The Round Yard

by Alissa Callen

  She was swapping texts with Ella about what to wear to the upcoming festival when Dell and Bassie approached the two strands of electrical tape that formed the gateway. The plastic-handled metal hooks that slipped into the loops on the corner post didn’t carry any charge. Bassie and Dell appeared to sniff at the hooks. Dell then pulled the bottom hook free even before Neve realised one strand of white tape sagged onto the ground. If she wasn’t so dumfounded, she’d have been impressed.

  She sprang off the lounge and used her phone to film Dell ducking under the remaining wire and Bassie pawing the ground before he followed. The donkey and pony touched noses then ambled towards the pots of sunflowers growing alongside the garden shed.

  Neve headed outside. Logic told her that Houdini Dell had more than one escape method as this was the first time the tape at the gateway had been removed. She had more hope of plugging holes in a bucket than of keeping Dell and Bassie where they were supposed to be.

  Another hour and a half later, and with only the pale wash of moonlight to see by, Dell and Bassie were in their paddock. Neve double-checked the knots on the baling twine she’d used to secure the gate hooks.

  ‘Sleep tight,’ she said, rolling her shoulders to ease her weary muscles. Dell lifted a heavy eyelid to give her a placid look. Bassie ignored her. ‘I know I will.’

  But as Neve lay in bed, a loud bray from outside her bedroom window startled her. She groaned, rubbed at her forehead and reached for her phone on the bedside table. It didn’t matter how awkward or out of her depth she’d feel around Tanner, it would soon become a safety issue if the girls were in the garden with Dell and Bassie. She also couldn’t impose on an already flat-out Denham. Stomach swirling, she texted Fliss for Tanner’s number before her self-preservation had a meltdown.

  Tanner Callahan parked in the shade of an established cedar tree. He made no move to turn off the ignition of his blue ute. The V8 engine rumbled, masking the thundering of his heart. He stared at the woman and two young children waiting for him beyond the garden gate on the neat green lawn. Sunlight glanced off their auburn hair.

  He could ride an unbroken brumby and offer carrots to a grumpy mountain of a rodeo bull, but he was in no hurry to leave his ute. Only two things unnerved him: anyone under four feet in height and small-town matchmaking. Not that the woman before him would threaten his bachelor status; she was already spoken for. He’d passed a man in a white four-wheel drive not far from the front cattle grid. When Fliss had given him directions she’d said no one else lived along this road.

  He turned the ute key and the sudden silence magnified the pounding in his ears. In this woman’s case, what dried his mouth was what she represented. The way she held one child and had her arm around the other conveyed her deep love and warmth. All the homely scene needed was a white picket fence and he’d be looking at the embodiment of a perfect family. He reached for his battered felt hat on the passenger seat and jammed it on, making sure the brim was low enough to hide his expression.

  He may have found Meredith, his birth mother, and he may have worked through the childhood self-doubts associated with having been adopted, but his fears refused to fade. Abandonment continued to coil inside, striking out at any tentative sense of stability. Common sense argued that a woman to love, a home and children would fill the chasm within him. Yet, his self-control insisted that giving in to such yearnings would only make him a fool. He couldn’t again risk having his trust, let alone his heart, broken.

  He left the ute cabin and the warmth of the morning sun spilled across his shoulders. The well-oiled gate didn’t make a sound as he walked through and past a bed of fragrant yellow roses. To his right were the remains of a vegetable garden, while to his left a pony and a jenny stood beneath a gnarled pepper tree. This was his first sight of whom he’d come to see and he’d soon know what he’d be dealing with. But his attention refused to leave the woman before him.

  A gust of wind tangled in her long hair and she brushed the red-gold strands from her cheek. She shifted the smaller girl she held on her jeans-clad hip higher, before again draping her arm around her older daughter. From Fliss’s earlier phone call, he knew the woman’s name was Neve and she was new to town. From Neve’s own phone call, he knew her voice was quiet and sweet. He looked away from the fullness of her lips and the way the breeze moulded her green shirt against her gentle curves. Her partner was a lucky man.

  She greeted him with a smile that was gone even before it had begun. ‘Thanks for coming so quickly.’

