The Perfect Gift

by Mark Stewart

  TRENT GAVE Naomi the five-cent tour of the large mansion, ending at the bedroom. Before walking to the door, he showed her the location of the soft towel cupboard and the bathroom.

  “Do you want me to wash your back?” he asked.

  “I can manage.”

  Trent backed out of the room, closing the solid wooden door behind him.

  Naomi soaked her mind in the grandeur of the small, exquisite room. Its marble floor, gold tap fittings and the miniature chandelier hanging from the high ceiling looked beautiful.

  “Everything in its rightful place,” she half whispered, stepping out of her wet clothes. She piled them in a corner before standing under the gold-plated shower rose. She stared at the torrent of water falling on her face. ‘Amazing,’ she thought.’ Who’d ever dream of a place like this?’

  The feeling of the piping hot water rejuvenated Naomi’s strength. The hours since meeting Trent started to replay over in her mind. She crumbled to the floor of the shower, sobbing quietly.

  “This hot shower beats the cold fast flowing river,” she mumbled when her crying finally subsided. “I sure am a lucky girl. I could’ve ended up thousands of miles from the Oasis.”

  Feeling totally hypnotized by the warm shower water hitting in the exact center of her head, Naomi failed to hear the knock or the bathroom door opening.

  “Hello, city girl. Can you hear me?” called Trent.

  From the doorway, he could barely see through the fog created by the hot water billowing up from behind the opaque plastic shower curtain. He reached through the gap in the curtain, quickly turning off both taps.

  Naomi squealed.

  Trent retreated to the door before calling again.

  “I’m not finished yet.”

  “You’ve been in the shower so long I thought you drowned.”

  Naomi pushed her head into her hands. “Go away,” she sobbed.

  Trent threw a towel over the shower rail. “Please, get dressed, dinner is ready.”

  “Give me one minute.”

  “I’ll be waiting to escort you to the table,” advised Trent. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Why were you sobbing?”

  Naomi felt too distraught to know where to start.

  “Explain it after dinner.” Trent back stepped, closing the door in his wake.

  After hearing the bathroom door click shut, Naomi whispered. “You are indeed a gentleman, Trent Stanton.”

  Naomi rummaged through the pile of dry clothes he had dropped onto the vanity. She was still brushing her hair when she heard a knock.

  “Miss Fitzgerald, two minutes has elapsed, it’s time for dinner.”

  “I’m ready.”

  Naomi slipped her feet into black boots. Faded blue jeans covered her legs, and a green collar shirt hung from her shoulders. She roughly tied her hair into a ponytail. The moment she opened the door she saw Trent give her a sharp nod. She watched him bounding down the stairs. He stood on the first step leaning against the balustrade looking up; a casual expression plastered on his face. He smiled at Naomi when she started down. Trent held out his arm ready to escort her to the dining room table.

  The Stanton family watched Trent pull the chair back, waiting patiently for Naomi to sit on the red gum seat.

  “Sorry about the clothes,” whispered Trent. “They’re the only things I could find at short notice. I want to add; you look perfect.”

  Naomi’s cheeks took on the look of a dull crimson colour. Inwardly she felt a little embarrassed at all the fuss.

  Mr. Stanton’s wife walked into the room carrying a long pink dressing gown. “Here you are, wear this over your baggy clothes. My son is considerate. He has no idea about women’s fashion. I’ve placed your wet clothes in the machine. The minute they’re washed, I’ll place them in the drier. They should be ready to wear in about three hours.”

  “Thank you.”

  After Mr. Stanton said a short thankful prayer everyone dug into the meal.

  Throughout dinner, Mr. Stanton kept an eye on Naomi and hardly spoke a word at the table.

  After finishing her roast dinner, Margaret Stanton threw her napkin on the table. She stood glaring at her husband.

  “This silence has to stop,” she spat. “Earl, you have to let the Oasis go. Stop trying to keep her. It’s beyond saving. You know there’s nothing you can do. Those cows have to be gone.”

  Earl stood eyeballing his wife. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be in the study.” He turned his back on the group and walked down the hall.

  Margaret Stanton clenched her fingers and punched the air.

  “One of these days I’ll give Earl a jab in the nose.”

  Naomi swallowed her mouthful of food. Looking directly at Mrs. Stanton she spoke seriously.

  “I need to talk to your husband in private. I believe I might be able to help.”

  “Forget your idea,” confessed Trent. “It’s too late.” He stood, walked to the front door and stepped outside onto the verandah.

  Naomi’s shoulders drooped in despair. She quickly decided on a different tact by directing her questions at Earl Stanton’s wife. Surely, she could make some headway by having her on the same side.

  “Why are you getting rid of so many cows? If it’s about leaving the land, there must be a way to stay.”

