08/06/2016

Just want to let you guys know, that we are currently working on a new chapter!
Should be finished within the next couple of days.
-Thank you for showing us so much support - We get super excited
everytime we look at how many people that have read the story so far

7/17/2016

More chapters will be coming during the next weeks, but due to holiday and stuff
we have decided to take a break and continue writing, when we both are back home
- But no fear, they will be coming!

CHAPTER 1


"Do you still love him?" That's what Tess had asked her. A question she hadn't answered, because she wasn't sure. But now she knew. After she saw what Peter was capable of, she knew that she didn't and she couldn't love him anymore. She was about to lose Drover's Run. Her home, her life, her everything. She was going to lose it all because of Peter. If only he had handed in the letter of resignation to the board, when Claire broke the contract with Australian Bloodlines, she wouldn't be in this mess. No, Peter was to blame for all of it and still she was the loser in it. And as if he hadn't done enough damage in her life, he was now blackmailing her into marrying him. She could either lose Drover's or marry Peter, and neither of the options was appealing to her.
She walked around from one side of the room to the other, feeling absolutely sick about the choice she was about to make. She knew what she had to do, but the outcome of her decision could end in a disaster - but she was willing to put her own feelings aside, if it meant that she could keep Drover's. Gentle voices from outside reached her ears and she walked to the window in her room. She saw the others outside, busy with the chores for the day - unaware of the choices she had to deal with. They were all laughing when Jodi showed her dancing skills, while she moved a bag of seed from one place to another. A small laugh escaped Claire's lips. If she wasn't sure about her decision before, she was now. Seeing all of them together like that, meant the world to her. For once in her life, Claire didn't feel alone. This was not only her home, but also theirs. Claire moved her focus to Meg. She had been here since Claire was a little girl - How could she possibly take that away from her?
Her eyes caught Tess and she knew she had to tell her what was going on. She also knew Tess would try and talk her out of it, but she really hoped she would understand. Truth is, the idea of facing Tess and telling her what was going on and what she planned to do, was something she didn't wanted to do either. She knew her sister well enough now, and she was fearing her reaction. She really hoped that all of this wouldn't result in her losing her sister once again, because that was something she couldn't take. Tess was the only family she had left, and she needed her support. She could only pray for her understanding as well. Well, pondering on the possible outcomes would do her no good. She gathered all her courage and slowly made her way out of her bedroom, down to the kitchen and out of the house. The others were still chatting and laughing, meanwhile she was feeling like her heart was going to escape her chest from how fast it was beating. She slowly approached them, cursing herself for the situation she had put everyone in. She had been so stupid! Maybe she should have listened to Alex when he had told her that Peter was a knob and not good for her. Suddenly she froze in place. Alex! What would Alex say when he found out what her plan was? She would lose a business partner, and above all, she would lose a mate. Tears started gathering in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away not wanting anyone to see her crying.
"Claire? Are you okay?" She was brought back to reality by Tess's question. No, I'm not okay, Tess. Nothing is okay she thought to herself - But she couldn't say that. "Yeah, everything is fine" Claire said looking down at the ground. "Actually. Can I talk to you. In the kitchen?" She turned around and started marching back to where she came from, knowing that Tess would follow her. Please, heart, don't fail me now. She thought to herself as she busied herself in filling a glass of water. She wasn't thirsty, she just needed something to do with her hands, because otherwise she might have strangled herself for her own stupidity. "What's wrong?" Tess asked and walked to the sink. Claire looked out in the blue, with the water in her hand. It wasn't news you could just break to someone - No, it needed a further explanation but she hadn't the slightest idea on how to start the topic. Urgh, to hell with this. Claire turned her head to her sister. "I'm going to marry Peter" she said. Tess's mouth almost dropped to the floor and they both went silent for a couple of seconds. Tess finally closed her mouth but she still hadn't grasped her brain around with her sister just had said.
"Before you say anything. I need to explain why" Claire poured the rest of the water out in the sink and placed the glass on the counter. She pulled out a chair and gave Tess signal to sit down as well. "Peter didn't hand in my letter to the board." She began, she couldn't look Tess in the eyes, but she could feel her eyes on her. "There was a clause in the contract. He made me put Drover's as a guarantee in case anything were to go wrong. But he assured me that nothing would. He's a bastard Tess!" She said, tears forming in her eyes once again, only this time she wasn't able to stop them, so they rolled slowly down her cheeks. "They will take Drover's because he hasn't handed in my letter to the board. We are going to lose everything out of spite! The only way to save Drover's Run is to marry him." By now tears were streaming down her face. She couldn't imagine spending the rest of her life next to that man! "So he's blackmailing you?" Tess asked. She was shocked, and angry. Claire just nodded her head to answer her sister. "Oh, Claire!" She said standing up and coming to hug her. "There must be another solution. We will find a way out of this." How Tess managed to stay positive in a situation like this was beyond Claire. "There's no other way out, Tess. The marriage is the only solution. But no one can know why I'm marrying him. This stays between me and you." Tess must have seen the desperation in Claire's eyes, because she decided to not argue any further. "We will get through this, Claire. I'm here for you." Tess said hugging her sister once again. "Thank you." Was all Claire managed to answer.
Tess let go of her sister and looked her in the eyes, to make sure she understood what she had just told her. But Claire couldn't see how they were suppose to get through it, she just had to tough it up for the sake of Drover's, her sister and the others - She couldn't allow herself to be overwhelmed with feelings and thoughts about what could have been, before Peter showed the real him. She knew deep down that he still loved her and even though she despised everything that man stood for, there was glimpse of "what if" in her body. What if she could learn to love the man she thought she knew, with time? It would make such a difference in all this. She shook her head, to get the thoughts out of her head. She knew the man Peter really were, she shouldn't even be thinking these kind of thoughts.
Claire got up from the chair and placed her hands on her sides, as she always did when she had made up her mind about something - Tess knew there was nothing she could say to talk her out of it now. "I have to drive to Gungellan and tell Peter my answer" she said and walked towards the door to the laundry. Tess sighed as her sister walked out of the kitchen - She was truly concerned about all this, but if Claire really was tied on both hands, there was nothing else to do. It can't be the only way, there must be a loophole somewhere in the contract. She found herself gazing by the thought of that. Maybe she could find a loophole? It didn't have to be a massive hole, just enough to get them out of the contract.


