Romance with a Bite

by Tamsin Baker

  “G’day, mate. I didn’t expect to see you in here.” Raff threw an expansive gesture with one hand, the other firmly clutching a pint. “Welcome to the Harrow Arms.”

  Daniel nodded at Raff and paused, looking around uncertainly. He was only after a quick pub meal, not a social outing. He didn’t want to get caught up in a drinking session.

  The barman leaned on one end of the bar, chatting to a couple of people. He inclined his head in Daniel’s direction, and murmured something to them before straightening up and moving towards him. He greeted Daniel with a genial smile. “Good evening to you. What can I get you?”

  The blackboard behind the bar proclaimed the special of the day to be a schnitzel with a choice of sauces. That would do. Nothing fancy.

  “I’ll settle for your finest schnitzel with mushroom sauce and pint of Coopers Ale, thanks.”

  The barman pulled the beer and placed it in front of Daniel. The glass frosted with the cold and a trickle of froth slid down the side. “Nice night for it,” the barman said. “That’ll be eighteen dollars. The schnitty will be out soon.”

  “Thanks.” Daniel counted out the correct change, then picked up his beer and moved to a table by the window. It was a good vantage point from which to watch the street outside, but also to not get drawn in with the bar conversation. He sat down, resting his head briefly in his hands and massaging his forehead as though it could clear the fog of an intense afternoon’s work.

  The table rocked slightly. Daniel looked up as Raff plonked himself into the opposite chair. “Got a headache, mate?”

  “No, nothing like that. Just a bit tired after a long day.” It seemed he would have company, whether he liked it or not. Welcome to life in a small town.

  “Try working on cars all day. Then you’d know what tired is. What is it you do anyway?”

  “I’m a writer.”

  “You mean like, books and things?” Raff settled back in his chair with a slight frown as he contemplated what that might mean.

  “Sometimes, but right now, I’m working on a film script. The pressure’s on to get it finished.” He took a sip of his beer and wiped away the moustache of froth with the back of his hand. ‘That’s why I’ve come here for a while. I need to get away from the distractions of the city and pump out some solid work.”

  Raff grinned. “You’ve come to the right place, then. Nothing much happens around here so you’ll be able to put your nose to the grindstone.” He sipped his own beer and gave a small belch, releasing a faint sour odour. “I haven’t met a writer before. I never thought of that as being work, though.”

  “When you have to write to pay the bills, it soon becomes work.”

  “I guess you’re right about that.” He didn’t sound entirely convinced. “So, what’s this film about then?”

  Daniel was still considering how best to respond when he noticed a large tattoo winding around Raff’s forearm, and twisted his head slightly, trying to see what it was. His curiosity didn’t go un-noticed. Raff pushed his sleeve up and moved his arm closer to Daniel. It was a snake. A bloody big snake.

  “It’s my totem,” Raff said by way of explanation. “It’s the one I was born with. My mother’s a Kaurna woman, and I was brought up with the old ways and knowledge. This here serpent reminds me of my culture and heritage.” He pushed his sleeve down again and picked up his beer. “Course, I have a bit of the white man in me too, so I have the best of both worlds.”

  “What does a girl have to do to get a drink around here?”

  Daniel knew who it would be before turning around. She must have come in while he was inspecting the tattoo.

  “Buy it like everyone else, Amber,” Raff said. “See Tom at the bar.”

  Amber pouted. “Raff, you’re no fun at all.” Her gaze slid over to Daniel. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” she simpered, pulling her arms back slightly and pushing her breasts forward in what he now recognised as a familiar action. “It must be destiny.”

  Daniel smiled weakly. Not if I can help it.

  “Schnitzel!” the barman called out, indicating the plate sitting on the bar. No table service here. Daniel pushed his chair back and crossed to the bar, picking up his meal along with a knife and fork wrapped up in a paper serviette. By the time he returned to his table, Amber had moved on, chatting to couple of women at another table.

