Shadow Valley - The Final Chapters

By Stephenie Muller

50% of the proceeds go to Bundy to the Farm Drought Aid.

A trilogy this book is the finale to the larger novel simply titled 'Shadow Valley'. This enthralling conclusion revisits the farm and life in Rathdowney. If you have not read 'Shadow Valley', this story stands alone as when untimely tragedy strikes, With twists and turns, deastation and chance encounters, there is a whole new dusty track to travel down.​

Also in this book - 'Foreign Fields', another story with it's roots planted firmly in the country, but there's a secret being kept... Who will put the pieces together ? Who already knows ?

​Finally - 'The Trolley Guy', this is a story that will keep you guessing to the end. Set largely in an underground car park, it is something quite different to the other two stories in the book. Car racing on a back road, a family business, two unlikely thieves and when body meets concrete, be prepared to let your imagination run wild...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387710232

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Shadow Valley - The Final Chapters

SHADOW VALLEY  (THE FINAL CHAPTERS)

THE TROLLEY GUY

FOREIGN FIELDS

© Stephenie Muller 2018

This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose

of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under

the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without

written permission. Enquiries should be addressed to the Author.

All rights reserved.

Author:                  Stephenie Muller

Title:                      Shadow Valley  (The Final Chapters)

www.stepheniemuller.com

SHADOW VALLEY  (THE FINAL CHAPTERS)

Chapter 1

I

t was an autumn afternoon. The weather was cool, enjoyable, refreshing, after what had been a long, hot summer. Red roses filled the church in every corner and lined the aisle with the scent of true love that had waited for so long to be recognised. A red carpet flowed from the stairs outside, up and along the aisle to an altar draped in red velvet cloth. It was a wedding such as you might see in a magazine or on television, with celebrities to fill the crowd. It was certainly a wedding more spectacular than the church at Tamrookin had ever seen before or was likely to ever see again. For Ben and Cora, it was to be the start of a lifetime of happiness together.

The high ceilings echoed the priest’s voice as though God himself were there marking his approval upon the union. Man and woman stood, staring into each other’s eyes, a smile upon their faces that would not dissipate as they said their vows, trusting, and believing in every word they spoke. They were together at last and nothing would ever come between them now.

Standing at the altar beside them, Cora’s friend Julie looked on, desperately holding back tears of joy as she remembered her own wedding. She looked over to her husband Tony sitting in the second row and smiled at him. He smiled back, touched only slightly by the sorrow felt inside him for the children he and his wife had so far been unable to have.

In the front row Ben’s family also watched – thrilled, excited, relieved that the day that was always meant to happen had arrived. Having walked Cora down the aisle, Abner now sat holding his wife’s hand, as happy for his new daughter-in-law as he was for his son. The other relatives watched eagerly as well, a close-knit family, they all felt the joy of the day. Only a couple of Cora’s most distant relatives were there and they too had smiles on their faces. Cora had told them that this was the man she had always dreamt of. Seeing the two of them together, everyone there could see that they made a perfect couple.

After what seemed to be forever to Cora, the priest announced, You may now kiss the bride. And Ben did. It was a soft, gentle kiss, lasting only a moment, but filled with love.

The couple walked down the aisle as Mr and Mrs Marston. Soft music played and each row of the assembly stood and smiled as the couple passed by. Some cheered, others clapped. Outside, a few of the guests that had rushed out first to be at the stairs, waited to throw confetti and rice, as was the tradition. Ben and Cora, ducking for cover, smiling and waving to their friends, made their way to the white limousine and stepped inside, while the chauffeur stood holding the door open for them. Then he closed it behind them.

Still smiling and enjoying the moment, Cora said to her husband, Roll down the window, and he did.

The couple waved to the well wishers, then quickly they were swept away to the river as a photographer and their entourage followed.

Shadows fell, make-up was touched up, flower girls fiddled with their dresses and played with their posies. Nait and Coby waited patiently as other pageboys tried to flee their mothers who were desperately keeping them in line. Ben and Cora kissed, and kissed again on cue, and sometimes just because they loved each other so very much they would kiss once more. Finally, the photos were taken and the rest of the night was theirs to be enjoyed and taken in like the scent of sweet honey from the flowers of the gum trees in spring. Both of them knew that this moment would never be the same again. This was a commitment for life.

