What a hopelessly inadequate thing to say. And so depressing, rather than uplifting or encouraging.
Oliver smiled. ‘You haven’t met Dot and Laurie. They run the General Store in town. They’re both in their eighties and they’re totally devoted to each other. They have daughters who’ve married and live in the area and they’re always visiting Dot and Laurie with the grandchildren.’
‘I’d love to meet them. I need to boost my faith in families.’
‘Maybe you just need to meet a few normal people. Get involved in the musical and you’ll see what small town community is all about.’
While Krista stacked the dishwasher and cleared away, a task she insisted on doing alone, Oliver filled Lola’s bowl with water. The little dog was doing well. Lucky they’d found her when they did, before she became dangerously weak. As it was, she’d be fine by the morning.
He phoned Abbie about the sets.
‘Rupe told me about her,’ she said without elaborating. ‘Is she in town for long?’
‘Hard to say. At least a week, possibly more. She’s keen to help.’ He walked outside to the garden terrace. A light breeze stirred the treetops, rustling the leaves. ‘She’s had a rough couple of days—family trouble—so it’d be good if you could find something for her to do.’
‘Sure,’ she said. ‘I’ll be at the Arts Centre most mornings from about nine this coming week, and so will Maureen, doing the costumes. She’s sure to need help with something.’
‘Great. Thanks, Abbie.’
‘So she’s nice, is she? Rupe said she was a bit abrasive.’
‘She’s okay,’ he said cautiously. ‘Like I said, she has some bad family stuff happening.’
‘Right. I look forward to meeting her. See you, Oliver.’ Was she laughing quietly at the other end of the line? One thing he could count on with Abbie, she wasn’t a gossip and she’d endured more than her share of troubles before settling down with Rupe.
He went back inside.
‘Abbie said she’ll be at the Arts Centre in town from nine every morning and can do with some help. Maureen will be there too, doing costumes, and Abbie said she’ll probably have things for you to do.’
She turned from wiping down the bench and her lovely wide smile said it all, stopping him in his tracks, stopping his brain.
‘Thanks. That’s great.’
He gulped and swallowed and got his vocal chords working again. ‘I wasn’t sure how long you’d be in town but I thought at least a week.’
‘It depends on Rod. Amy can’t manage on her own for too long but with two of us we should be okay. And there’s the fire.’
‘Yes, there’s that.’ He grimaced. ‘Fingers crossed.’
‘How’s your brother?’
‘I’ll call him now.’ He went to the terrace room where he’d sat with the obnoxious fat man and the elderly woman … Eleanor—the name flashed into his head.
Julian was surprised.
‘How did you know?’ he asked.
‘Mum called me.’
‘I told her not to.’
‘Why?’
‘I’m all right. No need for her to make a fuss.’
‘Telling your brother is hardly making a fuss. I’m glad she did. How are you?’
‘I have to keep my leg elevated and no weight on it for weeks. It’s bloody ridiculous.’
‘It must be necessary or they wouldn’t say it. If you don’t follow the instructions you’ll delay your recovery, Julian. Do what you’re told.’
‘You sound like Dad.’
‘For once I agree with him.’
Julian grunted the way he always did when he didn’t agree but accepted the decision. ‘How are you getting on anyway? Heard there are fires in your area.’
‘So far so good but it can change very fast.’ The fact his brother had registered the fires and that he may be in danger was unexpected, to say the least.
‘Look after yourself. I only have one brother.’
‘And I don’t plan on you being an only child. Thanks, though,’ he added awkwardly, touched by the concern. ‘How’s Mum? She said she was tired when I asked how she was this morning.’
‘She didn’t say anything when she visited me and she seemed normal. Bit pale. Maybe she is just tired. She said they’d been out a lot lately and she’s been helping organise some hospital fundraiser thing.’
‘Maybe she should see her doctor. Has she had a check-up recently?
‘No idea. She won’t go just because I say so.’
