The Saddler Boys

by Fiona Palmer

  ‘No, Kimmy did,’ said Billy as he skipped along beside her. ‘She’s awesome.’

  ‘Who’s Kimmy?’

  ‘Kim Richards,’ said Drew.

  ‘As in Lauren Richards?’ Nat asked.

  ‘Yep. Loz is Kim’s sister-in-law. Kim and Matty run the farm next door. They’re my best mates and Kim is amazing with a welder. She also helps me out on the farm and watches Billy sometimes. I don’t think I could have made it without those guys. Friends are worth their weight in gold.’

  Nat had to agree. She missed her friends back in Perth, especially Alisha. Texts and phone calls weren’t the same as a night out together. ‘Well, thanks for a fantastic afternoon,’ said Nat as they reached her car. ‘I had so much fun.’

  ‘I hope it wasn’t too . . . rustic,’ said Drew cautiously.

  Nat chuckled. ‘It does me good.’ She looked down at her clothes. ‘Are you sure you don’t want these back?’ They had been his mother’s after all.

  ‘I’m sure. And keep the boots too. I’ll give you more if you want them. If you’re keen to come out again I’m shearing at the moment.’

  All Nat knew about shearing was that it was how you got the wool for making clothes. She hadn’t the foggiest how it actually happened.

  ‘Yeah, I can show you how to ride a sheep,’ said Billy.

  ‘Hmm, I think I’m a bit big for that,’ she replied. ‘But I would love to see some shearing, if that’s okay with you?’

  Drew nodded. ‘Just understand that I may put you to work,’ he said with a twinkle in his sapphire eyes. ‘I’ll be shearing all next weekend, so if you’re bored just drive up past those sheds to the big one out the back. It has the sheep yards beside it.’ Drew pointed up the road.

  ‘Thanks, I just might. See you later. See you at school, Billy.’

  Nat got in her car and drove away, glancing at them in her rear-vision mirror. Yeah, she’d come back.

  Chapter 12

  To my darling princess,

  I miss you already. Thank you for the most amazing week­end. I hope you loved eating at your favourite restaurants – yes, I was trying to cram them all into two short days but it was worth it to see your face, especially when you ate that first mouthful of Giovani’s pasta. I may have to find out Giovani’s secret to his creamy sauce to win your heart forever. And I’d gladly sit through another chick movie if dessert is spent naked with you.

  It’s always hard to leave you to head to the office but I’m glad you had your parents to visit. I’m sorry that your mum made you feel that way. I, too, will stop trying to convince you to come home. It’s just hard when I miss you so much. But your mum really does love you, Natalie. As do I. I am already planning your next visit home. I’m thinking of a picnic by the river, champagne and strawberries. Maybe we can see a play, or I’ve heard Ed is coming to Perth. I’d love to get you tickets to see him. I just want to see you happy, my love. Write to me often, babe.

  I love you, Gary xx

  Nat reread the email Gary had sent after their weekend together. He could be so romantic and thoughtful. In truth, she was feeling a little bored and she’d tried to read a book but nothing was holding her interest. She couldn’t keep reading Gary’s email; she already knew it word for word. She got up and walked to the back door. Nat leant against the doorframe and stared into the bush at the back of the house. It had been a quiet Saturday morning and her mind kept wandering to Billy, who’d reminded her about coming to see the shearing over the weekend. He’d been like a broken record, but on the upside he’d been trying hard to concentrate in class and Nat realised that being his new shiny coin was a good thing. It probably took his mind off his nan, and pleasing Nat gave him something to strive for.

  Should she go out to the farm?

  Did she want to? Yes, she realised she did. Being with the Saddler boys had been a highlight of her stay and she had completely enjoyed their easygoing company. They were refreshing and fun.

  She ran to her room and changed into her oldest pair of jeans, which she kept for around the house, a white singlet so she had something to go under the blue-checked shirt Drew had given her, plus the thick socks and boots. Glancing in the mirror, she put her hair up in a high ponytail. Her new outfit felt weird but she looked like one of the locals now. And it worked.

  She stopped at the shop, which luckily was still open, and picked up some drinks, chips and dip. She wasn’t sure what food you ate while shearing. Jess and the shop owner did a double take.

