Chapter 36
Troy
“How’s it going?” Staring at my phone screen, I saw all three of my siblings sitting around the dining table. I’d called them every week since I got to the States and this was our latest catch up. “Saw that a big fire tore through the district. Everyone OK?”
“He didn’t ask about the stock first.” Bronson held out a hand, and Billy muttered something before slapping a bunch of money into his hand. “Called it. Troy’s a sensitive new age guy now.”
My lips twisted, wanting to smile, but something stopped me. Leaning forward, I frowned slightly.
“How are the stock numbers, anyway?” I asked, trying to keep the tension out of my voice. “Didn’t look like the fire hit our place, but it got close.”
“But it was the second thing he said.” Charlie plucked the bills from Bronson’s grip. “So I win.”
“Our place escaped unscathed.” I let out a long breath when Bronson said that. Watching the CFS map was always nerve-wracking during summer. Doing so from halfway across the world was far worse. “The Argyles can’t say the same…”
OK, now I really was smiling and so was my family. It was a shameful, guilty kind of thing, but those bastards…
“So what happened?”
“Old man Argyle thought the fact he uses half the district’s water allowance on his pastures was enough to ensure he could escape the fire unscathed,” Billy said with a grin. “Won’t volunteer for the CFS, but expected all of us to come to his rescue.”
“We did.” Bronson’s arms crossed his chest. “There was no way we’d let the place go up, but while we’re doing that, he’s moving his damn horses at the same time. They’re obviously panicked. Honestly, he’s bloody lucky he didn’t lose one.”
“Lost a bunch of pasture,” Charlie added. “And fences. Got a cast of thousands working on the repairs right now.”
The need to steer the conversation where I needed it to go rode me hard, but I knew exactly what stopped me.
“So how’s things going at home? Apart from the fires, I mean.”
The way they all looked at each and shared a smile made clear I wasn’t as good at masking as I hoped.
“You’ll be happy to know the top paddock fence got sorted finally,” Billy replied.
“Stock numbers are still solid and looks like the wheat came through the fire unscathed.” His smile widened.
“We’ve been taking an early mark on Fridays and heading to the pub.
” The need to reprimand him rose fast, but thankfully I kept my mouth shut.
“Does wonders for productivity. Everyone gets their work done at double time.”
So why don’t you do that every day? I wanted to ask, but I knew why.
No one wanted to work at maximum capacity every damn day.
Not even me. Being in the States, hanging out with Mackenzie and her mum, it made clear to me something I’d never allowed myself to feel.
A man needed rest time to be at his best, and if this was how Billy got his, I wasn’t going to complain.
“Sounds like a plan,” I said finally.
Billy’s eyebrows shot up as he looked across at Bronson.
“Rescue’s doing well,” Charlie replied. “Could do with a hand, though. When are you bringing Mackenzie back home?”
That was when my nails raked across the tabletop, because it was the question I wanted answered more than anything else in the world.
While flying over, I had all these scenarios in my head.
Obviously one where I came and saved the day, but then I’d assumed we’d head back to Australia once Kimberley was stabilised.
My mother’s ring, it was sitting in the pocket of my suitcase for a reason.
But the United States was Mackenzie’s home.
“I’m not sure,” I said with a sigh. “Mackenzie is still worried about her mum and if we move to Australia, she’s a day away at the very least. There’s no way for her to respond to an emergency.
So, she’s looking for a job at the moment.
” My shoulders sagged. “And has been offered her old one back. From what she says, it’s a good job.
” My finger traced frantic little circles on the tabletop.
“That’s part of the reason I rang. Medical care isn’t free over here and her mother has a massive bill for her surgery.
They don’t talk about it much, but I know it’s really pressing both of them. ”
Forcing myself to stare at the screen, I knew I needed to face this head on.
“Selling the farm.” Swallowing hard, I wish I’d set a bottle of water by my phone because my throat was bone dry.
“I know we talked about doing it in spring, but I need… She’s my girl and I can’t stand her worrying about this shit.
