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CHAPTER ONE
JULIE BRADSHAW SANG loudly, revelling in the bright sun sparkling through the gum leaves as she drove the ATV down the long, dirt driveway. It was her job to pick up the mail today, a task she always relished, as it gave her a chance to get out of the office and into the heat of the northern outback. The large, intricate, wrought-iron gates appeared over the small rise and Julie smiled. Everyone at Stormcloud called them the Taj Mahal of gates, they were so ostentatious. Her stepmother, Daniella, had the monstrosity commissioned because she thought they’d impress the guests when they arrived at the entrance.
Julie slowed the all-terrain-vehicle and expertly maneuvered it so she could reach into the mailbox without having to leave her seat. A cloud of fine, red dust surrounded her as she stopped. They had roughly twenty ATVs on the property; a sort of four-wheel-drive buggy, with a canvas roof to keep out the sun and the rain, but open on all sides for a three-sixty-degree view. The ATVs were so easy to operate, even the guests got to drive them.
The mailbox was nearly as impressive as the gates. Steve had crafted a miniature version of Stormcloud lodge and erected it on a sturdy metal pole on the edge of the main road. Julie lifted the flap gingerly and peered inside, checking each corner thoroughly before reaching in to retrieve the bundle of mail. The mailbox might be miniature, but that didn’t mean the spiders were miniature. Even though she’d been brought up a country girl, she never could get over her fear of spiders. Especially the big, hairy huntsmen that had a knack for jumping.
The mail bundle was a big one today. Julie toyed with the idea of quickly flicking through the pile but rejected it; she didn’t want to ruin her good mood. With the stack safely sitting on the passenger seat, she took off back down the long driveway, singing her favorite song.
“Baby, you’re a firework.
Come on, let your colors burst.
Make ’em’ go, ah, ah, ah!”
She shouted the last line at the top of her lungs. As she picked up speed, the wind whistled past her ears, and she nearly lost her Akubra. Shoving the hat more firmly on her head, she accelerated around a corner, enjoying the last few moments of freedom before she had to go back into the office and help Daniella sort out a missing payment for the truckload of cattle feed they’d ordered last week. Although, it was hot today, and perhaps she should think herself lucky she got to spend most of her day in the air-conditioning. She’d get enough time baking in the Queensland sun when she went out on muster next week. Skylar had assigned Julie the job of camp cook, and the excitement was already curling enticingly in her stomach. It was an enormous responsibility for someone on their first real cattle muster, but Julie loved a challenge and knew she’d be up for the task.
Parking the ATV near the front door to the lodge—she’d run it back up to the shed, where all the rest of the vehicles were parked later; Daniella hated it when she left the ATV in full sight of any arriving guests, she said it ruined the aesthetics of the lodge—she leapt out of her seat and snagged the stack of mail as she went. Most of it would be invoices or bills for Daniella, but there might be some personal mail for staff members. Removing her sunglasses, she headed toward the front steps, where a group of guests was slowly ascending, chatting amongst themselves.
“Hello. You look happy today, dear,” a gray-haired woman called to Julie as she joined the rear of the group. Barb was holding hands with her husband, John, as they mounted the steps. The couple were in their sixties, enjoying early retirement, and had come with two of their friends to celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary to do something spectacular, in Barb’s words. Julie liked Barb and her open enthusiasm for everything and everyone around her.
“I’m always happy,” Julie quipped. “Why wouldn’t I be? I have the perfect job and I live in the perfect location.”
“Yes, you do,” John agreed, stopping at the landing, where the rest of the group waited. “If only I’d found this country when I was younger. Perhaps we might’ve moved out here, hey, love?”
“Don’t be silly, John.” Barb slapped her husband playfully on the arm. “You and me are city folk, through and through. This country would kill us. But I’m really glad to experience it this way, in the lap of luxury.” She waved her hand in a semi-circle, encompassing the green slope leading down to the captivating view of the billabong glinting in the sunshine.
