The Falls

by Cathryn Hein

  ‘So it seems.’ Teagan took a moment to tame her thoughts which were running rampant again thanks to that wink. ‘You probably shouldn’t have asked me along today. I’m likely ruining your business.’

  ‘Nah. It’ll just make me look more unattainable. Women love that.’

  She laughed and rested her head back. ‘God, you’re conceited.’

  ‘What? You don’t have fantasies about men you can’t have?’

  ‘None of your business.’ But she softened it with a teasing ‘wouldn’t you like to know’ tone.

  ‘Shame. I wouldn’t mind knowing your fantasies.’ The cheeky wink he followed that with left her insides skipping and a warm flush blooming across her skin. Then he refocused on the road and turned serious. ‘I’m just trying make the most of things while I’m still young and fit. There’ll come a point later on when I won’t be able to do this anymore. My back will have gone or I’ll have suffered an injury. It happens a lot in my profession. I may as well make the most of it while I can. Tomorrow I might be stuffed.’

  ‘Then what would you do?’

  ‘I’d make things.’

  Intrigued, Teagan shifted around from the window to look at him properly. ‘What sort of things?’

  He tapped his necklace. ‘Things like this. Other stuff, too. Home-decorator pieces. Garden sculptures. The margins are great and if things get slow I could go back to doing bigger ironwork. Commission projects. Like I did for Vanessa with her gates.’

  ‘That’s your work?’

  ‘Uh-huh. That’s how I got to know her. She wanted someone to design gates for the farm. Bunny knew I had my own forge and put her in touch.’

  ‘I didn’t realise.’ The admiration in her voice was sincere. Lucas had real talent. ‘They’re amazing. Really beautiful.’

  ‘Thanks.’ He caught her gaze for an extended moment before looking away, but Teagan saw the genuine pleasure her praise had brought and was surprised by how much it thrilled her. That despite her inner darkness she’d created something lovely in someone else. ‘There’s a living to be made if I can get a name for myself.’

  ‘I bet. Would you miss the horses at all?’

  ‘Yeah, but I can always get one of my own. Anyway, by then I’ll probably be married, have kids. Maybe they’ll want to ride.’

  ‘You have it all worked out, don’t you?’

  ‘Not really. I’ve yet to find a girl who’ll take me on.’ His expression left her unsure if he was serious. It seemed unfathomable that Lucas Knight would struggle to find anyone to fall in love with him, yet his mouth had a grim tilt and his gaze seemed to hold a distant edge.

  ‘Come on, you have women throwing themselves at you the moment you open your door.’

  ‘They’re not exactly the right girls.’

  ‘Then what constitutes a right one?’ The moment the question was out itchy heat began to crawl up her neck. It made her sound like she wanted to be the right girl, when that was stupid. Sure, Teagan could do with a friend, but anything else was beyond her, the pool incident notwithstanding. Lucas was only playing games anyway.

  He didn’t seem to notice her discomfort. ‘Someone who takes me for who I am inside and doesn’t spend all day blowing smoke up my arse. Someone who doesn’t mind a bit of dirt under their nails or on me.’ He flicked a glance towards her head. ‘Red hair.’

  ‘Not skinny.’

  ‘Not skinny would be good. You women are weird about your weight. Most of the time you think you’re too fat when the truth is blokes like something to grab hold of. Bums and boobs and other fleshy bits.’

  Eyes narrowing, she angled closer. ‘Are you sure you aren’t secretly in love with my aunt?’

  ‘Nah. I’m ageist, remember?’

  Teagan laughed and sat back to stare once again out at the surroundings. Lucas had explained that most of his work was to the south and north. Unlike when he first started, these days he had only a few clients in the valley. The demographics had changed. A lot of city people had bought land and built large houses hoping to enjoy a tree change. Wealthy retirees abounded along with urban types like Callum with money and no children, and an urge for a country retreat. Even Bunny’s business had altered focus, from livestock and horses to mainly small animals.

  In the Wilmington Valley south of The Falls, where the land was less rolling, racing yards, a few studs and equestrian centres flourished. The fences were treated or painted timber. Glossy-coated animals grazed on well-managed pastures, the paddocks protected with windbreaks and dotted with steel shelters.

