The Legacies of Brigadier Station

by Sarah Williams

  “He can stay with me,” Abbie announced. “Who better to look after him than a nurse?”

  Lachie looked at her questioningly, but she nodded at him. “It's just for a week. It’ll be fine.”

  Was she trying to convince him or herself.

  Lachie felt his pulse spike and was grateful the machines were turned off. He wouldn't mind spending a week with Abbie. She was the type of woman he would like to get to know better. He enjoyed Hannah’s company too. It would mean that he wouldn’t be able to mope about feeling sorry for himself as long as Hannah was around.

  The doctor nodded enthusiastically. “Excellent. You will be in great hands. Nurse Forsyth is one of the best nurses I've ever had the pleasure of working with.”

  Lachie watched Abbie's reaction to his words. A soft blush tinged her cheeks.

  When the doctor had left, Harriet turned to Abbie. “Are you sure that's not an inconvenience? You must have a busy life with work and your daughter.”

  Abbie shook her head. “Not at all. I have a couple of days off anyway, and Hannah will be at school.”

  Harriet relented with a smile. “Okay. I’ll come and visit as much as I can.” She patted Lachie’s hand. “You better behave yourself.”

  Abbie laughed a high-pitched melody. It was the first time he had heard it, and he smiled. Laughing suited her.

  Abbie turned to him. “If you're all set, I'll come back and pick you up in the morning.”

  He nodded, wondering how he could express his gratitude. “Thank you. For everything.”

  “No problem.” She smiled and said her goodbyes to his family.

  A cheeky smile spread over his mother's face as she turned and looked at him.

  “What?” he asked slowly.

  “She likes you.”

  Darcy moved to sit in a spare chair next to Harriet. “I think Mum's right.”

  “Nah, she's just doing her job.” Lachie brushed it off. “Besides, she could do better than me anyway.”

  “Give yourself more credit,” Darcy said. “You've come a long way.”

  “Still a long way to go before I'm worthy of a woman like her,” Lachie said as his mother and brother gave each other a knowing look. “I've got to live with her for the next week. Leave it alone, you two.”

  “Okay,” they both agreed at the same time with a smile.

  Lachie threw his head back and groaned.

  It was going to be an interesting week.

  “Here we are,” Abbie said as she turned off the car's ignition an unclipped her seatbelt. Lachie pulled his attention away from her to look at the little white weatherboard house. He noted its convenient position, on the same road as the primary school and around the corner from the hospital. Walking distance, except when travelling with a patient who had just had major surgery.

  “It's nice,” he said as he opened the car door and tried to get out unassisted. Before he got very far though, Abbie was there, gripping his arm and supporting him as he awkwardly climbed out. “Thanks.”

  Her arm curled around his waist, and he put his over her shoulder. She was petite against him, at least a foot shorter, but she surprised him with her strength. They managed to get up the steps and to the front door where she unlocked the door and helped him over the threshold.

  “Let's get you on the couch,” she said and directed him into the open-plan living, dining, and kitchen. He slid into the comfortable fabric couch and sighed.

  “Are you in pain? I can get you some medicine.” She rattled the paper bag which contained the packet of non-addictive pain-relievers the doctor had prescribed. Lachie’d managed a few hours’ sleep last night after having swallowed one, but its effects had been fleeting.

  He shook his head. “No, I'll save them for when it gets really bad.” If she thought he was trying to be brave for her. He wasn't. She had already seen him at his weakest so he had nothing to prove now.

  He watched as she put the bag on the kitchen counter then disappeared down the hall, returning a moment later with pillows which she carefully arranged around him. When she was done, she stood back and put her hands on her hips. “How about a cup of tea?”

  “That would be great.” He agreed more to give her something to do than because he wanted one. As she bustled about in the kitchen, he looked around the room. It was sparsely decorated with just one photo of Hannah as a baby on the wall. “How long have you lived here?”

  “Since we got here six months ago,” she said. “The house is owned by the hospital and let out to staff.”

