Taming the Outback

by Ann B. Harrison

  “I don’t care anymore. Get it fixed, or I’ll start shooting any strays I find. I have too much money invested in my stock-breeding program to let her mongrels knock up my girls.”

  Libby was fuming. The nerve of the man.

  “Now you look here, pal,” she started, her hands trembling at her side. “As Tom said, it will take time to get the repairs done. I had a quick look this morning, and I’ll get on it, but you have to give me a bit of a break. We only just got here.”

  “I would have preferred you didn’t come at all, sweetheart.” He sneered. Libby felt a brief flash of fear. He looked like he meant every word. He tightened his jaw and spoke again. “I was ready to buy this place if you hadn’t turned up. And I still will if you run back to town with your tail between your legs. But in the meantime, I will shoot anything that comes through onto my land.”

  “Why, you...” Libby spluttered, stunned at his aggression. “Don’t you believe in giving anybody half a chance?”

  “I already have. For over two years, I have sent the stock back so I wouldn’t upset the old man,” he replied quietly with a hard edge to his voice. “Now he’s gone, and it’s your turn to be kind to me. Fix your bloody fences and do it now.”

  Nathan turned, jammed his hat back on his head, and stormed back to his four-wheel drive. He slammed the door before reversing back to the side of the shed, doing a U-turn, and racing back down the drive in a cloud of dust.

  Libby stood rooted to the spot, shock leaving her speechless. She heard a noise and looked over at the house. Holly was standing at the gate with the boys, her face ashen as she shook, ragged gasps coming from her little body.

  Libby raced to her, threw open the gate, and pulled her daughter into her arms. “Oh, baby, I am so sorry you had to see that,” she whispered. “It will be okay. Shush now.” Libby held her and stroked her back with one hand, holding her tight with the other. Josh and Winton stood to the side, watching. Tom walked past, pushing the boys into the house.

  Her body folded down on the footpath with Holly in her arms until the girl stopped shaking. Libby pushed her gently back so she could see her face. Kissing the tip of her nose, she smiled at her daughter.

  “It’s okay, Holly,” she whispered to her. “He didn’t mean it. Honestly, baby, he’s just trying to scare me into do what he wants. I promise he won’t shoot the cows.”

  “He looked like he meant it, Mummy,” she said, sniffling.

  “He was just trying to act tough,” Libby replied. “Don’t you worry your pretty, little head over it. Now I desperately need a cuppa, and someone is looking like they need a cuddle from you.”

  Henry was sitting on the footpath, giving Holly a pathetically sad look. She quickly scooped him up in her arms and followed Libby up the back steps to the kitchen where Tom had tea on the table.

  Libby drank her first cup of tea and started on a second one while she found bread and leftovers in the fridge for sandwiches. She kept shooting Tom glances from under her eyelashes, wondering how well the old man got on with the neighbor from hell.

  The nerve of the bastard. Huh, I thought country people were supposed to be welcoming and kind. Guess I drew the short straw with him.

  ***

  Nathan let out a long breath as he drove from Libby’s place. Damn it all, he shouldn’t have been so hard on her. The look on her face and the way her kid reacted. Shit. He needed to get the whole “city-bred female chip” off his shoulder. Letting his ex get the better of him after so long rankled, but he couldn’t get past it.

  He’d been besotted when he met the tiny blonde at his mate’s wedding in the city. A couple of days later when he had to return to the farm, she had shed tears and told him she would make the move to the country if he felt the same as she did. After months of long-distance phone calls and a couple of quick trips to town, Eliza had decided she couldn’t live without him. Initially, she’d tried to fit in, but it became harder, and the more she complained about the lack of shops and his hick friends, the more he had dug in his toes about staying on the land. His whole life was in the country; it always had been. It wasn’t until the week before their wedding day that she’d announced she was couldn’t handle the isolation and was leaving.

  He slammed his hand on the steering wheel and cursed. If Libby was silly enough to come to the country, she would just have to wear his bad mood. She may be cute under that snappy attitude, but business was business, and he had invested way too much money to have the whole breeding program fall apart because of her scabby mongrels. I might get the fences fixed in record time now; maybe it was worth getting up her after all.

