by Juanita Kees
‘Princess Tameka, you can have anything you damn well want.’ Harley lifted the flask of tea from the shopping bag and held it out to her before sitting down on the top step. He patted the empty space beside him. ‘Come and sit on your throne beside me.’
How many years had it been since they’d played this game of make-believe? Where they were king and queen of the land, and they’d sat on the top step of the house at Bakers Hill looking over what was theirs. Happier times. Ryan had never wanted to be a part of their game. He’d take his sandwich and go potter around in the machinery shed instead. Ryan …
Tameka sat next to Harley on the step and opened up the flask to pour tea into the plastic cup. Should she tell him what she’d remembered? A wind gust stirred up around them and Tameka shivered against its icy fingers. Burnt paper and charred debris swirled along the ground before coming to rest where they fell as the wind died down again. What difference would it make? Ryan would still be dead, and she didn’t know for sure that what she remembered was the truth.
Harley held out a Danish. ‘Apple and custard.’
She studied the Harley-sized bite out of the top. ‘You taste-tested it?’
‘Someone had to and Loki’s too busy killing his rope. Just looking after your health. It wouldn’t do you any good if it was stale or sour, would it?’ His thigh bumped against hers as he reached for his beer. ‘I prefer jam, anyway.’
Tameka felt the gloom lift a little. They’d always shared their Danish, even throughout the period where boy germs sucked. Sharing that habit again came so naturally again as they sat together on the step, shoulders touching, their bodies warming each other against the chilly winter wind.
Harley sipped his beer and she watched his throat work to take the liquid. Everything about him was beautiful and out of bounds for her, no matter how much she wanted to run her fingers down that throat and into the V of his shirt.
His gaze slid to hers and caught her looking. In true Harley style, he said nothing. Only grinned that knowing smile as he looked away and took another sip. Tameka placed her mouth on the Danish where his had been earlier and nibbled away at the pastry. They sat in silence watching the debris swirl around in the wind and finished their impromptu picnic.
Tameka drained the tea from her mug, shook it out and screwed it back in place on the flask. ‘Thanks.’
‘You’re welcome. Hey, there’s an inaugural community picnic this Sunday over the creek at The Cranky Lizard. Would you like to go? I hear Liv’s daughter, Fen, has moved back here from the city. She’s a great girl. You two would get along well together.’
And face the questions on everyone’s lips? Hell no. There’d be more questions than ever after the fire, and her father’s mysterious disappearance would only add fuel to the gossip. Not even the lure of Liv Waterman’s peaceful vines and koi pond could take the edge off her reluctance to face the people of Wongan Creek so soon after the damage.
‘I don’t think so, Harley. I’m not sure attending a public picnic is a good idea.’
‘Why not? I think it will be fun. Gold coin donation, sausage sizzle, music, dancing and we’d be helping the community.’
How could she tell him she didn’t even have a gold coin to donate? ‘I can’t leave the farm. There’s cleaning up to do and fields to tend. I’ve just finished planting.’
Harley packed the remains of their snack into the shopping bag and closed up the esky. ‘What? You’re going to sit on the verandah and watch the seeds sprout? Pretty boring when you could be dancing among the vines with me.’
She stood and walked down the steps. ‘You know I can’t dance.’
‘Oh, I beg to differ on that one. I remember you having some pretty awesome moves.’ His lips curved in a downright cheeky grin.
Tameka gave him a little shove. ‘Stop it. I’m not going. The crowds … not my thing.’
‘You don’t have to be afraid of them, Tikki. I’ve got your back.’
‘They’ll expect answers to questions I’m not ready to answer.’
And as much as she appreciated their kindness and how they’d seen to her needs following the fire, she simply couldn’t give them anything of herself in return. Not when she’d have to take it back again when her father rolled home.
Going to the picnic would mean re-engaging with the community, chasing a dream that had never been hers to catch—being part of a warm, loving family.
