The Round Yard

by Alissa Callen

  Neve’s phone chimed as a text came through. Sibylla had arrived after taking her father to Dubbo for an early medical appointment. Neve excused herself before she went to meet the audiologist at the entry gate.

  A crowd now congregated around a makeshift stage that featured a line of well-dressed girls and boys. All had tags pinned to the front of their dresses or small suit coats as the winners of the children’s section of the fashions on the field were announced.

  She could only imagine the competition for the Fashionable Filly section. She scanned the sizeable throng of racegoers.

  For every pair of masculine shoulders there were at least three well-groomed young women. She couldn’t blame Tanner if he’d decided not to come after all.

  Then she saw him. No wonder she hadn’t caught sight of him earlier. Today he wore a fawn wide-brimmed hat that she hadn’t seen before. He stood alongside Finn and both men were partially obscured by a bevy of women. Even as she watched, a striking brunette ran her hands through her long hair and laughed at something he’d said. Her body was angled towards him, making it clear she liked what she saw. She wasn’t the only one. A petite blonde leaned in close to adjust the navy tie he wore.

  Neve’s steps slowed. She’d told Edna that she’d have Tanner’s back, but by anyone’s definition he didn’t look like he needed saving. The brunette again lifted an arm and this time curled her fingers around Tanner’s left biceps with a teasing pout. He gave her the same easy grin that had moved Neve on the first day she’d seen him in Woodlea.

  Something inside her shrivelled and died. Tanner was so out of her league. She forced her feet to move. He could have any woman he wanted. What had she been thinking? With every step the heartbreaking answer became clear. She hadn’t been thinking, she’d just been hoping, because … she loved him.

  From the beginning Tanner had unsettled her and skewed her judgement. All along she’d known someone like him wasn’t meant for someone like her. But she’d ignored reason and common sense to invest in their friendship and connection. Now she hadn’t just lost her way, but also her heart.

  Her hands curled into fists as she walked. The colours on the racing silks of the jockeys near the stables didn’t seem as bright. The laughter of the children blowing bubbles nearby didn’t seem as musical.

  A familiar heavy fragrance scented the breeze before Edna called out her name. She slowly turned, hoping the makeup she wore would conceal her distress. ‘Hi, Edna, I was just thinking about you.’

  ‘Were you now?’ Edna stopped in front of her. She was wearing an eye-catching purple outfit with a matching oversized feathered hat.

  ‘Yes. I’ve seen Tanner and he seems fine, even though he does have quite an audience.’

  Neve expected Edna to frown and look around, or at the least ask where the drover was. Instead, the older woman’s attention swept over her hair and face. ‘Don’t you look nice. I see so much of your grandmother in you.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Neve touched her floral headband. ‘Ella found the dress online and Taylor did my hair.’

  ‘So Tanner’s not looking like he’d rather be anywhere else but here?’

  ‘Not that I could see.’

  ‘Well, it isn’t even lunchtime so keep a close watch on him. Bethany should make it here for the last race.’

  Neve excused herself with what she hoped passed as a normal smile. Her facial muscles felt far too stiff. ‘I’d better keep moving. I have to meet Sibylla.’

  ‘Yes, off you go. I’ve just seen Mrs Knox. I must see how she’s going. Harriet has broken off her engagement.’

  As Neve continued towards the entrance she drew a deep breath and squared her shoulders. It was inevitable she’d see Tanner. When she did, she’d have to hide how she felt and that things had changed between them. Somehow, she’d have to get through the day with her composure and dignity intact. It would be the only way to protect her secret that she loved him.

  Sibylla stood by the entry gate. When she saw Neve she gave her a warm smile. Her ebony hair curled around her shoulders, adding to her fresh, natural look. She wore a black floral knee-length dress that tied at the waist.

  ‘Sorry for the wait,’ Neve said, giving her a quick hug.

  Sibylla’s reply was drowned out by the thunder of hooves and the cheers of the crowd as horses crossed the finishing line behind them. Red dust filtered through the air.

  ‘How was Dubbo?’ Neve asked as they wove their way through the spectators towards the marquee.