  He drove out of Quincy Station’s driveway, shaking his head at the amount of work she had in front of her. If he were any other neighbor, he would be offering to give her a hand until she found her feet, but if she hadn’t fallen in with his uncle’s plans, the farm would belong to him right now, and all his problems would be solved. Besides, he wanted to keep his distance if he could; no point in tempting fate, and he had been without a willing female for too long.

  He pulled into his yard and slammed on the brakes. He jumped from his truck and stalked into the tractor shed to work off some of his frustrations on something mechanical that wouldn’t fight back.

  ***

  After lunch, Tom invited them to come to the stables so he could show the kids the horses and other animals. Winton leaned on the fence rail and whistled for his bay. The strong-muscled gelding came running to the fence, throwing its head around, talking loudly to Winton when he held out a carrot. He showed Holly how to hold a piece flat on her hand so the horse didn’t bite her fingers when he took it. Josh stood back, watching.

  “Would you like to learn to ride, Josh?” Libby asked, her hand casually resting on his shoulder.

  “Maybe,” he answered.

  “I can show you how.” Winton shrugged. “It’s not that hard. We can use one of the old nags to start with until you get the hang of it.”

  The boys stood talking to Winton’s horse while Tom called Puddin’ over to the paddock gate and slipping a halter on her, he opened it and led the horse into the stable. Holly gravitated toward the pony Tom was quietly brushing. She watched him for a while and then made her way around the stall to the pony’s head. Reaching out, she touched her soft nose, jumping when Puddin’ snorted and sneezed all over her.

  “Here, you brush her.” Tom handed her the brush and proceeded to show her how to use it. He held his hand over Holly’s until she was comfortable and then stepped back, leaving her to work on her own.

  He leaned back on the gate, while Libby climbed up and sat on the fence to watch.

  “Did he mean it, Tom?” she whispered to him as she watched her daughter making friends with Puddin’.

  “’Fraid so, Libby. He was right when he said he gave Thaddius a break. He did, and I guess it’s only fair we fix the fences before your bulls get his cows. The boy’s out a lot of money into his breeding program. Be a shame for our mongrels to ruin it for him.”

  “Could have gone about it a bit better though,” Libby said. “How are we supposed to fix the fences? Do we get someone in for that?”

  “Nope, you and me will start this afternoon on the closest paddocks. You want to learn how to run this place; it’s a good skill to have. Never know when you need to fix a fence in a hurry. Got enough supplies in the shed to make a start, but you’ll have to order more from town soon though. I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I just never had time to get to them before now. Your uncle wouldn’t let me hire more men, and fencing wasn’t the most urgent job I had.”

  “Don’t let it worry you.” She watched Holly run her hands over Puddin’s soft muzzle. “Between us, we’ll get there. Aaron said we could afford to hire staff if we need to. Know anyone looking for work?”

  “I can ask around, but shearing is going to start soon, so most stations have their guys already. You’ve come at a really busy time, Libby.”

  “Fabulous,” she
muttered as she made up her mind. “Can I leave the kids here with you for a while and take the four-wheel drive? I want to pay a visit to our not so friendly neighbor and give him the ground rules for losing his cool in front of my kids. Holly has had enough problems to deal with since John died. He doesn’t need to add to them.”

  “Keys are in it,” Tom informed. “It belongs to the farm, not me. Just bear in mind he was good to your uncle before you shoot your mouth off too much. Turn left out of the driveway and head south for about five minutes. You’ll find him.”

  “Mmm,” she murmured as she slid down from the fence.

  She signaled to Josh.

  “Help Tom keep an eye on your sister,” she ordered. “I have an errand to run before we start work again, and I’ll only be half an hour.”

  ***

  Libby drove down the road, her temper at boiling point as she replayed Holly’s reaction to Nathan’s outburst. A big driveway with a sign saying Highfield Downs appeared on her left. She slowed the truck and pulled into the long drive. She followed it for a good kilometer before she saw sheds and yards. Pulling over, she got out and slammed the door.

