Between the Vines (29 page)

“Felicity rarely steps outside and if she does it's not far from the office.”

Pete was wrong about that. Taylor had seen her a few times now
in the winery quite a distance from her office.

“Anyway, she won't know that Ed doesn't know.” Pete shook his head. “Listen to me. I sound like someone from a crime novel instead of Pete Starr from little old Wriggly Creek Wines.”

“Why are you putting yourself through this if it bothers you so much?”

“Howard thought it was necessary.”

Taylor looked over to where the old man sat in the shade. He was slumped back in his chair, his grey felt hat pulled over his face. Margaret sat nearby talking to Jane and Ben.

“You obviously put a lot of faith in his judgement.”

“I do. It was hard losing Dad. Apart from the fact that he was my dad, he was also my mentor when it came to winemaking. Howard was a good friend and support to Dad. He's transferred that support to me.”

“You've got a few people in your camp.” Taylor felt a little envious. She sometimes wished there'd been more senior adults she could have turned to for advice. “Noelene as well. Although you didn't invite her to help today.”

“Something obviously happened that worried Howard about Ed but he won't tell me what.” Pete dragged his fingers through the hair curling down the back of his neck. “Howard suggested I keep Noelene out of the loop as well. I guess I'll find out why soon enough.”

Taylor recalled Noelene's pride in both Pete and Ed and her involvement in their lives. “Perhaps he knew it would put her in a difficult situation.”

“How?”

“She's very fond of you both. Thinks of you as sons. It would be hard for her to take sides.”

Pete looked over in Howard's direction. “I hadn't thought of that. Howard was never close to Ed but you're right, Noelene wouldn't want to have to choose between what Ed wanted and me.” His eyes
filled with sadness. “Howard won't care and Ben's a close friend of mine rather than Ed's but I didn't think through the position I've put you and Antoine in.”

“I can't speak for Antoine but I'm okay with it. Ed and I are barely on speaking terms as it is.” Taylor gave what she hoped was an encouraging smile. “I doubt he'll even give me a thought.”

Pete took a step closer. Taylor's heart raced. There was something about his eyes. It was as if he could see right inside her. His hair was damp from being under his cap. His cheeks were flushed red from the warmth of the day and his lips…her fingers twitched. How she longed to twirl the hair that formed small curls at the nape of his neck, to trace the line of his jaw, to kiss those–

“Come on, young fella.” Howard's call broke the tension between them. “Time's a-wasting.”

Pete glanced at his watch. “Back to it everyone,” he called.

Suddenly the temporary camp was a flurry of activity as people gathered their buckets and tools and headed back to the vines. Taylor put her hat back on her head and followed Antoine to the next row. Once more the air was filled with the snap and clip of the snips and the murmur of voices.

Taylor bent and reached for a bunch of grapes. Something brushed her hand. She yelped and pulled her hand back at the touch of the cobweb. Her yelp turned to a scream as a huge spider scrabbled across the bunch she'd been about to snip.

Antoine put a hand on her shoulder. She yelled again and jerked around.

“What happened?”

Ben and Jane were beside her as well, their faces full of concern.

“Are you hurt?” Ben asked.

Taylor sucked in a breath, flapped her hands in the air and stomped her feet.

Jane took her hands. “Did you cut yourself?”

Taylor shook her head. Everywhere she looked there were worried faces and they were all surrounded by leaves. Leaves that
hid spiders.

“What happened?” Pete arrived and put down his buckets.

Taylor gasped in another breath. “Spider.”

“Are you bitten?” Jane tried to inspect her hands but Taylor pulled them back and curled her fingers into her palms. She shook her head. Pete put a gentle arm across her shoulders.

“It's okay everyone,” he said. “Taylor will be fine. I'd forgotten she's very frightened of spiders.”

“This is not the job for you then,” Jane said. “Is that the first one you've seen? They're everywhere.”

Taylor gasped in another lungful of air.

“You guys get back to it,” Pete said. “I'll take care of Taylor.”

Jane still studied her with an anxious face.

Taylor gave her a weak smile. “I'm okay.”

Pete guided her to the end of the row and back to their makeshift shelter. He sat her down. Taylor hunched herself up. Every stick and blade of grass looked like a spider.

