Six Ways to Sunday Page 14

  Rilee was too shocked to speak, but Megan didn’t wait around for a reply.

  ‘Don’t take it personally.’

  For the second time that morning, Rilee jumped as Natalie stepped into the shed. What was it with these people and all the sneaking up on a person! ‘It’s a little hard not to.’

  Natalie walked across to the saddle and ran her hands over the smooth seat. ‘Megan used to compete,’ she said with a wistful smile. ‘She loved showjumping. She was good too—did the show circuit and won loads of competitions.’

  ‘What about you? Did you ride?’

  ‘Yeah, but my heart was never in it the way Megan’s was. She and Clancy were a team.’

  Rilee thought back to all the photos hanging on the walls or sitting on side tables throughout the huge homestead, but she couldn’t recall a single one that had a horse in them.

  ‘They were inseparable, until the accident.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘Clancy stumbled on a jump and fell and they had to put him down. Megan almost didn’t make it either. She was in hospital for over a month.’

  ‘Oh wow.’

  ‘She was different after that. She wouldn’t talk about it and she never looked at another horse again.’

  ‘How sad.’

  ‘Yeah, it was. She threw herself into uni over the next few years, and then law school and work,’ Natalie shrugged. ‘I think she got so used to keeping busy to forget about Clancy that it just became a habit. Work has been her whole life.’

  ‘Is that why there are no photos?’ Natalie gave a surprised look, and Rilee added hurriedly, ‘It’s just that your mother seems to have photos of every other occasion or event in your life, but I haven’t seen a single one of either of you with a horse.’

  ‘Mum and her photos,’ Natalie sighed. ‘There used to be. In fact, it was rare to find a photo of Megan without Clancy,’ she said sadly. ‘After she came home from hospital, I think Mum thought seeing pictures of Clancy everywhere would slow down her healing process—she was so withdrawn and miserable.’ Natalie ran her fingertips across the bridles on the wall. ‘I guess there was never a good time to put them back up.’

  Rilee shook her head; it must have been a traumatic experience and one that seemed to have shaped the woman Megan was now. Maybe she’d never allowed herself to grieve the way she’d needed to. Or maybe, she conceded, hearing Dan’s voice in her head, she should just mind her own business and stop diagnosing.

  ‘Come on, let’s get out of here, this is far too depressing.’

  The two women walked up to the main house. Natalie poured two glasses of iced tea from the fridge and led the way back outside to an elegant wrought-iron setting under a large shady tree.

  Across the manicured lawn, tables were being set up and a team of people Ellen had hired were busy hanging lights. Ellen herself had gone into town earlier, which had given everyone at home a few hours’ breathing space. At the pool, Rilee spotted Megan lying on a sunlounge, reading the paper, and she smiled at her, but Megan simply lifted the paper higher to block her from view. Natalie gave a twist of her lips as she exchanged a look with Rilee.

  ‘I just wish she didn’t see me as some kind of threat. She really doesn’t like me very much,’ Rilee said, taking a sip of the cold beverage. She had to admit it was pretty refreshing on a hot day.

  ‘Megan has always had trust issues. It takes her a long time to open up to people, even more so lately.’

  ‘Dan told me about her break-up. But don’t worry,’ Rilee added quickly, ‘I wasn’t planning on mentioning it to her. I figured I’d be the last person she’d want knowing something that private.’

  ‘Probably a good idea not to say anything,’ Natalie agreed.

  ‘So how come you don’t think I’m the devil incarnate?’

  Natalie threw her a grin. ‘You’re the woman my bonehead brother chose over every other woman who was dangled under his nose. I trust his judgement.’

  ‘I’m glad someone does.’

  ‘Look, Megan’s attitude sucks, but if there is one thing about her that’s never changed it’s that she’s loyal to a fault.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘Her best friend is Priscilla’s older sister, and the whole Montgomery clan still have a bit of a bee in their bonnet over Dan slipping through their fingers.’

  ‘Oh great,’ Rilee groaned.

  Natalie chuckled. ‘I know, it’s all very Romeo and Juliet. Megan’ll get over it, I promise. She’s just feeling obliged to act all high and mighty, but she’ll come around.’