  “Can I help you,” called a voice from the shed.

  “I want to see Nathan,” she replied, walking toward the voice.

  A movement to her right had her change track. Nathan stepped out of the shadows from behind a tractor, his hands covered with grease and holding a wrench.

  “Well, well. I didn’t expect a visit this soon, sweetheart,” he drawled. “Miss me already?”

  “Now you listen here, you ignorant brute.” She stepped into his space and pointed a finger in his face. “I understand we have some work to do on the farm, and I even understand you would be impatient and not want to give me the grace of settling in. But what I will not tolerate is you mouthing off in front of my kids. They have had enough grief in the last couple of years since their father was killed, and they don’t need to see a bully like you verbally attacking their mother. Do you understand me?” she finished her tirade by poking him in the chest.

  She held her breath as Nathan looked at the finger digging into him. He put the wrench on the tractor guard and pulled a rag from his back pants pocket. Slowly, his eyes never leaving her, he wiped the grease from his hands and dropped the rag. She watched his gaze roam her body and return to her mouth before he smiled, his eyes finally meeting hers, amusement visible in their depths.

  “Why, sweetheart,” he drawled. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you were showing me how cute you are when you’re angry.”

  “Ooohh.” Libby growled, her hands clenched into fists at her side as she resisted the urge to stamp her foot. She took a deep breath and started again. “Look, my kids have issues with angry people, okay? If you could just make sure they aren’t around the next time you want to give out to me, I would appreciate it.”

  “Give out to you, sweetheart.” He stepped even closer. Libby could smell the grease lingering on his body. “Now why would I want to do that?”

  “Oh, I’m sure you’ll find a reason,” she retorted. The smell of man filled the back of her brain. “Being city folk or being female, having the station you want, maybe just the state of my fences. Why don’t you pick one that suits you?”

  “If I want to give out to you, I’m sure I can find my own reason.” He lifted his hand and gently stroked it down her cheek, sending a jolt of electricity shooting straight to her groin.

  Her breath caught, and her stomach clenched. The light flickering in his eyes showed her he was aware of the effect he had on her. She stepped back and turned on her heel, striding back to her vehicle on unsteady legs as her body filled with heat from the inside out.

  As she drove down the long driveway, she could see him watching her in the mirror. It did nothing to quell the butterflies in her stomach.

  Libby hadn’t been that close to a man since her husband died, let alone had sex with anyone. The look in his eyes made her burn, and while mentally kicking herself for being so susceptible to a handsome male, it was the touch of his hand on her face that reduced her to a quivering mess. She wondered what she would do if he touched her more intimately…probably combust in a screaming heap at his feet. Libby worried that thought would come back to haunt her.

  Libby calmed slightly by the time she arrived back home. Tom was still out with the kids and the horses. Josh was being led around the paddock on a quiet palomino. Libby parked the truck and walked over to the fence to watch. Winton was leading him around the paddock alternating between and walk and a slow trot.

  “Kid’s got a decent seat on him,” Tom said.

  “Must be in the genes, I guess.” Libby grinned, leaning on the fence.

  “Sort it out with Nathan?” he asked.

  “I told him I didn’t want that kind of confrontation in front of my kids again.” Libby avoided his eyes.

  “How did he take it?”

  “He all but laughed at me,” Libby admitted.

  They stood and watched Josh for a while longer, and then Tom made a move.

  “If we don’t get started, it’ll be dark before we get into it,” he stated. “Winton, Josh, come on. You guys can help with the fencing.”

  Libby watched them rush to obey Tom. It’d been a long time since Josh had done as he was told without having to be threatened. Tom might prove to be a good grandfather figure for him.

  “What do we need?” she asked following him into the shed.

  Tom passed her roll of wire, a pair of cutters, and some heavy gloves before picking up a sack and slinging it over his shoulder.

  “Come on, kids,” he yelled. “Get a move on, or you’ll be left behind.”

