Exposed: An Anthology

by Brooke Cumberland

  “Asshole needs a bullet right between the eyes. Although, Jackson said you hope he gets fucked in the ass with the rough end of a pineapple and I gotta say, that sounds like more painful than a bullet,” he grins the same cheeky grin as his brother.

  My face heats and I shake my head. “Jeez, does he tell you everything?”

  “Pretty much,” he shrugs, “What can I say? We’re twins – we got no secrets between us.”

  “I get that. Jules and I aren’t twins, but we don’t have secrets. Shit.”

  “What?”

  “Oh, I just remembered I haven’t told Jules about what happened yet,” I say.

  “Jack charged your phone yesterday and saw she’d called and left messages – she was worried – so he called her back while you were sleeping and filled her in. Told her you’d call her when you were feeling up to it,” he explains.

  “Oh, okay. That’s good. I’ll call her a bit later then,”

  “Yeah, we better head off; I’ve got a big muster in the morning. We just stopped by because Oscar heard Jackson talking about your injuries and he had to make sure you were okay. He’s been pestering me to come over here since late yesterday when he got back from Preschool. He’s got a real soft spot for you, Edie.”

  “The feeling is entirely mutual, Jeremy.”

  I wave them off and decide to call Jules. She’s understandably worried and wants to get on a plane and fly back immediately but I manage to convince her it’s fine and she relents, but only after me promising to send her pictures so she can put her mind at ease – she’s got this weird image in her mind of my face being covered in gaping wounds and huge black stitches.

  “I want to get myself thrown in jail so I can be the one to fuck him in the ass with the pineapple, Edie. Fuck, that man is a waste of space,” she hisses.

  I decide now is the perfect time to tell her about the pregnancy because it will get her mind off the incident.

  “So, I have some other news,” I say casually.

  “Do share.”

  “I’m pregnant,” I say, then add a little squeal. Although, my little squeal is drowned out by Jules’ very big squeal. “Oh my god, oh my god! I can’t believe it. I’m going to be an aunty,” she chants.

  “Yep, you sure are. And a godmother,” I reply.

  “Woohoo,” she yells.

  We talk about babies and appointments for a while longer and then Jules mentions something that makes me ecstatically happy.

  “I’ve been thinking, Edie. You know how I told you I slept with my boss and now things are awkward?”

  “Mm-hmm,” I nod even though she can’t see me.

  “Well, I’m going to change jobs anyways so I thought if I’m changing jobs, why not change states as well. I could move to be closer to you. I know you’ve got Jackson and his family and all the new friends you’ve made, but you’re going to need your best friend more than ever now that you’re pregnant, so it makes sense. What do you think?”

  “I think it’s great. When are you thinking of coming? I’ve been thinking of renting a place in town for a while now because I just want something bigger than the cottage, and now with the baby coming I definitely need something bigger, so you can move in with me,” I tell her happily.

  “Sweetie, won’t you be moving in with Jackson?”

  “I don’t think so,” I say hesitantly. “I mean, we haven’t even talked about moving in together, and honestly, this baby is a big enough thing for us to deal with. We don’t need to be rushing everything else in our relationship.”

  “Somehow I don’t think Jackson Henley is the type of guy to let his baby mama live separately from him, especially when he feels the way he does about you,” she utters.

  “Anyways, we can figure all that out later, I can’t wait until you move here,” I gush.

  “Me either. I’ve got to sort everything from my end so it probably won’t be for two or so months. Oh, I’ve got to go, there’s a client here.”

  I end the call and decide to have a quick shower before Jackson gets back and then I can share both lots of good news.

  I’ve just lathered my entire body with my frangipani scented shower gel when I feel two rough calloused hands glide over my soapy hips.

  “Hey,” I say softly.

  “Hey baby. Get my note?”

