Riverboat Point

by Tricia Stringer

  “Is everyone all right?” she asked.

  “Fine.”

  Tick.

  “Where are you?”

  “We camped at Old Man’s Landing last night and we didn’t get far from there.”

  Tick.

  “What’s broken?”

  “The boat’s got power but we can’t steer it.”

  End of ticks. Savannah had no idea what to do about that.

  “We’re making slow progress. One of the lads is a farm boy. Bit of a bush mechanic. He reckons the steering cable’s snapped. There’re two of them down the back using their feet to steer.”

  “Is that safe?”

  “He reckons it’s okay but the girls are getting jittery.”

  Savannah didn’t blame them. She didn’t like the sound of it even though she had no idea what they were doing. What to do? What to do?

  Her first thought was Ethan but she didn’t have his number. They hadn’t needed to phone each other. She had the tinnie but no idea how to start the thing and what good would she be if she could?

  “We’d be happy to keep ambling along like we are,” Tim said. “But a few of the group have to get back by mid-afternoon.”

  Savannah thought about the trip she’d been on with Ethan. Then she remembered Ash’s big speedboat.

  “Is there a place where you could moor the houseboat?”

  “Plenty of spots along this stretch.”

  “See if you can do that. I’ve got a friend with a boat. Perhaps we can ferry you all back here.”

  “That’d be great.”

  “Let’s swap mobile numbers and I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve got it organised.”

  Savannah ended the call and selected Belinda’s number.

  “Hi, Savvie. That was quick. You ready for a drink already?”

  “No,” she said. “I’ve got a problem and I was hoping Ash could help, if he hasn’t left.”

  “Of course, if he can. What’s the problem?”

  Savannah explained. She hated asking but she didn’t have any other ideas. At least if the boat was safely tied up and she could get the people off, she could deal with the rest later. She could hear a muffled conversation then Belinda was back.

  “He’ll come and pick you up in about ten minutes,” she said.

  Savannah ran down to tell Mandy what was happening.

  “Good of him to help out,” Mandy said begrudgingly. “That boat of his will be too big to get close to the bank. You’ll have to wait at the swim deck of the houseboat.”

  Savannah hadn’t thought of that. When they came back and unloaded it would be the same. Tim and his mates would have to transfer everything to the swim deck of Tawarri then carry their gear back to land from there. It was going to be a laborious process but she didn’t know what else to do.

  The deep throb of a large motor drew her attention upriver. Around the bend came the sleek black boat. Savannah watched its approach and gave Ash a small wave as he eased back on the throttle and let his boat glide up to the deck of Tawarri. Mandy helped her aboard and Ash turned the boat in a tight U before Savannah had a chance to sit. She looked back at Mandy staring at them from the houseboat.

  “They’re just upriver you think?” Ash called over his shoulder.

  “Yes,” she shouted.

  He didn’t look quite so Mr Cool today. He hadn’t shaved and his eyes looked bleary as if he’d only recently woken up.

  The boat surged forward at a faster rate. Wind whistled past Savannah. She snuggled back into the comfy seat behind him and ran her hands over the soft smooth covering. Surely it wasn’t leather. In front of Ash’s legs was a small door. There was a big covered space in the pointy front of the boat but she hadn’t realised it was a cabin. At least that might mean more room for luggage.

  She looked up as they passed his jetty. Harder to see the house from this level. They went on around the bend and further up the river. It was the same journey she’d made with Ethan in his tinnie and in the houseboat. It was much quicker in Ash’s boat.

  “Is that them?” Ash pointed ahead.

  Savannah stood up and hung on to the seat in front. There was a houseboat moored near a sandy bank, Riverboat painted on its side.

  “That’s the one,” she said.

  Once more Ash cut back the engine and let his sleek boat glide through the water to the back of the houseboat. He tied his boat securely to the deck.

  “We’re so pleased to see you,” called one of the girls.

  “Sorry you’ve had trouble,” Savannah said. “I hope your holiday was good.”

  “Up till this morning it was lovely.”

  Tim and his mates started handing down luggage.

  “Shall we put some in the cabin?” Savannah asked Ash.

  “No,” Ash snapped. He pulled a smile that looked more like a grimace. “There’s not much room in there. We’ll have to do the best we can with the space out here.”

  They loaded up the three who had to leave first and their luggage. Ash turned the boat and they retraced the journey to Tawarri. Once they were off Ash went back for the next lot alone, it meant more space in the boat and Savannah could keep working while she waited for them to return.

  Ash undid the ropes as soon as the last group were unloaded.

  “Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it,” Savannah called.

  He nodded and locked his gaze with hers. She willed herself not to shiver. His eyes looked cold, like a snake’s.

  “Good to have neighbours you can rely on,” he said. “Belinda said she’ll catch you later.” He lifted his hand in a wave and roared away.

  “That wasn’t quite the ending to our holiday we’d planned.”

  Savannah tore her gaze from the retreating boat and looked at Tim standing on the deck behind her. He’d been in the last group to be ferried back.

  “I’m sorry,” Savannah said. “I’ll have to organise some kind of discount for your trouble.”

  “Don’t bother,” he said. “We had a great time. You’ve never seen anything so funny as two blokes steering a houseboat with their feet.”

  “At least you had someone practical on board who knew what to do.”

  “That’s Angus.”

  He turned and called to the tall bloke in the checked shirt chatting to those remaining from their group.

  “Hello, Angus,” Savannah said. She had to tip her head back to look up at him he was so tall. “Tim says you’re a mechanic.”

  “Not really, but I like to tinker. All that’s wrong with your boat is the steering cable. It’s snapped for some reason.”

  “Sounds bad.”

  “Not really,” he said again. “If I’d had the right gear I could have tweaked it to get us back. Shouldn’t be too hard to fix.”

  “Where would I get one from?”

  “I don’t know around here.” Angus scratched the back of his neck. “I’m not familiar with this area. Try the garage.”

  “Thanks for being so good about it,” she said.

  “No problem for most of us. We’ve got a bit more time up our sleeves,” Tim said. “Just the three who had to get back for work were a bit worried.”

  “All added to the adventure.” Angus grinned.

  She waved them off then hurried to the septic truck. She was getting used to shifting it back and forth. She still did a lot of gear crunching but she only had to move it a short distance. When she finished that she lined up the fuel truck.

  “The boats are all clean inside and out,” Mandy said.

  Savannah looked up from the gauge on the fuel truck. She was refilling the last of the three houseboats.

  “Thanks.”

  Mandy watched her as she stopped the fuel flow and recorded the amount in her phone.

  “You really have embraced the whole job,” Mandy said.

  “Ethan taught me how to do this, otherwise I’d have to be getting him to do it all the time. The only thing I can’t do by myself is replace the gas bottle
s,” she said.

  “Can I help with that?”

  “You’ve done enough already. I’m so glad you could come out. Ethan will help when he gets home.”

  “You’ve mentioned his name a few times today. I’ve seen him around town but haven’t spoken with him. What’s he like?”

  “Nice guy,” Savannah said. Tired as she felt she couldn’t keep the smile from her face.

  Mandy grinned back. “Nice, hey? Nice and handy too, living right next door.”

  “He’s been very kind. If it had been just up to me, Jaxon’s houseboat business would have been sunk by now.”

  “I’d better head off,” Mandy said. “It’s nearly time to collect the kids from school. See you tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Fitness.”

  “Oh yes. I hope I can get there. Will depend on getting Riverboat repaired I guess.”

  “We’ll muddle along if you can’t make it but it’s much more fun with you taking charge of our raggedy bunch.”

  “I’ll try.” Savannah walked with Mandy to her car. “I’ll pay you as soon as I work out that side of things.”

  “Don’t stress. It’ll be a bonus when I get it.”

  Savannah waved Mandy off and immediately turned her thoughts to getting the houseboat fixed. If only she could ring Ethan. No point wasting time thinking about that.

  She remembered the conversation she’d heard in the supermarket between Faye and Terry, the old bloke with the old car. There was a garage in Riverboat Point. Angus said it was easy. If she could get a replacement maybe Ethan could fix it when he got back. She dashed inside for her car keys.

  There was no sign of anyone when Savannah pulled up outside the garage. Ethan had filled her car up from the tank at his parents’ farm after her help with the shearing but she thought she may as well top up again while she was here. She was about to go inside and check what was going on when the gauge finally clicked over allowing the fuel to flow.

  When she walked in to pay there was a bloke behind the counter talking on the phone.

  “Not much I can do about it, mate,” he was saying. “There’s only one of me.”

  Savannah studied him. He looked about forty although it was hard to tell. He wore grease-covered overalls, had an unkempt beard and thick dark hair jammed under his stained brown cap.

  “You’re welcome to take your business elsewhere,” he said and hung up. “Sorry about that.”

  Savannah handed over her card.

  “Savings please,” she said. “I’m Savannah Smith from J&S Houseboats just out of town.”

  He nodded. “Mark Turner.”

  “I’m hoping you can help me.”

  “I’m too busy to scratch myself but go ahead,” he said.

  “I’ve got my own mechanic. I just need a steering cable.”

  “For a houseboat?”

  “Yes.” Savannah felt a surge of hope until she saw him shake his head.

  “I don’t stock much of anything here. It’s a marine shop you need. I can order one in for you.”

  “How long will that take?”

  “If they’ve got one in stock I could have it here before the end of the week.”

  Savannah let out a sigh. She needed the boat to be ready tomorrow.

  “There’s no way to get it any quicker?” she asked.

  “I could tell them it’s urgent.”

  “Can you try? I’ve got a boat that needs fixing and it’s booked to go out tomorrow afternoon.”

  Savannah gave him her details and left him to it.

  At the supermarket she looked over the meat. She’d volunteered to cook dinner tonight. She picked up a pack of steak. With what she had lined up for Ethan she owed him a decent meal. Just for good measure she picked up some beer from the pub.

  CHAPTER

  42

  Ethan climbed the fence from his yard to Jaxon’s. Light shone from the kitchen window. It hadn’t been the best of days. He was bone tired and looking forward to nothing more than some food and cuddling up to Savannah.

