by Maya Linnell
‘It’s looking good, Mac. Told you we’d smash it.’
‘Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, Tim. Still got plenty of rams to sell this arvo.’
‘Suit yourself. I’m going to raid the tucker tent. Pretty sure it won’t top your baking, but I’ll give it a go,’ he said, heading to where the CWA ladies were conducting a roaring trade.
Food was the last thing on Penny’s mind, but she turned and waved at them, stifling a giggle at Nanna Pearl’s outfit. She recognised the smart jacket and pleated tweed skirt as one of the many woollen, silk-lined suits she had donated to the local op-shop, along with her collection of high heels, handbags and the remains of her corporate wardrobe. The outfit looked wonderfully jaunty teamed with Nanna Pearl’s lilac hair and pearl earrings. The distraction settled her nerves a little as the auctioneer signalled the end of lunch.
A familiar voice came from just behind her.
‘Penny!’
Penny whirled around to see Jade step out from the crowd. Her friend squealed and rushed forward for a hug. Penny breathed in Jade’s perfume as she embraced her friend. It was delightful to see Jade’s cheeky grin after so many months, and wonderful that her two worlds were coming together at last.
‘Here’s the lady of the moment. And don’t you look great in green. Have I missed much? The drive took longer than I thought, especially those winding roads near the Grampians.’
The auctioneer called the crowd to order. The bidding started high and Penny was torn between catching up with her friend and seeing how the rest of the sale went.
Jade reached into her handbag and plonked a familiar green bucket hat with white embroidery over her pixie haircut.
‘I love these freebies. Better see what else I can score from your young niece and nephews. They tell me they’ve got McIntyre Park notepads, magnets and pens as well. Catch up in a bit.’
Penny smiled as Jade walked away; her new hat clashed wildly with her leopard-print shirtdress and brown high heels. As much as she longed to thread her arm through Jade’s and give her a proper farm tour, it would have to wait until the auctioneer pounded his hammer for the final time, and all the guests were gone. Penny looked back at the circle of bidders and jumped when a warm hand slipped into hers.
Tim beamed at her, offering first dibs on the range of delicacies he had procured from the CWA stall. She shook her head, her attention going straight back to the auctioneer.
‘Still not hungry. But do you hear that, Tim? The ram prices are sky-high,’ she said, turning back to him briefly before spotting the red-nosed man approaching them.
‘Hello, Penelope, g’day, Timmy. I mean Tim.’
William Cleary extended his hand, pumping Penny’s up and down with a surprisingly gentle grip.
‘I just wanted to say no hard feelings, eh? Looks like you’ve excelled yourself here today. I’m now the proud owner of ram number seventy-eight. Will be good to try a few crossbreeds,’ he bumbled, his gaze meeting Penny’s and then darting away.
Penny’s face spread into a smile. ‘No hard feelings, neighbour. And thanks for bringing Cameron home.’
They both looked up as the auctioneer moved onto the next pen and started the bidding off again.
‘They’re selling like hotcakes today, ladies and gentlemen. Now, who’s going to make the first bid on ram number ninety-one?’
Penny sank down into the borrowed plastic chair, oblivious to her feet sweltering in her boots and the dust stuck to her hot brow. I’ve done it, she thought incredulously. We’ve done it.
Her face broke into a broad smile as she looked at the empty pens that had been full of rams only eight hours earlier, as healthy and impressive as the figures at the bottom of the auctioneer’s tally.
Animated conversation swirled around her as her family worked, stacking up chairs and collecting leftover programs and auction numbers, but she was too overwhelmed to absorb anything other than their triumphant success. They had sold all the rams and broken a McIntyre Park record. Angus eased himself into the seat beside her.
‘Nicely done, Penny. I’m proud of you.’
She held back tears as Angus reached over and hugged her, his walking stick wedged between the two of them.
‘You’ve set the bar high. Reckon you’ll be able to beat that next year?’
‘I’ll give it my best shot.’