  “Yeah,” I lay my head back on his shoulder and enjoy the feeling of his hands running over my body. His hand dips between my legs and I gasp softly. His fingers find the slickness between my legs and he growls in my ear then suckles my lobe causing a shiver to run through me. His finger hits the spot and rolls at the same as his other hand does the same to nipple. I moan softly and open my legs wider. I can feel his erection pressing into the small of my back and coupled with the heat of the shower and all my pent up stress, it doesn’t take much for me to fall over the edge. I feel my knees give way and Jackson’s arm tightens around my waist, holding firm against him. I turn in his arms and take his length in my hand. I slide my wrist up and down, swiping my thumb across his sensitive head. I squeeze my fingers and work him harder and faster until he groans and shoots hot come over my hand, up my arm and onto my stomach.

  “Have you heard from the doctor?” He asks as he softly massages shampoo into my hair; taking care to avoid the bruising.

  “Yeah, he rang earlier.”

  “And?”

  “The test results came back positive. I’m pregnant.”

  “Are you happy?” He asks.

  “Yeah, are you?” I answer softly.

  “Fuck yeah, baby, I am. So happy.”

  “Me too,” I smile. “Are you going to tell Jeremy?”

  “Yeah, if it’s alright with you? We don’t keep shit from each other and this is pretty big.”

  “Of course it’s okay. Just make sure he doesn’t tell Oscar or your parents or anybody. Not yet. I just want to have the scan and make sure everything is okay before we shout it from the rooftops.”

  He tenderly takes my mouth, kissing the edge and then sucking my bottom lip gently in between his.

  “Jules rang yesterday. I filled her in on what happened. Told her you’d call her when you felt up to it.”

  “I know. Jeremy and Oscar stopped by earlier and he told me. I already called her.”

  “You tell her about the baby?”

  “Yeah, she’s really excited. She’s moving up here.”

  “That’s great news, darlin’.”

  I rinse my hair and we step out of the shower.

  “I’m going to look for a bigger place in town and I told Jules she could move in with me if she wants to,” I say as I gingerly brush my hair.

  “Come again?”

  “I’m going to look for a bigger place in town and I told Jules she could move in with me if she wants to,” I repeat.

  “I thought that’s what you said. How about you find a place in town for Jules to live in and you move in here with me.” Even though it sounds like a question, it really isn’t.

  “Don’t you think it’s a bit soon to move in with each other? I mean, just because we’re having a baby, doesn’t mean we have to live together. We can do that later if you still want to.”

  “Darlin’ ain’t no fucking way the woman I love and who is pregnant with my child is going to be living apart from me. I don’t care if you move in today or in three months or whatever, but I want you moving in before you get too big and swollen. I want you decorating this place the way you want it and I want you making a beautiful room for our baby in our house.”

  All I got out of that was he loves me. “You love me?” I ask, shocked.

  “Yeah, darlin’, I love you. Been waiting for the right time to tell you,”

  I stay silent. I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe he loves me. I thought he liked me a lot, but never did I imagine that he would love me back. I should tell him how I feel.

  He beats me to talking, “How about if Jules moves into one of the cottages we’ve got on the farm. Wo
uld that make you happy?”

  “Yes.” I didn’t even know there were any unused cottages on the Station. There were three that I knew of, and all of them had workers living them. “She won’t have to live with Burp, will she?” I tease.

  “Not unless she wants to. We’ve got two other cottages that are vacant – I’ll show them to you later. Now, you gonna move in?”

  “Yes,” I agree quietly. “You should know, I love you as well. And not just because you’re letting Jules move onto your property,” I go up on the balls of my feet and kiss him soundly.

  Chapter Nine

  When Jackson said he didn’t care if I moved in that day or in three months, what he really meant was that I was moving in that day. I minded Oscar while he and Jeremy drove in and packed my stuff. Luckily, all they had to pack up was clothing and a few important possessions and photographs. It took them all of about an hour which sucked because I would have liked to have spent more one on one time with Oscar. All we did was sit at the computer screen and watch Thomas the Tank Engine episodes on the internet, but it was still nice and I enjoyed it.

  After the boys got back, Jeremy had to finish getting ready for his muster in the morning, which Jackson was also helping out on and I wanted to be a part of it. The boys agreed, as long as I was in a vehicle and not on a horse or in a chopper. Considering I hadn’t yet learned to ride a horse, I was okay with that requirement but I couldn’t see the harm in a helicopter ride. However, not wanting to argue over it, I agreed to only ride in one of the Utes.

