Down Outback Roads

by Alissa Callen

  Ewan groaned. ‘Are you sure you don’t need a hand out here?’

  Jordy waved the barbeque tongs at him. ‘Sausages will be ready in ten minutes. That will give you long enough get your hands dirty and for Moira to organise a whirlwind wedding.’

  ‘What I need is a confirmed bachelor sign.’

  ‘Won’t do you any good.’ Jordy’s eyes twinkled. ‘The only way you’d be left alone is if you were wearing a ring on your finger. Both Mikey and Dad think you should make a bee-line for Kree.’

  Ewan fought to keep his expression neutral. ‘They do, do they?’

  ‘And they wouldn’t be the only ones. With the exception of Mrs Jessop, the whole town is brainstorming ways of keeping her here.’

  ‘Well, they can count me out of their plans. I have Tish and the boys to take care of and Kree has her brother. Not to mention that she also has a home in America to return to.’

  Jordy broke eye contact to turn the sausages, but not before he noticed her expression cloud. He shouldn’t have mentioned Tish. Jordy didn’t have a bad word to say about anyone, but there was something about his well-spoken sister-in-law that made Jordy uncomfortable. She never accepted his invitations to visit Marellen, no matter how much Mikey and the boys enjoyed playing together. She’d been born and bred in Glenalla and he could only guess small-town Jordy might feel intimidated around glamorous and worldly Tish. When Tish had first visited Glenalla with Fergus, the younger girls had all aspired to be like her. Even though Tish’s hair colour was natural, bottle-blonde pale hair had become the new trend. He was sure that if Jordy got to know Tish she’d then realise she had more in common with her than she thought.

  Jordy glanced up, her gaze still shadowed. ‘Before I forget, Dad asked me to tell you to keep a close eye on those expensive cattle of yours. He’s heard talk of stock theft further west, and plenty of closed-mouth out-of-towners are passing through.’

  ‘Tell Bill thanks. I’ll keep a careful eye on the UltraBlacks.’

  Ewan turned as someone approached and slapped his back.

  ‘So, you decided to join us,’ Travis said with a smile Ewan was sure hadn’t faded since seeing Tish last night.

  ‘Some of us have farm work to do, you know.’

  Travis grinned. ‘If you weren’t late because you were cleaning your ute, I suppose I can let you off.’

  Beside him, Jordy laughed. ‘It’s looking pretty clean, Travis.’

  ‘What’s this, pick on Ewan day?’

  ‘Not at all,’ Travis said, his grin broadening, ‘I’m making sure you stay level-headed. As soon as you walk through the door you’ll be treated like royalty. I believe Mrs Jessop’s brought a special container filled with lamingtons and a label reading, “For Ewan Mackenzie only”.’

  Ewan scraped a hand over his face. ‘Can I leave now?’

  ‘Not on your life,’ Travis said with a smirk. ‘I’m getting Tish her garden design book from the car and I’ll see you in there. Beth is co-ordinating the stacking of the shelves, Kree is organising the tourist information and Mrs Jessop is on general duties, so I suggest you head straight to Kree and have her allocate you a job.’

  ‘And I’d hurry, too. You’ve now only got five minutes to be busy in if you want lunch,’ Jordy added, amusement threading her words.

  Ewan sighed and headed for the coach house door. He stepped into the bustling building and it was as though all eyes turned to him. Except Kree’s. Dressed in her distracting, snug, hot-pink tee and jeans, she didn’t look up from the box of brochures she was unpacking. As he nodded to people he’d known all his life, he couldn’t shake the impression that the curious eyes were fixing on him then looking towards Kree. He walked in the opposite direction to where Kree was working. It was even more important than ever he stay away from her. If what Jordy said was true, he couldn’t provide fuel for any matchmaking plans or local gossip. Kree deserved to be talked about for all the right reasons. One unguarded smile aimed at her, one unthinking touch, and the rumour mill would go into overdrive.

  ‘Hi, Uncy Ewy,’ Braye said as he ran past with Darby and Mikey, only stopping long enough to quickly hug his leg. A gesture both Darby and Mikey then copied. Across the room, Ewan saw Beth discussing the positioning of shelves on the nearby wall with a group of men holding power tools. This was where he needed to be. But before he could weave his way through the boxes towards them, Mrs Jessop appeared at his side.

