Nick held open the passenger door and Hero got in, waiting for Nick to walk around. He slid behind the wheel, started the engine, and pointed the vehicle home. He stole a quick glance at his companion, but she was staring out of the window, looking back at the hospital they had just left.
‘I’m really sorry about this.’
Nick took his eyes from the road for a second. ‘What?’
‘All this.’ She waved her hands, trying to encompass the whole afternoon’s events within the gesture. ‘Joe getting hurt and stuff.’
Nick squinted out at the late afternoon sun. ‘It’s not your fault.’
‘Yes it is. I couldn’t get my stupid leg out of that bloody table. If I had, we would have been off, and Joe wouldn’t be in the hospital.’
‘Roy and Ethan are troublemakers, Hero. They would have started something anyway. They don’t show up too often, but when they do they’ve usually had a few. Joe’s an easy target. It’s probably just as well you were there, to be honest. And well done on the elbow jab. I’d like to have seen that.’
Nick tried to lighten the mood a little, but the truth was he couldn’t handle the thought of something happening to Hero, or the thought of those bastards even touching her. But his words were true. If she hadn’t screamed out, there was no telling what they might have done to Joe. They turned, the afternoon sun hitting them straight in the eyes. Nick flipped down his sun visor.
‘You don’t have to make everything OK, Nick. I know it’s my fault.’
‘What?’
Hero’s voice was unsteady, and she took a breath to calm it. Nick looked across at her. It was clear all this had freaked her out more than she was prepared to admit. But was she just talking about today? From what he could tell, the lines were blurring. The best thing he could do was just get her home.
‘Why don’t we talk about this later?’
Hero flipped down her own visor viciously as the sunlight streamed head on into the car. ‘I don’t want—’ Something hit her thigh with a thud.
Jules was always stuffing her sunglasses behind there. Hero moved her hand down to pick them off her lap and screamed, yanking the door open as she did so. Nick swerved and made a grab for her. With one hand holding onto Hero’s arm and the other on the wheel he skidded to a stop in the dust. Hero had stopped moving but her eyes were wide and focused in terror. Nick followed her petrified gaze. A huge grey spider was moving slowly down her thigh. In a second, he had reached over and scooped the creature up, flinging it out of his own window. When he turned back, Hero was out of the ute, brushing frantically at her clothes. Nick swore at the seatbelt as he fought to get out. Finally, it released and he ran around the vehicle to where Hero was hysterically brushing at her clothes.
‘It’s gone, Hero. It’s gone.’ Her frantic motions continued. Nick reached out, taking hold of her shoulders. ‘Hero. Look at me.’ His voice became stern. ‘Hero!’
She looked up then, her expression seemingly one of shock at seeing him there. But she wasn’t the only one in shock. For the first time in years, the beautiful green eyes that Nick loved so much were washed with tears.
‘It’s OK, sweetheart. It’s gone. It’s long gone. Everything’s fine now.’
Hero blinked at him, the movement dislodging the first tear. A second chased it down her cheek. She issued a small sound and began to shake. Nick’s throat closed, and he folded her into his arms, letting her cry for everything that had happened.
Nick’s back was against the ute as they sat in the shade of the vehicle. Gradually Hero’s sobs became softer and finally ceased. She was curled up against him, the damaged leg held out straighter. Her head was on his chest and his arms were wrapped protectively around her. Nick could have stayed there forever.
‘I guess we should go home.’ Her voice was soft, and raw from crying.
‘When you’re ready. No rush.’
She pulled away a little and tilted her head to look at him. Her nose was red and her eyes were puffy and swollen. Nick looked down and fell in love a little bit more.
‘Was it poisonous, the spider?’
Nick shook his head. ‘Nope. It’s called a Huntsman. Ugly bugger, and it might be a bit uncomfortable if it does bite you, but it’s not poisonous.’
‘Do they always hide behind sun visors?’
‘Sometimes. They like the dark.’
Hero leant back against his chest. ‘Well, I think it’s sneaky.’
