Jenna didn’t respond. She couldn’t. But Maggie looked across at her face in the moonlight and appeared to find what she saw there satisfactory. She gave a decisive little nod and went on regardless.
‘It was hell for him,’ Maggie said bluntly. ‘No one came near him. Not his mother. Not his sisters. Max and I were here, of course, and we made sure they were contacted when his father died, but the only thing they wanted to know was how much they’d inherit. They got enough, but the farm was left to Riley. After all, the farm was all Riley had. Max and I had to apply to be appointed his guardians as there was no one else for him.’
‘Oh, Maggie.’
Maggie’s hand came across and covered hers, sensing that Jenna was too shocked to say anything else. ‘I’ll make this fast,’ she said. ‘Riley kept himself to himself. He’s worked and worked. He’s learned to play the stock market and he’s made this place fantastic. He’s one of the wealthiest farmers in Australia now-one of our few millionaires. But six years ago he met Lisa. He met her at a stock sale in Adelaide. She was the daughter of a stock agent, she was gorgeous, she was funny, he married her. But I reckon one of the reasons he chose her was that she was self-contained. Self-containment…it’s the one thing he’s learned to value above everything. He doesn’t trust loving and why should he? Anyway, Lisa didn’t help one bit. She left with one of the few men Riley counted as his friend, and she bled him dry in the process. And that’s it. Since Lisa left he’s refused to even get attached to a dog.’
There was a moment’s silence as Maggie reached over to fondle the pup’s ears. Then she gave a sniff that was decidedly watery. ‘He’s worked himself into the ground,’ she said. ‘He cares for the farm and nothing else. He’s committed himself to nobody. And then you came.’
‘I…’
‘Tonight he’s looking like he did the night his father died,’ Maggie said. ‘You can’t leave.’
‘Do you think I want to?’
‘No,’ Maggie said softly. She thought about it for a minute and then corrected herself. ‘Oh, I did. I took one look at his face and I thought he’d fallen for someone else who didn’t need him. That was why…that was why I left you alone at dinner. I was so upset. But it was also why I refused to let Max take you to Adelaide tonight. I had to figure things out. I had to see.’
‘So now you see?’
‘Of course I see. I’ve been talking to him.’
‘You’re kidding,’ Jenna said. ‘Riley doesn’t let people speak to him.’
Maggie managed a shaky smile. ‘No, but if provoked he gives you information. And I’ve done some provoking. I told him that I was sorry I objected to Max taking you on to Adelaide tonight. I told him I’ve been listening to gossip over the radio and it seems you’re a spoiled little tart who’s just as scatty as your mother. Then I stood back and watched.’ Her smile grew a trifle rueful. ‘He gave me the reaction I wanted. I think if I was a man I would have been slugged.’
‘So…’ Jenna took a deep breath and tried to focus. ‘So what?’
‘So he’s in love with you. And you’re in love with him.’ Maggie’s smile grew a little more secure. ‘I’m not sure what magic happened over the last four days. But was it? Was it magic?’
‘It was,’ Jenna conceded and Maggie’s smile grew broader.
‘There. If you think four days at Barinya Downs is magic, then you’re perfect for him. Compared to Barinya Downs, this place is a palace.’
‘This place is certainly a palace.’
‘Then you can stay here for ever.’
‘Oh, right. As if he’ll let that happen.’
‘Go to him,’ Maggie urged. ‘I’ve fought hard for an extra night for you. Make it work. He’s over in the hangar giving the plane the once-over for the morning. Go and talk to him.’
‘I can’t.’
‘He’s not worth fighting for?’
‘Maggie, I threw myself at him last night,’ she admitted. ‘I can hardly humiliate myself any more.’
‘I’m not asking you to humiliate yourself. I’m simply asking that you go and talk to him. I don’t know…thank him for the stay or something. Provoke him. Push him. Chances are he’ll disappear before daylight tomorrow and you won’t get a chance to see him then. Just…just try. What have you got to lose?’
Her pride, Jenna thought. But then…did she have one speck of pride left?
‘I could do that,’ she whispered.
‘Well, what are you sitting here for, girl?’ Maggie retorted. She grabbed the pup, who was sitting on Jenna’s feet. ‘Clear the way, pup. The lady has a mission.’ She squeezed Jenna’s hand. ‘Good luck, my dear. Oh, good luck.’
It wasn’t going to work.
Jenna walked into the hangar and Riley turned to see who was approaching and his face shut down just like that.
She didn’t have a hope.
‘I thought you’d be in bed,’ he said shortly and she winced.
‘I came to thank you for your hospitality.’
‘You’re welcome.’ He turned back to his engine and she stared at him in dismay. And in building anger.
‘I’m not,’ she said at last, and he turned again.
‘Pardon?’
‘I’m not the least bit welcome. You can’t wait to be shot of me.’
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘You didn’t have to.’ Then, as his face closed even more she felt herself snap. Damn losing more pride. He needed to be kicked! ‘You’re being a selfish, unmitigated bore. I have no idea why I even thought I could possibly be in love with you.’
There was a moment’s silence. He carefully wiped oil from his hands with a rag, and then put the rag down as if he were afraid it might break.
‘An unmitigated bore?’
‘Yes.’ She stood her ground and flashed fire. ‘And you’ve upset Karli. She doesn’t have a clue why you’re being so mean.’
‘I’m not being mean. I brought you here. I’m arranging for you to be taken to Adelaide.’
‘I thought that,’ she said. ‘I told myself that you’re being good to us and I shouldn’t complain. But then I figured that you’re only giving us things that anyone with money could throw at us. Nicole used to put us up in five-star hotels and provide us with babysitters, too. No one ended up loving Nicole. Not even her daughters.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘That you’re rejecting our love.’ How about that for a bald statement? It was true, though, so why not say it?
‘I don’t want anyone to love me,’ he told her, and her anger increased.
‘Of course you do. You just won’t admit it because you’ve been hurt in the past. Well, you’re looking at an expert at being hurt, and yet here I am throwing my heart stupidly, wantonly at some selfish oaf of a man who won’t even take a day off to fly us to Adelaide.’
‘Stop it, Jenna.’
‘Why should I stop it?’ She was past caring, she thought dully. She’d not meant to say any of this, but he stared at her with eyes that were blank, as if he was trying to shut her out, and she couldn’t bear it. She could see behind that blankness. He thought that if he let himself love her, then she’d hurt him-just as all those people had done in the past.
‘Coward,’ she whispered.
‘I’m not a coward. I’m a realist.’
‘You think what’s between us has to end?’
‘Of course it has to end.’
‘Of course it does,’ she said cordially. ‘’Til death do us part. See, I even know the relevant vow. Death happens to everyone, but I’m banking on fifty years in the interim.’
‘You’re saying you want to marry me?’ he demanded, startled.
