Without You I Have Nothing (36 page)

_{“Inform Susie she’s
to keep the Italian chef as manager of the motel restaurant at an increased
wage. Tell her that Joe and Maria will be constant guests.}

_{“Now let’s look at
your needs, my friend. When you return to work, you will find your new office
on the top floor. Your position will be CEO.”}

_{Peter could only grin
as Ted stuttered and stammered, unable to make any sensible sounds even when
Peter added, “You will never be poor on your new salary.”}

_{“By the way... in
your spare time...”  Peter couldn’t restrain the tease as his eyes sparkled in
merriment.}

_{Ted, wondering what
else was coming, could only gasp in amazement.}

_{“Purchase the houses
at the rear of all the businesses facing the main road so I own the whole
block.”  Peter continued.}

_{“Offer a fair price -
market value plus twenty five percent. Once that’s done you’re to organize the
construction of a child-minding center and a Pre-School. Allow plenty of room
for parking. All are to have first class amenities and not a penny is to be
spared.”}

_{Ted could only nod in
agreement.}

_{Waiting for
questions, Peter stared at Ted.}

_{None came. Ted was in
a state of shock.}

_{Eventually their
discussion finished and they finalized the arrangements. A full two hours had
passed where they both got down to the fine details and Ted had somewhat
recovered his equilibrium.}

_{Peter called Jennifer
and Bob to rejoin them. They returned to the bedroom with a glass of wine in
one hand and a piece of cheese on a cracker in the other, laughing and joking
about the fact that Ted and Peter had been in the bedroom for two hours with
the door closed.}

_{“Did you two have
fun?”  Bob passed a cheeky comment.}

_{Lying back on his
pillows, Peter tried to look very sick as he reached for Jennifer.}

_{“I need some more
medication, Nurse.”}

_{Waggling a finger at
him, Jennifer leapt away.}

_{“Oh, no you don’t. You
caught me once - you can’t catch me again. You’re not going to fool me that
way.”}

_{Pushing the others
out of the room she added, “Peter’s getting up now. We’re flying to Melbourne
this afternoon and he’s spending Christmas with my family.”  She grinned at
their surprise.}

_{Ted and Bob didn’t
remonstrate. With a wave, they walked to the door. There were no cheeky
comments this time.}

_{Watching from the
bed, Peter looked surprised at the warmth of their feelings as they hugged
Jennifer and kissed her on the cheek while she saw them out the door. Obviously,
they were pleased with the latest developments.}

_{Alone at last with
Jennifer, Peter tried to entice her to cuddle him.}

_{“Now stop that,
you’re supposed to be convalescing - not behaving like some sex crazed ape. Get
into that bathroom. Shower, shave and do your best to make yourself look
respectable because we are flying home to Melbourne this afternoon.}

_{Ignoring Peter’s
ashen face Jennifer was still the nurse as she continued, “You’re dining with
my family tonight.” In the bathroom, Peter found it difficult to look in the
mirror. That scar!  He’d never considered he was handsome but now, meeting her
parents, he knew he’d find it difficult to look his best. Still, he’d make an
effort just for Jennifer.}

_{“Hurry up, I want to
shower too.”  Jennifer beat on the door.}

_{“We could save water.
Come on,” Peter chuckled.}

_{“No way!  We’d never get
to Melbourne. Besides,” her giggle was clear even through the bathroom door,
“I’d wear you out before I’d paid you off.”}

_{It seemed only a few
minutes had passed when they were on the plane.}

_{On the flight, Peter
had no time to worry about the forthcoming meeting as Jennifer flirted
outrageously with him. Fluttering her eyelids, touching and sneaking quick
kisses on his cheek, Jennifer was obviously demanding his attention, not
allowing him to think of her parents and the quickly approaching meeting.}

_{Eventually, arm in
arm and so totally involved in each other as to be blissfully unaware of the
world around them, they disembarked. They waited hand in hand for their luggage
before making their way out of the terminal.}

