Time to take stock.
And this place certainly gave her the opportunity to do it.
Focus on Patrick Maguire, she sternly told herself. He was the constant around which her life on Gundamurra would revolve. A father figure to Ric. Maybe a benevolent father figure to her, too. She could do with a lot of benevolence.
He was waiting for them, a big man—huge—a giant of a man, standing by a four-wheel drive Land Rover as Ric taxied the plane back down the runway. 'Is he expecting me? Have you told him?' Lara suddenly thought to ask, the reality of actually being here rushing in on her, putting her nerves on edge.
'Yes. While you were shopping.' He gave her a reassuring smile. 'It's okay, Lara. You're welcome.'
She took a deep, calming breath. Ric had taken care of it, just as he'd taken care of everything else. She realised her mind had been in a fog of unreality all the way from Vaucluse to Bourke, not quite believing in what was happening, more letting it happen, taking the ride—any ride, as long as it was away from Gary.
Now she had to think, to act on her own behalf, to hopefully make a good impression on the man who was granting her space in his home until she could legally free herself from her disastrous marriage—a man whose protection she could count on, Ric had said—protection given to a woman he didn't even know. It was a gift she hadn't done anything to deserve.
Maybe she could do some useful work here, at least earn it.
Her mind was a whirl of wild anxiety again by the time she and Ric emerged from the plane, both of them carrying her shopping bags. Did it look as though she'd bought too much? Been too extravagant? She was horribly conscious of the designer outfit she was wearing, wishing she'd thought to change into the more appropriate clothes in the bags.
Patrick Maguire lifted the hatch at the back of the Land Rover so they could load the bags straight into the vehicle. 'Lara had to leave with nothing. We bought this stuff in Bourke,' Ric explained.
The old man nodded, making no comment. He had to be in his sixties or seventies, though he wore his age well. The shock of white hair was still thick. There were deep lines in his face, particularly the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes, but there wasn't much loose skin. Strong bones, sharply delineated, though well-fleshed. Nothing scrawny or weak about this man of the land. His eyes were a steely grey and Lara could feel her insides quailing under their patient observation.
Ric closed the hatch door and made a formal introduction. 'Lara, this is Patrick Maguire. Patrick, Lara Chappel.'
'You're very welcome, Lara,' he said in a deep quiet voice, offering his hand.
'Thank you for…for taking me in.'
A slight frown drew his brows together and she realized her sunglasses made eye contact with her impossible. Worried that he might think her rude, she whipped them off.
'Sorry. I didn't mean to…' Hot embarrassment flooded up her neck and burned her cheeks as his eyes narrowed at the damage the glasses had hidden. She grimaced. 'I'm a bit of a mess. Please forgive the glasses.' She shoved them back on in an agony of self-consciousness.
He gently squeezed her hand, imparting a comforting warmth. 'Don't worry about it, Lara. You'll mend,' he said simply.
'I don't want to be a free-loader, Patrick,' she rushed out. 'I'll do whatever I can to earn my keep here.'
He nodded, giving her the sense he approved, though his reply was a measured one. 'Time for that when you find your feet. No need for you to feel anxious.'
'I just think…it would be good to be busy with something.'
Again he nodded. 'We'll talk about it after you've settled in. Okay?' 'Yes,' she quickly agreed, not wanting to seem demanding. This was such unfamiliar territory, she didn't know how to act.
Patrick released her hand, but he didn't move to usher her into his vehicle. He regarded them both with a distinct air of challenge, then stated, 'You should both know there have already been aggressive moves made to find you.'
Tension screamed through Lara. Aggressive meant…she could feel the blood starting to drain from her face, beads of sweat breaking out on her forehead as fear clamped its chilling grip on her heart.
'How do you know?' Ric asked.
'Mitch called earlier this afternoon, asking me if I'd heard from you. I hadn't and told him so.'
'Mitch…' Lara clutched at the name, trying to steady herself. 'The barrister Ric knows?'
Patrick nodded.
'Why would he call here?' Ric asked sharply.
'He wanted to make contact with you and thought you might be heading to Gundamurra. He said no more at that point. After your call from Bourke, I realised there had to be trouble—maybe at your Sydney office—so I got in touch with Mitch and discussed the situation with him.'
'Oh God!' Lara groaned, turning anguished eyes to the man who'd put himself at risk for her. 'I did tell you. Gary won't let go, Ric. He's…he's…'
'I know what he is,' he flashed at her, his gaze returning to Patrick. 'What trouble?'
'No, you don't know,' she cried, plucking at his arm in frantic urgency. 'You haven't lived with him. I haven't told you. It won't stop, Ric. He'll go after you if he can't get at me. I shouldn't have let you do this. I shouldn't have…' She shook her head, realising she'd blinded herself to consequences for Ric in her need to believe escape was possible. 'I have to go back.'
'No!'
It was a violent negative, and she ached to give in to it, hide behind him as long as she could, but it wasn't fair. 'I don't want you to suffer because of me,' she shot back at him just as violently. 'It's all my fault for…for being such a fool to marry Gary in the first place.'
His dark eyes burned with the unshakeable purpose he'd shown before. 'I won't let you be his victim again, Lara.'
'You don't understand. He'll victimise you and your people. If he's already been to your office…'
'Kathryn must have gone to Mitch.' His gaze jerked back to Patrick. 'How was it handled?'
'Kathryn kept the situation contained. That will probably last until tomorrow. But to keep Lara safely hidden here, you'll have to leave, Ric, lay a trail elsewhere and let yourself be the target for pursuit.'
'No…no…' Lara protested, tortured by the trouble she was causing him.
Patrick kept on speaking, punching out the current problem. 'That will give Kathryn a legitimate line for her to take, to halt any further harassment at the Sydney office. Mitch will call tonight. He wants to speak to both of you. I'm telling you this now to give you time to prepare for what's coming.'
'It's not right,' she pleaded with Patrick, wanting him to see how wrong it was. 'I got myself into this.'
'Lara…' The steely grey eyes locked onto hers and while she saw compassion for her anguish, they also reflected the same steadfast purpose in Ric's. 'There is no going back,' he stated quietly. 'Ric has chosen his course. And I agree with it.'
'But…I didn't mean to…to…'
He smiled at her, and it was like a warm blanket of approval enfolding her, welcoming her into his world. 'You're a woman who cares for others. Which is right and good. But understand there are times when a man must act according to his sense of rightness. In the end, we all have to live with ourselves.'
Even the chaotic mess in her mind cleared enough to recognise the truth he had spoken.
It was an inarguable argument. The decision was made.
Come what might, there was no going back.