Riverboat Point

by Tricia Stringer

  Blake’s quiet voice was enough for Ethan to know his brother wasn’t joking.

  “I see.”

  Blake pulled himself up straight. “No, you don’t. You don’t get it at all. You’re happy living the playboy life but I’m not. As much as my ex-wife was a bitch I liked being married. It’s not just the sex.”

  Ethan raised an eyebrow but Blake went on.

  “It’s about companionship and enjoying the same things. It’s having someone to laugh with in the good times and someone prepared to share your troubles at the end of the day.”

  Blake stopped. He was staring off into the distance but Ethan got the feeling it wasn’t the yard full of sheep he was looking at.

  “Fair enough,” Ethan said.

  “Jenny’s the one.” Blake looked him in the face. “I know it.”

  “But she doesn’t think so?”

  “She says she loves me but she loves her job too.”

  “She’s a nurse. I’m sure the local hospital would snap her up.”

  “She’s a trauma nurse. There’s little opportunity for that here.”

  Ethan had already been through this with Jenny, just as Blake had obviously done as well. He tried to lighten the mood.

  “What? You’d keep her busy by yourself without all the other accidents that go on around this part of the country.”

  Ethan’s attempt at humour didn’t take the frown from his brother’s face.

  “It’s not a joke, Ethan. We want to be together but we can’t see how.”

  Ethan didn’t think the pain etched in his brother’s face was just from his physical injuries. It made him think of Savannah. She’d been quiet when he’d gone over on Sunday evening to help her with the two returned houseboats. She’d favoured her left leg more than he’d noticed her do before but she didn’t complain. He wondered what had happened to cause that limp. An old injury she’d said. Perhaps she’d been in pain. Her tetchy side had been out in full force. She’d grumbled something about going back to Adelaide and to hell with Jaxon. It had hit Ethan then that he didn’t want her to go. He could relate to Blake’s predicament.

  “You’ll find a way to sort it out,” Ethan said.

  “It’s easy for you to say. You and your one-night stands.”

  “I don’t do that anymore.”

  “You’re kidding me. What about you and Bel on Saturday night?”

  “She’s harmless.”

  “You reckon? I thought you were in for a big night there.”

  “With Belinda? You’re joking?”

  “No, but it was a shame about the other one. What was her name? Savannah? She was a much better looker. Pretty quiet though. Not really your type.”

  “Only four left,” Barb called from the door of the shed.

  Blake waved. “We’ll be right there.”

  Ethan gave his brother a horrified look. If he thought Ethan was bedding Belinda maybe Savannah had the same thought. That might explain her sudden departure from dinner when he’d badly wanted her to stay. He’d hardly had a chance to talk to her that night. And maybe that’s why she’d been so prickly on Sunday.

  “Belinda’s married,” he said.

  “She sure didn’t act like it.”

  Ethan shook his head. He’d invited Savannah for dinner to get to know her better. He wasn’t the slightest bit interested in Belinda.

  “You’re wrong about me, Blake,” he said. “I do get it. You and Jenny make a good pair. Hell, even Mal and Barb do in their own way. I want that too.”

  And as he said it, Ethan had an idea about managing the next day without Blake.

  “When I’ve got the last lot of sheep in for the day I’ll take over in the yard,” he said. “You and Jenny can head off early. And don’t worry about tomorrow morning. We’ll manage,” he said.

  Blake gave him a funny look.

  “Boys!” Barb’s shout was a replay from their childhood.

  “Coming, Barb,” they chorused.

  CHAPTER

  27

  The sun was still below the horizon when Ethan returned from his short walk with Jasper. He gave the dog some breakfast then took the stairs two at a time. Once again he’d had a restless night and yet he had a spring in his step. When he’d got home last night he’d called in on Savannah. She had agreed to come with him to the farm today. It had taken a lot of talking. He’d had to hint at the “owing him a favour” card, which he hadn’t liked doing. If anyone owed him for helping out with the houseboats it was Jaxon.

