Hewitt nodded. ‘I’m in.’
Ella walked through the gate Hewitt held open for them. ‘I knew I could count on you.’ She slipped her arm from Fliss’s. ‘Taylor’s going to do our hair, I have a whole wardrobe of dresses and I know you’d still have those heels you scared off that blind date of yours with.’
‘Ella …’
The vet hugged her and whispered, ‘You can do this.’ She stepped away. ‘Now I’d better go or I’ll be late. I’ll call you about the ball plans soon.’
Fliss waved Ella off and, as she turned, she realised Hewitt was watching her instead of the vehicle driving away.
The prospect of being in a loud and crowded cotton gin surrounded by tables of people made her palms clammy. But the idea of Bethany sitting close to Hewitt all night and flicking her long blonde hair made her blood fire.
Nevertheless, she wasn’t falling into line so easily. She folded her arms. ‘It’s a new experience being railroaded.’
The corner of his mouth kicked into a half-smile. ‘I gathered that.’
‘I thought you really didn’t want to go.’
‘I wasn’t sure if I would still be here.’ His grin turned sheepish. ‘If my shoulder had healed faster, I probably wouldn’t be.’
Fliss bit the inside of her cheek at the thought of Hewitt not giving himself time to heal, but also at the thought of him leaving. The sadness she felt at Molly going tomorrow would be nothing compared to what she’d feel when Hewitt left.
Desolation stripped the warmth from the spring breeze. She rubbed at her arms. It was more important than ever that she keep things contained between them. Unlike in Lizzie’s fairy tales, there couldn’t be any happy ending, even if a ball was involved. Hewitt’s family required all of him, both now and in the future. She’d never ask him to choose between them.
His eyes searched hers. ‘I’m fine to partner Bethany if there’s someone else you’d rather go with.’
Her chin lifted. ‘No, we’re foiling Edna’s plans. You’re stuck with me. Even if you were lying when you said you preferred brunettes.’
The sound of a car engine had Hewitt set his drill on the tack shed floor. He’d attach the other two metal saddle racks to the back wall later. It was time to say goodbye to the border collies he and Fliss had grown so fond of.
Max came to his feet from where he had been lying in the corner. The male border collie may have only arrived yesterday but he’d taken to being Hewitt’s shadow. He’d even jumped in the back of the ute when Hewitt had gone to check the cattle.
Hewitt tickled behind the dog’s ears. Maybe it wasn’t just time for Fliss to get a dog. Maybe he should as well. He’d always enjoyed the company of the working dogs at Mayfield but he didn’t have his own personal dog.
‘Okay, Max. Showtime. We need to find Fliss and make sure she’s okay.’
As comfortable and relaxed as Max had become, Fliss had only grown more subdued.
She too had heard the car. She walked down the veranda steps, her game face on. Instead of her usual farm jeans and cotton work shirt, she wore fitted jeans and a silky floral top with long loose sleeves. His jaw clenched as she gave him a strained smile. All he wanted to do was kiss away her sadness.
‘Okay,’ she said, shoulders squared. ‘Let’s do this.’
Together they walked to the garden gate, Max and Molly beside them. As a dual-cab ute pulled up, a roomy dog crate on the back, Hewitt touched the small of Fliss’s back. She briefly rested her head on his right shoulder.
Even before the elderly couple left their vehicle, Molly and Max were at the gate, tails wagging and eyes bright. Hewitt sensed Fliss relax beside him. The bond between the border collies and their owners was unquestionable. The slight woman and the bow-legged man laughed as they greeted the dogs through the gate before moving inside to pat and hug them.
The man came over to Hewitt and Fliss. His handshake was firm and his palm callused from a life lived on the land.
‘I’m Elliot, and this is Alison. We can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.’
Alison’s brown eyes held tears as she shook their hands. ‘We thought we’d never see Max and Molly again.’
‘You’re very welcome,’ Fliss said, words warm. ‘It’s our pleasure. They’re wonderful dogs.’
Elliot looked to where Molly now sat beside Fliss. Max had settled himself beside Hewitt’s boots. ‘They are. They’re also the best workers.’