  His relief must have showed on his face. “Don’t let her worry you,” Raff said. “She’s like that with everyone. You’re the new bloke in town, so you’ll be the focus of her attention for a while. It’ll pass when someone else comes along.”

  Daniel unwrapped the cutlery and sliced into the veal. It was tender. That was always a risk with a schnitzel. Perhaps it was made in-house and not a mass-produced and frozen item. Movement outside caught his eye. It was the librarian, hands in the pockets of her jacket and walking briskly down the street. Her figure was obscured by the protective clothing, but it didn’t erase his memory of what lay beneath. He thought he could faintly hear her footsteps, but perhaps that was in his imagination, wanting some tangible connection with her.

  He watched her progress, wondering where she might be heading at this time of day. A large bird swooped low over her head. Odd. Frowning, he rubbed his eyes and peered out again into the evening. The bird was gone—if it had even been there in the first place.

  Shifting his gaze back inside the room, he saw Raff was also watching her. The expression in his face was curiously speculative, as though he had wonders of his own. Raff was bound to know who she was, but something told Daniel not to ask any questions. He wouldn’t let anyone know what he’d seen. This was something he would keep close to his chest until he knew what it was about, and even then, in a small town, it probably wasn’t something to talk about. Particularly by an outsider. He turned back to his meal.

  Chapter 4

  The half-light cast a muted tone over the bush. Leaves dripped with early morning dew. Daniel opened the timber gate in the fence at the rear of the property. The area beyond was undeveloped, but there was a rough path leading down the slope. If he’d been at home in the city, he might still have been collecting zeds, but early morning birds had woken him. He tried to ignore them for all of five minutes before deciding he might as well get up. It was a beautiful time of day for a walk.

  As he followed the path down the slope of the hillside, the temperature noticeably dropped. The atmosphere was other-worldly, far removed from the local village environment. Ferns slapped against his legs and a fresh, earthy smell hung heavily in the air. A couple of times, he thought he had lost the path and pushed through the undergrowth until finding the trail again. It opened out by the side of a creek, not very deep but running with clear water.

  Lacy green fronds of fennel grew at the water’s edge. He picked some and chewed it, remembering doing the same when playing around local creeks as a child. It was a memory dragged from a long-forgotten past. He had no idea then of the crisp and tasty bulb that lay at the base.

  “This here’s a woman’s place.”

  Daniel whirled around. He hadn’t heard anyone approach. An elderly aboriginal woman stood behind him, with a tote bag slung over one shoulder.

  “You shouldn’t be here.” It was an accusing tone.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was trespassing. I was out for a walk and the path lead me down in this direction.”

  The woman gave a snort of derision. “It’s not a question of trespassing. The land down by the water is a recognized women’s site. The Kaurna women have a spiritual connection to this land.”

  Daniel rubbed his jaw in surprise. He hadn’t realized aboriginal sites would be in the area. Made sense, though, when he thought about it. The bush was pristine. European development hadn’t touched it. “I didn’t know. There weren’t any signs.”

  “We don’t need signs. Not the sort you read, anyway. People around here know where they shouldn’t go and abide by the ways of the old people.”

  D
aniel looked around. He half expected a group of aboriginal women to leap out at him from behind the trees, waving weapons or their fists, at the very least. How was I to know? Nobody had mentioned anything like this to me, particularly not Bob Russell when we finalized the lease for the cottage.

  “If you show me the borders of the area that’s out-of-bounds, I’ll keep clear of it in future.”

  The woman looked at him impassively. Daniel resisted the urge to shrug. He didn’t want to get her offside, any more than he already had. Unexpectedly the woman grinned, and with that, her demeanor changed.

  “You white blokes don’t know anything. The area down here’s reserved for women’s business. Keep away from it, and you’ll be all right.”

  She resettled the straps of her bag more comfortably onto her shoulder. Daniel could see it held leaves of some sort, which she must have been collecting. It definitely wasn’t fennel.