  ‘Busy. It also seemed to take forever to get there. I’m out of practice driving long distances.’

  ‘You’ll soon get used to being out here again.’

  ‘I’m sure I will. Dad’s making good progress, but there’ll be a few more specialist trips to Dubbo.’

  Neve didn’t answer. They were drawing near to where Tanner and Finn still stood surrounded by women. The brunette now appeared to stand even closer to Tanner, as though staking her claim.

  Sibylla shook her head. ‘Looks like Tanner’s fears have come true.’

  ‘Maybe. He doesn’t look too out of his depth.’

  As if knowing he was under discussion, Tanner turned his head and looked straight at them. Whatever he said caused the brunette to frown in their direction before he strode towards them.

  ‘Hey,’ he said, giving them both a smile. ‘May I escort you two lovely ladies to lunch?’ He offered each of them his arm. ‘I have a sudden need to smell fresh air and to talk about farm machinery.’

  Sibylla giggled. ‘That bad, huh?’

  ‘Let’s just say right after lunch, I’m leaving.’

  Relief coursed through Neve, quickly followed by guilt. Tanner hadn’t been as relaxed as he’d appeared. Now she could see him up close, she recognised lines of strain bracketing his mouth. She shouldn’t have let emotion blind her to how he’d really been feeling. Next time, she’d make sure she did have his back.

  She looked to where Finn still held court with his admirers. The brunette was giving Sibylla and her a death stare. ‘Do we need to wait for Finn?’

  ‘No. Trust me, he’s enjoying himself.’

  As they walked away, Sibylla gave Tanner an update on how she was going getting her confidence back when riding. Conscious of the warmth and strength of Tanner’s arm beneath her hand, Neve stayed quiet. All she could smell was the leather-toned scent of his aftershave. All she could hear was the husky rumble of his voice.

  When three young children ran in front of them in pursuit of a bubble trail, she wasn’t prepared to stop. As she cannoned into Tanner, his arm caught her. His hand lay splayed against the sensitive skin of her bare lower back. She held herself stiff to hide the instant tremors that rippled through her.

  ‘Sorry,’ the eldest child said, a gap where his bottom tooth was, before he dashed away.

  In her peripheral vision, Neve caught Tanner’s sideways glance at her before his hand left her skin. Cool air replaced the warmth of his touch. When he again offered her his arm, she took hold with a light clasp.

  Sibylla smiled as the children blew more bubbles in between gasps of laughter. ‘It’s always the simple things, isn’t it?’

  ‘It is,’ Tanner replied.

  Neve’s gaze flew to his face. But as he looked ahead all she could see beneath the brim of his hat was the carved line of his profile. She hoped it was only her heightened emotions that made her think his voice had been too deep and too grave.

  Something wasn’t right between Neve and him. When he’d steadied her, unmistakable tension had vibrated in the fine muscles of her bare back. Over lunch, his suspicions crystallised into certainty. Even though she sat across from him, she barely looked his way. From the texts they’d exchanged during the week, she’d said her hip no longer troubled her, so she wasn’t in pain. Her texts had also been her usual warm and witty responses. Had the race day brought back family memories like when she’d visited the small-hall festival?

  He took a slow swig of beer to co
ver his appraisal as she chatted with Sibylla. Neve’s swept-up hair revealed the pale, porcelain smooth line of her neck. Silver hung from her ears and sparkled every time she moved. The rich colour of her dress made her eyes appear a startling green, except there was a new brittleness to their expression. The satin sheen of her pink lips caused his jaw to clench in need. She was so beautiful.

  The only reason he was at the races was to see her and to engineer some alone time so they could talk. The way she’d rested her head against him when she’d fallen off Jazz gave him hope she’d be open to revisiting their friends-only discussion.

  If Meredith had noticed his preoccupation with scanning the crowd when they’d arrived, she hadn’t made any comment. All she’d said when she’d left to talk to Taylor about secret wedding business was for him to enjoy himself. He and Denham were expecting an ultimatum from the hairdresser about getting a haircut, but to their surprise, so far they’d been left in peace.