Back at the hall, friends and family began to arrive. They gathered outside, waiting to be allowed in. As they mingled, they introduced new boyfriends and girlfriends, and they met the few people from Cora’s family. She had kept in contact with them by letter once a year, though there weren’t many, for hers was a distant family. They were sparsely scattered like the gold confetti on the stark, white cloth that covered the tables inside – so different to the family to which Cora now so proudly and finally truly belonged.

Entering the hall from the rear, Ben and Cora made their way to the front doors and stood, ready to greet their many well wishers.

Hello. Thank you so much for coming, they said as they kissed, hugged and shook hands with them all, and made brief conversation as they tried to show their true appreciation.

Congratulations, little brother, Nathan said as he shook hands with Ben.

Thank you for coming, Cora said sincerely to Gwen, Nathan’s wife, before bending down slightly and telling their children how pretty and handsome they looked. Cora wished that there was not so much friction between the two families, joined as they were by Nait and Coby, but that was the way that Gwen had made it, and Cora would respect that. Besides, she and Ben and the boys were so happy. No one, who did not know the truth, would ever guess that Ben was in fact her sons’ uncle, and not their true father.

It’s been a long time coming, another of the couple’s friends remarked to Cora as he moved in and kissed her cheek.

Cora smiled and nodded.

Two by two, group by group, and some alone, the wedding guests filed into the hall and found their tables.

Oh, isn’t this just beautiful! one woman commented, pointing out to another the red and blue bouquets surrounding the deep blue candles that spread along each table.

Indeed, the other replied, searching the gold place cards at each setting.

After some time, when the last of the guests had been greeted, and all had found their seats, Ben and Cora too were able to sit. Caught up in the chitchat, Cora discussed with Julie how pretty the flower girls looked, while Ben talked with his best man – a cousin who had moved back into the area in the past six months. Geoff was a short, slightly dumpy sort of a chap, but likeable. He too had the Marston charm and seemed to fit in anywhere, into any situation, always doing his best to bring a smile to every face. The room echoed with conversation and the odd bout of laughter.

Such a beautiful dress, one of Ben’s aunts commented.

The whole ceremony was beautiful, added another.

At another table, two more women discussed the trouble one had gone through to find an outfit.

Once you’re over a size ten there’s just nothing out there, the larger of the two complained as though she had moved heaven and earth to find the dreadful brown suit with yellow and blue spots that adorned her body.

Meanwhile, their husbands were exchanging jokes. There was this bloke the other day, see. Said he had just got back from a trip to America. Anyway, when he got on the plane, found his seat and got settled down, the captain came over the intercom and welcomed everyone on board. And he told the passengers that the weather looked good, and that they would be travelling at about 30,000 feet, the man telling the story grinned. And then that there would be No Drinking... And of course the guy thought, ‘Well, that’s a bit rough.’ And then the captain continued, saying that there would also be No Smoking... and a stewardess with No Morals...

Ha-ha-ha, the other man roared with laughter. That wouldn’t have been such a bad flight after all.

Another glass? a gentleman at another table asked the ladies sitting opposite him. It seemed to him they had been forgotten by their partners still standing, as they had been for the past 20 minutes, halfway between their table and the bar.

Dinner was served: each meal, each course, brought to each guest. And between each course the toasts flowed. Some that just wished the couple good health, good fortune and a long and happy life together. Some on a lighter note that made the guests roar with laughter, and one or two that made some of the ladies blush on the outside, while they secretly laughed on the inside.

Nait and Coby endured the evening well, sitting and quietly chatting away, sometimes with their grandmother but mostly between themselves. Cora was proud of them both, and when dessert was eaten and the last of the toasts made she told the boys to go mingle and enjoy themselves. The music started up again and after the bridal waltz she and the love of her life also began to spread themselves around between their guests.

It had been everything that Cora had ever dreamt of – and more. To have Ben at her side, to lead her through the good times and bad, she had never been happier in her life. The fairytale had come true. At the end of the night, in the early hours of the morning, Ben and Cora joyfully thanked and farewelled their guests before being chauffeured to the pub down the road.

