“That’s very good of you but they don’t have to go out again till Friday.”
“It’s going to be a busy week. Blake can’t do much so I’ll be at the farm from dawn till dark.”
Savannah felt her spirits dip. It didn’t sound like she’d see much of Ethan over the next week.
“I’ll have to be back early on Friday if there are boats to go out,” he said.
“Actually, one of them is to go out first thing in the morning. The people will arrive Thursday night ready to set off early the next day.”
“Okay,” Ethan said. He scratched at his cheek. “I’ll see them off before I go to the farm. Who knows, by Friday I might not be needed out there anyway. The shearing should be nearly finished by then.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“It’s not your fault.”
“Nor yours.” Savannah felt her annoyance at Jaxon resurfacing. “My brother’s going to owe us both big time when he gets back.”
Blake hobbled back through the door.
“How’s that food going?”
“Ready now,” Ethan said and took the pot of boiling rice from the stove.
“I think I’m allowed one more beer,” Blake said.
“I’ll get it.” Savannah took a bottle from Ethan’s fridge. She was surprised to see how tidy its shelves were. Lots of containers and jars labelled and stacked neatly.
“Where do you want us to sit?” Blake asked.
“Anywhere you like, big bro.”
Savannah took the beer to Blake.
“How’s the houseboat business going?” he asked.
“Busy.” She watched as Ethan began to serve the meal. “I’m grateful to your brother for all his help. I’ve learnt a lot in the last few days.”
“It’s getting cold out there,” Jenny said as she stepped back inside. Belinda was right behind her.
Ethan brought the bottle of sparkling to the table and a bottle of red.
“Will you join us now, Savvie?” Belinda waggled the bottle.
“No thanks, I’ll stick with my beer.”
“Jenny?”
“I’ve had my quota.”
“Looks like I’ll have to drink the rest myself,” Belinda said and poured herself another glass.
She sat next to Savannah on one side of the table, Jenny and Blake sat opposite. The table was set and a variety of condiments were laid out in the middle. Ethan brought over a pot of rice then the steaming plates of curry and took his place at the head of the table.
“Okay if the wounded bloke has a medicinal red?” Ethan looked past Blake to Jenny.
“Just a small one shouldn’t hurt.”
“I am here you know.” Blake looked from Jenny to Ethan with a smile on his face.
“Anyone else?” Ethan lifted the bottle.
The other two women declined and so did Savannah. She was enjoying herself and two beers were her limit.
They all began eating and complimenting Ethan on his cooking.
“A man who can cook.” Belinda draped a hand over his arm. “Where have you been hiding?”
Savannah felt uncomfortable at her friend’s obvious flirting, first with Blake and now with Ethan. Still, if Ash wasn’t much fun maybe this was how she enjoyed herself.
“It’s very good, Ethan,” Jenny said. “What do you put in it?”
“This one’s beef, of course. I like to start from scratch with all the basic ingredients.”
“I usually resort to a jar,” Jenny said.
“So do I,” Belinda added. “It’s too much like hard work otherwise. What other talents do you have, Ethan?”
“He can half ride a bike.” Blake grinned at his brother.
“At least I can stay on it.”
“No guts no glory.”
“Does Jenny know what a health risk you are?” Ethan chuckled.
“I’ve got the idea.” Jenny gave Blake a gentle nudge.
“Well at least you’ve got your own personal nurse, Blake,” Belinda said, refilling her glass. She took a big mouthful.
“What do you do besides holiday here, Belinda?” Ethan asked.
“Call me Bel.” She leaned closer to him. “All my friends do.”
“So, Bel, when you’re not here what do you get up to?” Blake’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Since my mother died I’ve become my father’s housekeeper, secretary, nursemaid … I’m the family gopher mostly. It keeps me busy. That’s why I enjoy coming to the river so much. I can relax and have fun, make new friends.”
Savannah studied Belinda as she lifted her glass and downed the rest of its contents. It had sounded as if Belinda was bossed around by all the members of her family. No wonder she liked to let her hair down when she was out.
Ethan refilled Belinda’s glass.
“My favourite occupation is fishing,” he said. “I’m happy to sit for hours on my own catching a fish for my dinner.”
Belinda began questioning him about fishing. Savannah and Jenny cleared the plates then brought the cheese platter to the table. Belinda was the centre of attention between Blake and Ethan. She was flirting outrageously and they seemed to take it in their stride. Savannah wondered what Jenny thought about it but she kept chatting to Savannah as if oblivious of the woman dallying with her boyfriend.
Finally Belinda paused. She tipped the last of the bottle into her glass then turned back to Ethan.
“So, you ride bikes. Are they the big ones that throb between your legs?”
She drew out the word throb. Blake burst out laughing. Savannah saw Ethan grin. She looked down at the table. Belinda was really going too far. What would Ashton think if he was here? Savannah was guessing Belinda only misbehaved when she was out alone.
“You’re a dreadful woman, Bel,” Ethan chuckled and stood up. “Anyone for another drink?”
“We should go,” Jenny said. “We’ve got a long drive ahead of us. I’d better get this poor invalid home to bed.”
“Yes ma’am,” Blake replied with a twinkle in his eye.