  Holly ran to catch up with Libby, the tiny Henry in her arms, and Winton and Josh scampered up the drive, kicking dirt with their boots, Josh’s pup running between them.

  The tools went in the back of the truck, the kids piled in the back seat with the dogs, and Libby and Tom climbed in the front.

  “Winton, you are on gates on the way out, Josh you can do it on the way back.” Tom started the vehicle.

  It only took ten minutes to get to the first patch of fencing needing mending. They piled out of the car and surveyed the damage.

  “No wonder Nathan’s cranky.” Josh nodded at the fence between the properties. “Look at this place compared to his.”

  Libby’s gaze roved over the beautifully kept paddocks next door. The stock even looked in prime condition compared to the ones in their paddocks. Mongrels, he had called them. He’s right to a certain degree. The fences were a mess. Moss-covered, weathered posts were leaning over, and the cattle only needed to lift their feet a bit higher to march over it. A large strip of the boundary fence had broken wire in more than a few places, and this was where Tom headed.

  “Boys, grab the rest of the tools and get your butts over here,” he called. “You too, Libby.”

  They all scrambled to gather the tools and follow Tom’s direction. He pulled a post up from the weeds and held it straight. Under his guidance, Libby managed to pound it back into the ground with the post rammer. He showed her how to attach the fence strainers he pulled from the sack to the existing wire and pull it tight enough to reattach to the post. After a couple of goes, she managed to do it on her own.

  She stood back with a huge smile on her face as the sweat ran down her back, soaking her shirt to her body. It had required muscles she’d never used before to handle the heavy equipment, and she’d be sore later, but it was worth it.

  “That was awesome.” Libby lifted her hat from her head as she wiped her face. “Thanks, Tom.”

  “Your turn, Josh.” He guided the boy to the next wire. He took his time teaching them the skills that should come as second nature to those living on a station. Even Holly put Henry down long enough to nail a couple of wires to the posts. Libby hauled the water container over and gave everyone a drink. The afternoon was stinking hot, and they had so much more to do before they called it
a day.

  She still had to arrange for her station wagon to get towed somewhere, but as Tom had already told her, it wasn’t worth stealing, and it was off the main road so it would be fine until they had the chance to get it.

  They fixed fences until the sun started to lower in the sky. The kids started to complain, and Libby’s hands were almost raw. The muscles in her back ached. The pups had long since gone to sleep under the four-wheel-drive parked in the shade.

  “Let’s call it a day,” said Tom when they finished the next section of fence. “You guys have done well, but you look pretty done-in. We can come out again tomorrow.”

  “But, Mum, tomorrow is Sunday,” Josh cried. “We always sleep in.”

  “This is a working farm,” Libby stated, dreaming of her bed after a soak in the tub and a late start tomorrow. “We have so much to do to get the farm up to scratch, and on Monday, I have to go into town and book you all in school. That’s just the way it is. Help pack up the gear, and we can go home.”

  Libby let her gaze travel the newly repaired fence line on the trip back to the house. She felt a surge of pride in herself and her family. We can do this, fix the farm and make it a home, and it feels so damned good too.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  After their hard day of fencing, the dinner conversation was a huge downer for the kids. Libby tried to involve them in her Monday plans, but the only one remotely interested in school was Winton.

  “This is not up for discussion.” Libby spoke between mouthfuls. “You are all going, and that’s final. You can make it easier on Winton though, Josh, if you go over what you’ve been doing this year. It would be a shame to see him held back because he’s missed so much.”

  “He should be okay.” Tom spoke up. “We have been working at nights on his schoolwork, and he likes to read, always got his nose in a book when he’s not out working or skylarking around.”

  “Regardless, Josh, after dinner, you and Winton can go over your books and see where he is up to, and on Monday, I’m taking the three of you into Charleville to school.” Libby looked around the table at all of them, daring them to argue with her. “That makes tomorrow your last free day, so you can be excused from working on the farm so long as your rooms are clean, and the dogs can probably use a bath. Tom and I are going to have a cuppa on the veranda, and you kids are on dish duty.”