Scorpion's Bite Book 2

By B C Austen

Returning home with her new fiancé Ingrid is now optimistic for her new life. Hank wants their wedding to take place soon, but she is worried about moving in with him, as Tania is still living at the house, and Ingrid hasn’t forgiven her for sabotaging the farm in order to force her off. Dan Amhurst the family patriarch dies suddenly and at the reading of his Will Tania learns that she has been disinherited and the circumstances of her origins as an Amhurst are cloudy. She is devastated and walks away, into the arms of the seedy Callum Isner, the local hotel propriety. It isn’t long before she finds herself in hot water. Her plans to overcome her situation backfire and Ingrid is left to bring the fractured family back together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B C Austen
• Release date: May 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463683644

B C Austen

Barbara is a retired medical receptionist and a learner blogger. She is a native of Western Australian country towns, but has now joined the city rat race. Among her hobbies she has a small but fascinating collection of weird and wonderful teapots.She has been learning creative writing for a few years now and her first novel has just hit the ebook market.Her family is her life, but movies and coffee with friends are all important.

Book preview

Chapter One

WEDNESDAY 28th FEBRUARY 2018

Tania Amhurst walked off the tennis court with her doubles partner, Marjory Towers. Both had smiles on their faces having just won the match against Rene Douglas and Pam Smithers. If they could win their next two games they would take home the club’s Trophy of the Month, a matching pair of cut glass vases donated by Callum Isner, the publican of the Tambellup Hotel. At least once a month, during the tennis season, one of the local business owners would donate a trophy as an incentive for the members to turn up for competitions, and to improve the standard of tennis in the town. It was proving successful as they could hold their own against clubs from the larger neighbouring shires.

All four of the women shook hands once they reached their gear and had dropped their racquets on the carry bags.

‘Thanks Tania,’ said Marj. ‘This might have been the hardest game of the day. The next one should be easier to win.’

‘Yes, it should. As long as it doesn’t get any hotter out there. We must see if we can close it off as quick as we can. Our next two opponents are older than us, but they’re tenacious and won’t give in just because it’s hot.’

‘Have you heard anything from Hank? How long is he away for?’

‘No, I’ve not heard anything, and that’s because we’ve been frosty to each other, so he doesn’t tell me anything more than necessary.’

‘My sister and I are like that too. We have little to do with each other these days. Is it true that he’s gone off overseas to see that strange girl that turned up at the Allen farm a while ago?’

‘Yes, it is true, Marj. That’s what the big beef we’re having is about. Of all the lovely ladies in the district that he could have chosen he’s setting his cap at her.’

‘Your tone gives me the impression you don’t like her, Tania.’

‘No, I don’t. And to be honest I’m ropable over it. How dare she just stroll into town and take whatever she can lay her hands on.’

‘I’ve never met her. Wasn’t she responsible for bringing that shipment of drugs that was found in Walter’s shed?’

‘No, it wasn’t her, but she was associated with it. She was the girlfriend of the guy who the police arrested, but, mud sticks, doesn’t it? She’s not good enough for Hank.’

‘Old Walter would have had a stroke if he’d been alive.’

‘Yes, he would have. But Hank is so besotted by her he won’t hear a bad word said.’

Celine Scott, the ladies captain joined them. ‘Well done on winning your game, you two. Keep that form up and I think you might take home the trophy today. Why don’t you grab a quick cuppa because you’re on again in about fifteen minutes?’

‘Are we?’ said Marj. ‘I’d better visit the toilets or else. Tania, can you grab me a strong white coffee?’

‘Ok.’

Tania sat on the bench nursing her own coffee and her mind recalled the last time she and Hank had been civil to each other.

"Go and win her back" she’d told him, but she hadn’t meant it. Now she had to prepare herself for their return. The best she could hope for was that Ingrid would feel too ashamed to show her face in Tambellup again. That debacle that her ex-boyfriend had brought into their lives would take time to overcome, but Tania knew that was clutching at straws. Hank wouldn’t come back without her.

If only she could expunge that she’d broken into Ingrid’s house, she might have had a better chance of blackening her reputation. She regretted having done it, but only because she’d got caught. Her plans for getting rid of Ingrid were coming together until then. Who could have known that Ben and his damn wife were inside lying in wait? It was humiliating having been taken hostage by them, but there had to be retribution now. It was Ingrid’s fault that mess came about and Tania would make sure that she would not have an easy road into the lives of the Amhurst family.