  “Where did you move from? You're a city girl, right?”

  “Is it that obvious?” She shot him a smile. “We're from Brisbane.”

  Abbie brought over a tray of biscuits, a milk jug, sugar bowl, and two cups of tea. She placed them on the table beside him before sitting down opposite.

  He dosed his tea with sugar and took a sip. “It's your skin. Too pale for a country girl.”

  She pressed her hand against her cheek. “You can blame my father for that. He's Scottish, and as fair as they come.”

  “Scottish, really? What brought him to Australia?” Lachie relaxed into his nest of pillows and waited for her to answer.

  “Love.” She shrugged. “He met my mother while she was travelling around Europe and then came back with her.”

  “Really? She didn’t want to stay there?” he asked.

  “No. He was pretty happy to immigrate to a warmer climate.”

  “Have you ever been there? To Scotland?”

  She nodded. “We regularly went over while I was growing up. We had quite a few white Christmases. I haven't been overseas since I started uni though.”

  “You don't want to take Hannah over, for a holiday?”

  “Maybe one day, but it's a long way for a little girl.” Abbie sipped her drink, and he watched as she curled a leg under her.

  “She's a great kid. Very talkative.” Lachie grinned.

  Abbie laughed. “Yes, she is. She would talk to anyone about anything. It worries me sometimes.”

  He furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”

  “You know ‘stranger danger’?”

  He nodded slowly. When you lived in a small community, strangers didn’t stay strangers for long, but he saw the reasoning behind it. He had watched enough crime shows to understand how prevalent kidnappings were in large cities, and he wouldn’t wish that on any parent.

  Abbie sighed. “Still, she's the reason I met Maddie and Dylan.”

  He cocked his head to the side, signalling for her to explain.

  “Hannah went up to Jamie in the supermarket one day and started playing with him. That's when Maddie and I started talking, and she invited us out to the station. We’ve been good friends ever since. Jamie’s like a little brother to her now.”

  Lachie had only spent a brief amount of time with his neighbours’ son, and that was when he’d still been a baby. He remembered Meghan had been particularly fond of the little boy. “That's great. I imagine it must get lonely as an only child. I'm the oldest of three brothers.”

  “I'm an only child too, so I know what she's going through. It is lonely, but it's just the way it is.” Her voice was heavy with something. Regret?

  “So, Hannah's father …?” He wanted to know more and didn't know how to be polite about it.

  “He's not around.” Her face clouded over, ending the conversation. “Never has been.”

  Lachie sipped his tea in awkward silence. No more talking about the father—check.

  He was about to apologise when there was a tapping on the door. “That will be your mum. She said she was on her way.”

  He smiled and finished his tea. His mother would get Abbie talking. She could get anyone to open up, even him.

  Harriet arrived with a bag of Lachie's things as well as containers of food and baking.

  “It's the least I can do,” she said as she handed them to Abbie. “After all, you’re looking after my son.”

  Abbie
took the food gratefully and went to work finding room for everything in the fridge. Well, at least she wouldn't have to worry about dinner tonight. Harriet had brought enough meals to last the week.

  Harriet fussed over her son for a while, making sure he was comfortable and not in too much pain, not that there was much Abbie could give him if he was.

  “So why did you leave Brisbane?” Harriet asked a short time later.

  Abbie took a seat on the couch next to Lachie—the only other spare seat since Harriet was on the chair.

  “I was working in the emergency department with long hours and lots of stress. Plus, I wasn't getting to spend much time with Hannah so when I heard about this job I decided it would be a nice change from the rush of the city.”

  “Yes, I think you'll find Julia Creek quite different.” Harriet nodded. “How long will you be staying?”

  “Indefinitely. Hannah's enjoying it here. She loves her school and new friends,” Abbie said, smiling. “We'll return at some point, I guess. But who knows when?”

  “And Hannah's father? Has he come to visit yet?” Harriet asked inquisitively.

  Abbie shifted. “He's not in the picture. It's just me and Hannah.”

