by Mandy Magro
With wayward cattle splitting in different directions, and Juliette doing her best to keep them together, Joel joined her plight, Dynamite effortlessly riding at her horse’s heels. They raced to steer the cattle back onto the dirt road before they gained refuge in the scrub. Galloping at a wide half circle, her butt planted securely in the saddle, Juliette successfully turned the lead cow and it doubled back, bringing with it the rest of the herd. Seamlessly working together, he and Juliette fanned out in perfect formation, each on either side, with his father and Wombat at the rear and Ned at the front. Crisis averted, the somewhat restrained cattle fell back into a steady march along the winding dirt road, the lead cow now trotting along as if nothing had happened, and the fence line now stopping them from making a break for it.
Dynamite now lathered in sweat and blowing, Joel fell in beside Juliette once more. ‘By the looks of it, you could have gotten all this under control without me, I reckon.’
‘Of course I could have.’ Her face was flushed and her eyes glittered with excitement, drawing him in like a magnet. ‘I’m more capable than most think.’
‘Uh-huh.’ Joel’s eyes widened. ‘I wouldn’t argue with that.’ Whether it was from the heat, the rush of the chase, or his compliment, he wasn’t sure, but he watched a blush rise to her cheeks.
‘Thanks, but I have to say, you look a little surprised,’ she said archly.
‘Nope.’ His heart leapt and then settled into a steady thudding beat in his chest. Pointing to his face, his smile widened. ‘This here is a look of total admiration.’
She eyed him enquiringly and then grinned. ‘Good save, Hunter.’
‘No, I’m being serious.’ The creak of the saddle and the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves made him feel completely at home, or was it also from being in her company?
‘Well, in that case, thank you.’ She was silent for a few brief seconds and then turned to him, the shade of her Akubra now shadowing her eyes. ‘I’m not used to getting compliments.’
‘Well, that’s not kosher.’ The band of emotions tightened across his ribs. ‘You should be getting them all the time.’
Wordlessly, she smiled softly as she turned her attention back to the mob.
‘Did you get my messages last night?’ He eventually found the right time to ask, the cattle now completely at ease and strolling back towards home.
‘Oh, no, sorry. My phone went flat just after I texted you to say I was home and I can’t find my charging cord.’ She shrugged, sighed. ‘I tore the place to bits this morning but came up empty. I’m sure it’ll show up, it can’t just have vanished into thin air.’
‘Yeah, I’m sure it will.’ He regarded her for a few moments, caught up in her exquisiteness. ‘Mum said you could stay in the cottage as long as you needed.’
‘Yes, I already know.’
‘How?’ Had he just caught her lying? Had she seen his messages and just ignored him? ‘You got ESP or something?’
‘Something like that.’ Taking a sip from her water bottle, she placed it back in her saddlebag, a playful glint in her eyes. ‘Don’t worry, Joel, I wasn’t ignoring your messages. Your father told me.’
He’d forgotten how easily she could read him. ‘He did? When?’
‘First thing this morning, he woke me up by knocking persistently at my front door.’ She looked skywards at a flock of raucous cockatoos.
‘Really?’ Joel brought his gaze back to her and arched a brow. ‘So he does have a heart somewhere beneath his armour?’
‘He sure does.’ She cleared her throat, straightened. ‘He does love you, a lot, you know.’
‘Coulda fooled me.’ Deep down, Joel knew her words rang true, but he was over being treated so unfairly.
Juliette bit her bottom lip and blinked faster. ‘It’s all my fault, the rift between you two, isn’t it?’
‘No, it’s not, Jules.’ Joel sucked in a sharp breath and blew it away just as forcefully. ‘He may not know the truth, but it’s his fault for being so quick to judge then turning his back. I’d never do that to my son or daughter, if I’m blessed enough to have children one day.’
Her forehead puckered. ‘But if he knew why you and Levi got into that fight at the pub, it would change everything, right?’
He shrugged. ‘Possibly. Or maybe too much water has gone under the bridge for it to ever go back to the way it was.’
‘Don’t give up hope, Joel.’
