From her position behind Mal, Savannah tried to count as the sheep pushed through, sometimes two or three at a time. She lost the number quickly.
Mal jotted in his book, closed the gate and opened the one that led to the yard where she and Pam worked on the sheep. He whistled and the dog jumped into the yard with him. The sheep raced forward and were soon ready for their spray and brand.
Savannah gritted her teeth, picked up the spray unit and began squirting sheep again. She didn’t look back but she sensed Mal was watching her. She concentrated on the job at hand, determined to appear efficient.
Finally Mal whistled. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the dog rise from its position in the empty yard and leap over the rails. She glanced behind her. Mal had gone.
“How’s it going?”
She spun the other way at the sound of Ethan’s voice.
“I didn’t realise you were back.”
“Next mob are ready to go,” he said. “I can take over again here, Pam. You go and get smoko. They’ll want you in the shed as soon as the break’s over.”
Pam handed over her gear. Savannah realised the motor that had been running all morning had stopped.
“Don’t take too long.” Pam grinned at her. “You’ve earned some of Barb’s cakes.”
Savannah smiled back. She hadn’t spoken to Pam much but they’d worked side by side well enough. In spite of that she was relieved to have Ethan back. Strange to admit it but she felt more at ease when he was working with her. Perhaps because she didn’t have to pretend she knew what she was doing.
Once they’d done the last of the yarded sheep Savannah followed Ethan to the small room tacked on the side of the shed. Outside was an old concrete trough with a block of soap. A towel hung from a nail. They both washed their hands. His brushed hers as he handed over the towel. His touch sent a tingle up her arm.
“Ready?”
His smile sent her already alert body into a higher state of awareness. Relieved that he had his back to her, she followed him into the shed.
“Barb, this is Savannah,” he said to the only other woman there besides Pam.
“Hello, Savannah.” Barb wrapped her in a warm hug.
“Pleased to meet you,” she said, glad she had the excuse of the welcome for the huge smile that split her face at the sight before her.
Ethan had been right. His mother was dressed in an embroidered cheesecloth shirt worn over the top of loose-fitting pants. Her fading brown hair flowed over her shoulders. Several strands of colourful beads hung around her neck and a long pair of earrings dangled from her ears. The pair of workboots she wore on her feet were the odd things out.
“Sorry I didn’t come over and say hello earlier,” Barb said.
Her face lit up with a warm smile. This was where Ethan got his good looks from.
“I’ve been flat out with the food today. My oven decided to play up this morning.” She waved her hands about as she spoke. “I had trouble milking the cow, nearly lost the whole bucket. Then I found the pig in my vegie patch. Mal needs to fix his pen. Luckily the damn pig hadn’t done much damage before I found him or he might have become dinner earlier than expected.”
“Oh,” Savannah said lamely.
“Tea or coffee?” Ethan asked, unfazed by his mother’s diatribe.
“Tea please.”
“Have you met everyone else?” Barb asked.
Savannah flicked a look around the end of the shed where the men were resting on old chairs and bags finishing their morning tea.
“Yes,” she said. “This morning.”
No sooner had she spoken than some of the men moved off, gathering their belongings as they went.
“Piece of cake?” Barb asked. She held out a flat tin with chunky slices of dark chocolate cake.
“Oh, wow.” Savannah reached in and took a slice. “Thanks.”
Ethan took a piece and started eating.
“Anything else you want?” Barb asked.
“No, thank you,” Savannah said through a mouthful of cake. “This is delicious.”
Ethan shook his head.
The others in the shed began to take up their positions again talking among themselves as they went. Barb started packing up. Across the concrete floor opposite them Mal sat studying his notepad. He didn’t raise his eyes. Ethan stood eating his cake. His mother bustled on one side of him packing away food and his father sat on his other side studying his notepad. Talk about awkward.
Music played in the background. Sheep shuffled and the shearing crew prepared to start again.
“How much longer will shearing take?” Savannah asked Ethan.
“About two more days.”
“And Blake will be okay to come back?”
“He’ll be here this afternoon. You can relax a bit then. Have a look around at the shearing in progress.”
The motor purred to life as the shearers began their work.
“So long as she doesn’t get in anyone’s way.” Mal had stood up and was watching them.
Savannah felt every bit the nuisance he had intended to make her feel. She was grateful Ethan was the only witness. “I’ll get back outside then.”
Behind her she heard Barb’s warning tone as she spoke her husband’s name followed by Ethan’s outburst.
“Bloody hell, Mal, talk about making someone feel welcome.”
Savannah kept walking. The voices faded. She clenched her hands. Damn the old bugger. He had something up his nose.
Footsteps crunched behind her.
“I’m sorry about my father,” Ethan said.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“If it wasn’t for Blake we’d be in the car heading for home right now.”
Savannah turned. Anger burned in Ethan’s eyes. It was him she felt sorry for, not herself. Her parents had died some time ago but when they were alive she had no doubt they loved her. Ethan’s relationship with his parents was very different.
“I can look after myself, Ethan,” she said.
