A Bride At Birralee. Barbara Hannay

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      ‘But you refused help?’

      ‘I don’t want anyone else here.’ The message was loud and very clear.

      ‘So how do you do it all?’

      Callum turned from the stove and shrugged. ‘It’s not that difficult if you’re prepared to work hard. And there are plenty of blokes looking for mustering contracts. I can hire a team of fencers if I need to.’

      ‘You mentioned your sisters before. Do they live in these parts?’

      One of his eyebrows rose quizzically. ‘Didn’t my little brother tell you about the family?’

      Stella concentrated on her food. She didn’t want to admit to Callum that there’d been disappointments in her relationship with Scott. She forced a nonchalant smile. ‘It was tit for tat. I didn’t tell Scott about my family either. We liked it that way.’

      It was partly the truth. After she’d let Scott make love to her, she’d expected they would become closer in every way, that he’d begin to share more of his life with her. But the minute he’d sensed she’d been getting serious, he’d become edgy and had backed away.

      Callum brought the teapot and mugs to the table. ‘My mob don’t have any secrets. Both my sisters married North Queensland graziers. Catherine lives on a property near Julia Creek and Ellie is just outside Cloncurry. They both love the bush life. They’re happy as possums up a gum tree.’

      ‘Do they have children?’

      ‘Three kids apiece.’

      ‘Wow. That’s quite a family. It must be crowded when they all visit.’

      ‘It’s great.’ His eyes glowed and he actually smiled. And Stella wished he wouldn’t. Callum Roper was far too attractive when his eyes lit up that way.

      She glanced at Oscar in his cage in the corner. He was her family, the only living thing in the world that belonged to her. Apart from the baby. But the baby was invisible. Most of the time, she had trouble thinking of it as real.

      Callum leaned back in his chair. ‘And I suppose you know all about our old man?’

      She frowned. ‘Your father? Should I know about him?’

      She was surprised when he almost laughed. ‘He would like to think so, but then, all politicians have huge egos.’

      ‘Politicians?’ Stella almost dropped her fork. Roper…Roper…Was there a state politician named Roper? Suddenly she remembered. Not state government. Federal. ‘Your dad is Senator Ian Roper?’

      ‘’Fraid so.’

      ‘Oh, good grief!’ In her head, she added a few swear words and the invisible cluster of cells in her body suddenly posed a whole new parcel of problems.

      Just how much bad luck did a girl have to deal with? She was carrying the illegitimate grandchild of one of the country’s most outspokenly conservative politicians!

      Suddenly their efforts at conversation deteriorated. It seemed neither of them had much to say. Stella’s curiosity about Scott’s family vanished. She was back in panic mode again.

      After they’d eaten, he asked, ‘Are you feeling OK now?’

      ‘Yes, much better, thank you. You’re a great cook. Dinner was delicious.’

      ‘Feel free to go straight to bed.’

      ‘I’ll help you clean up.’

      His dark brows beetled in a deep frown. ‘No, you won’t.’

      She had the distinct impression that he’d had enough of being sociable. He wanted her out of the room.

      ‘You’re sure I can’t help?’

      He nodded without speaking.

      Standing slowly, she said, ‘You’ll be closing the kitchen windows, won’t you?’

      He frowned. ‘I don’t usually bother.’

      ‘But—with Oscar in here—and the snakes and—everything.’

      Callum almost grinned. ‘Oh, yeah. The snakes. OK, I’ll close the windows.’

      CHAPTER THREE

      STELLA was sick the next morning.

      As Callum came back from the holding yards, striding through the dewy bluegrass with Mac at his heels, he heard unmistakable sounds coming from the bathroom.

      They stopped him dead in his tracks. She was supposed to be heading off this morning. Leaving him in peace. But how could he send her packing if she was sick?

      He kicked at a loose stone and sent it rolling down the incline. Instantly alert, the blue heeler watched its descent then seemed to decide it wasn’t worth chasing.

      Callum watched it, too, as it bounced from rock to rock before disappearing into the scrub on the creek bank. This sickness of Stella’s was rather unusual. The fainting last night and now this…

      Perhaps she had a simple stomach bug, but she’d woofed down that tucker last night without any problems. He frowned. That was how his sisters had been when they’d been expecting. Fine one minute, then suddenly dizzy or racing to the bathroom.

      Was she pregnant? No, surely not.

      His head shot back. She damn well could be pregnant.

      The more he thought about it, the more he was sure he’d hit on the truth. Of course she was pregnant. That was why she’d hightailed it all the way from Sydney looking for Scott. That’s why she’d been so upset.

      Damn and blast you, little brother. What have you gone and done now?

      If Stella was pregnant…If she was carrying Scott’s child…If she was planning on heading back to the city…disappearing again as quickly as she’d appeared…taking Scott’s baby with her…

      He slapped his palm against the rough trunk of a bloodwood tree and stared blankly into the distance, while tumultuous thoughts raged. Thoughts of Scott, of his family, of his own guilt and grief, his parents’ heartbreak.

      Thoughts of Scott in Stella’s bed.

      Groaning, he kicked another loose stone. Distasteful as it was, he had little choice; he had to ask her. If Scott was leaving behind a son or daughter, he needed to know.

      Fists clenched, he turned reluctantly and marched towards the house.

      Stella was in the kitchen, hovering in front of the stove and squinting at the dials. She was wearing denim cut-offs and a simple white T-shirt and her feet were bare except for the silver ankle chain with its blue glass beads.

      She turned СКАЧАТЬ