  The muster was fun and much bigger than I had imagined. There were seven workers on horses and two in choppers plus Jackson and I in one Ute, Jeremy and Oscar in another and Burp in another. We moved just over a thousand head of cattle from one side of the property to the other, to a specifically grown feed paddock. Jackson explained the crop would feed the animals so they’d put on alot of weight which would get them more money when they sold them. We camped out overnight and I loved getting to know the Jackaroo’s around the fire we lit that night. They were a mixture of young and old, Aboriginal and white, but they were all a bunch of larrikins who enjoyed nothing more than having a dig at each other and playing pranks. Cookie (whose nickname derives from the fact that she is head cook at the worker’s quarters) is the worst of them all. She’s middle aged and been around these parts her entire life. She grew up in Arnhem Land (an Aboriginal reserve in the Northern Territory) and has worked as a cook on cattle stations for all of her adult life. She’s only forty seven but she looks so much older. From bits and pieces of what she said, I think she’s had a tough life. She’s never been married, but she did have a child when she was young teenager which she left to be raised by the ‘aunties’ on the reserve. She rarely goes into town, preferring to stay on the property and cook all day. The boys joke about how much food she has stored in the freezer, but she just threatens to put cyanide in their next meal so they soon shut up.

  “They know better than to think I’m joking,” she tells me matter-of-factly. “Last fella who give me shit, I put a year’s worth of laxative in his stew. Dickhead was shitting thru the eye of a needle for a week,” she hoots.

  I start laughing because the way she said it and the image I got in my head made it hilarious.

  “How far pregnant are you, whitey?” She asks quietly as we sit around the cackling campfire. All the boys have headed off to their swags, except Jackson who is taking a call over near a tree where the reception is better.

  “Um, I’m not sure-,”

  “Don’t bullshit a bullshitter, girl. I know these things. Can tell. Got good intuition.” She cuts me off, tapping the side of her head.

  “We’re keeping it quiet. We’ve only found out,” I admit.

  “The way that boy’s fussing over you, won’t be under wraps for long.”

  This was true. Jackson has been moddycoddling me constantly. If he could get away with wrapping me in cotton wool, I don’t think he’d think twice about doing it.

  “Yeah, he has been a little over attentive, hasn’t he?” I laugh.

  She laughs along and then turns serious, “He’ll get worse, but it’ll all be worth it when he holds his baby girl in his arms.”

  “Ah, so you think it’s a baby girl?”

  “Don’t think. Know. Just like I knew you were pregnant. I know shit like that. Know you had man troubles and they brought you here and I know you lost your parents. Don’t know how I know, I just know.”

  “You’re psychic?” I ask shocked.

  “Don’t like putting a name on it. I just know shit.”

  “Wow. So do you communicate with spirits or is just an intuitive feeling?”

  “Like I said, I just know shit.”

  O-kay then.

  “So what else do you just know?”

  “Know I better get to bed, otherwise these boys won’t get breakfast cooked for ‘em in the mornin’.” She stands up and looks down at me, “Go easy on him. Let him do what he’s gotta do to take care of you, that other piece he had was bad for him; you’re perfect. Made for each other.” She turns to walk away and then turns back, “Your mother reckons you did the right thing leaving that man – she’s glad you didn’t stick around and live with his cheatin’ like she did with your dad.” My mouth falls open as she leaves without another word.

  Holy shit. Did she really just say that?

  Jackson walks over and sits down where Cookie was sitting. “How’re you feeling, Darlin’? You need anything? You tired?”

  “I’m okay, today was fun.”

  “Yeah, there’s always a good atmosphere on a muster. I’m glad you liked it. After the little one comes, we’ll have to get you learnin’ to ride then you can muster on horseback while me and the little man ride in the Ute,” he grins his cheeky, sexy grin and gently rubs my flat stomach.

  “Little man, huh?”

  “Yep.”

  “Do you want to know what Cookie thought?” I ask smugly.