  He let himself in the back door.

  “Hello,” Savannah called.

  The air was filled with the smell and sounds of sizzling steak.

  “Mmm,” he said taking her in his arms and holding her close. He looked over her shoulder. “That smells good.”

  Savannah pushed him away to arm’s length.

  “You not so good,” she said.

  “I’ve showered and changed my clothes.”

  “You smell like a garage.”

  “My skin absorbs it. I’ve been up to my elbows in oil and grease several times today.”

  “Sit down,” she said. “I’ll bring you a beer.”

  There was an empty bottle of sparkling and two glasses on the end of the bench.

  “Belinda been over?”

  “Yes,” Savannah groaned. “I relented and had one glass. She can sure tip it down though. She didn’t leave until the bottle was empty.”

  “Went home to her hubby, did she?” He chuckled.

  Savannah had her head in the fridge pulling things out. “I’m ignoring you,” she said.

  He gave her a playful tap on the bum.

  “You can try,” he said.

  She stood up with a sixpack of beer in her hands. A smile played on her lips.

  “Do you have to go back tomorrow?” she asked.

  “No.” He sat at the table. “Are you planning something?”

  “It depends.”

  “On what?”

  “I thought you might be needed at the garage.”

  “I won’t get much work there anymore. They told me today they’ve decided to take on an apprentice.”

  “It was a fair bit of travel for you.”

  Savannah brought over two beers. He popped the tops and they touched them together. Ethan took a long drink from the bottle.

  “It’s work. I need some income. A week here and there at the farm isn’t enough.”

  “The steak’s ready,” she said.

  He watched her buzz about the kitchen. She was being very energetic.

  “How was your day?” he asked.

  “Busy,” she said.

  She put his plate in front of him. Beside the steak she’d served some potato bake. His mouth watered.

  “Help yourself to salad,” she said as she removed the cling wrap from the bowl.

  “What have you been doing besides cooking for me?”

  “Lots of things.” Her reply was vague.

  He took a mouthful of steak. It was pink and juicy. Just how he liked it. He ate a bit more with the creamy potatoes.

  He looked across at Savannah. She’d only taken one bite of her steak and was studying him closely.

  “I know that look,” he said. “What are you planning?”

  “I’m hoping you can help me,” she said.

  “You know I will. Weren’t you able to get hold of Mandy?”

  “Yes. All the cleaning’s done and the refuelling et cetera. Only the gas bottles to swap.”

  “That won’t take long.”

  “That’s not the problem.”

  He put down his knife and fork. She fidgeted with hers.

  “Spit it out,” he said.

  “The steering cable snapped on Riverboat. I had to get Ash to help me get the customers back here.”

  “Where’s the boat now?”

  “Just this side of Old Man’s Landing. I’ve ordered a new cable but it might not be here for a few days. The boat has to go out tomorrow. I was hoping you could fix it for me.”

  “If it’s just the steering cable I’m sure I can.”

  Savannah dropped her knife and fork and flew around the table into his arms.

  He pushed back his chair to make room for her. Her body was warm and soft to his touch. His responded. He nibbled her ear.

  “Let’s get an early night,” he murmured.

  “Good idea.” She eased herself up and gave him a wicked smile. “
Finish your dinner first. You’ll need all your energy.”

  She kissed him. He reached for her but she slipped away to her side of the table. He took another bite of steak. She did the same.

  “You know if I was the paranoid type I’d think someone was trying to sabotage the houseboats.”

  He looked up. She was staring at him. A few wrinkles creased her brow.

  “Steering cables break,” he said.

  “Two signs have disappeared.”

  “Souvenirs of a good time.”

  “Guns being fired.”

  “No-one’s sure what they heard.”

  “No toilet paper.”

  He put his head to one side. “Could that possibly have been human error?”

  “No!” She flicked a piece of lettuce at him. It didn’t make it far across the table. “I’m sure that boat was fully stocked.”

  “Maybe Fred had a toilet paper fetish.”

  Savannah pulled a face. “Don’t go there.”

  She plucked the lettuce leaf from the table and put it back on her plate.

  “Then there was the chair,” she said. Once more she was watching him closely.

  “What chair?”

  “When I hadn’t been here very long one of the chairs on River Magic’s sundeck was positioned to look straight into this room.”

  She had an odd look on her face. He held her gaze, then the implication of her words hit him.

  “You think I might have done that?”

  “Did you?”

  “Of course not.” He was concerned. Surely she trusted him. “Sav, are you being serious about all this?”

  “No and yes.”

  “There’s a reasonable explanation for all of it.”

  “I know … except the chair.”

  “Those chairs get moved about all the time.”

  “But they’d all been together in stacks.”

  “Have you noticed anything different with the chairs since?”

  “No.”

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “Forget about it, Sav.”

  The worry on her face softened.

  “Now you’ll think I’m crazy,” she said.

  “No, I don’t. You’ve just been on a huge learning curve. There’s been a lot of stuff for you to take in.”

  “I hadn’t realised how much it would take.” She pursed her lips. “What do you think about Belinda and Ashton?”