by Kayte Nunn
Charlie kicked his horse on again and gave chase.
Mattie pulled Shakira up as they reached the far end of the paddock and the track narrowed again. ‘Whoa, girl. Easy there.’ She heard Charlie coming up close behind her.
‘I’d say you’ve earned back your nickname,’ he said, gasping for breath.
‘Oh yeah?’
‘Fearless forever!’ he shouted into the wind.
Mattie laughed, and tried to catch her breath. She felt on top of the world and thought back to the party the night before, to Rose’s complete surprise and delight at Mark’s proposal. She was thrilled for them both, and so happy to be gaining a sister – though in truth Rose already felt like the sister she’d never had. She could see that Mark and Rose’s was a relationship founded not only on love, but also on trust and respect. That it could withstand all the challenges life threw at them.
She looked at Charlie, who had come alongside her.
‘Charlie, there’s something I need to tell you.’ Her heart hammered in her chest.
‘So it’s true then.’
Mattie was astonished. ‘What? What’s true?’
‘Amanda let it slip last night. I think she was quite pleased to be the bearer of the news actually.’
‘How the hell does she know?’ Mattie’s hands tightened on the reins and Shakira gave a small buck.
Charlie shrugged. ‘News travels in the valley. Cara told Jake, who told Thommo, who told Amanda … or something like that. You know how it is.’
‘Christ. Is nothing sacred around here?’ Mattie was momentarily furious.
They slowed the horses to a walk. ‘So when do you leave?’ he asked, a resigned look on his face.
‘This weekend. They don’t know exactly what’s wrong with her, but she’s pretty sick.’
‘Wait, what?’
‘Mum. She’s crook. Been having dizzy spells and then had a fall last week. I thought that was what we were talking about.’
A look of relief lightened Charlie’s features. ‘Oh, Mattie. I’m so sorry to hear about your mum. But I thought you were talking about going back to London – your incredible job offer?’
‘How the hell did you know about that?’
‘I told you – Cara told Jake, who told —’
‘Okay, I get the picture.’
‘And what about that?’
Seconds ticked by. Mattie looked him square in the eye. ‘I’m not going.’
‘What? I thought it was what you’d always wanted? The opportunity of a lifetime. That’s what Amanda said.’
‘Well, Amanda’s a bloody nosy cow. As it happens, I’ve found other, better things to love. I’ve begun to think I might be able to make a go of photography. As a career. And I can think of nowhere else I want to take pictures than here,’ she said, indicating the landscape. ‘I’ve had a couple of calls since the exhibition, possibly even a commission. And now Mum’s sick, I really want to be around for her, to be able to see her, not far away on the other side of the world.’
‘So you’re telling me that you’re staying? For good?’
She grinned at him. ‘Photography’s not the only thing I’ve found to love.’
‘Oh yeah?’
‘Yeah. Looks like you’re stuck with me, mate.’
Joy spread over Charlie’s face and he reached for Shakira’s reins, stilling the horses as he leaned over to kiss her. ‘You won’t regret it, I promise you that.’ He looked suddenly serious. ‘You know there was another reason things didn’t work out with Marie-Claire.’
‘Oh?’
‘I told her that I’d started to have feelings for someone else. More than started, actually. Hook, line and sinker, if you must know.’
Her heart sang as she realised that he could only be talking about her. She couldn’t imagine any sweeter words; they were the ones she’d wanted to hear for so long.
‘It’s you, Mattie,’ he said. ‘It’s been you for years.’
She grinned and glanced sideways at him, a mischievous look on her face.
‘What?’ he said.
‘Oh you’ll see,’ she said, urging Shakira forward towards a low fence at the end of the paddock.
She sailed over the jump, leaving him watching, open-mouthed, in admiration.
‘Race you home, Charlie Drummond!’ she cried, her words reaching him on the wind.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
An enormous thanks to everyone who has been so supportive of first Rose’s Vintage, and then this, Angel’s Share. Andy, for his unquestioning loyalty and never complaining at the number of weekends I spent writing and rewriting; my agent, Margaret Connolly, for her unflagging enthusiasm and encouragement for my writing; my sister Becky for indulging me in numerous and wildly improbable plot discussions; Mercedes and Jane, my wonderfully positive early readers; Taryn, the most insightful critique partner a writer could hope for, and finally Black Inc., especially my editor, Jo Rosenberg, whose guidance, editorial smarts and good sense has been invaluable, expertly steering me away from unnecessary tangents and helping me to shine a light on the good parts.
To the enthusiastic, supportive readers of Rose’s Vintage, especially those who have begged for a return to the Shingle Valley – I hope I haven’t let you down and that you love this book as much as the first one.
Kayte Nunn is a freelance book, magazine and web editor and the former editor of Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine. Her first novel, Rose’s Vintage, was published in 2016. She is a mother to two girls.