In Her Husband's Image. Vivienne Wallington

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СКАЧАТЬ always joined the men in a beer—she hastened back to the kitchen. She normally had a weak gin-and-tonic herself, but tonight she chose mineral water, knowing they’d be having wine with dinner. With Zac around, she needed to keep her wits about her.

      Over drinks she asked Zac about his inspection of Bushy Hill, half dreading his answer. She wasn’t sure how much damage Adrian had done before his fatal accident. For Mikey’s sake she’d kept well away from the hill in the past month.

      Zac pursed his lips. “I guess it could have been worse. Most of the hill’s been untouched, luckily, but quite a bit of native scrub and a few trees along the lower slopes are gone, exposing the bare earth to the elements. I’d advise putting in some drains before the rains come, or you could face an erosion problem.”

      Drains? How much would they cost? Rachel took a quick gulp of her drink, wishing she had chosen something stronger.

      “We can only hope the wildlife hasn’t been disturbed too much.” Zac’s jaw gritted as he said it. “My other worry is that the dam below the hill is almost empty. We’ll need to bring in a water tanker to refill it, or the wildlife and the cattle out there will run out of water. Or be in danger of getting trapped in the mud if the dam dries up any more.”

      Rachel’s spirits nose-dived. Drains…trucking in water…repairing or maybe even replacing the damaged bore… All tasks that would cost money she simply didn’t have.

      She felt Zac’s eyes on her face and knew he’d sensed her dismay. Now he, too, would assume the property was too much for her, just as everyone else did.

      “Don’t worry, Rachel. I said I’d fix my brother’s mess and I will. I need to fly to Brisbane in the morning to see about the plane and to bring some more fuel in, but first I’ll arrange for a water tanker to come and for a truck to deliver the plastic pipes and gravel I’ll need for Bushy Hill. I’ll work on that when I get back tomorrow. Then I’ll scatter some seeds around for eventual regrowth when the rains come.”

      As her lips parted in protest—how dared he take charge and leave her to face the bill?—he drawled, “My expense, naturally. Bushy Hill’s always been my special interest. Please don’t deny me this one thing I can do for Yarrah Downs, Rachel.”

      She hesitated, frowning, wondering about his motives. If she allowed him to sink money into the property, she would be obligated to him. He might even expect to become a partner, an equal, if mostly absent partner, with the right to make decisions—decisions she might not agree with.

      “No strings attached,” Zac said, as if he’d read her mind. “It’s the least I can do for my family.”

      Well, that made sense. He hadn’t done too much for his family in the past. And she and Mikey were the only family he had now that Adrian had gone.

      “Well, if you insist,” she said, trying not to sound too grateful. No strings, he’d said. No, of course not. Zac Hammond didn’t believe in strings or getting involved in other people’s lives. Let him do something for his family in the short time he was here. He’d be gone soon, anyway. “I have more pressing matters to deal with,” she said with a shrug.

      “The damaged bore should be our first priority,” Vince said, drawing a quick frown from her. It was precisely what she’d been thinking herself. Did he have to treat her like an ignorant female who needed to have decisions made for her?

      She stifled her indignation. He was only trying to help. It was his job to help her. “I’ll call the contractor in the morning,” she said, wondering how in the world she was going to pay for it. The bank had refused further credit. “It’ll cost a bit to repair. If we need to sink a new bore, we…we might have to leave it for a while. It’ll cost an arm and a leg. Meantime, we’ll just have to move those cattle to another paddock.” Water for the cattle was vital.

      “If you need to sink a new bore,” Zac said, “I’ll see to it. You can pay me back when you can, Rachel.”

      She recoiled. To accept that kind of help from Zac would really put her in his debt. He’d have a real hold over her. She’d be in his power. He’d love that.

      “I don’t—”

      “A loan, Rachel. Just like you’d get from a bank. Only, I won’t be charging interest or putting any pressure on you to pay me back until you’re ready.”

      But maybe you’d put pressure on me to pay you back in some other way. She felt her legs go weak. Whatever his motive, he wasn’t making the offer out of the goodness of his heart. Zac Hammond had no heart, according to Adrian.

      Besides, she had to stand on her own two feet. Somehow. She’d never asked or expected her father to help her, and to accept help from Zac would be the first step to admitting defeat.

      “How did the bore get damaged?” Zac turned to Vince as if the matter was settled.

      Vince stuck his thumbs in his leather belt. “Looks like someone dropped a metal tool down the shaft and it’s jammed up the works. As if we don’t have enough problems. We badly need a few extra bores, but I guess we’ll have to forget about gettin’ those till Boomerang Bore’s fixed.”

      He shook his head, making Rachel feel personally responsible. Everything’s falling apart since Adrian’s death, he might as well have added.

      “Any idea who’s responsible?” Zac asked.

      Vince shrugged. “Whoever did it covered up his tracks too well. Could’ve been anybody.” He looked hard at Zac before raising his beer glass and taking a long swig.

      Rachel’s heart stopped. Surely Vince didn’t suspect Zac? He’d only arrived today. Unless he’d come back earlier and kept out of sight until now. She felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach. Could Zac have flown into a nearby airstrip, borrowed a vehicle and made nightly excursions onto the property from there? Who would know his way around Yarrah Downs better than Zac, who’d been brought up here?

      Her gaze speared his, but he was examining his beer glass with frowning intent, as if pondering the question. Or avoiding her eye?

      Or did he simply agree with everyone else and believe she wasn’t up to running the place? Her head stockman certainly had his doubts.

      “Yeah, pity the damage to Boomerang Bore has wrecked any chance of puttin’ in brand new bores,” Vince muttered, his brooding gaze still fixed to Zac’s face.

      Rachel’s arm jerked, spilling the drink in her hand. Was Vince now trying to inveigle her brother-in-law into paying for a couple of additional bores?

      Her eyes flashed a warning—to Zac as much as to Vince. “Try having more faith in me, Vince,” she snapped, and switched the subject. “What’s Danny been doing today? Where is he?”

      Vince took a gulp of his beer. “He’s been out checking the fences. He’s not back yet, but he’s been in contact by radio.”

      They all used radios because cell phones had poor reception out here. Only Danny possessed one of the powerful new satellite phones. His parents had given it to him, to keep in touch with them.

      “There’s more bad news, I’m afraid,” Vince muttered. “Or it could’ve been.”

      Her brow knitted. “What do you mean?” she asked, СКАЧАТЬ