‘There were?’ Neve turned to face him. ‘Who left them?’
‘I don’t know. One day they just stopped. But …’ Bill again glanced at her hair. ‘I did see a woman with the same colour hair as you near here. There’d been a storm and the ground was wet. She slipped and when I went to help her she couldn’t get away fast enough. I’d also have said that she’d been crying.’
Tanner’s hand brushed hers. It was just a whisper of a touch, but it comforted her.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. ‘That had to be my grandmother.’
‘Thought so.’ Bill looked at the bunch of yellow roses Neve had left. ‘It’s good to see flowers here again.’
With a nod, he returned to his mowing.
Neve stared at the headstone in front of her. Neither she nor Tanner spoke. The need to find out more about her grandmother’s first husband beat inside her with a renewed urgency. Who was he? What brought him here? Why did her grandmother have to hide her marriage?
She touched the smooth, cold granite before turning to leave. Her attention flew to where her grandparents’ graves lay side by side. And why did her grandmother marry another man so soon after she’d lost the man she’d truly loved?
‘Watch out.’
Tanner was already jumping out of the way as Denham’s shout rang out. He’d seen the young bull in the cattle race eyeball him before his back leg lashed out.
‘Remind me again why I help you with these rodeo cattle of yours?’ he said with a grimace.
Denham grinned as he opened the gate at the front of the race. The cattle jostled and pushed along the narrow space until they spilled into the adjacent yard. ‘Because we’re partners.’
Tanner moved to the back of the cattle left in the holding yard. He guided them into the race. Even with low-stress handling, the young bulls were fractious. There was no doubt Reggie bred feisty offspring.
When the last Brahman-cross had been doused in the pour-on drench, Denham opened the yard gate. Tanner swung into Arrow’s saddle, while Denham started his ag bike. Together they moved the herd through the paddock near the yards and towards the creek. Patch and Juno, Denham’s poodle-kelpie cross, kept the testy cattle in a bunched and workable mob.
Once the young bulls surged through the gate, some bucking and kicking, Denham left his bike to shut the steel gate.
‘Want to toss a coin to see who goes after the runaways?’ he asked as he came over to where Tanner sat on Arrow.
Before Tanner’s time, a bushfire had torn through this part of Claremont and the Rural Fire Service had needed to cut the boundary fence. The wire had been rejoined, but Reggie’s offspring had also inherited his ability to jump. When Tanner had mustered the paddock earlier that day, the weakened fence was just a few defiant wire strands. Denham was lucky to only be missing three bulls.
Tanner scanned the paddock beyond the fence line. ‘I’ll go. Arrow will enjoy the ride.’
The neighbouring property was owned by a Sydney financier who only used the farmhouse on weekends. According to the farm manager, the owner was planning some fancy house renovations.
‘Okay.’ Denham whistled for Juno to follow him. ‘I’ll tackle the fence.’
Tanner turned Arrow, and with Patch running alongside them, they headed along the boundary. Since the fire, a gate had been cut into the fence to allow easier access between the two farms. Tanner texted the farm manager to let him know he’d be scouting around for the missing cattle. Instead of returning his phone to his pocket, he checked to make sure there hadn’t been a message from Neve.
Being around her yesterday while they looked for Edward’s headstone had been like riding one of Denham’s rodeo bulls. One lapse of concentration, one error in judgement, and life could change in a split second. Despite their mutual decision to cool things, the pull between them remained. It had been there when sadness had drawn her cheeks and he’d felt as though he too was suffering. It had also been there in her quick glances at his mouth and in the shortness of his breath when their eyes met.
He slid his phone into his pocket and rolled his shoulders. No good would come of checking whether or not she’d been in touch. Just like no good would come of his wondering how she was going not having the girls around.
He headed through the gate. The last time it had been opened was during the wet spring when he’d had to drive a tractor next door to pull the farm manager’s tractor out of the mud.
Just like on his previous visit, the beauty of the timbered hills and elevated grazing plateaus spoke to him.
