‘You were right to be concerned. Everything I’d ever wanted was right there in front of me … well, across the garden … and I was too stubborn and pig-headed to see it.’
‘It all worked out.’
‘It did.’ Hewitt paused and the intensity of his stare warned Tanner about what was to come. He’d been right in thinking Hewitt had sensed his awareness of Neve. ‘I just don’t want you to … be in a similar situation.’
‘I won’t be.’
‘That’s the thing … you will be unless you’re prepared to take down that wall of yours.’
Tanner didn’t speak, just stared at the horizon as darkness eclipsed the last of the life from the sky.
Hewitt continued, his voice low. ‘Take it from me. I thought I didn’t need anyone, but Tanner … even guys like us aren’t meant to be alone.’
Tanner stood and kept his reply casual. ‘I hear you … but this is the only way I know how to be.’
Hewitt too came to his feet. He clasped Tanner’s shoulder. ‘Even when we think we have everything figured out, sometimes it turns out we have no idea at all.’ Hewitt moved away. ‘We’d better get home. Fliss doesn’t think I know, but she hid a pavlova in the spare fridge, which means she’s already planned for you to stay for dinner.’
Tanner took his time to walk over to Arrow. Behind him the sky was now sombre and bleak, stripped of all light. He couldn’t risk trusting and letting anyone into his life again, especially Neve, no matter how much a part of him wanted Hewitt’s words to be true.
CHAPTER
7
‘Are we there yet?’ Neve smiled as Maya asked the age-old question of any child who’d been in the car longer than half an hour.
‘Almost.’ Neve pointed to the corrugated-iron tank sitting on a wooden stand that tilted at an alarming angle. Every trip to Woodlea she expected to see the tank on the ground, but the stalwart posts refused to collapse. ‘See, there’s the wobbly tank. Town’s over the next hill. How about we count the windmills?’
There was a reason why Woodlea was known as the town of windmills. Maya and Kait’s childish voices counted as they passed windmills with their blades twirling or windmills dressed in the woollen creations of the yarn bombers. Neve was yet to work out who the members of the underground knitting club were. Not once had she seen anyone around town with even a pair of knitting needles.
When the girls were up to eight, the Welcome to Woodlea sign flashed by. But instead of taking the road into town, Neve turned left to drive past the rodeo ground.
She slowed to join a queue turning right.
Today was the final working bee for the adventure playground that had been Hewitt’s brainchild. His niece Lizzie and nephew Quinn were frequent visitors to town to see Fliss and him, and while there was a playground near the sportsground, it was limited in its size and variety of play equipment. Hewitt had joined forces with Edna and the result was a new play area of custom-designed equipment that would appeal to children of all ages. The playground, bike track and barbeque areas would also encourage travelling families to spend time in Woodlea.
Even though it was a weekday, many locals would be helping, from the State Emergency Service volunteers to the members of the Woodlea Wallaroos rugby club. Neve had spent the morning baking and she and the girls were delivering morning smoko. The girls had made Tanner a special blueberry muffin.
‘Where’s Tanner?’ Maya leaned forward to look through the side window.
‘He’ll be there somewhere. See, there’s his ute.’
Tanner had let them know yesterday he wouldn’t be coming to work with Dell and Bassie today as he’d be here helping Hewitt. The girls’ bottom lips had dropped. As much as they’d enjoyed their first ride on Bassie yesterday, not seeing Tanner had made their smiles fade. So Neve had suggested they leave early to go to the library and to drop off their baking.
Neve parked alongside a Hilux that sported twin aerials. Beyond the rows of cars, the castle-themed wooden equipment almost appeared finished. The names of businesses and individuals who had helped make the playground a reality had been carved into the posts on the front fence. Today the trees were to be planted and the painting completed. All that then would be needed were some large shade sails.
With her arms filled with containers of brownies and banana bread, Neve accompanied Maya and Kait along the paved path. The trick would be to keep the girls away from Tanner while he worked, as well as off the bridges and ladders that would tempt even an adult.
As they drew near to the entrance, and the volume of the laughter and conversation increased, the girls moved closer to Neve. She handed Maya the white noodle box they’d decorated to hold Tanner’s muffin to distract her. She then took hold of Kait’s hand.