  ‘Oh, Natalie. It’s you,’ said Frank as he flattened his hand over his comb-over hairdo. ‘You look like you fit right in here. You going somewhere special?’ he asked.

  Nat was getting used to everyone one asking a million questions, wanting to know what she was up to or mentioning that they’d seen her car parked at the school over the weekend. ‘I’m heading out to see some shearing.’

  ‘Out at Drew’s place?’

  Jess’s head snapped towards them, listening to their conversation.

  ‘How did you know that, Frank?’ asked Nat. The locals really did know everything, especially Frank. Running the shop seemed to give him extra intel.

  ‘He’s the only one shearing, love, and it usually takes him a while. Actually, he rang up earlier to see if I had some bale fasteners. Do you mind taking them out, love? I was going to get Jess to run them out on her way home but you’ll save her the detour.’

  ‘I don’t mind,’ Jess said quickly but Frank didn’t even hear her. He was waiting for Nat’s reply.

  ‘Sure, Frank, not a problem.’ If anything it gave her a better reason to stop in.

  With her shopping and the bale fasteners – whatever they were, some sort of pointy pins – she headed out to Drew’s farm. Doing as told, she drove past their house and up to the sheds, stopping at the one at the back. It was large, made from dull grey-blue corrugated tin. On the side were old wooden rails that held some sheep, and Drew’s ute was parked out the front. Nat sat in the car for a moment, trying to gather her nerves, when the old dog, Jo, appeared at the entry of the shed, barking at her. Better get out before they caught her sitting in her car like a dill.

  Grabbing the shopping bag and the container from Frank, she headed up the stairs to the sliding door. The first thing that hit her was the smell. It was like nothing she’d ever experienced – unless you counted the time she’d been stuck behind a truck carrying sheep. Then there was an oil scent of some sort. Her nose twitched, and when her eyes adjusted she stepped inside. A machine that she assumed was running the shearing stuff was making a loud noise, and music was coming from an iPod dock on the opposite wall.

  Drew was on the right, with a half-shorn sheep between his legs. Nat was struck by the sight and automatically moved closer to watch. Drew was wearing a blue singlet and jeans, his arms glistening with oil or sweat as he moved. She had to admit it was breathtaking to watch a man at work, especially one as attractive as Drew.

  At that moment, he glanced up. His hairline was damp with sweat, his face a little grubby, but his eyes were shining.

  ‘Hey, you made it!’ he yelled over the machine. ‘Just give me a tick.’

  He bent his head and finished cutting all the wool off the sheep. Nat watched on in awe as he moved the cutter thing across the sheep’s skin while his other hand worked in unison, guiding it along. The way the wool parted from the skin made it look like he was peeling an orange. His feet shuffled and the sheep was moved this way and that and, before she knew it, it was all shorn and Drew was pushing it down a chute behind him. A big pile of fluffy white wool sat on the floor.

  Drew pulled a rope and the noise stopped. As he wiped his face on an old green towel hanging on a nail behind him, he reached out with a remote and turned down the music. ‘Sorry, now we can talk. I’m glad you came. Billy will be rapt.’

  ‘That was amazing. I didn’t know what to expect. If you believed what PETA say, you’d think there’d be bloodshed and half-dead sheep.’

  ‘Don
’t get me started on them or you’ll never hear the end of it,’ he warned with a roll of his eyes. ‘It’s just like getting your hair cut. I really wish these people would actually come to a farm and see shearing before shooting their mouths off. Anyway, moving on,’ he finished with a smile. Then his eyes drank her in, from her ponytail to her newly acquired boots.

  She flushed. ‘Is this better farm attire?’

  ‘Definitely. I don’t have to feel bad when you get dirty now.’ He gave her a wink and she felt like laughing.

  ‘Here, Frank gave me these for you, and I brought some snacks.’ Nat held up both and smiled.

  Drew took the fasteners. ‘Great, I can do up this bale now. I thought I had a spare box but I was wrong. Thanks, Nat.’ He pointed to the dip in the plastic bag. ‘There’s a fridge in the corner to put that in if you’d like.’ He walked her over to what looked like a seventies kitchen cupboard, set up with an old kettle and a microwave, next to an antique-looking fridge with drawings all over it.