Julie quickly perused the group standing in the doorway. Chase and Maya stood at the back, Chase towering over his diminutive wife. Newlyweds, they never seemed to leave each other’s side. Next to them stood Joseph Gambino and his father, Dominic, who were here on a father-son bonding vacation, but it seemed they spent most of their time bickering between themselves. And when they weren’t bickering, they were strutting around like some kind of mafia duo as if they owned the place, with their slicked-back, black hair, wearing too-tight pants and stretchy T-shirts that might look good on a muscle-bound weightlifter, but only served to make the father-son duo’s sagging stomachs look all the more pronounced.
“Hey, how ya doin’, pretty lady?” Joseph called to her with a seductive wink, and Julie held in a sigh.
“Great, thanks. How about you? What have you all been up to this morning?” she asked, diverting attention back to the others.
Chase spoke from the back of the small crowd. “We’ve been taking it easy this morning. Went exploring down by your beautiful billabong.” He pushed his glasses back up his nose and stared at her. She smiled to herself. Chase was the epitome of a nerd. Clean shaven, and conservatively dressed in slacks and shirts buttoned up to the neck, he had to be boiling in this Queensland heat. His stunning young wife was also modest in her dress, wearing a plain, black skirt and blue, high-necked, silk blouse. Julie was unsure of the age gap between them, but it must be fifteen years at least, as he looked to be in his early forties, and she couldn’t be more than twenty-five. But they were sweet together, and they obviously adored one another. They’d met through their church, and she’d heard Chase mention more than once how their faith had brought them together.
“We’re looking forward to the trail ride this afternoon, though,” Chase continued. “I hope you’ve got a docile horse for Maya, she’s not very confident around large animals.”
“I’ve got just the horse for you.” Julie turned to smile at Maya. “George Brown is part Clydesdale, and he is so sweet-tempered, you’ll fall in love with him,” Julie said. “I’ll take good care of you, don’t worry. But you will need to wear jeans, or long pants of some kind,” she warned, glancing at Maya’s skirt.
“Oh, yes, I will,” Maya gushed. “I can’t wait. My first time on a horse. I’m so excited.”
Julie made a mental note to let her father know they had a rank beginner in their midst. Which wasn’t a problem, they catered for all levels of riding skills. It meant the ride would be slower than normal, that was all. She’d lead Maya herself, Julie decided.
“You’re going to love the view from the top of the escarpment. It makes the ride worthwhile,” Julie said, edging past the gathering; she had lots to get done before she was due to help with the trail ride this afternoon. “Anyway, enjoy the rest of your morning. Lunch will be ready in around an hour.” Julie waved a hand as she pushed open the front door and let the cool air flow over her, leaving the guests out on the veranda discussing who else was going on the afternoon ride.
She flicked through the pile of letters as she strode through the main great room and into the hallway behind. Her fingers stilled and her heart gave an extra beat as she stopped on one addressed to her. She recognized the loopy handwriting.
Her happy mood fled, replaced by a much darker emotion. Fear.
Julie dropped the rest of the mail on the corner of Daniella’s desk. Her stepmother was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps she’d gone out to the stables to have a word with Steve. An urge to throw the letter in the bin overtook her. But no, she should open it; there was no point in behaving like an ostrich and burying her head in the sand. She needed to know what this asshole was saying. Perhaps, after she’d read it, then she could throw it in the bin, like she’d done with the others.
Exiting Daniella’s office, she made her way toward the family wing. The family lounge room would be empty at this time of the day, and she needed somewhere quiet to open the letter.
Just as she hoped, the lounge was vacant when she poked her head around the door. She dropped her Akubra and sunglasses on the solid, wooden, coffee table and stared at the envelope in her hand. Better to do it quick, like ripping off a Band-Aid.
Oh, no.Julie covered her mouth with her hand as she read the letter. It was more of the same, but much worse this time.
She sat heavily on the leather lounge; her legs no longer able to hold her weight. Her fingers shook so much, the piece of paper tumbled from her hand and landed on the rug at her feet. The letter landed face-up, and there was no escape from the words scrawled there in that untidy handwriting.