  ‘Ewan, I’m so pleased you could make it.’

  ‘Hello, Moira.’ His smile stiffened as Mrs Jessop turned and called to a curvaceous brunette who had her hands full with bottles of Tish’s poppy-seed dressing. ‘Cassandra, leave those now. Ewan’s here.’

  Cassandra nodded but finished arranging the bottles on the shelf. As she approached, Ewan caught a mutinous gleam in her brown eyes. Despite her mother’s plans, Cassandra wouldn’t be rushing down the aisle with him anytime soon.

  ‘Good to see you again, Cassandra.’

  Mrs Jessop’s smile couldn’t stretch any wider. ‘Well, I’ll leave you both to it. You worked so well together at the command post, I thought it was a good idea to pair you off again. Cassandra knows what needs to be done.’

  Ewan watched Moira stride away before meeting Cassandra’s now apologetic gaze.

  ‘Yet again,’ she said with a wry twist of her lips, ‘it seems you and I have a job apparently only the two of us can manage. And just for the record, don’t forget I make the world’s worst lamingtons.’

  ‘It’s fine. We’ll get the jobs done like last time and then make sure we make ourselves scarce.’

  Travis entered the coach house, two sausage sandwiches in his hands. As he approached, he said in a stage whisper, ‘Jordy took pity on you. There’s something you can help her with after all.’

  ‘Great.’ Ewan accepted the sausage sandwiches and passed one to Cassandra. ‘Shall we eat these outside?’

  ‘Good idea. Let’s get as far away as possible from my mother.’

  At the far end of the room, Ewan caught the lift of Kree’s dark head as she stared at him before sending him a brief wave. He stifled the relief that she wasn’t ignoring him after last night, and raised a hand in return.

  After going to the pub to collect another tray of sausages, Ewan sat with Cassandra on the park bench and ate their second sausage sandwich. In front of them, children from the local school played on the equipment while their parents helped inside. Mrs Jessop poked her nose out the coach house door and, upon seeing Ewan and Cassandra sitting close together, gave a cheery flourish of her hand.

  Beside him, Cassandra moaned. ‘I really am sorry.’

  ‘It’s fine. She’s looking out for you, that’s all. You and I both know I’m not your type. Hopefully she’ll work it out soon, too.’

  ‘And pigs fly.’

  ‘She’ll come round, you’ll see. So, how’s your ex’s new girlfriend working out? I take it from you being home, they’re still an item.’

  ‘Yes, they are. But I can’t keep coming to the farm to avoid seeing them together.’ Misery underscored her words. ‘Eventually, I’ll have to face that he’s moved on.’

  Ewan placed an arm across her shoulders and hugged her. ‘He might have worn fancy designer suits, but the man’s got zero taste.’

  She giggled. ‘Thanks.’

  Ewan glanced up and right into Kree’s watchful eyes. She was standing beside Jordy, a piece of bread in her hand, waiting for a sausage. Surprise, and something he couldn’t decipher, raced across her face. Jordy spoke to her and she looked away to answer. Then, without a backward glance at him and Cassandra, she made her way into the coach house.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Ewan and Cassandra completed their allocated task of unloading Beth’s car, which involved many trips outside by themselves. Once the last box of the stock from Beth’s previous shop was ferried inside, Ewan suggested Cassandra read her constant stream of text messages before her phone imploded.

  Ewan gla
nced around for Kree. He needed to explain why he and Cassandra had appeared so cosy on the park bench. But on not seeing her, he slipped out the side door to check if Jordy needed help. Young Fred Webb stood behind the barbeque turning a fresh batch of snags and, going off the high colour on Jordy’s cheeks, Ewan knew his assistance was no longer required.

  Ewan returned inside and again surveyed the organised chaos for Kree. He finally spotted her bright pink tee in the far corner as she talked to Anne. The intensity of her expression suggested her discussion with the local historian and librarian concerned the murals and her father.

  ‘She’s not from around here, but she’s all right, that girl,’ Old Harry wheezed beside him as he, too, stared at Kree.

  ‘That she is.’

  ‘You’d do far worse than her, you know.’

