Second Chance At The Ranch

‘A sheep farmer. His family own a sheep station outside Adelaide. They farm sheep. Merino sheep. Organically too,’ she added, knowing how much of an animal lover her little sister was.

‘Jules, I know models have a dumb reputation, but I think even I can work out what sheep farmers farm.’ Hero’s voice was teasing.

‘I just thought you might appreciate knowing where your favourite sweater might have begun its life.’

‘I’m pretty sure I knew it started off on a sheep, Jules, but thanks.’

Hero smiled under her lashes at her older sister. Despite the temptations having been scouted by a model agency when she was fifteen, Hero had continued her education, achieving good grades and fitting in modelling assignments around her academics until she was in a position to model full-time. Her looks, added to the fact that she was easy to work with, if a little distant, meant she hadn’t stopped working since.

‘Are you ready to be a bridesmaid for your big sister?’

‘Ready and waiting.’

They had decided to marry in Australia as Pete had a large family and Juliet had almost none, only Hero. Her sister had been back in the UK finalising details on the sale of her flat, and was about to return back to Australia, and Pete. The wedding was in a month’s time. Apparently, Pete’s mum had been a godsend when it came to the arrangements, and Juliet was loving spending time with her and Jack, Pete’s father. They in turn had loved her immediately.

‘Are you really sure you’ll be able to make it?’ Juliet asked again.

Juliet was desperate for Hero to be with her on such a special day, but she also knew that her sister’s job took her all over the world. As they said their goodbyes at Heathrow, she couldn’t help checking one more time.

Hero waggled her phone. ‘I have the date here and I’ll book the time off with the agency first thing tomorrow. No problem. If someone wants me that bad during those weeks, they’ll just have to wait. And if they don’t want to wait, then that’s their problem.’

Juliet looked concerned.

Hero laughed. ‘Oh, stop worrying. I love you. You’re more important than any shoot. I wouldn’t miss this for anything! And I can’t wait to meet Pete either. He sounds wonderful.’

‘He is.’

‘Jules?’

‘Yes?’

‘I’m going to miss you.’

Juliet pulled her little sister into her arms. ‘I’m going to miss you too,’ she said, holding Hero close, not wanting to let go.

‘Call me when you get home.’ Hero paused for a moment and looked at her sister. ‘I love you.’

‘Don’t! I’ll cry!’

‘I know. You always do, you big blubberpuss.’ Hero giggled and gave her sister a huge squeeze.

‘I know. I’m a wimp! And I don’t care.’

Hero grinned, her own eyes dry. ‘I’ll be there in a month.’

Hero nodded at the dedicated first-class security area in front of them. ‘You’d better go. Don’t want to keep him waiting.’

Juliet reached up to hug her baby sister again. At five foot eleven, Hero was three inches taller than her elder sibling and today she wore boots with heels that took her to over six feet. Juliet’s feet were snug in trainers. Hero had upgraded her sister, despite Juliet’s protests, but she still had a long flight ahead, and then another hop to Adelaide. Comfort was a priority.

‘I hope you’re not wearing those on the day?’ Hero nodded down at her sister’s footwear. Juliet followed her gaze, then laughed.

‘No. Definitely not! With the groom and best man at six foot three and six foot four, I’m definitely wearing heels!’

‘Good. Then if I wear flats, I won’t tower over you.’

‘You can be quite sweet when you want to, can’t you?’

Hero pulled a face. ‘Don’t tell anyone!’ she whispered, and then winked. ‘Go on. Get on the plane, and I’ll see you in a month.’

Four weeks later, Pete was back at the airport, waiting with his fiancée to meet her sister. Excited to see her, Juliet was incapable of standing still, constantly checking the screens and looking around.

Pete was intrigued. Juliet had told him all about Hero, her jet-set lifestyle, and her personality. From what he knew, it seemed that the sisters were a little like him and Nick, different in their make-up but close and reliant on each other. Even more so as a result of their parents’ relative disinterest in them.

Hero stepped through the doors to Arrivals, a wheeled Louis Vuitton suitcase trailing behind her. Pete saw the difference immediately. He’d seen photos obviously, but it wasn’t quite the same thing. The sisters might be similar in heart, but they didn’t share such similarity in their looks as Nick and Pete did.