Nick smiled and dropped a kiss on the top of her head without thinking. ‘I don’t suppose he was too chuffed at getting tossed through the air, so we’re probably about even.’
Hero giggled with a hiccup from the recent tears.
‘I’m sorry I freaked.’
‘No worries.’
‘I don’t normally do that.’
‘I know.’
Hero sat in the protective warmth of Nick’s arms, her head on his chest, listening to the slow, steady beat of his heart. It was such a nice place to be. Nothing mattered when his arms were around her. She had felt it that first time they had danced together, and now he had made the world go away again.
Nick realised Hero’s breathing had slowed. He craned his neck to see the face pressed against his shirt. Her eyes were closed and her lips slightly parted in sleep. Nick felt his face flush as a hot surge of desire rushed through his body. Get a grip, he berated himself.
‘Come on, Sleeping Beauty, let’s get you home.’ He pulled them both to their feet and led his charge to the passenger door. Hero walked with him sleepily, hesitating as he opened the ute. Nick grinned.
‘It’ll be miles away by now. Or concussed.’
Hero smiled, but her eyes showed uncertainty. Nick leant past her and checked the visors and the dashboard for any more creatures that might be lurking.
‘Coast is clear.’
Hero was asleep again almost before he’d pulled back onto the road, still not stirring when they reached the station. Nick lifted her out of the ute and began carrying her towards the house. Juliet and Pete met them at the door.
‘Oh my God! Is she all right? Where’s Joe? What happened?’
Nick looked past his sister-in-law and raised an eyebrow at his brother. ‘Which one do you want me to answer first?’
Juliet was only half listening, as she stroked the hair away from her sister’s face.
‘She’s been crying!’ Juliet was as shocked as Nick had been.
‘Yep.’
Nick started towards the stairs. Within seconds Juliet was behind him again. ‘Nick? What’s happened? Why has she been crying? She never cries. Did—’
‘It’s been a long day, Jules. And no, it wasn’t me, before you ask.’
‘I wasn’t suggesting that at all.’
Nick laid Hero down on the bed, forcing himself to resist the urge to lie beside her, before looking back at his sister-in-law. His smile was disbelieving. Juliet drew herself up in defence.
‘Well, you do have a knack of getting to her.’
‘I’ll leave you to it.’ His smile stayed, as he passed by.
Juliet called him as he began to close the door. He stuck his head back around.
‘Thank you.’
‘Don’t thank me. Thank the spider.’
‘Huntsman then, was it?’ Pete asked after they had eaten and got the children bathed and packed off to bed.
‘Yep. Big bugger too. Must have been behind the visor. Hero flipped it down and out tumbles our furry friend. Lands smack on her leg and starts crawling around.’
Juliet shuddered as Nick recanted the trip home.
‘She freaked for a bit, then just started crying.’ He took a sip from his bottle. ‘I guess it was the catalyst she needed. It’s been a long time coming. I just hope that it helps.’
Nick opened the children’s bedroom door and peered in. Marcus was going through a stage of falling out of bed in his sleep. They were currently taking it in turns to check on him. Only his nephew’s top half had migrated
from the bed. Nick picked the child up and eased him back into the bed, tucking the sheet in a little firmer. He then picked up Bridie’s stuffed toy kangaroo, it having obviously hopped out of bed after the little girl had fallen asleep. Nick laid Bounce next to his niece’s pillow. He knew she would only get in a state if she woke up in the night and couldn’t find him, then closed the door silently behind him.
As he walked past Hero’s room, he hesitated. Part of him said to keep on walking and that he would see her tomorrow. But the other part of him told him that tomorrow wasn’t soon enough. He just wanted to check on her. Make sure she was OK. But what if she woke when he was there? Nick closed his eyes, opened them, then headed on towards the stairs. As he started down, Juliet appeared at the bottom.
‘Kids OK?’
‘Yep. Marcus was half out and Bounce was all the way out but they’re both safely tucked back in now.’
‘Thanks.’
Nick took a step down.
‘Did you check on Hero?’ Juliet asked.
