Inheritance (2 page)

As they drew apart, Rosie’s blue eyes sparkled. ‘Does this mean you’ll be coming up here to live permanently now?’

Cassie sobered. ‘I don’t really know. It’s such a shock I haven’t thought about what will happen. I’ll have to give it a lot of thought. And talk to Mum, too, of course.’

‘Oh, yes, your mother.’ Rosie grimaced. ‘Gwen won’t want you to live up here. She’d hate it if you left Sydney.’

‘Hmm. Yes. I suppose she might.’

‘I’m sure of it. After all, you do help her run her catering business.’

Cassie sighed. ‘Yes, I know.’

Looking around, she saw Graham Walsh had left, along with the rest of the mourners. She caught hold of Rosie’s arm. ‘Oh, look. Your parents are all on their own. Come on. Let’s go and talk to them. They’re waiting for us. They’ll have heard the news by now.’

They crossed the room. The waiting pair looked stiff and uncomfortable. Was it because of the formal clothes they weren’t used to wearing? Tom, a lean, wiry man, with pushed back hair bleached almost white by the sun, would plainly be more at home in stockman’s garb than a suit. In spite of the air-conditioning, he looked hot and bothered. Lorna, a little roly-poly of a woman, with brown hair pulled back in a bun, wore a black dress just a little too tight for her. They were watching the two girls approach.

Rosie raced ahead, all excited. ‘Isn’t it great news? Len’s left Yallandoo to Cassie.’

‘Yes. We’ve just heard,’ Tom replied in a heavy voice.

He doesn’t sound as if he thinks it’s great news, Cassie thought, as she reached them.

‘Well, aren’t you happy she owns it now?’ Rosie persisted.

Tom responded stiffly. ‘Of course we are.’

Cassie couldn’t understand his cold response, but perhaps he was worried about his job. She tried to put him at his ease. ‘I’m so happy you’re going to stay on Yallandoo, both of you. I just couldn’t manage without you. In spite of all the time I’ve spent there, I know very little about the actual working of the station. I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t staying.’

They both relaxed at her words.

‘Of course we’ll stay, love.’ Lorna smiled at her.

‘Just as long as you want us to, Cassie,’ Tom added. ‘Graham Walsh told us everything will be put on hold till after probate. But what then, Cassie? What will you do with Yallandoo?’ he asked bluntly.

‘I honestly don’t know, Tom. It was so unexpected; I’m still trying to come to terms with everything. As soon as I work it out, you’ll be the first to know, I promise you.’

But what was she going to do?

***

Cassie had mixed emotions as she sat in the plane on her way back to Sydney. Sadness at the loss of her uncle and aunt was foremost. However, skittering alongside the pain, and she felt guilty to admit it to herself, excitement jerkily pushed its way up. Yallandoo was hers! The thought of it set her mind whirling like autumn leaves in a storm. But what should she do? Her knowledge of running a cattle station was pretty close to zilch. Should she sell Yallandoo?

Cassie thought of her uncle and how much the station had meant to him. She remembered the family stories of previous generations who had lived there, going right back to her great-great-grandfather Charles. Fresh out from England with his brother Robert, they had settled Yallandoo a hundred and thirty years ago, facing hardships and loneliness.

Charles’ eldest son John had inherited the property, and so it had been through the succeeding generations, down to her father and uncle. And now, herself.

Sighing, she leant forward and took the in-flight magazine from the seat-pocket in front of her. Idly she turned the pages, her mind still on Yallandoo. Suddenly her attention was caught by an article, ‘Tropical Far North Queensland.’ Perusing it with interest, she read that tourism in the area was growing at an unprecedented rate. She sat back thoughtfully, the magazine on her lap.

Far North Queensland, reaching as far north as you could go in Australia. A land of towering mountains and lush, fertile plains. Dense green rainforests. Rivers and waterfalls. Golden beaches and coral reefs. And cattle stations. Some so big you could drive for days before you reached the boundary.

Tourism — now that was an area she would like to be involved in.

But what could you do with a cattle station?

Six months later, Cassie sat back in her seat and stared out of the window of the plane on her way back to Cairns. She had expected to return much earlier, but, as Rosie had predicted, her mother had not wanted her to leave. Gwen wanted her to sell Yallandoo. Their conversation after her return from the funeral came back to her.