Ben had booked every room behind the hotel in order to have complete privacy. He had asked Cheeta to leave champagne and chocolates in the refrigerator, flowers in every corner where she could fit them, and red rose petals scattered across the bed. It had been Cheeta’s pleasure and it was her gift to them, for she told them they were her favourite customers. She had even taken the white lace spread from her own bed to make the room more romantic. Ben picked up his wife, a mere feather in his strong arms, and carried her through the doorway, then kicked the door shut behind them. For the first time, they would make love.

***

Back at their grandparents’ house Coby and Nait rested peacefully in their beds, looking forward to the days ahead. Abner had promised them that they could go with him on his bulldozer and learn how to build a dam. It would also be their ninth birthday while Ben and Cora were away on their honeymoon. At first, it was something that the boys had thought their mother and uncle could have planned better, but they soon forgot about it, knowing that Rose, their grandmother, would not let the day go by uncelebrated, and so it was.

While Ben and Cora enjoyed peaceful days and nights filled with the glamour and glitz of the Gold Coast, Nait and Coby spent every minute learning, playing and enjoying the time with their grandparents, just as they always did. And on their birthday, Rose had a special surprise. Cora and Ben had left behind four passes to Sea World, and $100 for each boy to spend. The boys were excited enough to jump over the moon and reach all the way to Mars. They hugged their grandparents and after a quick phone call to thank their mother and Ben, they scoffed down their breakfast. Soon they were all in the car and on their way. It was a big day out, the boys seeing it all, eating it all, and coming home with more toys than they could carry on their own.

Meanwhile Ben and Cora lay back in their deck chairs pushed side-by-side and looked through the bars of the balcony, across the street and out to the ocean, with dreams as wide as the sea that stretched out in front of them.

***

Ten months later a baby girl was born – Sara Maree Marston. Ben and Cora had decided not to wait. It seemed like they had been waiting all their life to be together, and now they wanted a child of their own. Nait and Coby were over the moon to have a little sister and they doted on her as if she was the most precious little person in the world. They were even happy to help change their sister’s nappies. Cora was surprised, but at the same time it reassured her that when the boys grew up and had families of their own some day, that they would make wonderful fathers. It pleased her greatly. But she realised that she was getting ahead of herself when she remembered that the boys were still only nine.

***

For the next year, life on the Marston farm was nothing short of everything that Cora had dreamt it would be. The boys excelled in school, Nait a little more so than Coby, just as it had always been. As for young Sara, she grew and slipped into a nightly sleep routine much quicker than the two boys when they were young. On top of that, with the help that Ben gave his wife, raising the children was easier than it had ever been for Cora on her own.

Married life was bliss. Ben continued with his job at the knackery, and his investments in the stock market, so Cora believed, always seemed to pay off. Ben was a skilled businessman. When he came home from work he would always find some small job to do around the farm, spend time with the boys and Cora too. There seemed to be no end to his supply of energy and the happiness which he lavished upon his family.

How was work today? Cora asked her husband.

Oh, you should have seen this big chestnut stallion that went through, Ben replied. He was such a good-looking horse. I don’t know why anyone would send him in.

Cora didn’t have anything to say. She hated to see a good animal go to waste. Ben asked if there was anything he could do for her. The boys always got home a couple of hours before he did and by now had finished all their homework for the day. She asked Ben if he would mind fixing the hole in the chook pen as she hadn’t had time to get round to it, and she didn’t like the chooks running free all the time. The boys would give him a hand.

The air was fresh outside. Ben grabbed a pair of fencing pliers and some wire and called to the boys to hop off the contraption he’d made for them what seemed like a lifetime ago, and to come give him a helping hand. Nait and Coby rushed to the chook pen, eager to help.

So, what did you learn at school today? Ben asked the pair.

Roman numerals, Coby replied.

Ah. So how far can you count up to? Ben inquired.

Fifty, the child replied, and then he began to count, explaining as best he could. When he got stuck on the number eight, Nait joined in and helped his brother out.

Very good, Ben said enthusiastically when the two boys had finished.