‘Bit hard not to.’ He heaved a weighty sigh. ‘All I know is that if he doesn’t come round soon, I’m going to go mustering outback again, where I feel at home.’
‘Don’t go and leave again.’ It was said quickly, anxiously.
‘Why not?’ He wanted her to say she didn’t want him to leave because she loved him and she didn’t want to live without him.
‘Because it’s not going to solve anything if you do.’
‘We’ll see,’ he replied casually. ‘When are you moving into Zoe’s?’
‘I’m going to pack up my stuff today and move tomorrow, before Lachlan gets home from Sydney.’
He was chuffed, knowing she’d be his neighbour very soon. ‘Want a hand?’
‘Thanks, but Aunt Janey is going to come around and help. I don’t have that much.’
‘Okay, well, if you change your mind, I’m more than happy to help.’
‘Thanks, Joel, appreciate it.’
They reached the bridge and, pushing the cattle across, the mob began to split, but it didn’t take them long to ease them back from where they’d come. Juliette rode her horse with such confidence and authority, none of the cattle were game enough to try to make a break now because it meant they had to pass her first. Less than an hour later, they had all the cattle back safely in the holding pen, just minutes before the truck turned up to load them.
After bidding Wombat and Ned goodbye, Joel slid out of the saddle, as did Juliette, and they led their horses to the trough for a well-deserved drink.
‘You were mighty impressive in the saddle today, Hunter.’ The suspicion of a smile played around her mouth. ‘Anyone would think you’re a pro.’
Her compliment took him by surprise, as did the fact it felt as if she was actually flirting with him. ‘I’ve done it a couple of times before.’ He choked back his pride, tugged his hat off, and ran his fingers through his hair. ‘I could say the same about you.’
His father rounded the corner of the stables, stopping short of them. ‘Thanks, you pair. You did a good job of it.’ He took his hat off and slapped it against his leg, sending a cloud of dust into the air.
‘No worries at all.’ Joel could hear the smile in his old man’s voice – it was a sound he hadn’t heard since he was a teenager. ‘I enjoyed helping out.’
‘Yeah, me too, Mr Hunter. And it’s the very least I could do, seeing as you and Mrs Hunter are being so kind as to offer me a place to stay until I get on my feet again.’ Juliette’s smile was as warm as the sun beating down upon Joel’s back.
‘Of course, Juliette, you’re like a daughter to Sherrie and me.’ William nodded brusquely, then disappeared the same way he’d come.
Joel waited until his father was out of earshot and then whistled through his teeth. ‘Wow, that was unexpected.’
‘See, miracles really do happen, especially when you least expect it.’ Juliette climbed back into the saddle.
Joel peered up at her from beneath his hat. ‘Yeah, you got that right.’
She tipped her hat to him. ‘I’ll catch you tomorrow, neighbour.’
‘Sounds good.’
‘Yeah, it does, doesn’t it?’ She offered him a gentle smile, one that transported him back in time to when they were completely head over heels in love, before turning her horse and heading off.
He watched her fade off into the distance, her long ponytail bouncing around her back – the difference was, this time round, his heart wasn’t as heavy. She was coming back. Maybe not to him, but to be near him, and that in itself was worth more
than he could have ever imagined.
She was right. Miracles did happen.
CHAPTER
20
A loud yelp alerted Juliette to the fact she’d almost stepped on Brute. Startled, and hesitating on her tippy toes, she paused and looked down at him. ‘For goodness sake, buddy, get out from under my feet, would you? I promise I’m not going to leave you behind.’
‘He’s scared the pants off me a couple of times, too, scooting around my ankles.’ Aunty Janey giggled. ‘He certainly lets you know when you’re about to tread on him.’
‘Sure does. He’s got a good set of lungs for a little bitty fella.’ Peering over the top of the last box of her personal belongings, she smiled at her aunt. With her tongue amusingly curled in concentration as they carefully descended the front steps, it tenderly reminded Juliette of her mother. ‘You know what, Aunt Janey, you and Mum are looking more and more alike as the years pass.’
