The Perfect Gift

by Mark Stewart

  NAOMI SLIPPED her arm around the waist of her hero. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”

  “Not a problem. City blokes think, suburban. Out here in the middle of Australia, a man has to think differently.”

  “What would you do if Brandt came from the country?”

  “I’d still win. The only difference being the fight might have lasted a bit longer.” Trent grinned at Naomi’s startled expression. “I’ve one more ride,” he added.

  “I thought when you won the ride on the bull the day was over,” stated Naomi.

  “The day has only just started to warm up,” replied Trent.

  “He wins every event he enters each year, don’t you brother?” said Mitch. “Mark my words, one of these days I’m going to beat you. I’m not far behind you in the bull ride.”

  Trent slapped his brother on the shoulder. “You need to be a little stronger before you can give me a run for the money.”

  Mitch scooped Kaite into his arms, grinning at her surprised expression.

  “My wrestling match is in fifteen minutes. Do you think I’ll win?” probed Mitch.

  “Yes, I do,” replied Trent.

  “You two are typical brothers,” giggled Naomi.

  “We’ll catch up when I’m holding the wrestling trophy.” Mitch wore a wide grin the whole time he carried Kaite to the sign-in tent.

  Trent placed his hands onto Naomi’s hips. After kissing her, he gave a scolded look. “This time, don’t run off.”

  “I’m not going anywhere!” she exclaimed.

  “You said the same thing half an hour ago.”

  “This time, I mean it.”

  Naomi climbed the fence ready to watch the next contest. Trent jumped, clinging to the top railing. Leaning gently against her shoulder he pointed to a fit looking man wearing an oversized wide brimmed hat. He sat heavy on a white thoroughbred horse. Both looked a little anxious.

  “He’s my opposition,” explained Trent. “He’s an expert at roping a cow, quick too. He warned me a month ago I should be practicing. He informed me today I’m going to lose.”

  The man stared at Trent before tipping the brim of his hat. Trent did the same. Naomi surmised the gesture to be only a friendly bush rivalry signal.

  A buzzer sounded. The crowd roared. The contest was over in eight seconds.

  “That was one quick contest,” yelled Naomi over the cheers and clapping of the crowd.

  “To remain champ I have to rope a cow and hog tie it in seven seconds,” confessed Trent.

  “It sounds impossible.”

  “It’s in the bag.”

  Trent jumped from the fence, marched across the arena and waved to the cheering crowd. He blew Naomi a kiss before climbing onto his horse. While waiting for the start, he patted the horse’s neck. He leaned forward whispering something in its ear. He sat straight and glanced at Naomi.

  Trent sent the Judge who held the car horn the nod. The moment the crowd hushed the man pushed a green button. The wooden gates swung open. The cow sprinted off for freedom. Trent and his horse came up from behind. Unclipping the rope, Trent started swinging the loop above his head in a second and a half. Trent downed the cow, hog-tying it in a clean six and a half seconds.

  Naomi stared at the timekeeper who appeared to be starting to shake his head in disbelief.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” he called slowly through the megaphone. “Today you have witnessed history in the making. Trent Stanton has shattered the time he set last year. He has again shown everyone here today why he’s still champion. Put your hands together for Trent and a new record.”

  The crowd cheered which included a standing ovation. A Mexican wave erupted, circling the arena three times before being subdued.

  The man Trent defeated walked over, extending his arm. They clasped each other’s hands making the handshake look to be a little strained. Both stared at each other in the eyes. Neither of the men seemed to want to be the first to look away.

  “Congratulations on a fine ride.”

  “Thanks, Tom,” said Trent.

  “Here’s a friendly warning, wait for next year.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  A second Mexican wave started up, moving around the fenced arena, interrupting the standoff. Both men looked at the crowd at the same time. There were hoots, cheers, yelling and clapping.

  Tom spat in the sawdust. “Don’t forget what I told you.”

  Trent gave him a sharp nod. He stood his ground watching Tom walk off, dusting the bottom of his boots as he went.

  An official marched to the center of the oval, tapping a microphone with his left hand.

  “Everyone, please, a little quiet,” he called raising a hand into the air.

  A whisper quiet quickly descended on the oval.

  “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Trent Stanton on a wonderful exhibition today. Everyone, please give this champion another round of applause as he comes to collect his trophy.”

  Mitch slipped Trent a small box before he started to walk towards the middle of the arena. Trent waved to the onlookers who immediately cheered louder.

  “Speech, speech, speech,” chorused the crowd.

  Trent accepted the microphone and pushed his hand into the air. A young girl in tight blue jeans and a white singlet walked over to present the huge trophy of a gold plated cow mounted on a mahogany coloured board. She gave Trent a kiss on the cheek.

  “Congratulations. When you’re ready to take me on a date give me a call.”

  “Lucky gal,” yelled a middle-aged woman standing next to Naomi and Kaite.

  Naomi sent her an icy stare.

  The woman leaned sideways. “Lucky girl who corners Trent,” she whispered. “If he doesn’t hurry up and choose a wife, I’m going to insist he picks me even if it’s a shotgun wedding.” She stuck her hand out for an outback handshake. “Name’s Vie. It’s short for Violetta.”

  “Naomi,” she replied, taking the woman’s hand.

