Heart of the Outback (58 page)

“It’s a marvellous idea.” She was silent for a moment or two, digesting his plan.

Steve’s disclosure, his desire to be an active part of what her life was going to be like helped lift a weight off her shoulders. She turned away from him and blinked back a tear — she’d shed so many since CJ’s death and her sense of loss went deep, to her very soul. So much had happened in her life since she’d met him. He’d been the catalyst that had turned her life upside down and made her change direction. He had introduced her to a very different world, to her past, her heritage and to her present and a future with Steve.

She wished she had known Miles and Richard. The sadness of having half-brothers she’d never meet hurt, immeasurably. And there was CJ himself. Learning to love and respect him, watching him deteriorate and then, finally, to lose him before they both had the chance to know each other really well had created an emptiness inside her that would take a lifetime to get over.

Still reflecting, her blue-green eyes looked past the homestead to the land,
her land
, which stretched
as far as she could see. A tentative smile lifted the corners of her mouth. She’d lost a good deal, but had gained so much. At a cost. In life there were always costs, she realised. CJ had left her some legacy, she acknowledged. A link to the land and to the people in her employ, and she knew there would be times when the tasks would be onerous. Her smile widened a little, her confidence growing. With the combination of CJ’s blood — minus his ruthless streak which she hadn’t inherited — and her mother, Mary’s, she would prevail.

Her thoughts snapped back to the present, to the man she loved with all her heart and soul. “What do you think about us spending several months a year at Kirribilli and the rest at Murrundi?”

He nodded in agreement. “That’ll work — the best of both worlds. Eventually my security business will take me all over the country. Guess I’m going to be busier than I thought what with that and learning how to fly. In fact,” he gave her a sly glance, “I had my first flying lesson today. It was great!”

“Flying! Whatever for?”

“Well, you’ve lost your pilot.” He chuckled as he admitted it, still unrepentant over Les’ demise. “You told me once before that it was efficient time management to fly from point A to B to do business. There’s no reason why I can’t do it. Of course, it’ll be a while before I graduate to a Learjet, but I —”

She stopped him with a long, deep, passionate kiss. When they finally broke apart she glanced at CJ’s polished marble headstone. Her father would be pleased. Everything was going to be fine. One day as she’d sat by his bed, CJ had said that she and Steve
would make a wonderful team. She had always known they would.

Together they could make CJ’s vision and their own hopes, ambitions and dreams come true … their way.

Thanks to my dear friend and literary agent, Selwa Anthony, for her continuing encouragement. To my editors, Deonie Fiford, Rod Morrison and Laura Harris, for their much appreciated editorial expertise. To Lucy Tesoriero, Mabel and Bernard Pasfield and to Karen Davis, Senior Constable in the NSW Police Service. The S.A. Department of Mines and Energy, and with gratitude to Dr Kenneth Oey for the sharing of his medical knowledge.

Born and bred in Sydney, Lynne Wilding had worked at a variety of office jobs and as a cabaret singer under the name of ‘Linda Gaye’ in the sixties.

She began writing seriously in 1981 and her first novel, a romance entitled
The Sheikh
, was published internationally in 1991. She had continued to write bestsellers, with
Heart of the Outback, Whispers Through the Pines, Turn Left at Bindi Creek
and
This Time Forever
being outstanding successes.

Lynne was the inaugural president of Romance Writers of Australia Inc. in 1991, an association that grew considerably under her commitment and expertise.

When not working, Lynne loved to read, garden and travel. Married to John, she had two adult children, Karen and Brett, and granddaughters Liah and Tara.

Lynne Wilding published eight previous novels with HarperCollins: King of Cane Valley, Heart of the Outback, Whispers Through the Pines, Turn Left at Bindi Creek, This Time Forever, 52 Waratah Avenue, Outback Sunset and Sundown Crossing.

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This Time Forever
Heart of the Outback
Whispers Through the Pines
Turn Left at Bindi Creek
52 Waratah Avenue