_{As the sliding doors
opened and they found themselves outside in the glare of the afternoon
sunlight, Peter felt a strong hand grip his arm and heard a warm chuckle next
to him.}

_{“Unhand that girl,
young fellow. That’s my daughter.”}

_{Shrieking, “Dad,”
Jennifer threw her arms around her father’s neck while Peter stood watching
silently. Suddenly he was shy, a trait he thought he had conquered long ago.}

_{“Steady on, steady
on.”  Jennifer’s father pretended to push her away.}

_{“So this is the young
man who was shot in an attempted truck hijack and who rips cars apart with his
bare hands trying to rescue my phantom daughter. This young man caused all the
worry!  My word, he is a handsome fellow.”}

_{Jennifer took Peter’s
hand and quietly introduced him.}

_{“Dad, this is Peter.”}

_{Peter didn’t know
what to say.}

_{“Cat got your tongue,
eh lad?”  Jennifer’s father was kind. “Or are you the strong, silent type?”}

_{His smiling,
steely-grey eyes made Peter feel welcome and his features were weatherworn from
a lifetime of toil in the sun, but there was also a soft air of kindness about
him. One calloused hand swept his hat from his head, wiping his tousled brown
locks from his eyes while the other shook Peter’s hand in a grip that made
Peter wince.}

_{“Call me Dad or Eric,
whichever you like. I don’t mind.”}

_{Trundling the luggage
cart before him, he led the way to a truck labeled ‘Blake Pastoral Company’.}

_{“Dad, you brought a
truck!  Whatever will Peter think?”  Jennifer showed her embarrassment.}

_{Smiling Eric turned
to Peter. “I brought this truck as it takes three across the seat and I need
all the space in the back for Jennifer’s luggage.}

_{“No point in bringing
a car. Knowing Jennifer’s actions over the past few months, I didn’t think she
would let go of you to allow you to sit in the front of a car with me!}

_{“Dinner will be ready
when we get home.”  Then he began to chuckle. “Your mother will be jealous,
Jennifer. Peter’s so handsome.”}

_{With the city far
behind them, Eric drove off the bitumen highway onto gravel roads, leaving
billowing clouds of dust behind.}

_{The drive was long
but certainly not boring. Peter had forgotten the pain in his ribs as Jennifer
and her father drew him into their incessant chatter and laughter, doing
everything possible to make him feel part of the conversation.}

_{Peter took notice of
his surroundings. He noted that they had passed a pine plantation and a
national forest. Next, he noted that a white post and rail fence had started. Obviously,
it was for decoration as standing back from it was an electric fence. It seemed
to stretch endlessly over the hill and he was about to comment when at last
they turned off the road and carefully crossed a cattle grid - the bars of
steel on the road between the fences so vehicles could cross but not animals,
eliminating the need for a gate.}

_{Flanking the grid
were two enormous stone walls and carved into the sandstone walls was the sign,
‘Deep Springs. The Home of Blake Pastoral’.}

_{“Welcome to Deep
Springs, Peter,” were Eric’s kind words. Then he explained, “I had to build
these grids everywhere. When Jennifer and Andrew were small they always left
the gates open and I had to spend hours every day rounding up the sheep and
cattle and returning them to the correct paddocks.”}

_{“Dad, you still
tease,” Jennifer giggled her eyes full of love for her father.}

_{The road was not two
wheel tracks in the clay but a well-formed and graded road. Arrow straight it
led to the horizon. Two lines of huge paperbarks bordered it with a second
border of red bottlebrushes gaily showing the way. Someone had been busy mowing
the grass between the trees.}

_{“You can see your Mum
has had some of the men busy on the mowers, Jennifer. She is out to impress
your handsome young man.”}

