Down Outback Roads (14 page)

Kree glanced at his sombre profile. ‘I’m sorry.’

His hand tightened on hers but he didn’t meet her gaze. It was as though he knew that if he made eye contact, she’d lose her nerve and run.

The lamb pushed onto her wobbly knees while the ewe continued to lick her frail body clean. This time, the lamb’s trembling back legs held. She straightened her front legs, swayed and stood. As she took a tentative step, she bleated. The ewe bleated in return and the lamb hobbled forward, instinct guiding her to her mother’s swollen udder. As the lamb suckled the warm, antibody-rich colostrum, her little tail wriggled in happiness. The ewe nuzzled the lamb, completing the precious mother-daughter circle.

‘A mother’s unconditional love is special,’ she said, her voice unsteady.

‘Yes, it is.’

Kree stared at the contented ewe and lamb. She owed the man beside her, whose fingers remained interlocked with hers, an explanation for her meltdown. He’d told her about the night Fergus died, no matter how much it hurt him to revisit the past.

She expelled a deep breath. ‘I’m also upset because Seth hasn’t ever had a chance to experience such a love. Seeing the ewe with her lamb reminded me of Seth’s loss … as well as my mother’s. She waited almost a decade to have another child and then never lived to see him grow up.’

Ewan released her fingers and brushed away the hair the breeze had blown across her chin.

‘Seth mightn’t have known his mother’s love but he did know his father’s love. And now he receives unconditional love from his big sister who flew halfway round the world to find him.’

Lost in the darkness of her memories, Kree barely registered Ewan’s words or the brush of his lips on her forehead.

‘Seth was six months old and my father was out of town at an art exhibition. My mother and I always baked for the cake
stall at the school fair. But whenever my mother helped me, Seth cried. So, I’m sad to say my ten-year-old self lost it. I said she didn’t love me anymore. At the end of my tantrum, she put her arms around me and told me she loved me to the stars and back – which was our special thing to say – and wouldn’t ever stop doing so. She suggested I go for a ride to give her time to settle Seth, and that when I got back we’d make a cake. So I hugged her and went to saddle Monty.’

She closed her eyes to stem her sorrow. She was
not
going to cry again. ‘I must have been gone a while, because when I got home it was almost dark. The first thing I noticed was there were no lights on in the house. The second thing was Seth screaming from his room loud enough to be heard from the stables and the third thing –’

She stopped.

Ewan’s hands cupped her face. He kissed her closed eyelids with such softness she wasn’t sure she hadn’t imagined his touch. She forced herself to continue and not rest her head against his heart and find peace within his arms. Keeping her eyes closed, she spoke again.

‘The third thing was my mother lying on the kitchen floor.’

Ewan kissed a tear as it slid down Kree’s cheek.

‘She’d suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.’

Ewan kissed lower, catching another tear before it reached her jaw.

‘Even though there was nothing anyone could have done to save her, the fact remains that Seth has grown up motherless. He never had a chance to bake with her –’ Her voice broke. ‘He’s never had a chance …’

Ewan kissed the corner of her mouth. His breath feathered over her lips. She trembled. All she could feel was the heat
from his hands framing her face. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart. All she could taste was the salt of her tears. And all she wanted to taste was … Ewan.

Her fears fell to the ground along with the remnants of her self-control. She turned towards him like a sunflower seeking the sun.

His mouth again touched the corner of her lips. But this time his head didn’t move away. Instead his lips stole over hers and he kissed her slowly and deeply, as though he alone could heal her pain.

‘Earth to Ewan.’ Travis’s amused words broke into the daze that had descended since Ewan had kissed Kree yesterday afternoon.

‘Sorry, mate. What did you say?’

Travis inclined his head towards Berridale’s driveway, where Bruce’s son, Calvin, was jogging through the rain towards his car.

‘I said, Calvin did a good job installing the pressure pump.’

‘Yes, he did.’ Ewan lifted a hand as Calvin honked his horn in farewell.

The rain drumming on the tin roof of the Tylers’ farmhouse picked up pace. Ewan raised his voice so Travis could hear him. ‘Thanks for being here to meet Calvin. I got caught on the phone and with Kree heading to town early, I didn’t want Calvin here by himself in case he needed a hand.’

‘No worries. I was heading this way to see you anyway.’ Travis’s hazel eyes raked his face. ‘For a bloke who’s finished sowing and should have had a good night’s sleep, you look like hell.’

Ewan scrubbed a hand across his whiskered chin. ‘Yeah, the airseeder took a while to clean.’

And then I swam more than I slept.

‘Well, if you’re heading north tomorrow to the UltraBlack sale, you’d better get some sleep. It’s at least a ten-hour drive.’

‘Make that a twelve-hour drive. I’m taking the diesel farm ute.’

