Inheritance (9 page)

An attendant showed them to a parking spot and appeared alongside them as they alighted.

‘Good morning, ladies. Please follow this path to the back of the building and join the other guests.’

They rounded the end of the building and saw a colourful scene in front of them.

Trees and palms surrounded a large green lawn, scattered with tables and chairs and sheltered from the sun by large umbrellas. Beyond that was a large pool, already in use. Groups of casually dressed men and women stood about, chatting, while others relaxed at the tables. Bikini-clad females reclined, soaking up the sun on brightly coloured lounges around the pool.

Waiters with trays of drinks moved among the crowd. Overall was a buzz of voices, punctuated by laughter and splashing from the pool.

‘I told you it’d be posh,’ Rosie murmured as they made their way over the grass. ‘Waiters and all.’

Mark excused himself from a nearby group and came to greet them, his face lighting up as he caught sight of them ‘Hello. I’m pleased to see you both.’ His smile lingered on Cassie as he held out both hands to grasp one each of theirs. Cassie returned his smile and the pressure of his hand.

‘And both looking lovely.’ His admiring glance slid over Cassie’s simple but striking ankle length sheath of red printed batik and Rosie’s brief blue shorts and top.

Cassie looked around. ‘I didn’t realise it was to be such a big party. And how different this all looks to the last time I saw Binbin. You’ve created quite a paradise here. I’m absolutely in awe.’

‘Do you like it?’

‘Yes, it’s beautiful. But it’s so…so grand. Is this how you always live?’

‘Not at all. This is for business. I live in the old homestead. Suits my tastes much better.’

‘But what’s all this for?’ asked Rosie, waving her arm as she looked round. ‘Cattle buyers don’t usually get this sort of hospitality. Come to mention it, I don’t see many cattlemen around. They’re not usually as glamorous as this bunch.’

‘You’re right, Rosie, there aren’t a lot of cattle men here. You’ll find out what it’s all about soon. Now, can I get you a drink?’ He gestured to a passing waiter. ‘Champagne all right? Or would you rather have something else?’

‘Champagne’s fine.’

Mark took two glasses from the tray for them.

‘Come and I’ll introduce you round. You may already know some, but there’ll probably be others you haven’t met.’

They approached the group he had been standing with as they arrived.

‘I’d like you all to meet Cassandra Taylor and Rosie Hanson, my neighbours. This is Stella Hardwick,’ he gestured to each one as he named them, ‘Gary Murphy, Ian and Rachel Walker and my brother Laurence, who’s come up from Sydney specially to be here today.’

After the greetings, Cassie turned to Laurence, who stood next to her. Mark’s brother bore little resemblance to him, apart from his colouring. A tall stringbean of a man, his thin face had deep groves running from nose to mouth, and his keen eyes of flinty grey looked as if they missed little as they regarded the world.

‘It must be a special day, to bring you all this way,’ Cassie remarked.

‘It is indeed.’ Laurence paused then continued smoothly, ‘Cassandra, now that’s a delightful name.’

‘It’s a bit of a mouthful. Please call me Cassie.’

He nodded. ‘Neighbours, Mark said. Does that mean you live on the cattle station next door?’

‘Yes, we live on Yallandoo and, yes, it is next door.’

At these words Stella Hardwick placed her hand on Mark’s arm and turned to him. ‘Yallandoo Station? Isn’t that one of the other properties you’re going to buy, Mark?’ She gazed up at him enquiringly as she asked the question. Cassie frowned and stiffened at the words.

‘I don’t believe Yallandoo’s on the market,’ Mark answered easily, with a glance at Cassie.

Stella’s hand remained on his arm as she answered. ‘Oh, well, I know you’ll find what you want. You always get what you want in the end. I’ve learnt that about you.’ Her hand squeezed Mark’s arm as she smiled up at him.

Much to her annoyance, Cassie felt a sudden stab of jealousy. Turning away, she spoke to the young man on the other side of her. ‘Are you a local, Gary?’

‘Not really, but I’ve been working up here for about three years now. I came up from Melbourne for a project in Cairns and I liked it so much, I stayed. Couldn’t face going back to the cold down south now, so I guess I’ll stay here as long as I can find work to do.’

‘What kind of work’s that?’

‘I’m a builder. I’ve done some work here for Mark. That’s how I come to be here today.’

