by Camryn Eyde
Justine leaned forward from her perch off-camera.
“Agriculture. Masters actually. She graduated with honours a couple of years ago. Her…” he shook his head. “The knowledge she has, the instinct, it’s incredible. Her professors have been asking her to study on-campus for years. I think they want her to teach.”
“Wow,” Joey heard Justine whisper.
Amber and Joey both glanced at her. Justine cleared her throat and waved her hand. “Continue.”
“She didn’t want to go?” Amber asked.
Joey laughed. “No. She told them to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.”
Amber smiled. “She sounds like a real woman of the land.”
He nodded. “Very much so. Believe it or not, they keep asking her back. They have a doctorate all lined up for her, too.”
Amber’s eyebrows rose. “She’s that smart?”
Joey nodded. “But her life is this place. She was born here. She was raised here. She belongs here.”
“Yet you just told her to leave,” Justine said.
Joey averted his eyes. “She needs to grow up. Get some world experience, too.”
“She’s twenty-four, I think she’s grown up enough, and the world is a cruel place.”
“Why do you even care? You two have been at each other’s throats since you got here, and don’t forget, she just tossed your arse to the dirt and threw you off a water tower.”
“She’s angry, and I jumped with her.”
“She’s always angry.” Joey sighed and stood up from the plaid picnic rug. “That’s her flaw. She’s abrasive. Always.”
“There’s a reason for that.”
Joey’s eyebrows arched and he put his hands on his hips. “Oh? You’re suddenly an expert on my sister? You’ve known her for two seconds, what gives you the right to stick your nose into our family business.”
“Exactly, she’s your sister, so you should have known not to send a complete stranger with her to visit your parent’s gravesite on the anniversary of their death!”
Joey clenched his jaw. Guilt made him defensive. “You know nothing about us.”
“And apparently you know nothing about her. Don’t you get it? She’s trying to protect you from yourself. She’s trying to stop you from taking risks with the lives of these women here…” Justine gestured at Amber. “And the lives of your family and workers. She’s just trying to make sure no one gets hurt.”
“She threw you off a water tower and pushed you into the dirt. Who exactly is she supposed to not be hurting?”
“Will you please listen for once. I jumped with her!” Justine took a breath. “And I hurt her first,” Justine said quietly. Her eyes scanned the horizon for a moment. “In fact…” Throwing her notepads to the lighting man, Justine jogged to her horse. “Follow my notes and finish off the date,” she instructed them. “I have someone to apologise to.”
Joey, Amber and the film crew stood mouths agape watching Justine ride off.
“That was weird…right?” Amber asked him.
“Definitely.” He furrowed his brows and cocked his head. Justine was obviously a glutton for punishment if she was prepared to walk into the bear cave. He scratched his head. Women. He would never be able to understand them.
***
Completing his date with Amber pleasantly surprised at her lack of air-headedness, he went to the office on his return to catch up with all the work Aimee had accused him of neglecting. Months had passed since he went to the city to seek new challenges and new women. Months of time where bills and paperwork had piled up at the property. Months of chores that he’d let slide as he tried to re-evaluate his life.
With a heavy sigh, he opened bills, bills and more bills. Thankful for the good rains last season that funded their investments, he piled the accounts he was grateful he could honour into a tray. Next came agriculture-related correspondence. Invites to open days, field days, and regional shows followed. Saving personal correspondence to last, he organised the letters in piles for Sally’s family, Aimee and for him.
One letter caught his eye. Addressed with gold gel pen, he opened it and his heart sank.
Dear Mr Joseph Turner
You are cordially invited to celebrate
the marriage of
Mr Gregory Chambers
to
Miss Tracey Geraghty
on 4 December
at the sale yards, Roper Creek
Please RSVP by 8 November
“Damn it!” he growled, screwing up the invite and tossing it across the room, narrowly missing Sally, who was walking in with a mug in her hand.
“Jesus, Joe!”
“Sorry,” he muttered.
“What was that in aid of?” she asked, putting the cup on the desk next to her brother and retrieving the crumpled ball. “Oh, Joey,” she whispered when she read it. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “It’s her life. She can marry who she likes.”
“I know, but—”
“Save it, Sal.”
“All right, all right,” Sally said, raising her hands in defence. “Have you seen Aimee? She was supposed to collect Robbie to help with the horses, but I haven’t seen hide nor hair of her.”
Joey sighed and held his head in his hands as his elbows rested on the desk. “She’s probably packing.”
“Packing?”
“She’s going to Armidale.”
Sally’s eyes widened. “What did you do, Joseph?”
“I did nothing, so back off. She assaulted Justine.”
Sally gasped.
“She knows the consequences of violence on my property.”
“Your property? Last I checked, we had equal shares.”
“You know what I mean.”
“No, Joseph, I don’t. We accepted your will to be in this show, but ever since that lot have gotten here, you and Aimee have barely had a civil word to each other. It’s got to stop.”
“Armidale will do her good, Sal. She’s got lots of opportunities there.”
“You better hope that’s the case because you’ll be answering to me otherwise.”
Joey shook his head and glared at the paperwork on his desk.
“Now, how was the date?”
