The Outback Cattleman's Hired Wife (22 page)

‘
They
’
ve put in large
‘
Low Narrow Bridge Ahead
’
signs either side in prominent positions to give adequate warning.
’

‘
But it floods too!
’

‘
Let it go, love,
’
he said,
groaning.
‘
The locals and I have tried everything.
’

Kirra fell silent. I bet they haven
’
t tried the media, she thought and suddenly, she knew
what her first rural article would be about.

It was just before noon, when they arrived at Natural
Arch in the Gold Coast hinterland. It was a popular destination for tourists
and locals alike, with its bush walk and rock pool for swimming. Though Kirra
knew of it, she
’
d never actually been there.

At the rock pool, there was a natural rock formation
in basalt where brave hearts could climb to the top and jump through the hole
into deep water below.

Kirra could see lots of warning signs that it was
risky to do it and that some daredevils had been injured or killed.

As they walked
through the arch to the rocks on the other side, Kirra shivered a little
nervously, as people still jumped through the hole.

Jared spread out a picnic rug and they sat down
together. Jared plastered Caleb with sunscreen, before he applied some to his
own bare skin and passed the sunscreen bottle to Kirra. ‘Want some?’

‘
Thanks.
’
Kirra
applied some to her own skin. Even though it was the end of winter, the day was
warm and the sun was hot enough to cause sunburn.

‘
Can we go for a swim, Dad?
’
Caleb begged.

‘
After lunch, son,
’
Jared
said.
‘
Be patient. There
’
s plenty of
time.
’

Kirra had prepared a simple picnic of ham and salad
sandwiches. She
’
d frozen the left over peach and apple pie she
’
d made a few days ago and planned to share it for
dessert. It would be almost thawed by now.

Jared poured them all a cup of lemonade and they ate
and drank in companionable silence, enjoying the great outdoors.

A good half an hour after lunch, Caleb asked about
swimming again.
‘
Dad, can I jump this time?
’

‘
Okay, you
’
re old enough,
’
Jared decided,
‘
but only with me.
’

‘
Oh, great!
’
Caleb
said. He stripped off his clothes to reveal board-shorts and a
Rashie,
a
special shirt
to give his upper torso protection from sun damage.

‘
No!
’
Kirra said,
horrified.
‘
It
’
s too dangerous.
There
’
s signs everywhere not to do it!
’

‘
They
’
re for tourists,
’
Jared said calmly, waving his hand in dismissal.
‘
You have to know where to jump. I
’
ve done it since I was about Caleb
’
s age.
’

Jared stood and stripped down to his own board-shorts
and
Rashie
.
‘
Come on, it
’
s fun,
’
he said.
‘
If you want
to have a go, you can jump with me.
’

Kirra shook her head fervently.
‘
Nooo thank you!
’

He shrugged his shoulders and took Caleb
‘
s hand.
‘
If you
change your mind, let me know.
’

Kirra watched them climb together. Caleb looked so
excited. She pulled out her camera and took a photo of them when they
’
d reached the top. Within seconds, they were sailing
through the air and had disappeared under the water.

Worried, Kirra
jumped up. Her eyes darted to and fro and waited for their bodies to resurface
in the dark chasm.

Moments later, they did break the surface, clinging
together and laughing.

Kirra breathed a sigh of relief, then snapped off
another photo.

They performed the same feat several times until Caleb
could do it solo. Jared tread water and waited patiently to catch him.

Jared was superbly fit and she marvelled at his
athleticism.

He and Caleb eventually returned to her and towelled
themselves off.

‘
Well done!
’
Kirra
praised. ‘Both of you.’

Jared looked relaxed and happy.
‘
Last chance, before we leave,
’
he said,
‘
Do you want
to jump with me?
’

‘
Well, okay, if you two can do it, surely I can,
’
she said,
‘
Besides, I
don
’
t want to break my motto to try anything at least
once.
’

‘
Stay here, son,
’
Jared said, as Kirra stripped down to her black and
white bikini, then slipped on her
Rashie
.

Kirra handed Caleb the camera and showed him how to
use it.
‘
Can you please take a photo of us?
’

Caleb nodded and took the photo after they
’
d posed.

‘
Thanks,
’
Kirra
said.
‘
Can you take one of us jumping too?
’

‘
Yes,
’
Caleb said, as if
pleased she
’
d been confident in his ability.

When Kirra climbed the rocks behind Jared, her heart
seemed to jump into her throat. It was higher and more nerve-racking than she
’
d thought. Jared held her hand securely, absorbing her
nervousness. ‘You’ll be fine.’