  Ewan chuckled. ‘You’re not becoming sentimental in your old age, are you, Harry? It’s not like you to take an interest in people’s lives.’

  ‘You’re right. I keep to myself. Give me cows over people any day. But …’ Harry’s faded, grey eyes fastened on his, ‘you know you’re not getting any younger.’

  Ewan’s laughter caused Kree to glance at him. ‘Tell me about it. I’m creaking and cracking like I’m a hundred already.’

  ‘You young ’uns, you’ve had it too easy. There was no air-conditioning and no newfangled gadgets to keep a tractor in a straight line in my day.’

  ‘And there’s still no air-conditioning at Yuulong. There’s a reason I only call in for a cuppa when it’s winter.’

  Old Harry’s usually unsmiling lips lifted at the corners. ‘See, what did I tell you? You young ’uns have no ticker.’ His brief smile vanished. ‘Take it from me. You need someone to grow old with. I never spoke up when I had the chance, and my girl married another man.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Harry.’ Ewan’s tone sobered. ‘I didn’t know you had someone. Dad always said you were a confirmed bachelor.’

  Harry’s bent shoulders shrugged. ‘Take it from me, life doesn’t always play fair.’ He gazed at Kree as she finished talking to Anne and made her way out the back door. ‘So, don’t waste any chances, son.’

  With a pointed look at Ewan and then at the back door, Old Harry shuffled away.

  In his peripheral vision, Ewan saw Mrs Jessop head his way. If Mrs Jessop reached him, he’d never get a chance to talk to Kree. He crossed the coach house in four strides and ducked out the back door.

  Kree stood, hands on hips, staring at a series of oversized wooden panels, lined up against the fence. She quickly turned as he approached. Fatigue had sapped her face of colour and smudged dark bruises beneath her eyes. He’d seen her look bone-weary before, but for the first time since she’d arrived on Australian soil, shutters descended over her expression, keeping him at bay.

  He’d got what he’d wished for. The brakes had been applied to the attraction between them. So, why then was loss lancing through him?

  ‘How’s it going, Kree?’

  Even his formal and stilted question felt all wrong.

  ‘Good. The morning’s been a huge success. Everyone’s worked so hard and we’ve achieved so much.’ Her lips briefly tilted in a tired smile. ‘Thanks for coming and also for braving Mrs Jessop.’

  ‘No worries.’

  An uncomfortable silence fell between them.

  ‘Are these the boards for your bushranger mural?’

  ‘Yes. They’re made out of high-quality plywood designed for the outdoors. Now they’ve been sanded, I’ll prime them and then they will be ready to be painted on. Once the mural is completed, they’ll be attached to the side of the tin building flanking the park. When people walk into the park, to their right will be the coach house and directly to their left the mural. Other murals can then be painted on the smooth walls of the main street buildings. Actually …’ She threw him a quick glance. ‘I’ve a favour to ask.’

  ‘Ask away.’

  ‘I need somewhere large and clean, with light and power, to paint in.’

  ‘The man-cave. That’s fine.’

  This time the look she cast him lingered. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes.’ He rubbed his tense jaw. ‘Kree, about me and Cassandra … She’s split with her city boyfriend and I was trying to make her laugh, that’s all. I’m really not her type, and more to the point, she’s not mine. I’m sorry if you got the wrong impression.’

  ‘You don’t need to explain. It was good to see you having fun. I’ve also been doing some thinking about what you said last night.’ She stepped forward to adjust the position of a board and he lost sight of her face. ‘You’re right in saying there can be no future for us, but not because you aren’t worthy of having a relationship. We both have others relying on us and their needs and welfare must come first. So, now I agree, it is for the best we part as friends.’

  Tish gazed around at the transformed coach house. The once dusty and empty building was now filled with colour and energy. To her left a glossy, cherry-red coffee machine sat on the counter in the café corner. Beside the counter gleamed the refrigerated, glass-fronted cabinet designed to display muffins and other sweet treats. Next to the cabinet stood a set of wooden shelves on which large glass jars would sit, filled with the lollies from Beth’s old store. The boys were already planning what flavours they would buy.