  ‘I could seriously wring Dan’s neck sometimes. If I had any idea this marriage would have caused so much friction, I’d have thought twice about it.’

  ‘No, you wouldn’t,’ Natalie said, shaking her head. ‘Any fool can see you’re crazy about my brother. Nothing would have stopped you two getting together.’

  ‘I would have fought harder to make him do it properly, then,’ she conceded.

  ‘Probably wouldn’t have made any difference,’ Natalie said and then gave a grimace. ‘Sorry, but you’re an outsider. That’s just the way it is out here. Wouldn’t matter what you did.’

  ‘Well, that’s comforting.’

  ‘But who cares, right?’ she lifted her glass and tapped it against Rilee’s. ‘You make my brother happy and that’s all I care about. So ignore the rest,’ she said, getting to her feet. ‘I better finish the list of jobs Mum left before she gets back.’

  Rilee grinned and shook her head. She wasn’t sure she would ever understand this place, but at least she had one ally in the Kincaid camp, which was one more than yesterday!

  Twenty

  Rilee heard her parents’ arrival long before she saw them. The unmistakable drone of a VW Kombi was hard to miss, especially out here. Rilee braced herself; even though there was a bubble of excitement at seeing them, she was worried her parents would be completely out of their element at Thumb Creek Station.

  All worries disappeared as soon as she caught sight of the pale blue van and the woman with wild hair hanging out the passenger window and waving like a crazy person. A smile broke out over Rilee’s face as she waved back, opening the cottage gate and hurrying towards them.

  Within moments she was engulfed in a warm hug and lemongrass, rosemary and sandalwood filled her senses. ‘Hi, Mum,’ she said, pulling away and blinking back happy tears. Her mum’s baggy, brightly coloured batik-style pants and loose-fitting tie-dyed top was an eruption of colour that somehow just seemed to work.

  Her dad made his way around the van and lifted her into a bear hug, dressed in his usual mismatched faded shirt, board shorts and grey hair pulled back in a short ponytail.

  ‘There’s my favourite daughter,’ he said, grinning.

  ‘I’m your only daughter,’ she added.

  ‘That I know of,’ he replied. It was their usual banter and it brought home just how much she’d missed these two crazy people. After hugging her dad, she looped her arms around their waists and led them towards the house.

  ‘It’s just like you described, darling,’ her mother said as she ran her hands along the backs of the scrubbed timber table setting in the kitchen.

  ‘Where’s this husband of yours?’ her father asked after she’d handed him a cup of fragrant tea she’d prepared in their honour.

  ‘He’ll be home soon. He just had to go and check on a few things.’ No sooner had she spoken than she heard the ute pulling up outside.

  Rilee wasn’t sure why she was feeling so nervous about this meeting—she’d been preparing Dan for this for months, and truth be told, Dan was the least of her worries. She couldn’t bring herself to think about the meeting with his parents. She’d deal with that when the time came.

  Dan took his hat off as he came through the back door, hanging it up before heading across the room to greet her parents. Rilee didn’t miss the surprise on her husband’s face as he extended his hand to her father only to be dragged into an em
brace and slapped heartily on the back. To his credit, Dan recovered quickly and he was obviously more prepared for her mother’s hug when it came.

  They moved out onto the verandah with their tea and conversation for the most part stayed on relatively safe subjects. When something came up about pesticides, her heart swelled with love that her husband seemed genuinely interested in her father’s opinions and allowed him to put forward his case for permaculture’s approach to farming.

  The afternoon went by way too fast and before long it was time to prepare for dinner over at the main house.

  ‘Darling, would you please just calm down,’ her mother said as she watched Rilee fuss about the kitchen while they waited for Dan to finish his shower.

  Her parents had taken time to freshen up after their trip, her mother in a long peacock blue kaftan dress and sandals, while her father had swapped his board shorts for a pair of cargo shorts and a clean shirt for the occasion.

  ‘I’m sorry, Mum. It’s just that…I don’t think you understand what they’re like,’ she said, lowering her voice.

  ‘I’m pretty sure your father and I can handle the situation.’