Ben handed Nait a pair of pointed nose pliers and asked the boy to go inside the pen so that he could push the ends of the wire back through to the outside. Coby watched for a moment as Ben twisted each piece of wire, and when about five pieces had been tied, he asked Ben if he could have a go. Ben handed over his pliers and gladly supervised, proud of the way his sons, for that was how he thought of them, were always so eager to try everything. When they went back inside Cora was in the middle of peeling potatoes.

How did you go? she asked.

Well, I didn’t have to do anything, Ben answered. Just stand there and watch. These two did it all.

All the boys washed up for dinner, and when the family had eaten and Sara had been tucked in, the two adults took time to sit on the verandah. Cora sat with her back against Ben’s chest, lying in his arms as she always did, content with the life they had made for themselves and their family.

***

That weekend the boys helped fix a fence of another kind – a fence that separated the lagoon paddock from the one behind the house, and that a dead tree had fallen over. The tree filled most of the hole made when it had broken the barbed wire, and Cora had tied things up temporarily, but with Ben there now she left the job of cutting up the tree to him. It was the one job she truly hated, not sure if it was the noise of the chainsaw or what exactly, but she was pleased to leave the job to her husband. The boys stood right back, well aware of the dangers that so many times their mother had warned them of. Cora stayed in the ute with Sara to keep close guard and reassure the child as the chainsaw roared. Ben and the boys hooked a chain to each of the larger pieces of the tree too big to shift by hand and one by one Cora towed them a little way off the fence with the ute. A fire next year would clean the paddock up again. Ben joined and strained the wires as Coby and Nait looked on eagerly to see how the strainers worked. Ben let them each have a go, but when the wire started to tighten he took over in case the wire snapped, or the strain was too great and the handle flew back, injuring one of them. Cora and Sara continued to watch from inside the ute just a few feet away. How happy the little girl was that the loud noise had stopped and how happy they all were.

***

A few weeks later Ben came home with a surprise for the two boys. It was a horse float. Nait and Coby had been practising barrel racing on their horses at home, and every time they had gone to a rodeo they had begged and pleaded to be allowed to go in the poddy ride. Cora had insisted they start out barrel racing first.

You put in the time and effort at home and when you have proved that you are willing to work hard, we’ll get a float and start taking you to the rodeos. Then later on we’ll see about the poddy rides, Cora had told her sons with honesty and a grin.

By doing this Cora had hoped that they might branch off into some other event – calf roping, even steer wrestling or broncs – for she knew too well what poddy riding would lead to. Nait and Coby, determined to prove themselves, practised every chance they got, and finally Cora knew it was time.

Oh, wow! the boys exclaimed, rushing out to meet Ben as he drove up that Friday afternoon.

Ben stepped from the ute. So, are you two ready to take your horses to the rodeo tomorrow?

Are we ever, Coby replied, more excited than he had ever been in his life.

The boys had known about and been looking forward to going to the rodeo for weeks. They just hadn’t realised that this would finally be the time they got to compete. Cora came out, Sara on her hip. Ben put his arm around her as they watched the boys circle the float and fill their minds with dreams of the sport they loved so much. Cora smiled.

Did you thank Ben? she asked when Nait and Coby came back to where their parents stood.

Oh, yes. Thank you, Ben. Thanks so much, Coby said, stretching his arms wide. Nait just raced up and threw his arms around Ben. Thank you, he added.

***

The next day, bright and early, horses loaded, the Marstons headed for the rodeo. The boys were still overwhelmed by the fact that they were actually going to get to ride, but Cora could not stop herself from worrying a little. It was only natural that she should be worried, but she also knew that it was something she had to let them do. Ben pulled into the competitors’ area and unloaded. Tying one horse to the side of the float, he jumped on the other bareback and rode around the grounds, getting the horse used to all the noise and excitement of the day. All went well and Nait was set to go. Then Ben took Coby’s horse for a ride. At first the mare was unsure of the new surroundings and all the goings-on she found herself a part of. She shied a little, and blew air heavily out her nostrils at first, but Ben soon calmed the horse and thought that she would be fine by the time the boys were ready to have their ride.

