Inheritance (4 page)

Cassie managed to push down the feeling of panic rising inside, but, as she went upstairs, the responsibility weighed heavily on her.

Rosie had come in and the three of them were waiting for her in the big, homely kitchen.

‘Why don’t we all have a drink before dinner and we can sit and talk,’ Cassie suggested. She led the way out to the wide rear verandah, which was the usual spot for an end of day drink.

‘What’ll you have, Cassie?’ asked Tom when they were all seated.

‘Gin and tonic, thanks, Tom.’

Rosie stood up. ‘Same for me. I’ll get them, Dad. Beer for you? And you, too, Mum?’ She went back inside while the others waited in the comfortable cane chairs facing the back garden.

‘So, I know things aren’t too good, Cassie, how did you find it?’ Tom sounded apprehensive.

Considering, she measured her words. ‘Well, no, things aren’t too good, Tom, but then it’s only to be expected with the drought. We’re going to need more cash soon and the executor doesn’t know when probate will be through. I rang to let him know I was coming up and he said it may be soon, but he’s not certain just when. There’re plenty of assets but it’s worrying to be losing so much money. I guess we can only hope for a good wet this year.’

‘Like everyone else, Cassie,’ Tom reminded her.

‘Yes, I know, it’s not just us. If only we had something that wasn’t so dependent on the weather.’

Rosie came out with a tray of drinks and set them down on the table. After handing them around, she seated herself next to Cassie. ‘Cheers,’ she said cheerfully as she lifted her glass. ‘Here’s to you, Cassie, our new boss.’

‘Oh, no,’ said Cassie as they raised their glasses. ‘That’s not how I feel at all. I’m going to have to rely so heavily on you, Tom, I feel as if it should be you who’s the boss.’

‘You’re the one who’ll be making the important decisions,’ he replied heavily.

‘And what about the most important decision?’ asked Rosie. ‘What are you going to do with Yallandoo?’

‘I really, truly don’t know,’ Cassie spoke slowly, ‘but when I do, I’ll tell you all straight away. In the meantime,’ she said in a firmer voice, ‘I think I need to go and talk to the bank manager’.

***

Bob Rawlings greeted Cassie at the door to his office.

‘Come in, Miss Taylor, come in.’ He shook her hand with a firm grip and ushered her to a chair. ‘Sit down, sit down, now what can I do for you?’

A bluff, hearty man, heavily built, with a red face and heavy white eyebrows, he seated himself behind his desk.

‘But first, Cassie, if I may call you Cassie? Well then,’ as she nodded, ‘first of all, let me say how sorry I am about your uncle’s death. He was a fine man and a valued client. It’s a loss to the community and to me personally. We were good friends, you know.’

‘No, I didn’t know. Thank you, Mr Rawlings. And thank you for seeing me at such short notice.’

‘Not at all, not at all. Now, how can I help you?’

He folded his hands in front of him on the desk.

‘Well, I just arrived up here yesterday and it’s the first time I’ve had a chance to look at the books. I was…surprised, I suppose, to find there’s an overdraft in place. I always thought Yallandoo was a very prosperous station.’

‘Yes, it is. Under normal conditions. But we are in a drought, you know. And even Yallandoo has suffered. Not as badly as many, of course, but still suffered. Len arranged the overdraft, let me see, about four months, I think, before the unfortunate accident. To see him through till the rains come.’

‘Three months. Before. And it’s for one year, which is now only three months away. What will happen then?’

‘Well, nothing will happen until probate is granted. The overdraft will remain in place until then. I understand that’s likely to be soon.’

‘And then?’

‘Then, of course, the overdraft will have to be repaid.’

‘But...what if there’s been no rain by then?’ Cassie leant forward a little in her seat as her heart beat faster with apprehension. ‘And even if there has, it will take us a while before we’re back on our feet.’

‘Cassie, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid that’s the way it is.’

‘But if Uncle Len was still alive, wouldn’t you have helped him out for longer?’

He formed his fingers into a steeple and regarded them seriously. ‘Your uncle was an experienced cattleman, and a shrewd business man. Cassie, I’m sorry to be blunt, but you’re not. He would have known how to turn these losses around, once the rains come. I can’t believe the same of you. You’re young, inexperienced and a woman. From the city. Forgive me, but may I ask what your intentions are regarding Yallandoo?’