And if they found out the truth about what happened to Ryan, she’d be cast out again. As quickly as they’d open their arms to her, they’d close them if her father was to blame for Ryan’s death, especially if it was intentional.
‘You go. I’ll keep an eye on Loki for you. Do any chores that need doing while you’re gone. Give all the dishes in your cupboards a good wash in case Loki missed a few.’
It was the least she could do since he’d refused to take anything from her in return for the roof over her head. And now that she’d seen the state of their accounts, she could never pay him anyway.
‘I don’t want you overdoing it. You need to rest and let those burns heal. One day, Tikki, take one day out to enjoy yourself. Don’t you think you deserve it?’
She toed the red dirt under her boot, her hands on the tailgate of Harley’s ute. What if this was the last time she and Harley had together? The future of Bakers Hill lay in the balance. Golden Acres was all but gone. What did she have left?
If she was forced to leave Wongan Creek for good at least she could spend one last day with Harley having fun. Like old times. Surely she could deal with curiosity and gossip for one final day. Sacrifice the little that was left of her peace of mind for one day of happiness with the man who held her heart. Before she let him go again.
Harley’s hand rested on her shoulder for a moment before he leant on the ute beside her, his hip against the metal, his elbow on the rim. Close enough to feel the warmth radiate from his body and make her want to snuggle into that red and black flannel comfort.
‘I’ll be there with you all the time, Tikki. I won’t leave your side. I’ll field all the questions for you. Just come out with me. For old time’s sake.’
She sighed. It would give her some time away from the farm to sort out the pictures in her head, work through the emotions of the last few days—no, years—and process all the reasons why she shouldn’t let Harley back into her life now she wasn’t a child any longer and her father had deserted her.
‘I’ll think about it.’
Chapter 16
Tameka’s thinking was driving him nuts. For the second night in a row, Harley listened to the creak of the floorboards as she paced her room. He checked his watch. Ten o’clock. Maybe she needed a hot chocolate to help her sleep. Or chamomile tea.
God damn it, he needed chamomile tea. He raked a hand through his hair. He’d tried to remain aloof and disinterested as he’d smoothed ointment on her burns and redressed the worst ones, all the time checking on her pain levels. But Jesus, he was only human after all and thanks to the limited water supply, there were only so many cold showers he could take.
And as for getting her in and out of that bloody onesie twice a day … that really tested the limits of his libido. Sex should be the last thing on his mind with her so hurt, but damn it, all he wanted to do was hold her and celebrate that she was alive.
His mind shouted ‘no’ but his body had other ideas, and she wasn’t his to have. Not unless she made the first move. Then she could have him. Any which way she liked. For however long she wanted him. But for now he had to stop her bloody thinking or she’d drive both him and Loki crazy with her pacing.
Harley strode into the kitchen and filled the kettle with water then flicked on the switch to boil it. Hot chocolate with a chamomile tea base—for both of them. That way maybe they’d both get some sleep. And if dogs could have chocolate, he would have made one for Loki too because the damn dog paced the hallway between her door and his all night long. But of course, chocolate was poisonous to dogs so Lo
ki would have to settle for his chamomile tea.
He spooned tea leaves into the infuser and hot chocolate into the mugs. Outside the wind howled its distaste for winter as morning crept closer. Tomorrow Tameka would have to go into Wongan Creek for her check-up. Maybe that’s why she had ants in her pants tonight even though her burns were healing nicely.
Harley sighed. The National Farmers Federation had arranged a formal meeting tomorrow too. They’d called in some legal advice to deal with the fallout from the spray drift. That wouldn’t be pleasant for Tameka if she ran into any unhappy attendees in town.
Soon he would have to make a decision on the future of Bakers Hill. Put that degree of his to good use and cement a plan to save it. Or lock up and leave like he’d heard of others doing in the area.
He felt rather than heard Tameka enter the kitchen. ‘Hey, Tikki. Can’t sleep? Do you need something for pain?’
‘Nope. The wind, I guess. Why are you still up? It’s almost midnight.’
