Legacy of Hunters Ridge

by Sarah Barrie

  ‘Carla, enough.’

  Ally’s stare had gone vacant, but she shook her head, glanced briefly at the women and attempted a smile. ‘Excuse me.’ She headed away at speed.

  Cam went after her, catching up to her as she reached his ute. He unlocked it and she climbed in, slamming the door and hugging her knees.

  He slid in beside her, studied her tight features. ‘Sorry about Carla.’

  ‘It’s not her fault I’m a –’

  ‘Stop it or you’re going to piss me off.’

  ‘Okay. I’m okay.’ She fought back the tears, steadied herself with a deep breath. ‘That was just a bit much.’

  ‘Carla’s over the top by nature. She mentioned that horse again.’

  ‘Magna. God.’ Ally pushed her fingers against her eyes and took another steadying breath. ‘Sorry, they just brought it all back. I’m okay now.’

  ‘I can see that. Look, don’t take this the wrong way, all right?’ He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in, was surprised when she did lean in, just for a moment. He caught the scent of something pretty and floral, then she pulled away and sat back heavily against the seat.

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Any time.’ And really, she could have stayed where she was a little longer.

  ‘I just wasn’t prepared. I should have been.’

  He smiled, hoping she’d smile back, put some colour in her cheeks. ‘It seems you’re a bit of a celebrity. Don’t you expect people to recognise you?’

  She shook her head. ‘Only at horse events. And only sometimes.’

  He told himself to keep his hands to himself, then gently tilted her chin up and studied her face. Her skin was so soft, it was too tempting not to slide his thumb across her cheek and feel it. ‘It’s the eyes. You’re all over pretty, but those eyes are incredible. Of course they recognise you.’

  Her lips trembled slightly as her eyes widened. Then her gaze slid past his and she abruptly pulled her chin free. ‘Your, ah – friend’s coming.’

  He spotted Vicki striding over and sighed in resignation. ‘Right.’ But he studied her a moment longer. ‘You okay?’

  ‘Yeah, thanks for the shoulder.’

  ‘Any time.’

  CHAPTER

  14

  It was Thursday afternoon when Lee turned up to collect the pigs. Knowing Poppy liked apples, Ally went into the house, chopped up several and threw them in a bag. She had no idea how difficult it was going to be to get a pig and several piglets into the trailer, but hopefully Lee knew what he was doing. When she came back out, he had the trailer hooked up and was inspecting her vegetable garden.

  ‘This is great.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘You’re not selling?’

  ‘Why would you say that?’

  ‘What’s the point of a vegetable garden if you’re not going to be around long enough to enjoy the vegetables?’

  ‘I like the process. Besides, the lettuce won’t take long, and I can harvest the herbs whenever I like.’

  ‘Don’t have enough to do out here?’

  She smiled. ‘I’m not exactly rushed off my feet.’

  ‘How about those plants for Cam’s garden, do you still want them?’

  ‘Yes, please.’

  ‘They’re in stock. The truck’s coming past tomorrow morning. I’ll have them dropped off up at Cam’s, if you like. Cam and I will be gone most of the day, though.’

  ‘Good. That should give me a chance to get them in.’

  Lee rubbed his hand over his head and sent her a concerned look. ‘Man, he’s going to give me shit over this.’

  Her face broke into a wide grin. ‘I’m very grateful, Lee.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah.’ He laughed. ‘Just be prepared to defend me tomorrow night.’

  ‘Promise.’

  ‘Right, let’s get these pigs sorted.’

  Ally coaxed Poppy and the piglets out of their little shelter to their gate. Poppy raced on, eager to devour the apple Ally was offering. A couple of the piglets darted into the trailer with her. The others weren’t as easily convinced, so Lee started scooping them up. Shocked by the speed at which the pig could devour the fruit, and worried she might run out before Lee caught all the piglets, Ally tried to slow the pig down. But Poppy greedily propped her feet up on the mesh, just about climbing over the front of the trailer in her desperate attempts to get more.

  ‘Linda’s kids are beyond excited,’ Lee said, gently wrestling the last squealing piglet into the trailer, then closing it up. ‘The names they’ve come up with are crazy.’