When they reached the top, he wrapped her in his arms
and said,
‘
Ready?
’

Kirra nodded and closed her eyes, when they suddenly
jumped.

Before they hit the ice-cold water, Kirra had a flash
of Zac drowning and she gasped. Her mouth filled with water. When they
surfaced, she coughed and spluttered.

Jared held her, as he tread water.
‘
Are you alright?
’

She eventually caught her breath.
‘
I should have been with Zac on the boat,
’
she moaned.
‘
I could
have saved him.
’

He stroked her wet hair.
‘
Nonsense. Don
’
t feel
guilty. When he chose to drink heavily and drive a boat, it
’
s not only irresponsible, it
’
s a disaster waiting to happen,
’
Jared said, his tone firm and frank.
‘
Zac brought on his own untimely death.
’

All at once, the burden of her guilt lifted off her
shoulders and she hugged Jared tighter.
‘
Thank you.
’

‘
Come on,
’
he said
quietly
‘
Let
’
s get out of here
and go home.
’

When they arrived home, tired and happy, there was a
red utility truck parked at the front of the house. An exotic-looking woman
dressed in jodhpurs and a red-fitted jacket sat on the verandah admiring her
fingernails.
Could this be someone applying for a Nanny Position for Caleb?
Was there another ad placed?
Kirra wondered, but hoped not.

They hopped out of the vehicle and the woman
immediately stood and stalked over to the railing, her high-heeled boots
tapping heavily on the timber decking.

Kirra noticed the woman wore heavy make-up, a mask of foundation and red
lipstick. Her dark-hair was long and tied up in a ponytail. She wore many rings
but there wasn
’
t
one on her marriage finger. Suddenly, Kirra felt naked and gauche in her
swimming costume. But she consoled herself, as all three of them hadn’t changed
their clothes before leaving Natural Arch. She was infinitely glad that she’d
thought to tie a brightly-coloured sarong about her waist.

‘
Jared, darling,
’
the woman
purred.
‘
You remembered I was coming out today?
’

‘
In all truth, it completely slipped my mind, Magda,
’
Jared said, taken aback when she pouted. He turned to
Kirra and said,
‘
Magda is my A.I. person. Remember I told you about her
in the milking shed?
’

‘Oh, yes.’
You forgot to mention that this person
was female and drop-dead gorgeous.
Kirra nodded and gave her a welcoming
smile.

He turned back to his visitor.
‘
Magda, I
’
d like you
to meet my fiancée, Kirra Whitely.
’

‘
Fiancée?
’
Magda bit
out, her hand shooting out and fisting her hip.
‘
When did this happen?
’

‘
Very quickly, I
’
m afraid,
’
Jared said, giving Kirra a reassuring glance.

How dare he? Kirra bristled. She hadn
’
t said that she
’
d marry him yet! She had a good mind to tear strips
off him in front of this woman, but something in Jared
’
s body language told her that he had said it
deliberately.
Perhaps, Magda wanted him, but the attraction wasn
’
t mutual?
She wondered.

‘
Pleased to meet you, Magda,
’
Kirra said magnanimously. Her arms were filled with
wet towels so she luckily couldn
’
t shake
hands with her.
Those painted false nails did look sharp. The poor cows!
She suddenly thought.

‘
Yes,
’
Magda replied on
a snort, giving her a dismissive wave.

‘
I
’
ll get changed,
’
Jared said in a business-like tone to Magda.
‘
I
’
ll meet you in the
barn shortly.
’

‘
I want to see Chocolate,
’
Caleb said excitedly.

‘
Come inside with me, Caleb,
’
Jared said in a softer tone.
‘
Would you like to take Chocolate out to play in the
barn, while we feed the heifers?
’

‘
Awesome, Dad!
’
Caleb said
and ran inside ahead of him.

When Jared had disappeared from sight, Magda sidled
over to the top of the steps and effectively barred Kirra
’
s way.

‘
You know Jared is impotent,
’
Magda said, her fancy, acrylic nails resting on her
hips like knives.
‘
He was devoted to his first wife. It
’
s a psychological thing.
’

Kirra knew differently, but she wasn
’
t going to let her know. Not one for gossip, she only
dealt with facts. What she did know was that small town gossip spread like
wildfire. She decided to call her bluff. Kirra
’
s chin lifted in defiance.
‘
How do you
know? Have you tried to bed him?
’

Magda snorted air through her nostrils.
‘
He tried to bed me.
’

‘
I doubt that very much,
’
Kirra refuted.
‘
The Jared I know has integrity and professional
ethics.
’