Harley poured hot water into the infuser. ‘Can’t sleep either. I’m making hot chocolate. I was going to bring one in to you.’
‘Well, I’m here now. What’s on telly?’
‘Reruns of old cop shows. Want your drink in there? It’s a bit warmer with the fire on. I’ve got a blanket if you’d prefer I turn the heat off.’ She’d probably be wary of flames now, and snuggling under a blanket together had its own appeal.
‘A blanket will be fine. I’ll finish the drinks while you go dampen down the fire.’
He turned and handed her the spoon. Lack of sleep had put bruised rings under her eyes. He wished it was as simple as kissing them away. ‘Deal. Chamomile tea to mix the chocolate powder.’ He tapped a finger on the diffuser then pushed Loki’s soup mug towards her. ‘Loki has about a quarter mug of tea.’
‘Seriously? He has his own mug. Your dog lives like a king.’
He looked at her for a long moment, his arms itching to hold her. He’d treat her even better than he treated his dog, who was by far his best mate at the moment. ‘Imagine how I’d treat my girl.’ If she’d let him.
‘Don’t go getting ideas, Harley.’ The spoon slipped from her fingers into the mug. ‘I’m sharing your blanket. That’s all.’
‘I know.’ He’d take whatever she’d give just to have her close.
‘Good.’ She poured the tea into the mugs. ‘Go. This is almost ready.’
Harley made his way into the lounge and dampened down the fire, closing the flue to shut off the oxygen that fed it. As the flames dwindled, the coals still glowed. There’d be enough residual heat to keep them warm until morning but there were no more flames to remind Tameka of the horror she’d survived.
Nothing to remind him of Ryan suffering the same fate, only worse. Every time he rubbed ointment on her burns, he thought of all the things he could have done to save his brother that day. Like not letting him go to the shed alone in the first place. Insisted he stay with them. But he had let his brother go. And Ryan would be gone nineteen years on Sunday.
Loki curled up on his end of the sofa with his head on the armrest. ‘You’re hogging the sofa again, Loki.’ Harley shifted the dog’s butt a little further away to make room for Tameka.
‘Dibs on the middle.’ Tameka carried two mugs in one hand and Loki’s soup mug in the other. ‘It’s hot, Loki, you have to wait.’
Harley snorted. ‘Fine by me. You can have the dog farting next to you the whole night. I’m all for clean air.’
‘Rather dog fart than something hard in my back all night.’ She caught the look on his face and interpreted it exactly as he knew she would. ‘Down, boy.’
‘Spoilsport.’ He grinned.
‘Whatever.’
She did the whole eye-roll thing he was getting familiar with seeing from her, but he spotted the tilt of her lips in a barely-there smile and resisted the urge to punch the air. Oh yeah! Score one for Harley Baker.
Tameka sat with her body turned a little to the side and her back away from the sofa, a reminder of her injuries that dampened the fire that burned inside Harley. He slipped in between her and the armrest, letting his shoulder take some of her weight as they watched the show on telly and sipped their hot drinks.
When her head drooped to his shoulder, he took the empty mug from her hands and put it on the floor next to the sofa. He slid lower in the seat and pulled up the blanket over them as she settled comfortably against his chest. Slipping an arm around her shoulders, he held her to him, knowing he’d get even less sleep on the sofa than he would in his bed, but it would be so worth it.
***
Tameka awoke to something a lot firmer than a mattress pressed against her from head to toe. And the hard evidence that Harley’s body was very much awake even if his mind hadn’t caught up yet.
Somehow she’d ended up breast-to-chest, Harley under her, her head on his shoulder and her body pressed to his, their breathing in even harmony. Loki had relocated to the floor, and they were stretched out lengthwise on the sofa. Probably a good thing otherwise they’d both have stiff necks.
She’d slept, despite the biting sting that crawled over her skin from the burns. For the first time in God knew how long. Most nights she felt as if she never closed her eyes, sleeping in spurts where the waking hours were the longest. The last time she’d slept so well was the night she’d crept out of her room window to share a sleeping bag in the back of the ute under the stars with Harley.