He took a step towards her. The fire had left his eyes. His face relaxed as he bent towards her.
“Ethan …”
Her words were lost in his kiss. His arms gripped her shoulders and pulled her close. Then, just as suddenly he let her go.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“I’m not.” Her brain was telling her she was stupid but her insides were on fire. His lips had been warm and soft and tasted like chocolate.
“When we get home, will you come for dinner?” he asked. “Just the two of us this time?”
“Okay.”
She’d replied before she had time to think about it. Once more her brain was sending her warnings that her body was ignoring.
“I’ve got to mix some more spray,” he said.
He smiled and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her again. He turned quickly and strode away.
She put her fingers to her tingling lips. It was a long time since she’d been kissed like that. In fact, had she ever been kissed like that?
CHAPTER
29
Savannah stared at the river beyond the houseboats. The thick cloud cover meant there wasn’t a lot of moon or star light and yet she was sure she’d seen a light. From Ethan’s deck she had a good view through the trees.
There it was. She turned more to the right but it was gone again. It reminded her of the night she’d seen the light in the distance over the Palmers’ fence. Perhaps she should ask Ethan to take a look.
She took a step. Jasper stood in the doorway watching her.
Savannah sucked in a breath. She stood perfectly still. Her heart thumped in her chest. Why did dogs have this effect on her? Perhaps something had happened in her childhood but there was no-one to ask anymore.
“Ethan,” she called. “Can you come out here?”
She heard a cupboard close in the kitchen then his footsteps across the floor. Jasper came outside with him.
“What’s up?”
“On the river? Could have been a boat.”
“I didn’t hear anything.”
They both watched for a moment but the light didn’t appear again.
“Could have been someone kayaking,” Ethan said and turned on his heel. “Food’s ready.”
Savannah was quick to follow him in case Jasper blocked her path again.
“Have a seat,” Ethan said. “I’ll just put Jasper to bed.”
She took her jumper from her shoulders and hung it over the back of her chair. The dog followed his master outside. She listened to the clatter of claws and the thud of Ethan’s shoes on the wooden steps as they went down. From the river there was the distant sound of a motor, something bigger than the tinnies and speedboats that often went up and down.
She fiddled with the bamboo placemat. They were going to be alone. It had been just the two of them driving home in the car but that had been different. She’d been full of questions about everything she’d seen and done today and there was no way he could kiss her while she was driving.
What had that been about anyway? Was Ethan the type that played any available woman? She hadn’t thought so and yet there had been Belinda at their last dinner. What had gone on there?
He burst through the door. She jumped. The placemat slithered from her fingers and fell to the floor. He gave her a funny smile. She ducked down to retrieve the mat. By the time she was upright he was in the kitchen serving the meal.
“That smells divine,” she said.
“Lamb shanks.” He crossed the room carrying two plates. “Would you like a beer or a glass of red?”
“I didn’t bring anything.”
“My shout.”
“Red please.” It seemed the right thing to choose but it brought an instant vision of Belinda, her arm through Ethan’s, clutching a glass of red in her other hand.
He poured two glasses, turned on some music and sat opposite her.
“Tuck in,” he said.
Savannah hadn’t felt hungry but her mouth watered and she took an eager mouthful.
“Mmm! That’s good.”
“Glad you like it.”
“I can’t believe how much I’ve eaten today.”
“All that fresh air and exercise.”
“I enjoyed it,” Savannah said. “I’d be happy to help again. Are you sure Blake will be okay?”
“He only put in a few hours this afternoon and Barb will make sure he gets a good rest tonight. He should be fine.”
They were silent for a few minutes while they ate.
“Your mum’s a good cook,” Savannah said. “Is that where you get it from?”
“Maybe. I’ve only taught myself since I left the army.”
“Sick of army food?”
“They fed us well. Too well really. Some blokes don’t know how to look after themselves when they leave. I didn’t want that to be me. I eat a lot of fish here but I haven’t had time to catch any lately. I don’t have a very wide repertoire. If it can go in the slow cooker or I can fry it in a pan, I can manage.”
Savannah took another mouthful. What did she say next? She’d never been good at small talk.
“Jaxon said you used to be a fitness instructor.”
She lifted her head. Ethan was studying her across the table. His brown eyes were dark pools in the soft light.
“Yes.”
She hadn’t realised there was only one light on in the kitchen and the light over the table didn’t seem as bright. There must be a dimmer switch but she hadn’t noticed him use it. Music played softly in the background. She gripped her knife and fork tighter and kept eating. What was she doing here?
“I’ve got a small gym set up in my spare room,” Ethan said.
“I don’t use much equipment these days.”
“You like to run?”
“When I can. It’s good cardio.”
“You can’t flex cardio.” He grinned at her.
She looked down. That grin made her stomach flip. She studied his deep green shirt. They’d both gone home for a shower before dinner. He’d changed his farm shirt for a t-shirt that hugged the muscles of his arms and accentuated his well-toned chest.
“It’s a joke.”