  Savannah had been reluctant at first, assuring him she didn’t know one end of a sheep from the other but she’d finally given in. Ethan had seen how quickly she picked up the business of running the houseboats. He was confident she’d get the hang of helping in the shearing shed just as quickly. He liked the idea of working with her.

  He flew around his kitchen taking bites of toast as he went. The slow cooker had been put to lots of use this last week. This time he dropped some lamb shanks on top of onion, garlic and carrots, plugged in a few bits of rosemary then covered it all with beef broth. He tipped in some red wine for good measure and turned the cooker to low. It was only fair that he could offer Savannah a meal when they got home, and tonight it would be just the two of them.

  Car lights shone in his driveway. Jasper barked. Ethan tossed down the last of his coffee and flicked off the house lights. Savannah had agreed to take her car rather than be passenger on the back of his bike. He’d been looking forward to her sitting up close behind him all the way to the farm but the car would be good. At least they’d be able to have a conversation.

  “See ya, mate,” he said as he passed Jasper’s enclosure. “I’ll have some nice bones for you tonight.”

  He opened the passenger door and folded himself into the seat.

  “Good morning,” he said.

  Savannah nodded. “You can push that seat right back,” she said.

  He fiddled around with the lever making room for his legs while she backed out of the driveway.

  “Take us up to the main road and turn left,” he said.

  Once more she nodded and they set off. Light was slowly filling the sky. He could see only a few scattered clouds.

  “It should be a fine day,” Ethan said.

  Again the nod.

  They passed Belinda’s gate and he was reminded of the dinner he’d hosted the other night.

  “I guess the Palmers have gone back to Adelaide by now,” he said.

  “I guess.”

  It was going to be a long drive to the farm at this rate. He glanced across at Savannah. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly and her shoulders were hunched forward, every bit of her focused on the driving. He wondered if she always drove like that or was it having him in the car that made her so tense?

  That reminded him of his pills. He hadn’t taken them in the rush this morning. He’d missed before. One day wouldn’t hurt.

  Savannah stopped the car at the edge of the main road and leaned forward in her seat. Across the road the signpost seemed to have her attention.

  “Worried you won’t find your way back?” he asked.

  “No,” she glanced at him. “Jaxon said there was a J&S Houseboats sign on this post and back at the T-junction. I keep forgetting to have a good look. If the sign had fallen off it might still be on the ground.”

  “It shouldn’t fall off. Those signs are bolted on,” Ethan said as Savannah edged the car out onto the bitumen. “I remember them. They were blue with white writing.” He twisted around to have another look. “They’re both gone, did you say?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s odd,” he said. “Maybe a happy customer souvenired them.”

  “Maybe.”

  Once more Savannah was focused on the road ahead. They travelled in silence. The road stretched out before them. It was so different sitting in a car rather than moulded to his bike. He watched out the windscreen as the thicker scrub gradually gave way to saltbush and lower veget
ation.

  “It’s very desolate out here.”

  Ethan turned his head from the scenery to look at Savannah. Her shoulders were back and colour had returned to her knuckles. She appeared a little more relaxed. Perhaps she was getting used to having a passenger.

  “Station country,” he said. “A long way between neighbours.”

  “This is where you grew up?”

  “We’re not there yet. About another thirty klicks.”

  “Why did you leave?”

  She glanced his way then back to the road.

  “Sorry, none of my business,” she said. “It’s just that I can’t imagine living out here. I thought Jaxon’s place was the back of beyond.”

  “There are plenty more isolated properties than my parents’ place. They’re only just off this highway and ten minutes from town.”

  “And your brother’s farm is close, you said?”

  “As the crow flies. They share a boundary but it’s almost easier to go out onto the highway than to drive over the hills. It’s fine on a bike or if you’re not in a hurry.”

  She went quiet for a while.

  “Explain to me again what you want me to do,” she said.

