Chapter 1
Georgiana Stokes drove towards Retribution Ridge, driven by the need for comfort and home. She raised her hand to her mouth, stopping just short of biting her nail, and shook her head, tucking her hand under her thigh. There was nothing to be nervous about. The interview with Parks and Wildlife Services had gone well, which meant she might have a big decision to make.
Shelikedher job as a crew member on the whale shark tour boats in Retribution Bay, and she loved spending her days swimming alongside the biggest fish in the ocean. But it did little to challenge her, and conservation was more her passion.
The only problem was, two jobs were going with Parks and Wildlife Services; one land based, dealing with Cape Range National Park, and one ocean-based, caring for Ningaloo Reef and the outlying islands. Her contact at PAWS had said one of the other interviewees had all the skills needed for the ocean-based job. Georgie sighed. Either role would be a good step towards putting her marine biology degree to work.
Jimmy would be pissed off if she left him in the lurch with still a few months left of the tourist season. The boat was almost fully booked and she couldn’t leave him one crew member down.
Georgie would have to find someone to replace her — if she got the job.
Her breathing deepened and slowed with each kilometre on the one-hour drive home. Red dirt flashed by her window and she kept her eyes peeled for kangaroos and wild goats blending in with the dull green bushes on the side of the road. The sun was low, making long shadows across the road. Her stomach rumbled.
Maybe she should have called Amy to tell her she was coming home.
Her shoulders slumped. Could she still call the Ridge home?
The homestead now belonged to her oldest brother, Brandon since her parents had died two months ago, and he’d married Amy last week. It wouldn’t be long before they built their own family.
Georgie’s mum had always welcomed her home, even if she turned up out of the blue. There was always shortbread and a cup of tea, so they could have a chat, and always enough food for one more at the table.
Georgie blinked rapidly to clear her vision.
She turned onto the road which led to the Ridge and slowed when she reached Hangman’s Bend. Only a few broken branches were left to show her parents had died there when they’d been forced off the road and the car had rolled. Her stomach clenched and her throat closed over, forcing her to pull over to the side to breathe.
They didn’t deserve to die. Not so young, not at all. Her parents were the best of the best, welcoming everyone, always with a kind word and a huge hug. She’d been so excited they were finally taking a day off to come out on the tour boat with her, to see what she did for a living, to share her excitement about swimming with the whale sharks. She’d told everyone who would listen, not realising she had to be careful who heard her.
Georgie leaned her head against the steering wheel as the tears ran down her face. She’d been so happy, so unaware of what was to come, with no idea a Singapore consortium by the name of Stonefish Enterprises wanted something from the Ridge land and would go to great lengths to get it.
If only she’d stayed silent, Stonefish wouldn’t have known her parents would be heading out early to catch the tour boat, they wouldn’t have told someone to cut the brake line in the four-wheel drive, wouldn’t have had anyone in place to force them off the road.
She tried not to blame herself, but the niggling thought wouldn’t go away, spitting its hissing tongue whenever she was down. It had been the same with her brother, Charlie’s death as well. Maybe she was cursed.
Georgie sucked in a breath as a car roared past her and she sat up, brushing the tears from her face. Enough. If she turned up to the Ridge with red eyes and blotchy skin, everyone would want to know what was wrong. Her brothers were annoyingly observant like that and so overprotective.
Taking another deep breath to calm herself, she put the car into gear and continued driving.
The same couldn’t be said of Matt. He still had no clue she was in love with him and had been for years. He was as dense as a block of wood.
She huffed out a breath. That wasn’t fair. Matt was highly observant when it came to the land and usually to people as well. He must know about her feelings but pretended he didn’t because he didn’t feel the same way.
And that was a kick in the teeth.
Last time she’d been out to the Ridge, she’d slept in the shearers’ quarters, right next to Matt’s room, because Ed and Tess were in the spare bedroom. She’d fantasised about sneaking into his room in the middle of the night to tell him how she felt, but smart Georgie knew how stupid an idea it was.
She scowled. It really was time she got over him. He would never view her as more than his best friend’s little sister and it was time for her to woman up and move on.
She drove through the gates of the Ridge, the angry-looking sheep on the sign reminding her of Charlie. Guilt stabbed her again and she slowed to breathe through it.
Swallowing hard, she continued on to the homestead. She had to stop this pity party for one before she saw anyone. Charlie had probably met up with their parents in heaven and was entertaining them as he always did.
She smiled at the thought and some of her guilt dissolved.
The newly cleared campground was full of caravans and tents, and kids crowded near Maggie, the kangaroo, watching her as she lazed by the camp fire.
Georgie’s smile grew as she pulled up next to the house. Only Reg and Wesley were in the horse corral. As she walked to the verandah, she scanned the surroundings for her niece, Lara, Lara’s soon to be step-mother, Faith, and whoever was riding with them.
No one, but maybe they’d just left. If Georgie was quick, she could radio to find out where they were and join them. A ride always made her feel better.
