The Man From Shadow Creek Read online

  The Man from Shadow Creek

  RACHEL ARMSTRONG

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Copyright

  About the Author

  Dear Reader

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Thank You

  The Shadow Creek Series

  Author’s Note

  Acknowledgements

  Sign up for Rachel Armstrong's Mailing List

  For Jill Staunton

  Copyright

  THE MAN FROM SHADOW CREEK

  Copyright © 2023 Rachel Armstrong

  ISBN: 978-0-6453555-3-6

  Print ISBN: 978-0-6453555-2-9

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher and the author.

  The characters in this book are a work of fiction and have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  About the Author

  Rachel Armstrong has always loved making up stories and has never wanted to be anything but an author. She writes contemporary romantic fiction ranging from rural to suspense. Rachel enjoys creating epic feel-good stories and has a weakness for an adventurous holiday escape. Helping her characters find their happily-ever-after is her life’s joy.

  Rachel lives in Townsville, Queensland, with her border collie, Jacob, where she helps people live their best lives as an exercise physiologist. In her spare time, she is either reading on her treadmill or plotting out her next novel while grooving at Zumba. Rachel’s a keen traveller and has enjoyed many holidays exploring historic London, flying through the Grand Canyon, and hiking volcanos in Bali.

  Rachel loves to connect with readers and fellow writers through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  www.rachelarmstrongauthor.com.au

  Dear Reader

  Welcome back to Elizadale! Three months have passed since Ana found her home with Liam and now, her sister has arrived in town to help plan the wedding. Natalia is a young GP keen to establish herself in a rural practice and she hopes Elizadale will provide her with a fresh start like it did her sister. But she didn’t count on having her own romance with Liam’s cousin, Adam.

  Adam and Natalia’s story has troubled me for some time. Originally, it was told in a different light, but new ideas develop, the world changes, and even though it was a tough journey, I’m glad that I discovered what the core of their story was and am proud to be able to tell it.

  Adam and Natalia have both experienced sexual harassment. Their situations are different and they’ve each responded in keeping with their character. However, while Adam and Natalia may both be suffering, their shared experiences help them conquer their pain in a way I hope is respectable and reflective of society. Please note, this book contains no graphic detail of abuse, rather it focuses on the emotional response to inner turmoil, which is the heart of romantic fiction.

  Yet a Shadow Creek book isn’t complete without a furry friend, so I’m excited to introduce you to Rusty. Adam’s dog is a Jack Russell, but he shares similar characteristics to my fox terrier, Timmy. Timmy may have been my mum’s baby, but he protected us against snakes and was a skilled rat catcher. These are traits I have brought out in Rusty, although the little farm dog doesn’t particularly like cuddles. Maybe he’s in need of a mummy?

  I hope you enjoy Adam and Natalia’s emotional journey to their happy ending as they open their hearts to achieve dreams that they never thought possible.

  Happy reading,

  Rachel

  xoxo

  Prologue

  Adam Maguire never needed to justify a night out with his mates, but at least his birthday provided a legitimate excuse. The shots may have been too much though, which was probably why Cade had bailed on him. Typical. The man ordered the sambuca, then he piked out.

  But the night was still young, in the literal sense of the wee hours, when he and his new friends left the Royal Hotel.

  ‘To the park!’ the foreign guy called. Adam couldn’t remember his name. He’d just met the bloke and there were many overseas workers who passed through Elizadale. ‘Nothing better than partying in nature!’

  Adam swigged from the rum bottle as they walked, the warm liquid filling his belly to battle the cold evening. Or morning. Whatever. Adam didn’t particularly care as he stumbled into Elizadale Memorial Park.

  The pretty girl beneath his arm pressed her hand to his chest. ‘Steady there. If you fall over, there’ll be no picking you up.’

  ‘I’m good.’ He pulled her to his side and pressed his mouth to her temple, inhaling her sweet scent of shampoo and roses. ‘You sure you don’t want rum?’

  She shook her head, her dark hair swishing. ‘You know I don’t like rum.’

  ‘Dunno why.’ He took another swig. ‘Rum’s gooood.’

  Laughing, she squeezed him around the waist. Adam hadn’t planned on hooking up tonight, and if he hadn’t already started on the shots when he’d met her at the pub, he may have taken the woman home. But it was too late for that and he wanted to dance.

  ‘Anyone got music?’ the foreigner asked. ‘Should get some Trollfest playing around here. They’re good for drinkin’.’

  ‘Nah, mate, this is ‘straya.’ The other man laid his hand on the foreigner’s shoulder. ‘We sing Slim.’

  ‘Yes!’ Adam cheered and thrust the rum into the other bloke’s hand. ‘Drink up, bud. We’ll teach this Euro bloke about good music.’

  His mate lifted the rum, but the other woman in their group quickly snatched it away.

  ‘What do you think you’re doing? Don’t share your rum. It’s your special birthday present.’