Travis raised a brow. ‘What? The farm ute doesn’t have suspension, let alone air-conditioning. Don’t you want to get your own ute dirty?’ He turned to where Ewan’s ute was parked in the driveway. Rivulets of water ran over its already pristine silver exterior. ‘Are you sure it was the airseeder you were out late cleaning? I swear you’re OCD when it comes to your personal rust-bucket.’

‘Okay, yes, I did clean my ute. But it was this morning. And for the record, it doesn’t have a speck of rust.’ Ewan sighed. ‘So, here’s hoping Fred Webb shares my OCD when he owns it.’

Travis frowned. ‘Bloody hell. You haven’t?’

‘Yes, I have … well, I will have sold the ute to him when I head to town now that the pressure pump is sorted.’

‘Mate,’ Travis said, concern roughening his voice, ‘you can’t sell your ute.’

‘If I want to buy cattle, I have to.’

‘No, you don’t.’ He cleared his throat. ‘That’s why I was coming to Marellen. I have something for you.’

It was Ewan’s turn to frown. What was wrong with Travis? If he didn’t know better, he’d swear his best mate was as jittery as a highly-strung thoroughbred on race day.

Travis wiped his palms on his jeans, before reaching into
his front shirt pocket to pull out a folded square of white paper.

He handed it to Ewan. As Ewan took hold of the square, Travis didn’t relinquish it. His grave eyes held Ewan’s. ‘I’m putting it out there now – I’m not taking no for an answer.’

‘You’re making me feel nervous. What’s this?’

Travis let go of the paper square. ‘Open it.’

Ewan did. Straight away he handed the paper to Travis.

‘No bloody way.’

Travis took a step away, hands raised. ‘The money’s already in your account. This is the receipt to tell you the transaction has been completed.’

‘I appreciate the thought, but Marellen’s my responsibility.’

Stubbornness angled Travis’s square chin. ‘This isn’t open for discussion. The money’s yours. End of story.’

Ewan’s arm dropped to his side, the transaction receipt still clutched in his hand. He hadn’t seen Travis this determined since the auction where he’d bid on Ewan’s childhood farm. And as he stood before him, legs apart and shoulders squared, Ewan knew he’d be no match for his oldest friend. Once serious and quiet Travis set his mind to something, he was as immovable as the granite boulders littering his back paddock.

‘The money’s yours, Trav, and you need to use it, not me. You’ve just bought a farm. You’ve machinery plant and stock to buy.’ Ewan lifted his arm to hand Travis the transaction receipt. ‘I can’t take your money. It wouldn’t be right.’

Travis made no attempt to accept the paper. ‘Then don’t take it – for yourself. Take it for Tish and the boys.’

Ewan briefly closed his eyes. Travis had him. He’d targeted his Achilles heel. ‘You don’t play fair, do you?’

‘It’s either that or stand here all day arguing.’

Ewan stared at the transaction receipt and wasn’t surprised to see his hand shake. The money that now sat in his account could very well determine the fate of the only home Tish and the boys had ever known. The money would allow him to buy the exact number of head he’d calculated would give him the best chance of making his new venture a success. He carefully folded the paper into a neat square and slid it into his front shirt pocket.

‘There’ll be no mate’s rates for interest, I’ll pay you the bank’s rate. And I’ll also pay you out first.’

‘Deal,’ Travis said, relief evident in his broad grin.

Ewan clasped him in a man-hug and slapped his back. ‘Thanks. I owe you.’

‘You’re all right, mate.’

‘So, I get to keep my rust-bucket.’

‘Yes, that old vacuum cleaner you keep in the machinery shed for your ute can’t retire yet.’

Both turned to look at the silver ute, now glistening with water droplets. The heavy rain had eased to a fine drizzle.

Ewan examined the still-brooding sky. ‘I hope there’s more rain coming. The crops need more than a brief shower.’

‘I hear you.’ Travis headed down the verandah steps to his vehicle. A few rebellious raindrops darkened the light fawn of his battered Akubra. Ewan fell into step beside him. Fat raindrops splattered the stiff felt of his own hat.

Travis glanced at him. ‘Now the pump’s in, I’m guessing Kree will return to Berridale?’

‘That’s the plan.’ Ewan fought to keep his expression neutral as heat seared his cheekbones. The mention of Kree’s name triggered instant memories, like the sweet taste of her lips and the silky smoothness of her skin.

Travis set his hat more firmly on his head. ‘You know, with you heading north, it might be good for Kree to stay at Marellen and keep Tish company. Tish says the boys adore her and apparently she even has that cranky rooster you’re always threatening to pluck under control.’

Ewan cast Travis a quick sideways glance. ‘You’ve spoken to Tish?’

‘Yes.’

‘It’s about time.’

Travis’s pace quickened. Wet gravel crunched beneath his work boots. ‘It’s no big deal. She … actually called me.’

‘I always said she was the one with all the sense.’

‘Very funny. So what do you think about Kree staying longer?’