Marj returned, interrupting her musings. She picked up the cup of coffee that Tania had poured for her and sat down.

‘Oh, that feels much better.’ She checked her watch. ‘Five minutes left. Best I hurry and drink this.’

‘Yes, we’ll need the caffeine to perk us up.’

Not much else was said until they saw Penny and Meg walking onto the courts. The two ladies seemed in good spirits, chatting and sending some practice aces over the net. Some onlookers began clapping them and cheering them on.

‘Come on girls, you can do it.’

Tania hauled herself off the bench, took their cups over to the sink and came back to collect her racquet and her partner. She did a few squats to stretch her leg muscles, grabbed her water bottle and went back on the court. They all shook hands at the net, flipped the coin to see who would serve first and then got ready to start.

Penny served first and took that game without any trouble. Marj was next to serve but was off target with all her first serves but despite their struggle they held Penny and Meg off. They played hot and cold tennis for the rest of the match with the older two ladies coming out the victors with a six-four winning margin.

‘God,’ said Tania, as they walked to the net to shake hands. ‘How did they beat us? We were forever playing catch up.’

‘I don’t like to lay any blame, Tania, but you were a little off your game today. I’ve not seen you hit so many balls into the net.’

Off my game? What about you, you lazy tart. Standing at the net like a great cane toad watching every ball whizz past you and leaving me to chase everything else on the court.

‘Yes, I suppose I stuffed up a few,’ Tania conceded. ‘Maybe we were too confident. Do you want to head down to the pub for a wine?’

Marj checked her watch. ‘Maybe just one. The kids’ll be on the bus heading home after school. They’ll eat everything they can lay their hands on if I’m not there to stop them.’

‘One’ll be enough for me too. I’ll meet you there.’

They went to their respective cars, packed their tennis gear away then drove through the town and parked at the hotel. There weren’t many customers inside apart from the regulars who had their eyes glued to the television. It was tuned to a quiz show and the drinkers were trying to answer the questions. On the odd occasion when one gave a correct answer the rest of them erupted with a cheer.

‘What’ll you have ladies?’ asked the barman.

‘A nice cool white wine will do us, thanks Rex,’ said Marj.

‘And a packet of salted nuts,’ added Tania.

When he handed them their drinks and the nuts, they carried them over to a table. Marj groaned as she seated herself in the chair. ‘I get so tired from all the running around. Sometimes I just can’t be bothered playing. Bloody Jeff goes off playing golf every weekend, works from the crack of dawn till night time and I’m left to bring up the kids. It’s bloody exhausting. When I get home I’ve got to cook and….’

Marj’s ramblings about her home life annoyed Tania. She blocked her droning, complaining voice away while her thoughts kept going back to her brother. She stared at the television but couldn’t stop her mind going through the issues she had regarding Ingrid. Whenever those thoughts surfaced she tensed up and imagined them both in a confrontation.

Ingrid’s presence was a threat. Preparing herself for when she came back with Hank was proving a major stumbling block. She still felt the same level of hostility towards her as when they’d first met, but her struggle was figuring out how to temper it. The woman had taken over his brain and she was losing the battle to make Hank understand how she felt. Despite their fights she thought the world of Hank and she needed to dig deep inside herself to work out some way to manage their new situation; that being the likelihood of Ingrid becoming his partner or even his wife, and then to have her living in their home.

Would he ever listen to her grievances? She doubted it. Heaven knows she’d attempted to explain them, but he would just dig his heels in and walk away or else a fight would start.

She knew her issues would come back with a vengeance when the two of them returned, but best if she convinced Hank that she wouldn’t cause anymore headaches for them. If she didn’t bury her animosity she would be alienated. That would be Hank’s solution to keeping the peace, but it wouldn’t bode well for the future standing of the Amhurst name in the town. Their feud would be grist for the mill amongst the locals and would bring their status down; if only Hank could see this.

‘Hey, Tania. What’s going on?’ asked Marj. ‘You’ve been staring at the television for the last five minutes. I’m not sure I enjoy being ignored.’

‘Sorry Marj. This thing about Hank coming back home is bugging me. It’s only a couple of days away now and I’m trying to figure out how I'll adjust to it.’

‘How do you mean - adjust?’

‘Adjust to him bringing that woman back. I can’t stand her….’

‘Sorry, but I’ve forgotten her name.’

Oh, for god’s sake, Marj, why did I invite you here for a drink. You’re a pain in the bum and I don’t feel like talking to you anymore.

