Right As Rain (30 page)

They laughed at their old childhood motto and drank some more wine. It was cosy by the fire and Mackenna opened another bottle. They were easy friends again, relaxed in each other's company.

Finally Hugh stretched and stood up. “I should get going.”

“You can't drive,” Mackenna said. “Stay the night.”

He gave her a cheeky grin.

She wagged her finger at him. “I'll get the swag,” she said. “You can sleep in here by the fire.”

“Sold.”

Mackenna set up the swag and had just cleared away the glasses when her mobile rang. She was relieved to hear Ginnie's voice. She didn't want to be taking bookings this late.

“Chris and I wanted to talk with you,” she said. “Have you got time for a chat?”

“That sounds ominous?” Mackenna joked.

“It won't take long. Are you at the Gatehouse?”

Mackenna was surprised by Ginnie's serious tone. “Yes,” she said.

“We'll be there soon.”

She stared at her phone a moment. The abruptness of the call made her feel uneasy. What could they want? Had something gone wrong with the wine they were supplying? Perhaps they weren't happy with the way she was promoting it? She went to the tasting room and looked at her menu, which clearly named the varieties and gave a small history of Bunyip Wines on the back. They had expressed their delight with it when they'd come for dinner.

A vehicle pulled up at the front door. To her surprise it was Chris and Ginnie. They couldn't have been far away when they made the call.

“Visitors?” Hugh was behind her, a towel draped over his shoulder and the buttons of his shirt half undone.

“Chris and Ginnie,” she replied.

“Sorry to turn up at short notice,” Ginnie said. She gave Mackenna a peck on the cheek. Chris followed her looking very concerned. They both paused at the sight of Hugh doing up his buttons.

“Hello, Hugh,” they murmured together.

“What's up?” Mackenna was going to take them into the tasting room but decided on the dining room instead, where they would see the swag laid out on the floor. She didn't want them jumping to the wrong conclusions. Chris hovered in the doorway as if he'd rather be anywhere but here.

“Chris didn't want to say anything,” Ginnie said.

Mackenna's heart lurched. “Say what?” she asked. “What's happened?”

“It's a bit awkward really,” Ginnie said, glancing at her husband. “But I thought you should know.”

Mackenna flicked her eyes from one to the other. “Know what?”

Chris looked down at his boots.

“Tell me,” Mackenna said. Her heart was thumping in her chest.

“Oh for goodness sake, Chris,” Ginnie said, “tell her what you heard.”

“It's a load of rubbish,” Chris snapped. “Just gossip.”

“But small town gossip can be dangerous. I think Mackenna should know.”

“Please, will one of you tell me what's going on?”Mackenna said.

Hugh put a hand on her shoulder.

Ginnie began. “Evidently, Cam – ”

“We think it was Cam,” Chris interrupted.

“Cam's been suggesting that he's doing more out here than farm work.” Ginnie's words came out in a rush.

Mackenna looked at them. Cam and all his comings and goings whirled around in her head. What could he be up to? “Something illegal?” she said.

“Not exactly,” Chris said. “Word is he's getting a few extra perks.”

“I'd heard he was selling stuff from his ute at the pub,” Hugh said.

Mackenna twisted her head to look at him. “You didn't tell me.”

“That's not what Chris means,” Ginnie said.

Mackenna could see the discomfort on her friend's face.

“What then?”

“Word is you and he . . . that he's been attending to more than your stock.”

“The bloody mongrel.” Hugh's hand gripped her shoulder tightly.

Mackenna frowned at Chris. “I still don't get – ” She sucked in a breath as realisation struck her. “He reckons he's sharing my bed?”

“As I said, I didn't hear it from Cam. It was another bloke. That Dingo guy who's been in all kinds of trouble. He was shooting his mouth off tonight at the bar. I didn't believe him for a minute, but he was spinning a yarn and there were plenty of flapping ears willing to listen. He seemed to think it was only a matter of time before Cam became a permanent part of Woolly Swamp.”