‘Thank you.’ Janey smiled wistfully. ‘With how gorgeous my big sister is, I’ll take that as a huge compliment, my love.’ She groaned as they reached the ute and they both strained to place the box in the last little bit of space left. Then, pausing to look over the contents, Janey shook her head. ‘After all these years of marriage and this is all you’re allowed to take?’ Waving a hand over the tray of the ute, she tutted then huffed, looking at Juliette with sympathy written all over her face. ‘It obviously runs in the family to be a total narcissist.’
With Janey not knowing the real reason behind everything falling apart, Juliette didn’t know what to say but, after a moment’s consideration, she nodded. ‘Seems that way.’ She ran her fingers through her tattered hair, snagging on the knots. ‘Just wish I’d figured that bit out before I’d gone and married him. Would have saved me a load of heartache.’
‘You can’t go and blame yourself for that one, my love,’ Janey said gently. ‘He’s a master of making people think he’s the bee’s knees, just to get what he wants. I still can’t believe he had the audacity to rub the pre-nup you don’t even recall signing in your face, the dirty lowlife.’ She sucked in a sharp breath. ‘I pray the lawyer I put you onto finds a way around it all and you get what you deserve.’
‘Me too, Aunty.’ A wave of emotion engulfed Juliette and she bit back a sob, but not quickly enough for her aunt not to notice.
‘Oh, love.’ Janey wiped her hands on her jeans and then reached out, pulling Juliette to her. ‘I’m so sorry you’re going through this. If I could, I’d take your pain away and make it mine.’
Unable to stop her heavy tears, Juliette wrapped her arms around her aunt and wept into her shoulder. For a few poignant moments, they remained entwined. Then Juliette found the strength to gently pull away. ‘Sorry I’m such a blithering mess.’ She wiped at her cheeks. ‘I’m just so exhausted.’
‘Don’t you dare apologise, love. You have every right to feel as you do. A divorce isn’t easy.’ She cupped Juliette’s cheeks, eyeing her tenderly, just like a mother would. ‘Be easy on yourself, and take all the time you need to heal that big, beautiful heart of yours, okay?’
Juliette sucked in a shaky breath, nodding sadly. ‘I’ll try to.’
Placing her hand to Juliette’s chest, atop where her heart was breaking beneath, Janey smiled knowingly. ‘I hope and pray that, in time, you’ll follow what’s been in here all along. Then you might just find your happily-ever-after.’
Steeling herself, Juliette observed her inquisitively. ‘And what might that actually be?’ She tried to wipe her tears away, but they just kept on coming.
‘I think you already know the answer to that one, my love.’ Brows raised, Janey tapped the side of her nose, indicating she knew way more than she would say.
In a flash, Joel’s handsome face rushed to the forefront of Juliette’s mind, but she mentally slapped the image away. Now wasn’t the time to be thinking of him in such a way, not when she was so vulnerable, so tangled up in her woes. ‘I have no idea what you’re on about,’ she said, feigning absolute bafflement.
‘Oh, but I know you do.’ Taking Juliette’s hands in hers, Janey tenderly squeezed them. ‘But I’m not going to harp on about it. For now, you need to focus on yourself and just allow the universe to bring to you what it may, when the time is right.’
‘You’re full of inspirational advice, Aunt Janey. Thank you.’
‘I try my best to be an optimist, but sometimes being a pessimist is called for too.’ With a brazen grin, she looked to her watch. ‘I best get a move on. I have to have a shower and spruce myself up before my hot date picks me up for dinner and a movie.’
‘You have a date tonight?’
‘I do.’ A blush rose to Janey’s cheeks as she fiddled with one of her dangly earrings.
‘Sooo?’ Juliette rocked on her heels, a smirk plastered on her lips. ‘Who’s the lucky guy?’
‘Jimbo.’
‘Oh my gosh! Jimbo? Really?’
‘Yes, really. Why are you so shocked?’ Grinning playfully, Janey tucked her hands into her pockets.
Juliette shrugged. ‘I just didn’t picture him as your type.’
‘I don’t really have a type.’ Janey tipped her head as though pondering this.
