Beneath Outback Skies

by Alissa Callen

Dusty’s ears flickered as he gazed behind her and then wagged his tail.

  Shit. She had company. She’d left making her escape too late. The kitchen screen door banged shut even as she turned and saw Tait striding toward her carrying a bucket of water. Dusty denim hugged his hips and a crumpled navy work shirt stretched across his chest. His tousled, shower-damp hair kicked up at the ends as if revelling in its new-found freedom. Paige collected the bucket at her feet and pulled it close to her. Tait was looking rough around his city edges and more and more at home in her world.

  His smile flashed white. ‘I saw you from my room and thought you could do with this bucket as well.’ He sat the blue bucket down beside the pot of herbs.

  ‘Thanks.’ She stared at the water rippling in the bucket. Gratitude unfurled inside. He’d understood every droplet was like liquid gold and was making good on his promise to conserve water.

  ‘I didn’t realize how much water went down the drain while the hot tap warmed,’ he said, also looking down at the bucket.

  ‘And that’s with a water-efficient showerhead.’

  ‘Water-efficient?’ He smiled again. ‘Is that another word for showering under a fine mist?’

  ‘Are you complaining, city boy?’ She matched his smile. ‘I find it works fine.’

  ‘Complain? Me? Never.’ He glanced at her loose hair that she’d washed the previous night and hadn’t yet pulled into her usual ponytail. ‘But I am glad I’m not a chick on hair-washing days.’

  ‘It really is fine on those days too.’

  Their gazes caught and held before he looked away. ‘Now where do you want this extra water?’

  She shook her head, strangely breathless. What was it about Tait that flustered her so much? Surely she could have a simple conversation without imagining him naked in the shower?

  ‘Around the side of the house would be great. There’s an old orange tree I’m trying to keep alive.’

  She headed down the verandah steps but Dusty was the only one to follow. She stopped and looked over her shoulder. Tait was staring at the empty pot that stood beside the one she’d watered. But why would bare dirt cause a muscle to work in his jaw?

  ‘How come you don’t put some different herbs in this one?’ he asked without looking up. ‘Connor seems to enjoy using them when he cooks.’

  ‘I had some in there but they died and I haven’t replaced them.’

  ‘We could get some today.’

  ‘Today?’

  Tait nodded as he collected his bucket and finally followed her down the steps. If she didn’t know better she was sure he remained reluctant to meet her gaze. ‘Yes, I’m heading into town. Why don’t you come?’

  She led the way around the side of the house to where the last remnants of her mother’s orchard eked out an existence. ‘Thanks but I’ve got a full day planned.’

  ‘Are you sure? I could do with a tour guide.’

  ‘If I went to town twice in a week, let alone be seen with you again, I’d cause a scandal.’ She opened a black wrought-iron gate and nodded towards a knotted tree. ‘If you could tip the water over there the orange tree would appreciate it.’

  Tait did as he was instructed. He straightened. ‘I’m sure the locals will recover from the shock of seeing you in town. Come on. It’s my petrol and I bet there are things you could do. I need to get a part for one of Connor’s cars. Plus a lady called Anne phoned and said she had some papers and books for your father.’

  Paige shook her head. Not so much at Tait’s words but at the coercive whispers that grew inside her head. She could go to town again. There were plenty of things she needed to do there. Like pay the vet bill with the money Tait had put into their account.

  ‘I really can’t.’

  ‘Why?’

  She blinked. No one ever asked her to justify her actions. She wasn’t starting now. She set off towards the homestead. ‘I have things to do here.’

  Once through the orchard gate she stopped to wait for Tait and Dusty.

  Tait shut the gate behind them. ‘I promise it’ll be a quick trip. No coffee breaks.’

  He rubbed behind Dusty’s ears as the dog sat at his feet. ‘You think Paige should come with me, don’t you?’

  The red heeler’s tail thumped in the dirt. An idea stretched into life.

  ‘Okay. I’ll come, if it’s a two-for-one deal.’

  ‘I’d love to take Connor but he’s already said he wasn’t up to going.’

  ‘It’s not Connor I’m talking about.’ Paige looked down at Dusty pointedly, who grinned a wide doggy smile up at them.