  He felt Neve’s attention on him and looked up to meet her gaze. His grip on his beer bottle tightened. Her eyes only held his for a too-brief time. As if from a distance, he heard Sibylla ask him about which horse he’d pick in the next race.

  He stared at the race programme. He didn’t even know what horses were running. Three seats down from him Hewitt mentioned a potential winner and the conversation shifted away. Then as colour flashed and hooves pounded, everyone turned to watch as the horses sped past. Everyone but him. He didn’t look away from Neve.

  Meredith hadn’t even been gone for ten seconds before he’d been engulfed in a cloud of perfume as women surrounded him. He owed Finn not just a drink but a slab of beer for coming to his aid. As much as Finn had enjoyed the attention, it’d taken all of Tanner’s willpower to stay.

  His adoptive mother hadn’t raised him to be rude or churlish. Meredith also wouldn’t expect anything less than good manners. Some of the women, like the touchy-feely brunette, had driven six hours to attend the races. When he’d finally seen Neve, emotion had overridden any sense of social duty. And now here he sat a body length away, desperate to touch her and talk with her.

  A raindrop splashed on his chin and then the back of his hand. Even though weak streams of sunlight held their own against the incoming rain, it wouldn’t be long until the first cloudburst hit. Denham came to his feet and Tanner followed.

  ‘It might be time to head to the grandstand or marquee,’ Denham said as he caught a paper napkin dancing across the table.

  ‘I second that,’ Fliss said as she joined the others in packing away the remnants of their lunch.

  They’d only made it to the tiered grandstand steps when raindrops pelted on the tin roof. Squeals sounded as spectators dashed for shelter. Tanner kept close to Neve to make sure she wasn’t crushed as the grandstand filled. She gave him a small smile of thanks, before turning to talk with Cressy. Above the noise of the rain, a woman’s voice called his name. With the flirtatious brunette in the lead, a group of the women he’d been talking to earlier pushed their way towards him.

  Neve was suddenly by his side, her arm around his waist. The press of the crowd had to be making her feel claustrophobic. He pulled her close, savouring the contact and the way she tucked herself against him. Her hand lifted to rest on his chest.

  When the approaching brunette stopped three people away and the girls behind her did too, he realised Neve was staring in their direction. He couldn’t see her exact expression, but from the tilt to her head he guessed she wasn’t smiling. Whatever message was exchanged between the brunette and her, it caused the brunette to toss her hair before weaving her way through the crowd in a different direction. The other women followed.

  ‘Neve?’ he said, voice low.

  ‘Your fifteen seconds of fame had expired. She wasn’t right for you.’ Colour flared on her cheekbones as she went to pull away. ‘Unless, sorry, you thought she was … and I just ruined everything.’

  The only person who was right for him was the woman whose softness and warmth fitted so perfectly against him. But with half of Woodlea jam-packed into the grandstand, now wasn’t the time to start such a conversation.

  He tightened his hold to reassure her that he hadn’t been interested in the brunette. ‘She wasn’t right.’

  The furrow between Neve’s brows cleared, but the indecision tensing her lips remained. On his chest, he could feel her fingers curl into his shirt. ‘Not even a little?’

  ‘Not one bit.’

  Intent on their discussion, he hadn’t realised the rain had stopped. People drifted out of the grandstand and space opened up around them. Curious eyes turned their way. He lowered his arm.

  Cressy looked over her shoulder with a grin. ‘Come on, you two, chop chop. You’ll miss the next race.’

  Neve preceded him down the stairs and fell into step alongside Ella as they headed for the marquee. The vet said something he couldn’t hear and Neve nodded.

  Sunshine again filtered through the clouds, but the horizon remained an ominous grey. The main rain squall would soon arrive. He hesitated. Lunch was over and he should leave. But until he had more of a talk with Neve, he wasn’t going anywhere.

  The crowd dispersed, the majority heading for the bar and the racetrack. In the distance thunder rumbled. Tanner listened to Hewitt and Denham’s banter as they tried to persuade each other to enter the men’s section of the fashions on the field.

  ‘Don’t look at me,’ he said when they both stared at him. ‘I’m becoming a hermit, remember.’