‘A station’s a big responsibility,’ Gwen told Cassie. ‘Especially at your age. However, it means you’re wealthy now. When you sell it, you’ll have money to do whatever you want in life. Travel. Buy a lovely home overlooking the Harbour. Whatever you want, really. Besides,’ she reached out her hand, ‘I really want you to stay here with me.’

Standing, Cassie moved aimlessly around the room, straightening an ornament on the mantelpiece as she struggled to arrange her thoughts. ‘But…I suppose, knowing how much I’ve always loved being up there…Uncle Len really thought I’d want to go up there and live.’

‘You wouldn’t want to do that, would you?’

Gwen always put her own wishes before anything else. And managed to make Cassie feel guilty if she went against them. In the end, Cassie compromised, training another staff member to take over her duties but promising to consider carefully before making a final decision.

Now she was finally going back. How would things have changed since her last visit? Picking up a magazine she tried to read, but her mind kept wandering. Memories of previous visits to Yallandoo came flooding back. Memories of happy childhood holidays spent with Uncle Len and Aunt Izzie and of the things they had done together. Trips to Cairns to see a movie. Picnics. Sunday night tea in front of the television, often with Rosie, Tom and Lorna. Always with hot scones and freshly baked cake. And Uncle Len making them laugh with his funny stories, often about him and Dad growing up on the station.

Dad had wanted her to spend as much time on Yallandoo as possible. And so Cassie spent all her school holidays there. Always with Rosie. They swam in the rock pool, explored the rainforest, played all the games little girls play. Sometimes they just sat quietly and read books together.

Dad had left Yallandoo when he was in his early twenties. The bright city lights beckoned. First Brisbane, then Sydney. And later he married Gwen, a Sydney girl.

Sometimes the three of them came to Yallandoo together. Such fun they had. ‘Why don’t you live here, too, Dad?’ Cassie asked him. ‘You and Uncle Len get on well together. I know you enjoy it here.’

‘Yes, Cass, but only for a holiday. I decided when I was young that country life wasn’t for me. I love the city. No, I’m very happy with the way things are. Len was always the one who was cut out for this life. Not me.’

And that was the way it was. And so it stayed until Dad had a sudden fatal heart attack at the early age of forty-three. Uncle Len and Aunt Izzie asked her and Mum to come and live
with them then, but her mother was too much of a city girl to want to live away from Sydney. But Cassie’s visits continued.

Well, those times were gone for good. Now the future beckoned. In the next few weeks, she must make a decision. A decision that could change her life forever.

Looking out the window, Cassie saw they were approaching the coast. The long coastline with its fringe of green forest came into view. As the plane banked, ready for landing, the sun sparkled on the brilliant blue sea below. Further out, a dark patch in the water revealed itself to those above, like some leviathan slumbering on the seabed — a small coral island, part of the Great Barrier Reef that ran down alongside the coast of Queensland for some two thousand kilometres.

A voice came over the loudspeaker.
‘We are now approaching Cairns. Please fasten your seatbelts and put your seat in the upright position. We will be landing in approximately eight minutes. The weather in Cairns is fine. The temperature is thirty degrees. We hope you enjoy your stay in Cairns. Thank you for flying with Qantas today.’

The plane touched down and taxied to the terminal. It seemed a long time since the funeral. Regular phone calls had kept her in touch with Tom and Lorna, as well as Rosie. Cassie knew they would be waiting to hear what she had decided to do with Yallandoo. And she still hadn’t decided.

Retrieving her travel bag from the overhead locker, she joined the other passengers leaving the plane and making their way to the Arrivals lounge.

Rosie was standing eagerly scanning the passengers as they came through the door. Pushing her way through the crowd, she grabbed Cassie in a bear hug.

‘Oh, Cassie, I thought today would never come. Are you okay?’ She hugged her tightly.

‘Yes, I’m fine. But you’re hugging me to death.’ Cassie laughed as she untangled her friend’s arms from around her. ‘Let me get my breath.’

‘I’ve been so excited for you to come. Did you have a good trip up? You look wonderful.’ All, it seemed, in one breath.

‘I’m excited to be here, too. And you’re looking pretty good yourself. Of course, it’s not all holiday this time. I have to attend to the business at Yallandoo, you know.’

‘Yes, I know. But you’ll still have some free time, won’t you?’

‘Of course.’

‘Come on, let’s go and wait for your luggage.’

Arm-in-arm, they walked the short distance to the luggage carousel.