  Tait’s hand lowered to his side. ‘The dog. You want to take the dog in my car to Glenalla.’

  Paige tried not to smile. ‘Yes, in your very fancy, very fast car. He loves going to town. He enjoys playing with Bella, the librarian’s dog.’

  ‘You’ve done this before?’

  She nodded. ‘It’s simple. He goes. I go.’

  Tait briefly closed his eyes. ‘I must have rocks in my head but you have a deal.’

  ‘Great.’ She gave in to the laughter strumming inside. ‘You won’t regret it.’

  ‘I already do. Please tell me Glenalla has a car-detailing service.’

  Paige shook her head as she walked up the verandah steps. ‘It won’t be that bad. I’ll throw a blanket over your precious back seat. He’ll be a model passenger.’

  ‘What about my precious front seat?’

  She held open the screen door for him. ‘Sorry? Front seat?’

  Instead of striding through the door, he halted. ‘I’ll need a blanket for that as well unless you’re planning on changing your jeans.’

  Earlier she’d debated whether or not her jeans needed a wash. They were only going to get dirty again, so in the end she’d removed them from the washing pile.

  ‘My shirt is clean and my jeans were.’

  ‘In a previous life. But it’s not so much the dirt that will be a problem.’ Laughter threaded his words. ‘If you’re so concerned about what people will say when they see you in town with me, wait until they notice the rip in your jeans.’

  ‘Rip?’ The screen door swung shut with a loud bang as she released it. Both hands flew to the seat of her jeans to find out exactly where the rip was. She’d given up mending every little tear and she barely registered the sound of splitting denim anymore. The only criterion for tossing out jeans was if her bottom basically hung out. Her left hand encountered warm, bare flesh. She froze. Like now. Heat flooded her cheeks. All this time when Tait had followed her to the orchard, climbed the steps behind her, he’d never said a word.

  ‘Now you tell me,’ she hissed.

  Tait held his hands palms up, his bucket hanging from the crook of his arm. ‘What can I say? I thought if it didn’t bother you it wasn’t worth mentioning.’

  She contented herself with her most so-not-impressed scowl and opened the screen door again for Tait to walk through.

  He didn’t. He bowed. ‘Ladies first.’

  Head high, she waltzed through the door. Tait had already seen all there was to see.

  Paige went upstairs to change her jeans and to swap her work shirt for a sleeveless, white linen blouse that had once fitted her like a glove. It now hung off her. She tucked the shirt into her jeans and buckled her plaited leather belt, refusing to look in the mirror. At the last minute, she ran her fingers through her hair. She was only making an effort to appear presentable as she had to maintain appearances that the Quinns were surviving the drought. Her extra attention to detail had nothing to do with the infuriating man waiting to take her and Dusty to Glenalla.

  She grabbed her hat and Dusty’s lead off the hallway hatstand and stepped out into the sunshine. Her father and Tait were talking beside Tait’s car, in which Dusty had already claimed ownership of the blanket-covered back seat. Her heart warmed. The red heeler would be enjoying first-class travel in air-conditioned comfort, unlike his usual seat in cattle-class on the tray-back of a ute. At her appr
oach Tait slid into the driver’s seat. She kissed her father’s cheek and could have sworn emotion moistened his eyes.

  ‘Say hello to Anne for me,’ he said, voice gruff.

  ‘Will do.’

  She sat in the passenger seat. Behind her Dusty whined in excitement. The outing was already doing the old dog good. Tait finished sending a phone message before placing the mobile into the car’s hands-free car kit.

  ‘All good to go?’ he asked, turning on the ignition.

  She waved at Connor before answering, ‘Not quite.’

  Hands on the steering wheel, Tait turned to her. Whatever he’d been about to say didn’t leave his lips as Dusty leaned forward from the back seat to rest his head on Tait’s shoulder.

  Paige smothered a chuckle at Tait’s stunned expression. Dusty always liked to look through the windscreen when driving and he’d use the driver’s left shoulder as a head rest. Just as well he didn’t have bad doggy breath.