“I'm sorry,” he said. “I was worried about snakes with this warm weather. I didn't think about the spiders. We're so used to them. I should've warned you. Golden orbs are everywhere in the vines. They eat the bees.”

Taylor shuddered again. All the time she'd been snipping, she'd been working amongst spiders.

“I'm sorry, Pete. I can't go back there.” She stared at the leaves that she'd been admiring for their beautiful colours. Now she'd discovered they'd been concealing the thing she feared most.

“You don't have to.”

“But I want to help.”

“You can be the bucket girl.”

Taylor looked at him sceptically. If there were spiders in the vines they could easily be dropped in the buckets with the grapes.

“You can run the water bottles to people as well.”

Once more Taylor looked at the vines. What had once been a thing of beauty now harboured her worst nightmare.

“Sit here until you get your breath back.”

“I'm okay.” Taylor uncurled her fingers.

Pete unscrewed the cap of a water bottle and offered it to her. His eyes filled with kindness. Some people laughed at her fear, told her to get over it. If only it were that easy. Pete wasn't one of those people.

She took the drink from him. “You go. I'll stay here a bit longer.”

He took her free hand in his. They were both sticky from the grapes. His felt rough but comforting. “I'll do another bucket run and come back.”

“I'll be fine, really. Don't worry about me.”

He squeezed her hand then smiled as his skin stuck to hers. He peeled it away, gave her a reassuring smile and strode back to the vines. Taylor leaned back in her chair and sucked in another long, slow breath. Her heart was still beating fast. Whether it was still because of the spider or because of Pete's touch she wasn't sure.

Taylor turned sharply at a gentle tap on her arm.

“Sorry.” Pete had come up behind her. “Didn't mean to startle you.”

She put down the buckets she'd just emptied and pulled off her gloves.

“I'm still imagining spiders everywhere. Wish I wasn't so silly.”

“It's not silly.” His concerned eyes stared deeply into hers. “A fear like that is not something you can turn on and off.”

“Unfortunately. Thanks for these.” She jiggled the gloves in the air. “It helps.”

“I should have given them to you at the start. Some people prefer gloves.”

Pete turned back to look at the group still picking. Taylor felt like the lights dimmed when he looked away.

“I keep needing your help,” he said. “I've another favour to ask.”

Once more his gaze locked with hers.

“Sure,” she said. There was little she wouldn't do for him at this point. “Unless you want me to pick grapes from spider-infested vines. That I won't do.”

“No.” He grinned. “Would you go to Coonawarra? I've ordered a picnic lunch from the store there.”

“Of course.”

Jane joined them. She groaned and stretched her back and legs. “Every year I forget how much hand-picking makes my back ache.”

Pete gave her a peck on the cheek. “You know how much I appreciate your help.”

“I do. And I'll know it even more when you pay me.” She winked at Taylor.

“Would you like to go with Taylor to pick up the food?”

“Yes please.”

“I think we're nearly done and everyone will be hanging out for something to eat.”

“Donella's creations are always welcome.” Jane looked at Taylor. “We can take my car if you like.”

Taylor picked up her camera bag from the ground beside the bin. She hoped she'd captured some good shots during the morning.

“See you soon,” Pete called as they set off along the track and past the winery to where Jane and Ben had parked their car near Pete's cottage.

“Do you do much hand-picking?” Taylor asked.

“No, only when Pete asks us. Ben works here as their part-time cellar hand but he hasn't been much help lately. His dad's been laid up with an injured leg and we haven't been able to get away from the property like we could before.”

They climbed into Jane's four-wheel drive and headed out of the winery onto the dirt road. Along the side of the road Taylor noticed two cars, both had seen better days if their patchy paint was anything to go by.

“Picker's vehicles.” Jane nodded towards them as they passed. “Ben and I just got on the road ahead of the convoy this morning.”

“Convoy?”

“Quite a few of the seasonal pickers stay in town. They're all employed by the same contractor so they set off for the one vineyard at the same time and come home at the same time.” Jane chuckled. “If you get stuck behind them on the highway, you never want to be in a hurry. Most of their cars only do about eighty.”