  He barely registered their laughter as Neve left Ella’s side and headed in the direction of the exit. Her shoulders were hunched and she walked with a fast-paced urgency. He turned to follow, when purple feathers bobbed in front of his face.

  Denham and Hewitt gave him wide grins as they made drinking gestures before hightailing it to the bar. He bit back a sigh. So much for mateship and blood ties.

  ‘Hello, Edna.’

  ‘Well hello, Tanner. What a great turnout it’s been today, thanks to you.’

  He didn’t immediately answer. Instead, he looked over the older woman’s shoulder to track where Neve walked. When he saw her talking to old Will, he refocused on Edna. ‘I’m not so sure I’m the reason why so many are here.’

  ‘Of course you are, you don’t need to be modest … yours is the only name I’ve heard all day.’ Her smile grew. ‘But don’t worry, Bethany will be here soon and will keep you company in case things get out of hand with any of these city girls.’

  Neve had started walking again and would soon disappear from sight.

  ‘I’ll look out for her.’ Tanner touched the brim of his hat. ‘Sorry, I must go.’

  Without waiting for Edna’s reaction, he strode away. A raindrop wet his shoulder and then his cheek.

  As he cleared the race ground gates, all he saw were rows upon rows of parked cars. A glimpse of green had him jogging to his left.

  When he drew near to where Neve walked, she must have heard him as she swung around to face him. Her large eyes filled her face. Even as he watched, her lashes lowered to hide her emotions.

  He stopped before her, curbing the longing to take her into his arms. ‘Doing an umbrella run?’

  His light tone failed to relax her strained expression. He didn’t need to be a betting man to know she didn’t have the key to Ella’s four-wheel drive in the small black bag she carried.

  ‘No … just having some time out.’

  The gathering breeze rippled through the silk flowers on top of her head. The temperature had dropped and the sky would soon rip open.

  ‘Are you remembering coming here with your family?’

  As the silence lengthened he thought she wouldn’t respond. Then she folded her arms and slowly shook her head. ‘Tanner … it’s no secret there’s … something between us. But I think we need to revisit our discussion about not giving in to our chemistry.’

  He nodded, digging his hands into his pockets. Her solemn tone indicated she wasn’t
quite on the same page as he was when it came to revising their agreement terms.

  She continued, her eyes searching his. ‘The same goes for our … emotional connection.’

  He weathered the stab of rejection and the hot flare of pain. He had to retain perspective and not let his emotions blindside him. Neve wasn’t abandoning him, she was just renegotiating the terms of their relationship. Something had upset her and he needed to find out what it was.

  ‘Is it possible we don’t need to do such a thing?’

  Her chin lifted. ‘You sound like you’re in a courtroom.’

  ‘Do I? I don’t want to lose this … discussion … or you. The last thing we need to do is to walk away from what we have.’

  She blinked. ‘But … you don’t want marriage … or I’m guessing a family? I want both of those things. I can’t do casual, which is why I’m so bad at all this relationship stuff.’

  He lost the fight to not touch her. He slid his hands out of his pockets to cup her jaw, ignoring the splatter of raindrops on the brim of his hat.

  ‘I thought I had everything figured out and knew what I did and didn’t want … but I was wrong.’

  ‘Wrong?’

  The wind swept away her breathless word.

  ‘Dead wrong. And you’re not ba—’

  Neve’s lips silenced him. His hat fell to the ground. Her hands were in his hair and her body pressed against his. He sought the skin of her lower back beneath her jacket and she shuddered as he mapped the smooth, bare contours.

  Kissing Neve was like seeing the glow of a sunrise after an endless night. Having the woman he loved in his arms was like finding the part of him that he’d always denied existed. This was what he’d longed for but had fought against. This was what he’d dreamed of but hadn’t been strong enough to admit he wanted.

  He didn’t know when the heavens tore apart and the deluge started. All he knew was that icy water streaked over his heated skin and soaked his shirt. When thunder cracked he lifted his head and sought Neve’s hand. She bent to scoop up his hat before following him at a half-run over to where his ute was parked several rows away.