‘Oh yes, you do.’ Juliette’s nods were exaggerated.
Janey leant on the back of the ute, crossing her feet at the ankles. ‘And what might my type be, exactly?’
‘Well, you’ve always gone for the clean-cut office worker, whereas Jimbo is the typical Aussie larrikin.’
‘You mean Aussie yobbo.’
Both women laughed.
‘Yeah, in a roundabout kind of way.’ Juliette bit her lip sheepishly. ‘He is as Aussie as they come.’
‘He sure is. Do you know he even went and had his two front teeth fixed so he could look, as he put it, dapper for our date?’ Janey said with an awestruck grin.
‘Wow, now that’s commitment.’ Juliette shook her head, just as amazed. ‘Go Jimbo.’
‘Well, you know what they say about opposites attracting. And with my run of bad luck, I thought I’d switch tactics and go for a bloke I wouldn’t usually date. And besides …’ She rolled her eyes. ‘… the poor bugger has been asking me to go out for the past couple of months, and I finally caved in and agreed so he’d stop pestering me.’
‘Liar, liar, pants on fire.’ Juliette waggled a finger at her aunt. ‘You really like him.’
‘No, I do not.’ Janey’s eyes darted this way and that.
‘It’s okay to like someone, Aunty,’ Juliette said. ‘It’s been almost five years since Uncle Kevin passed.’ She touched Janey’s chest in exactly the same tender way her aunt had just done to her. ‘You need to heed some of your own advice and follow what’s in here.’
‘Oh, stop it.’ Janey playfully slapped Juliette’s hand away. ‘We’re friends, and that’s that.’
‘We’ll see,’ Juliette said in a gently taunting voice. ‘Jimbo and Janey sitting in a tree, K.I.S.S.I.N.G.’
‘You cheeky bugger,’ Janey giggled, shaking her head. ‘On that note, I’m off.’ She brushed a kiss over Juliette’s cheek. ‘You make sure you call me tomorrow if you’d like a hand unpacking and settling in over there, okay?’
‘I will, thanks. I love you.’
‘I love you, too, Juliette. So very much.’
Watching her aunt drive away, Juliette tried to focus her thoughts on the future in a determined effort to put the hurts of the present out of her mind. The wheels set into motion, things were happening extremely quickly, so much so that she hadn’t had time to think too much until now. A hollow pang hit her like a tonne of bricks as she turned and went to close the door of what had been her home for the past ten years. Her chest heaved with a deep sob, but she choked it back. Brute circled at her feet and she bent to pick him up, comforted by his doggy love. Then, gritting her teeth, she slammed the door for the final time and did her best to gather her wits. She was doing the right thing. A clean break was what she needed. It
was easier said than done, but worthwhile things always were.
Reaching her ute, she dispatched a wriggling Brute through the window and, as he settled himself on the passenger seat, she got herself behind the wheel, turned the key, revved the old girl to life and then turned up the Country Music Greatest Party Hits CD she’d had on replay this past week, singing the lyrics out loud. She refused to reminisce like she quite often did when driving around, or drink in the picturesque view that had stolen her heart. This was no longer the place she would lay her head at night. Passing the main homestead, she spotted her soon-to-be ex-mother-in-law standing on the front verandah, arms folded. Still singing, Juliette ached to give her the finger, but chose instead to not even acknowledge her. That would really grate her. Keeping her eyes on the gravel driveway, she looked to the future. There’d be no more looking back. There’d be no more yearning over what wasn’t going to be. Time to get a hold of the reins of her life.
Ten minutes later, and feeling somewhat lighter now that the packing-up part was over with, she was driving through the front gates of Hunter Farmstead. It was so satisfyingly different to the life she’d grown accustomed to over the years of being married to a Davis. Unpretentious and welcoming, the place gave her the warm comfort of a mother’s embrace. This was exactly the kind of place she felt at home. Actually, it was the only place she’d ever truly felt at home.
Deep in thought, she jumped when her phone rang from the dash. She snatched it up before it went to message bank, putting the speakerphone on. ‘Hi, Sherrie.’