Savannah stood up. She felt like the party gooseberry.
“I must go too.”
“Aw, Savvie.” Belinda gripped her hand. “The party’s just getting started.”
“I’ve had a big day,” Savannah said. The tone in her voice reminded her of her teenage days when she’d made constant excuses to avoid the parties of so-called friends.
“I’ll drive you.” Belinda wobbled to her feet.
“No, it’s only next door,” Savannah said. She wouldn’t have gone with Belinda even if she had been ready to leave. Savannah took no risks in cars no matter that it was such a short distance.
“Thanks, Ethan.” Jenny kissed him on the cheek.
“See you bright and early Monday, bro.” Blake gave Ethan a playful slap on the back and Savannah saw him wink.
Ethan turned back to Savannah.
“Are you sure you won’t stay for a red?”
He had an odd look on his face, was it pleading? She wasn’t sure. He was obviously having fun with Bel, as she called herself. It wouldn’t matter if Savannah left.
“No, but thank you for the meal and for your help today.”
She turned to go.
“Wait,” Ethan said. “Take the rest of your beers.”
“Keep them,” Savannah said.
“No, please, you should take them.” He hurried to the fridge and returned with the remains of her sixpack, which he pressed into her arms.
“Thanks,” she said.
Belinda looped one arm through Ethan’s and waved a glass of red with the other.
“I’ll catch you next time we’re up, Savvie. Hopefully next weekend.”
The fake smile left Savannah’s face as soon as she turned her back. She pounded down the stairs. Next weekend! By then Jaxon had better be back and she could get herself out of here and off to Adelaide where she belonged.
Married or not, Belinda was after Ethan and he wasn’t exactly kno
cking back her advances. Savannah had seen the wink Blake had given his brother before he left. She bit her lip to stop the hot tears that were forming in her eyes. It had been so long since a man had paid her attention. She’d mistakenly thought Ethan might genuinely be interested in her.
“You bloody fool, Savannah,” she hissed.
Jasper gave a small whine as she reached the ground. She stumbled past Belinda’s car and along the drive into the darkness. The cold night air calmed her a little but she couldn’t stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
CHAPTER
24
Savannah drove past Nell and Bob’s Tea Room but there was a closed sign on the gate. Up the hill she noticed several cars outside a little church. Half the population of Riverboat Point could be there.
She went back to the main street and pulled up by the pub. The front door was open and she could see people inside. They were keen for a Sunday morning. Faye had said the pub made coffee on weekends. Perhaps that’s what they were drinking. Savannah decided to give it a go.
The two men propped on stools at the bar stopped their conversation and looked her up and down. One of them had no hair and not many teeth. He let out a low whistle and the other bloke, who had not much more hair but a lot more teeth, grinned.
“Hello,” they said in unison.
“Hello,” she replied and strode to the bar. She could feel the two sets of eyes watching her.
“You visiting town?” one of the men asked.
“Yes,” Savannah replied.
“Better than what we usually see at the Riverboat Hotel on a Sunday morning,” the other one said then chortled loudly.
A man with a thatch of red hair and a handlebar moustache walked through a doorway behind the bar.
“What can I get you this fine morning?” he asked Savannah. The moustache moved up and down as he spoke.
“Faye at the supermarket said you make good coffee.”
“Sure do.”
“Coffee!” The toothless guy nearly choked on his beer.
“Ignore Alf,” the barman said. “He only drinks beer. Used to even clean his teeth in it.”
“That’s why he hasn’t got many left.” Alf’s mate laughed.
Savannah wasn’t sure whether or not to believe them.
“Can I have a cafe latte, double shot, please?” she asked.
“Coming right up. The wife has just made a batch of banana muffins. Would you like one with your coffee?”
“Sounds good,” Savannah said.
“Cream with it?”
“No thanks.”
“Muffins,” Alf mumbled. “We never get offered muffins.”
“You don’t drink coffee,” the barman said. He sent a shot of steam from the coffee machine. “I’m Bernie,” he said to Savannah. “You just passing through or staying?”
“Staying,” Savannah said. “I’m looking after my brother Jaxon’s place.”
“Ah! That’s why Faye would be looking out for you. Jaxon’s a favourite of hers.”
“Jaxon’s a good young bloke,” Alf spoke over the sound of the coffee machine. “Helped me out once or twice.”
He got off his stool and came towards Savannah with his hand held out.
“I’m Alf and this is me mate, Foss. Very pleased to meet you.”
Foss gave her a one-fingered salute. Alf gripped her hand with his then wrapped his other hand around hers and shook it vigorously.
“Anna, did you say?”
“Savannah.”
“Welcome, Savannah.”
He bestowed an even bigger smile on her, gave her hand a final pat and went back to his beer.
Bernie put the coffee and muffin on the bar in front of her.
“You’re welcome to sit here or the beer garden has a nice view of the river.”
“Thanks,” Savannah said. She handed over her money and gave Alf and Foss a wave. “Nice to meet you. Think I’ll take my coffee out to the sunshine.”
“No worries,” Alf said. “And don’t forget, anything you need just let me know. If I’m not here Bernie knows where to find me.”