I’ll take her for another spin before you’re ready to hop on, Ben said when he bought Tess back to Coby.

Nait and Coby were anxiously watching all the other competitors riding about, stretching their bodies and talking to friends. One of the guys walked over.

G’day, Ben, he said. Hi, Cora, boys. Geez, that little one’s grown, he added, referring to Sara as she sat propped against Cora’s hip. How are you all going?

Good, Ben told his friend. He and Drew began to talk about all things rodeo.

Cora excused herself and the boys as the events were just about to start and they did not want to miss a minute of the bull rides. The morning went well, the boys showed no sign of nerves but then it came time to go back to the float and get ready. Surprisingly, it was Coby who seemed to be getting cold feet. Cora had thought if either of them were going to be anxious it would be Nait, but she was proved wrong.

Come on. Ben’s got your horse saddled. How about you just take her for a little ride and see how you feel then? Cora said, gently encouraging her son.

Ben helped Nait onto old Sam.

Come on, Nait said, annoyed that his brother was holding them up.

"Coby got up onto his horse and tentatively rode around in circles a couple of times. Then the pair followed Ben to the arena gate where they awaited their turn.

Now, Ben explained, giving them both some last-minute instructions, you’ve only done this at home before, and remember, your horses are not used to all this fuss and bother going on around them, so just take it easy, okay. Don’t try and push your horse, even if you just want to trot around the drums, that’s okay. The whole point of today is just to get used to things.

The boys nodded, taking on board everything that Ben told them.

I don’t want to look stupid though, Coby told his uncle.

You won’t look stupid, Ben reassured him with a grin. You don’t think all these others were this fast when they started out do you? Even now, when they’re training a new horse, they don’t go out to win. All they’re concentrating on is getting around the barrels and getting their horses used to the new sights and sounds.

Coby had drawn first up out of the twins. The announcer – an old guy with a limp – called his name. Cora looked on from the side of the arena, trying to point the boy out to his little sister, while at the same time crossing her fingers and hoping that all would go well. Ben gave the boy one last word of encouragement and Coby and his horse trotted out into the ring and around the first barrel. Still trotting, horse and rider made their way around the second barrel, nearly coming at it from the wrong side in the boy’s nervousness, then down to the third barrel they went getting up a slow canter on the ride home. Everyone clapped, the guy with the mike praised the young boy’s ride, and Coby was pleased that it was over.

Next Nait took old Sam around the barrels, a nice gentle lope all the way, flapping his legs, kicking the horse’s sides to make him go faster on the ride home. A smile filled Nait’s face from ear to ear. He wished that he could do it all again right at that moment, and that was the beginning of it all.

***

At the next rodeo Coby’s horse was more settled and Coby too was more settled in himself. He went out, pushing a little harder, and with each time his confidence grew as he made new friends and was given some helpful advice by the other competitors a long time in the sport, as to how to better his performance. Nait too shined, and sometimes he would have the better time score, but often it would be Coby. As time passed, Nait would find himself in need of a faster horse. Cora was thrilled for her boys and Ben too. Sara, in the typical style of a young child, was sometimes frustrated at the long and tiring days.

***

When Sara’s first birthday came it was a quiet celebration – at home on the farm with just Ben, the boys, Cora, Abner and Rose. Cora had made a butter cake and iced it in pink with chocolate freckles stuck here and there all over. One single bright candle stood in the centre. Cora so enjoyed having a little girl, not that she didn’t love her boys – they would always be special to her, maybe even more so – but it was a thrill to have a girl. To be able to buy little pink dresses and pretty things for the latest delicate addition to the family was a joy. Sara cried when the candle was lit but soon, helped by her mother, the candle was blown out and she calmed down enough to try a little piece of her own cake. The boys laughed as they saw their sister’s little face covered in pink icing.

I seem to remember you guys when you were little, Cora told them. You looked just like that yourselves. Only it was chocolate icing if I remember correctly.

Na, Coby stated.

Yes, Cora said with a laugh.