‘No.’ Nick was glad that the only illumination was the children’s nightlight plugged in on the landing. He felt his cheeks flood warm.
‘Would you mind? Just make sure she’s all right?’
‘Right-oh.’
Nick left the door ajar and stepped into the room. Hero was still lying in the same position he had laid her in hours ago. Juliet had removed her shoes, but she slept in the sundress she had been wearing earlier. Nick looked around and saw a lightweight silk quilt lying over the Lloyd Loom chair in the corner. He picked it up, laying it carefully over the sleeping form. She didn’t stir. The emotional outpouring, long overdue, had completely exhausted her. Sleep was the best thing. Stepping back to leave, Nick found a creaky floorboard. Its loud protest seemed deafening in the quiet room. Nick glanced back, expecting her to wake, but she merely changed position a little, the slow, rhythmic breathing unchanged. Nick lingered a moment longer. The movement exposed the scar she did her best to hide. It was deep, running from the centre of her forehead to her cheek. The surgeon had been excellent, but Hero knew there would always be a scar remaining, an everlasting reminder of the destruction those few moments of time had wrought.
It did nothing to lessen her beauty to Nick – he rarely even noticed it. Hero was still the most stunning woman he had ever met. She had captured him from the first moment, despite their differences, or maybe because of them. Seeing her injuries only made Nick care for her more, and wonder at the pain she had suffered. Glad now that she had at last released even a part of it, Nick turned and left the room, leaving Hero to her dreams.
***
Hero sat on the step, hugging the mug of coffee Juliet had made for her before disappearing back into the house to help her son with his homework. It was a task that often fell happily to Hero but today her brain was just too sleepy. A fact she found amazing considering that she had just spent almost all of the past twenty-four hours asleep. When she did wake, she’d taken one look in the mirror and turned away. Her eyes were sore from crying and the puffiness remained. Hero took a sip of the coffee and waited for the caffeine kick to hit her bloodstream.
And then she smiled. She had puffy eyes and it didn’t matter. She didn’t have to put iced towels on them, or cold teabags or, the worst, haemorrhoid cream! They could stay puffy and no photographer, editor, or make-up artist would yell, fret, or even care. It felt wonderful.
Looking up, she saw Nick ambling across the yard. He wore dark jeans, well-worn yard boots and a blue checked shirt with the sleeves rolled up exposing tanned, muscular arms. Hero felt the now familiar rush pulse through her body.
‘About time you showed up,’ he called out as he approached, his face shaded from the afternoon sun by his favourite hat.
She grinned and poked out her tongue. Nick reached the verandah and leant against a support. His smile faded a little.
‘Feeling better?’
Hero took another sip of the coffee and smiled awkwardly. ‘Don’t do things by halves, do I?’
‘Nope.’
She put the mug down on the wooden floor and wrapped her arms around her knee. She looked up at him from under her eyelashes.
‘I feel a bit … silly.’
‘Why?’
‘You know …’ She waved her hand from the wrist.
Nick pushed off the post and budged her along the step, sitting down next to her. ‘Do you feel better?’
His mouth held the promise of a smile, but his eyes were serious. She couldn’t avoid the truth when he looked at her like that.
‘Yes.’
‘So what’s the problem?’
Hero ran her finger to and fro in the red dust that had settled on the verandah. ‘I’d just maybe rather have done it in private,’ she replied, concentrating on the patterns her fingers were making.
Nick gently caught her hand as it drew its dust pictures. Hero looked up.
‘If it makes you feel better, I’m glad you didn’t do it in private. I’m glad that I was there.’ He leant over and kissed her cheek. It was so soft, so gentle that for a moment, Hero thought she had imagined it. But her hand was still in his. She lifted her eyes, meeting his gaze.
‘I have to get back to work,’ he said, squeezing her hand before leaving, his pace quicker than it had been on his approach.
‘You all right, mate?’ Pete asked when he saw Nick with his head under the tap outside the wool shed. His brother stood, turning off the tap.
‘Fine. Just hot.’ He ran his hand through his hair, replaced his hat and hurried off. Pete watched, half puzzled, half amused. ‘Right-oh.’