_{Ignoring Jennifer,
Eric proudly pointed out the various landmarks of his property until they
topped a steep hill and Peter could see, far below in the valley, a colonial
mansion. Further in the distance were buildings that he took to be shearing
sheds, shearers’ quarters, workers’ quarters, machinery sheds and silos.}

_{Running through the
center of the valley was a substantial creek bordered by stands of she-oaks,
peppercorns and weeping willows. Dogs were barking a joyous welcome in the
distance and two came bounding up the road, howling their delight at being the
first to greet them.}

_{Eric ruffled
Jennifer’s hair. “You’re almost as beautiful as your mother but I dare say
you’ll improve.”}

_{He drove up a curved
red graveled driveway through well tended, well loved gardens and lawns before
stopping at the flight of marble steps leading to the grand, old,
double-storied stone homestead with its slate roof and wide verandahs. The
building shrieked of elegance and money.}

_{“Come on, young
fellow. Get the worst over quickly. Don’t worry about Elizabeth.”  Eric leaned
across Jennifer to grin at Peter. “She’s a bit bossy, worse than a mother hen
with her chickens, so expect her to protect this little chick.”}

_{He patted Jennifer on
the knee. “Leave the bags. Come on, or I’ll get the blame for keeping you
late.”}

_{As they clambered
down from the truck, the huge, heavily carved oak front doors of the mansion
suddenly burst open.}

_{Jennifer’s mother
flew down the flight of wide white marble steps to greet them. At the bottom,
she stopped and she stood quietly, smoothing her frock and patting her hair
into place as Jennifer led Peter by the hand.}

_{“Mum, this is Peter.”}

_{Elizabeth was amused.
“You’re not going to let him out of your sight again, eh, Jennifer?  You can
let him go. If he runs, I’ll send your brother and the dogs to round him up.”}

_{With a touch of
amused respect, Peter waited while Jennifer dropped his hand. She’d been
clinging to it tightly throughout the entire journey.}

_{“He’s not going to
run away.”  Elizabeth could see that Peter was not only embarrassed but also
intimidated by her.}

_{Ignoring her
proffered hand, Peter bent to kiss Elizabeth lightly on the cheek.}

_{“Steady on,” Eric
chuckled. “First you beguile my daughter and now my wife.”}

_{He swept them into
the house, ordering them ahead while Elizabeth questioned them about the trip
and the Sydney weather. No one mentioned the accident.}

_{The entrance, indeed
the whole house called welcome and Peter immediately felt at home.}

_{“Where’s Andrew? 
Hasn’t he returned yet?”  Eric wanted his whole family to greet Peter.}

_{A roar from deeper
inside the house answered his question. “Where’s that bloke who’s worried my
sister?”}

_{Andrew thundered down
the wide, thickly carpeted hallway into the richly tiled entrance foyer and
Peter recoiled, still not strong enough to deal with the energy and enthusiasm
of Jennifer’s brother. He gripped Peter’s hand with a strength that Peter
vainly tried to return.}

_{“I’m pleased you’ve
arrived.”  He ignored Peter’s surprise. “Now you’re here, perhaps Sis can stop
moping about the place and even smile occasionally.”}

_{“Ssh.”  Elizabeth
interrupted. “Go and wash up.}

_{“Jennifer, show Peter
where his room is.”}

_{“No,” Andrew
objected, “definitely not!  Jennifer you stay here. If you go with Peter, you
might never get back. I saw the two of you in Sydney.”}

_{“Andrew, stop teasing
your sister. The older you get the worse you get. Peter, take no notice of him.
Now, all of you go and clean up.”  Elizabeth was mothering them all as she gave
them their orders.}

_{“Come on Peter, I’ll
show you your room. The petticoat government around here is murderous. We’d
better disappear while we can.”}

_{Andrew led the way,
down long wide corridors and up a wide oak stairway into, finally, a bedroom
where the gigantic high ceiling accentuated the luxury of the room with its
huge bay windows. The four-poster double bed was just the final touch to the
richly paneled room.}