Maxine Morrey - Second Chance At The Ranch

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.