  “I’m Marnie, by the way. You must be that bloke living in Bob’s place.”

  “I am. There are no secrets around here. Pleased to meet you, Marnie.” He attempted a smile. “If you could give me pointers on any other no-go zones, I’d appreciate it. As both a ‘white bloke,’ as you put it, and a newcomer to town, I’m a bit ignorant of these things.”

  “You’ll be right. Like I said, keep away from here, and you’ll be okay. If there’s anything else you need to know, Raff will tell you.” Without any form of farewell, she turned and headed away from him, along the bank of the creek. The encounter had been bemusing, to say the least. Daniel was still watching her when she paused and turned to look back at him.

  “Watch out for snakes. If you encounter one of those, you’re definitely in the wrong place.”

  With that, she continued on her way and was soon hidden from view by the undergrowth. What a bizarre encounter. Daniel shivered. There was a chill in the air he hadn’t noticed before, and the bottom of his jeans was damp. Time to go back to the cottage. At least he could get an early start on his work.

  This time he was more observant, taking note of his surroundings and not just the path ahead. A flash of purple caught his eye. On closer inspection, it was a small cluster of purple orchids. They looked like the illustration he’d seen in the book at the library. Not only that, they looked like the single flower he’d seen on the stone in the clearing. Strange coincidence. On impulse, he picked a couple, and some of the surrounding greenery. It made him think of the librarian, yet another connection in this strange town.

  ☐

  “I should be back around lunchtime.” Cassie grabbed the keys to the library van and headed for the door. This was the day she did her rounds, delivering books to people who were unable to get to the library. Some were elderly, others were not in good health. She was a popular visitor at the local nursing home, where she had a good understanding of the literary tastes of her customers.

  On impulse, she picked up the book detailing the history of a local family. It had been requested by Daniel Burton and arrived with the morning deliveries from Eden Valley. Her route took her past his cottage, so she could drop it in to him. It would be on her way. It wasn’t that she was curious about him. Course not. Why bother texting him if she was going in his direction anyway? If he wasn’t there, she would leave it on the doorstep and send him a text to make sure he found it.

  Lanes End Cottage was the last of her calls. The squeak of the front gate would surely advertise her arrival, but she knocked on the door anyway. And waited. A car sat in the driveway, so someone should be home. She was raising her hand to knock again when the door swung open. Daniel stood there, confusion etched on his face. His hair was ruffled as though he had been running his hands through it, and his bare feet indicated he was in casual mode.

  The look he gave her was strange, unnerving even. What was that about? She cleared her throat. “I’m Cassie Craven—from the library. You requested this book via inter-library transfer. It came in this morning, so I thought I’d drop it off.”

  “You didn’t have to do that. I could have come in to collect it, but thank you.”

  He held out his hand for the book. She glanced at the extended hand. It had the appearance of being strong, though the fingers weren’t calloused from hard work.

  His fingers grazed hers as he took the book, delivering an unexpected but noticeable frisson. At least, that’s what it felt like. What caused that connection? Surely, he felt it as well? He didn’t react, so perhaps not. Not everyone had her level of sensitivity to the auras of other people. This was something to think about in private.

  Concealing her startled reaction, Cassie raised her eyes back to his. “I was doing the weekly book run and had to pass this way so it was no trouble.” She turned to go.

  “Do I have to sign anything?” Daniel called after her.

  She paused and turned back to face him. “I’ve checked it out to you already. Nothing to sign. Just keep your eye on the due date.” His expression was still quizzical. “I didn’t mean to disturb you,” she added. The way he was looking at her, she must have.

  “I was deeply in the work zone,” he admitted. “It’s just taken a few moments for my brain to clear. It’s time I stretched and took a break anyway.”

  He ran his hand through his hair, scruffing it even more. “”I’m about to make a cup of tea. Would you care to join me?”