‘Try. You know Dad won’t notice anything unless she drops dead at his feet and he doesn’t get his breakfast.’
‘She’ll be fine, don’t worry. Thanks for calling, Oliver.’
Krista was sitting on the floor again with Lola.
‘Should we give her something to eat?’
‘Not too much and something soft.’
‘She has canned food.’ She opened the fridge and showed him a tin of Gourmet Lamb Dinner. ‘At home Mama has food cooked specially for her but when they come here she brings these.’
She spooned a small amount onto a saucer. Lola sniffed and licked and nibbled a tiny bit.
‘Leave it with her and she’ll eat when she feels like it.’
Krista patted Lola’s head and stroked her body. ‘Good girl,’ she murmured. ‘You can sleep in my room tonight.’
‘Talking of sleep, we should probably have an early night.’ Oliver yawned. Last night’s party had meant a later night than he was used to and the day had been packed with activity. ‘I’ll need to get going early tomorrow.’
‘Okay.’
Krista took him upstairs to the room she’d prepared. ‘My room is two doors along,’ she said.
‘It’s a big house.’ Not only big but luxuriously furnished. He felt like a big lumbering clodhopper walking along the cream-carpeted corridor, and when she showed him his room …
‘Wow.’ Five-star hotel standard. A king-size bed and an ensuite, walk-in wardrobe. TV.
‘Makes my place look shabby.’
‘But I liked your house. What I saw of it.’
‘I like my place too, but this is something else.’
He put his backpack on the floor, glad he’d given it a brush to remove any dust and grass seeds leftover from its last outing.
‘It doesn’t feel like a home. No-one really lives here except Angus, and Rod says he’s hardly ever here.’
‘Christ, I’d forgotten about all that. When’s the deadline?’
‘I’d forgotten, too.’ Krista gazed at him in alarm. ‘Tomorrow, but Hugh reckons they won’t do anything.’
‘I wouldn’t count on it but I really hope he’s right.’ Oliver stifled another yawn. ‘Anyway, there’s nothing we can do about it right now.’
‘No, I suppose not but I’ll lock all the doors.’
‘What about the stables?’
‘There are security lights and I locked the main doors and the office but I probably didn’t need to. Calypso isn’t there.’
‘I wouldn’t trust that pair we met.’
‘No.’ She turned to go but stopped. ‘Thank you for staying.’
She took two quick steps forward and her lips brushed his cheek, light as a feather but indelible as the brand on a steer.
Chapter 11
Krista took Lola and her blanket and water bowl up to her bedroom when she’d secured all the doors and downstairs windows.
She very much doubted Moran would send anyone to rob the house in the night. He’d set a deadline and it had sounded very much as though he expected it to be kept. The fact that he’d come all the way out here to talk to Hugh must mean something, too—like a certain amount of respect. Surely he wouldn’t send his goons in early? Wasn’t there some of weird honour code going on in those organisations?
Lola settled down and went to sleep after licking Krista’s fingers as she stroked her.
Krista lay awake.
The man in the room two doors along occup
ied most of her thoughts. Far from her initial impression of a chunky, not particularly physically attractive man, he’d morphed into … what? Those clear blue eyes had immediately drilled right through the veneer of sophisticated confidence she’d spent her life cultivating and reached the messy core of self-doubt. It didn’t turn him off, which in itself amazed her; he recognised the problem and gave her advice on how to improve her life.
He defended her against attack from not only those two men but also Hugh, Gwen and those other people at her table. Why would he do that? She hardly knew him. And yet he knew more about her than her family did.
He was an extraordinary man. He was a healer of animals and also of people, but he struggled with his own family issues. Typically for a man, she suspected he buried them deep inside and tonight’s outburst would be something he’d regret.
He made her want to help him, too. How, she had no idea.
The thoughts muddled about in her head until …
‘Krista! Wake up.’
Her eyes sprang open before her brain locked into gear. ‘What? Who is it?’ Had she slept?