Confused by the change in subject, he said, “Good. Amber is…surprising.”
“Oh? The accountant?”
“Yeah. You knew?”
“Justine mentioned it the other day.”
“She’s doing nursing, too.”
Sally nodded.
“She’s…nice.”
“Pretty too,” Sally said with a smile.
“Yeah, but it’s not just that, you know? After Justine went off on her Aimee-crusade, we just sat down and talked for ages about—”
“Wait. Aimee-crusade?”
“Yeah. She got all moody and took off to find Aimee.”
“I thought you said Aimee assaulted her?”
“Aimee pushed her over.”
Sally’s hands went to her child-bearing hips. “You mean to say you banished your kid sister because she pushed someone over!”
“Yes, but—”
“What were they arguing about?”
Joey worked his jaw as he tried to catch up. “Umm…about Aaron.”
“Aaron?”
“Yeah. Aimee seemed to think he was her boyfriend…I think.” Joey scratched his chin as understanding dawned on his sister’s face.
“I knew it. I knew it. I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
Sally grinned. “I think our little sister is in love.”
Joey scoffed before chuckling. “Yeah, right, whatever.”
Sally just nodded at him.
“What? With Justine? No way, they can barely stand each other.”
“Tell me one time Aimee has ever been jealous?”
“Jealous? Aimee?” Joey chuckled again. “She’s made of stone, Sal. Nothing gets to her.”
“Exactly.” Sally shot him a wi
nk and left the office, leaving him utterly confused.
“Bloody women,” he muttered, shaking his head, having no idea what the point of that conversation was. Picking up the invite Sally had left on the desk, he sighed. There was no way in hell he was attending that wedding, so without further thought, he threw the invite in the bin.
***
She spotted the rider a kilometre out. Contemplating whether or not to stay or run, Aimee sighed. Having exhausted herself with tears she tried not to let out, she shivered in the fading light and decided she didn’t care anymore.
The rider dismounted and walked cautiously over to her. “Mind if I sit down?”
She wanted to snap something snarky like ‘do whatever you like, I don’t give a rat’s arse’, but her throat had closed up and tears were threatening again, so all she could manage was a small shrug. She should have been furious that Justine had been wandering around the property alone, but seeing her offered an unfamiliar comfort that Aimee had only ever found in her siblings. She reminded herself that Justine was the reason she was sitting at the ruins falling apart. Damn it. She was breaking her.
Justine sat beside her and they watched the sun touch the horizon in silence. She rustled in her pocket and handed Aimee a picture. The photo was left hanging for a moment before Aimee exhaled roughly and snatched it from the persistent woman. She hesitated a moment, watching the sun disappear in full, and looked at it. A young boy in glasses and a smile looked back at her. He was wearing a school uniform and had short-cropped blonde hair.
“Aaron. My son,” Justine said.
Aimee’s lungs expelled in a violent shudder, and relief, hope and utter terror shivered through her along with a healthy serving of pain. “Your son?” she barely choked out before she had to turn her head away to scrub at more tears. She clamped her jaw together and squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to rein herself in.
Justine’s hand touched her thigh and rubbed slowly. “He’s nearly thirteen. He’s smart, cute, stubborn and my whole world.”
“I thought…”
Justine sighed and squeezed her leg. “I know. I haven’t really had a chance to tell you about him. We got hot and heavy pretty fast and, well, it’s busy out here. There hasn’t really been a chance to talk about my life back in the city.” Reaching over, she took Aimee’s hand in hers. “I don’t have any sort of significant other. Not since Aaron. You’re the first person I’ve been with for a really long time. A really long time.”
Aimee nibbled on her lower lip as she let that sink in.
“I, uh, don’t have a lot of experience with…this.” Justine gestured between them. “With, umm, women.”
“You’ve never slept with a woman before?”
Justine shook her head.
“Well, if it helps, I couldn’t tell. You’re…” Aimee let out a breath. “Kind of amazing.”
Justine smiled shyly. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about it.”
Aimee gave her a curious look. “How is it you haven’t dated anyone?”
“Being a single mum is rather time-consuming. Being a single mum and riding competitively even more so.”
“Competitively?”
“Equestrian. Dressage. Cross Country. Jumping. I…competed for Australia for a few years.”
Aimee blinked. “Wow.”
“Yeah. I couldn’t have done it without my mum’s support, though. A few years ago I got out of the sport and moved into television. It’s a job that makes me travel a lot, I’m afraid. I used to cover sports events but got a chance at this reality show. Aaron isn’t too pleased that I’m away at the moment. My mother is apparently making him mop floors.”
Aimee turned once again to face the sunset. “I, ah, accidentally overheard you talking to him.”
“And jumped to conclusions?”
Aimee straightened her back. “We never really said this…whatever it is, was exclusive.”
“It is to me.”
Aimee pressed her lips together and nodded, looking down at the hand on her leg. She placed a hand over it and chewed her bottom lip, having no idea how to express the turmoil inside her. Meeting this woman, connecting with her on a physical and emotional level she hadn’t allowed before, sharing the anniversary of her parent’s death, and becoming insanely jealous over what turned out to be a boy, represented a connection she’d never experienced. She was in over her head, and if she was honest with herself, she was drowning a slow but pleasurable death. “So,” Aimee started before clearing her throat. “You have a nearly thirteen-year-old son. How is that possible?” Aimee blinked, realising she didn’t know how old Justine was. “Are you old enough for that?”