” I met each one of their eyes in turn. “That’s why I called.
Dad used to piss me off because he was bleeding the farm dry chasing after too young women, but…
I’m gonna have to do the same. I need to stay here until Mackenzie is ready to move, and I need to get them clear of that debt.
Don’t get me started on the whole green card process. ”
“About that.” Bronson smiled as he leaned closer. “I talked to a lawyer.”
“What did you do that for?” The words were out of my head before I thought twice and that had the others snorting. “Sorry, but—”
“Because I wanted legal advice about the contract you signed with Dad,” he replied. “It was a very interesting conversation.”
“Especially for Dad,” Charlie said with a slow smile.
“What?”
“Turns out he’s been grossly overpaid.” Billy’s smirk had my teeth grinding together. “He was only entitled to a small percentage of the money he received, and there was no proviso in the contract to allow him to force a sale.”
“Did either of you actually read the contract?” Bronson asked. “Because when I talked to the lawyer, it seems like Mum was trying to protect our interests. The farm can only be sold if all of us agree.”
“Dad has relinquished all claim to the place,” Charlie said. “Had to or he’d be forced to repay most of the money he got. The lawyer drew up an amended contract, and he spluttered and carried on, but he signed it.”
“Damn right he did, miserable old prick,” Billy growled. “It was either that or face court for the bullshit he pulled.”
“So…” I felt suddenly light headed. “We’re done with Dad?”
“I made very clear that none of us want to see or hear from him again.” Bronson was always the quiet one, but apparently that meant there was a scary intensity lurking there, hidden. “That lawyers will get involved if he does. After what he did to Mum…”
Billy nodded.
“Wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire.”
“So…” My head was ringing. “We’re done? If we sell the farm, we can move on with our lives, work out what the hell we want to do.”
Shaking my head, I couldn’t believe the rush of relief washing through me.
“We know what we want to do.” I’d said Bronson was ready to step up and take on more responsibility, but it was now I found out how much.
“This farm has been in the family for generations.” My heart started beating in earnest in this moment.
“It’s where we grew up, where we’ve lived our whole lives. ”
Bronson’s conversation with the lawyer made sense now.
“And the three of us, we want to stay on the land.”
“Right…” I mumbled that, barely able to formulate a response. The inkling that things weren’t going right that started when Mackenzie went for a job interview was growing exponentially. “Of course. Makes sense.”
“But we also think we need to downsize things a bit.” When my eyes jerked up to meet hers, Charlie smiled. “There’s a reason why the top paddock’s fence partially collapsed. We either need to hire more people to look after the land we’ve got…”
“Or we sell those top few paddocks to the Argyles.” Bronson grinned. “At top price, of course.”
“What?”
I just stared blankly at the lot of them.
“For you, dickhead,” Billy replied, taking way too much pleasure in insulting me. “But mostly Mackenzie, because if her mum is anything like her, she’s super nice and doesn’t deserve to have that shit over her head.”
“So, how much medical debt does Macca’s mum have?” Bronson asked. “Because that tells us how much to charge the Argyles for that land.”
I stammered out a ballpark figure and that had Billy whistling, but he rallied fast.
“Seeing Beau and old man Argyle’s face when we put that number to then.” He rubbed his hands with glee. “Can’t freaking wait to have that meeting.”
“More than that.” Charlie stared at me steadily. “You need enough money to keep yourself afloat while you’re over there as you don’t have a work visa. But Troy, we’re a family and Mum always said—"
“A family always sticks together,” I said with a smile, shaking my head as I tried to process all of the news.
A week or so later, I was standing in the kitchen, making everyone a cup of tea, when there was a screech from the living room. Both Mackenzie and I came running, expecting to see Kimberley face down on the floor or something. Instead she held out a piece of paper with a shaking hand.
“It’s paid…”
“What’s paid?” Mackenzie bustled over, peering over her mother’s shoulder before going perfectly pale and that’s when I realised what had happened. Retrieving the tea cups, I carried them over to the coffee table. “Your medical bills… Can I take a look?”