  Mrs. Stanton started to sob. “There isn’t. Trent’s right, it’s too late.”

  “It’s never too late. I always try to look on the positive side of things. I believe there’s a solution to any problem. It is urgent I speak to Mr. Stanton.”

  “There is no good solution,” croaked Margaret Stanton.

  “There has to be.”

  “After I explain what happened in detail, you’ll understand why it’s too late.”

  Naomi listened to the story, memorizing every word. The moment Margaret finished the tale Naomi walked across the floor. Stepping onto the verandah, she looked for Trent. She found him leaning on the railing at the darkest part of the house. Naomi walked slowly up behind him. The smell of tobacco filled the stagnant air.

  “It’s such a beautiful clear night. The stars look magnificent. You couldn’t count them if you tried,” she whispered from over his right shoulder. “The crescent moon reminds me of a giant banana hanging low in the sky.”

  “It sure does.”

  “Your mum told me everything. I’m so sorry.”

  Trent studied the sky, ignoring the statement. “The stars are nice tonight,” he whispered.

  “You’re making small talk.”

  “I know.”

  “The Oasis is certainly a beautiful place.”

  “After the two weeks are up I suppose you’ll be back in the city.”

  “Yes, at my desk complaining at the lack of help from the office tribe.” Naomi let go of a nervous chuckle. “I suppose Brandt’s fox-like features will see him sniffing around.

  “Foxes are sly animals,” reported Trent. “They sneak around in the dark hoping to find an easy victim.”

  “He’s sly alright. The man fooled, pegged and branded me in one foul swoop.”

  Trent faced Naomi. “No one should take advantage of a deer.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Trent answered her question by reaching out to pat an escaping curl. Naomi felt her knees give way. She groped for the handrail the moment a shiver ran down her back. To disguise her feelings, she closed her eyes and tilted her head upwards towards her hero. Trent lowered his. Naomi wanted the scene to last forever. She wanted to kiss the lips of this handsome outback man like she never kissed a bloke before. She wanted him to take her in his arms. She wanted him to whisk her away to fantasyland. She opened her eyes in time to see Trent leaning closer. She wanted to live at the Oasis. She wanted an uncomplicated life.

  Naomi’s thoughts started to mingle into one massive mess. She looked directly into Trent’s eyes. His warm breath swept her cheeks. He smelt fantastic. His aftershave easi
ly made her fall into a trance.

  A muffled noise at the bottom of the verandah made Trent look up.

  Naomi looked away.

  The scene quickly evaporated into the air then it was gone.

  Trent and Naomi spotted a long furry tail belonging to a fox. The animal glanced at the house, its eyes shining in the lights of the verandah.

  “It’s heading for the chicken pen,” blurted Trent.

  “I suppose you have to go.”

  “Why?”

  “To protect the chickens,” sighed Naomi.

  “Nothing can get to the chickens. The chook pen has a two-metre deep wall of metal sheeting buried around the perimeter. The chickens will be fine. Besides, the young chick right here is more precious. She needs looking after. She’s new to the Oasis. Four-day old chicks are gorgeous. They can’t compare to you, Naomi Fitzgerald.”

  Naomi’s eyes glistened. Tears formed in her eyes. Her cheeks flushed bright red. Trent wrapped her in his arms, looking at her through his azure coloured eyes. She never thought blue eyes could be so enticing.

  Again, they both leaned forward at the same time. Naomi’s and Trent’s lips were almost touching. Naomi could feel his warm breath once more brushing her cheeks. She knew in her spirit something wonderful had already started. This man who lives in the middle of nowhere seemed wonderful. She felt the pangs of love pull at her heart again. The only thing she needed to do was to allow them to invade her world. If she did how could it work? Trent is a man who is different from anyone she’d ever known. He’s the silent type who kept everything inside. She is a city girl, an office worker. Mr. Stanton certainly won’t approve. Naomi quickly decided their love could never be.

  Naomi broke free of Trent’s masculine arms.

  “What happened?”

  He sounded hurt. What had she done? She tried to make sense of her decision. Maybe her destiny lay somewhere else, the city perhaps or maybe she’d grown stubborn over the years.

  Naomi moved away, using her hands to cover her face. “I’m sorry.” She marched to the opposite end of the verandah. Leaning against the railing, she watched Trent looking into the darkness. She saw him glance her way. In seconds, he started walking towards her.

  Naomi moved her focus to her feet. She wanted to escape the confrontation. How could she ever manage to explain her innermost thoughts?

  Trent’s footsteps kept coming. Naomi’s heart wanted them to. The thoughts inside her head said the opposite. She turned her back to look out over the landscape.