  This was the sort of place Teagan had expected Ness to live in. Her aunt was glamorous, independently wealthy and well-connected. Hanging with stud owners and famous racehorse trainers seemed far more her than an underutilised farm in a hidden valley beset with eccentric villagers.

  Although glancing at Lucas, she could see the appeal. Dom was extremely good-looking, too. In fact, they almost looked alike. Both tall, with dark-blond hair and blue eyes, and skin that took on a tan instead of freckling. Lucas, though, was huge in comparison, and with his big scarred hands, rumbling voice and easy laugh, much earthier. Dom was all lean metro polish and smooth talk, careful of every word he uttered. Clever with his manipulative language and hypnotic gaze.

  Their next stop was a miniature horse stud owned by a gentleman called Peter Somersby, who had to be the campest man Teagan had ever encountered. He practically minced across the yard towards the ute, arms open wide to Lucas in greeting.

  ‘Lucas, you sublime creature. You’re so good to me!’

  For an awkward moment, Teagan thought Peter was going to kiss him. Then he spied Teagan. He tucked in his chin, and, with a waggle of his finger, he admonished Lucas with a pouty ‘you naughty boy’ look before prancing his way towards her.

  ‘And who is this adorable girl? Don’t tell me you found yourself a redhead at last?’

  ‘This is Teagan Bliss,’ said Lucas. ‘Vanessa’s niece.’

  Peter clapped. ‘The glorious Vanessa! How utterly wonderful.’ He appraised Teagan with appreciation. ‘Aren’t you a pretty thing. But one would expect that. Such good genes.’

  Peter held out a floppy hand towards her. Teagan took it, trying to smile above the awful limp-wristed shake.

  ‘I cannot express how jealous I am of you, dear.’ He clutched his hands together under his chin. ‘Oh, to be able to stroke that divine body!’

  ‘Give it a rest,’ said Lucas, but his tone was amused.

  Peter sighed and rolled his eyes. ‘He has no idea what he’s missing. Such a waste.’

  Recovered from the onslaught of rampant affectation, Teagan grinned.

  With a wink, Peter minced off towards the end of the stables.

  ‘Don’t pay any attention to the gay act,’ said Lucas. ‘Peter’s worked in theatre all his life. He can make you believe what he wants.’

  ‘So he’s not gay?’

  ‘Dunno. He might be bi. But with two ex-wives and four kids he’s definitely not averse to having sex with women.’

  ‘So . . .’

  ‘His way of testing how judgemental you are. Plus he loves acting. I came here once when he was in rehearsals for Othello. Suddenly, he starts quoting Shakespeare, something about dying upon a kiss. Next thing I know he’s stabbed himself. Scared the crap out of me. I was on my knees dialling Triple Zero and he starts laughing. I could’ve stabbed him myself.’

  As Lucas spoke, Peter led a tiny horse, not much bigger than Saffy, out of the end stable.

  ‘Bloody hell,’ she said. ‘It’s like a dog.’

  ‘Unfortunately, not quite as good-natured,’ said Lucas quietly. ‘But Peter adores his horses.’

  Peter beamed at Teagan. ‘This is Marielle Maison, my best mare.’ He ran a perfectly manicured hand down the tiny horse’s tufted mane. ‘Isn’t she a treasure?’

  ‘Mmm,’ said Teagan, unsure how else to answer. What the hell were you meant to do with it? She let the horse sniff her fingers before rubbing a
t the tiny white star on her forehead. ‘Are they for children to ride?’

  Peter’s hand flew to his chest, eyes bulging in indignation. ‘They’re not toys!’ He gave a sniff. ‘They’re stud animals of the highest breeding. I would never let an irresponsible child near one of my darlings.’

  ‘O-kaaay.’ Teagan looked at Lucas, but he was enjoying the exchange far too much to help her out. ‘So . . . not to be difficult, but what are they for?’

  ‘For connoisseurs, of course. Equine aesthetes like myself.’

  ‘Teagan’s a horse girl,’ said Lucas, finally taking pity on her. ‘Show horses.’

  ‘Was. I had to sell my horse, sadly.’

  At the news Peter was all sympathy. ‘Oh, you poor sweetheart. I would simply die if I had to give up any of my darlings.’

  ‘How many do you have?’

  ‘Six. My stallion, Barnabas, three mares, Chester – the gelding who was my first mini and got me hooked – and a young filly I recently purchased from another breeder.’ His expression turned soppy. ‘My babies.’

