“I’m happy with that,” she said.
“You just arrived?”
“A while ago. I’m glad to see Blake’s looking better than the last time I saw him in hospital.”
“Barb’s been playing mother.”
“I’ve brought lasagne with me. Blake and I wondered if you’d like to eat with us.”
Ethan looked down at his filthy clothes. Tiredness seeped through him and the last thing he felt like tonight was playing gooseberry with his brother and his new girlfriend. “Thanks, but I’m a bit of a mess. Think I’ll take an early mark and go home.”
She put her head to one side. “I make a pretty good lasagne.”
“Another time I’ll take you up on it.”
“Okay, well at least call in for a coffee. Blake wants to see you before you go.”
“I need to borrow his ute anyway. I’ll be down in a while.”
Jenny nodded and turned away to walk back to the house.
Ethan cleaned up the shed. He’d had to do nearly a day’s work to sort it all out when he started and he liked to keep it that way. Especially while Blake was out of action to mess it up again. He used the degreaser on his hands then made his way past the sheds and down the track to the house. He pulled off his boots and let himself in via the outside laundry door to wash his hands with hot soapy water. They still didn’t come clean.
He looked down at his clothes. Blake never cared about dirt but Ethan wasn’t sure how things were situated with Jenny in residence. He knocked at the back door.
Jenny opened it immediately.
“Since when do you knock at the door?” Blake called from behind her.
“I’m pretty dirty,” Ethan said to Jenny.
“You can have Blake’s grotty chair,” she said. “He doesn’t need it at the moment.”
Jenny held the door for him to step through then went to the kettle.
“Coffee?” she asked.
“Tea please.”
“I’ll have coffee,” Blake said. “I’ve slept half the day away.”
Ethan studied his brother. He still had rings around his eyes and the bruise on his cheek was like a rainbow but the rest of his face showed a better colour. He’d had a shave and his hair was still damp.
“Jenny’s just given me a bath,” Blake said.
Ethan held up his hands. “Stop right there,” he said.
“He’s too broken for anything more than a wash,” Jenny said as she placed cups in front of them. “I’m going outside for a while. I’ve nearly tamed that side garden.” She kissed Blake on the lips.
He gripped her tightly with his good arm and kissed her back.
She eased herself away, picked up some gloves from the bench and let herself out the door.
“Don’t be too long,” Blake called after her. “I’m not totally broken.”
Ethan’s heart sank. He recognised the puppy dog look on his brother’s face. He hoped this Jenny didn’t turn out to be another of his mistakes.
“She’s a good woman,” Blake said, still watching the door Jenny had exited through.
“She seems nice.”
Blake turned back to look at him. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“Do you?” Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“You’re just like Barb. She thinks Jenny will be a dud like the others, but Jenny’s different.”
“I’m sure she is.” Ethan blew on his tea and took a slurp. “I was actually thinking about the harvester,” he said to change the subject. “I’ve ordered some new parts. Should be in town tomorrow and I need a few other things. Can I leave my bike here and take your ute?”
“Of course. You don’t have to ask.”
“Don’t want to leave you stuck without a vehicle.”
“Bit of trouble driving at the moment. My leg’s giving me curry and my arm’s not much better. I’m not supposed to move it much.”
Ethan looked at the bent shape under Blake’s fresh shirt.
“You made a bit of a mess of it this time,” he said.
“Jenny says I’m lucky.”
“You always have been. How many times have you come off that bike and not done too much damage?”
“She’s a nurse. She reckons if it had been a smidge deeper with the burns and grazes on my leg I would be looking at skin grafts.”
“Perhaps you’ll take her advice then and take it easy until you heal.”
“Maybe.”
Blake’s face had taken on a sheepish look. Maybe Jenny would be good for him. Who knew?
“I can keep things ticking over here,” Ethan said.
“Mal’s got shearers next week. He’ll need help.”
“He won’t want me there.”