Pete watched as his sister-in-law-to-be glided through the crowds to meet them. Hero’s brunette, waist-length hair fell in a shimmering sheet of rich brown as she crossed the space, her walk conveying absolute confidence. Her shoulders were strong and straight, with no hint of the roundness some tall people gain as they attempt to blend into the crowd. Hero certainly didn’t blend. Couldn’t blend. She was stunning. Completely, undeniably stunning.

Whereas Juliet’s beauty was soft and crept over you, Hero’s hit you straight away, right between the eyes. Pete watched the people around her and nudged Juliet as one poor guy, whose eyes were glued to Hero, got a whack from his girlfriend. Juliet pulled a sympathetic face.

‘Oh dear! She can have that effect.’

Pete shrugged. ‘She’s very beautiful,’ he said truthfully, ‘but she’s not you.’ Juliet reached up and kissed him.

‘You just remember that.’

‘I hope that’s Pete.’ Hero appeared in front of them, a wide smile playing on perfectly painted lips. Juliet hugged her and introduced her fiancé.

‘Pleased to meet you, Hero.’ He leant down a placed a kiss on her cheek. It struck Hero that few men she met had to bend to do that. It felt rather nice.

Pete took control of the luggage and led the way back to the car. They loaded themselves into the off-roader and started on the long drive back to the station. Juliet filled Hero in on the wedding arrangements and their plans for after the wedding.

Chapter 2

‘So that’s it really. The hotel has been great about the reception considering it’s such short notice.’

‘That’s because they don’t get many weddings. Can’t believe their luck at all the cash we’re handing over.’ Pete’s eyes were on the road, and a small smile was on his lips. Juliet turned towards him.

‘Maybe they’re just excited. Weddings do that to some people, you know.’

‘Right-oh.’

‘Cynic.’

‘Never.’

Juliet rested a hand on her fiancé’s thigh and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Hero listened to the exchange with interest. She didn’t really date as much as the media liked to make out but the men she did go out with pretty much did their best to always be in agreement with her, or let her do her own thing. That was an unconditional part of the deal. Hero Scott had known the pain of rejection before. A pain that still sliced at her heart even now, when she was in demand from all angles, commanded thousands of pounds for a shoot and could pretty much have whatever she wanted. But the pain was still there. No amount of money, investment, or any of the other trappings could soften it. Whenever she thought about it, it burned as deep as ever.

Of course, not everyone agreed with her views on dating. Rupert, for instance, usually just sat and rolled his eyes, then, with a mischievous twinkle, would tell the man in question to ‘stop bloody fawning’. To their face. Hero was never surprised when she didn’t see them again.

But Juliet and Pete clearly had a different relationship. From the moment they’d met, she’d been able to see that he was just as smitten with her sister as Juliet was with him. Hero was happy to see it, the knowledge allaying the remaining worry she had about her sister’s whirlwind romance.

Vivid terracotta dust kicked up from the unsealed road as the vehicle drove on through the landscape. Hero watched it fill the air and swirl around the car. They’d left the city far behind them some time ago and now drove on through the countryside. Looking past the dust, she saw that this part of the country was much greener than she had expected. She’d travelled to Australia a couple of times before for work, but both of those trips had been centred in Sydney, and she was enjoying getting to see more of the country, thanks to her sister.

Pete would point out something of interest every now and then. Hero smiled and nodded, absorbing the information. Juliet had told her that she loved how laid back he was, and how his calmness seemed to seep in to her, just by being in his company. Hero could see that. Certainly, her sister looked happier and more relaxed than she had seen her in a long time. If this man and this country were the reason for that, she was immensely grateful to both of them.

Turning back from the window, she cast a glance at the front seats again and thought again about the teasing banter between Juliet and Hero’s future brother-in-law. There was such love in their eyes; it had been obvious the minute she saw them together. It struck her that her sister’s marriage would be what Rupert was always saying a relationship should be. Despite the fact his own were most definitely not. But she knew, when the time came, even Rupert would settle down. It was what people did, wasn’t it? And it was already happening. Anya now had her five-year plan pinned to a wall in the kitchen. All the details of the training she wanted to do, and when she would do it, before finally leaving London to return home and open up her own restaurant. Juliet would be starting a new life out here. And once Rupert found the right woman, he too would have his own life. Only she would be left. Alone. A frown creased her face as she balled her fists, pushing the thoughts out of her head.