Exhausted yet exhilarated, Penny tucked the tally into her top pocket and rested her hand on his knee. Tim walked past, carrying a bulging garbage bag in each hand.
‘How’s my top-selling farm girl going?’
Penny jumped up and kissed his cheek. He dropped the bags into the dirt, a puff of dust clouding up from underneath them, and picked her up by the waist.
‘If we weren’t heading out for dinner directly after this, I’d show you just how impressed I am, Mac. But I guess I’ll have to wait till later,’ he murmured into her ear, his voice low and throaty.
‘It’s a date,’ she whispered back, unable to wipe the smile off her face.
Epilogue
Sunlight filtered across the valley in streaks of gold and primrose, painting the paddocks below a vibrant green. Canola crops added to the vitality of the fields, their bright-yellow petals providing a sharp contrast to the pastures dotted with white mobs of sheep, and a riot of purple and pink flowers moved in the soft breeze. I’m no expert, but those are the prettiest wildflowers I’ve ever seen, marvelled Penny, admiring their delicate petals and green strappy leaves.
Penny stretched her arms above her head, settling into her cross-legged seat on the picnic rug. She had arrived early at Wildflower Ridge, setting off before everybody else so she could have a few minutes to herself before the whole family arrived. She couldn’t pinpoint a moment when they had all been at Annabel’s memorial site since the day Angus had secured the plaque to the big sandstone boulder, but it felt like the right thing to do.
‘Just you and me, Mum,’ she said, resting her hand on the rock. She could smell the spring air rustling through the grass, almost like her mother’s fresh, clean scent, and smiled. She knew Annabel was out there, watching over them in some way, and that she would be pleased with the family unit that had emerged stronger than ever.
Her heart filled as she heard the sound of engines floating across the valley. Cameron and Evie would be here soon on horseback, followed by Lara and Angus in the UTV. Angie was helping install the extra seats in the back of Diana and Pete’s four-wheel drive when she had left, and Tim had promised to join them with Eddie.
Placing a kiss on her fingertips, she pressed them to the rock again and then turned to start unpacking the picnic.
‘Happy birthday, Mum.’
Acknowledgements
Thank you, readers, for picking up this book and taking a chance on a debut author. As a country girl with a heart full of stories, a head full of words and a lifelong dream of becoming an author, I am bursting with delight at the opportunity to share this book with you. I hope you enjoyed meeting the McIntyre family in Wildflower Ridge, and I look forward to properly introducing the rest of the McIntyre girls in the very near future.
To my first readers—my beautiful mum, sister Zoe and Nanna Linnell; beta-readers—Lindy, Amber, Kayleen, Jayne and Karen; tutors at The Writers’ Studio Australia—Jess Black and Kelly Rigby; fiction fairies—Jayne, Suzie and Kaneana; and my many beautiful friends and family members who eagerly asked for updates and propped me up when my confidence waned. I am so grateful for all your suggestions, input and encouragement.
Cheers to Donna Barber, who let me slip fanciful words like ‘crestfallen’ into my Year Three creative writing stories; librarians and book-loving friends who championed my love for literature; and the fabulous tribe of authors I’ve met through Romance Writers of Australia for their encouragement and advice as I dipped my toes into the wonderful world of publishing. Big thanks to James and Kate for medical insights, Meagan for shearing shed stories and Brooke for the accidental inspir
ation. All of my characters and settings are fictional and any mistakes are entirely mine.
Jason—thank you for your love, support and encouragement. This book would not have been written without you cheering me on in the background and bringing me endless cups of tea. Charlie, Amelia and Elizabeth—my three littlest fans with the biggest hearts. I love that you’ve been part of this journey all along, from helping brainstorm book titles and plot ideas to joining me as we happy-danced our way around the supermarket when the good news came through. And also for both my nannas—Pamela and Dareen—two strong yet gentle ladies who passed down their passion for books, baking and all things crafty.
Finally, a huge thanks to the lovely Annette Barlow and her enthusiastic and talented team at Allen & Unwin. I’m so grateful you took me under your wing and gave Wildflower Ridge the perfect home.