  Cassie hesitated. It was a long time since breakfast but her initial instinct was to leave. She should get back to the library, but he’d stirred her interest. She didn’t really know him, but he didn’t look dangerous. He appeared to sense her concerns.

  “You’re probably due for a break as well. We can sit on the deck out the back.”

  Somehow, sitting out the back seemed safer than sitting inside. Easier to leave if she had to do so in a hurry. “Okay. I can’t stay long, but you’re right. It’s way past morning tea time.”

  He brought her through the house to where a set of double doors opened out onto the rear deck. Both doors were open, allowing light and fresh air to penetrate the dining room. Daniel filled the electric jug before pointing her in the direction of the table and chairs outside.

  “Take a seat. I won’t be long. I only have English Breakfast tea—is that okay?”

  “Perfect, with milk, thanks.” Cassie at down and took in the scene before her. At some point, a previous occupant had put a lot of time into the garden. It provided a lovely, relaxing backdrop.

  “What do you think of Harrow?” she called, knowing Daniel could hear her from inside.

  “I haven’t seen enough to make a considered opinion, but the town seems both quiet and friendly. Those qualities suit my purposes.”

  A few minutes later, he carried out two mugs of tea, with a plate holding some biscuits carefully balanced on top of one mug. “Are there places I ought to see? Perhaps I need a tour guide, if you have any recommendations.”

  Cassie regarded him coyly over the rim of her cup. “Amber might be willing to help out.”

  Daniel rolled his eyes theatrically. “She’s not my type.”

  “What is your type?” She ran her tongue around her lips in a parody of Amber.

  “I know more about what it isn’t rather than what it is. Watch this space.”

  There was an awkward moment’s silence as each absorbed the direction of the conversation. Cassie flushed inwardly. What’s going on here? It’s not like me to flirt with strangers.

  Daniel smiled infuriatingly, but changed the subject. “Thanks for bringing the book. It was most thoughtful of you.”

  “An unusual title, if you don’t mind my saying. What’s the interest in local history?”

  “I’m undertaking research for a film script. I’ve been commissioned to adapt a novel roughly set in this region, and I need some in-depth detail about the era and how people led their lives. Accuracy is important to the audience.”

  “When will the film be made?”

  “That part is out of my hands. I just write it. It’s up to
the producer to get the project off the ground. I hope that happens, of course, because then there’ll be an on-going role for me.”

  “It might come to our cinema then.”

  “Really? I didn’t think Harrow was big enough for a cinema.”

  She laughed. “It’s not. We have to drive to Mt Torrens, but that’s not very far. If you look in the local paper, you’ll see the program for the coming week.” She indicated the copy of the Harrow Times, which lay on the outdoor table. “It has all the local news. We don’t focus much on the rest of the world here. Everything of importance happens in this valley.”

  “So, you’re telling me Harrow is insular?”

  “Not at all. It’s just that we’ve worked out what is important for us and how we live our lives.”

  There was another strange look on his face, almost quizzical. “I’m sure living and working here has its moments. Perhaps you can tell me about that sometime.”

  “Hm—I’m not sure what there is to tell.” She glanced at her watch. “Oh, crap. They’ll be sending out a search party soon. I’d better get back to work. Thanks for the tea.”

  She jumped up, pushing her chair back. For a while, she’d totally forgotten about the library. The route to the front door took her through the main part of the house. She glanced around surreptitiously, noting the laptop and research books set up on the dining table. That wasn’t all. A vase sat in a central position, featuring deep purple orchids offset with ferny fronds.

  She stopped so abruptly, Daniel nearly bumped into her. “Where did you get those? You shouldn’t have picked them. They’re Musky Caladenia orchids—Australian natives and quite rare, around here anyway.”

  “Don’t tell me I’m in trouble again. I found them on my walk this morning. What’s your interest?”

  Trouble? What did he mean? “My mother used to cultivate orchids and I ended up with her collection. It sparked my interest as well, but not just for those you commonly see in a florist shop. I love finding native specimens and trying to cultivate those as well.”