Still, it was often the differences between the two sisters that made them close.

Hero wasn’t looking for that sort of commitment anyway. Among all the men she’d met in her time as a model, she’d never yet met a man who could hold her attention the way Pete held Juliet’s. And deep down, she knew that there was also a fear that she would never be able to hold a man’s attention in the same way that Juliet clearly did Pete’s.

Hero stole another glance. For all their wealth and status, the men Hero had dated held little interest for her. But she knew that it was a two-way street. She was a pretty trinket to be worn; they didn’t know her. Not really. She wouldn’t let them. She knew that real relationships meant trust, and broken trust was painful. Her past taught her that. So, she kept her feelings locked away behind a public persona that everyone thought they knew.

Juliet, on the other hand, was an open book. She even had what people called an ‘open’ face, although neither of them had ever quite worked out the true definition of that one. And whilst both girls had been blessed with looks, Juliet’s beauty was gentle, approachable, whereas Hero’s was more obvious. Occasionally it had the effect of causing people, men and women, to feel intimidated. Juliet rarely wore make-up whilst Hero never opened the door without it. Cosmetics had been banned at their school and so when Hero began her career, it was a novelty. And now it was habit. Protection. All part of the armour.

Although beautiful, Hero had been a shy child, awkward in company and content to cling to her older sister who was, by nature, at ease in any situation. When Hero’s modelling career began to take off, she felt physically sick before every show at the thought of the huge numbers of people all staring up at her. But once she had been painted and preened, she was behind a mask, a character in a play. Then she could deal with the photographers, the bookers, the editors, the designers – and the world – because they weren’t seeing the real Hero, just a public persona. And she’d always had Juliet to come back to. Until now.

Juliet glanced back to see her sister gazing out of the window. She was so beautiful, but Juliet wished she had left the make-up off today. To her, Hero’s natural beauty was softer and even more stunning. Her sister turned and caught her.

‘What?’

‘What?’

‘You’re staring.’

Juliet smiled. ‘I would have thought you’d be used to that by now.’

Hero shrugged and looked back out of the window. Pete caught the action in the rear-view mirror. He hadn’t yet decided whether he was going to like his new sister-in-law or not. As a true supermodel, she led a completely different lifestyle to them, a lifestyle Pete couldn’t even begin to comprehend. She did indeed have that appearance of serenity that Juliet had mentioned when she’d first told him about her sister’s career, but there was something else, a coolness that was so different to Juliet’s warmth. Pete pondered as to whether it was even an intentional projection. Hero had been a hot property from day one. After years of being told she was fabulous, with only Juliet to occasionally bring her back to earth, perhaps it wasn’t surprising she believed a little of her own press, if that was the reason. Not that it really mattered. With Juliet living out here, and Hero jet-setting all over the world, the chances of them seeing her a lot were low, although Juliet had told him on numerous occasions how close the sisters were, and it was obvious she felt it was her job to protect and worry about her sibling. Pete could understand that. His brother could more than take care of himself, but it didn’t alter the fact that Pete would always look out for him.

Still, he wanted to like her, for Juliet’s sake. He cast a glance at his fiancée. She felt his gaze and turned, the same smile on her lips as the day he’d met her. The day he knew she was the one.

Juliet placed her warm, small hand back on his leg and his large tanned one curled gently around it. As the miles passed, he cast his mind back to that day. He’d entered the house with wedding bells already ringing out clear in his head, but his younger brother hadn’t been convinced.

***

‘I’m telling you, mate. She’s the one,’ Pete said as he washed his hands under the kitchen tap.

Nick opened his mouth to contradict him and remind him, ‘hadn’t he said that about so-and-so’ when it struck him that, actually, Pete had never said that. Not once.

The brothers had both inherited their mother’s good looks and their father’s height. They were well built from working on the station and well educated from attending a top school in the city. The whole package made them very popular with women in the district and, between the two of them, they’d dated a good percentage. Those interested in more of a bad boy persona tended to home in on Nick whilst Pete had a more strong, silent type of reputation going on. Neither was accurate, but if it worked, they weren’t complaining.

Juliet had arrived on a blistering summer’s day with an Outback Discovery tour that sometimes took in the Websters’ Merino sheep station. Jacob, their leading station hand, had the gift of the gab, and was therefore assigned to answer questions on the tour. He was doing his normal good work when Pete returned from mending fences out on the west paddock and caught sight of a blonde trailing at the back of the group. She wore loose cotton trousers with trainers, and her top half was swamped under an over-sized shirt. A ponytail bounced from the back of a peaked cap. Definitely not what Pete would call his usual type but something about her caught his attention.

Throwing the fencing he’d been about to unload back in the ute, Pete walked up behind the group. The blonde had fallen behind a little more now and was staring out at the vista as up in front Jacob waxed lyrical about wool fineness and weight.

‘Hope we’re not boring you.’

The woman jumped at the sound of Pete’s voice. She turned and tilted her head back in order to meet his eyes.

‘Weren’t you ever told that it’s rude to sneak up on people?’ The admonishment came in a well-spoken English accent, accompanied by a wide smile, and teasing laughter in the gentle green eyes.

‘Sorry,’ Pete replied, grinning and not looking sorry at all.

The blonde smiled again and turned back to the view she had been admiring before he had interrupted. Fields stretched away to the horizon. From here, it looked and felt like they were all alone on the planet.

‘I can’t get over the size of it all.’

‘Yeah, all the girls say that.’

The blonde looked up again and met his eyes, laughter showing in her own, ‘Yes,’ she said slowly, ‘but I’m surprised at how big everything is.’ She kept her emphasis on the word ‘big’ and raised one eyebrow. With that she turned and walked off to catch up with the rest of the group, leaving Pete standing on his own, a big grin plastered on his face. And already more than a little in love.

A short time later, Pete watched the group depart, his eyes focused on the mystery blonde. He didn’t even know her name but, no worries, he would. The driver helped the women into the back of the tour company’s four-wheel drive. Another tourist of similar age to the blonde waited to get in. She made a point of declining the driver’s assistance and hopped into her seat. Pete shook his head. He was all for equality but there were people that took it to extremes and just ended up looking plain rude. He watched as the blonde took the proffered hand with a smile of thanks and disappeared into the cool, air-conditioned interior of the tour vehicle.

‘We’re going into town tonight,’ Pete announced as he finished washing his hands at the sink.

Nick shook his head as he chewed a mouthful of beef stew. Pete dished himself out a portion and sat down opposite his younger brother. Nick was still chewing.

‘What do you mean, no?’ Pete asked as he forked up some of the stew.

‘I’m knackered, mate!’ Nick complained. ‘Jacob was meant to be helping with the new shed until those flippin’ tourists showed up. Joe and I ended up doing it on our own.’ He took a swig from his beer and swallowed forcefully before peering suspiciously down at his stew. ‘Do you know how long Mum’s had this in the freezer?’

Pete looked up from his plate as he chewed. He shook his head and kept on chewing. He gave his plate a questionable look. Nick leant back and grabbed another beer from the fridge. He flipped the top off and pushed the bottle towards his brother. Pete swallowed with the help of the cool drink, glancing down at his own plate.

‘Too long.’

Gathering the crockery, Nick scraped their contents into the bin, then placed the china in the dishwasher. He made a mental note to remember to turn it on before their parents returned from their weekend viewing prospective retirement properties in the city.

‘Anyway, that’s why we’re going to the pub,’ Pete announced.

‘What?’

‘The tourists. Or rather, one in particular.’

Nick rolled his eyes. ‘Oh right. The girl you’re going to marry.’

‘Yep.’

Nick let out a sigh as his stomach rumbled and complained. ‘Yeah, all right. Let’s just hope they’ve got something other than beef stew.’ He left the kitchen and headed up the stairs towards the bathroom for a shower. ‘You’re driving.’ He called back.