  Ally fed Poppy the remaining two pieces of apple and gave her a rub on the face. ‘I hope they enjoy them.’

  ‘Ebs reckons Poppy will need to stay a month or so, that okay?’

  ‘No problem.’

  He climbed into his car and wound down the window. ‘Oh, and Vicki and Fiona have invited themselves up tomorrow night too. Thought we might play some poker. You play?’

  Sounds like fun. Not. ‘I’ll, um … probably. Sure.’

  ‘And we’ve decided if you make dessert, you don’t chip in for dinner. See ya.’ He waved and drove away.

  Ally watched Poppy and her little family head down the drive with a twinge of regret. She’d gotten pretty used to them. But it was for the best – she didn’t need an army of piglets. And Poppy would be back.

  She looked up the hill. No matter what Lee thought, she’d feel better about replacing the plants. She hadn’t seen Cam since the weekend, but she’d thought about that moment in his arms every time she wasn’t deliberately thinking about something else. She kept reminding herself it hadn’t meant anything – the minute Vicki had turned up, he’d practically leapt out of the car to see what she wanted.

  And Ally had no intention of spending the evening watching the woman falling all over him. She’d just have to figure out how to get around it. She was heading inside still considering that when she heard the clip-clop of hooves. Was Violet out? Then she saw Lucy coming around the shed.

  ‘Alissa!’

  ‘Lucy. Are you all right? What’s wrong?’ She looked over horse and rider. The horse seemed calm enough, no signs he’d been running himself ragged, and Lucy was smiling. No disaster had or was about to take place. No, she couldn’t see a problem. The only problem was the small girl riding a horse in her paddock.

  ‘Nothing’s wrong. I hope you don’t mind, but I came in off the trail at your back gate. I try not to ride on the road too much.’

  ‘That’s okay. What are you doing here?’

  ‘Carla at pony club told me you were here. I came to thank you. Look – I got a cross-over noseband and a jointed snaffle and the lady at the saddlery said to try a martingale, and he’s much better. He turns properly now, watch.’ She proudly trotted a circle.

  ‘That’s good.’ Go away, please go away. ‘That’s great. Just …’ Damn it. ‘Sit up straight and put a bit of weight in your heels, you’re tipping forwards and weakening your seat.’

  ‘You mean my saddle?’

  ‘No, I mean – you need to get some lessons.’

  ‘Maybe you could give me some?’

  ‘No.’ The knot of anxiety was growing. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘That’s okay.’ But she was disappointed. ‘Maybe one day. Thanks again, Ally. See ya!’

  Ally stood where she was until Lucy was completely out of sight. Her pulse slowed and her breathing steadied. ‘Not so bad. Not so bad as I thought.’

  So what was the pressure still in her chest? It felt suspiciously like the weight of guilt, heading somewhere into the realms of self-disgust. New gear was great, and would be helpful. But layering bandaids on a behavioural problem wasn’t going to solve it. The poor kid would be lured into a false sense of security and possibly led into an even bigger disaster.

  Why couldn’t Lucy have called first? Ally didn’t do surprises – she needed time to think, consider, plan. Work it around in her head. A little notice wasn’t too much to ex
pect, was it? The kid shouldn’t even be out alone on the pony in the first place. It wasn’t safe. There were miles of trails out there. She could come off, end up lost or hurt.

  At least Ally should have told her to find a friend to ride with. She should have told her a few things. Could have taught her some.

  She went inside and studied the fridge, the pantry. She decided on brownies, then when that didn’t work, tried some caramel tarts, banana muffins and a pecan pie. It took her the rest of the day, most of the night, and every last ingredient in the house, but the cooking calmed her. Yet she couldn’t shift her mind from the little girl on the naughty pony. Would it really have killed her to spend ten minutes showing her a few exercises?

  The kid needed help. But Ally would need somewhere enclosed to teach her. She didn’t have any facilities out here. She didn’t have money for that sort of set-up. She remembered the father’s attitude – he wasn’t interested anyway. It was too hard. Best to stay out of it.

  Why was she so worked up about this? Because, more than the kid’s need for help, Ally was disappointed in herself. She’d built it all up in her head that she would get her life back together.