  ‘Although the way she’s pacing around like a caged lion, I’m thinking it might not hurt to have a quick puff—’ her father started before Rilee cut him off.

  ‘Dad, don’t you dare!’ Rilee gaped at her parents as they chuckled. That’s exactly what she needed right now: her parents meeting her in-laws for the first time reeking of pot.

  ‘Fine, we’ll do this your way. Stiff upper lip and all that.’

  ‘No, I’m sorry. This shouldn’t be such a huge deal. I know you guys will be fine. Just be yourselves.’

  ‘Only way we know how to be, kiddo,’ her father said, standing up and kissing her temple.

  The walk up to the house seemed longer tonight and the sound of gravel beneath their feet was loud in the quiet evening air. The sun was sinking and a splash of orange, pink and yellow stained the sky beyond the open paddocks that stretched out before them.

  ‘What a beautiful place,’ her mother sighed. It was beautiful. There was a wildness about it—a rugged, dangerous kind of beauty that Rilee loved.

  Dan squeezed her hand as they headed up the steps to where his parents were standing by the grand entrance like statues.

  ‘Mum, Dad,’ Rilee started, wishing her voice wasn’t coming out like a timid mouse, ‘this is Ellen and Jacob. My parents, Shelly and David,’ she finished, holding her breath as the two sets of parents smiled and the Kincaids extended their hands. Don’t hug them, please don’t hug, Rilee repeated silently as she watched her mother glance at Ellen’s outstretched hand before stepping closer and wrapping her arms around the stiff older woman. Oh God. It was like watching a train crash and being helpless to do anything to stop it. Her father pulled Jacob in for a hearty man hug. Beside her, she felt Dan chuckle silently and she glared at him in reproach. Yes, she had told them to be themselves, but couldn’t they have shaken hands like normal people?

  To their credit, Ellen and Jacob recovered their composure quickly, hastily ushering their guests inside to meet the rest of the family.

  ‘Stop worrying,’ Dan said when she shot him a helpless look. ‘Your parents are awesome. It’ll do Mum and Dad good to be kept on their toes.’

  It turned out Dan was right, her parents were the life of the party. Megan seemed to thaw a little as her mum recounted some of the wilder days on the commune. She even seemed to have won over Dan’s mother.

  ‘Your gardens are just gorgeous, Ellen. I saw them as we walked up.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Ellen said, venturing a small smile across at Shelly as she daintily sliced her meal. ‘I do love gardening.’

  ‘It’s a real credit to you.’

  Rilee had to look twice at her mother-in-law—was that a blush?

  ‘Thank you, Shelly. From what Rilee’s been telling us, I believe you have a bit of a green thumb as well?’ Ellen asked hesitantly.

  ‘I do, but for some reason I can never grow roses. Maybe you can give me some pointers. I’d love to have a tour of your garden before we leave.’

  ‘Yes, well, I think we can arrange that,’ Ellen replied with a decisive nod.

  Rilee smiled and shook her head; they had everyone eating out of their palms of their hands. It was touch and go for a moment over dinner when conversation turned to farming and a heated debate broke out between her father and Jacob, but it defused quickly enough when Dan cut in.

  ‘I took David out to show him the back paddock where the worst of the mother-of-millions outbreak is.’

  ‘Mother of what?’ Rilee asked, sending her husband a doubtful glance. It sounded like something from Game of Thrones.

  ‘Mother-of-millions. It’s an extremely aggressive weed,’ Dan explained, before turning back to his father. ‘David reckons we can clear up the remainder by introducing some African thrip.’

  ‘Thrip?’ Ellen said with a lift of her eyebrow.

  ‘Some kind of imported bug,’ Jacob muttered. ‘Heard something about it a while back. Waste of time when you can just spray or burn it.’

  ‘Jacob’s correct, it’s a type of insect,’ her father explained. ‘Barely visible to the naked eye, but they work a charm on cleaning up the mother-of-millions infestation and they have less impact on the environment than chemicals or fire.’

  Jacob gave a contemptuous snort at that, but Dan ignored him. ‘Apparently, they’re having huge success with them up in Queensland. And they’d be a cheaper alternative to pumping a crapload of insecticide onto them like we have been.’