Tameka smiled and cuddled into his warmth. They’d been such innocents then. Their thoughts at sixteen hadn’t gone past identifying the constellations in the clear skies, their trial kisses awkward fumbling of discovery. And, hooley dooley, when they learnt how much they liked kissing and touching … they’d created constellations of their own and filled the skies with fireworks.
Then came the Big Bang. She curled her fist into Harley’s shirt, felt his breath on her hair. Harley all around her, touching the deepest part of her, making her feel loved and wanted, alive. Making her feel like she belonged. To him. Making her wish for things, find hope for a happier future.
And in an instant those dreams were shattered. She couldn’t hope to have that again. Her father had intervened then just as he would now. Eventually. When he decided to come home. And even if he didn’t, the ghosts of the past were enough to keep her and Harley apart.
But she had now and Harley under her, his warmth around her and his heartbeat under her cheek. She slipped her hand under his shirt, her fingers brushing against his skin, palm over his heart.
He stirred under her touch. She pressed her lips to his throat, buried her face against the strong column of his neck and inhaled everything Harley to store in her senses for a time when she could no longer touch him.
His hand come up to touch her face as she trailed kisses along his jawline, stretching against him to reach his lips, satisfied that he wanted this as he hovered between sleep and awake. She touched her mouth to his, felt his lips move under hers, and kissed him with everything in her heart.
His fingers slipped into her hair, cupped her head and held her there as he returned her kisses with his own. Searching, scorching kisses that set fire to every inch of skin between them. Where their hips aligned the burn was hotter, hungrier, needier.
She raised her head to find his eyes open, sleepy and full of the only question between them. Yes or no.
‘A guy could get used to waking up like this.’ His voice was husky with sleep and desire. ‘I’ll have to make hot chocolate and share a blanket with you more often.’
Tameka pressed her fingers to his lips. Talk might change her mind. Talk was something they could do over the fence when reality came crashing through the door. ‘Love me, Harley.’
His eyes searched hers, the hand on her butt pressed her closer to him. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Of this? Yes. Of tomorrow? No.’
‘Then let’s make today count.’
He kissed her until her mind spun like an out of contr
ol starship circling the sun and heading for the epicentre. He touched every inch of bare skin he could find, and when every nerve ending begged to be satisfied, he whispered, ‘Let me help you out of that onesie.’
She smiled against his lips, opened her heart and let him find his way inside.
Chapter 17
They took the bike into town. Not the dirt bike but Harley’s Heritage Softail Classic with the twin cam engine and deep throaty roar. He figured it would be less friction on her back and cause her less pain than driving in the ute. And honestly, it meant she’d be wrapped around him like she’d been this morning and now that she had been, he didn’t plan on letting go. With her denim-clad legs lining his thighs and her body against his back, he could bloody ride forever.
Even with layers of denim, leather and wool between them to keep out the chill of the wind, he felt every movement of her body against him. And blessed the cold that could freeze a duck’s nuts because it would be damn embarrassing showing up at the community meeting with happy pants.
He didn’t want to put Tameka through the gossip mill more than she’d already been. Showing up together probably wasn’t the brightest idea to stamp out any misplaced rumours that they were back together, but they had to do what was practical. Besides, with the town preoccupied with meetings and John Bannister’s methods of persuasion to sell their farms, perhaps they wouldn’t even notice.
Harley backed the bike into a parking spot outside Wongan Creek’s hospital. He felt the touch of Tameka’s hand on his shoulder as she climbed off before removing her helmet.
‘Want me to come in with you?’
She hesitated a moment. ‘Um, no. It’s okay. I’ll meet you at the Town Hall when I’m done.’
‘I can come back for you.’ He didn’t want her walking into the lion’s den alone. Not when he didn’t know where they were heading with the argument over the spray drift. With still no sign of Louis Chalmers returning, the crowd might take it into their hot heads to hold Tameka responsible.