Taylor twisted her head to take another look. That explained her trip home the morning after her bender at the pub. She was relieved to know she hadn't imagined the odd string of vehicles.

“Now the shit's going to hit the fan.”

Taylor turned back at Jane's words. They had reached the
highway and a familiar vehicle slowed in front of them. Instead of turning off the highway and onto the track to the winery, it picked up speed and kept going. “Was that Ed?”

“Yep. Looks like Pete will have a reprieve for a little bit longer.” Jane looked left and right and pulled out onto the highway going in the same direction as Ed. “I don't know if you've noticed but Ed and Pete are like chalk and cheese. A blow-up was bound to happen one day. Still, what's life without a bit of drama?”

Taylor chewed her lip. It hadn't worked out with Ed but she didn't wish him any ill. She thought she might be falling for Pete big time but she was trying to keep that to herself. The idea of the two brothers at loggerheads made her very uneasy.

“Sorry to be such a stickybeak but I gather you went out with Ed for a short time.”

Taylor glanced across at Jane. “Yes, but it didn't work out.”

“I'm glad.” Jane gave her an apologetic smile. “You're way too nice for him.”

Taylor felt an urge to defend Ed. He did have a sharp side but she thought that only came out when he was provoked. “We had some fun together. It seems he wasn't my type.”

“So what made you stay?”

“I was offered work.”

“Oh, I thought…it's just you seem friendly with Pete.”

“He's a nice guy too.”

“Yes he is.” Jane turned off the highway and pulled up in front of the Coonawarra store. “Uh-oh. Looks like Ed's here.”

One car over Taylor could see his four-wheel drive but Ed wasn't in it.

They both got out and Jane fiddled with the keys. “He's probably called in for lunch as well. What should we say?”

Taylor's insides churned but she wasn't going to lie to Ed's face. “Hello and we're getting lunch too?”

“Hmm.” Jane pushed open the door to the store.

Taylor followed her inside. Ed had his back to them, questioning
the woman behind the counter about the big box of food she was trying to give him.

“Pete ordered it for Wriggly Creek Winery,” she was saying. “He said someone would come to collect it at lunchtime.”

“I know nothing about it.” Ed said. “I've just called in for some lunch on my way north.”

“We've come to collect it.”

Ed turned and the woman behind the counter looked past him to Jane, relief on her face.

“Hello, Jane. I'm sorry. Pete didn't tell me who was picking the picnic hamper up.”

Ed gave Taylor a nod and a questioning look.

“We'll take it, Donella.” Jane stepped up to the counter and put her hands under the box.

“There's a second box.”

“I can take that,” Taylor offered.

“You may not have met Taylor, Donella.” Ed stood like a statue amidst them all. “She's doing a bit of work for us.”

“Oh, I'd heard that. Pleased to meet you, Taylor.” Donella handed over a smaller box. “Hope you enjoy the picnic.”

“Thanks, Donella.” Jane turned on her heel and made for the door. Taylor followed her but before they reached it Ed was there, opening it for them.

“Ladies.” He smiled and Taylor gave a little shiver. She had a sudden recollection of the spider on the grapes.

“I didn't know Pete had time for picnics,” Ed said.

“Just a bit of a get-together.” Jane stepped past him.

“Must be a few of you.” Ed fixed his look on Taylor.

“Hopefully there's leftovers,” she said. “Save me cooking tonight.” She slid through the door and hurried after Jane.

They stowed the boxes in the back of the four-wheel drive and climbed in. Jane started the engine. She tugged her seatbelt across her shoulder. “I know you don't want to be disloyal, Taylor, but there's something about Ed Starr I just don't like.”

Taylor looked at the shop door. It was closed again and there was no sign of Ed. As Jane backed out Taylor shifted her gaze to the car they'd been parked next to. She'd been so focused on getting the picnic past Ed she'd only taken in that there were two figures sitting in the front of the neighbouring vehicle. Just as Jane swung the four-wheel drive onto the road the driver turned his head. Taylor recognised him now. It was Frank Lister, the man who'd driven Mr Zhu and Mr Cheng and who had bought the last of Pete's reserve cab sauv. She twisted in her seat to try to get a better look at his passenger. Now that she thought about it he could have been of Chinese appearance.