  Later that night, when sleep wouldn’t come, she swallowed her first sedative in days, and even then, took longer than usual to go under.

  When the truckload of plants rattled up Cam’s driveway just after ten, Ally was ready for them. She’d already examined the trampled bed, pictured in her head where she thought everything should go. Cam had cleared away the worst of the destruction, and there hadn’t been much tidying to do, so as the cheerful young driver unloaded the little potted natives, she placed them out, and got to work.

  The plants were much smaller than the ones the cows had ruined, but by the time they were in and the mulch was raked neatly around them, the job looked good. Satisfied, she stood back and surveyed her work. New grevilleas, bottlebrush and kangaroo paws sat by a few originals that had survived. They’d grow soon enough.

  She hosed them in, did one last survey, and prayed the cows would never again find a way up the hill. Feeling better about fixing the damage, she dusted off her hands and stretched her back. Then considered the night ahead.

  It should be a simple thing to come back up here, play some poker, eat some pizza. A normal thing. But her emotions were out of control. And for what? Nothing had happened between her and Cam. He’d said something nice, had been trying to cheer her up. There was no point taking it the wrong way. She knew he had kindness in him, and though his physical attributes made her weak at the knees, it was that kindness that put the knot in her chest. It was appealing – would appeal to any woman. But there was absolutely no point harbouring these fantasies in her head. She wound up the hose, put her tools in the back of the car.

  It was one thing to know there was no point harbouring those fantasies, it was another entirely to spend the evening watching Vicki flirt with Cam. It was probably better if she distanced herself from him for a while anyway. Just until she got over it. She thought about that, began working on excuses not to be there. She had a headache – not entirely original. She was tired – that sounded lame. She had work to do – but what?

  Lee expected her there to defend him. And to bring food. There was certainly plenty of that after her baking spree. She smacked at the mosquitos buzzing round her legs. Was a bout of malaria a feasible excuse? Probably not. She could hide her car in the shed, pretend she’d had to go visit Mia. Now she was being ridiculous. And she really had promised Lee.

  Fine. Whatever. I’ll play bloody poker. At least I won’t have to smile.

  But at seven thirty she was still making excuses to linger at home. She was at the point of falling back on the original excuse of headache and climbing into her pyjamas when there was a knock at the door.

  She found Cam on the veranda. Her legs almost gave way when he aimed that crooked smile at her.

  ‘Cam. Hi.’

  ‘Good evening.’ He leant on the doorframe, took in her jeans and pretty halter-neck top. ‘I’d like to thank you for the garden transformation.’

  ‘Not necessary. My cows did the damage in the first place.’ She heard the bluntness in her tone, cringed.

  ‘Are you coming up? Everyone’s there.’

  Everyone. ‘Actually, I was going to but I’m pretty tired, so …’ Lame! What happened to headache? She’d rather be unoriginal than lame.

  His look was long and silent. ‘Is something wrong?’

  ‘No,’ she said too quickly.

  ‘Then?’

  As there was no way in hell he was getting the truth, she took a deep breath and released it in defeat. ‘Okay, fine. I just have to get the dessert stuff. I’ll be up soon.’ Soonish. Perhaps bordering on later.

  ‘I’ll wait, give you a lift and you can catch one with Ebs after.’

  Shit. ‘Thanks.’

  They didn’t speak much on the way to his house. She noticed him shoot her a couple of sideways glances, wondered what he was thinking. But the ride was short and when they arrived, Cam moved ahead to open the door for her. Music was on, the dining table was stacked with pizza boxes and a poker table was assembled in the middle of the large lounge area.

  ‘Here she is,’ Lee announced, spotting them. ‘Time to eat.’

  ‘Hi, Lee, Ebs. Hi,’ she added in general to the two other women in the room. Vicki’s small smile didn’t come close to reaching her eyes. If she knew how ridiculous it was to think of Ally as competition, the woman wouldn’t have bothered being hostile.

  Ally’s gaze moved to Ebony. In an apparent show of solidarity, Ebony got to her feet and gave her a peck on the cheek. ‘Hi, sweetie. What’s in the containers?’

  ‘It’s just brownies and caramel tarts.’