‘Her name is Ingrid.’

‘What’s her surname?’

‘I dunno. Some stupid foreign name. Zorba, I think. No, hang on, it’s Zaba. Ingrid Zaba.’

‘And soon to be Ingrid Amhurst? Is that what’s troubling you?’

Oh, dear god no.

Marj’s phone beeped. She rummaged in her oversized bag till she found it and then read the text message.

‘Oh, shit. The kids have just got home and the house is all locked up. Little buggers can’t find the key. I’d better go, sorry Tania.’

‘It’s fine, Marj. You go. I’m not hanging around either.’

‘Ok, I’ll see you next week.’

‘Yes, ok. Bye.’

With Marj gone Tania closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, letting it out little by little. Twice more she did it before her shoulders started relaxing.

Hank, why have you fallen for that hussy? Of all the people you could have brought into the family why did it have to be her. She doesn’t know the first thing about farming, or life in the country, and I’ll bet she doesn’t know the first thing about anything. She’s just a gold digger who’ll end up with all the Amhurst assets, just like she did with Walter's. Why can’t you see that?

She heard a footfall stop next to her and turned to see who it was.

‘Can I get you another wine, Tania?’ asked Jerry.

Jesus, Jerry bloody Zaba. Can’t you see I want to be left alone? You’re just as irritating as your damn sister. Why on earth did I come here? Is there no place I can go so I don't have to see you lot?

She glanced at her glass and saw it was almost empty.

‘No, thanks. I was thinking about leaving.’

‘I wanted to talk to you about Ingrid and Hank.’

‘What about them?’

‘About your reaction to them getting together again. Correct me if I’m wrong but my gut tells me you’re not delighted.’

‘What makes you think that? It’s not any of my concern. Hank can fall in love with whoever he wants.’

‘That’s not what I was alluding to.’

‘Then why don’t you tell me what you’re alluding to.’

‘She went back to London because of your malicious actions, which made her question her future with Hank; and would I be wrong in assuming you were pleased about that?’

‘I didn’t make her leave.’

‘You know what I mean. Are things going to be better when she comes back?’

‘That’s up to her, don’t you think? If she intends becoming an Amhurst then she must earn her place in our family.’

‘Are you serious? Have you any idea how this will impact on you?’

‘Yes, I do, and I don’t give a hoot. She’ll piss off when it all gets too much for her, and after Hank’s finished licking his wounds everything will then get back to normal. The Amherst's will be fine. But I don’t know about the Zabas.’

Jerry thought of several retaliatory things to say in response, but held them back. ‘I’m sure the Zabas will be ok whichever way the wind blows. Try as you might, I doubt you’ll get another chance at breaking them up. You’ve already played your trump card, so perhaps you ought to concentrate on making peace.’

Jerry walked away.

Tania cursed under her breath at his audacity. She picked up a flyer that had been on the floor near her feet. It had scuff marks on it, but what piqued her interest was that it gave some detailed the history of the hotel and the town. It must have been an old one because it was promoting one hundred and fifteen years of the hotel’s establishment, which would have been a few years ago. She scanned over the page and read it, intrigued that she had never given much thought about how her own town had landed on the map.

"The township of Tambellup was established in 1899, ten years after the railway came through and a station was built. Pastoralists had populated the area around the Gordon River, which has caused flooding in the town several times, the most recent was in 1982 and before that in 1955. Both times houses were inundated with a metre of water. The region produced wheat and cereal crops, thanks to the reliable rainfall it received. The current population was now 370.

The Hotel was built just after the turn of the century and has been a focal point for the locals and visitors to…"

Tania let the flyer slip out of her fingers back onto the floor, then she finished her wine and went home.

Chapter Two

Ingrid returned from the toilet and resumed her seat after inching past Hank, who was napping in the aisle seat, but once she’d clicked her seat buckle up again he found her hand and clasped it. She smiled as the tingles travelled along her arm and she enjoyed the thrill it gave her. High in the stratosphere beside him she felt safe from what was waiting for them on land. For a few more hours nothing could interfere with her joy while they were up there together.

She tried not to let Tania get into her head because once they got back home she would be there and she would be jolted back to earth, bringing an end to their blissful time together. She was so in love with Hank that she had to pinch herself now and then to let it sink in.