‘It’s Oliver. Get up. We have to go. The fire changed direction in the night.’
She sat up, blinking. Sunlight streamed through the window. ‘What time is it?’
‘Six-thirty. Get up. I’ve hooked the float to my car but we have to load the horses. I just hope my car can pull the load.’
‘Why not use Rod’s?’
‘I can’t afford to be without mine if this place goes up. Get Lola. She’s in the kitchen eating breakfast.’ He was already out the door his backpack on his shoulder.
Five minutes later Krista bounded downstairs. Thick grey smoke billowed on the horizon. The wind had picked up and blew briskly through the trees in the driveway. Charred leaves skittered across the gravel. She flung her bag in her car, put Lola carefully on the back seat and ran to the stables. Oliver was leading a horse out.
A yellow fire truck roared down the drive and came to a halt in a wave of dust. The horse danced about, backing away, tugging at the lead rope, but Oliver calmed it. A fireman jumped out and came across.
‘G’day mate. It’s a mandatory evacuation,’ he said. ‘We’re checking properties.’
‘We’re leaving now. Taking the horses to the showground,’ Oliver called.
‘Right. Anyone left here? Any animals?’
‘No.’
‘Okay. Good luck.’
‘And you. Thank you.’
He waved and climbed back aboard. The engine roared, the truck turned and was gone.
‘Get the next one,’ Oliver said. ‘Clip a leading rope onto the halter.’ He led the horse into the float.
Krista’s phone rang.
‘Hello.’
‘Krista, it’s Amy. Rod’s worried about the horses. He’s checking the fire status every five minutes. We were supposed to come home this afternoon.’
‘Tell him they’re fine. Firebrand and Calypso are already at Oliver’s place in Taylor’s Bend and we’re just leaving now with the rest.’
‘Okay, listen, do you have time to collect the computer from the office? And if you could, there are some photos and papers in our house. Only if you have time but …’
‘We do. What do you want?’
‘The photo album from the bookshelf in the living room and in the spare room there’s a cardboard expanding file. Just grab that.’
‘Okay.’
Oliver grimaced when she relayed the request but he said, ‘You go to the house. I’ll get the computer.’
Krista ran. She bounded up the wooden steps and flung the door open, scanning the room quickly before spying the bookshelf. She grabbed the album and also a wedding photo on display then ran down the corridor. The house was small, two bedrooms, and the first door she opened was the right one. She stood frozen for a moment. Where was the file? She opened a cupboard and found a stack of jigsaws and games, spare pillows and a suitcase. A table stood under the window with papers on it. On the floor underneath it was the blue file holder. She dragged it out, shoved the album and photo inside, picked it up and raced outside.
A red ute was parked in front of Oliver’s car and the float, blocking the way. A familiar red ute, the one that came with those two thugs.
Krista slowed. Where were they? Where was Oliver? Raised voices came from the stables. Heart pumping hard, she put the file case down crept along the stable wall to peer round the door. Oliver had the second horse on the lead rope. The outlines of the two men were unmistakable. Tall and thin, short and solid. Short guy was facing the open door and she drew back hurriedly pulling her phone from her pocket with shaky fingers.
Hugh. She should call Hugh. She had trouble scrolling for his number her hands shook so much.
‘Good morning.’ The voice startled her so much she dropped the phone. ‘Who are you calling?’
Short guy bent and picked up the phone but didn’t return it. He glanced at the screen then dropped the phone and ground his foot down on it.
‘What are you doing? What do you want from us?’ Her voice burst out in a shrill scream.
From inside, Oliver yelled, ‘Krista?’
Steely fingers dug into her arm. ‘Get in there.’ He propelled her into the stables where the thin man waited with Oliver. The big brown horse stood, ears pricked, nervously blowing air through wide nostrils.
‘What do you want?’ Oliver asked. ‘We have to go, there’s a fire coming. We’ve been evacuated.’
‘There’s time.’
‘Didn’t you see the fire truck, you morons?’ he shouted. ‘This isn’t a joke.’