“He’s got the neighbour’s daughter coming over to help but he’ll need another pair of hands.”
“All he has to do is ask.”
“Or you could offer.” Blake stood up. “Damn it, Ethan, you two are as pig-headed as each other.”
“You know he doesn’t like me being around.”
“That’s not true.” Blake hobbled to the bench then back to the table. He thumped it with the hand of his good arm. “How can I sit around the house when there’s work to be done?”
“Okay, okay, take it easy. I’ll ring Mal tonight.”
Blake locked his gaze on Ethan. “You’ll have to be diplomatic.”
“I said I’d talk to him, all right? Sit down. I don’t want that nurse coming back in here telling me I’m upsetting you.”
Blake’s face broke into a grin and he eased himself back onto his chair. “Did I tell you she’s a good woman?”
“You might have mentioned it.” Ethan stood up. “I’m off. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You can tell me about your chat with Mal.”
“Sure,” Ethan said through tight lips. It was the last thing he wanted to do but he’d do it for Blake’s sake.
“Maybe you should take a leaf out of my book,” Blake said. “Have a shave and wash those long dark locks. You look like a wild man.”
“I’ve been busy.” Ethan turned his back on his brother. Before Jenny appeared in his life it was often Blake who let his personal habits go. Except for the longer hair, Ethan usually kept a neat appearance, another thing he could credit to his army training.
Jenny looked up from the garden as he made his way to the shed where Blake kept his ute. He raised his hand in farewell. Perhaps Blake was right about her. She did come across as a nice person and she was obviously concerned for him. Blake might have found the right woman at last.
Only problem was Ethan was starting to get busy helping everyone else and he wasn’t any closer to finding himself some work. The garage in Burra hadn’t needed him for a while although that would probably change once harvest started.
Then there was Savannah to sort out as well. He’d have to get a list from her of when the boats were going out over the next few weeks. He couldn’t be in two places at once. Perhaps he should try Jaxon again, get him to come home a bit earlier. He’d been a bit vague about his return date.
Ethan backed the ute out of the shed and turned onto the track to the front gate. Suddenly his simple life was looking complicated. He could feel the tension pressing in his chest but he was determined he wasn’t going to go backwards like he had last week. The late afternoon sun was warm through the back window of the ute. He turned the radio on. “Losing My Religion” was playing. He upped the volume, wound down the window and belted out the familiar song.
CHAPTER
15
Jasper gave a couple of sharp barks. Savannah stood up from the table on the front verandah. He sounded close. Could he have got out of the yard Ethan left him in?
The sound of an engine reached her ears. She looked at her phone. It was after four. She’d given up on Belinda and made herself a pot of tea. She was enjoying being on her own now that she’d had people contact in town. It didn’t seem so isolated when you knew there was a community not so f
ar away.
The vehicle came closer. Jasper barked again. Whoever it was had pulled up in her driveway. Savannah made her way along the front of the shack to the carport. A door slammed. A car had pulled in behind hers and was now reversing out again.
“Hello,” a female voice called.
Belinda. Savannah’s heart sank. She’d been enjoying her tea on the verandah and had lost her earlier interest in being sociable with the neighbours.
“Sorry I’m late. Ash wanted help with some gardening. He’ll come back for me later.”
Savannah recalled the neatly groomed Ashton. Her first impression hadn’t pegged him as the gardening type. Nor Belinda for that matter.
Belinda smiled and held up a bottle of sparkling in each hand. “I’ve brought supplies.”
Savannah’s sinking feeling hit the bottom of her stomach. It looked like Belinda was planning to stay quite a while. She’d changed into casual jeans. Her white shirt was a vivid contrast to her deep tan which was complemented by the apricot loose-knit jumper draped across her shoulders. Her neatly brushed blonde hair sat perfectly in a classic bob just above her shoulders with not a strand out of place.