A man stood on the edge of the crowd already waiting there, watching them approach. Rosie led Cassie over to him.

‘Cassie,’ she introduced her, ‘this is Mark Pierce, he’s our neighbour now. He bought the old Stevenson place a year or so ago. Mark, meet Cassandra Taylor, my oldest and best friend.’ She turned to Cassie. ‘Mark was coming into town today, so he offered to bring me in to meet you. I had to pick up some things for Dad and my car wouldn’t have had much room left for your luggage.’

Cassie took his proffered hand. ‘That was kind of you.’

Her ordinary words hid a flash of interest in the dark haired stranger. Here was a man who would stand out in any crowd. You couldn’t call him handsome; his deeply tanned face, with dark eyebrows and determined set to the chin, was almost severe. Still, he possessed an
air of vitality that no one could miss. Tall, relaxed, his well-cut jeans and open-neck shirt did nothing to hide his powerful physique.

‘Not at all.’ He had a smooth, deep voice. ‘I was curious to see the new owner of Yallandoo.’ His scrutiny appraised her from head to toe.

‘I’m not really a new owner. I’ve spent a great deal of time up here over the years. I inherited the property from my uncle recently.’ She withdrew her hand from his.

‘I know; you’re Len Taylor’s niece. I was sorry to hear of his accident.’ He frowned. ‘But you’re very young to be left a cattle station. And a woman, too! Didn’t your uncle have any other family to leave it to?’

‘No.’ Cassie bristled. What business was it of his?

‘And you don’t have any brothers?’

‘No!’ Annoyance flushed her cheeks. ‘And I really don’t believe it has anything to do with you.’

‘It might have.’ He looked down at her with narrowed eyes. ‘I suppose you’ll want to sell. I’d be prepared to make you a good offer.’

Such arrogance! She felt her anger rising. ‘I haven’t decided any such thing. I have very strong ties to the place. Anyway, you already have a station. Why would you want another?’

‘To extend my land.’ He shrugged. ‘You can never have too much, you know.’ His offhand manner irritated Cassie further.

‘Oh, so you want to be a cattle king? Well, Yallandoo is not for sale!’

‘No?’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘It’s a lot for a young girl to manage. Maybe you’ll change your mind.’ His voice insinuated he was sure she would.

Her body stiffened. ‘I doubt it!’ At that moment, her case came into view on the carousel. ‘There’s my bag,’ she snapped as she moved across but Mark was before her, reaching out.

‘I’ll get it. This one?’

‘Yes.’

‘Is there anything else?’ he asked as he swung it easily to the floor.

‘No. That’s all.’

‘Let’s go, then.’ He strode ahead to the car park.

‘You sit in the front,’ Rosie told her, ‘you can admire the scenery on the way.’

Cassie started to protest but Mark had already put her luggage in the back and was holding open the front door for her, holding out his hand to help her.

Ignoring the hand, she swung up into the front seat of the four-wheel drive Landcruiser without a word, sat and looked straight ahead. When they left the airport, they turned on to the Captain Cook Highway and headed north.

‘We’ll go by the Coast road,’ Mark said, turning to Cassie with a smile, ‘it’s the best view. I hope you like it?’

‘Yes, I do,’ she replied stiffly.

After a few moments, Cassie relaxed, leaning back in her seat. She never failed to enjoy the scenery on this route. It followed the coast, above the ocean, twisting and turning as it snaked its way along the ribbon of road created by man between the cliffs and the sea. She breathed in long draughts of the fresh sea air. Below the road, the dazzling blue water lapped the long stretches of golden sand then stretched to meet the brilliant sky at the distant horizon.
An occasional beachgoer sheltered in the shade of one of the palms or pandanus trees scattered about. Waves curled up onto the beaches or sprayed white froth as they hurled themselves against a clump of rocks. Cassie’s anger slipped away as she embraced the sight. How she loved it all.

‘So, how long have you two known each other?’ asked Mark, interrupting her contemplation.

Well, he seemed to have lost his patronising manner.

‘Oh, nearly all our lives, really,’ Rosie replied for her. ‘Cassie’s always spent her holidays up here. And I’ve been down to stay with her in Sydney, too.’

‘So what do you do with yourself in Sydney, Cassie?’

‘I help my mother in her business. She’s a caterer.’

‘So you’re a cook?’ He flashed her a sideways glance, sounding interested.