  “Cookie? Of course she would fuckin’ know. That woman is a bloody psychic. Christ! Did she say something to you about the sex of the baby?”

  “Amongst other things, yes. Is she generally correct?”

  “Generally, no. Always, yes,” he states.

  “I thought as much when she said some stuff about my parents. So, do you want to know what she predicted?”

  “Damn woman. Nah, I don’t want to know.” He shakes his head, and then he adds, “Did she say it was a boy? No, no, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”

  I laugh at his indecisiveness.

  “How old are you?” I randomly ask when it pops into my head that I don’t even know his age.

  “Thirty three, why?”

  “Oh, no reason. It just occurred to me that I didn’t know the age of my baby daddy,” I shrug. Thirty three to my twenty eight isn’t so bad.

  “I’m gonna have you knocked up for the next five years solid,” he informs me assuredly.

  “What?” I turn to him with wide eyes, thinking he’s joking. He’s not. He looks completely serious.

  “I always wanted to have a house full of kids before I got too old. I decided when I built my house that I’d build it big so I could fill it with as many kids as I could manage by the time I was thirty eight.” He explains it to me like it’s the most logical thing in the world. It sounds like how someone would say, “I decided to butter my toast this morning and then spread honey all over it.”

  “Jeez, nothing like a bit of pressure to turn a girl on,” I mutter. You’d think I’d be shocked or even frightened about the possibility of being impregnated for the next five years, but the funny thing is I actually have a similar life dream. I always wanted four children – two boys and two girls. The boys first, close in age and then the girls would come a few years down the track, again close in age. This way, the boys would be able to protect their baby sisters and I would get a few years break in between. Technically, my dream is totally doable – four kids in five years should
be a breeze, right?

  Ha! I probably have this baby and call it quits!

  “You let me take care of the turning you on business, darlin’, you just worry about the pregnancy side of things,” Jackson whispers in my ear seductively. My body’s responsive shiver doesn’t escape his notice. He gives a hearty chuckle then stands and takes my hand to help me up.

  “Let’s get you to bed, pretty lady. Got a big day tomorrow.”

  We spend majority of the next day finishing up the muster and then everyone goes back to their respective houses for showers – we’re all incredibly dusty, dirty and smelly so a warm shower is welcome.

  ***

  The next two weeks fly by as I (at Jackson’s firm urging) attempt to make the house “ours”. My face had all but healed so I managed to go back to work last week. As soon as I arrived for my shift, Skip started grilling me:

  Who did that to you?

  What’s his problem?

  Bastard needs a bullet!

  Did you tell the Police?

  Have you heard any more from the Police?

  Did you manage to at least get a hit of your own in?

  When I answer that I managed to slap him and also knee him hard in gonads, I get this proud response -

  That’s my girl!

  On my days off I manage to spend a bit of time shopping with Ava, who is now my new neighbor. I fill her in on everything regarding Matt and my relationship and she fills me in a little on her history with Jeremy.

  Jeremy and Jackson were a few classes ahead of me at school. Our families were one of the few families in the area that didn’t send their children off to boarding school once we reached high school and because our stations share a boundary fence, I’d had a lot to do with both of them over the years. I always had a major crush on Jeremy – I’m not sure why, because they’re identical twins so it wasn’t like one was better looking than the other. Jackson was always the larrikin; funny, the life of the party, chick magnet – that was him. Jeremy was a bit quieter, still a chick magnet but not as outgoing and cocky as Jackson. The boys always had a girl on their arms. I remember working at the Coffee House and having to serve them as they came in with their dates. A different girl every week. I think if there had been enough girls to choose from, it would have been a quicker rotation than what it was! Well, every girl except me. Neither of them showed any interest in me at all, besides wanting me as a friend. They treated me like one of the guys, and I swear to God that every time Jeremy called me ‘Mate’, it broke my heart a little bit. Anyways, long story short, one day about eight years ago he stated to show a bit of an interest in me. He kissed me and I was over the moon excited. Then I found out something from his past and it cut me to the quick. I’ve tried my best to avoid him ever since.