“Come round to the front.” Savannah hoped her own smile looked genuine, thankful at least that she still wore her new jeans and the only decent shirt she’d brought with her. “It’s nice on the verandah.”
“Wow,” Belinda stopped in front of the glass doors. “Jax has certainly made some changes. This used to be a couple of small windows and an old wooden door. Now it’s nearly all glass.”
Savannah slid open the door. “I’ll get some glasses.”
“And the view from here … it’s lovely.”
Savannah turned back. The late afternoon sun still cast a golden light on this side of the river. The other side was full of dappled shadows and the water looked inky. She was growing used to its different moods.
“The trees still give you a little privacy from your boats but Jaxon has certainly cleaned up this yard,” Belinda said. “You could barely see the river at all from here when he first came.”
She walked up and down looking in the direction of the boats.
“Did you see much of my brother?”
Belinda stopped her pacing and turned round.
“We’re not here often and Jaxon was busy but we caught up from time to time.”
Her smile was tight and once again Savannah wondered why someone would inject herself with poison to smooth out a few wrinkles at an age when it shouldn’t be necessary.
“Let’s get this drink.”
Belinda followed Savannah inside and put the second bottle in the fridge. Savannah rummaged in the cupboard for glasses. There were a couple with stems at the back.
“Oh, is this lovely platter for us?”
“Yes,” Savannah said. Glad now that she’d put together some cheese and vegetables on a plate. “I’ll add the crackers.”
“You’ve even got flowers.”
“Faye from the supermarket gave them to me.”
“You’re lucky, I don’t think she gives much away. Runs a tight shop. Still, I guess she has to out here. Wouldn’t be a lot of business.” Belinda turned her back to the flowers. Her piercing gaze swept the room.
“It’s more than the flowers. I can see there’s been a woman’s touch in here. Jaxon was always tidy but dust and must …” She flapped a hand in front of her nose. “It didn’t worry him. I think it’s a boy thing. When we come to our place next door the first thing I do is throw open all the windows. Let in that lovely river air. Ash thinks I’m mad.”
“Do you live in the city?”
“Yes, but it’s always so nice to be here. I wish we came up more often.” Belinda waved the bottle and turned on her heel. “Let’s have this drink.”
Out on the verandah she popped the cork. Savannah picked up the packet of crackers and followed, feeling like she was the guest instead of the host. The glasses were soon filled. Belinda picked one up and gave it to Savannah then lifted the other to toast.
“Here’s to new friends,” she said.
Their glasses clinked together.
“Yes,” Savannah said. She watched Belinda take a couple of mouthfuls before trying it herself.
“That’s very nice,” she said.
“It’s a nice Adelaide Hills sparkling.” Belinda turned the bottle so the label faced Savannah. “I buy it by the case load.”
“Shall I put it in the fridge?”
“It’s not that hot out here now,” Belinda said. “Besides, the top’s off. We’ll just have to drink it.” She took another mouthful.
Savannah sipped hers then put it down. It was delicious. The bubbles exploded in her mouth. She’d have to be careful or they’d soon be exploding in her legs. It didn’t take much to make her wobbly.
She offered Belinda the platter.
“Thanks,” she said and took a tiny sliver of cheese and a carrot stick.
Savannah did the same. They both sat down.
“So, you’ve come from Adelaide to look after Jaxon’s houseboats. Aren’t you a kind sister?”
“I had some time up my sleeve.” No need to mention she’d lost her job and Jaxon had got her here under false pretences.
“Here’s to little brothers.” Belinda raised her glass again and took a swig. “They always need our help, don’t they?”
Savannah smiled and took another sip of the bubbly. Jaxon had only asked for her help as a guarantor, which she was now regretting, and then this help while he was away. Not much really considering they’d lost both their parents at a young age. Still, she’d never asked him for anything. She’d learnt to stand on her own two feet well before her parents’ death.
“Have you seen any movies lately?” Belinda cut into her thoughts.