It was a relaxing afternoon – just a couple of party games played and presents unwrapped. Ben thought that Sara was more impressed by the brightly coloured wrapping paper than the gifts contained inside, and he was right. Nait and Coby tried to get their sister to play with the little soft horse that she had been given, but after failing in their efforts dismally, they went out into the yard to play. The adults all sat down to a cup of coffee, some hot Milo and a chat. Sara played in front of them on the floor.

***

By the time the boys’ birthday came around the weather had turned cold and windy. They had to cancel their plans to go to the coast and instead found themselves at Geoff’s place for a barbecue. Geoff’s wife Carley was a lovely woman with a young daughter of her own, only four months older than Sara. Though Carley had been raised in the city, she had adapted to country life as though she had never known anything different. Cora enjoyed her company.

She’s so gorgeous, Carley said, admiring Sara’s curly locks of hair, while her own daughter was taking a quiet nap. The two little girls were like chalk and cheese, Sara with her fair hair and pale complexion, while Carley’s little girl had jet black hair and deep olive skin which came, they could only think, from Carley’s grandfather on her mother’s side. Either way, they were both set to be heart breakers when they grew up.

How have you been? Carley wanted to know. How are the boys doing with their barrel racing?

Carley would have asked the boys herself, but the boys had rushed off to follow Ben and Geoff to the shed, where Geoff had a new four-wheel drive wagon to show off.

They’re doing great. They haven’t won an event yet, but they’re loving every moment of it, Cora answered enthusiastically.

That’s great. It won’t be long before Sara’s out there with them I suppose, Carley suggested.

Cora laughed. That was jumping the gun a little she thought, but then again she supposed that it was the natural course.

Down at the shed the men talked and the boys listened. After a while the men headed back up to the house and Ben suggested that Nait and Coby fetch the ball they had bought with them from the car and play.

So, how are things? Geoff asked, worried about his cousin as the boys disappeared.

Oh, you know... Ben answered, avoiding the question.

Did you get that trouble you were having sorted out? he asked.

Ben stopped for a minute. He’d told Geoff before that things were not going so well for him financially and that he’d found himself in a bit of a bind. After that things had begun to look up, but of late things had been going sour again.

Ah, you know, nothing I can’t get out of. Luck’s bound to change soon, Ben answered.

Just then Cora stepped out onto the back patio.

What’s bound to change? she asked.

Oh, nothin’. Nothin’ for you to worry your pretty little head about, Ben said with a huge smile on his face to hide what he and Geoff had been talking about, and how serious his problems were.

It puzzled Cora, but the two men took up a new conversation which the women came outside to, and joined in with.

That night on the way home, after the boys had exhausted themselves running around the back yard, and Sara had screamed, and Carley’s daughter Anne had also screamed with the lighting of the candles on the birthday cake, all the children slept on the back seat. Cora asked Ben again, What did you mean by your luck changing?

Ben shook his head and avoided the subject, saying that he couldn’t even remember what he and Geoff had been talking about at the time. It must have been something trivial. Cora said no more.

***

A month later at another rodeo, Ben seemed a little, well, Cora could not quite put her finger on it, just that Ben seemed if anything, a little distant. The boys had their rides for the day and Cora had promised them a ride on the Rainbow before they left. Nait and Coby paid their money and got on the ride, but as the couple watched their sons whiz by Cora looked at Ben, noticing that he was in one of his daydreams again.

Are you okay? she asked.

Yeah, fine, he replied, frowning and smiling and putting his arm around his wife all at the same time.

The boys screamed with excitement as the ride moved from side to side then up and over. Ben looked on with interest and with a little amusement.

***

Over the following months Ben’s once good humour slowly began to change. The laughter came less often, and sometimes the boys missed a rodeo that they really should have gone to, the excuse being that Ben had to help his father out instead. Cora would have loved to have taken the boys herself, but with Sara at the age she was now toddling about, it would have been just impossible for Cora to cope. She could have left her daughter with Rose, but the family had already helped so much over the years that Cora hated to impose any more than she already had.

By the time that spring arrived Cora could tell that something was seriously wrong. She had queried her husband a couple of times over the past months but always he brushed her aside, telling her not to worry and that things would be fine. Sometimes he blamed having to help his parents for the extra stress in his life. If only Cora had known. If it hadn’t