  ‘Now we’re good to go,’ she said with what she hoped passed for a straight face.

  Chapter Five

  Despite the unfamiliar weight of Dusty’s head on his shoulder and thoughts of how much dog hair clung to his upholstery, Tait relaxed.

  He’d achieved what he’d set out to do. He’d managed to confine Paige to a single spot, even if it would be only for the next hour and a half. She’d nowhere to go, except where their conversation would lead. And he’d make sure it headed down the path he needed it to.

  Yesterday things had worked out despite the day’s rocky start. In the morning he’d established Paige’s commitment to Banora Downs was genuine and then he’d spent the afternoon going over financial records with Connor. He now had a broad picture of the property’s current position. The next step was to nail down the farm’s future direction, a direction only Paige could give him. What did she envisage for the coming years? What were her hopes and dreams for her home? He’d have the answers by the end of today – he glanced at the doggy muzzle on his shoulder – even if he had to be Dusty’s personal pillow the entire way to Glenalla.

  His nerves tightened. Here, in the back of beyond, he’d found the unimaginable. A woman who didn’t want more than what was on offer. In fact, Paige didn’t want anything that he offered. Not chocolate, help or herbs. She possessed an altruism and unselfishness that was as foreign to him as seven-star service was to the outback. She operated under a different set of rules to the ones he was used to playing by. Her parameters of loyalty and integrity didn’t feature in his world of competition and self-interest. And now that he understood her, he knew money hadn’t been behind why she’d doubled his room rate.

  He concentrated on the ribbon-straight road. But it was irrelevant if he was out of his comfort zone dealing with Paige or that a glimpse of her curves beneath her ripped jeans fired his blood. He had a business plan to finish, secrets to protect and answers to find.

  ‘So, Paige, Connor tells me this is the worst drought he’s ever lived through.’

  ‘Yes, and Dad has seen a few.’

  ‘He also mentioned something about drought-proofing Banora Downs, but I didn’t quite catch what he said.’

  Tait thought Paige nodded but he was having trouble seeing past Dusty’s head. He also harboured the suspicion that should he turn his head too far, Dusty would deliver an affectionate lick to his face.

  ‘Dad worked hard to prepare Banora Downs for the next drought. He’s invested in new bores and pumps and focused on improving pastures so they are more reliable when it’s dry. Compared with others who are no longer on their farms, we aren’t doing too badly.’ She sighed. ‘But the drought just won’t end.’

  He blanked out the way her wretched tone tapped into emotions he always kept well guarded.

  ‘It will, and when it does, where do you see Banora Downs heading?’

  She groaned. ‘Not more hypothetical questions.’

  ‘Sorry, I’m just curious about what you see in Banora Downs’ future. Even a city boy like me can tell it is a special place.’

  ‘Yes, you’re right. It’s a special place and needs to be preserved for generations to come.’

  ‘So you’ll be providing the generations to come?’

  Tait ground his teeth. He was supposed to be focusing on the business plan not delving into Paige’s personal life.

  ‘Let’s just say as an only child it is my responsibility to carry on the family name.’

  Even though he couldn’t really see her, he knew Paige was frowning. Her fingers were tightly interlocked on her lap. ‘But in saying that,’ she continued, ‘I’ve no immediate plans to do so. My priority is looking after Dad and if there ends up being no other “generation” there’s always cousin Charles. He married last summer and I’m sure a little Charles will be on the way soon.’

  ‘Is Charles the boy your father mentioned who fell out of the tree?’

  ‘Yes, one and the same, even though actually he is my second cousin. For some reason no one believes me when I say his fall had nothing to do with me.’

  Tait risked a look at Paige’s profile. Dusty’s hot breath soon had him turn back to the road again. ‘Dare I ask why?’

  ‘No you can’t.’ Paige laughed. ‘Let’s just say a tomboy can out-climb a boy wielding a bow and arrow.’

  ‘I take it cousin Charles gave up archery?’

  ‘Not quite. When his broken bone healed he settled for shooting targets that didn’t move.’

  ‘A wise choice.’

  ‘That’s what I thought.’ She paused. ‘Were you ever a tree-climbing archer?’