  Kaite leaned close, whispering in Naomi’s ear. “What I’ve seen of the outback, I’ve decided to leave the city. The Oasis is where I want to spend the remainder of my life.”

  Naomi grinned at feeling the heavy burden magically lift from off her shoulders. Maybe, just maybe her fantasies might come true after all. Only one hurdle remained, and she doubted whether Trent could ever discover what she thought the perfect gift is. How could he, out here in the middle of Australia where education is low? Again she tried to decide on what to do.

  “Kaite, what do you think of Mitch?”

  “He’s a hunk and a half. He sure knows how to push the right buttons.”

  “Have you talked to Mitch about wanting to stay?”

  Kaite pushed the sides of her hair up using her hands. “What do you think?”

  “He asked you to marry him?” quizzed Naomi, her gaze zeroing in on the diamond ring she wore on the finger of her left hand.

  “You bet he did.”

  “When?” questioned Naomi.

  “He asked me before we stood on the hill looking at the cows.”

  “So now I know the meaning of the wrestle?”

  “Yes. Mitch explained to Trent what he’d planned. They were both excited. Their little brotherly talk ended in a family wrestle.”

  “Congratulations. You deserve it. Mitch is a good bloke.”

  Naomi sighed heavily before turning her attention back to the arena so she could feast her eyes on Trent.

  “I’d like to name a few people who need thanking,” bellowed Trent through the microphone. “First, I want to thank the organizers of today and to everyone who has made this annual day spectacular. Twenty years is no mean feat. I love to make a special mention of a wonderful lady. I’ve explained to her I don’t waste words. For the first time, I need to say what’s on my mind. Everyone, please give a warm welcome to the most wonderful lady I know. Naomi Fitzgerald, please come out.”

  Naomi’s face flushed bright red. Her
eyes widened in fear.

  Vie leaned sideways. “I believe Trent’s calling you little darlin’, get out there.”

  “How did you guess?”

  “I didn’t, you just told me. Besides, you’re a pretty little thing. Take no offence when I say you smell like a city chick.”

  Naomi frowned, smelling her clothes.

  “Don’t worry about the smell. One day the country air has a way of changing the smell of city folk. I know what I’m talking about.”

  “If what you say is true, the only way you’d know is if you came from the city. To me, you look like you’ve never been there.”

  Vie gave Naomi a sharp nod and a wink. “Trent’s a waitin’.”

  “Thank you for being so friendly.” Naomi clasped both hands on the top of the wooden railing, heaving her body up and over the fence. Slowly she climbed down the other side. She found Vie smiling at her.

  “You’ll change,” she whispered. “A few years out here, no one will ever know you came from the city.”

  Naomi pushed her head through the gap in the wooden railings. “How long since you’ve seen the city?”

  “A wonderful twenty years.”

  Naomi straightened her clothes. Keeping her gaze glued on Trent she started walking.

  “Slow and steady,” she mumbled under her breath. “I certainly don’t want to embarrass myself further by falling face first into the sawdust.”

  The crowd cheered her on. Naomi suddenly felt a warm feeling shoot through her body from her feet to the top of her head. Naomi felt more special than ever before. She lifted her hand to wave at the crowd which made them cheer louder.

  Trent put his arm around Naomi’s waist before speaking into the microphone. Three hundred people listened to his every word.

  “Naomi, I know we haven’t known each other long,” he started.

  “What are you up to?” she whispered, appearing slightly puzzled.

  “Keep it moving,” yelled Earl Stanton from somewhere over Naomi’s left shoulder.

  Looking at the crowd, Trent continued. “Andy thanks for the information big fella on this so called, ‘perfect gift.’ I have to disagree about your theory it has to be a puppy.”

  The crowd immediately roared laughing.

  Naomi whispered a nervous giggle. Had this cowboy successfully discovered what she called the perfect gift?

  “Please don’t say,” she managed to mumble. “It’s not important.”

  Trent either didn’t hear her, or he ignored what she attempted to say.

  “Naomi Fitzgerald, I believe I have discovered the meaning of the perfect gift.”

  She opened her mouth to whisper the word ‘don’t.’ Not even a squeak developed.

  “‘The,’ means the man. The word gift represents something small; important in a girl’s life.”

  “Go Trent.”

  The yell deep amongst the sea of onlookers sent the crowd into a whispered frenzy. The whole gathering glared at Andy to keep quiet.

  Trent placed the microphone under his arm. Downing his left knee, he looked up into Naomi’s eyes. He reached out, taking hold of her left hand. Using his free hand, he produced a small red box.

  The entire crowd fell quiet. Even the cows stopped moving.

  “Naomi, there is only one thing missing in my life. My dreams will be made into reality if you’d please seriously consider accepting my proposal to be my wife.” He slowly stood. “Before you answer, I believe there are two words yet to be discovered.”

  Naomi started to tremble. Her knees turned from jelly to water. She couldn’t understand why she didn’t crumble to the ground. She wanted to feel Trent’s magic rope tighten about her waist so she could be pulled into his strong, safe arms.

  Trent’s voice broke through her fuzzy thoughts.

  “The middle word of the secret line means you are looking for a man who will surrender his whole heart to just one woman. Naomi, if you’d accept my proposal of marriage my whole heart belongs to you.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO