Deadly Intent

Heather nibbled on her lower lip. “I escorted a group of children from our area to Halls Creek as a reward for doing so well at school. But my son Daniel had a bad asthma attack this morning and had to be rushed here.”

“I hope your son will be all right, too,” Judy said, ashamed of being tempted to jump to yet another conclusion. She’d already been wrong about Ryan on several counts. No need to add any more to the list.

Heather smiled wanly. “The doctor says he’s over the worst for the moment. They’re keeping him in the hospital for another day as a precaution.”

“Better to be safe than sorry,” Judy murmured. “Who’s minding the children while you’re here?”

“Luckily I’m mainly the escort. Our host is one of the former teachers from the local school, Tracey Blair. She has a house in town with plenty of spare room, so she invited the children to stay for a few days. She’s well-known to their parents, and the kids jumped at the chance to stay with her. I was happy to accompany them, and enjoy a change of scene for Daniel and myself.”

Judy’s smile broadened. “Tracey’s an old friend. You should ask her to call my foster brother, Blake. He runs a crocodile park near Halls Creek and would love to show the children around while they’re with her.”

“I’ll be sure to pass on the suggestion. The kids are used to seeing crocodiles in the waterways at home, so it would be good for them to learn more about them from an expert.”

Judy was scribbling Blake’s telephone number on a piece of paper for Heather when Ryan came back. A moment later his smile registered. “Des is fine. The heart attack was a false alarm, according to his doctor,” he assured her.

She felt her knees turn to jelly. “What about the pain and shortness of breath?”

His arm came under her elbow as if he sensed her need for support. “Brought on by stress, they tell me. The tests show it wasn’t a heart attack at all, so he won’t need to be airlifted out.”

“Thank God.” Cade’s heartfelt statement echoed her feelings. “When can he come home?”

“Not tonight. He’s sleeping. After this, they’re going to advise him to stay in town to be closer to medical help.”

Judy looked at the phone number she’d just written down. “Dad could move into Blake’s house at the crocodile park. Even if he’s called away to take care of a problem crocodile, there’s always someone at the park to keep an eye on things.”

“And Blake’s house is a lot closer to town than Diamond Downs,” Ryan agreed, adding, “Although I don’t fancy having to convince Des of the necessity.”

“Blake will pen him up with the crocs if that’s what it takes,” she said grimly. “And we’ll back him up.”

Heather smiled. “Must be nice having a large family to share responsibilities at such a time.”

Judy handed her the phone number and clasped her fingers around Heather’s in silent support. “Don’t you have family?”

“I come from Tasmania originally, so all my family is there. Not that there were many of us to begin with. Jeff doesn’t have anyone other than Daniel and me.”

Judy knew her tone reflected her confusion. “Jeff?”

“My husband. He hired Ryan to help us resolve a fraud case a couple of years ago. One of our workers claimed to have been injured at work and was suing us for a fortune, when he’d actually been drunk at the time of the injury, and was nowhere near as badly hurt as he tried to claim. The case was decided in our favor, thanks to Ryan’s evidence. We’re in his debt.”

So much for conclusions, Judy thought. Ryan was right, she would have to stop jumping to them where he was concerned.

Cade gave Ryan a curious look. “Sounds as if you get up to a lot more than jackerooing.”

He made a gesture of demurral. “I was only helping out a friend.”

Cade looked unconvinced, but accepted the explanation at face value. “Suit yourself.” He stood up. “Since there’s no point in me hanging around here any longer, I’ll head to Diamond Downs and come back to see Des in the morning. Are you okay for a ride, Jude?”

She wavered. How easy it would be to return to the homestead in Cade’s uncomplicated company. But she had to deal with what was between her and Ryan, and avoiding him wouldn’t help. “Thanks, but I want to look in on Dad for a moment then I’ll come home with Ryan. He brought me in his car.”

Cade feigned amazement. “And you got here in one piece?”

Ryan punched him on the arm. “Show a little more respect, mate.”

Cade grinned. “I’m showing as little as I can.”

Heather gave Judy a slightly bemused glance. “Do your brothers always carry on like this?”

“Ryan isn’t my brother. When we were kids he spent some time with our family, probably where he picked up so many bad habits,” she heard herself state. Why was she denying their relationship to others, while trying to act like a sister to him herself?

She ignored Cade’s startled look but was well aware of Ryan’s satisfied expression. All she’d done was state a fact, one he’d reminded her forcibly about earlier in the evening. It didn’t mean she was interested in any other kind of relationship between them.

“Will you be all right?” she asked Heather.

The other woman pushed her hair back from her face. “I’ll be fine.”

“You have my cell phone number if you need anything,” Ryan reminded her.

“And an open invitation to Diamond Downs anytime,” Judy added. Strange how easy it was to be hospitable now she knew there was nothing between Heather and Ryan. She still had trouble understanding how Heather could give up a glamorous career in television—or any other career—to be an outback wife, but the liking was strong and, Judy suspected, mutual.

Heather gave her a tired smile. “I appreciate the offer. Don’t be surprised if we accept your hospitality while we’re here. I presume Tracey’s whole group is included?”

Judy inclined her head. “Of course. The more, the merrier.”

She and Cade walked out together leaving Judy alone with Ryan. For a normally busy facility, the hospital had gone strangely quiet. “I’m glad Des is okay,” he said into the lull.

“You told me he would be.”

“And I’ve never lied to you. Maybe not told you everything, but never deliberately lied.”

“I know.”

Feeling awkward now she had acknowledged the basic truth that they weren’t brother and sister and never had been, she found herself at a loss to deal with what they were. She took refuge in practicalities. “I’ll ask if it’s okay for me to see Dad now. Do you want to come?”

“I’ll see him tomorrow. You go ahead. I’ll wait for you at the car.”

She hurried to the nurses’ station, wondering what she was hurrying away from. Not the kindness she’d seen in Ryan’s gaze. No, not kindness. A deeper connection she was far from ready to deal with, she admitted inwardly.

As she’d been promised, she found her father sleeping peacefully surrounded by a tangle of monitoring equipment. She took his hand and stood looking at him for a long time, willing him to improve. There wasn’t much chance unless he received a heart transplant, she knew, but she could still hope.

His eyes fluttered open for a second. “Hello, Jude,” he murmured. “I’m a silly old bugger, worrying you over nothing.”

“Never mind about us, you rest now,” she reproved gently. “We’ll be back to see you in the morning. Don’t give the nurses a hard time.”

“Spoilsport,” he said but his voice faded on the word and soon he was asleep again, the monitors bleeping with reassuring regularity.

She felt her vision blur. “You may be a silly old bugger, but I love you, Dad.” Bending, she kissed him lightly, careful not to disturb him, then tiptoed out.

Ryan was leaning against the car, the shadows from the street lights giving his angular features an austere look. “Everything all right?” he asked straightening.