  A sandwich press sat open with half a loaf of bread beside it. She tried to imagine Drew working and feeding Billy at the same time. It couldn’t be easy. ‘Where is Billy?’ she asked, putting the dip and drinks in the fridge.

  ‘He’s taken a small mob I’ve just shorn back out to the paddock.’

  Nat raised her eyebrows in shock. ‘By himself?’

  ‘Don’t worry, he’s an old hand at it. He just opens a few gates and pushes them through with Turbo’s help. He should be back any minute. Do you want a cuppa? Cold drink? I could use a little break,’ he said, leaning back and stretching, and giving her a close-up of his six-pack through the thin material of his singlet. Farming must be pretty physical work to get a body like that. She doubted he had time to lift weights.

  ‘Hey, Miss Wright, you’re here!’ yelled Billy as he came running towards them, Turbo bouncing alongside with his tongue hanging out. Billy’s boots slapped against the dark floorboards of the shed. ‘Have you just got here?’ he panted as he stopped beside her, pulling off his cowboy hat. Turbo was panting just as much.

  ‘I have. Are you thirsty?’

  He nodded so Nat grabbed a plastic cup by the big blue water esky near the makeshift kitchen and filled it up.

  He quickly drank it all. ‘Thank you, Miss Wright.’

  Nat bent down to his eye level. ‘Hey, how about when I’m out here you call me Natty?’

  ‘Natty?’ he said, trying it out.

  ‘Yeah. It’s what my uncle calls me. But only out of school. Deal?’

  ‘Deal. Thanks, Miss Wright . . . um, I mean Natty.’ A grin spread across his face, showing off a missing tooth on the side and front ones that still seemed a little big for him. He also had dimple marks that appeared when his smile was big and genuine.

  ‘Billy, you want to show Nat how to throw a fleece?’ Drew shot her a challenging glance. ‘Please say you came to help for a bit?’

  Nat shrugged. ‘I’m keen to give it a go.’

  Drew pointed to her hands. ‘You won’t be going home clean if you do. I’m warning you now.’

  She felt like he was testing her, seeing if she was made of tougher stuff, and he wanted her – no, he was daring her – to prove him wrong. And her whole body wanted to do it. Her fingers itched to get dirty and she felt alive. Finally someone was challenging her, making her step outside her comfort zone, and in a way, she felt as if Drew had more faith in her than anyone she knew. How could that be?

  ‘I think it’s time to go play in the mud,’ she said, trying to be serious, but the corner of her lips turned up, defying her.

  ‘I couldn’t agree more. Billy, show her how it’s done.’

  Billy took her hand and led her to the fleece on the floor. He pointed out where the legs in the fleece were, how to grab them and fold it up, lifting it and then throwing it. ‘Just like when you make your bed,’ he said.

  ‘How did he do that?’ asked Nat, totally amazed at how such a pint-sized kid could lift all that wool and throw it on a table that was almost too high for him to reach.

  ‘My nana showed me.’ He put his hands on his hips and struck a pose that would give Superman a run for his money.

  ‘Mum was a bloody good rousie and always picked up for me while I was shearing. She taught Billy how to throw and skirt a fleece. Showed him how to grade the wool as well,’ said Drew with a besotted expression. Billy ran out the back to where the sheep were, leaving them alone.

  Nat loved the way his eyes shone with pride. ‘What’s a rousie?’

  Drew almost burst into laughter but pressed his lips together and stopped it, which she was grateful for.

  ‘Gary wouldn’t believe this,’ said Nat without thinking. He didn’t even like it when she did the gardening at her uncle’s place. ‘I’ll pay a man to do that,’ he always said. But Nat liked pulling out weeds. It made her feel human.

  ‘Is it okay that you’re out here? Gary doesn’t mind?’ said Drew suddenly. ‘It’s just that people around here will talk and they like putting two and two together but they usually end up with five. I don’t mean to scare you off or anything, because we love having you out here. We enjoy your company, Billy especially.’

  Nat felt honoured and also a little taken aback by Drew’s honesty. And the fact that he’d asked about Gary showed that he was aware of the situation. He was a straight-up kind of guy. ‘He’s an amazing kid. I mean, he struggles at school a bit but to see him here on the farm, what he’s capable of, is just mind-blowing.’