Fliss turned to lead the way over to the garden shed. ‘I hope it’s okay but we’ve named the puppies.’
Alison smiled. ‘Thank you. This is Molly’s third litter and I’m running out of names. My daughter’s children are too little to help me think of some more.’
While Elliot and Alison played with the puppies, Fliss disappeared inside to make two coffees and a pot of tea. Hewitt went in search of another camp chair from the stables. Soon they were all seated around the recycled-door table. Hewitt made sure he sat beside Fliss. When his knee brushed hers in a silent message of support she gave him a quick, thankful glance.
Fliss offered everyone a banana muffin and talk soon revolved around what had happened to Max and Molly. The conversation then moved on to the couple’s adventures on their overseas tour of Europe.
Fliss’s laughter was genuine and her questions sincere but she failed to eat any of the muffins or sip at her tea.
When there was a lull in the conversation, Elliot cleared his throat. ‘You have a great place here and are obviously a very nice couple to do what you’ve done for Max and Molly.’
Hewitt didn’t answer, just took a swallow of coffee and watched Fliss from over the rim of his mug. The concept of them being a true couple shouldn’t have filled him with such need or made his chest tighten.
‘That’s very kind.’ Faint colour washed her cheeks. ‘We’re just friends. Hewitt’s helping me fix up Bundara.’
Elliot looked around the manicured garden and across to the tidy sheds. ‘Well, together you’ve done a great job.’
‘Thanks.’
Alison spoke. ‘There’s something we’d like to discuss with you, Fliss. Please feel free to say no but, you see, we’d like to travel more and our son-in-law who runs our place already has his own working dogs. We’d also like Max and Molly to stay together. We were wondering if you’d be interested in having them … permanently?’
Fliss didn’t hesitate. Eyes shining, she leaned forwards. ‘I’d love to. I’m honoured you feel I’d give them a good home. They’re valuable working dogs so I must pay you for them.’
Alison touched Fliss’s hand. ‘You’ve already done more than enough. We’re happy to give them to you and won’t accept any payment.’
‘Maybe I could make a donation to the working dog rescue group?’
‘If you’d like to.’
Fliss nodded and looked across at Hewitt. He’d never seen her eyes such an intense amber. Happiness flushed her cheeks and tilted her lips.
Elliot bent to pick up Patch who’d waddled close to his boots. He settled the puppy into his lap. ‘As for the puppies, we’ve already found homes for four of them. You’re welcome to have the remaining two, or you might know of suitable owners?’
Fliss bent to pat Molly’s head. ‘We have a friend called Tanner who’s looking for a working dog pup. We can vouch for him.’
Hewitt spoke quietly. ‘I’d love one for my father. He’s going through a rough patch and used to have border collies as a kid. One of the quieter pups, like Poppy, would make a perfect companion dog.’
Elliot extracted his fingers from Patch’s mouth. ‘I like the sound of that. What do you think, Alison?’
‘I do too. Poppy’s a gentle soul and would make a loyal and loving friend. Have a think about which puppy would suit Tanner best. We brought the paperwork to sign the dogs over just in case things worked out this way.’
‘Thank you.’ Fliss’s smile was so beautiful it made Hewitt’s heart ache.
She selected a
muffin and while she ate, her hand disappeared under the table to feed Molly crumbs.
When everyone had finished their tea, Fliss offered Alison and Elliot lunch.
‘Thanks,’ Elliot said, coming to his feet. ‘But we’d better complete this paperwork and get going. We’ve a long way to travel to our friends’ place where we’re staying the night. The longer we stay the harder it will be to say goodbye.’
The forms were completed and arrangements made for Tanner and Hewitt’s father to compete their sections. It then came time for Elliot and Alison to say farewell to Molly and Max.
Hewitt caught the shimmer of tears in Fliss’s eyes and moved to stand beside her.
Alison wiped the corners of her own eyes as she gave Molly a final pat.
‘I’m so relieved Molly found her way to you,’ the older woman said, voice choked as she embraced Fliss.
‘So am I.’
After Alison had also hugged Hewitt, Elliot shook his hand. The older man looked between him and Fliss, his bushy grey brows lifting. ‘Just friends, eh?’