  Harriet frowned. “I'm sorry to hear that.”

  Abbie shrugged like it really didn't matter. Lots of kids grew up with only one parent. Hannah seemed okay, didn't she?

  “And your parents are still in Brisbane?” Lachie said, changing the subject.

  She shot him a grateful look. “Yes, we used to live with them before we moved here. They were a great help when Hannah was little.”

  “I can imagine, especially with you being so young and with such a demanding job,” Harriet said kindly. “They must be missing you now.”

  Abbie nodded. “They know they are welcome here anytime.” Not that they would ever come out. The dusty outback was nothing like the glitzy lifestyle they were used to.

  Lachie raised his hand to smother a yawn. He looked exhausted. He probably hadn't slept much last night at the hospital with all the constant coming and going of hospital staff.

  “You should have a sleep. I'll show you your room,” Abbie said.

  Lachie rubbed his hand over his face. “I normally hate to sleep during the day. Waste of sunlight hours, but if I don't lie down I'm pretty sure I'll fall asleep right here.” He gingerly pushed himself off the couch, and Abbie caught his arm to steady him.

  “I'll leave you to it then,” Harriet said, standing. “Let me know if you need anything at all.”

  “Thanks, Mum.” Lachie gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  Abbie said her goodbyes and once Harriet had left, she put her arm around Lachie and helped him down the hall.

  “That's the bathroom there.” She pointed out the rooms as they passed. “And Hannah's room.” She glanced in and was pleased to see the two single beds had been made and Hannah had tidied up before school this morning.

  She guided Lachie into the room opposite. “This is my room and where you'll be sleeping.”

  He paused. “I didn't realise I was taking your bed. I'll be fine on the couch.”

  “It's alright. I'll sleep on the spare bed in Hannah's room.” Abbie smiled reassuringly.

  He made as if to argue his point, but she silenced him with a stern look. “There's no point arguing, Mr McGuire. Now get in there.”

  A smile creased his face and she felt his hard body relax under her touch. She helped him to a sitting position on the bed.

  Abbie pointed to his bag. “There are the things Harriet brought and there are some towels over there. Do you want to use the bathroom?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “I'll be able to manage that part myself, thanks.”

  “I'm a nurse. I've seen it all before and much, much worse,” she said with a sweet smile.

  “I bet you have. But, no I'm fine.” He kicked off his shoes and lay on the bed. She watched as he made himself comfortable on her side of the bed. “Are you going to watch me sleep too?” he asked with eyes closed.

  She turned to the door. “Call out if you need anything.”

  She closed the door and leaned up against it. Images of him sleeping on her bed, between her sheets, his head on her pillow, swam though her mind. She shook her head and started back to the kitchen. Hannah would be home soon and she would be a welcome distraction.

  The sound of Hannah's soft girlish voice roused Lachie from a deep sleep. He yawned before pushing himself to a sitting position on the bed. The clock on the bedside table showed him he had slept though lunch and most of the afternoon. He felt better for it though.

  Gingerly, he tested his pain by twisting at the middle. Yep, still there, though not as bad as it had been before his nap.

  After going to the bathroom and splashing water on his face, he wandered to the kitchen.

  Hannah looked up from the dining table where she was set up with paper and pencil. She jumped out of her seat and skipped towards him before snuggling into his side. “You're here.”

  He curled his arm around her.

  “How did you sleep?” Abbie approached him, drying her hands on a tea towel.

  “Great, thanks. Just what the nurse ordered.” He smiled at her, then realised he was absentmindedly stroking Hannah's soft blonde hair. Blonde hair just as pale as her mother’s.

  Abbie’s gaze slipped to her daughter. “Back to your homework now.”

  Hannah slowly peeled herself from Lachie's hip. “Will you help me with my spelling? It's really hard.”

  Lachie nodded and sat down next to her at the table.

  “Dinner will be ready in about an hour. Would you like some coffee?” Abbie asked.