  He stopped a body length away. ‘No problem. Fliss said it was urgent.’

  He didn’t know if it was the effect of hearing Neve’s voice in person or the unblinking brown stare of her daughters, but he couldn’t walk closer. All his instincts said to keep his distance.

  Neve nodded. The day’s heat flushed her cheeks and tension creased a faint line between her brows. He could understand her concern at having a pony and donkey running amuck.

  ‘Girls, this is Tanner. He’s come to help us with Dell and Bassie.’ She paused as she nodded towards the child she carried. ‘This is Kait and this is …’ Her arm tightened around the taller girl, who wore a white dress and pink cowgirl boots. ‘Maya.’

  He didn’t immediately reply. There had been a flash of apprehension in Neve’s green eyes that didn’t fit with her calm words or what he’d come here to do. Her hold on her daughters could just as easily be read as defensive as well as maternal. The older child stood too still and straight, as though she’d take flight if he made a sudden move.

  ‘Hi.’ He smiled to offer reassurance and to ease his own tension.

  Neve blinked and the brown eyes of her daughters widened. No one spoke. Great. This was why he avoided babies and children. He had no idea what to say or do. It had only ever been his older, adoptive parents and him. He’d always lived in an adult world.

  After what seemed like an endless second, Maya said, ‘Hi.’

  ‘Hi,’ her younger sister repeated.

  Unsure of how to respond, he gave each girl a quick nod.

  ‘So … what do you want to do first?’ Neve asked as she gazed towards the two offenders dozing in the shade.

  To his relief, her daughters also looked at their pets.

  ‘The first thing will be to make Dell and Bassie’s paddock escape-proof.’

  He made a quick assessment of the twin rows of white tape that formed the near side of the pony paddock that also doubled as an orchard. Just like Neve had explained, the other three sides were wire and in good condition. He returned to his ute for some portable horse panels.

  While he dismantled the electric fence and assembled the panels, Neve and her daughters watched from a garden bench. Beneath the pepper tree, the pony and donkey continued to sleep. He wasn’t fooled. The flicker of their ears betrayed that they knew exactly what he was doing.

  He pinned the final panel into the ground and attached two small loops of blue baling twine at hip height. The sun’s heat had strengthened, and from the row of trees beside him he could smell the scent of oranges. A few winter frosts and the fruit on the laden branches would be sweet enough to eat. He turned away. Everywhere he looked, this small farm reminded him of how much it had been shaped into a home by loving hands.

  Neve and the two girls approached. When they drew near to the fence each girl reached out to touch the cold steel.

  Neve’s lips curved, but her smile didn’t reach her serious eyes. ‘Unless Bassie and Dell dig their way out, that has to hold them.’

  ‘It will.’ He bent to collect two dusty headcollars and lead ropes from the tub Neve had set near the old gateway. He’d spoken to Ella on the drive out and she’d confirmed that the pony had been broken in and that the donkey possessed far more manners than she displayed. ‘Let’s see how they like their new fence.’

  Maya left her mother’s side to walk up to him. He forced himself to stay relaxed and for his shoulders to not brace. Up close he could see the freckles across h
er small nose and feel the intensity of her fierce frown. ‘Bassie’s is the red one, he doesn’t like orange.’

  Unsure if her tone was bossy, upset or worried, he glanced at Neve.

  She moved to rest her hand on Maya’s shoulder. ‘It’s okay, sweetheart, Tanner knows who owns which headcollar.’

  ‘I do.’ He hesitated. Maya’s frown hadn’t eased. He held up the noseband of the orange headcollar. ‘Dell’s is bigger here to fit the shape of her donkey jaw.’

  Neve’s smile had him turn on his boot heels and head towards the pepper tree. The warmth and thanks in her gaze unsettled him almost as much as interacting with Maya had. Whenever Neve’s eyes met his, he was torn between looking away and staring. Her irises were such a vivid sea green. He’d never seen such flawless skin or hair that burned with fire under the sun and glowed gold in the shade. Neve’s partner wasn’t just a lucky man. He was a very lucky man.