  ‘If it ain’t broke,’ Jacob said, sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms.

  Rilee could see her husband’s frustration, but she could also see the fire in his eyes and knew that he wasn’t giving up on the idea either. Clearly he knew when to choose his battles and she was relieved he didn’t push the subject tonight.

  ‘Oh my God, your parents are the coolest,’ Natalie grinned as she helped Rilee dish up dessert.

  ‘They’re pretty amazing,’ Rilee agreed.

  ‘I can see where you get your love of natural medicine. I was just talking to your mum and I had no idea there were so many natural alternatives for treating everyday problems.’

  Pride filled Rilee as she looked across at her parents. It felt good having them here with her. She felt less of an outsider. How had they managed that? She’d been trying for months to break through the wall the family had put up and her parents had managed to smash it within five minutes. Just enjoy it, she told herself firmly. Who knew how long it would last.

  Twenty-one

  The homestead was done up like something out of a Home Beautiful magazine shoot. The gardens had been pruned and manicured, and the new seedlings, planted only a week before the party date, had amazingly all blossomed, right on cue. A small army of workers had miraculously appeared and set up a huge marquee on the lawns and catering staff and waiters were bustling everywhere.

  ‘I’m so glad your mother didn’t go over the top with this party,’ Rilee murmured as they walked across to prepare for greeting guests.

  ‘Trust me, she didn’t. This is understated,’ Dan told her dryly. ‘You look stunning by the way, Mrs Kincaid.’

  It had been a long time since she’d worn this particular dress. She hadn’t imagined she’d wear it again, or any of the others she had packed away, but she hadn’t been able bring herself to throw away such beautiful garments, and she was glad of that now. This had been her favourite with its v-neckline and silver sequined bodice. The low-cut back was a bit daring, as was the slinky black skirt with the slit on the side, but it made her feel confident and sexy, and she needed that given there would be more than a few guests ready to judge the new wife of Dan Kincaid.

  Rilee smiled, allowing her gaze to roam the length of her husband’s body, clad in black trousers and jacket, over a deep blue shirt and black tie. ‘You don’t scrub up too badly yourself, Mr Kincaid.’


  ‘If I didn’t think my mother would come and drag us out the door, I’d turn you around right now and take you back to bed.’

  Rilee gave a rather unladylike snort at the thought. She had no doubts whatsoever that Ellen Kincaid would do exactly that. ‘Let’s get this thing over and done with then, shall we?’ she sighed.

  ‘A woman after my own heart.’ He took her hand and tucked it under his arm, Rilee wasn’t sure if it was for support or as insurance that she couldn’t run away. Whatever the reason, she was grateful to have him beside her. She had a feeling this party Ellen was throwing was less of an introduction to the community and more of a throwing her to the wolves.

  Ellen came towards them as they walked under the elegant archway of white roses. She frowned as they stopped in front of her. ‘Darling, why didn’t you come up to the house and ask for a tie? Your father has plenty to choose from.’

  ‘This one’s fine,’ Dan said, brushing his mother’s hands away as she fussed with the knot.

  ‘Well, there’s no time now, it’ll have to do. Come on, we’ve got guests waiting.’

  Dan exchanged a brief look with Rilee and slid his hand around her waist, pulling her close to his side. ‘I’ll make it up to you later tonight, I promise,’ he whispered close to her ear, sending a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

  ‘You better believe it,’ she murmured. If she survived the party, that was.

  Rilee smiled and nodded as she was introduced to a sea of new faces. Some were nearby graziers, long-time residents of the area, but there were also quite a few people who had flown in from the city and different parts of the country. Rilee knew that this was what their wedding would have been like and she was grateful they’d eloped. As she looked around at all the glitz and glamour, she caught a glimpse of her parents chatting to a small group of couples across the lawn. She’d thought they would stick out like a sore thumb in this crowd, but her mother looked stunning in a simple silver and black sarong and high heels. Her father had scrubbed up pretty well too and was wearing a suit, albeit with a bright lime and orange Hawaiian shirt under the jacket. She grinned despite herself. They were making an effort, and yet they somehow managed to remain true to themselves. Rilee’s heart filled with pride.