  ‘There she is with the “just” again,’ Cam commented from close behind Ally. ‘Let’s put these in the kitchen.’ His hand pressed gently on her lower back, the light touch sending her nerves skidding and her feet rocketing forwards. She quickly put the containers on the bench and as she turned, he pressed a glass of wine into her hand, his fingers brushing hers lightly. The glass trembled in her fingers, the contents swishing. Normal touches, friendly gestures. Crazy, out-of-control, hyper-vigilant reactions.

  Snap out of it, idiot. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘You’re welcome.’ He touched his glass to hers, smiled. ‘The gardening really wasn’t necessary, but it was a nice gesture, and you did a great job, so thanks again.’

  ‘It was just –’

  ‘Just?’ His grin was amused and warm, and her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to jump him. He was trying to thank her and she was molesting him in her head. She was sick. Her gaze dropped from his gorgeous face to study the bench.

  ‘Ally, are you sure you’re okay?’

  She immediately lifted her eyes, attempted a careless smile. ‘Yes, of course.’

  ‘Lee’s into the pizza!’ Vicki called out a moment before bursting into the kitchen in a wave of silk. ‘I’ll get the wine, shall I?’

  ‘Sure, Vicki, take it in.’

  Vicki hesitated. ‘We’re waiting.’ Then she swooped back to the lounge area with a flourish.

  Ally watched her leave. When she turned her gaze back to Cam’s, his eyes were on her.

  ‘You any good at poker?’

  ‘Good enough.’

  ‘We play for Smarties.’

  She chuckled. ‘High stakes.’

  His eyes darkened at the sound of her laughter. ‘I don’t mind a gamble. Do you?’

  ‘Cam!’ Lee called out. ‘Bring beer!’

  Cam laughed quietly in resignation. ‘Let’s eat.’

  It got late, very late. Ally hadn’t embarrassed herself at poker, but the night was about as much fun as she’d expected it to be. The strain was there, no matter how unwarranted, and she’d had enough. But Ebony didn’t seem to want to leave. And neither did Vicki and Fiona. She was exhausted from the nervous tension, slightly miserable from her own taut emotions, and she neede
d to go home. Eventually she had to ask Ebony if she could drop her back.

  ‘Sure, I think we should all head off, don’t you think?’ Ebony asked the table.

  Vicki pouted. ‘Oh, I don’t –’

  ‘Yeah, I’m just about over,’ Cam agreed, ‘and Lee is going to make sure the girls get home okay.’

  ‘He is?’

  ‘I am,’ Lee said. ‘Head down with Ebs to your place, I’ll be right behind you, then I’ll follow Ebs home before going the rest of the way to my place. Let’s do it.’

  Yet even in what had become a car park, Ebony dug her heels in. It wasn’t until the other women’s car finally headed down the drive that Ebony turned on the ignition.

  ‘Now we can go.’

  ‘You were waiting them out?’

  ‘They would have never left. Ally, Vicki’s kind of insinuating she and Cam have something going on. They don’t. They haven’t. Ever.’

  ‘The back-off signals she was sending were ridiculous. Not to mention unnecessary.’

  ‘Just smile and pretend not to care. That’ll irk her the most.’

  ‘Is that what you were doing when Fiona was all over Lee?’

  ‘I was ready to claw her eyes out. Clingy bitch.’

  Ally laughed. ‘Then you’re a master actress. You were so nice.’

  Ebony turned down the driveway and pulled up outside the house. ‘They’re okay, really. It’s just that Vicki goes after anyone with a bit of money, and Fiona’s after Lee just because he’s the other man there.’

  Ally chose her words carefully. ‘Ebs, maybe you should give them a bit more credit. Cam and Lee are friendly, good-looking, single guys with their heads screwed on. It’s possible Vicki and Fiona really like them for who they are.’

  ‘I don’t care. And knowing those two, I don’t believe it.’

  ‘And that’s hard because you have feelings for Lee.’

  ‘Yeah, and if you’d open your eyes, you’d see that Vicki’s pissed because she invited herself, but Cam came down and got you.’

  ‘He wanted to thank me for fixing up his garden.’

  ‘Of course he did. But he could have done that with a simple phone call. He wanted you there tonight. Don’t wuss out again.’