  With every stride that Tanner took away from Neve and her daughters, the tension leached from his shoulders. He’d survived. Just. Things could have been worse. There could have been little girl tears or Neve could be single and yet another woman he had to avoid when in town.

  He slowed his pace as the donkey and pony spun around to face him. He was under no illusion they wouldn’t bolt the moment he got close. The savvy pair were seasoned rascals. Intelligent and inquisitive, they’d be quick to learn bad habits. There was nothing he liked better than working with animals, the more cantankerous and badly behaved the better. Once he’d gained their respect and trust, their loyalty and love were unconditional. When he’d met his palomino mustang, Arrow, the horse had been hellbent on driving him out of the round yard.

  Making sure he held the headcollars and lead ropes by his side, he altered his path to head off any dash the pony or donkey might make to the right. The toss of Bassie’s golden mane identified him as the ringleader. Not looking directly at either of them, Tanner kept his posture relaxed as he approached Dell’s left shoulder. He’d catch the donkey and then focus on Bassie, who’d backed up to ensure that Dell acted as a physical barrier between Tanner and him.

  He drew near to the donkey, and when she swung her head away signalling she’d move, he took a step backwards. Dell stayed still and looked at him. He stepped forward again and when she turned her head, he stepped back. Using the pressure-on and pressure-off technique, he gauged her comfort zone. Soon she let him extend a hand to touch her neck and then allowed him to rub her withers. He made no move to slip on her headcollar. Instead, he leaned in close to give her neck a good scratch.

  She stared at him, her oversized ears flickering. Taking his time, he draped the lead over her neck and put on her headcollar. From the corner of his eye he saw Maya clap her hands. He again scratched Dell’s neck as positive reinforcement for her cooperative behaviour. Unimpressed, Bassie stamped his hard little hoof.

  Dell followed Tanner over to the new fence, where he tied her to the blue baling twine. If either donkey or pony pulled back, the baling twine would snap before they hurt themselves or broke their lead rope or headcollar. He collected a curry comb from the tub and, talking quietly, brushed the dirt from Dell’s shaggy grey-and-white coat. Bassie sighed and left the shade of the pepper tree. Making sure he again kept Dell between Tanner and him, he stopped to watch Tanner pick up Dell’s feet.

  After he’d made sure the donkey was quiet and the girls would be safe around her, Tanner turned his attention to Bassie. Thanks to using the same pressure-on and pressure-off strategy, the pony soon wore his red headcollar and was tied beside Dell. Once Tanner had assessed his temperament and was certain he too was safe for the girls to handle, he nodded at Neve and her daughters.

  The two tiny redheads jumped off the bench. Neve smiled as she took their hands and slowed them to a walk. Tanner focused on brushing Bassie’s taffy coat. He must have been alone for too long last droving trip. The beauty of a woman’s smile shouldn’t cause his chest to tighten.

  Bassie peered at him through his long blond forelock.

  ‘I know, mate,’ Tanner said under his breath. ‘I need to get out more.’

  After the girls took a turn at brushing Dell and Bassie, Tanner let the pony and donkey out in the orchard. Until there were no more catching issues, their headcollars would stay on. He’d already checked that there were no taps or other hazards for the headcollars to snag on.

  Neve laughed softly as both animals sniffed the fence and then strolled away to graze. ‘They know the game’s up. Usually, they wait for me to leave so they can bust out again.’

  Tanner returned the lead ropes and brushes to the tub. It didn’t matter if Neve’s laughter was as easy on his ears as the tone of her voice, it was no excuse to make small talk. He needed to let Neve and her girls get out of the sun. Today was also the first day of many. Dell and Bassie might no longer be escapees, but there was work to do before the pony could be ridden. He looked beyond the garden fence to the rolling paddocks dotted with black cattle. Not that there was anywhere for the girls to ride. There were no easily accessible cattle yards or pony-sized paddocks.

  He risked a glance at Neve. ‘I’ll text through a list of things that will help keep Dell and Bassie out of mischief. I suspect it’s Dell who knows how to remove her and Bassie’s headcollars. Donkeys can get bored and especially love toys.’ Maya and Kait’s smiles widened. ‘I’ll also set up a round yard that will give us a safe space to work and for the girls to ride. I have a spare set of panels and can drop them over tomorrow. I can either assemble them or … your partner could.’