Rosie looked interested. ‘You and Cassie’ll have to get together. She needs a builder. What did you do here?’

‘I built the cabana over there.’ He indicated a long timber structure on the opposite side of the pool with a thatched roof and rooms at each end, open in the middle. At one end was a
long bar. ‘There’s a kitchen in there,’ he indicated, ‘and the other end has change rooms with showers and a powder room for you ladies.’

Mark was following their conversation. ‘I’m interested to know why you need a builder, Cassie. I hope you’ll tell me later.’ He removed Stella’s hand gently from his arm. ‘But now I must leave you. Please excuse me. I have a few things to see to, I’ll see you all in a while. Will you come with me, Laurence?’ The two men walked across to the cabana.

‘What are you going to build?’ Rachel, a small dark haired woman with bright eyes, asked Cassie. ‘Anything as grand as this?’ She indicated their surroundings with a sweep of her hand.

‘Hardly,’ Cassie laughed, ‘something much more modest. I’m thinking of a few cabins in the rainforest on my property.’

‘What do you intend to do with them?’ asked Rachel’s husband Ian, paying sudden attention.

‘I’m thinking of them as tourist accommodation.’

‘Really? You’d better let us have the details then. We run a travel agency in Cairns and there’s a big call for that sort of accommodation.’

‘Is there? How fortunate to meet you here. I’ve been wondering who could answer that very question for me and, of course, a travel agent is just the person.’

‘There are several travel agents here today,’ Stella interjected. ‘Of course, Mark knows all the prominent business people in the area. Many of us here today are in business in Cairns. It’s where the most successful businesses are.’ Her voice was well modulated and precise.

Rosie stepped back and rolled her eyes. ‘Well, bully for Cairns,’ she said, making her voice sound broad Australian.

Stella turned a disdainful look on her. ‘It is the business and cultural centre of North Queensland. You can’t argue with that.’

‘I think there are some in Townsville who might disagree with you,’ Gary objected.

As the merits of Townsville and Cairns were debated, Cassie listened to Stella. How could Mark be interested in such a stuck-up bitch? Skinny, too!

She studied Stella closely. She was tall, thin, striking-looking and could have stepped straight from the pages of a high-fashion magazine. Her shiny jet black hair, drawn back tightly into an elegant chignon, set off the shape of her head and made her cheekbones stand out. Her face wasn’t beautiful, her eyes were too small and her lips too thin, but her skillful use of makeup disguised the flaws. She looked the picture of elegance, dressed in white linen pants and high-necked tunic top with white high-heeled strappy sandals to match. An elaborate necklace and earrings of jet and silver completed her outfit. There was not a crease or a hair out of place to spoil the picture and her cool grey eyes, dusted with charcoal shadow, surveyed the world with aloof confidence.

Hard as nails! Well, if that’s what he likes, he’s welcome to her. After all, he’s nothing to me.

While they had been talking, there had been some activity going on in the cabana and now Mark stepped forward with a microphone in his hand.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, could I please have your attention for a minute.’ Silence fell as they all paid attention to their host. ‘I’m pleased to welcome you all here today. It’s a very special day for me, the culmination of three years of planning and work. I’m not going to take
up much of your time but I would like to tell you what we are planning for Binbin in the future. I decided three years ago that Far North Queensland has a great future. Tourism is growing at an unprecedented pace.’

A ripple of sound came from those involved in the tourist industry.

‘There’s so much here to offer visitors. Having been involved in the corporate scene for many years, I decided some time ago I wanted to create a place where executives could not only hold their conferences but also bring their families for a holiday. Binbin is that place.’

A further murmur ran through the gathering.

‘While the execs are busy with their conferences, the family will have plenty to occupy them. Our sporting facilities will include tennis, basketball and golf. Our guests will be able to participate in the workings of a cattle station. A helicopter can fly them to join a fishing charter. There’ll be tours to local places of interest. We’ll have a gym, a beauty salon, a boutique and a gift shop. Our guests will be able to dine in five star luxury or have a relaxed meal here in the cabana. Our service in every area will be the highest available anywhere. In short, our aim is to be the finest resort in the region. We’ll be ready to receive guests by next Easter.’

His gaze swept the crowd.