“Read it.” Kimberley’s hand went to her chest and that was alarming. “I can’t.”
“The bill has been paid in full…” Mackenzie looked up just then. Dressed in her corporate wear, she looked so damn sexy, but that dumfounded expression had me thinking of the moment we first met. “Mom’s medical bill—”
“Has been paid,” I said, setting their tea cups down in front of them. “I’ve been sitting on that for a bit over a week.” Pulling up a chair, I faced them down. “Been killing me, not saying anything.”
“You…” My girl looked way too pale, so I hooked my arm around her waist and pulled her onto my lap. “You did this?”
“I knew that the American health system was different but shit.” I shook my head slowly.
“Didn’t realise how different it is. If I had a number like that hanging over me as I was trying to heal?
Let’s just say I wouldn’t be getting a whole lot of rest. I told you.
” My eyes met Mackenzie’s and right now I could see every fleck of brown and green in their depths.
“I’d do whatever it takes to look after you.
” With a nod to Kimberley. “And your mum, because she’s the person most important to you. ”
“I can’t accept this.” That shaky tone, full of pride, I knew it well. My mum sounded like that when she needed help towards the end of her illness, and Kimberley was the same. “Troy, you’re a very nice man and I appreciate how you look after my daughter, but—”
“It’s done.” I was able to shut up rowdy sheds of shearers with one word and I was able to stop Kimberley’s protests in a far calmer tone. “It’s done and I can’t exactly go to the hospital and ask for a refund. Wouldn’t even if I could. I don’t regret what I did, not for a second.”
“But how…?” Mackenzie’s voice was so small right now. “You didn’t… Not the farm. Please tell me you didn’t sell the farm to help my family out.”
“Farm’s still there,” I replied. “A little smaller, because as my siblings pointed out, the place is too big for the four of us. It’s either more help or sell a few paddocks off and honestly, selling was a relief.
My family…” I smiled then. “They didn’t want yours to suffer and so some of the money went to cover your mum’s medical bills. ”
“You’re going back to Australia.” Kimberley didn’t use her mum voice often, but she did right now. “Mackenzie, on the next available flight.”
“What? No.” My girl shook her head. “I have a job—”
“That sucks the soul out of you.” Kimberley pointed a finger at her daughter. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed. You only got into finance because of that little asshole, Alex. It’s not your passion.”
“Most people aren’t passionate about their jobs.” Mackenzie tried to pull away, but I held her right where she was. “No one leaves school and develops a passion for cleaning toilets.”
“But you found yours.” There were no flies on Kimberley. She was telling it as it is. “With those animals, in that rescue, and the darling little kangaroos.” Her focus shifted to me and she smiled. “With Troy. That’s where you’re supposed to be, not living your old life in your childhood bedroom.”
“I’m going to move out,” Mackenzie protested.
“Yes, to get back on that plane and go back to that farm.” Kimberley’s smile was a little watery. “To your home Down Under. I’ll always have a room here for you when you come to visit, but that’s…” She nodded slowly. “That’s where you’re supposed to be.”
For a moment, there was only silence. I replayed in my mind the ways I thought this would go and it wasn’t this, but I couldn’t help but be grateful to Mackenzie’s mum.
She articulated what I was thinking, feeling, but was too stubborn to acknowledge.
Because there was a selfish reason why I had paid out that bill.
It was a noose around all our necks, getting tighter with every day, and right now, I just wanted everyone to breathe.
“What do you think, love?” I asked, studying Mackenzie’s expression.
“What do I think? What do I think?” Women asking the same question in a row was rarely a good thing, so when her arms went around my neck, all I could do was blink. “I think that I’d rather shovel mountains of square shaped poo than do another expense report.”
I held her tight.
“Take me home, Troy, to a place amongst the gum trees.” When she pulled back, her eyes were shining with unshed tears, but it was her wild grin that caught at me. “Something about a sheep or two?”
“Whatever you want,” I said, right before pressing a kiss to her lips. “Whatever the hell you want.”