Redback by Lindy Cameron

Author:Lindy Cameron [Cameron, Lindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Thriller
ISBN: 9780987160300
Publisher: Clan Destine Press
Published: 2011-01-04T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-One

Houston, Texas

Saturday 9 am

Nathan West sipped the coffee Angela had just poured for them and glanced across at his mother who, despite everything that had happened and all they had learned in the last four days, still managed to look like a perfect porcelain doll. He knew her heart was breaking, just like his. He knew that if she could, she'd scream, just like he would. Yet grief was not reflected in her dress, her demeanour, or her sense of hospitality. She had dealt with all the visitors and their condolences, while he had hidden away in the study; she and Aunt Edwina had taken all the phone calls when he'd been unable to speak, and had sat beside his chair or by his bed when he needed comfort.

Despite her own strong and usually vocal faith, she'd also known not to console him with any notion of this being God's will. She knew her son had given up on the Lord when His will had made a truck driver fall asleep at the wheel, taking his first wife, his baby daughter, and his own legs. She had tried her hardest over the last decade to coax him back into the fold but, after this latest tragedy, even she thought he'd now be lost forever.

Nathan West had no time at all for God and his mysterious ways. He knew, without doubt, that all the joys and tragedies of life were man-made.

'Nathan, would you like scrambled eggs?'

'Just a little on toast, thank you Aunt Edwina,' Nathan smiled bleakly at his mother's younger sister. She was Uncle Nathanial's twin but, thankfully, looked more like their mother. Uncle Nate van Louden was an imposing man, big in stature, voice and personality, and no woman would want to match him, except perhaps in personality - and only then if they too wanted to enter politics and rule the world.

Sheba and Solo, the two Pharaoh Hounds who'd been lying under the table, suddenly howled. They waited for Nathan's go signal before tearing off to investigate who was coming up the long driveway.

'Oh dear,' Abigail said. 'I really thought breakfast on the porch would be visitor free.'

'It's okay Mother, I think I can cope this morning,' Nathan said. 'Oh no, on second thoughts.'

The dogs, still barking, escorted a too-familiar High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle around the last bend in the tree-lined driveway. Nathan usually laughed when he saw the ridiculous contraption - driven as it was by the state's most conceited and verbose man - but not today.

'Wheel me out of here quick,' he begged. 'It's the Lone Ranger and his new charger.'

Nathan could not abide the man; but he was a long-time friend of his mother's, and this was his third visit since they'd learned of the train crash.

'Don't be rude, darling,' Abigail said, standing to greet their unexpected guest.

George Gantry, Lieutenant-Governor of Texas, was wearing his trademark moleskin riding pants, blue checked shirt and cowboy hat. He leapt out of the Humvee and loudly apologised for coming so early and unannounced.

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