  Trent came up behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. She let him massage the crook of her neck and allowed him to wrap his arms around her waist as he stepped in close. She wanted so much to be a part of his life. She wanted to be a country girl, living at the Oasis. How could Trent believe this could be any more than a two-week fling? After all, they lived in separate worlds. Maybe the Oasis isn’t meant to be. Deep down Naomi felt it might be time to move on. Perhaps one day she’d write every one of her thoughts on paper. In her twilight years, she could read about Trent and the Oasis and what might have been.

  “What have you been thinking?” whispered Trent.

  “The cows,” answered Naomi trying not to sound too corny.

  “I can’t see anything from here.”

  Trent pulled at Naomi’s hair tie, allowing her hair to fall. Lifting his hand, he gently moved a handful away from her neck.

  Naomi closed her eyes so she could concentrate on what he might do next.

  The man nibbled at her ear then at her neck.

  ‘Forget the washing machine full of thoughts,’ she decided inwardly. ‘If the Oasis went down she wanted every moment to count.’ Naomi turned around in his arms, facing the cowboy. She thrust her head upwards.

  Naomi heard the front door open. Someone stepped onto the verandah. Both looked up. They saw a match ignite. The smell of tobacco filled the air.

  “Nice night,” called the voice, keeping his head turned so he couldn’t see the couple in a firm embrace.

  “Dad,” called Trent, sounding shocked at being discovered.

  Naomi backed away, her eyes widening in horror.

  “If you have a moment for the job interview, Miss Fitzgerald, I think we should conduct it now.”

  Naomi stood, straightening her long thick dressing gown. “I’m not dressed for an interview.” Flicking her hair behind her ears, she sent him a doubtful look.

  Mr. Stanton waved a stubby hand in the air. “It’s an informal interview.” He stooped pulling his boots from his feet.

  Trent laughed. Mr. Stanton chuckled. Naomi giggled.

  Stanton walked over. “I’m not that bad. Call me Earl. I have to confess I do need an extra pair of hands.”

  “Your wife told me the whole story,” cut in Naomi, watching for his angry expression.

  It never eventuated.

  Earl grunted, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the night sky.

  “How good are you at riding a motorbike or a horse?”

  “I have, to be honest. I’m not an expert at either. I’m a fast learner.”

  “It’s a good start. It’ll be Trent’s job to teach you. There might come a time when you need at least some experience at both. In 48 hours, the first of many trucks will arrive. In four days, all the cattle will be gone. In two weeks, we’ll fly out of here for the last time.”

  “Maybe there’s a way I could help you save this place.”

  “No, there is no other way. The government wants my land. The land they’ll get.”

  “It doesn’t seem fair.”

  “Lass, life isn’t fair. My great-grandfather would turn in his grave if he knew the reason why we’re leaving this place. The government introduced a land tax five years ago, to get me off the land. I am a stubborn man. I’m happy I gave them a run for their money.”

  “Why does the government think this particular piece of land is so important?”

  “They reckon there’s oil or gold under our feet.”

  Naomi’s face turned anger red. “The government can’t force you to leave.”

  “They can. Unless I give them fifty thousand dollars in the next forty-eight hours, the sheriff will be here to evict us.”

  “Do you love this place?” asked Naomi.

  “I’d expect that sort of question from a city girl.”

  Naomi rolled her eyes, repeating the question.

  “Love it,” chorused the two men.

  “Have you made every tax deduction you can?”

  “I don’t accept charity,” growled Earl.

  “It’s not charity,” Naomi exploded. “It’s the law.”

  “I don’t claim deductions. Don’t seem right.”

  “For how many years?” Naomi probed.

  “My entire life,” blurted Earl.

  Naomi brightened. “You’ve entered my world. I’m a tax agent. Lead me to your account books. Let me see what the weather brings.”

  “No way, my office is off limits to everyone except my family.”

  Naomi stamped her foot on the verandah. “You’re a stubborn man alright Earl Stanton.”

  He glared, pointing his finger at her. “Nobody talks to me that way, not even a city girl trying to pass as a bloke for a two-week holiday.”

  “I’m trying to help you save this place.”

  “I don’t need city folk help. They got me into this mess in the first place. I don’t trust your kind. Nobody sticks their nose in my books.” Turning sharply, he walked back inside the house.

  “The way I see it you have no choice. You either let me help, or you’ll lose this lovely place,” called Naomi. By the time, she’d finished talking Earl Stanton had slammed the door shut.

  “How sure are you I have the job?” asked Naomi, looking at Trent.

  “Positive.” He took her by the hand. “Come, I want to show you something.”

  “I don’t have time. I need to convince your father I can help.”

  Trent nodded at his m
other who witnessed the entire scene from the window. The moment Trent led Naomi by the hand down the verandah steps Margaret Stanton moved away from the window.