  Travis had painted a portion of the wall behind the coffee machine with blackboard paint and soon the selection and price of the hot menu items would be listed. For now, the space sported an ornate and colourful chalk ‘thank you for helping’, drawn by Kree and the boys.

  Round wooden tables and seats were clustered slightly away from the counter to allow a quiet place to sip coffee and to read the array of information brochures shelved on the wall. Across from the tables, a thick red mat marked the children’s play corner. Two matching red tubs were filled to the brim with toys and books. Braye and Darby had each donated three books from their bookshelves. Tish walked over to the section of the tourist centre dedicated to gifts, souvenirs and local produce. She halted in front of her bottles of poppy-seed dressing and tomato chutney, which had pride of place on a top shelf.

  ‘They look great, Tish,’ Travis said as he stopped beside her.

  ‘Thanks. It was a team effort. The tomatoes I used for the chutney were from the plants you sent over.’

  Travis’s gorgeous smile caused her toes to curl. Since she’d arrived at the working bee, he’d rarely left her side. After last night’s laughter-filled dinner, it was as though the final awkwardness between them had dissolved.

  ‘Speaking of plants, I’ve put your garden design book near your bag. Now might be a good time to start on the park garden plan?’

  Tish nodded. But as she looked through the open front doors to where volunteers were mingling around the still-sizzling barbeque, she changed her mind. ‘Maybe we should wait until the sausage sizzle is finished. Then we can have the park to ourselves?’

  ‘Okay. Then how about you come and eat? Jordy’s doing a great job with the sausages.’

  ‘Thanks, but I’m not hungry. I could do with a coffee, though.’ Tish glanced towards the coffee machine. ‘I can’t wait to learn how to use that thing. Beth said she’d hold barista lessons next week for anyone interested in volunteering until the coach house can afford to employ regular staff. I said I’d be there.’

  ‘Good idea.’ Travis paused. ‘If Ewan was busy, you could drop the boys in to me, if you’d like?’

  ‘That’d be great. The boys would love it. Ewan has told them stories about the tree house his father built in the red river gum. Is it still there?’

  ‘It sure is. But I’ll check none of the floorboards are rotten before the boys visit.’

  ‘Thanks. Maybe I could arrive a little earlier and you could show me your veggie garden?’

  ‘I’d like that.’ He inclined his head towards the kitchen. ‘Come on, I’ll make us a coffee.’

  Darby and Braye charged in through the front d
oor. Despite their red caps shading their faces, both had rosy cheeks from playing in the park. They slid to a stop before her.

  Tish looked between Darby and Braye. ‘Have you both been drinking from your water bottles?

  Their two heads bobbed in unison.

  ‘And you ate all of your sausage sandwiches?’

  Braye nodded and Darby shook his head.

  Tish had learned early on that hunger made Braye cranky and short-fused. She always made sure he stopped long enough to eat and drink. She’d also learned that when it came to food, Darby was extremely fussy.

  ‘Well, there are snacks in the basket near my handbag in the kitchen, if either one of you gets hungry.’

  Both gave her a quick hug and flashed a grin at Travis before running outside.

  ‘They’re having so much fun,’ she said as she and Travis continued into the kitchen. ‘If only my mother could see this is where they belong.’

  ‘She will.’

  Tish collected two coffee mugs from her basket and set them on the bench. ‘I don’t know if she ever will understand why I can’t return to the city.’

  ‘What about your father? I thought the two of you got on well.’

  ‘We do, but we don’t talk much. When I was little, we used to go to the park and eat ice-cream when Mum thought I was at dance lessons. But the older I grew, the more Dad shut himself in his library. And I can’t blame him.’ Tish sat on top of a box near the kitchen doorway. ‘My mother’s exhausting. He’d spend his work day defending others, only to come home and have my mother dispute everything he’d say. I think he’s simply worn out.’

  ‘So has your mother confirmed when she’s arriving?’

  Travis flicked on the electric kettle and the busy hum filled the small room.

  ‘It was going to be in a week but she called last night and left a message with Pru that it will now be tomorrow.’

  ‘That soon?’

  ‘Yes. I think Ewan had plans to organise a fishing trip with you to avoid her, but now she’s coming tomorrow, he’ll have to be here.’

  Travis chuckled. ‘I take it their mutual dislike hasn’t mellowed.’