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‘Yes, I know that, Hudson.’ Madeline’s tone was more conciliatory. ‘And I’m sorry about this scene. I wouldn’t speak out unless I was truly concerned. You know I haven’t protested before, but this girl is different. I feel very suspicious of her. You don’t come in contact with the seamy side of life as I do in the city. You get a sixth sense about people—it's an instinct. She’s false . . .’

‘Rubbish. I’d stake my reputation on her honesty,’ Hudson shouted angrily.

‘That’s exactly what I mean. I’ve never heard you go out on a limb for any woman all the time I’ve known you. She’s got her hooks into you and you’re blind to it. You fool! You’ll find yourself fronting up to a paternity suit or worse.’

‘Chance would be a fine thing,’ Hudson answered with a laugh. ‘You don’t know Serenity.’

‘No. Well, I tell you there’s something wrong. I bet she hasn’t even lost that ring. She’s hidden it so she’ll have an excuse to stay here. Then the stones may not have been genuine, just paste; they can look very effective. You’ve swallowed her story hook, line, and sinker, but I haven’t. I
will
find out about her, and I
will
be proved correct.’

‘So, she pulled a line on you and you probably asked for it. I have always admired your judgment of people, Madeline, but you’re wrong about Serenity. I’m sick of the whole thing. She’s not important to me, or to you, or to our plans. She has her life, we have ours. Let’s drop it.’

‘You go to Hell! I’m sleeping downstairs tonight.’

Serenity was sitting up in bed wide-eyed. She heard a door slam viciously downstairs and then silence. Much later she heard Hudson come up to his room and all was quiet.

She lay still waiting for the dawn. She wasn’t shocked. She had known that some woman had been a frequent visitor when she had first used that bathroom. Well, she had no illusions now about their relationship or their intention to marry. Nor yet Hudson’s view of her. She wasn’t important to him, but he did trust her. That was nice. What if he found out about the cancelled wedding? He would think she had lied all the time.

She hated any form of deceit. She’d face him with it tomorrow. After church, after Madeline had left, she would sit down and tell him. She couldn't bear to have him lose his good opinion of her. Serenity knew he would tell her to leave, and it was better that way. She wasn't important to him, and never would be. He had warned her from the start that he didn’t want any complications in his life, and she had boasted that he would never become that in hers.

She loved him, and it was like pain and happiness equally mingled; sorrow and joy. If she left now it would just be a memory to treasure, but if she was by his side for four weeks, the love would develop and be harder to recover from. Madeline had done her a favour by arriving at this point in time. Fancy her saying that Serenity had just hidden the ring, or that it was only paste jewellery. What a nasty suspicious mind she had.

And the way they had yelled at each other, they hadn’t even cared if they woke her up. She would be well out of it. But she would always be glad that she had come, because of Sarah Tarrant. That house and garden would stay evergreen in her memory. And the ride up river, and the horses, and Cam, and the shearers, gave her plenty of happy times to remember.

The sun shining full on her face woke her from heavy sleep, and she realised it must be very late. Quickly and quietly she washed and dressed and tiptoed downstairs, not wanting to disturb a sleeping household. It was late but she still had time for a cup of tea and get to church on time. She would borrow the Subaru. Hudson wouldn't mind.

‘Good morning, Serenity. Did you sleep well?’ He was fully dressed in well-cut slacks and elegant shirt and matching tie, looking extremely handsome and very alert.

‘Oh, good morning to you both,’ Serenity stopped in surprise. Even Madeline had risen, but she was still wearing a housecoat.

‘You two have met, I gather.’ His lips curved in an amused smile.

‘That’s true,’ Serenity walked forward, glad that she was wearing her most attractive blue dress and high- heeled shoes. It made her feel more in command of the situation.

Madeline surveyed her through narrowed eyes. ‘Where did you say you came from, Serenity?’

‘I didn’t,’ Serenity said blandly, then shooting a glance at Hudson asked, 'Is that tea hot?’

‘Freshly made, help yourself. I see you're all dolled up in your Sunday best. I presume Cam warned you church was at ten. You are coming with me?’

‘Love to. I'll take my tea out on the patio, it’s a shame to waste all this sunshine.’