Mackenna let fly a mouthful of words about what she'd like to do with Cam Martin, none of them pleasant. When she finished they were all silent.

Finally Chris spoke up. “We shouldn't have come repeating gossip.”

“Rubbish. Mackenna should know what's being said. I don't think it's good manners for a bloke to smear a woman's reputation,” Ginnie said primly.

Once again there was silence, then Mackenna burst out laughing.

“Normally I don't care about gossip,” she spluttered, “but I'll be damned if I'll allow people to think I'd be that desperate I'd sleep with Cam Martin.”

“What will you do?” Ginnie asked.

“I don't know yet, but I'm glad you let me know.” She patted Chris on the shoulder. “I know it wasn't easy for you but forewarned is forearmed. Besides,” she nodded at Hugh, “it sounds like Cam might be stretching his employment terms even more than I thought.”

Ginnie said goodnight and Chris followed forlornly behind.

“Poor guy,” Mackenna said as she shut the door.

“Poor guy nothing,” Hugh snapped. “He should have shut Dingo up there and then.”

“What? Punched him on the nose to defend my honour?” Mackenna laughed.

“What will you do?”

“Dingo's a sly dog and I'm beginning to think Cam's following in his footsteps. What's this about him selling stuff at the pub?”

“I know someone who bought three bags of good quality wheat from him. I don't know what else Cam has been selling but I saw him unloading a few posts and a drum of something at a rundown place in town. You know, out the north side along that dead end dirt road.”

“I think Dingo lives out there somewhere. Maybe he's the mate Cam stays with when he's in town.”

“What are you going to do?”

“What can I do? It's all gossip and innuendo. I have no proof of anything . . . except I know Cam hasn't been in my bed.” She shuddered at the sudden vision of Cam in his boxers.

“We can't let him get away with it.”

“I'll think on it.” She yawned. “All that wine has made me sleepy.” She waved Hugh goodnight, went to her own room and climbed into bed. Feigning sleepiness had been an excuse to be alone. Mackenna was pretty sure she wouldn't sleep much tonight. Her best friend was leaving the country, her parents' working man was a liar and a thief, and she'd driven off the guy she loved. There was plenty to keep her brain working long into the night.

The beep of a text message prised Mackenna's bleary gaze from the coffee cup she clutched in her hand. She picked up her phone and pulled it close to her face. She didn't recognise the number. The message said,
Can I cook you breakfast?

She glanced towards the passage door. Was it Hugh being silly? It couldn't be. She had his number with his name stored in her phone. There was no name with this message.

A shiver ran down her back. After what she'd heard last night, could it be Cam using someone else's phone? She was glad Hugh had stayed over. She wrapped her cold fingers back around the coffee cup, grateful for the small burst of warmth against the chilly air. Then she stopped to listen. An engine was approaching and it sounded like a motorbike. It slowed and revved. It
was
a bike. She rushed to the back door in time to see the rider pause beside Hugh's company vehicle. He didn't take his helmet off but it was Adam, she was sure of it. She pushed open the screen door. The bike was already turning away.

Her call was lost in the noise of the motor.

She ran back back inside. She wasn't going to let Adam go this time. He would have jumped to the wrong conclusion with Hugh's vehicle parked at her back door, covered in last night's dew. She snatched up her keys then tossed them down in frustration. Her battery was dead.

Hugh wandered in scratching his head.

“Was that . . .?”

“Adam,” she said. “Quick, give me your keys.”

He swept them off the bench beside him and tossed them to her.

“Thanks,” she called over her shoulder as she ran to his vehicle. She had the four-wheel drive started and in reverse before she'd shut her door. At the gate she clicked on her seatbelt to shut off the incessant beeping of the alarm and turned right towards town. She was guessing that was the way Adam had gone.

She peered ahead and could just make out the dark figure on the bike approaching the main road. She tooted the horn. Once he reached the bitumen she knew he'd be hard to catch. She increased her speed and tooted again. Ahead of her, the bike slowed and she saw the rider look back over his shoulder. She flashed her lights. The bike moved to the side of the road and stopped.

