off not hide in the wilds.”
“The wilds?” Carrie’s arched brows shot up. “Tell me more.” She fought down a very sharp ache inside.
“I’m sorry I started this,” James paused as a tap came on his door. A young female office worker entered wheeling a trolley set with what looked like a mini-banquet. James Halliday had a sweet tooth but showed not an extra ounce for it.
“Over there, thanks, Ann.” He gave the girl his charming smile. “Looks good.”
“All lovely and fresh, Mr. Halliday,” Ann smiled, turning her pretty face to Carrie who returned her pleasant greeting.
“How you don’t get fat!” Carrie wondered affectionately, after Ann had departed. “Just as well you have your sailing.” She got up from her chair to pour.
“I’m going out on the bay this weekend. Want to come?”
“Yes, please!” Carrie’s golden-brown eyes brightened. She loved boats. Loved the water. She had sailed with her uncle since she was a child right up to the Whitsundays in the glorious Great Barrier Reef.
When they were both seated, coffee in hand, three delicious little pastries to James’ left, Carrie picked up where he had left off. “I take it the governess job is on an Outback property.”
“Property doesn’t say it, love.” James stirred his coffee with vigour. “More like a private kingdom. The family are big operators. They control over four million hectares spread across ten stations around the state. My client is one of the nation’s largest private land barons. Queensland remains home to the country’s biggest cattle kings, as you know.”
“So we’re talking the Channel Country in the far southwest,” Carrie concluded. “Couldn’t get farther away.” Well over a thousand miles.
“No.” James shook his thickly thatched head. “The chain does extend to the Cattle Country but the family base is in North Queensland. It’s the linchpin in the whole operation. Not their biggest holding but perhaps the best. A marine flood plain that provides pretty well constant lush green feed. Cattle from all over their holdings can be fattened there. It’s a Brahmin stud.”
“Called?” Carrie savoured her coffee. As usual it was very good.
“Maramba Downs. Maramba.”
“I’m sure I’ve heard of it.”
“Very likely,” James answered complacently selecting a mouth-watering patty. “Royce is often in the news.”
“Royce who? Come on, you’re being very cagey.”
“Carrie, love, this job wouldn’t suit you,” James said, wondering why he had even mentioned it.
“The fact is I’m becoming more interested by the minute.”
“It’s not going to happen. I understand the little girl is…difficult. Other governesses haven’t lasted long.”
“What does the little terror do?” Carrie asked, having a special soft spot for “little terrors.” She had been one herself.
James laughed. “I know what you’re thinking. Didn’t Glenda complain a lot about you? Royce sees it differently of course. The governesses are at fault.”
“Aaaaah! Does the dragon have a surname?”
“Royce McQuillan. Splendid fellow. One of the finest young men I’ve ever met. Hasn’t had an easy life, either. He lost his father and mother a few years back. They were killed in a plane crash holidaying overseas. Then his marriage broke up.”
“Oh, dear!” Carrie slumped, knowing what heartache meant. “The mother didn’t take the child? That’s unusual.”
“Didn’t want her, it appears.” James’ kind eyes grew soulful. “I don’t know the full story in that area, Royce doesn’t explain much. You’d have to know of her, though she’d be some years older than you. Thirty, maybe thirty-one. Very glamorous woman. Almost a beauty but too brittle. Sharon Rowlands, that was. Hugh Rowlands heads the Standford Pastoral Company. Ruth Rowlands and her daughter spend most of their time following the social scene. You see them in all the magazines.”
“Except I’ve been too busy to read them. The little girl must have been devastated when her parents split up. How old is she?”
“A very precocious six going on seven,” James said.
“So they were married young?” Carrie observed, making calculations.
“According to Liz the marriage was arranged while they were both in the cradle.”
“That’s how it works in some families. It didn’t take them long to grow apart.”
“No.” James truly, genuinely, felt very sorry for his client. “Royce has very big responsibilities, big commitments. The talk is Sharon got bored.”
“Bored?” Carrie was stunned. What sort of life did this Sharon want? “So you’ve met her?”
“A few times,” James said.
“What did you think of her as a person?”
“Too shallow for Royce. Liz thought so, too. She’s an excellent judge of character.”
“Yes, she is.” Carrie had turned very serious. “The mother must have a heart of stone if she could bear to leave her child.”
James stared into his coffee cup. “I hate to say it but the word is the little one might interfere with her pleasure. I expect she’ll remarry though Liz thinks she’ll never get over Royce, let alone find another man like him.”
“Maybe if she still cares about him they could get back together,” Carrie said reasonably. “Make a go of it for their child. They can’t have any of the financial worries that put a strain on most couples.”
“Money doesn’t ensure happiness, my darling,” James said heavily, thinking of any number of his wealthy clients who had finished up in the divorce courts. “I thank God for my marriage every day of my life.”
Carrie gave him the old warm smile. “You’re beautiful people, Jamie. You and Liz. Beautiful, tolerant, generous, caring people.” Determinedly she pushed all thought of her stepmother’s mean-spiritedness from her mind. “I love you. Always will.”
They sat quietly for a few minutes, the atmosphere full of an easy companionship. “You know I’m like your father in this respect,” James confided after a while. “I couldn’t bear the thought of your going away. I know you had to for your career. I was terror stricken when I got that phone call….” He broke off, the news of Carrie’s accident embedded in his consciousness.
“I know, James. It could have been much worse.” Carrie forced a smile.
“Much, much worse, my darling. Losing my sister was a terrible blow. I couldn’t face anything horrible happening to you.” James spoke huskily. “There’s something else in store for you, kitten.” He used an old pet name. “Something wonderful. It may not