  “You’ll be spraying the cuts on shorn sheep to prevent infection.”

  Savannah kept her eyes on the road but he could see her knuckles going white again.

  “You’ll have a bottle with a pump and spray nozzle.” He could see her forehead furrow. “Have you ever seen anyone spraying weeds in the garden?”

  She flicked him a questioning look.

  “It’s a plastic bottle you hold in one hand connected with a tube to a spray nozzle. You just have to squirt the cuts. It’s not hard.”

  “Where will you be?”

  “Most of the time I’ll be working beside you. The sheep have to be sprayed for lice and branded. From time to time I’ll have to bring in more sheep. One of the others will come out and take over my job. It will be a bit of a juggle but it should work. Blake will be back by this afternoon.”

  They travelled on in silence. Ethan kept his eye on the range of hills growing steadily larger ahead of them.

  “Not much further now,” he said. “There’s a drum and a sign at the entrance.”

  The sound of the engine changed slightly as Savannah eased back on the accelerator.

  “It’s coming up on your left.”

  She slowed the car to a crawl as she turned from the bitumen onto the dirt track. Ethan couldn’t help glancing in the side mirror expecting to see another vehicle bearing down on them but the road was empty behind them.

  “Drive past the house yard. The shearing shed’s a bit further along on your right.”

  They passed the house just as Ethan’s father let himself out the back gate.

  “If you stop a moment I’ll introduce you to Mal, my father.”

  Savannah did as he asked. Mal walked towards them. Ethan wound down his window.

  “Was hoping you’d be back,” Mal said.

  Good morning to you too, Ethan thought.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” he said instead.

  “Your brother’s deserted us.”

  “Only for the morning.”

  “He should have said he wasn’t up to it. I would have got someone else to help. Too late now.”

  “This is Savannah. She’s going to lend us a hand.”

  Mal bent and peered through the open window. Ethan was suddenly anxious. He didn’t want his father scaring Savannah. She was already edgy.

  “Good morning, Mr Daly,” Savannah said.

  Her tone was firm. It reminded Ethan of when she’d first arrived and had called him Mr Daly.

  “Morning,” Mal said, glaring at her. “You from Riverboat Point?”

  “Next door to Ethan.”

  “You done much sheep work?”

  “Savannah’s a quick learner,” Ethan cut in. “We’d better head to the shed. Catch you over there.” He waved Savannah on.

  “Your father isn’t what I expected,” she said as they moved off.

  “In what way?”

  “The ponytail, the loose shirt, the leather necklace. He looks like he’s stepped out of the seventies.”

  “Wait till you meet Mum. She lives in cheesecloth and is very fond of beads.” Ethan pointed to a row of straggly gums. “Park over there.”

  She stopped the car where he’d indicated and they both got out. He pushed his hat to his head, she tugged on a cap. Short bits of hair poked out underneath. She twisted her head from side to side and rolled her shoulders several times.

  “This way.”

  He started to walk towards the yards. She didn’t follow. He turned back.

  She was staring at the yards. He tried to imagine them as she was seeing them. Old rails coated with strands of wool, empty chemical containers stashed in a corner, the bare ground littered with manure and tufts of wool, no roof overhead. A bit different from her city work environment.

  “Coming?”

  A flicker of concern crossed her face as she met his gaze. She pulled her shoulders back and glanced at the yards again.

  “Show me what you want me to do.”

  He nodded and set off before she had the chance to see the smile creep across his face. Today should prove very interesting.

  CHAPTER

  28

  The sun was hot on the back of her neck. Savannah turned up the collar of her polo top. She’d discarded her jumper shortly after she’d started work. The morning sun had heated the air quickly and although she wasn’t moving around that much, she was warm.

  So far the sunny day was the only positive she’d encountered. The pong of sheep with the dust stirred up by their hooves hung in the air and mingled with the pungent odour of the spray and the sharp smell of the branding ink. The stench was so strong she felt like she was bathing in it. Little black flies crawled over her at every opportunity.