They chatted on, comparing movies and music they enjoyed until somehow the topic came back to Jaxon and the houseboats.
“Does he plan to be away long?”
Belinda’s tight smile was still imprinted on her face. Savannah felt skewered by her sharp look.
“We’re staying for a while ourselves,” Belinda said. “We could have dinner together.”
“He hasn’t decided on a return date yet,” Savannah said. She didn’t want people to know he had coerced her here and that she didn’t know his plans. “It’s been a bit of a sharp learning curve for me. I don’t know much about boats.”
“Ash is good with boats. He’s got a couple. We both helped Jaxon get started.”
Savannah watched as Belinda refilled her own glass and topped up Savannah’s.
“How do you mean helped?”
“I helped clean but don’t ask me what Ash did. Something to do with pumping out the sewerage tanks and refilling fuel tanks.”
Savannah averted her eyes and took another sip of the sparkling to hide her surprise. Belinda’s fingernails were immaculately groomed and she had rings on nearly every finger. It was hard to imagine her cleaning anything let alone someone else’s mess.
“I hope you don’t mind me saying but I don’t think Jaxon was really sure where to start when he first took on the boats,” Belinda said. “At least I know about cleaning. I can’t abide dust and grime.”
Savannah found herself glancing around the verandah. She’d swept it and brushed cobwebs from the rafters but she wouldn’t want to subject it to close scrutiny. Normally she wouldn’t give a damn what someone else thought about her housekeeping skills but she found herself wanting to impress her new friend. She took a bigger mouthful of sparkling and Belinda filled both their glasses again.
“Only one boat out at the moment?” Belinda stood up and walked to the edge of the verandah.
“Yes.” Savannah cut herself a chunk of cheese and took two crackers from the plate. The sparkling was making her hungry in spite of her big lunch. “The other three all go out on Friday.”
“And you’re doing it all by yourself? That’s amazing.”
“Ethan is helping me.”
“Ethan? Is he the guy from next door?” Belinda came back to her chair.
“Yes, without Jaxon here there’s no-one qualified to show the customers how to drive the houseboats.”
“And yet he went away.” Belinda played with her glass and gave Savannah a sideways glance.
“I guess he knew Ethan would help. He’s done it before.”
“What’s he like?”
“Ethan?” Savannah paused. How would she describe him?
“We’ve had our place several years but we’re not here regularly. We haven’t met him yet. I heard he’s a bit solitary.”
“Perhaps.”
“Word is he’s done service in Afghanistan and doesn’t like people.”
Savannah put her head to one side. It felt pleasantly fuzzy. “He does come across as someone who prefers his own company,” she said. “Not that he’s alone.”
“No?”
“He has a dog.”
“Now that I can understand. Ash has his great lump of a guard dog. Ugly thing but a great animal.”
“Jasper’s huge.”
“Have you come across Gnasher out the back?”
“Not exactly.”
“You wouldn’t want to. Shoot you as soon as look at you. I caught him trying to climb our fence once. Crazy old guy. What with him and this Ethan we’re surrounded by loony war vets.”
Savannah sat back in her chair and thought about that. Ethan did run hot and cold but she wasn’t sure he should be labelled a loony.
“You have a lovely figure.”
She was startled by Belinda’s change of topic.
“You’re shapely with it too,” she said. “Are those boobs real? I hate mine. I’m thinking I’ll go to Thailand next year for a holiday and have a boob job while I’m there.”
“No surgery.” Savannah looked down and wished the same could be said for the rest of her. She couldn’t stand the sight of her damaged naked body but she knew in clothes her figure looked good.
“I find I have to skip meals to keep the weight off,” Belinda said. “How do you keep so trim?”
“Exercise.”
Belinda groaned. “I joined a gym once but I’d come home unable to do a thing for days. The trainer was ex-army. Another loony.”
Savannah chuckled. The bubbles had warmed her body. She felt relaxed. “Why did you join?”
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