Red Dust Dreaming by Eva Scott Page B

won’t let me down. Please, whatever you do, don’t take me to New York. I’ll haunt you forever if you do and you know I will.
    There’s not much in my will that doesn’t involve Luke. You might be surprised to discover there’s money, quite a lot of money. Mitch had inherited money from his grandmother who was ridiculously wealthy and I had a huge insurance policy just in case something like this should happen. Pretty smart, huh? Luke will be richer than he needs to be to have a happy life.
    But this is the hard part, the part I want you to do for me. I want you to decided who should have Luke – the Kirrkalan family or the Langtrees. You’re there at Kirrkalan and you live in New York. You’ll know which one offers my son the best shot at a happy life filled with love and affection. Maybe Mom and Dad have changed and want to be better grandparents than they were parents? I can’t rule that out because I don’t know, but you do. I hereby leave the decision up to you. Leave him here, the only home he’s ever known, or take him back to the Langtrees. What do you think?
    With this letter is a copy of my will. Everything is outlined there. I know we haven’t been close for many years but I’ve always loved you, you are my sister. You’re the only one I trust outside of Kirrkalan.
    I do have one more regret – I regret I never got to say goodbye to you.
    Make a good decision.
    My love always
    Angela.
    Elizabeth could barely make out the signature for her tears. She blinked furiously trying to stop the flow. She employed her old trick and pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth with furious intensity. It worked and the tears hovered but did not fall. Time enough later to cry in the privacy of her room. Angela’s letter had indeed changed everything. She was the one who had to choose Luke’s future. Elizabeth didn’t know if was an act of cruelty of an honour to be given such a task.
    She sighed and folded the letter, sliding it back in the envelope with the will. Caden was laughing at something Luke said, one dark head one fair head. No one could deny the affection between the two. She tried to imagine her father being so warm to his grandson. He wasn’t a cold man, giving gestures of affection sparingly. Nor was he the kind of man who hugged or let you climb up on his knee or tickle-wrestle at bedtime. She’d bet money Caden was. Could she go against her parents’ wishes? Only once had she defied them her whole life. When she’d gone to college to study fine art. She’d used her own money, her inheritance, to pay for the tuition. Of course the money had run out and she’d returned home with her tail between her legs.
    Was she strong enough to defy them a second time and stick to it? Truly, she did not know.

Chapter 12
    Luke’s little friend and his parents had been waiting for them when they landed. He trotted off chatting happily, delighted to see his friend. Elizabeth and Caden quickly forgotten. Once Luke left silence descended thick and heavy in the afternoon air.
    â€œRichard will be here shortly to get us. And if anyone asks I have our permits.” Caden patted his jacket pocket.
    â€œPermits? For what?”
    â€œYuendumu is on Aboriginal Lands, Trust land, so we need a permit if we want to stay overnight or longer. No permit is required if you just visit for the day,” he explained.
    â€œYou got those permits mighty quick!” Elizabeth was impressed.
    Caden shot her a sideways look. “I’ve had them for a while. When I heard you were coming I applied for one in case you ended up coming to Richard’s party.” He shrugged. “Better to be prepared.”
    â€œWell, aren’t you the Boy Scout,” she murmured secretly pleased he had intended to bring her all along.
    He grinned. “There’s Richard now.” A plume of dust sprayed up behind the four-wheel drive