Mackenna came to a halt and jumped out of the vehicle as the rider took off his helmet.

“Adam.”

Her step faltered as she saw the expression on his face. His brown eyes had lost their sparkle and there was no warm greeting smile for her.

“What are you doing here, Mackenna?”

“Following you.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to talk to you,” she said. “Explain . . .”

She bit her lip. His expression was grim. Had she made a mistake coming after him?

“How are your family?” she asked.

“Doing okay. Mum and my uncle have got lots of sorting out to do but I've done all I can for now. They don't need me.”

“So you thought you'd come back?”

“You didn't call but . . .”

“I don't have your number.”

“I left it with your mum.”

Mackenna frowned. “She forgot to give it to me.”

“Doesn't matter,” Adam said. “I didn't trust that you'd ring anyway.”

“So you came back.”

“Call me an idiot but I couldn't get you out of my head.” Adam shuffled his feet. “I shouldn't have come. You and Hugh – ”

She cut him off. “I think you may have the wrong idea about Hugh and me.”

Adam's eyes searched hers. She'd come this far, she had to make him understand.

“We've been friends since school,” she said. “Friends, that's all. When I was with you there was no-one else, still is no-one else but I thought you'd left me. I thought . . .” She faltered. What more could she say? She didn't want to make a fool of herself again but he'd come to the farm. Surely that meant something. Unless he had simply planned to say goodbye?

Adam looked down. When he lifted his face again it was stretched in a smile. “I think,” he said and took a step closer, “you should stop thinking so much and let your heart do the talking.”

She opened her mouth and he leant forward and covered her lips with his. One arm went around her and she melted against him. She slid her hands under his jacket and felt his heart beating against her chest. He pressed closer, kissing her again until her body tingled all over in response.

The sound of a distant vehicle made them both pause. A car went past along the main road.

Mackenna dropped her arms but gave him one more kiss. “We'd better get home,” she said.

“So we can have some privacy?” His eyes smouldered.

“No. You were going to cook me breakfast.” She grinned. “I've worked up an appetite.”

Hugh was waiting for them as they both pulled up at the back door.

“Well,” he said, shaking Adam's hand. “This wasn't quite the start to the day I was expecting.”

“Nor me.” Mackenna laughed. She was almost light-headed with happiness.

“You two make a good pair,” Hugh said.

“I know.” Adam and Mackenna spoke as one, then laughed.

“I don't know why you tried so hard to avoid this bloke.” Hugh gave Adam a friendly slap on the shoulder.

“It was complicated.” Mackenna turned to Adam. “We've got some talking to do but I think we can sort it.”

“Good,” Hugh said. “I'd be happier leaving if I knew you two had worked things out.”

“What about you?” Mackenna asked.

“There could be some wonderful Canadian woman waiting for me.”

“I hope so.”

“I'd better head off.”

“Won't you stay?” Adam said.

“I owe you breakfast at least,” Mackenna added.

“No, I'll be on my way.” Hugh leant in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Be happy, Mackenna.”

She smiled at him, a little perplexed at the shift in his mood. “You too,” she said. “No more looking back.”

He waved. She locked arms with Adam and together they watched as Hugh climbed into his vehicle and drove away. As soon as he was out of sight they were kissing again. Mackenna came up for air first and dragged Adam into the house.

Hugh didn't go home. He went back into town instead. So much of what he and Mackenna had talked about yesterday was still raw. He couldn't believe how easily sleep had taken him last night, burrowed in the swag by the fire. It wasn't until he'd heard Mackenna moving about that he'd woken this morning.

If he went home, his mother would be full of questions. He'd left her a message last night to say he was staying at Mackenna's and knowing his mother, she would have already put two and two together to make six. He wasn't ready to face that yet, so he decided to go into the office.

He parked out the back and took the side door into the shop. The Saturday morning staff were stocking shelves and dealing with customers. He gave them a wave, let himself into his office and shut the door. Ted would be back in another week. All Hugh had to do was get the paperwork up to date for handover and he was a free agent.