‘So all you travel agents who are with us today, get busy. Now, I’m not going to bore you with talking any longer. I have brochures here for anyone who’s interested. Information kits are available for all travel agents. Laurence has them all ready to hand out to you.’ He indicated his brother. ‘A buffet lunch will be served in half an hour. I hope you will eat, drink and enjoy yourselves for the rest of the day. Thank you.’

A buzz of conversation broke out as Mark finished talking. As he left the cabana, an eager group surrounded him. All smiles, he stopped to answer their questions.

Cassie was stunned. And angry. No wonder he was so interested in Yallandoo, with its caves and aboriginal art. He had probably known about the caves all along. What an attraction they would be for his showplace. And he was willing to buy Yallandoo to get them.

No wonder he’d been so attentive to her. He probably thought of her as a naïve young girl who would be swayed by his attentions. Well, he would learn he was mistaken.

‘Well, who would have ever guessed that,’ Rosie said. ‘A resort! No wonder everything’s so impressive. He’s kept it all very secret. Not a word to anyone.’

‘I knew ages ago,’ said Stella. ‘But I promised Mark I wouldn’t say a word until today. He wanted to make a big splash. It looks like he has. I must join him.’ And she hurried away.

‘She would know, of course.’ Rosie mimicked Stella’s plummy voice, tossing her head. ‘I am so important everyone tells me everything. I just happen to be a big, fat pain in the bum.’

Everyone laughed.

Ian was exuberant. ‘There’s been a lot of conjecture but no one knew exactly what was going on, except that a lot of money was being spent here. This is pretty exciting for us. Come on, Rachel, we’ll go and collect the information. Don’t forget to let us have the details of your cabins when they’re ready, Cassie. We’ll find you plenty of guests.’

‘I don’t know that I’ll bother with them now. With this right next door, I could hardly compete.’

‘You won’t be competing. Mark’s aiming for the high flyers, the CEOs and expense accounts. That won’t be your market. You’ll be looking for the average holidaymaker, won’t you? Different market altogether.’

‘Do you think so?’ Cassie sounded doubtful.

‘No doubt about it. You just let us have the details when you’re ready. Here’s the address.’ He handed her a card.

‘Thank you. Cairns, I see.’

Gary turned to Cassie as the couple left. ‘So what type of cabins are you thinking of?’

‘I’m really not sure yet if I’ll do anything or not. It’s an idea I had that I haven’t considered fully yet.’

‘Okay. If you decide to go ahead and I can be of any help to you, let me know. Mark knows where to contact me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go and mingle. The more people you know, the better, in my business. Nice to have met you both.’ With a cheerful smile, he moved away.

‘What do you mean you haven’t considered the idea fully yet?’ Rosie asked indignantly. ‘You seemed to consider all the angles when we had our ‘executive meeting’. How come you’re backing away now?’

‘I didn’t know we had a huge resort next to us then. I need to think about it a bit more.’

‘It’s not like you to be frightened off by a bit of a setback,’ Rosie observed as they stood watching the other guests.

‘I just need to think about it a bit more, that’s all. Do you feel like a swim before lunch?’

‘Sure. Let’s go change. But I hope you don’t change your mind about the cabins after getting us all excited about it. Besides, I do think it’s a good idea.’

‘We’ll see. Come on, let’s change.’ Cassie led the way across to the cabana.

Inside, the powder room with its showers and changing cubicles reflected the stylish but relaxed style of the rest of the cabana. Natural timber and live plants were complemented by the aboriginal art prints adorning the walls. Suddenly Cassie stopped in front of one of the prints.

‘Hey, look at this, Rosie! This is the same painting as in our hallway at home. I don’t think ours is a print. No, in fact I’m sure ours is the original. Fancy that!’

Rosie came up to look closer. ‘You’re right. I’ve seen it a million times. But is the one at home the original?’

‘The one in our hallway has been there ever since I can remember. They’re all originals. I remember now, a lot of those paintings were given to my grandfather John by Arthur Tubitjara, oh, must be about fifty years ago. He was one of the earliest aboriginal artists to be recognised, and Grandfather helped him, before he became known. They’re some of his earliest works. How amazing to see one here.’

They moved along, examining the rest of the prints.

The door opened and Stella entered.

‘Ah, Cassie and Rosie, isn’t it? Admiring the aboriginal art, I see.’