Page 17 of A Chance to Believe

After lunch was easy. Shayne murmured in passing that she could retire to the annex for a rest if she wished. He said it with a sympathetic grin that told her he was aware of the strain of conversing with his mother.

Dot went out with Jim to inspect the gardens while Francis and his sons retired to somewhere to keep talking farm stuff. Dawn vanished with Kimberley to the kitchens, supposedly to discuss the barbeque menu with Parker. Cassie suspected it was to check things were still being done according to her own preferences. The woman oddly combined autocrat with touches of softness at unexpected moments. Perhaps that was where Shayne got it from. If she was going to stay in the district, Cassie would have to learn to get along with her.

Left alone, Cassie debated taking Shayne’s advice to rest, but she needed exercise after the enormous meal. It would sit uneasily in her stomach if she lay down immediately. Instead, she strolled around the room, admiring the sideboard and silverware on display. All of it was the genuine article, brought to the property by brides who’d travelled from England to the colonies. Shayne’s mother had mentioned some of those brides in her sketching of the entire one-hundred-and-seventy-year history of the property. They had run the full gamut of aristocracy through to serving maids.

If Dawn had hoped to intimidate her with the rich history and strong roots of the Smiths and Maidens, she hadn’t succeeded. Cassie had her own history. In some ways, it was as significant as this. Her original Long ancestor had come to Australia for the gold rush and stayed on, eventually buying property in the far west. Not as old as Maidens Hill, but as large as the original property would have been before it was broken up. They’d run sheep, of course. Stupid things.

Parker bustled into the room with a tray and picked up the last few items left behind after the plates were cleared. He noticed her and gave her a broad smile. ‘They’ve all abandoned you.’

‘I’m heading back to the annex, but I thought I’d have a look at some of the treasures. It must be a lot of work, maintaining it.’

‘We have a couple of the men’s wives come in during the week to help with basic things. Shayne also gets some casuals in, now and then, to give the place a good polish up. Usually when there’s something on, like a historical society meeting or display or an agricultural day. There’s usually a couple of those most years because of the breeding program.’

‘You sound like you know about sheep.’

‘I can cook them. Jim and the rest manage them. You can’t help picking up bits and pieces when you live on the place.’ He hesitated. ‘Shayne’s a good employer. A good man.’

She wondered why he felt the need to emphasise it. ‘I know. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think so.’

With a brisk nod, he returned to his task and headed off.

Looking around, she couldn’t help noticing the difference between the living areas and the show areas. There was a slight shabbiness in the family’s everyday rooms. Not that they weren’t well kept, but the effort of maintaining the historical features of the house took a lot of effort. Maybe without Dawn here, the boys weren’t so concerned about looks, preferring comfort in their daily lives.

Her legs were tired from standing, so she made a move to return to the annex, almost running into Shayne, covering the ground in long strides. He gripped her upper arms to steady her.

‘I thought you would have your feet up by now.’

‘That’s where I’m heading. I needed to let my lunch settle before I lie down. It’s too crowded in there.’

His gaze dropped to the mound of her stomach. ‘I noticed you weren’t eating much. Is it uncomfortable?’

‘Eat little and often is my motto at the moment.’

His hands on her arms were warm through the light fabric. Unconsciously, she leaned into him, inhaling the scent of skin and light perspiration from the heat of the day. She recovered herself the moment she realised and jerked back, and they dropped away.

‘Sorry.’ He stepped out of her way. ‘I shouldn’t keep you talking.’

Reluctant to let him go, Cassie delved back into the conversation with his mother. ‘Who was the twin?’

She saw him stiffen and hastily burst into speech. ‘That was rude. I’ve no right to ask those sorts of questions. Besides, you’ll need to get back to your guests.’

‘I was waving them off before I bumped into you. If I’d known you were still up, I would have asked you to come and say goodbye. As it was, I gave your apologies. They were happy with that.’

‘I’ll go then.’

‘Cassie.’ His brow was creased as he studied her face. ‘May I come with you? I think I should explain a few things. It’s probably a good idea for you to be resting while I do it.’

She nodded, and they walked together to the corridor leading to the annex. Shayne was silent, deep in thought, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence.

He paused at one of the closed rooms with the old-fashioned homemade doors and brass doorknobs she assumed were storage or similar. ‘I need to grab something. You go ahead and make yourself comfortable and I’ll join you.’

It was clear he didn’t want her coming into the room, so she made her way to her bedroom and kicked off her sandals and got comfortable on the bed.

Considering how intimate they’d been in the past, it seemed funny to be shy about having him in her room. Maybe because it was in the past and there was no chance of renewing that intimacy at present. Without it, she doubted if he would want to deepen their connection. Except, of course, as co-parents. She was beginning to hate that term.

Maybe it was the hormones, but her emotions were all over the place. Wanting more, afraid of more. She’d had enough pain in her life. Not even for great sex was she going to open herself up to risk. For a father for her children, she was tempted. Shayne tempted her. But he wasn’t likely to consider marriage for the sake of the children. He’d showed clearly in his own life that he wouldn’t compromise about marriage. What was he looking for in a life partner? If she’d had any hope of being considered, he’d made it clear she wasn’t on the list by walking away six months ago.

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