‘At the moment, just to see it through the drought. After that, I’m not sure. I really want it to be the prosperous station it’s always been. I’m the fifth generation of my family to own it, you know.’

‘Yes, but you haven’t grown up here. If you’ll forgive me, I really think you would be well advised to sell the property.’

Cassie felt desperate but she managed to keep her voice calm. ‘But I’ve spent a lot of time up here. I know a bit about the running of a property. My uncle used to take me around with him; I know every inch of the land. And Tom is a very good manager.’

‘Will he be staying on?’

‘Yes, he and Lorna have been here since they were young. Uncle Len built them their own house. It’s their home, too. Tom has assured me he’ll stay for as long as he’s wanted. And I have considerable business experience. I’ve helped my mother run her business for the last four years. I handled all the financial side of the business. So I’m not totally inexperienced.’

The bank manager was silent for a moment, then he put his hands flat on the desk. ‘What is it you want, Cassie?’

She leant back in her chair as hope surged. ‘I want the overdraft limit raised to give us enough to continue running the property. Once the rains come, we’ll have to restock. And I want the overdraft to stay until we can trade our way out.’ She spoke firmly, knowing she must convince him of her capability.

He pursed his lips and regarded her thoughtfully.

‘I see. All right. For your uncle’s sake, I will take a chance on you. I’ll raise the limit until probate is granted. But if you need the money after probate, we’ll have to arrange security.’

‘What type of security?’

‘On Yallandoo.’

‘You mean a mortgage?’ Her heart, which had quietened, resumed its racing as she savoured the distasteful word.

‘Yes, of course. If we loan you money, it’ll be with Yallandoo as security.’

‘I don’t believe there’s ever been a mortgage on Yallandoo before.’

‘It’s the only way. We cannot loan you money without security. I’m stretching the rules to raise the overdraft limit now.’

‘But…what if the drought continues and we need more money to carry on?’

‘Yallandoo’s a fine property. Its security is good, we can raise another loan if we need to.’

‘And if the drought should continue for years?’ It could happen. ‘Would we reach the stage where there would be no more loan for Yallandoo?’

‘Of course. There’s only so much we can loan against any property. But don’t worry about that yet. Let’s wait and see.’

He rose from his chair. ‘I look forward to doing business with you, Cassie.’ He smiled as he held out his hand.

But as Cassie left his office, fears for the future weighed heavily on her. If the drought continued, would this be the end of Yallandoo?

***

Cassie sat in the car for a few moments when she returned home. The task ahead of her seemed enormous; could she guide Yallandoo out of its difficulties? Or should she sell it now, to
someone more experienced than her? She took a few deep breaths before leaving the car. The house was quiet and still as Cassie walked inside and made her way to the kitchen. Lorna stood at the table, her arms covered in flour and her hands in a large bowl in front of her.

‘Hello, love, how did you get on?’

Cassie sighed as she pulled out a chair and sat at the table. ‘All right, I guess. At least he’s willing to increase the limit on the overdraft, so our immediate worries are taken care of.’

‘Well, that’s good. But you still look worried. Is there more?’

Cassie scowled. ‘Yes, once probate’s granted and title on Yallandoo passes to me, he’s willing to make us a further loan to carry on, but he says he’ll have to take formal security. Which means a mortgage on Yallandoo.’ Hating the thought, she chewed her bottom lip for a few seconds before continuing. ‘Oh, dear. I suppose there’s no other way, but I feel as if I’ve let Uncle Len down. A mortgage on Yallandoo!’

‘Now, look, love,’ Lorna spoke firmly, ‘Len would be upset to hear you say that. For a start, the drought started over two years ago. It was Len who realised he needed extra to tide us over till the rains come and he arranged the overdraft. I’m surprised Bob Rawlings agreed to raise the limit now without security. He can be a hard old bird, you know. Oh, he’s all very pleasant to talk to but when it comes to the crunch, he puts the bank first, all the way.’ Lorna took the dough from the bowl and began to knead it. ‘You must’ve impressed him. So don’t you be worrying if there has to be a mortgage. It’ll only be temporary. Till things come good again. And if you only knew, you’d probably find that more rural properties have mortgages than not. In the drier parts, it’s a way of life.’

‘You’re probably right, but I still wish there was another way. If only we could find some other way to bring in extra cash. Maybe we could diversify in some way.’ Cassie spoke thoughtfully.