  Neve’s eyes briefly left his. ‘Sorry … I thought Fliss explained. Bassie and Dell are mine, but Kait and Maya aren’t. That would have been Graham, their father, you passed on the road.’ She held up her left hand that he’d noticed bore no wedding band, but not everyone who had children together formalised their relationship. Colour washed her cheeks. ‘There’s no partner … actually no anything. I’m here on my own.’

  CHAPTER

  2

  Saturday morning rush hour in small-town Woodlea was in full swing.

  Neve waited beside the white picket fence of the sportsground for the stream of dusty cars to slow. Behind her children laughed as they climbed the play equipment in the adjacent park, while their parents browsed the stalls at the farmers’ markets. The aroma of fresh coffee and bacon wafted on the breeze, but the combination failed to make her mouth water. She’d overindulged on a huge breakfast egg-and-bacon roll.

  She transferred the heavy bag she carried to her other hand. She’d also gone a little overboard at the honey stall. The markets were on once a month and she tried to support the local small businesses as much as she could. Fresh crumpets drizzled in raw organic honey were on the menu when her hunger returned.

  A horn honked and she waved as Denham and Cressy drove past in a white Land Cruiser ute. She checked the clock on her phone. She had fifteen minutes before she was due to meet Cressy at the Windmill Café.

  Taking advantage of a break in the traffic, she headed across the road with a group of locals. Three girls in hot-pink-and-black netball dresses walked alongside her, while two boys dressed in cricket whites surged ahead. It wasn’t only the markets that brought everyone to town. Team sports also ensured that parking along Main Street was in demand. Which was why she parked up the hill near the craft shop. She’d head there now to leave the honey in her car.

  A flash of royal blue caused her to frown and to take a second look at a man ahead who wore a wide-brimmed hat. Both times she’d seen Tanner he’d worn a blue cotton work shirt that sported the embroidered emblem of a horse and his name above his left pocket. Even though she knew he was at Rosewood putting up the round yard, her nerves tightened.

  Despite his visit yesterday being a success with Bassie and Dell, she remained on edge. It was as though everything she’d said was on constant replay in her head. The more she revisited her conversation with Tanner the more she cringed. As if she’d needed to state th
e obvious and explain to the girls why he was there or expand on her single status. When the pedestrians ahead parted and she saw the man in the blue shirt and hat wasn’t as tall as Tanner, she lowered her tight shoulders.

  Now she’d met him, her need to avoid the cowboy had intensified along with her awareness that he was way out of her league. When he’d grinned at her and the girls, there’d been a moment when all she could do was stare. His eyes had been such a pure light blue and a disarming dimple had appeared in his cheek. But even when he’d smiled his jaw had remained as rigid as the granite that scarred the ridge.

  She opened her car door and pushed aside the stirrings of curiosity. When Maya had approached him, Tanner had tensed. But no good would come of wondering why he’d reacted as he had. Just like she shouldn’t read anything into his response to the news that she wasn’t the girls’ mother or even married. The muscle that had worked in his lean cheek could just as easily have been caused by Kait walking over and breaching his personal space.

  With the bag of honey in her car, Neve navigated her way through the shoppers towards the centre of town. Outside the charity shop she stopped to pat a poodle-kelpie cross tied to the lamp post. The affectionate dog owned by old Will was the full sister of Cressy’s energetic Juno.

  She entered the Windmill Café and just like the street outside, Woodlea’s only coffee shop was busy. The farm clothes, sports uniforms and the brochures being read identified the crowd as a mix of locals and out-of-towners.

  Sally gave her a welcoming grin from behind the coffee machine. ‘Latte?’

  Neve returned her smile. It was such a simple thing having someone remember your order, but it reassured her that she wasn’t as invisible as she sometimes felt. She’d drop everything again in a heartbeat to care for her mother. It brought her great comfort to know her mother had been surrounded by memories and the walls of her own home until the very end. But there had been a personal price to pay. The years by her mother’s side had proved isolating. ‘Yes, please.’