  ‘Right,’ said Lucas. ‘Best crack on.’

  His predictions about the tiny horse’s manners proved correct. Thoroughly spoiled by her owner, the mare skittered and danced, and even sank her teeth into Lucas’s arm when he tried to pull her leg forward to work on the toe of her near fore hoof, the reason they’d been called out. The mare had a break in the hoof from lashing out and hitting a wall. Not serious, Lucas said after an inspection, but in need of a tidy. Teagan would have swatted the vicious little thing, but Lucas barely reacted, hampered, she supposed, by a hovering Peter.

  When he’d finished, Peter did his best to coax Lucas into the house, but Lucas politely refused. ‘I’m due at Belgravia in half an hour.’

  ‘You work too hard.’

  ‘Nothing wrong with a bit of hard work.’ He patted Peter’s back and winked in a way that probably melted Peter as much as it did Teagan. ‘You should try it sometime.’

  ‘You take care, gorgeous girl. And give my love to your aunt. I must give her a call. Such a classy lady.’

  ‘You should come around for drinks one afternoon,’ said Lucas. ‘Vanessa would enjoy seeing you.’

  ‘You know, I might just do that.’ He pressed a finger to his chin. ‘If I recall, Friday’s margarita night. I might pop by then. Perhaps the divine Bunny will grace us with her presence, too.’ He clapped his hands. ‘And that utterly stunning man, Domenic.’ He slid a look at Lucas. ‘You are, of course, my favourite, but Domenic is more my age.’

  ‘Everyone’s an ageist,’ said Teagan as they drove off, which earned her a cheeky grin from Lucas.

  ‘Only way to be, babe,’ he said with a look that made her feel suddenly gushy and silly. God, she had to get a grip. ‘Only way to be.’

  Lucas poked his head around the corner of Belgravia’s office door. Nick was at his desk, staring morosely at his computer screen. Trays of paperwork overflowed around him. A coffee mug with a dead fly floating in the top sat forgotten by his elbow.

  Lucas rapped on the doorframe. The coffee sloshed dangerously as Nick was jolted out of his contemplation.

  ‘Sorry,’ Lucas said, walking into the room. ‘Thought you would’ve heard the car.’

  Nick reached across to briefly shake his hand before indicating the monitor. ‘Too bloody caught up in this. Sucks you in, this stuff. Like a black hole.’

  ‘Don’t I know it. How’re things otherwise?’

  ‘Shit. Bloody staff.’

  Which was what Lucas had expected him to say. Finding reliable stable staff was the biggest problem Nick faced. Anyone with experience and sense was snapped up by the racing stables and other properties in Wilmington and further south. Nick wasn’t in a position to pay above-award rates, which meant Belgravia tended to be lumped with beginners or the useless.

  ‘I might be able to help if you need someone.’

  Nick looked up at him in hope.

  ‘Vanessa’s niece. Arrived a couple of weeks ago from South Australia. Farm girl. Plenty of experience with horses. Can’t stand sitting around so she’s been keeping herself occupied fixing Vanessa’s fences.’

  At the mention of Vanessa, Nick perked up. ‘Does she look like Vanessa?’

  ‘Sort of. Red hair at least.’ Lucas tapped the desk. ‘I thought you wanted someone who could work. Stick a Vanessa in here and nothing would get done.’

  Nick glanced at the monitor and then at his paperwork. ‘I can only offer part-time.’

  ‘That’d probably suit.’ He began walking to the door. ‘She’s outside. Why don’t you come and ask her?’

  As he and Nick emerged from the office, a skinny, heavily pimpled lad who looked about twelve but was probably seventeen, was attempting to lead a skittery horse across the brick yard. Teagan was out of the car, bum against the bull bar, watching the action.

  One of the female stablehands was leaning on a broom, teasing the kid. ‘You don’t have the muscles, Bart.’

  ‘Shut up.’

  She was right though. The young lad was struggling to hold the horse, which had a bee in its bonnet about something.

  Recognising the animal, Lucas glanced at Nick and made a face. ‘Not him.’

  ‘Sorry. Cast a shoe yesterday.’

  ‘Shit.’ Lucas ran a hand over his head. This could get ugly and he was rather hoping he’d make it through the day without meeting any of his nemesis horses. Diablo was likely to show him up in front of Teagan. Peter’s little shit of a mare had nearly done it with her bite, but he’d kept his calm, despite wanting to smack her one. Anyway, it was never the horse’s fault. It was fear that usually caused them to play up.