She breathed a sigh of relief as she sat down in the hot sun. It was so peaceful looking down towards the lake. Hudson had told her Haupiri, in Maori, meant hidden or stealthy wind. That was just like her love for him, hidden, and it had sneaked up on her so stealthily. There was nothing hidden about Madeline’s dislike for her; that unrelenting stare had followed her every move and Serenity was sure it was only Hudson’s presence which had saved her from the inquisition. What a beautiful day it was. When would Madeline leave? She hoped Cam was given to lengthy sermons.

‘Ready, Paleface?’ Hudson joined her, his glance warm and friendly. ‘No, don’t jump up. Finish your tea first, we’ve tons of time. Cam look after you okay last night?’

‘Yes, he was very kind.’ In spite of having herself well under control, she blushed when his knee accidently touched hers. 'I’ll just run up and get my purse and gloves.’

‘You do that.’ His eyes were lit with mocking laughter as if he knew that she was nervous of him.

She stayed in her room until she was calm again. How gauche and young she must have appeared to him compared with the sophisticated elegance of Madeline. She glared at herself in the mirror. Starry-eyed, that’s how Cam had described her. Yes, she looked like a girl in love. Well, it was very new to her, and she would get better at hiding it.

Madeline was standing with Hudson when Serenity came back down to the patio. She was strikingly beautiful in the severely-tailored housegown and she knew it.

'I didn’t think you’d risk the sun this early in the day, Madeline,’ Hudson said teasingly, but there was a hint of frost in the remark.

'I'm not staying here. I’m off back to bed—I’ve got a blinding headache. ’

‘Sorry about that. Hangovers can be miserable whether they are caused by an excess of alcohol, or an excess of emotion. Will I find you an aspirin?’

Serenity went quickly past them and out the gate. So they were still fighting. She didn’t mind as long as they didn’t make her the meat in the sandwich.

‘We’ll take the car.’ He caught up with her and walked towards the vehicle, tall and tanned, the sun striking his auburn hair making it glow like fire. He held the door for her.

She slid under his arm avoiding his touch and he grinned and slammed the door. She swallowed with difficulty, her mouth was very dry. As he took his place beside her, she asked, ‘Does everyone in the district come?’

He gave her a penetrating stare, ‘Of course, that’s why you’re glowing with excitement. You might find this mysterious patient of yours. You’re still not going to give me any clues to help you track him down.’

She smiled brightly as she clicked her safety belt shut. So he thought her excitement was caused by the thought of meeting the people of the district. How convenient. ‘No, I won’t do that, but I’m pleased you’re going with me, you can tell me all the names.’

‘Did you get home safely after I left you last night?’ he flicked a meaningful glance towards her as he drove off.

‘Of course.’ She met his look without flinching. He was trying to embarrass her, well two could play at that game. ‘You couldn’t have got much sleep yourself last night? I heard you come in.’

Hudson concentrated on his driving, and Serenity relaxed a little. She was becoming very familiar with this drive to the main road and was grateful for the cattle- stops. At least she didn’t have to leap out five times on the way down. Only the main road gate had to be opened.

She hurried to fling it back and her heart lifted and soared as his face creased into that special smile he had for her. Native birds filled the air with throbbing music, and wild ducks flapped frantically from the deep black stream. Was being in love always like this? The sun warmer and more brilliant, the bush, the flax and the fern, the waving toi toi fronds, each took on a shape and beauty of such intensity that she ached with the splendour of it all.

And beyond the physical pain was the pulsating joy of loving Hudson. Just to sit beside him in the car, to watch the shade and shadow of the trees touch his face, made her bones melt.

He stopped on the Bluff overlooking the Station, his gaze searching for some sheep or cattle below, and she watched him, trying to memorise every detail of his face. Today she was close to him, she could touch him if she wanted to, she would sit by him in church, be introduced to his neighbours by him, and tomorrow she would be gone.

Had her mother felt like this? Had her mother’s love for her man been of the same magnitude? And she had walked away, not only leaving him but this valley, and her own mother. Everything she had held dear, and she must have been just Serenity’s age. What was that song she used to sing? it’s the hard times that make you strong.’ Her mother had an inner strength, a belief that there was a higher power, a God who cared for her personally. Serenity needed that too.

