Miranda Lee - Red-Hot And Reckless

His watch said a quarter to three as he reached the top of Wingaroo Mountain then began the slow, winding descent which would take him down into the valley and the town of Sunrise.

Thank God he would arrive at the farm in plenty of time to be unwound and prepared for Amber’s arrival around four. And in plenty of time to have a good chat with Gran. He still hadn’t been able to contact her by telephone. Clearly she’d taken it permanently off the hook. He would have something to say about that when he got home—and her not telling him anything about the Hollingsworths’ offer.

Gran was an independent and stubborn old lady. Hadn’t she steadfastly refused his offers of money to make her life easier? She wouldn’t even let him pay to have the old farmhouse painted. Gran had never asked anybody for anything. And was proud of it!

But there were times when you should ask your family for help.

And he was her only family now. His mum had finally passed away last year, after spending endless years in and out of hospitals, her liver finally giving up the ghost. His uncle Jack, Gran’s eldest offspring, had been long gone, a victim of the Vietnam war. Gran had outlived all her own brothers and sisters, and her various nieces and nephews didn’t give a damn about their ornery old aunt Pearl.

So there was just him left to stand up for her. And to stop the likes of Amber Hollingsworth from spoiling the old lady’s last years. If Gran wanted to die on that decrepit old farm, then she had every right to, and that suddenly self-righteous bitch wasn’t going to make an old lady feel guilty for clinging to her memories.

Ben could hardly believe the conversation he’d had with Amber last night, or the way she’d trotted out all that bleeding heart stuff about the town’s future and unemployment and such. Saint Amber Hollingsworth! Not likely. Next thing she’d be running for Mayor, like her father had several years back.

Everyone in Sunrise knew Edward Hollingsworth had only run for local government to protect his business interests in the area, not because he was a civicminded soul. That was why he hadn’t won the town’s vote. Gran was right. You could never trust a Hollingsworth’s motivation, especially when they started spouting forth high-minded philosophies. Ben knew Amber Hollingsworth’s priorities. And they began and ended with Amber Hollingsworth! Leopards didn’t change their spots.

Ben carefully negotiated the roundabout at the bottom of the hill and headed for the town centre, slowing as he entered the wide but almost empty main street. For a Friday afternoon, it was certainly pretty dead. Only half a dozen cars were parked in the middle.

He slowed further and started to frown. Half the shops were vacant, he noted, with ‘For Lease’ signs in their bare windows. Groups of young people slouched on the corners and outside the Blue Gum Café, looking dejected. Most were smoking. Some were sitting in the gutters. All the males glared at him driving by as though he had no right to be driving such a great car. The girls just stared.

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