Quick as a flash, the thin guy’s arm shot out and struck Oliver in the stomach. He doubled over with a cry of pain and the horse backed away in fright, yanking the rope free from his grasp.
‘Why are you here?’ Krista demanded.
‘We don’t like being made fools of. We told you you’d be sorry if you lied to us so here we all are.’
‘But the deadline isn’t up yet.’
‘This is between us,’ he snarled.
‘You’ll be sorry if we get caught in the fire,’ gasped Oliver. ‘We have to leave now!’
‘You’re not going anywhere.’
‘That’s crazy. Let me go.’ The grip on her arm tightened but Krista stamped as hard as she could on the guy’s foot with her heel. He grunted and swore but instead of releasing her gave her a backhander with his free hand.
Oliver roared with rage and shoulder-charged the thin guy, knocking him into the side of the horse. It plunged aside and ran for the open door while Oliver barrelled for short guy like a rugby player. Krista elbowed the man in the ribs, which distracted him enough to let her go, but then the thin guy straightened and joined the fight, throwing some well-aimed punches at Oliver’s head. Both of them attacked him, giving him no chance to defend himself other than by protecting his head.
Frantic, Krista cast around for a weapon and spotted an empty feed bucket. She swung it wildly and connected with the thin guy’s head. He staggered, giving Oliver enough time to straighten. Krista gave him another whack but now short guy grabbed her arm and shoved her away. She stumbled and fell heavily on her behind onto the floor.
Dark grey smoke billowed in through the big open doorway. Thicker and heavier than before, choking her lungs and stinging her eyes.
‘Fire,’ she screamed. ‘The fire’s coming.’
‘Let’s go,’ yelled the thin guy. He staggered out into the smoke-filled yard, closely followed by his mate. Doors slammed, the engine started and Krista caught a glimpse of red as the ute turned and accelerated away.
Krista stumbled to her feet. Her hip hurt and her ankle hurt but she was mobile. They had to get out.
Oliver was upright but swaying unsteadily on his feet, holding his left arm cradled across his body.
‘The horses,’ he croaked. ‘Load the horses.’
‘Are you all right?’ Tears streamed down her cheeks, part relief,
part fear, part smoke induced.
‘Get the horses. I’ll catch the one …’ He staggered for the door.
Krista hesitated but adrenaline surged and she burst into action. Both remaining horses were wheeling about in their stalls and snorting their fear. She drew a deep breath, opened the closest stall and approached a big grey, trying hard to copy Oliver’s calm manner when he dealt with Arch Rival.
‘Calm down, I’m taking you outside. Saving you. Just let me …’ She clipped the lead rope to the halter and the horse followed her relatively quietly.
Outside it pranced about, as upset as Krista by the heavy smoke, wind and the swirling scorched leaves and the dust. Oliver waited by the float, leaning against it for support.
‘Bring her up the ramp and tie her next to the other one,’ he said.
Luckily the grey was happy to step up the ramp and into the shelter of the float. It fidgeted as she secured it but didn’t complain.
‘Did you catch that one?’
‘No, but she’s by the fence. Get the last one out and onboard first.’ His voice was hoarse with pain but there was no time to waste.
Swallowing the rising panic, Krista raced back into the dim interior. The remaining horse was frightened, whinnying and tossing its head, but when she snatched the lead rope from a hook by the door and opened the stall, it stood quietly long enough for her to attach the rope.
As soon as it reached the doorway it gave a sudden rush forward. The rope burned as it slid through her palms but she clung on and the horse slewed round, pulling her off balance.
‘Hang on to her.’ Oliver managed to stagger over and grab the rope with one hand, lending enough extra strength to control the panicky animal and manoeuvre it up the ramp.
The three horses stamped their feet and moved nervously but at least they were secure and ready to go.
‘Where’s the other one?’
‘By the gate.’
Krista approached the horse as calmly as she could, talking as she went.
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