He reined in Arrow at the top of a high hill. At the other side of the valley floor the distant ridge was tinged blue by the eucalyptus oil in the air. He smoothed a hand over Arrow’s neck as the gelding quivered. The palomino felt it too.
Something about where they were reminded the mustang of the Montana valley where he’d been born. A valley that had also been where Tanner had found peace. He’d arrived bitter at how he’d allowed the woman he’d believed he’d loved to use him, and feeling guilty over how he’d disappointed his father. He’d left secure in who he was and the path he’d chosen in life.
He stifled a surge of restlessness and doubt. Since he’d met Neve it was as though his emotions had come out of the shadows, and it was now a battle to subdue them. He was certain that the decision he’d made in that faraway Montana valley to value his freedom over commitment remained the right one for him.
A breeze tugged at his hat and rippled in the silver-tipped gum leaves beside him. To his left a hawk glided on the airstream. If it were up to him he wouldn’t renovate the weatherboard farmhouse set in close to the valley floor. Instead, he’d build a home right here where he could soak in this view every single day.
With still no sign of the cattle, Tanner followed a gully to his right. There was a nearby dam where they might head to water. If the escapees weren’t there, they could be over near the Herefords in the next paddock. He whistled for Patch to stay close as a stubby legged goanna emerged from the rocks to clamber up a tree.
At the dam there were cattle tracks but nothing else. Beyond the dam wall, Tanner spotted a car parked on the gravel road that ran along the front of the neighbour’s farm. The road surface was rocky and notorious for flat tyres. From the way the boot was open and the mother and daughter were unloading the contents, he didn’t have to be a betting man to guess they’d had a puncture.
When he rode up to the fence, the relief on the woman’s face thanked him even before he’d introduced himself and offered to help. With Arrow tied in the shade and Patch lolling beside him, Tanner vaulted over the fence. The dark-haired teenage daughter gave him a shy smile.
‘Where are you headed?’ he asked as he hefted a large suitcase out of the car boot.
‘Out west to Nyngan. We thought we’d take the scenic route.’ The mother pulled an embarrassed face. ‘Does it sound bad that I’ve never changed a tyre before?’
Tanner shook his head as he placed the spare tyre next to the flat back one. The sleek-lined city car wouldn’t have seen many country roads. ‘Hopefully, it will be a while before you have to change one again.’
‘I hope so. My husband tried to explain what to do over the phone, but we were about to look on the internet for a how-to video.’
‘You’re lucky there’s a signal.’
Tanner glanced at the teenager, whom the mother, Amy, had introduced as Ruby, as the brunette snapped a picture of the flat tyre. Ruby gave him another shy smile. ‘Can I take a picture of your horse and dog to show my friends?’
‘Sure. The horse’s name is Arrow and the dog’s called Patch.’
As the teenager moved away, Amy said quietly, ‘Thank you for helping us. We would have been here for hours. My sister has enough to worry about without us being late.’
Tanner picked up the jack. ‘How about I explain what I’m doing so if you get a flat again, you’ll be all set.’
As he jacked up the car and replaced the punctured
tyre with the spare, Amy listened carefully. Ruby too asked questions as she snapped photos and filmed what Tanner was doing.
When the boot was again loaded, Amy gave him a warm hug. ‘Thanks so much.’
Ruby stared at him, then cheeks pink, she spoke in a rush. ‘Can I have a photo?’
‘Sure.’
He stood beside her and draped his arm loosely around her shoulders while her mother took pictures on the teenager’s phone. He waved them off as the car’s tyres kicked up red dust.
He returned to searching for the missing young bulls. As he’d suspected, he found them hanging out near the neighbour’s Herefords. After heading them home to Claremont’s cattle yards, he drenched the trio before returning them to their paddock. The section of fence where the hole had been was now fixed. Not even Reggie would get through Denham’s repair.
Back at the homestead, Denham’s ute was parked near the jacaranda tree. After Tanner had unsaddled Arrow, instead of going around to his flat, he headed up the front steps. Denham most likely would be chatting to Meredith. Sure enough, he heard voices as he walked along the polished hallway floorboards.