  Tait fought the tension that locked his shoulders. And failed. Dusty lifted his head and then lowered it as if in protest that his head rest had become too uncomfortable.

  Tait chose his words carefully. His childhood was a no-go zone but he couldn’t afford for Paige to become too curious. ‘A tree-climber for a brief time, yes. Archer, no.’

  ‘That’s lovely you had a tree to climb. Not many little boys would have such an opportunity growing up in the city. Did you have a big garden?’

  His hands tightened on the steering wheel. ‘So tell me more about how Banora Downs could be preserved for generations to come.’

  If Paige noticed his change of topic, it didn’t show in her thoughtful reply. ‘I guess the main thing is to make the farm financially viable again. We’ll need to continue to drought-proof though. Also we’ll need to rebuild our breeding herd. Then once the farm can again pay its way, it will be a matter of preserving the homestead.’

  ‘So no plans to move into any alternative industries like olives, emus or alpacas?’ Even before he’d finished talking he realised he sounded far too knowledgeable.

  Paige leaned forward and gazed past Dusty towards him. ‘For a suit-wearer you know a lot about rural industry.’

  He scanned the roadside for a sign advertising a hotel, garage or anything to show they would soon enter Glenalla town limits and to steer the conversation in another direction. What was supposed to be an information-gathering car trip had descended into the journey from hell. Paige had the uncanny ability to home in on the things he didn’t want to discuss.

  He cleared his throat. Yet again he couldn’t tell her the truth, just a partial truth. ‘I run an investment company that dabbles in agriculture.’

  Apparently satisfied, she leaned back in her seat. ‘And people have invested in such things like emus and olives?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘How did they work out?’

  ‘Sometimes good and sometimes not so good.’

  ‘Well, I’m glad for those for whom it worked and sorry for those it didn’t. I’m not much of a risk taker so would probably prefer to stick to something I know.’

  He breathed easier. The trip hadn’t been a total failure. One of his questions had at least been answered. Paige wasn’t interested in diversifying too far away from the traditional enterprises of sheep, cattle and crops.

  ‘You have experience in tourism, so
maybe that would be another option for Banora Downs?’

  ‘To be honest, no. As you’ve no doubt gathered, Dad is the social one and as much as he won’t admit it his health isn’t as good as it used to be. It’s only in this past year that he’s relied on his wheelchair instead of his walking stick. Also I wouldn’t be able to run the farm as well as cater for guests. There’s a reason why Dad is the cook.’

  ‘So do you see Banora Downs as continuing to be a strictly farming enterprise or do you have another back-up plan in mind?’

  This time it was Paige who avoided a direct question. ‘You know, I still don’t understand how you found out about us. I’m positive our advertisements were removed from the web. It would help to know where your PA discovered our details so I can make sure they are pulled. We really aren’t in a position to accommodate any more guests.’

  He mentally crossed his fingers to absolve himself of the lie he was about to tell. ‘Sure. I’ll follow up with my PA.’

  A sign advertising a local B&B flashed past. Relief dulled the pounding at his temples. They’d soon be in town. He desperately needed a coffee – and to get away from Paige’s perceptiveness. The walls around his secrets were wearing paper-thin.

  ‘Slow down, guys,’ Paige said with a smile as Dusty and Bella raced each other around Anne’s small town yard. But the panting dogs failed to hear her. It’d been at least a month since they’d had a play date and they weren’t letting the heat sabotage their fun. Still smiling, she turned to Tait, who stood beside her, but instead of enjoying the dog’s antics he played with his phone. She looked skyward. Boys with their toys.

  ‘Okay, we’re all good,’ she said. ‘You go and do what you have to do. I’ll meet you back here in an hour.’

  Tait slid his phone into his shirt pocket. His sunglasses shaded his eyes but the lines that slashed either side of his mouth spoke volumes. He needed caffeine. She pointed to her right. ‘If you go down there three blocks, there’s a plant nursery and café that I’ve heard does a good cappuccino.’

  ‘Thanks but I’m right for the moment.’ His mouth relaxed a little. ‘I’m not a total coffee addict, you know, more like a coffee enthusiast.’