When they walked into the playground, Denham left the tree he’d been planting to come over. His Woodlea rodeo cap, jeans and cherry-red work shirt were streaked with mud.
‘I hope all that food’s for me,’ he said with a wink.
The girls giggled and nodded.
Neve returned his smile. The once world-champion bull rider never failed to make her feel at ease. ‘Cressy here?’
He shook his head and Neve glimpsed concern in his blue gaze. ‘She wanted to be, but she had to head to Dubbo to finalise some honeymoon stuff. Which is just as well as she’s done something to her side and it seems to be taking a while to heal.’
‘She wasn’t right when I saw her last week. Let me know if she needs any help with anything.’
‘Thanks. I will. I think all she really needs is to rest. We both know that’s the last thing she’ll do.’
Denham’s attention strayed to the containers Neve held. She let go of Kait’s hand to prise open the top lid before offering him a brownie. ‘I didn’t see a thing.’
Denham chuckled as he snuck two brownies. ‘A man has to eat even if he has a wedding suit to fit into.’
Neve again took hold of Kait’s hand. They strolled over to the covered barbeque area where a table was laden with food and eskies. She added their brownies and banana bread to the feast and looked around. She told herself she was only checking where Tanner was for the girls’ sake.
But when she caught sight of a familiar pair of broad shoulders dressed in blue, the flutter in her midriff called her bluff. It was bad enough Tanner occupied her thoughts as much as he did, but now, ever since her ride on Arrow, her senses craved his touch. It didn’t matter that all he’d done was help her into the saddle and show her how to hold the reins, she now knew how right it felt to have him physically near.
Taylor, who was standing next to Finn Barton, gave her a wave from high on a platform where they applied red paint to a castle turret. Preoccupied, Mac Barton didn’t notice her or the girls as he painted the posts of a nearby walkway. She hoped Finn didn’t think her rude for suddenly leaving last Saturday night. She’d enjoyed his and Mac’s company.
Kait tugged at her hand to lead her over to where Tanner had his back to them as he dug a hole in a garden bed. Maya grabbed Neve’s other hand and they followed the path that would take them past the tyre swings to where Tanner worked. They hadn’t even made it to the first swing when a strident voice called Neve’s name.
Neve stopped and slowly turned to see Edna bearing down on them. Dressed in her trademark pearls and immaculate town clothes, she brandished a clipboard.
‘Neve … how wonderful you’re here and that you brought the girls.’
‘We thought we’d deliver our baking early.’
Edna crossed off something on her clipboard. Her gaze sharpened as she stared at the noodle box Maya held.
‘Sorry, this wasn’t on your food list. It’s a special delivery,’ Neve said.
Edna arched a pencilled brow. ‘Let me guess. Whatever’s in the box is blue?’
‘Tanner likes blue,’ Maya said, her attention not leaving the drover.
Edna’s smile softened. ‘You’re right, he does.’
Tanner straightened and
half turned. Instead of his wide-brimmed felt hat today, he wore a navy Woodlea rodeo cap similar to Denham’s.
Neve kept a firm hold on each of the girls’ hands. ‘Remember Tanner’s busy. We won’t stay long.’
She may as well have not spoken. When Tanner passed the shovel to an older farmer beside him and headed towards them, both girls pulled their hands free and ran to meet him.
Neve bit her lip to stop herself calling them back. She could feel inquisitive eyes on them. Even though it would be common knowledge that Tanner wasn’t comfortable around kids, she hoped people knew that he’d been a recent visitor to Rosewood. The girls being excited to see him shouldn’t prove newsworthy.
But instead of stopping a body’s length away like she usually did, Kait ran right up to him. Neve held her breath. This could get awkward very soon. Without hesitating, Tanner bent to scoop Kait up in his arms. She tucked her head into his shoulder and snuggled against him. Before Tanner could react, Maya threw her arms around his leg and hugged him tight. His hand lowered, hovered above her head and then curled around her shoulders.
Edna’s shocked gasp was clearly audible.