  He crossed to Teagan. ‘I might need your help.’

  ‘Sure.’ She nodded towards the horse. ‘That him?’

  ‘Yeah. Diablo. Worst horse in the place.’ As he spoke the horse yanked hard against the boy’s hold, who cried out as the rope slithered across his palm and left a friction burn. Sensing freedom, the horse began to trot away before breaking into a joyous buck and then canter.

  Nick raced to shut the yard gate. Horses poked their noses over stable doors. The girl dropped her broom. The boy stood staring at his hand.

  ‘For fuck’s sake, don’t let him trip on it!’ yelled Nick too late. The loose lead rope caught under the horse’s off fore. With a jerk of Diablo’s head the clip attaching the lead to the halter snapped, giving him even more freedom.

  Spooked, Diablo careered from one end of the yard to the other, slithering dangerously across the pavers as he changed direction. He propped at one end and released a hysterical neigh before streaking towards the now closed gate. Nick stood in front, frantically waving his arms. For a moment it looked like Diablo was going to attempt to jump both him and the gate, but at the last moment the horse skidded and lithely sprinted back towards the other horses.

  He trotted back and forth in front of the stables, snorting and head-tossing, before finally settling to an agitated walk. Nick approached with quiet steps. The horse matched him step for step but backwards until he was caught quivering in the stable block corner, watching them all with wild eyes. Nick had almost reached him when Diablo took a sneaky sidestep and barged straight past. He trotted to the far end of the block, where a water tank was pressed between the wall and yard fence and close to Lucas’s ute. Diablo paused to snatch at some grass growing around its base, facing his attackers as he chewed.

  Teagan stepped towards him, talking in soothing low tones. ‘Look at you, you big idiot. What a show-off, huh?’ She kept the flow of talk coming as she walked, all in a calm, even voice that belied her actual words. ‘Think you’re something, don’t you? But you’ve got nothing on my Astra. She’s the prettiest horse there is. Bit stupid like you, admittedly, but she’ll come round. Just needs to grow up. All legs and energy and teenage brain.’

  Diablo’s ears twitched. His head lowered, nostrils flaring as he watched her. He pawed the ground with one hoof but Teagan
kept coming. Lucas exchanged a glance with Nick. The stable girl went to move closer, but Nick jerked his head, indicating for her to stay back.

  Finally, Teagan made it to the horse’s side. She let him sniff her hand and stroked his soft muzzle. She didn’t reach for his halter, just kept talking in that soothing voice, telling him what an idiot he was, how Astra would run rings around him. The horse began to relax. He bunted her head and snuffled through her hair. She grabbed the check piece of his halter and turned around, leading the puppy-like horse back towards the young boy.

  ‘Thanks,’ he said, eyeing Diablo warily before clipping another lead on.

  She shrugged. ‘He’s just like my old horse. Completely fractious. They get these things in their brains for no reason at all. You just have to talk to them.’ She stroked the animal’s sweaty neck. She turned to Nick. ‘How old is he?’

  ‘Only three.’

  ‘Off the track, I suppose?’

  ‘Bred to win the Golden Slipper but he never made the cut.’ He nodded towards the horse’s groin. ‘Which is why he was given the cut. Didn’t improve his temper though.’

  ‘It’s hard to get them over their nerves. My Astra’s the same. Was. Was the same.’ She caught Nick’s unsaid question. ‘A horse I recently sold.’

  Clearly impressed, Nick cast a keen look at Lucas, who gave an imperceptible nod. He spoke casually, as if afraid Teagan would career off like Diablo if he sounded too desperate. ‘Lucas mentioned you’ve experience working with horses.’

  ‘Only my own. But I’ve been riding since I could walk.’ She stroked Diablo and whispered something to him. ‘Funny things, but I can’t help but love them.’ She addressed Nick again. ‘Sorry, I’m Teagan.’

  Nick shook her hand. ‘Pleased to meet you. So you’re new to the area?’

  ‘Sort of. Visiting my aunt. Vanessa Rogers. You no doubt know her. Seems everyone does around here.’

  ‘I do. Quite well.’ Lucas tried not to sigh as Nick’s voice gave away his Vanessa lust.