She dragged her gaze from his body back to his face. He was looking past her. It was dark outside so she knew he would only be able to see his own reflection in the glass.
“What is?”
“In the FOB there’s a lot of waiting.” He was still focused on something behind her.
“FOB?”
“Everything revolves around the gym.”
“Ethan?”
He was somewhere else. Savannah recognised the look. She’d experienced it herself often enough, reliving a past event while the real world receded.
“Ethan,” she said gently. She reached across the table and placed her hand on his.
He lowered his gaze at her touch then looked directly into her eyes. She saw the pain before the recognition.
“Sorry.” He rolled his shoulders and continued eating. They ate the rest of their meal in silence.
Finally he reached for her plate. “Finished?”
“Yes, thank you. That was delicious.”
He took the dishes to the kitchen. He kept himself busy scraping plates and stacking the dishwasher.
She was curious. There was a hidden side to Ethan. Perhaps something to do with the army.
“What’s FOB?” she asked.
He stopped wiping the bench and looked at her. It was hard to gauge his expression across the room in the dim light.
“Forward operating base.”
Something about the way he said it chilled her.
“I’m sorry I can’t offer any dessert,” he said.
“I don’t need it.”
“Have another wine.”
“It’s late.” She stood up and took her jumper from the back of the chair. “Thanks again for a fantastic meal.”
He crossed the space between them in an instant.
“Sav, please don’t go yet.”
Her stomach flipped at his use of her nickname. It sounded so intimate coming from him.
“I’m sorry about before,” he said. “I don’t know why I was suddenly on another planet.” He shrugged his shoulders. “It has nothing to do with you. I didn’t mean to put you off.”
“You didn’t,” she said.
He took her hand and locked his eyes on hers.
“Stay a little longer,” he said.
She tried to ignore the effect his touch was having on her body.
“It’s been a long day.”
“I know.”
He drew her closer.
“I …”
Her words were lost by his mouth on hers. His lips were warm and soft, his tongue gently probing. His arms wrapped around her, pressing their bodies together. A tingle started in the pit of her stomach and spread with a warming sensation that made her toes curl. The jumper slid from her fingers as she reached around him. She could feel the firmness of his back beneath the softness of his shirt. At the same time she was aware of the sensuous feel of his hands moving over her.
She eased her lips from his. Was this how it had been with Belinda? She looked into his eyes. Could she trust this man? He leaned forward and they were kissing again. Their bodies locked together. She melted in his arms. He dragged his lips from hers and kissed her neck.
“Savannah,” he groaned in her ear.
Suddenly she was aware of the music and Meatloaf’s gravelly I would do anything for love. How many times had she worked out to that music, punching the bag? She pulled away from Ethan. But I won’t do that. The words were loud in her ears. She wasn’t going to give herself to this man, not any man, not again.
“I really do have to go,” she said.
She bent to pick up her jumper. He reached a hand towards her.
“Why?”
His e
yes were pleading.
“We can catch up tomorrow.”
“I’ll be at the farm all day,” he said.
“I’ll cook you dinner.” The words were out of her mouth before she had time to think about them.
His face lit up and he reached for her again.
She turned and fled. She knew if he touched her one more time her resolve would be totally undone. Her heart pounded in time with her feet on the wooden steps. She was a teenager again. Awkward and embarrassed and yet …
She stopped at the spot where she’d climbed the fence between the two properties and looked up at his house. The dim light glowed from the living area windows but there was no sign of Ethan. She shivered. The warmth she had felt in his arms was gone. She climbed the fence and hurried into the shack.
CHAPTER
30
“Watch it!” Mal yelled.
Ethan ducked out of the way as his father urged a mob of shorn sheep through the gate.
“If you’ve got nothing to do, Pam could use a hand clearing the boards.”
Mal turned on his heel and walked back towards the shearing shed. Ethan followed. He’d been daydreaming again and yet he felt a ripple of tension through his body. All day he’d had trouble keeping thoughts of Savannah out of his head. Last night she’d melted into his arms, returned his kisses and then run away. He’d felt her quick departure like a blow to his chest. Had he moved too fast? Did she regret kissing him? Surely not if she’d offered to cook dinner. It created another opportunity for them to be together.
Savannah was an enigma. She was a striking woman yet oblivious of her good looks. She had an injury of some kind but she enjoyed exercise. In spite of her city background she had adapted to the isolation of the river. He didn’t know what to make of her other than he felt the need to be with her. Not as someone just to take to his bed, although he wouldn’t deny he’d relish that, but someone to spend time with in other ways. He felt relaxed when he was with Savannah.
So relaxed he’d drifted off for a moment when they’d talked about exercise. The old joke, “you can’t flex cardio” had taken him back to the FOB and the gym they created to pass the time between trips beyond the wire. Lumps of concrete became weights. They kept fit, trying to outdo each other and forget for a while where they were. Most blokes took up smoking to help pass the time. He’d managed to avoid it. He’d chewed gum until his jaw ached and played patience with the earphones of his iPod jammed in his ears.
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