of was Joe's crop.'

‘What?' The cup stopped halfway to her mouth.

‘Joe,' Tessa breathed. ‘He was in with the McKenzies' then? I had wondered.'

‘It certainly looks that way.'

They were silent for a moment and a magpie landed on the bullbar. ‘She was so brave. How could a little old lady take on younger men and win?'

‘You know Violet. Once she got a bee in her bonnet, especially if something was happening she didn't approve of, she'd move hell or high water to fix it. She knew Joe was growing marijuana and supplying it to Brendan and Ray to take to Perth to sell. Of course,
they
don't know she has destroyed all the evidence that links back to Joe. They can sweat on that. Spider would have never let anyone discredit Joe, even if he was trying to do the right thing in the wrong way. Looking after his sister, I mean.'

Tessa shook her head.

Paul shrugged. ‘Doesn't matter now, anyway. Last I heard, the police had a search warrant and were heading out to the station to pay them a little visit.'

Tessa tried to digest what Paul had just said.

‘Ryan's phone call floored me, I can tell you. All this cloak-and-dagger stuff going on behind my back. Doesn't make me very aware of my surrounds, does it?' He looked at her sheepishly.

Tessa shrugged. ‘The end result is there, I guess. But . . .' She blinked a couple of times, trying to clear her head. ‘Well, I'll be buggered.'

Paul's smiled widened as he put his arm around her shoulder and led her back to the ute. ‘Now you're sounding like a real Nullarbor girl.'

Epilogue
Six months later

Dear Tessa,

I'm sorry things didn't work out for you over here in London.

I have since found out that Jasmine sabotaged your position, and although that doesn't annul your mistakes, I want you to know she no longer works for Marketing Matters and we have found proof she accessed your work, making some of the mistakes look like yours.

I hope you will stay in touch and I look forward to receiving a photo of the plaque I sent for Violet, in situ.

With best wishes,

Darcy Anderson

Tessa put the letter back in her pocket and let her head fall back against Harrison's chest. They stood and admired the memorial Darcy had sent. The sunlight reflected on the silver plaque and above, soft, white clouds sailed lazily by.

‘Well, I reckon that just about does it,' said Ryan standing back with the drill in his hand and surveying his handiwork. Marni reached out and touched it, her fingers tracing Violet's name.

Paul stood with his arm around Peggy while Dozer snored under the tree, in the sun.

‘I think she'd like that,' Tessa murmured. ‘Right next to William and by the silver mallee trees she loved so much.'

‘This is one woman who won't ever be forgotten. Imagine the tales we'll be able to tell our kids about her,' Ryan said, reaching over to pat Marni's protruding stomach.

Marni placed her hand over his and they shared a smile. ‘They'd never believe us,' she said.

‘You're dead right,' Tessa laughed. ‘Come on, let's go home. I want to plant these in Spider's garden.' She held up two small tree seedlings she'd carefully dug up from under the big mallee and wrapped in newspaper. ‘One for Kendra and one for Violet. It was Harrison's suggestion.'

‘What a lovely idea,' Peggy said as they walked towards the utes.

‘I think it will help,' he answered.

‘So you heading to Mundranda tonight?'

‘Yeah, but I'll be back in a couple of days with the trailer. I'm looking forward to seeing a bit more of Tessa.'

Tessa came up and nudged his shoulder. ‘And I'm looking forward to moving in!'

‘Shame Violet's house will be empty for a while, but once we've got it done up it will be perfect for holiday makers who want a taste of the Nullarbor and the history of a real station,' Paul said.

‘There's that something else I'm looking forward to – getting the lamb and the tourist marketing going.'

Tessa stopped in her tracks. ‘I have an announcement.' She motioned for them all to stop and come around her.

‘I'm the luckiest girl in the world,' she said. ‘Thank you for sticking with me, even when I was horrible. I know this is where I'm supposed to be.' She turned to Harrison and put her arms around his neck. ‘And I know Harrison's the only one for me.'

The sun shifted behind a cloud and as a chorus of laughter went up, Tessa looked up and could have sworn the cloud looked silver with the sun rays behind it.

Silver clouds, silver linings
, she thought and tightened her arms around Harrison. Then she turned her attention back to her dad, who was speaking. ‘In your heart you've always been a Nullarbor girl,' Paul said. ‘You never lost it and we knew you'd come back one day.'

With that they began to walk once more, apart from Tessa, who stayed a moment longer to look back at the grave. The magpie was there, watching with his beady eyes.

‘And thank you, Spider. I'll love you always,' she whispered softly, then ran to catch up with the rest of her family.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to:

Angela Slatter, you are the reason this book is finished and I can't thank you enough, especially for that all-nighter we pulled from different sides of the country. Thank goodness for modern technology!

Amanda Day and Wendy Duncan, for answering numerous questions and for the photographs.

Kathy Mexted, for your time, ideas and support.

Jen Ford and Robyn Lane for your research. I couldn't have done the Afghan parts without your help.
The Washer Woman's Dream
by Hilarie Lindsay was also invaluable. Cal, I'm so glad you picked it up in the second-hand bookshop, Cal!

To every single member of my family, I love you. Thank you for being the centre of my universe and for loving me in return.

Carolyn, I don't think there is anything more I can say about how grateful I am to you. I've said it to you already.

The incredible Allen and Unwin team: Louise – thank you for enabling me to live this dream of writing. Siobhan, your friendship (and, of course, editorial skill) is a highlight of my journey. Amy, I'm looking forward to working more with you.

Jude McGee, for your careful crafting, gentle suggestions and time.

Gaby Naher, for your constant support, wisdom and encouragement, which keeps me on the straight and narrow!

To my writer friends, who know what it's like to go on this journey of ups and downs, highs and lows. I'm so glad I've got to know you all and appreciate your support.

To Robyn, Mrs Mackay, Margareta, Belle: you're worth more than words can say. And to all the Condy gang – you guys rock!

Finally, to you the reader. Samuel Butler once said, ‘Books are like imprisoned souls until someone takes them down from the shelf and reads them.' Thank you for spending time reading
Silver Clouds
. I hope you enjoy it enough to see Tessa and the rest of the cast as friends. The story isn't mine anymore – it's now yours.

Psalm 46 verse 10