  ‘Yeah, I know.’ Drew leant back on the table where Billy had just thrown the fleece and crossed his arms. ‘How did you come to be a teacher, Nat?’

  ‘I love kids,’ she said simply.

  ‘But why out here? I don’t mean to be rude but most people want a city posting.’

  Nat could have spun the spiel she’d told her friends and family, but for some reason, being out here, and with Drew being so honest, she felt she should be as well. ‘Because I wanted time to myself, to do the job I trained for without any interference from my family. I needed somewhere far away from my mother’s disapproval of my career choice. And soon I’ll be married and I’ll have other expectations and social commitments, so I really wanted this time out for me.’ Nat chewed on the inside of her lip. Did it sound as lame as she thought?

  Drew’s eyes narrowed and a tingle ran up her spine, making her eager to vary the subject. ‘Billy never mentions his mum. Did he not know her?’

  The change in Drew was instant. He leant back and his eyes darted off to the side as he picked at the grime on the table.

  ‘No, he didn’t. I was young and stupid. But she gave me Billy so I’ll always be grateful. Best get going, hey?’ He walked over and picked up his shearing handpiece, ending their talk.

  So he was hiding something too. But she wasn’t going to pry. They were each entitled to their own secrets. ‘Hey, I wanted to mention it last time I was here but I didn’t want to say it in front of Billy. I guess you’ve heard about the school closure?’

  Drew was squirting oil on the pointy end of the handpiece. ‘Yeah, Loz has been chewing my ear off about it.’

  ‘Are you going to come to the meeting next week? We need all the support we can get.’

  His head tilted to the side and again he studied her as if she were a puzzle piece that didn’t fit. ‘You’re helping?’

  ‘Yes, Lauren and I are really going to fight this. Did you know the kids will have to be on a bus for an hour just to get to the next school? The poor little four-year-olds! How will they cope?’

  Drew smiled and she wondered what she’d said to amuse him.

  ‘So I can count on you to make it to the meeting?’

  He looked uncertain but his voice was strong and sure. ‘You bet.’

  Chapter 13

  ‘YOU want to have a go?’ Drew asked as Nat watched him closely.

  Her eyes went as big as tractor tyres and she shook her head quickly. ‘It looks hard and that looks dangerous,�
� she said over the noise, pointing to the cutter blades before moving the fleece into position.

  An hour later she was still with them. His sister, Amy, would have made up some excuse and escaped the shed by now.

  ‘Hey, Sadds. Need a break?’

  Drew glanced up to see Kim smiling down at him. She was wearing her favourite R. M. Williams jeans and belt, and a blue-checked shirt with the sleeves rolled up; her hair pulled back in a low ponytail. It was her standard work gear: she’d come to help him. He could always count on Kim to turn up when she had a free moment to see if he needed help with anything.

  ‘Hey, KC, how are ya, mate?’ Drew finished the ewe, pushed her down the chute then pulled his cord. ‘Come to lend a hand, have ya?’

  ‘Yep. Seems like you’ve got some help already?’ Kim glanced at Nat, who was at the table with Billy, skirting a fleece.

  Billy had been so busy with Nat he hadn’t seen Kim yet. When he did, he ran over and Kim picked him up for a hug. She used to throw him up in the air, but now that Billy was getting older, just holding him up there was hard enough on the arms.

  ‘Hey, kiddo.’

  ‘Have you come to help out? Is Uncle Matt here too?’ asked Billy.

  ‘He’ll be over soon with the kids.’

  ‘Awesome.’ Billy turned as Nat walked up beside him. ‘Kimmy, this is my teacher. She’s come out to help us.’

  ‘Hi. Loz has told me lots about you,’ said Kim, holding out her hand.

  ‘Ah, so you’re Kim. Nice to finally meet you.’ Nat wiped her hand on her jeans before shaking Kim’s hand.

  ‘I’m trying to show Natty how to roustabout. Maybe you can help?’ Billy turned to Nat. ‘Kimmy can do everything. She’s just like Dad.’

  Drew chuckled. ‘She can probably do more than me.’

  ‘Except shear and shoot as good as you,’ Kim said quickly.

  ‘Now, Kimmy, you gotta leave me with something,’ he teased. She already welded better than he could – she just had a bloody knack when it came to using a mig welder. She had a gift, that was for sure. Not that he could tell her that.