‘Here we are, and we’re just in time. Jump to it. You could at least wait till you get inside to go back to sleep.’

Serenity gave him a reproachful look as she got out. ‘I wasn’t asleep,’ she protested as he caught her up and taking her arm led her into the small school house set in a bush clearing.

Cam saw them and nodded a greeting. A strangely different Cam, wearing a suit with a surplice over it, yet he looked marvellous; his face seemed to shine as bright as his gold hair.

There were only fifteen or twenty people in the whole room, even counting the children. Most of them turned to greet Hudson and to look at her with frank curiosity. Then as she stood for the first hymn she saw Cam’s father with his family.

There was no doubt in her mind that he was the man in the photo, older now, but very distinguished, and still handsome. As she watched he must have felt her gaze because he turned and saw her. Her heart somersaulted and her voice wobbled off key as his penetrating blue eyes held hers in shock and amazement. She saw him pale as if seeing a ghost and then he turned again to the front, squaring his shoulders as if to set himself for what might come.

Was she so like her mother? Had she unconsciously dressed for this meeting? Wearing a plain blue dress with pearl buttons down the front and a neat white Peter Pan collar, a simple style which could have been worn ten, twenty, thirty years ago. And she’d worn her fair hair loose and flowing smoothly over her shoulders. She hadn’t meant to create an image, but if she had done it deliberately, it couldn’t have been done better.

Serenity didn’t hear much of the service. She wished she could leave, but she had asked Hudson to introduce her to everyone. He would think it strange if she suddenly developed a headache and fled to the safety of the car. Worse, he would suspect she had found her target and would question her adroitly until the secret was out.

She looked at Cam’s mother and the two teenage boys, and wished with all her heart that she had not come. Would Robert Blair speak to her? Would he
challenge
her? He wouldn’t know that she had no intention of bringing up the past. She was a threat to him, and he didn’t look like a man who would scare easily.

She forced herself to listen to Cam, and caught the tail end of his sermon. ’Love does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek its own way, does not take into account a wrong suffered, is not provoked. Love never fails.’

They rose for the last hymn, and as they filed out, they shook hands with the Vicar and Cam and moved into the bright sunlight.

Cam followed them. ‘Glad you could both come. Serenity, I want you to meet my family.’

‘She 11 meet everyone, Cam, that’s what she wants.’ Hudson took her arm with such a proprietorial air that if it had happened anywhere else she would have been in her seventh heaven. As it was she used it as a prop, drawing comfort and strength from his presence. As he took her from group to group, she kept looking to the door, knowing that the Blairs would be last out, hoping that Robert Blair would go straight for his car.

Then she saw Cam leading them towards her and her fingers clutched Hudson’s arm too tightly, communicating her fear.

‘Are you okay, Serenity?’ he demanded with concern in his voice.

‘Of course. It was a bit hot in there with the sun streaming through the windows, but it’s lovely out here.’ He nodded, satisfied because others had been complaining about the same thing. ‘Morning Robert, Mrs Blair. Nice day. I’d like you to meet Serenity James who is staying with me at present.’

Mrs Blair took Serenity’s hand in both hers. ‘Cam has told us so much about you, my dear. It’s a pleasure to meet you. He said you’d managed marvellously well cooking for the shearers. The first time is always the worst. I flinch when I think of the mistakes I made. Oh, my dear, I was so sorry to hear about the loss of your ring. But it will turn up. I was saying to Cam, there’s more than gold and diamonds in a betrothal ring. It’s a symbol of the love of a man for his future wife, and God will bring it back to you.’

‘I do hope so,’ Serenity managed, so very conscious of the tall silver-haired man waiting his turn to meet her. Why didn’t he go!

Cam’s mother rattled on happily, blissfully unaware of the tension building up between the two people on either side of her. Serenity thought she was lovely but wished she would be quiet so that the ordeal could be over. She glanced up at Robert Blair and saw the same thought reflected in his eyes. As their gaze locked she knew why Robert Blair had not left, he was not a man who had ever run away from anything in his life. Incredibly, the strain left his face and he smiled at her, and she smiled back. A weight of worry rolled away and she felt lightheaded with relief. In that moment they had communicated and understood each other without one word being spoken. He knew her, and he knew also that she was not there to cause trouble.