Hank’s proposal was still fresh in her mind and it meant the world to her. She grinned as she envisioned walking down the aisle in her wedding gown and him waiting at the altar with the celebrant. That he had come to London to bring her home to be his wife was a massive declaration of his love. He was her knight in shining armour and nothing could hurt her now. Not even….

Don’t say her name, don’t say her name. Don’t let her ruin this idyll.

But the harder she tried the more Tania’s face loomed there. Ingrid worried about the next meeting the two would have, which sent her imagination into overdrive. The mental image she had of her future sister-in-law appeared distorted, with her expressions getting more severe the longer it lingered in her mind. Her thin, tight lips had lost their will to smile and her eyes were pools of black with hatred flowing from them.

She could never live in the same house as Tania unless they made peace, and that move had to come from Tania. She had nothing to apologise for. Why should she say she was sorry for being Walter’s niece? Tania’s vandalistic actions and her overall contempt of her was a clear sign of an unhealthy hatred, and Ingrid couldn’t put that aside without an apology, and she couldn’t see that happening.

She expected Jerry to intervene, because that’s what he was like. At least he was always there for her. He didn’t see anyone as being his enemy. But maybe he should realise that he’d come up against a true villainess here.

The droning of the plane lulled her into sleep. Several hours later she bolted upright into a sitting position, having woken from a nightmare that was so real she had to make sure Hank was still beside her.

The dream brought home to her that there would be some big hurdles to get past before her happily-ever-after would come. In the dream she was going up the steps of the church to marry Hank when its massive wooden doors slammed shut in front of her, preventing her from going inside. Turning the handle did nothing, so she hammered her fist on the door, calling to him. When he didn’t come she stood there feeling distraught, until she heard peels of laughter coming from behind her, forcing her to turn round.

There stood Tania and Maryanne. The latter in beautiful bridal attire and Tania as her bridesmaid. The crowd amassing behind were all dressed in their wedding finery and she was forced to take a few steps sideways to avoid them. Where was she and what was going on? She felt lost and insignificant.

‘Step aside, Ingrid,’ said Tania, all smug and brash. ‘He’s marrying Maryanne, not you, so you lose, haha ha! Go away.’ The crowd cheered and someone pushed her backwards causing her to stumble onto her behind. The sound of her dress ripping tore into her heart. The doors swung open for them and the crowd lurched forward and hurried inside like a herd of bolting animals.

Despite that it was only a dream Ingrid’s heart was thumping. Her eyes felt dry and she rubbed the grit from them. She pressed for the steward and ordered a glass of wine, hoping it would give her some peace of mind.

She looked at Hank and envied that he could sleep on a flight. He was still holding her hand and she eased it away, reaching for the bottle of water that was stowed in the seat pocket in front of her. She drank from it, then looked around to see if her wine was coming. It appeared she was the only one awake. She plugged in the headphones and listened to some music. A few mouthfuls of the wine later and she dozed off again. When she next woke Hank was patting her leg.

‘They’re serving breakfast, darling. Are you hungry?’

She yawned and then she felt him turning her to face him, looking to kiss her.

‘I dreamt I was on the flight alone,’ he said. ‘Thank god it was just a dream.’ He pushed her hair off her face with his finger.

‘Just a dream,’ she added. ‘Soon we’ll be back in the real world and have to face some challenges. You know what I mean.’

‘Don’t get yourself in a tizz about Tania. She daren’t cause any more trouble, and she assured me she wouldn’t.’

‘I’ll believe it when I see it, Hank. I’ll lay odds that she won’t want to relinquish her role as lady of the manor.’

Hank pulled his tray out and leaned his elbow on it. His hand went towards his chin and he gave it a light massage. When his face became pensive Ingrid wondered if he had his doubts too.

‘I’m not going to pretend she’ll be nice right away, but if we give her some time to get used to the idea that we’re getting married, everything should slot into place.’

‘I sure hope so. Do you have any thoughts on when we should set the date?’

‘I’ll leave that up to you, but I don’t want to wait too long. After almost losing you, I can’t bear us to be apart for any longer than necessary.’

‘I feel the same way. Do we have to announce our engagement?’

‘Only if you want to.’

‘I’d like a quiet wedding away from all the onlookers,’ said Ingrid.

‘Would you? Not locally?’

‘No. I don’t think I’m too popular with the locals after the trouble that Ben caused, and I can’t be sure that Tania hasn’t been creating a bit of mayhem while we’ve been gone.’

Their breakfast came, and then the coffee pot came, creating a break in the tension.