From the corner of her eye Neve could see Hewitt heading towards Tanner as well as Denham. But Tanner gave no sign that he needed rescuing or was uncomfortable. When Maya eased away from his leg to pass him the noodle box, his slow grin flashed white.
Denham and Hewitt shared a look before leaving to return to what they’d been doing. Neve didn’t dare glance at Edna. She’d either be pleased Tanner would indeed make a loving father or be horrified that his affection for the girls would distract him from the plans she had for Bethany.
Tanner and the girls walked towards them. Neve blinked to hide her misty happiness. Fliss had been right. The girls had been good for Tanner.
His gaze flickered over her face before he gave her a nod. ‘Neve.’
‘Hi. Sorry about the enthusiastic … greeting.’
‘It’s okay.’ He looked down at Kait and Maya, whose brilliant smiles hadn’t dimmed. ‘It’s time I had a break.’
Edna tapped her pen on her clipboard. ‘Maya, why don’t you take Tanner over to the tables so he can eat his surprise. Neve, there’s tea or coffee if you’d like one.’
If Tanner was stunned at Edna’s suggestion it didn’t register on his face. Neve wasn’t quite so successful. She snapped her open mouth shut. Was Edna pushing them together instead of prying them apart? She threw her a quick look, but Edna had turned away.
Realising she was standing on the path by herself, Neve followed Tanner and the girls over to the covered barbeque area. Tanner sat Kait on the bench seat and then opened a nearby esky to take out some water bottles. His gaze caught Neve’s and she nodded. A cold drink was what she needed, not hot tea. Her skin already felt too warm. Being around Tanner made it impossible to stay calm and unaffected.
He passed her a water bottle. The condensation cooled her palms and she resisted the urge to press the bottle against her heated cheeks.
‘What’s up with Edna?’ she said in a voice only he could hear. ‘Did you find out why she called?’
The corner of his mouth kicked into a grin. ‘No, when she saw me earlier she said she’d talk to me later. But I’m calling in to meet Bethany’s new horse when I finish here. Only because Bethany asked me, not because Edna engineered it. I guess she’s in a good mood.’
Neve dashed an unexpected twinge of jealousy. She didn’t have a monopoly on Tanner’s time or whom he saw. ‘She must be.’
Tanner took a seat between Maya and Kait, and as soon as he sat, Maya passed him his muffin. Neve sat on the opposite side of the table.
The girls’ baking efforts were rewarded when Tanner opened the noodle box and whistled in appreciation. As he took a huge bite of the jumbo blueberry muffin Neve wished she hadn’t left her phone in the car. Graham would have enjoyed seeing the joy and delight on his daughters’ faces. He worried about them so much.
Neve briefly left the table to get the girls a piece of banana bread. With Tanner eating, they’d want some morning smoko too. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw Edna surveying them over the top of her clipboard.
She returned to the table, and as the girls enjoyed the banana bread she unscrewed the lid of her water bottle.
‘Have you heard from Fliss?’ Tanner asked. ‘She’s been trying to reach you.’
‘I thought so. I had a missed call last night and keep getting her voicemail this morning.’
‘I have no idea what time she and Hewitt got here but it would have been early. She’s out with Ella picking up the last load of trees in Hewitt’s ute. She said if I saw you to ask if you’d like to come to Bundara tonight for a barbeque.’
Neve took her time to answer. She loved visiting her mother’s childhood home, but on the previous occasions it had just been Fliss, Hewitt and her. After the way she’d reacted at the small-hall festival, she wasn’t sure attending another social function would be a wise move. ‘I’ll have the girls until Graham finishes work so will see how I go. I’ll try to pop around, but it could be late.’
‘I’ll let Fliss know.’ Tanner’s blue gaze studied her. ‘Cressy and Denham can’t make it, Ella’s hosting book club and Taylor’s heading to Orange. So it will just be the four of us.’
‘Okay.’ Neve couldn’t hide the relief in her voice. ‘I should be there. I’ll text Fliss about what I can bring.’
Tanner nodded as he finished his muffin. He smiled at Maya and then at Kait. ‘Thanks.’