Hewitt nodded.
‘I once said the same thing.’ He shot his wife an affectionate look before moving to Fliss and clasping her hand.
If she’d heard Elliott’s comment, it didn’t show in her open smile. ‘Anytime you’d like to visit and see how Molly and Max are going, please feel welcome to call in.’
‘Thank you. We will.’
When they could no longer see the dual cab in the distance, Fliss looked down at the sheaf of papers in her hand. The pink pages confirmed she was now Max and Molly’s new owner.
‘I can’t believe it. I have not one but two incredible dogs.’
She hugged Molly and then Max and before Hewitt could read what she was going to do, she flung her arms around his neck and smacked a kiss on his cheek. ‘Okay, you and me, shopping road trip, now.’
Hewitt kept his touch on her waist light and prayed she’d move away. Every second she remained pressed against him was another second for his self-control to slip. The warmth of her smooth skin beneath her silky shirt flowed into his palms. Her soft breaths feathered across his jaw.
Her arms suddenly lowered and she stepped away. ‘Sorry, I’m not normally impulsive. You don’t have to come to Woodlea if you don’t want to.’
‘You can be as … impulsive as you want.’ The huskiness of his voice betrayed how close he was to forgetting why it was a bad idea for them to be more than friends. ‘Maybe just give me more warning.’
‘Is that a yes?’
Her voice was steady but a pulse beat at the base of her throat.
‘Only if we take my ute.’
‘Are you sure? Your ute will fit in more than my car.’
‘I’m sure, and I’ll drive.’
There was no other way he was going to keep his hands off her.
Fliss hadn’t been joking about needing the ute to fit in all her shopping. After their first stop, dog kennels and beds filled the trayback.
Ella walked out of the Woodlea Veterinary Hospital and handed Hewitt two heavy bags. ‘Fliss being a dog owner is definitely good for business.’
‘Funnily enough, that’s what the guy at Woodlea Rural said.’
‘I’m sure he did. It’s great to see her so happy and back to her old self. She’s always been super organised and efficient.’
Hewitt nodded.
‘So,’ Ella said, her expression turning serious. ‘Tell me, before Fliss finishes her shopping spree, is she still holding out on not going to the ball?’
Hewitt glanced at the red-knitted hearts wound around the nearby tree. ‘No, she’s going and with me.’
‘Wonderful. That worked out well.’
Before Hewitt could answer, Fliss walked out of the vet hospital door carrying a third bag.
‘Sorry,’ she said as she joined them, ‘I sent Lizzie a picture of the pink lead on my phone and she liked the sparkles so I got it as well.’
‘Lizzie’s not alone. That lead’s our best seller.’ Ella stepped onto the footpath. ‘I’ll get back to work and let you get going so you can meet Cressy and Denham at Claremont. Say hi to them for me.’
As they headed out of town, Fliss turned to look at the laden ute. ‘Now all I need to do is sort out where the kennels should go.’
Their conversation revolved around the safe topic of the border collies until they reached Claremont. Hewitt drove along the poplar tree-lined drive to where the sprawling homestead, with its multiple red-brick chimneys, pushed against the sky. He kept to the left and parked outside the round yard beside Denham’s Land Cruiser ute.
Denham whistled as he and Cressy walked out of the stables. ‘Someone’s been busy.’
‘I claim full responsibility.’ Fliss rapped the closest kennel with her knuckles. ‘Needless to say I got every item on my list.’
Cressy opened the Land Cruiser ute door to reach for a box. ‘I hope there’s room in there for these books and the rest of Flame’s gear.’
‘There’s plenty.’ Hewitt lowered the tailgate. ‘I should also be able to squeeze in some hay.’
‘Perfect.’ Cressy slid the box into the ute tray then turned to scan the nearby trees. ‘Mr Magpie has been in fine form today protecting his chicks so unless we want to be swooped we’d better keep moving. Fliss, how about you and I see what you need for Flame while you boys get the hay?’
‘Sure. We can take my ute.’ Denham turned towards the Land Cruiser. ‘There’s a bucket with our combined body weight’s worth of carrots to go to Reggie and it’s not even his birthday.’