Even though he needed as many paddocks between him and Kree as possible after that kiss, it would do Tish good to have Kree stay while he was away.

He nodded. ‘I’ll ask her when she returns from town.’

Ewan flicked on the windscreen wipers as a sudden squall showered the ute. To save Kree a wet afternoon trip to Berridale, he’d collected the chicken eggs and was now driving to the lambing paddock to check on the ewes. With his ute no longer for sale there was no need to go to town, so after he completed Kree’s chores he’d head for home, calling Fred Webb along the way. He’d also phone Bill to see if he knew of another ute that might suit the young mechanic.

Ewan stopped to open the lambing paddock gate and the memory of Kree on the top bar in her fitted jeans and green shirt, waiting for him, quickened his pulse. When he’d seen
her tears over the mother ewe and lamb, all he could focus on was erasing her pain. He’d believed he’d had himself and the kiss firmly in hand. But when Kree’s lips had parted beneath his and she’d laced her hands behind his neck and kissed him, his world had shifted. And hadn’t yet realigned.

When they’d finally broken apart, he’d rested his forehead on hers, incapable of words. Her fingertips had slowly traced his face, as though memorising his every feature. She’d then whispered ‘thank you, I’m okay now’, before brushing her mouth over his and slipping out of his arms.

Ewan drove into the paddock and pulled on the handbrake. As he left the driver’s seat to shut the gate, he spied a lone lamb sitting away from the other sheep, sheltered beneath the gum tree. If abandoned, the newborn would be vulnerable to the wet, windy weather. Ewan approached slowly in the ute. The frail lamb came to his feet and bleated. A ewe to Ewan’s left came running. Ewan smiled as the ewe ushered her baby towards the safety of the rest of the flock. Kree’s words were so true. A mother’s unconditional love was indeed special.

He swung the ute around to head towards the gate and home. But as mind-blowing as yesterday’s paddock kiss with Kree had been, there couldn’t be a repeat performance. He had to keep their relationship friendship-based and resist the attraction pulsing between them. His heading north to the cattle sale couldn’t come at a more perfect time. The closer they became, the harder it would be for either of them to walk away. And one of them walking away would be inevitable.

Tish stared out the wide kitchen window at the three yellow crested cockatoos drinking from the bird bath Kree and Braye
had reassembled. Usually, the sight of the large white birds perched on the side of the iron bowl made her smile. After living in the concrete confines of the city, seeing the wildlife visit her garden remained a novelty. She’d planted native bushes to encourage birds and nectar-rich flowers to entice butterflies. But this afternoon her scenic rural kitchen view brought no joy.

She’d just ended a heated phone call from her mother.

She turned to a box of salad dressing that required packing. She had work to do and shouldn’t indulge her worries. Amanda Butler wanted some more bottles, plus Tish needed to stockpile a collection for when the tourist centre opened. Amanda had also suggested calling the pub to see if they’d be interested in buying some, but Tish had delayed making such a call in case Jordan, and not Bill, answered.

The kitchen phone jangled from across the room and made her jump. Had her mother called to have the final word? Tish hesitated but as she neared the handset she recognised Travis’s number on the caller id. She scooped up the phone, relief rendering her voice breathless. ‘Hi, Trav.’

‘Hi, Tish. Sorry, did you come in from the garden? You sound out of breath.’

‘I wish I was in the garden. I’ve been inside on the phone for the past hour. Darby said he had a sore throat so, lucky for me, the boys are in the lounge room watching a movie and not running amuck. Are you still at Berridale?’

‘No, just left and wanted to let you know that Ewan has accepted the money.’

Her day brightened. ‘That’s fabulous news and such a relief. Did you have to hog-tie him to make him accept?’

Travis laughed and the lingering tension from her earlier phone call subsided. Travis’s deep chuckle always made her feel like laughing, too.

‘Something like that.’

‘Thanks so much for helping out. You and Ewan are always straight with each other, so I’m sorry I asked you to be less than honest with him.’

‘No problems. If the situation were reversed, I know Ewan would do the same for me. Ewan also insisted on paying the bank’s rate of interest, so I know at the end of the day Kree won’t be out-of-pocket.’

‘Great.’

‘Tish … is everything all right? You really don’t sound quite yourself.’

She pressed her lips together to contain a rush of emotion. Travis had always been able to sense her moods but she didn’t feel comfortable burdening him with her issues. Their relationship was still being rebuilt from the ground upward.

‘Everything’s fine.’

‘No, I can tell it’s not. Are you still worried you and the boys might have to leave?’

She took her time to answer. ‘Thanks for asking, Trav, but there’s nothing wrong.’

‘Rubbish. I bet if I could see you now you’d be chewing a nail. Now spill.’

Tish snatched her fingernail away from her mouth and drew a deep breath. Her fingers gripped the phone tighter.

‘My mother’s … coming to visit.’