‘People love weddings,’ said Hank, ‘and the locals are no exception. I’d like us to get married in the town and I hope you’ll reconsider it.’ Hank was looking earnestly at her.

Unsure of how to respond, Ingrid buttered her muffin and spread honey on it then took a bite.

‘If you feel you aren’t liked in the town I think the wedding will change their minds. Can you sleep on it? Please?’

She smiled and let her mind run away with the idea of having the wedding in Tambellup. She pictured the Catholic church, and there was no chance of the doors slamming in her face there, because she’d seen the big pot plants holding them open.

‘Ok, I will have a think.’

‘Will you get Jerry to give you away?’

‘Of course. I don’t have anyone to invite besides him. All the locals will sit on your side of the aisle and there won’t be anyone on my side. Don’t you think that’ll be strange?’

‘Then we won’t follow that custom. People can sit anywhere they like.’

‘Who will you have as your groomsman?’

‘Excellent question. I have no idea.’

‘Maybe we can do without the rest of the wedding party. I don’t have anyone to be my maid of honour.’

‘Someone has to sign the marriage certificate as our witnesses.’

‘Well, in keeping with the informal tone of the wedding I guess Jerry can do it for me and perhaps Tania can do it for you. Will she be happy to do that?’

‘No idea. Guess I can ask her.’

When the stewards gathered the breakfast things Ingrid pulled out the book she had planned to read. After getting through three pages of the first chapter she became aware of Hank looking at her. She closed the book, keeping her thumb on the page she was reading.

‘What?’ she asked. ‘I can’t read when I can feel your eyes boring into me.’

‘I can’t help thinking how lucky I am.’

‘You might be pushing it a little if you keep distracting me.’

He laughed. ‘I doubt that.’ He leaned closer to her and keeping his voice low, he said. ‘I have the perfect antidote to fix that. And I can’t wait to get back home and let everyone know about us. It was terrible when you left in such a hurry. You can’t imagine how desolate and empty I felt.’

Ingrid’s smile widened. ‘I think I can. I was in a dark place too when I decided to go. I’d regretted pushing you away and thought I would never get you back, but when you stood there at my flat that day…, it was just…. I don’t know how to describe how I felt. I never knew it was possible to feel so happy with someone and I can’t be apart from you - ever again.’

‘You will move in with me as soon as we get back, won’t you? Even having you on the neighbouring farm is too far away.’

‘As much as the idea appeals to me, I don’t think I should, Hank. I don’t think it’s fair to Tania or to Jerry.’

‘Why? They both know you and I are going to be married. I don’t see a problem.’

Ingrid folded the corner of the page over in her book and put it away. She took Hank’s hand and then leaned back with her eyes closed.

‘Ingrid, I don’t like this hesitation. What’s going on in your head.’

‘Do I have to spell it out? Tania is the big problem. It’s too soon since that night when that nasty business with Ben messed everything around. I can almost taste how she felt about me. I doubt she and I can live in the same house. You need to put that into context. She behaved badly and she hasn’t given me an apology for it. She saw my arrival there as a threat to her and then she turned it into a huge issue.’

‘She was the one who told me to get you back if I loved you that much. Why would she say that if she didn’t mean it?’

‘Because she’s using you. She'll find another way to mess with me. I’ve met women like that before. We both know she wanted my farm and maybe she still intends to get it, but Jerry also wants it and he’s the only close family I’ve got.’

Hank sighed and gave up on the discussion.

It was four in the afternoon when the plane landed at Perth Airport. Most of the passengers didn’t waste much time getting out of their seats and pulling their luggage from the overhead compartments. Hank stayed seated until there was room to manoeuvre. In the arrivals area two baggage carousels were in full swing, with passengers hovering around like vultures over a carcass.

Ingrid felt Hank’s arm go over her shoulder and he gave her a long hug. She responded with a kiss on his cheek.

‘I’m glad we can at last straighten up. Every muscle in my body is groaning,’ he said.

Staring at the stream of passing luggage had a hypnotic effect on Ingrid and she drifted into a mini trance. She snapped out of it when a commotion began behind her. Several people were shouting and running. A television crew were filming and had their camera’s clicking as they passed by. Reporters were in pursuit of three people and firing questions at them. Other people got curious and joined the throng, also taking photos.

‘Who is that?’ asked Ingrid.

‘I’m not sure. From the questions that the reporters are asking, I’d say it’s a well-known English singer and her entourage. I believe she’s starring in a