  ‘Aww, come on,’ Adam said, grasping the bottle as she thrust it back at his chest. ‘I’m just being friendly.’

  She smiled widely and shimmied closer. ‘If you want to be friendly, we can ditch this lot and go back to my place.’

  She pressed her mouth to his and forced his lips apart as her arms snaked up around his neck. Adam blinked, his hands tightening around the bottle between them. He drew away and stumbled backwards. ‘No. I told you, I want to party.’ He took another gulp of rum. ‘And we’re not ... I don’t want ...’

  ‘Leave him alone.’ The warm, kind woman wrapped her arm back around his waist. ‘We’re having fun here and Adam’s not going anywhere with you.’

  ‘Stay out of this. What’s between Adam and I—’

  ‘There’s nothing between you and Adam. And he’s not leaving.’

  Adam shook his head. ‘No. I’m not.’

  ‘We wanna dance!’ The foreigner spun around on the grass holding his vodka bottle in the air. ‘Come on!’

  A familiar guitar riff sounded from the other bloke’s phone and Adam grinned. ‘Hell yeah! Line ‘em up!’

  ‘Fine.’ The woman threw her hands in the air. ‘Be like that.’

  Adam wrapped his arm around the guy’s shoulders, forgetting about the woman as he sang Aussie classics at the top of his lungs and shared his bottle of rum. The music didn’t stop. Nor did the drinks. There was laughter. More kissing.

  Next thing Adam knew, light speared into his consciousness. He squinted, his throat dry and head pounding as the grass itched at his back. Groaning, he rolled over and glanced around.

  The park? What was he doing in the park?

  Adam winced. Fuck, he felt like shit. His head, his guts. Had he drunk the whole bottle of rum?

  He shivered, his bare skin cold against the grass. Where was his shirt? He curled his toes. No shoes. Pants? Yes, he was wearing pants. Thank fuck.

  Gritting his teeth, Adam forced himself to sit, blinking until the dizziness eased. There was no sign of his shirt. Nobody else around. He’d slept there. Alone?

  Bile rose in his thro
at, and he dropped his head into his hands. What the fuck had happened last night?

  Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone. It was mid-morning and he had missed calls from his brother. Groaning, Adam called him back.

  ‘Hey,’ Jack said, sounding rightfully pissed. ‘Where are you?’

  ‘The park.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Dunno. Can you come get me?’

  Jack made a sound Adam had heard many times before, a mix of a grunt and a sigh, likely accompanied by an eye roll. ‘You had a big night, then?’

  ‘Must have.’ Exhaling, Adam ran his hand down his face. ‘Can’t remember, though. Where were you?’

  ‘I left after dinner when you and Cade went to Smithy’s.’

  Adam scratched his head. That made sense. He’d had dinner with Jack and their friends at the Royal Hotel, then he and Cade had moved on to the other pub, Smithy’s. But after that ... he couldn’t recall a single thing.

  ‘You ’right, mate?’ Jack asked.

  ‘Dunno. Feel like shit.’ Adam’s gut tightened and he forced out a breath. ‘You coming?’

  ‘I’m on my way.’

  They hung up. Adam pushed to his feet and his vision blurred. Rubbing his eyes, he scrolled through his phone and called Cade. His mate answered after a few rings, yawning. ‘How’d you pull up?’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘Home. Why?’

  ‘Did you come to the park?’

  ‘Why would I go to the park?’

  Adam frowned. ‘Well, I did. You weren’t here?’

  ‘No, I left you at Smithy’s with a bunch of farmers. You were talking about going back to the Royal. Don’t you remember?’

  ‘No. I don’t even know how I got here. Head’s all fuzzy and—’

  ‘Shit, mate.’ Alarm filled Cade’s voice. ‘What the fuck did you drink?’

  Chapter One

  Natalia Hamilton strolled off the plane and into Cairns Airport, ignoring the flutters in her belly. She’d already overthought this move and enough was enough. She’d arrived in North Queensland and would soon be in her new home of Elizadale.

  A small town.

  A small rural town.

  A small rural farming town.

  Where she’d be stuck for two years.

  Natalia sighed. Yes, she’d never imagined she’d leave the raging metropolis of Sydney, but Elizadale had its advantages—fewer people, a sense of community, and tight-knit friendships. If she couldn’t find value in her work and respect as a doctor in a small town, where would she?

  Emerging from the airbridge, she heard her name called. ‘Nat!’

  ‘Ana!’

  Natalia grinned as her sister ran towards her. Embracing, they swayed from side to side, holding other tight. It had been far too long since Natalia had seen Ana. She’d moved to Elizadale in January and a lot had happened in the seven months since. Not for Natalia, but Ana had settled in as a schoolteacher, had met a bunch of lovely people, and was now engaged to Liam Maguire, the tourism director of his family’s banana farm, Shadow Creek. There had also been the incident when Ana’s ex-fiancé had sought revenge upon her after they had released him from prison, but Natalia didn’t want to think about that. Rick was serving out his longer sentence, and Ana was happy.