  “Ready for the next lot?”

  Savannah lifted her head to look at the woman next to her. Pam was the wife of one of the shearers. She travelled with her husband and worked as a rouseabout when needed. She worked in the shed and came outside when Ethan was off getting more sheep, like he was now. Pam was very efficient. She sprayed the sheep for lice and painted a brand on their rump in less time than it took Savannah to spray their cuts.

  Savannah had worried when she’d first seen the garish red lines in various spots on the sheep, such a sharp contrast to the shorn white bodies. Ethan had assured her the cuts were superficial and the spray was to guard against infection. After that she’d felt at least she was being useful.

  She squirted the last two sheep.

  “Done,” she said.

  She watched as Pam opened the gate at the end of the long skinny area that looked like a passage between yards.

  “Out you go,” Pam called. Her weathered hands gave the leaders a tap on their rumps.

  Savannah clapped her hands to urge the rest forward. She didn’t like touching them.

  She lurched back as a sheepdog came from nowhere, leapt nimbly onto the rails, crossed the backs of the sheep she’d just sprayed and dropped to the other side. It was enough to urge the last stragglers forward and into the next yard.

  That was another thing she didn’t like. There were two dogs. When they weren’t working they flopped down in whatever bit of shade they could find. Without warning they could appear and work the sheep. It made her nervous. At least there was only one here at the moment. The other was off with Ethan.

  “You’re doing well for someone new on the job,” Pam said. “It’s not rocket science but I’ve worked with a few who had no idea.” She took a swig from her water bottle. “You live with Ethan?”

  “No.” Savannah was surprised at the strength of her reply. “I live next door. Not permanently. Just visiting. Ethan’s helped me with some jobs for my brother so I’m returning the favour.”

  “Oh, I thought he was sweet on you,” Pam ducked her head. �
�My mistake, sorry.” She busied herself with the pot of branding ink.

  Savannah reached down for her own water bottle stashed against the post beside her and took several large gulps of water. If Pam thought she was Ethan’s girlfriend she wondered what the others thought. Maybe his parents had that idea too. Savannah rolled the idea around in her head. What did it matter what they thought? After today she was unlikely to see any of them again.

  She pictured Ethan as he’d looked this morning. The headlights had illuminated him as he’d strolled towards her car. He’d been wearing a brown jacket against the chill of the pre-dawn air. Underneath was a faded blue shirt that stretched across his broad chest and tucked neatly into his jeans. When he climbed in beside her she’d noticed his clean-shaven face. His skin looked so smooth. Such a contrast to his unruly hair. She tried to imagine him in uniform. Soldiers had to have short hair, didn’t they? As soon as he’d shut the door she’d smelled him. What was it about the slight hint of aftershave and scent of fresh male body that had her stomach doing flips?

  “How are you managing?”

  Savannah spun to see Mal studying her from the yard behind. He was tall like Ethan but that’s where the similarities ended.

  “Fine thanks.”

  She hoped her voice carried more confidence than she felt. Somehow she got the impression it was important for her to do well, for Ethan’s sake. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth and put the bottle down by her feet.

  “You doing okay, Pam?”

  “No probs. We’re a good team here.” Pam’s face split in a wide grin and Savannah felt pleased at the older woman’s commendation.

  “It’ll be smoko soon,” Mal said. “You’ll be able to take a break.”

  “No probs,” Pam said. She moved away to do something with the ink bucket.

  Mal lifted his hat and scratched his head. “It’s a long day out here.”

  “I’m good so far.” Savannah stared at him.

  He held her gaze a moment. Savannah thought he wanted to say more. Instead he pushed his hat back firmly and pulled a notepad from his top pocket. He opened the gate in front of him and as the sheep filed into the next holding yard, he counted them. She hadn’t realised that’s what he’d been doing the first time she’d watched him. Ethan had explained it to her.