  “Tea if you have any, thanks,” he replied and watched as she reached into a cupboard. Her T-shirt pulled high enough to expose a strip of pale skin on her back.

  He gulped back the feelings it stirred in him.

  “Lachie?” Hannah demanded his attention. “What’s this word?”

  He focused on the worksheet in front of him and for the next few minutes, he and Hannah recited a list of spelling words. After delivering his tea, Abbie gave his arm a light squeeze of thanks.

  Once her books were put away, Hannah asked if he'd play a board game with her. Lachie looked to Abbie for permission. He would gladly spend all evening playing with the kid; she was funny and sweet. It was a nice change from evenings of serious adult conversation and routine with his mother.

  “How about you have your shower first, then you can play a round of Guess Who?”

  Hannah squealed. “I love Guess Who! Will you play with me?”

  Lachie nodded. “Sure, squirt, after your shower.”

  Hannah trotted off down the hall, and Lachie swallowed the last of his tea.

  “Thanks for that. She's always been the centre of attention, so if she gets too much, just let me know.”

  “She's great. I don’t mind at all.” He stood and walked to the sink where he cleaned his cup and put it in the drying rack. Then he turned to Abbie who was slicing cucumber. “Can I help?”

  Abbie looked him over. “Are you feeling okay? You should be resting.”

  “I feel fine. Let me help you.”

  After a brief pause she nodded at the fridge. “There's lettuce in there. Can you wash it for me?”

  He retrieved the head of lettuce, unwrapped it, and started rinsing it in the sink. “I haven't had store-bought lettuce for ages.”

  “Really?”

  “Mum grows them. She's got a real green thumb and plants all sorts of vegetables. It's hard with the heat, but she does it somehow.”

  “It must be great living out there and being self-sufficient. It's like a lottery going into the supermarket here. Maybe they'll have a lettuce and maybe they'll have apples. No guarantees though. Then, if they do have it, the prices are astounding. And the meat.” She pulled a face.

  “Only you townsfolk need to buy the meat,” he teased. “The butcher has good cuts. We sell him some of ours wh
en we can.”

  Lachie thought about the dwindling herd that remained on Brigadier Station. Most were still on agistment in greener pastures, the drought making feed hard to come by in the region. The few heifers left were barely worth killing for the meat on their bones. Their chickens had become a more frequent meal, and although the change was nice, he was getting sick of having eggs at almost every meal.

  He glanced at the oven where something was cooking in a casserole dish. “Is that Mum's pasta bake?”

  Abbie laughed. “It's covered in aluminium foil; how on earth can you tell?”

  He sniffed the air. “Smells like my childhood.”

  Their eyes met and held.

  “Where do you want me to put this?” He motioned to the lettuce. She handed him a salad bowl and he was careful to ensure their fingers didn’t touch.

  “Guess Who time,” Hannah said, dressed in pyjama shorts and a T-shirt with a pink unicorn on it. Her long hair was wet and tangled down her back.

  “Your hair needs drying and brushing first,” Abbie said and looked around at the tomatoes and cucumbers she was in the middle of slicing. She was only halfway through.

  “I'll brush her hair,” Lachie offered. “I could do with a sit down.”

  “Alright,” Abbie said and told him where to find everything he needed.

  He soon found himself sitting at the table with Hannah in front of him. He used a towel to dry the long strands and then, as gently as he could, he tugged a comb through them.

  She squirmed as the comb’s teeth snagged on a knot but didn't cry out.

  “Welcome to having a daughter.” Abbie laughed.

  He persevered and after a while found it strangely therapeutic. Hannah was chatting to him about school again and the games she and her friends liked to play while Abbie was finishing up in the kitchen. It was such a domestic scene and it caught him off guard, the feelings of contentment that overcame him.

  He was enjoying himself.

  Dinner was served, and they chatted easily as they ate. Lachie couldn't help but feel right at home with these two. Even though he knew he didn't deserve to be happy, he yearned to be accepted and appreciated and with them, it felt as though he was.