  Natalia drew away. ‘I’ve missed you!’

  ‘Me too! It’s been ages. You look great!’

  ‘I went to the salon before I left.’

  ‘Good, because our hairdresser is closed for almost ten weeks! Can you believe it? Claire’s gone away to do a beauty course.’

  ‘Ooh, sounds promising. Maybe we’ll be able to get our eyebrows done.’ She looked Ana up and down. ‘You look great too. I guess the engagement adds this extra glow? Now let me see the ring!’

  Ana’s grin turned cheeky as she bounced on her toes and extended her left hand. ‘Don’t you just love it?’

  Natalia’s breath caught as she grasped her sister’s fingers. She’d seen a picture, of course, but it was nothing like the real thing. The three-quarter carat princess cut diamond sparkled beneath the airport lights.

  ‘It’s stunning. I’m so happy for you!’ Ana deserved nothing less than the wonderful man and home she’d found in Elizadale. Natalia only hoped that one day she might find the same things.

  She swallowed a laugh. If only. It’d take a special man for her to make such a commitment. A man who didn’t bother with pretence and who saw past her ‘pretty face’. A man who was strong, kind, had a sense of humour and was downright sexy—at least in his own way.

  But since such a man didn’t exist, Natalia had decided it was easier to swear off them entirely. Men weren’t worth the effort.

  ‘Thanks.’ Ana looped her arm through Natalia’s, grabbed her suitcase, and led her away from the gate. ‘I’m excited. And I’m so glad you’re here! Just wait until you see Elizadale. This town, these people ... But seriously, Nat—’ Ana’s face sobered ‘—you in a small town?’

  Natalia’s chest tightened. Ana’s concerns weren’t unfounded since Natalia thrived on the class and buzz of city life, but she’d needed a fresh start and a new town provided that.

  They stepped onto the escalator. ‘Yeah, but it’s only for two years. You inspired me, Ana, and a fellowship in rural medicine can take me far. Besides, I want to work in a place where I feel valued, not where I’m just another disposable doctor.’

  ‘I know. You want to feel needed.’

  The tension inside Natalia loosened. ‘Exactly. And you made Elizadale sound like the place to do that.’

  Besides, Doctor Joanne Brennan had hired her on merit, which was more than Natalia could say for her previous job. Her boss, Doctor Mason Canning, had destroyed her rosy picture of life as a doctor.

  * * *

  After leaving the airport, Natalia admired the rainforest as Ana navigated her hatchback up the Kuranda Range. Everything she’d heard about North Queensland’s beauty appeared to be true as trees she couldn’t name speared into the bright blue sky. Natalia wouldn’t call herself a nature enthusiast, but she liked the outdoors and would enjoy exploring the walking trails during her time off. Give her a scenic track through a national park and she could walk all day.

  ‘I haven’t visited many of the towns around here,’ Ana said. ‘I planned to during the Easter holidays, but Liam had just opened The Bent Banana.’

  ‘How’s that going?’ Natalia asked, keen to visit the new café.

  ‘Fantastic. Business is good and we’ve had great comments about the dog-friendly section and our diverse menu. Our gluten-free apple crumble muffins are our bestsellers.’

  ‘Anything vegan?’

  ‘I told Liam that if he asks nicely ... you might give us your pineapple cake recipe.’

  Natalia laughed. ‘You think I’ll give that away? It took me ages to nail that one!’

  ‘Oh, come on! Wouldn’t you like to visit The Bent Banana and eat something other than the fruit salad?’

  ‘No, I love fruit salad.’ Not that she had a problem sharing her recipe, Natalia just loved to tease. Of course she would help Liam if he wanted her to because finding vegan-friendly cafés was challenging enough.

  Soon, the rainforest disappeared and they entered barren, dry country.

  ‘We’ve definitely left civilisation,’ Natalia muttered, questioning her sanity as she glanced around at the savannah north of Mareeba.

  ‘Well, this is cattle country, but there’s a lot of diversity. Mangos, avocados, and bananas are the biggest crops around here. And people in Elizadale are lovely. Tomorrow, you can come to the pub for Friday Frenzy and meet Meg, Isabella Brennan, and the Maguires. Meg’s thrilled that you’re here.’

  Natalia didn’t doubt that Ana’s friends would be as welcoming towards her as they’d been her sister. It was one part of the move she’d been looking forward to as working long hours hadn’t left her much time for socialising.

  Almost two hours after leaving the airport, they arrived in Elizadale. The lush parkland to Natalia’s left curved around footpaths and play equipment while large trees lined the highway. They passed the golf course on their right, one pub, and then the infamous Royal Hotel.

  ‘There’s The Bent Banana,’ Ana said, pointing out Natalia’s window towards a brick building with a massive concrete banana out the front. ‘And this is the main street, Riley Road.’ They turned at a cluster of shops and drove by sporting fields. ‘Elizadale Medical is down that way. There’s the school and community centre. You’ll have to come to yoga.’