The Outback tour group was in the pub when the two men entered a while later. Nick watched as his brother’s eyes scanned the crowd for the blonde. Pete saw her. She was sitting at a small table by the window, writing. Her baggy clothes from earlier had been replaced by a long pink sundress with tiny flowers on it, and a pale lemon cardigan. The ponytail had been freed allowing soft blonde curls to bounce on her shoulders.

‘There,’ Pete stated, as he flicked Nick on the arm to get his attention before making his way over to her table.

‘Hello again.’

The blonde looked up. She seemed surprised, but not unhappy, to see him.

‘Hello.’

They looked at each other for a minute, neither quite sure what to say next. Nick looked between them, then made a small roll of his eyes.

‘Hi.’ He stuck out his hand. ‘I’m Nick.’

‘Pleased to meet you, Nick. I’m Juliet.’

Nick sneaked a look at Pete from the corner of his eye. He didn’t appear to be about to speak anytime soon. His brother bailed him out.

‘Pete tells me you were on the tour today. I hope you enjoyed it.’

Juliet slid her eyes back to the elder brother. ‘Yes, I did.’ She paused. ‘Very much so.’

Pete’s grin got wider. Nick smiled. He had never seen him like this. He really did have it bad. Again, there was a pause.

‘I was just writing to my sister and telling her about the trip to your station.’

Pete bobbed his head happily.

Nick rolled his eyes again and couldn’t help smiling. ‘Well, I’m going to get us a couple of beers. Would you like a drink?’

‘A beer would be lovely. Thank you.’

As Nick turned to cross to the bar, he nudged Pete and spoke in a loud whisper.

‘Mate, stop just bloody grinning and say something intelligent or she’s going to think you’re the village idiot.’

It was busy at the bar, but Nick was happy to wait. His brother finally seemed to have got some oxygen back into his brain and was deep in conversation with the lovely Juliet. Nick had to agree there was something about the woman that made you want to know her. She was certainly beautiful, but not in a slap-you-in-the-face, obvious, movie star kind of way. It was gentle and warm but no less appealing for its softness.

Nick took the drinks over to Juliet’s table.

‘Here we go.’ He sat for a few moments before seeing a neighbour he urgently needed to talk to and left them alone.

‘Your brother is very tactful,’ Juliet observed.

‘Yeah, he’s all right.’

Having not only learned her name, as he’d promised himself he would, Pete was also successful in persuading Juliet to change her itinerary and stay in town for a few extra days. He was up to his ears in debt to Nick for all the jobs his brother covered him for on the station whilst he showed his new love around. Juliet had been working in Adelaide for six months after leaving a job she hated in London and had taken some time off to see a little more of the expanse outside the city.

‘I just decided to leave,’ she told Pete when he asked how she had ended up temping in Adelaide. ‘I was in London, working at a job I didn’t like and I’d had enough. It was cold and it was raining so I went onto the internet, thought of somewhere sunny, and booked a flight out here.’

They were sitting on a blanket underneath a clear night sky. Juliet shifted a little and gazed up at the stars now showing themselves. ‘Of course, it gave my sister a complete panic attack. She’s so much more organised than me, and likes to plan everything as much as possible. We’re so different in some ways but very similar in others. Does that make sense?’

‘Sure. Sounds a bit like me and Nick.’ Pete nodded. ‘So, what does your sister do?’

‘She’s a model. It all seems to be going very well, although it’s rather a weird choice for her really, as she’s quite shy. It certainly wasn’t a career she’d ever thought about taking up but she’s doing great! She has this “something”… I don’t have it, I don’t know, a sort of serenity almost. They love that. Oh, that and the fact that she’s achingly beautiful!’ Juliet laughed. There was no jealousy in Juliet’s tone, only pride.

‘Do you see her much?’

‘Yes. Quite a lot. Well, until I came out here that is, but she managed to visit me a couple of months ago after she did a shoot in Bali.’

‘Nice work if you can get it.’

Juliet laughed. ‘Yes! We text and call and email all the time, but I do miss her dreadfully. I worry about her too. She’s nowhere near as tough as she likes people to think she is.’

‘What about your parents? Do they worry as much as you do?’ Pete asked, watching Juliet, and falling further and further in love with every word she spoke.

A shadow flitted across her expression before she answered. ‘They passed away. Quite a while ago now.’