Claire parked outside Gungellan hotel, but she wasn't in a hurry to go in. She sat behind the wheel and let all of the memories she had shared with Peter run through her mind. Good and bad. She buried her head in her hands. Get yourself together Claire. You are a McLeod and you do what is necessary. She took a deep breath and got out of the car. It felt like everything was happening in slow motion around her and before she knew it, she was standing outside Peter's hotel room. She lifted her hand to knock on the door, but she kept it hanging in the air. She closed her eyes and made a quick shook on her head, before she guided her hand and knocked on the door. She could hear him move around inside the room and her whole body froze when he opened the door. "Claire" he said and a smile appeared on his face. She couldn't bring herself to match his smile. "Peter, I've made up my mind about your offer." She said, getting straight to the point. She wanted no formalities, the quicker she was to get out of there the better. Standing now in the presence of the man she once loved, she was sure even the last bit of love she proved for him was gone - or soon to be gone. She couldn't love a man that was capable of blackmailing her in staying with him. She couldn't love Peter again. So she took a deep breath and proceeded to talk again. "I've came to the conclusion that the only way I have to save Drover's is marrying you. So I accept your offer." She could feel herself breaking on the inside as Peter hugged her. He probably hadn't understood what she said. She didn't love him. She wasn't going to marry him out of love. Why the hell was he happy? "Oh ,Claire!" He said. "I knew you would make the right decision. I want to marry you the soonest possible!" To Claire's shock, Peter tried kissing her, but she was faster than him. She hold her hand on his chest, keeping him from getting any closer. He looked like he didn't understand why she would keep him from getting near her. She quickly smiled at him, she should at least try and act happy towards him - She couldn't risk him taking the proposal back and she feared he would, if he found out why she married him. Well, she had kinda already told him, but it was like his brain sorted the details out and focused on what he wanted to hear. "I'm sorry, I have to go now, If you don't mind? I really want to tell everyone about us, and I would like to do it at dinner tonight." She said. Her whole body was screaming for her to get out of there, away from him, as soon as possible. Peter looked her in the eyes and took her hand in his. He looked like the happiest man on earth and it made Claire feel even more sick and unsure about her choice. "It's a good idea Claire. There is no rush anyway, we have the rest of our lives together now. I'll come by tomorrow, then we can sort things out - I know we have a lot to figure out. I can even move in from tomorrow, wouldn't that be wonderful?" Move. in. with. you. The words kept playing on repeat in Claire's head. Peter was the last man she wanted on Drover's, but she knew she had to let him move in, if she wanted to keep the facade towards Peter and the others at home. She turned away quickly and as soon as she had her back turned to him, tears started to fill her eyes again. But they were different this time - she was angry. Angry with herself that she had let it get this far. "I'll see you tomorrow" she said and started to make her way back to Merc.


She was dreading the dinner moment that night. But she had to face the consequences of her actions. She slowly made her way to the house, deciding on what was the best way of breaking in the news. She had decided that only her and Tess were to know the real reason behind the marriage. Everyone else was going to think that it was out of love. For Claire, this was the best solution. Everyone hated Peter after all that had happened, she didn't want to give them one more reason to do so. Her walk back to kitchen was filled with thoughts about her decision to marry Peter. She walked right past Meg in the kitchen, didn't even notice her talking to her. The voices from the others was like a humming to Claire as she entered the dining room. She pulled out a chair and kept her focus into the big wide nothing. She could hear the others talk, but she couldn't bring herself to focus on what they were saying. "I'm going to marry Peter." She suddenly blurred out and closed her eyes. The only thing that reached her ears now was silence. Although her eyes were closed, she knew that they were all staring at her. She counted to ten and took a deep breath before talking again. "He's coming around tomorrow. He will be moving in." She looked at them before she continued "And that's the way it's going to be, I know you all have some issues with him, but it's not up for discussion". None of them said anything, they were caught by surprise. Claire's eyes found it's way to Tess', she needed some sort of reassurance, she needed to know that she was doing the right thing. "Well, I guess that congratulations are in order!" Tess said. "Congratulation with what?" Meg asked as she entered the room, holding a tray. "Claire is getting married to Peter" Jodi said in a harsh way. Meg looked at her daughter, then at Claire. "Oh" Meg said. She was just as surprised as the rest. "Well, that's good - I guess"
Claire tried to force a smile as she looked at Meg. "But that's a sudden decision! What happened?" Jodi asked. Claire was really dreading this question. "Jodi!" Meg reprimanded her daughter. "She's marrying Peter for the same reason you were going to marry Alberto." "Well, I hope her marriage will be more successful than mine was." Jodi muttered, but Claire was able to hear her and busted out laughing, partly because of nerves, partly because what Jodi said was funny, and partly out of irony. If anything, her marriage would be more of a disaster than Jodi's. Meg looked with a worried look at Claire, she could sense something weren't right. She just couldn't put her finger on it - but for some reason Claire didn't convince her and she knew what Peter had put her through, and Claire weren't the type of person to just forgive something like that. She caught Claire's eyes and smiled at her. "Let's eat before dinner get's cold" she said, knowing she shouldn't rummage in that topic anymore.