Maya nodded, her mouth full of banana bread. Kait leaned over to give him a hug. Tanner stiffened and then put his arm around her. Not to be outdone, Maya hugged his other arm until he also drew her close. Tanner sent Neve an uncertain look. She only hoped her smile gave him the reassurance he needed.
She reached for Maya and Kait’s water bottles. As great as Tanner was doing, she didn’t want the girls to overload him. ‘We’d better get going.’ The girls’ expressions grew crestfallen. ‘We have the library to visit … and as a special treat for helping with the baking, also the lolly shop.’
Maya and Kait wriggled out of Tanner’s embrace and climbed off the bench as fast as they could.
Laughter twitched on his lips. ‘Have I just been ditched?’
‘Sorry, you have.’ Neve stood. ‘The power of visiting the lolly shop can’t be underestimated.’
Tanner came to his feet as well. He pushed back the brim of his cap, the corners of his light-blue eyes crinkling with amusement. ‘I’ll try not to be too crushed.’
Neve didn’t temper her own laughter. For once she wasn’t worried she’d say something ridiculous or appear awkward. ‘You’ve got broad shoulders. You’ll survive.’
An indefinable emotion replaced the mirth in his eyes, an emotion that triggered a flurry of awareness in her stomach. His attention dipped to her mouth and her breath caught. Then Maya grabbed her hand and the intensity between them was broken.
It was only the husky edge to his quiet ‘see you tonight’ that proved she hadn’t imagined the spark that had flared between them.
Foolish didn’t even come close to describing what he was.
Tanner rammed the crowbar into the red earth to deepen the hole he had dug. Afternoon shadows blanketed the playground and the car park was now almost empty. Even though his muscles ached with fatigue, he refused to stop. There was one more tree to be planted, but most of all his thoughts still raced.
So much for hiding the way Neve made him feel. When she’d met his gaze, with no trace of wariness, and teased him about surviving being ditched, something had unlocked within him. It didn’t matter if they were in a public place. It didn’t matter if he wasn’t supposed to feel this way. He couldn’t have made it any more obvious he was attracted to her than if he’d given in to the deep need to kiss her.
He again rammed the crowbar into the hard-packed earth. He didn’t know if it was Hewitt’s words the other day, or if the loneliness he represse
d was hellbent on vengeance. All he knew was that the self-control he’d always relied on had failed.
He stopped to pass the back of his gloved hand over his forehead and saw Denham looking his way. He hadn’t missed how his cousin and Hewitt had come to his aid when the girls had run to him. He also hadn’t missed Denham’s blue stare tracking his movements for the rest of the day.
He didn’t know what he’d been thinking when the girls had raced towards him. When the anxiety on Maya’s face had transformed into a smile and when Kait’s little arms had reached for him, all his reservations had fled. It seemed the most natural thing to do to pick her up.
When she’d snuggled against him he’d be lying if he hadn’t felt a gut-deep response to her trust and fragility. He’d also be lying if he didn’t admit that holding Kait, and Maya hugging him, had kick-started yearnings he thought he’d never have. He could now understand the look Denham wore when he saw Cressy cradling a baby.
Footsteps sounded as his cousin headed his way.
‘Hit any water yet?’ Denham said as he inspected the hole.
‘I wish. Is it just me or is the day getting hotter?’
‘Just you. You’ve been working up a sweat for hours.’ Denham took hold of the crowbar. ‘Why don’t you head home? You’ve done the work of two men.’
‘It’s fine.’
‘I’ll finish up here.’ Denham’s firm tone said the offer wasn’t negotiable. ‘Aren’t you supposed to be calling in at Edna’s before you go to Fliss and Hewitt’s?’
Tanner sighed. ‘Yes.’ He checked the position of the sun. ‘I’d better have a shower, otherwise Fliss won’t let me in the door.’
Denham grinned. ‘Wise move.’
Tanner went to turn away when Denham asked, ‘Neve going tonight?’
He forced himself to face Denham. He’d been deluding himself if he thought his cousin wouldn’t comment on what had happened earlier. ‘Yes.’
‘Graham’s two little redheads sure do like you.’
The Round Yard Page 10