When he entered the kitchen, the grin Denham cast him was predictably a little too wide. His cousin was still ribbing him over his field-day modelling. Meredith gave him her usual serene smile.
‘You were gone a while. Cattle give you any trouble?’ Denham asked as Tanner switched on the electric kettle.
‘No. I wasn’t away that long.’
‘You sure?’
Tanner finished making himself a coffee and sat at the table opposite his cousin. ‘Yep.’
Denham passed him his phone. ‘You were gone long enough for this …’
Tanner frowned but didn’t look at the screen. Anything to do with social media couldn’t be good. ‘You didn’t post my modelling picture somewhere, did you?’
‘No.’ Denham placed his hand on his heart. ‘I swear I had nothing to do with you becoming a “hot hero”.’
‘A what?’ Tanner glanced at Meredith. She slowly nodded. He reached for the phone. Ruby had posted the picture of them together online with the words, So this happened. Tanner helped us change our flat tyre. I love the country!
She’d also tagged him using the name of his horse-training business, which she would have seen on his shirt.
He looked at Denham. ‘That’s not too bad. She was a nice kid.’
Denham chuckled. ‘Scroll down. Your nice kid has an army of followers.’
Dismay filled him as comment after comment lay beneath the picture. Somewhere someone must have called him a ‘hot hero’ because the phrase suddenly kept appearing and now had a hashtag.
He groaned. ‘How did you find this?’
‘It wasn’t me. Fliss is at the hospital and Christi showed it to her.’
Christi was the young hospital receptionist and he could see how she’d have been in the circles where he’d guessed the photo had been shared.
‘It gets worse, keep scrolling,’ Denham said.
Tanner did as Denham suggested and soon photos from his website were popping up along with a photo of him modelling in a different outfit than in the photo Denham had somehow got hold of.
A series of comments then discussed the upcoming picnic races and whether Tanner would be there and if he had any friends.
‘Look on the bright side,’ Meredith said, touching his arm. ‘Think of how many people now know the Woodlea Picnic Races are on.’
He dragged a hand over his face. ‘This is a nightmare.’
Denham stood. ‘You know that talk we had about you having rocks in your head … if there ever was a time not to have them it’s now.’
Tanner didn’t answer. He just stared at the comments that still hadn’t ended as he scrolled. The lipstick target on his bachelor back already felt like a brand. Surely people wouldn’t come to the races expecting to see him? But as he read the comments definite plans were being made.
Denham clasped his shoulder. ‘I’m ready for that cold beer whenever you are.’
Tanner handed him his phone. ‘Thanks, but I’m becoming a hermit.’
‘Hermits can still drink cold beer.’
‘They’re going to have to.’
As Denham left to head home, Tanner looked across at Meredith.
‘Sweetheart, it will be okay. A handful of extra people might come. You won’t be mobbed.’
At his I-won’t-be-because-I’m-not-going look, she smiled. ‘Of course you’ll go. Even hermits have to accompany their aged mother to the races.’ Meredith stood, looking nothing but sprightly. ‘If Edna suspects you’ll be a no-show she’ll be around with Bethany, engineering some more one-on-one time.’
Tanner sighed and took a gulp of hot coffee. Until Bethany told her mother the truth about Mac and her, there’d be no respite from Edna’s attention. Meredith placed a slice of his favourite lemon-and-poppy-seed cake in front of him. She patted his arm before collecting the bucket of food scraps and leaving to make a trip to the chook pen.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he checked his screen. Neve had texted.
Heard you had a busy afternoon. Are u ok?
He hesitated. Then, succumbing to the need to talk to her, he called instead of texting a reply.
She answered after only two rings. ‘Hi.’
He glanced around to make sure Meredith wasn’t nearby. Hearing the softness of Neve’s voice was enough to stir his emotions. How much he missed seeing her would be stamped all over his face.
‘Hi. News travels fast.’
‘Unfortunately, social media travels faster.’
‘You can say that again.’ Even to his own ears his tone sounded grim.