‘Diversify?’ Lorna sounded astounded. ‘But how could we? Cattle is what Yallandoo’s all about. And one of the best cattle properties round here, too. We couldn’t change to anything else.’

‘Oh, I didn’t mean change from cattle. I suppose I meant…’ she paused and her brow wrinkled, ‘I suppose I meant value add in some way, but I can’t quite see how. It’s just that we’re so dependent on the rain. If only there was something else to bring in some money as well, to tide us over a bit. Anyway,’ she managed a weak smile, ‘you’ve made me feel a bit better about things.’

‘That’s the way, love. Now I don’t suppose you’ve had any lunch and you only picked at your breakfast. How about something to eat and a cuppa?’

Cassie jumped up as Lorna started to wipe her hands.

‘Don’t you bother, I’ll just make myself a sandwich. I am a bit peckish, now you mention it. You go on with what you’re doing.’

As she sat eating her sandwich, she thought of the dozens of other times she had done just this, chatting to Aunt Izzie as she ate. Such happy memories she had. But that was in the past, now she must look to the future. It was up to her to make sure Yallandoo survived this drought and all the others that would come in future years. If she retained Yallandoo, she must show herself to be a true Taylor, capable of shouldering these problems.

But how? Well, no use sitting around moping, she needed some exercise to shake her out of her depression.

‘Do you know where Rosie is?’ she asked, jumping up as she finished eating.

‘Yes. She’s gone with Tom and Daniel checking fences.’

‘Then I think I’ll take Tango out for a ride. We can both use the exercise.’

‘Good idea, love.’

‘I’ll go and change.’

Cassie put her plate in the dishwasher and hurried to her room. After pulling on her jeans and boots, she slipped on a blue tee-shirt, and then hurried down the hall, taking her old Akubra hat from its peg on the way. ‘See you later, Lorna,’ she called as she went through the back door.

She ran down the steps and across to the stables. But as she saddled up Tango, her mind was on Yallandoo and the financial situation. What could she do to help it?

Cassie walked Tango outside the stable then paused and looked around. Now, which way to go? Down by the river, she decided, it would be green down there. As she turned her horse around, she saw a rider coming towards her. He waved as he approached.

Oh, no, not that arrogant Mark Pierce! Cassie felt tempted to ride away, ignoring him, but he was too close to pretend she hadn’t noticed him. There was no way she wanted to see him again, but perhaps he was coming to see Tom; they seemed on friendly terms.

Cassie sat stiff and straight, tight-lipped. Tango stamped her foot, impatient to be gone.

Mark reined in beside her, all smiles. ‘Hello, Cassie. I’m pleased to see you out for a ride, great day for it.’ His cheerful voice annoyed her.

‘I guess you’ve come to see Tom.’ Her cool response offered no encouragement. ‘He’s out somewhere doing some fencing.’

Mark shook his head. ‘No, I didn’t come to see Tom. I came to see you. Mind if I ride along with you?’ He swung his horse around next to her, taking her acceptance for granted.

‘I’d rather you didn’t. I’m looking forward to a pleasant ride.’

Mark’s eyebrows rose. ‘We’d have a very pleasant ride together.’

‘I think not, Mr Pierce.’ Her voice dripped ice and she emphasised the Mr Pierce.

‘Please, call me Mark. And you’re wrong. We’ll ride around, looking at Yallandoo and having a talk. We can get to know each other and have a great morning.’

Cassie drew a sharp breath. ‘There is really nothing I want to talk to you about. And as for getting to know you, well’ her voice rose, ‘I found out yesterday that you are rude and arrogant and…’

Mark leant back in his saddle. ‘Whoa, Cassie, whoa.’ He shook his head. ‘Is that any way to talk to a neighbour?’ Dropping his flippant manner, he continued in an apologetic tone. ‘I have got off to a bad start, haven’t I? I’m sorry. I’ve upset you. I do apologise. My brother’s always telling me I’m an overbearing pig. I’m afraid he’s probably right. Will you please accept my apology? Perhaps we could start again. I do want us to be friends.’ He smiled as he pleaded, his voice sincere. ‘Please.’

Cassie hesitated, her anger weakening somewhat. ‘I don’t want to be bad friends with a neighbour…’ her voice trailed away.

‘I promise I’ll try not to be rude or arrogant again. Cross my heart.’ With a solemn face and wide eyes, he inscribed a cross over his heart.

But Cassie could see a mischievous glint deep in his dark eyes.