Justine nodded. “I had him young. Very young.”
“How young?”
“I was sixteen.”
So she’s twenty-nine, Aimee thought to herself. “And he’s coming to the station?”
“Yes. Mum is driving him out here as we speak.” Justine laughed softly. “He’s always wanted to play cowboy.”
“Can he ride?”
Justine nodded. “Takes after his mother.”
“He’s pushy and annoying, too?”
Justine gave her an offended scoff before pinching her. “Says the most closed-off, difficult woman I’ve ever met.” Justine poked at Aimee’s stomach in jest making her gasp and flinch away. Justine grimaced. “God. Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Aimee said, rubbing at the bruise beneath her clothing.
“May I?” Justine asked, tugging at the shirt.
Aimee huffed out a breath and held her arm out, allowing Justine to tug the shirt free from its confines and lift it. Aimee watched her wince.
“That looks nasty,” Justine said. She gently prodded at the bruise, pulling her hand back quickly when Aimee flinched. “I’m sorry.”
Aimee looked at Justine and smiled. “It’s okay.”
“Maybe Amber should take a look at it.”
“Amber? What on earth for?”
“She’s a nurse…well…almost a nurse.”
“You’re shitting me?”
“Nope.”
“Huh…” Aimee averted her eyes to the horizon. “I’ll be fine. Besides, there’s nothing you can do about ribs. They just have to heal.”
“Sounds like you’ve hurt them before?”
“Once or twice.” Giving Justine a wink, she looked back at the clouds catching the last of the sun’s rays in a shade of brilliant orange.
Reaching over, Justine rubbed the back of her fingers against her cheek. “You don’t always have to be so tough, you know?”
Aimee shrugged. “Who says I am?” Justine’s fingers kept brushing her cheek and Aimee glanced over at her.
“I’d say everyone. You’re very…defensive, I guess. Except when you’re hitting on someone.”
“I wasn’t hitting on you.”
Justine smirked at her. “Well, whatever it was you were doing, I saw a different side to the snarky, independent station woman…if only for a moment.”
“I’m a soft touch for rocky road ice cream.”
Justine arched her eyebrows.
“Not that nameless brand stuff. That’s horrible. I mean that imported ice cream that comes in cardboard tubs. It’s a rare treat, though, because, you know, no corner stores out here.”
Justine smiled and shook her head. “So, if I ask Aaron to procure some of this ice cream you have a fondness for, will you forgive me?”
Aimee grinned at her. “That depends.”
“On?”
“Whether I’m still here or not. If you hadn’t heard, I’m being shipped to Armidale.”
Justine nodded in understanding. “Uni.”
“Yup.”
“Agriculture, so I’m told.”
“Yep.”
“Apparently there’s a brain under that hat, too,” Justine said, tipping Aimee’s wide-brimmed hat off-kilter.
“So they say. Surprised?”
“Pleasantly. Though, judging
by the array of books on your shelf, I shouldn’t be.”
Aimee gasped in mock offence. “You looked through my stuff?”
Justine smiled. “We can’t make love all the time, you know. I had to fill in time somehow, and snooping seemed like a good idea.”
Aimee nibbled at her lower lip again. “We make love?” The question unintentionally acted like a loaded gun and the atmosphere charged itself. Light teasing moved over for serious and raw. Aimee nearly took the question back when Justine’s smile faded.
“I think we do,” Justine breathed, her eyes flicking to Aimee’s mouth.
Aimee licked her lips. “I do, umm, too.”
“I didn’t mean to fall for you,” Justine said, dragging her hands up to cup Aimee’s face.
Aimee shook her head and leant her forehead against Justine’s. “You’re only here for one more week.”
“I know.” Justine’s tongue slipped out to wet her lips.
“You’re a city slicker,” Aimee said after a swallow, and moving a hand to caress Justine’s neck.
“Who knows how to ride and train horses.”
Aimee gave her a wobbly smile before shaking her head slightly. “Our worlds are vastly different.”
“I don’t care.”
“I don’t know how to do relationships,” Aimee said.
“And my son will make this complicated, but Aimee, those things don’t matter. At least, not to me. I’m…” Justine rushed out a breath. “I think that I may have fallen for you. I don’t want to give this up just yet.”
Unable to resist the pull any longer, Aimee closed the gap with a grunt and kissed the woman who altered her senses. Mouth’s moulding against one another as though they were made to fit together, the women kissed away the remainder of the daylight., leaving all the difficult questions to dissolve under the stars.
Chapter Twelve
Aimee woke with a smile on her face and a welcome warmth at her side.
“Morning,” Justine whispered to her.
“Morning.” Moving to drop a kiss on the head of the woman snuggling into her neck, Aimee gasped instead. “Shit.”
“Sore?” Justine asked, raising herself up on her elbow.
“Yeah. Some sexy woman accosted me last night. Forced me to make love to her.”