Savannah took her coffee and muffin through the door to the outside area jammed between the wall of the hotel and the building next door. There were hanging plants to give the garden effect and street frontage that looked towards the river. She took a seat in the sun and settled back to enjoy her coffee.
She hadn’t slept well last night. She’d tossed and turned until the early hours and then slipped into a deep sleep and had weird dreams. She was looking for Jaxon and every time she thought she’d found him it would be Ethan and Belinda instead. Finally she discovered them in bed together. She woke in a sweat with bedclothes tangled around her and a terrible sad feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Once she was up she couldn’t resist peeking next door. Belinda’s car was gone. All was quiet. No sign of man or dog. Savannah assumed Ethan had slept in. She went for a long run and then, with nothing else to do, she’d decided to drive into Riverboat Point for a coffee.
The sun was warm on her back, the coffee was good and the muffin deliciously soft. She leaned back and closed her eyes. After such a restless night she felt she could almost doze off. If only she could get thoughts of Ethan and Belinda out of her head.
“Excuse me.”
Savannah’s eyes flew open and she sat up.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to give you a fright.”
A woman of about her age stood beside her. She was wearing black trackpants and a polo top that clung to her muffin-top bulges. A scarf around her forehead kept a mass of dark curls away from her face. She had a duster tucked in a back pocket and a dustpan and broom in her hand.
“I’m Mandy Sampson. Are you Savannah?”
“Yes.”
“Bernie said you were out here. I clean the pub. Do you mind if I sit a moment?”
“No,” Savannah said. Not too enthusiastically. She had been enjoying the sunshine and the peace.
Mandy sat in the chair opposite. Up close she appeared a little older than Savannah.
“I heard you’re looking after Jaxon’s place while he’s away and that you’re a fitness instructor.”
Savannah looked around. There was no one but the two of them in the beer garden.
“How did you know all that?” she asked.
“This is a small town. Everyone knows your business. Even if you forget someone else will remind you.” Mandy chuckled. “Before I was pregnant with my last baby they were running a tab in the front bar to guess its birth date, sex and weight. Wouldn’t surprise me if someone was waiting outside our bedroom window as he was conceived.”
Savannah leaned in, her mouth open.
Mandy gave her hand a quick pat.
“Just kidding, she said. “Faye at the supermarket told me you were in to fitness. I was hoping to come out and see you, then Bernie said you were here. It was meant to be.”
Savannah tipped her head to one side and frowned. She couldn’t remember telling Faye she was a fitness instructor.
“Meant to be?”
“I was hoping you might lead our group,” Mandy said. “There’s me and a few other local women who want to get into better shape. Three of us have young kids and a few others are older but not getting much exercise. We’ve formed a fitness group but it’s the blind leading the blind. We manage a weekly walk but the exercises are a bit hit and miss. I’ve cut pictures from magazines but even so, we don’t know if we’re doing them properly. Would you be interested?”
“Interested?” Mandy had spoken so fast Savannah had lost her back at the “blind leading the blind” and she was still trying to figure out how Faye knew about her fitness work.
“In leading our group,” Mandy said. “Being our instructor.”
Savannah stared at the beaming young woman across the table. Her chocolate brown eyes were shining. She was almost buzzing with excitement.
“You want me to be your fitness instructor?”
“Yes.”
Savannah opened and closed her mouth. She pursed her lips and shook her head. She’d left all that behind her. She would have to look for work again when Jaxon came back but fitness instructor was not going to be on her list of possible jobs.
“None of us has much money,” Mandy said, “but we’d be happy to pay you a small fee.”
“I haven’t done anything like that for years.”
“You look in good shape.”
“Well, I work out myself but –”
“We meet twice a week,” Mandy cut in. “Eleven o’clock at the little hall next to the church. Whoever can get there comes. Sometimes there’re only two of us and the most is seven. You’d make eight. We’re not much good at keeping fit but we’re good company.”
“I’ve got the houseboats to take care of.”
“I know that’s busy. I’ve done some cleaning for Jaxon in the past when he’s been busy with electrical work.”
“You have?” Savannah stored that little piece of information away. Cleaning Tawarri had been a huge job. She’d wondered how she would manage if there’d been a much tighter turnaround.
“Just think about it. Everyone needs some time out and keeping fit together is a fun way of doing it.”
Savannah thought of the classes she’d run before the accident. Instructing had been her life. But her life had changed irreparably. She believed there was no going back. Then she thought of Belinda and their impromptu exercise session on the verandah.
“I haven’t instructed for years,” Savannah said.
“Surely it’s like riding a bike? I’ll give you my number.”
Mandy pulled a pad and pen from her top pocket.
Savannah watched her write on the paper then rip it from the pad.
“When Jaxon returns I’ll be going back to Adelaide.”
“I realise that. Even if you came a few times just to give us some pointers it would be such a help.”
Savannah took the page Mandy pushed towards her.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Thank you.” Mandy stood up. “I’d better get back to work. I do hope you can join us. We meet Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
“I’ll check the calendar.”
“Nice to meet you,” Mandy said. She hurried off, picked up a bucket she’d left by the door and went on into the bar.
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