‘You did a nice thing for the mother and daughter. Just forget about everything else. Tomorrow the social networks will be buzzing with something new.’
Neve’s sincerity and the humour infusing her words soothed him. He smiled into the phone. ‘So I’ll just be yesterday’s news.’
She laughed and the sound had the same effect as if she’d touched him. Hunger and need uncoiled deep inside. ‘Yes, sorry, even hot heroes only have fifteen seconds of fame.’
He chuckled, hoping the phone line would disguise the huskiness of his laughter. ‘How’s your Edward search going? I’m sorry there’s been no more word from my father.’
‘That’s okay. I really appreciate all the help he’s already given me. I’m ignoring the wartime angle for the moment and instead looking into Edward’s family. If he has any brothers or sisters who are still alive, they might have the answers we’re looking for.’
‘Good luck.’
‘Thanks. I’d better go. Bassie’s kicking the gate with his front foot and I’m only five minutes late with his dinner.’
‘Give him and Dell a pat from me.’
‘I will. Bye.’
‘See you.’
Tanner gazed out the kitchen window to where Patch followed Meredith back from the chook pen. He didn’t need to physically be near Neve for her to decimate his defences. When it came to attention spans he could only wish his was fifteen seconds long. He’d now be thinking about her until the grey of dawn pushed through his bedroom curtains and the birdsong chorus welcomed in the new day.
CHAPTER
13
‘Do I need to keep my eyes closed?’ Neve said as she walked beside Cressy along the driveway of a brick house on a back street in Woodlea.
Cressy had called earlier to say she had a special surprise and to meet her at this address after lunch.
The call couldn’t have come at a better time. Despite the books she’d read, the rides she’d taken, the research she’d done about Edward, and her lounge room being rearranged, her keeping-busy list was looking sparse. It was only Friday morning. She hadn’t yet reached the end of the first week of the girls being gone. Two weeks on her own already felt like a life sentence.
‘Not yet …’ Cressy changed her grip on the basket Neve had offered to carr
y. ‘But you will.’
The cowgirl still moved carefully, but the bruises beneath her eyes had disappeared and her skin glowed with health. She would make such a beautiful bride in two weeks. The enforced rest, insisted on by Fliss and Denham, had been what her body needed.
Neve looked around. Apart from her sedan and Cressy’s silver ute, the only other nearby vehicle was an unfamiliar car parked across the road. It almost seemed as though the house was empty. When they reached the back door, Cressy didn’t knock, just twisted the handle.
She gave Neve a cheery wave. ‘In you go.’
Neve walked into a neat kitchen. Apart from canisters filled with tea and coffee beside an electric kettle, the house didn’t look inhabited. There was no fruit bowl. No cooking utensils or toaster on the bench. She was sure if she opened the fridge the shelves would be bare.
Curious, she glanced at Cressy.
Cressy only grinned and then held up a hand to cover her eyes as she guided her towards a closed door. ‘No peeking.’
The door squeaked open. Cressy lowered her hand. ‘You said you wanted to learn to knit while the girls were away.’
Neve stared. She didn’t know what to look at first, Edna sitting in an armchair knitting something white, or the plastic tubs filled with a rainbow array of wool that lined the back wall. On a small table stood jars containing knitting needles and scissors, while on another table was a pile of completed horse shoes similar to the ones she’d admired on the day the girls had played in the new playground. Cressy had brought her to a guerrilla knitter’s paradise.
The clicking of Edna’s knitting needles stopped before she rested her hands on her lap. ‘Now, Neve, there’s only one golden rule … remember what happens in our underground knitting club stays in our underground knitting club.’
‘I’ll remember.’
She sat in the seat that Edna patted beside her. From the number of chairs, there were far more guerrilla-knitting members than Cressy and Edna.
The cowgirl spoke from the doorway. ‘Cuppa, Edna?’
‘Yes please, and just a small piece of whatever you have in that basket of yours. I’ve been so good only having a special treat every now and then.’
The Round Yard Page 19