Chapter 16
Slowly, Hero began to open up. It had taken too long, but the outpouring of grief, anger, and pain experienced that afternoon in Nick’s arms had been truly cathartic. It was Christmas Eve and Hero had been roped in to referee an impromptu football match that had sprung up. Jack stood with her, explaining what was allowed and what wasn’t. Family, neighbours, and friends had descended on the station. Children raced around, wearing themselves and each other out, laughing and hollering almost as much as the adults. Hero blew the whistle as Pete tripped his little brother.
‘Oh! Pete, really!’ His mother admonished.
Nick writhed around in mock pain as Pete stood over him and shrugged his shoulders innocently at her.
‘Foul, Mr Webster.’ Hero grinned.
‘It was an accident!’
‘Oww!’ Nick groaned loudly from the floor.
She walked over to where he lay and crouched down. ‘Can you walk?’ Her voice was gentle, its softness washing over him.
Nick opened an eye, then sat up slowly, heroically. ‘I don’t know. It’s my knee.’
‘Oh dear.’ Hero pouted at him and, for a moment, Nick’s protests of weakness were the truth.
He watched as she kissed two fingers, then transferred the kiss to his skinned knee, just as she had done earlier to his niece after Bridie had taken a tumble.
‘Is that better?’
Nick nodded stupidly and grinned. Pete shook his head, a wide smile breaking out across his face. He put his hand out to help Hero haul Nick to his feet.
‘Pathetic, mate,’ he whispered in his brother’s ear. Nick nodded again, happily agreeing. As he got to his feet, three other players dropped to the ground, calling the ref’s attention.
Hero laughed, laughing up at Nick. ‘I blame you for this.’
‘OK.’
Hero glanced over to where Juliet sat with her in-laws and the Sullivans. One of the men feigning injury was Paul Sullivan.
‘Let him suffer!’ His mother called out, at which point Paul stopped acting for a moment and looked over.
‘Mum!’
Hero in the meantime had walked over to Stefan, one of the Sullivans’ stockmen. Reaching up, she placed the whistle around his neck and winked. He grinned back.
‘New ref,’ she called out, as the six foot five, brick-outhouse-built man made his way onto the makeshift f
ield, amusement twinkling in his eyes, ‘Did someone need something kissing better?’ He boomed.
Miraculously, the three men’s injuries immediately healed and play continued.
Walking back to position having scored a goal, Nick glanced over to where Hero was now sitting on a metal bar fence, talking to the other stockmen, who were pointing every now and then. Nick surmised that they were explaining the nuances of Australian Rules Football to their new companion. Her eyes followed the game, and she cheered loudly when his team got the ball. He couldn’t believe the difference in her from when she’d arrived, all those months ago. She’d been scared and nervous and insecure. But gradually, she had settled into her new life in the Outback with them, giving her body and mind the time to heal. She took an interest in what they did there, how the station ran, helping with what she could. He’d always loved his life out here, but every day now held the added bonus of seeing Hero.
That day, as she’d sobbed hysterically in Nick’s arms, the final barriers had been torn down. It had marked a turning point in her and Nick’s relationship, as the shared experience brought them closer. Nick’s physical and emotional support at the time had proved to her that he was a man she could rely on. As a friend, at least. Hero was still unsure whether Nick would ever want to take it past that level. It wasn’t like he was short of offers, and she hadn’t exactly given any inkling that she would be receptive in the past. But that was the past, Hero told herself. If she was to make a success of life out here, she had to move on. Coming to terms with her grief had been a step towards that. She knew she fell far short of being a natural with the land sometimes, but she tried, and as far as the people that mattered were concerned, that was the most important thing she could do.
***
‘I really don’t think this is such a good idea, Jules.’
Hero was sitting in her dressing gown, prodding irritably at the sponge rollers her sister had wound into her hair several hours ago.
‘No. You’re right,’ Juliet replied.
Hero breathed a sigh of relief. But the respite was short as her sister then continued.
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