From the corner of his eye Hewitt thought he saw Fliss shoot a frown towards her sister.
Denham drove past the stables to the rodeo yards he’d built for his bucking bulls and where Tanner trained his horses. But before they reached the yards, Denham stopped as a mountain of a bull lumbered towards them.
‘So that’s the infamous Reggie.’ Hewitt took in the power of the Brahman-cross bull’s shoulders and his athletic gait. ‘I’ll say this … he’s no pussy cat.’
‘His offspring are showing they’ll have his conformation as well as that bad-ass attitude Cressy and Fliss swear he doesn’t have.’
Hewitt shook his head as the mottled grey bull eyeballed him. ‘Nope, no bad-ass attitude there. He’s all peaches and cream.’
‘The thing is, when he’s around Cressy and Fliss, he really is as gentle as they believe. I’ve never seen anything like the bond he has with them.’
Denham’s phone rang. ‘Sorry,’ he said as he glanced at the caller ID. ‘I need to take this.’
‘No problem.’ Hewitt reached for the bucket beside his boots. ‘Reggie and I will get to know each other.’
‘I forget you like living dangerously,’ Denham said as he lifted the phone to his ear.
‘Let’s just say that feeding Reggie will be nothing like living across the garden from Fliss and seeing her every day.’
Sympathy flashed across Denham’s eyes before he answered his call.
If anyone understood his struggle to contain his emotions and keep his distance from Fliss, it was Denham. When the bull rider had returned to Woodlea and Cressy was back in his life, he’d fought a similar battle.
Hewitt’s jaw locked as he headed for Reggie. But not because the bull bellowed as he pawed the ground. Unlike Denham and Cressy, for him and Fliss there could be no clear way forwards. His family needed him.
CHAPTER
15
Hewitt’s early morning knock offered Fliss a welcome break. DNA was leading her around in frustrating circles. The cookbook clue had provided her only lead, and now she needed to find a way to confirm or eliminate the names she’d discovered. She still didn’t want to disturb Lewis, but there had to be a way she could find out if Valda and Patrick Ryan were connected to her mother.
Fliss stood and rolled her shoulders. At least the hours she’d spent in front of the computer last night had clarified one thing: there was no Ryan surname in Cress
y’s family tree. Which meant that the Ryans she’d been matched to had to be through her father’s side.
‘Come in,’ she called as she left her office. She may not have had to say goodbye to Max and Molly yesterday, but with every day that passed she remained conscious that Hewitt would soon leave. So until then, she’d make the most of his friendship and companionship, even if that wasn’t all she suspected she wanted. It was all that she could have, and it had to be enough. She’d never come between him and the family he loved and was honour-bound to look out for.
Hewitt walked through the front door and her stomach did its usual flip-flop. Her steps slowed. Instead of being dressed in his usual western shirts, with stubble blurring his jaw, he was clean-shaven and wearing a pale blue shirt she’d never seen before. Nerves took flight in her midriff. He couldn’t be leaving already?
‘Morning.’
Seriousness edged his greeting.
‘Morning.’ If he was returning to his family, loss wasn’t going to make her sound vulnerable or needy, no matter how much she’d miss the broad-shouldered man standing before her. ‘You smell nice.’
Heat warmed her cheeks at her too-quick and inane comment.
‘Thanks. I hope I always smell … nice.’
‘You do.’ She forced her words to slow. ‘Are you off somewhere?’
‘Yes. Ava called. Dad hasn’t been well and she’s struggling with Quinn. He’s fallen off the swing and was lucky to not hit his chin.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. I also don’t envy Ava trying to keep Quinn quiet.’
Mouth dry, she braced herself for what he was about to say.
‘I’m heading home … for a day.’
She blinked. ‘A day?’
‘Yes. I was wondering if you’d like to come?’
Shock quickly dissolved into delight. ‘Are you sure? Your family mightn’t want a stranger visiting at a difficult time.’
Hewitt’s eyes crinkled at the corners. ‘You’re not a stranger. I’m sure Lizzie wouldn’t let me through the door if I didn’t bring you. Quinn also asked if you were coming as he has another tractor to show you.’
The Red Dirt Road Page 20