  “Trent, what about the cows, won’t we bump into any?”

  “No. Years ago, the whole family pitched in to make a cattle grid which encircles the house. It’s a moat which doesn’t need water. The cattle can’t get a firm footing so they can’t jump it. The grid is made up of fifty-millimeter wide metal rollers. Each roller was placed parallel over a ditch about a metre wide.”

  “What a perfectly natural way to stop cows from straying where you don’t want them.”

  “Exactly,” said Trent. “For a city girl, you do catch on quick.”

  “Where are, you taking me? You whisked me away from the house so fast I have yet to stake my case on how I can help save the Oasis.”

  “You’ll get your chance. Before the night turns old, there’s a place I want to show you. It’s a place where we won’t be disturbed by anyone.”

  Walking through the dark, Naomi watched a large wooden two storey shed come into view. In the dull moonlight, its structure looked to be well maintained. Trent slid the door open, escorting his guest to the stairs. He carried her effortlessly to the top, lifting the small trap door in the floor and easily carried her to the window. Trent grabbed a set of keys hanging from a nail then unlatched the long wooden shutters.

  “This is a view worth coming for,” boasted Trent. He opened the wooden storm shutters and stepped out onto a small narrow balcony. “In daylight hours, you can see one-hundred and eighty degrees of the Oasis from right where you’re standing. On the other side of the barn, you can see the other side of the Oasis.”

  Naomi stepped next to Trent, looking skywards. The view took her breath away.

  “The stars are beautiful,” she managed to whisper. “They’re so clear. There’s no possible way you can count them.”

  “Three thousand one hundred and five, to be exact,” insisted Trent.

  Naomi’s eyebrows angled to a point. “Don’t tell me you’ve counted them?”

  His grin stretched wider. “No, I’m kidding.”

  Naomi giggled. “I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight,” she whispered looking at the stars.

  “I have.”

  “Where?” she asked. “Surely you’re kidding again.”

  “I’m looking at her,” hinted Trent.

  Naomi didn’t remove her gaze from the view. Her cheeks reddened. Her whole body tingled at hearing his words. ‘How on earth could the love between them germinate into anything more than a feeling?’ The question overlapped again and again inside her mind.

  Trent stepped back. He held out his hand. “Care to dance?”

  “There’s no music.”

  “What if there is?”

  “I’d think you were forfeiting the bet we made which means I’d win by default.”

  “I’m not concerned over the bet. I planned for you to win all along.”

  Trent pushed a button on the key ring. At first, nothing happened. His hand gently took Naomi by the chin. He lifted her head so they could look into each other’s eyes. He bowed gracefully.

  “What are you up to Trent Stanton?”

  A soft romantic melody started to play from a speaker above their heads. The tune seemed to hover in the still night air. Naomi found herself slowly slipping into a hypnotic trance. Trent stepped close to his dance partner. In silence, they started a slow waltz on the balcony under the countless stars.

  Naomi felt she’d died and gone to heaven. Her mind closed the question on how everything could fit together or even work between her and Trent.

  She felt so light on her feet she thought she might be floating. Every road Naomi looked down in her mind led to love. She didn’t try to hinder the idea. They were waltzing in the middle of Australia, in a barn full of hay, a place where she never expected to find happiness let alone love. She wanted the dance to last forever.

  When the song ended, the two dancers didn’t notice. They swayed in time to the beating of Naomi’s heart. She lifted her head to gaze into Trent’s eyes. They were wet just like hers. He bent his head. Naomi stood on her toes. For the first time, their lips lightly touched. She leaned closer making their lips weld together. Electricity arced between them. The couple stopped swaying, locked in a long passionate, romantic kiss.

  The spark of love quickly roared into a raging fire.

  Trent’s hand easily undid the dressing gown. Naomi, felt it fall to her feet.

  “Excuse me,” whispered a voice so soft the two lovebirds nearly missed the interruption. “Sorry for disturbing the moment.”

  Trent looked sideways towards the trap door. Naomi squealed, sprinting to the edge of the balcony to hide.

  “Mother,” remarked Trent. He didn’t sound upset or surprised.

  “Your father sent me to find you. He has an urgent message.”

  “How did you know we’d be here?”

  “Where else could my son take a young lady for some privacy?”

  “I’m glad Earl didn’t come here,” whispered Naomi, swiping the dressing gown from the floor.

  “Believe me; I almost didn’t convince him to stay in the house.”

  “Thanks,” said Trent.

  “So much for a place where we won’t be disturbed,” mumbled Naomi, raising her eyebrows.

  “Earl told me he didn’t have a choice. He needs your help,” quoted Margaret.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN