She cuddled the joey closer. She needed his warmth as much as he needed hers. Saul’s faith and belief in her made her throat ache. She’d doubted herself for so long. But as much as she had thought she’d made the right decision, life had proved otherwise.
The yarn-bombers had been busy. Saul left the cool of the saddlery where he’d picked up some summer rugs for Amber and Cisco and walked along the main street to his F-truck. Whereas last town visit the bench in front of the craft shop had been bare, the wood was now covered in various shades of blue wool. He snapped a photo on his phone for Rosie.
He left the two rugs in his truck and crossed the street. Edna’s white Land Cruiser was parked outside the café. It might have been three days since he and Ella had found the joey and she’d told him a little more of her story but his emotions were still raw. He wouldn’t have the patience to deal with Edna this morning.
Ella’s disclosure had communicated that she was now comfortable around him. The knowledge touched a frozen part of him that he thought would never feel again. Ella’s trust was a precious gift. It was also an honour he felt unworthy of. The safe friendship he’d promised her increasingly felt like an empty promise. She was so beautiful, both inside and out, and the lines between keeping his distance and responding to her were now blurred.
As hard as he fought to hide his attraction, the more time he spent with her the more his self-control weakened. The day they’d ridden to the river, his sunglasses hadn’t only stopped the glare. They’d also hidden what had to be in his eyes whenever he looked at her. When she’d told him the short version of what had happened in England, he’d had to stop himself from leaning over and kissing away her pain. Today was Wednesday and he now had until Violet’s visit on Sunday to work on making sure that Ella’s trust in him wasn’t misplaced.
A horn honked and he lifted an arm to wave as Hewitt drove by with some wood in the back of his black Hilux. He and Fliss must have another DIY project on the go. He’d seen photos of the neglected bluestone Bundara farmhouse and outbuildings before Hewitt and Fliss had brought the property back to life.
He continued along the main street. Beside him the broad leaves of the plane trees rustled as a hot breeze barrelled by. From the clothing shop that sold everything from felt hats to woollen work socks, he found some more half-button cotton shirts. Since moving to town he’d shopped locally to support the small-town businesses as much as possible. He added some rugby shorts before making his way to the counter to pay. When he stepped outside he made sure Edna was nowhere in sight.
He had a few more jobs to do before meeting Denham at the bakery for a quick lunch. Duke had stayed at Violet’s and would be making the most of being spoiled. Mrs Poole had dropped him off another dog toy and Saul had spied a bag of dog treats on Violet’s kitchen bench.
After visiting the post office to collect a parcel too big for his roadside mailbox, he returned to his F-truck. Edna sat in the shade on the blue yarn-bombed bench. He silenced a groan as she stood and walked towards him with a satisfied grin. ‘Saul, you’re just the man I wanted to see.’
‘Hello, Edna. How’s your day going?’
The more questions he asked, the less he’d have to answer.
‘Very well, thank you. Duke at Violet’s?’
Saul placed his parcel and bags in his truck. ‘He is. What can I do for you?’
‘You sound like a man on a mission.’
He held her gaze. Unlike when he’d met her in town and the topic of the hay bale challenge had come up, she wasn’t getting the better of him a second time. ‘I am.’
Edna spoke in a cheery tone as though he had all the time in the world to stand in the heat and chat. ‘That was such a nice thing you did helping Ella with the joey. Sue said it’s going well.’
‘Ella didn’t need any help. She had everything under control.’
The subtle softening of Edna’s stare told him he’d given her the answer she’d wanted. He’d yet again walked into whatever trap she’d set. A trap he suspected had been to see if he was still looking out for Ella. He ground his teeth. Edna couldn’t know just how much that was true and how much such a realisation kept him up at night. He changed tack.
‘I believe you have a birthday coming up?’
Edna’s hand lifted to flutter over her chest. ‘I do.’ She leaned in a little closer. ‘It’s a significant birthday and usually significant birthdays have a significant party.’
Ella had mentioned the trouble Bethany was having organising her mother’s surprise party. ‘Do they?’
Her gaze pinned his. ‘Yes.’
‘Well then, I hope you have a happy birthday and an enjoyable party.’
‘It goes without saying you’d be invited to any celebration.’ She gave a coy smile. ‘Whenever it is on.’
He kept his expression deadpan. ‘Just let me know the date. I’ll be there. Now, I’d better go as I’m meeting Denham.’
Saul didn’t miss the twist of Edna’s lips before he turned away. He didn’t envy Bethany the job of keeping her mother’s party a secret. Edna had to suspect something was being planned.
‘You’re looking very pleased with yourself,’ Denham said as Saul entered the bakery and took a seat at a round table to the left of the bread counter. His stomach rumbled. The busy bakery smelled of fresh bread and hearty meat pies.
‘It’s not every day you can walk away from a conversation with Edna knowing something she doesn’t.’
Denham chuckled. ‘It’s going to be a long month until her birthday. I take it she was fishing for party information from you too.’
‘Yep. And it’ll be a miracle if her party is a surprise.’
Denham nodded as he slid a magazine and a white envelope towards him. ‘Here’s the magazine with the article about bison meat I was telling you about. I also ran into Daniel from the police station and he asked if you could give this letter to Ella. It arrived this morning and apparently she’s out of town all day. He didn’t want to leave it in her mailbox. Even though it’s addressed to her, it would have something to do with Libby.’
Saul glanced at the plain white envelope that lay facedown on the magazine. ‘I’ll drop it round tonight. Let’s hope there’s something in it that’s helpful.’
‘I hear you. It’s a good thing what you and Ella are doing for Violet.’
Saul nodded as he pushed back his chair. Denham’s blue gaze had just been a little too intent. He might have succeeded in hiding how unsettled Ella made him feel from Edna but he didn’t stand a chance when it came to Denham.
‘I’m so hungry, your four-pie record could be in trouble,’ he said, coming to his feet.
They both headed to the counter where they ordered.
He made sure the conversation didn’t return to Ella while they tucked into their plate of pies. Both had ordered two and then went back for a third.
When their plates were empty, Denham rubbed his stomach. ‘My four-pie record isn’t in danger even from me. In my defence I had finished harvest when I ate that many.’
Saul leaned back in his chair. ‘I’m busted too.’
Denham drained his coffee mug. ‘Great, because I volunteered you to help move furniture at the old schoolhouse.’
‘What’s that got to do with me being too full to move?’
Denham stood and slapped his back. ‘You’re just like Bandit and not as edgy after food.’
Saul stood. ‘I’m not edgy and neither is that horse of yours. He’s just bad-tempered.’
Denham only smirked. ‘Trust me, you would be edgy after meeting the other volunteers if I hadn’t fed you first.’
Saul headed to his F-truck and then, after a quick call into Woodlea Rural for some salt-lick blocks, drove across town to the bluestone schoolhouse. Denham hadn’t elaborated on who else would be helping to prepare the building for the windmill museum. Tanner’s blue ute indicated he was there but he didn’t recognise any of the other dusty vehicles.
Before Saul
entered the school gates he checked his phone. He’d sent Ella a text that he had a letter for her but she hadn’t yet replied. He stared at his phone screen. He shouldn’t be so conscious that this was the first week since the hay bale challenge that they’d reached the midweek mark without having communicated with each other. He switched his phone to silent and returned it to his jeans pocket.
He walked past the school bell and into the building. Voices sounded from the rooms to his left. He stepped into what would have once been a classroom.
Denham greeted him with a grin and Tanner with a nod from where they carried a cupboard. Mac Barton gave him a wave as he stacked chairs. Three older men turned to stare at him. The shorter of the gentlemen approached. Despite the liveliness of his eyes, his snow-white hair and the deep lines on his face spoke of a life that hadn’t always been kind.
‘Good to see you again, Saul,’ the man said, offering him his hand.
Saul shook his hand. Old Will had walked Cressy down the aisle as her parents had been killed in a car crash years ago in Tasmania. ‘Good to see you too.’
‘Let me introduce you to Clive and Noel.’
Saul followed old Will over to the two men. Neither smiled.
Craggy and weathered, with discreet hearing aids, the tall man on the right’s expression could only be described as a glower. But it was the gentleman on the left whose thoughts were indecipherable that Saul focused on. It was always the quiet ones you would be a fool to underestimate.
Old Will made the introductions. ‘Clive, Saul. Saul, Clive Barton.’
So the man on the right was Mac and Finn’s father. Saul had heard he was difficult to deal with. Saul met the power of Clive’s handshake with the right amount of resistance. Anything less and Clive’s first impression wouldn’t be favourable. Clive’s faded gaze glinted but he remained unsmiling.
Old Will spoke again. ‘Noel, Saul. Saul, Noel Galloway.’
Saul concealed his surprise. The dignified man on the left was Edna’s husband. He’d never met a more polar opposite couple. This time he made sure his handshake didn’t overpower the other man’s grip. Noel’s impassive expression didn’t change.
‘So you’re the American with the bison?’ Clive’s tone was as hard and unyielding as his handshake.
‘I am, except I’m more of a tomato sauce than a ketchup guy. I grew up around Tamworth.’
Clive’s gruff bark was what he guessed passed as a chuckle. ‘I hope you’re as strong as you look, because we’ve got truckloads of stuff to move.’
Then, not waiting for a reply, he strode out the side door to wherever the furniture was being loaded.
Noel’s cool grey gaze locked with Saul’s. ‘I’ve been hearing your name mentioned with Ella’s.’
He remembered Edna’s words that her husband thought the world of Ella and this had made her exempt from Edna’s usual attention.
‘We’re neighbours and have been helping each other out.’
‘You’ll never find a more talented or hardworking vet.’
He nodded. ‘Ella’s treated one of my bison.’
‘My wife’s the social one … I don’t take any interest in anything that happens in town … unless it’s to do with Ella.’
Saul kept his tone mild. ‘I’m an old bull rider with no time to do anything but run his bison farm.’
Noel didn’t answer, just studied him from beneath grey brows.
Boots sounded on the wooden floorboards as Denham and Tanner returned.
Denham sent him a long look. ‘I thought you were supposed to be helping?’
Saul nodded to Noel before he left to help Denham lift a table. At Denham’s serious glance, Saul gave him a brief grin to let him know everything was fine. Clive and Noel hadn’t exactly rolled out the red carpet but he was still in one piece.
It took an hour until the schoolhouse was finally cleared. The removed furniture was being split between the Woodlea town hall and the nearby small corrugated iron hall at Reedy Creek. A second set of volunteers were on hand to help unload the truck at each destination so Saul said his goodbyes with Denham.
After promising Denham he’d visit his shed for a cold beer soon, Saul left. He stopped at the main street florist shop before driving to Violet’s to collect Duke. There still hadn’t been any reply to his text from Ella. Wherever she was working, the phone signal had to be poor.
He parked outside Woodlea Lodge and reached for the bunch of sweet-smelling flowers on the seat beside him. Except he didn’t pick up the bouquet. He’d moved Denham’s magazine and Ella’s letter onto the floor and on the drive through town the glossy magazine had slid off the letter to reveal the front of the envelope.
He bent to pick up the letter. The typed label was addressed to A Quinlivan, c/o Woodlea Police Station. The incorrect initial wasn’t the reason why he dragged a hand around the back of his neck. If the letter had been a response to the hay bale callout for information it could have been easy to get Ella’s name wrong.
His jaw tightened. He didn’t believe in coincidences. He also knew how the internet could make the world a small place. Violet had been right to worry about Ella being the face of Libby’s publicity campaign. He stared at the stamp in the top right-hand corner. Ella had mentioned the United Kingdom when she’d shared more about her past. Now a letter had arrived with a stamp that bore the profile of the Queen of England.
CHAPTER
11
Ella loved her job.
She stood on the front steps of the vet surgery and waved as members of her puppy preschool class headed home. Tonight it had been a cuteness overload. There’d been a fluffy border collie, a gangling Great Dane, a mini Jack Russell and a labrador the colour of chocolate.
Hattie, a student at the local Reedy Creek school, turned to give her a final wave. The tiny Jack Russell she carried was already asleep in her arms.
To the left of the path, in the middle of what had once been a green lawn but was now crisp yellow grass, stood a replica red fire hydrant positioned for dogs to lift their legs on. The Great Dane pulled his little owner over so he could sniff around the base.
When everyone had finally reached their cars, Ella went back inside.
‘Oscar, you can come out now.’
The ginger cat had disappeared the moment the first puppy had bounded through the door. She smothered a yawn and tidied up the surgery waiting room where the puppy manners class had been held. Just as well she’d put the veranda light on a timer as it would be dark before she got home.
Oscar appeared from behind the counter and wrapped himself around her legs.
‘I wondered where you’d been hiding.’
As she bent to scratch beneath his chin, her lower back protested. It had been a busy day pregnancy-testing cows out of town. While she’d returned in plenty of time for the puppy class, she still felt as though she’d cut it a little too fine. She’d only briefly been able to check her messages. If she was honest she’d only really been looking for one from Saul. To her relief he’d texted to let her know that a letter for her had arrived at the police station.
She straightened and went to switch off the air conditioner and the lights. She didn’t regret telling him about her past last Sunday; it had felt like the right thing to do. He’d also made her feel comfortable. He hadn’t asked her any questions or pushed for more information. His faith in her, and the way he’d called her a decent and honourable person, continued to make her feel warm and fluttery inside. She’d spent so long being content with her own company, she shouldn’t now feel as though something was missing in her life just because she’d barely heard from him.
Steps purposeful, she locked the back surgery door and headed for her four-wheel drive. When Saul dropped her letter around tonight she’d return his washed and ironed shirt that sat on her kitchen table and keep everything casual between them. Even in an unguarded moment, she was a fool to wish that what lay between them was anything but friendship. Their connection had been
forged on neither wanting anything more.
As she left the town limits she caught up to the small blue cattle truck of a local livestock carrier. The truck was driving slowly and between the oncoming traffic and road bends, it proved impossible to pass. By the time she’d turned into her front gate an inky darkness had stolen across the sky. In the gloom the bright rays of the veranda light illuminated the front façade of the sandstone cottage. She could only hope that whatever was in the letter would bring Libby home or Violet some answers.
After checking on Cinnamon and Nutmeg, she reheated the previous night’s leftovers and readied herself for Saul’s visit. She didn’t have long to wait. Car lights flickered past her living room window before Duke barked.
She greeted them at the back door. The first thing she noticed was that Saul’s hair was shower-damp. The second was that grooves again bracketed his mouth. The gravity she’d first associated with him had returned.
‘Would you like to come in?’ she asked, not realising she was holding her breath until he nodded. She wasn’t sure if he was in a social frame of mind.
He and Duke followed her into the kitchen.
‘Coffee?’ she asked as she turned to face him.
‘If you’re having one.’
She wasn’t going to, but she would now. She wasn’t letting Saul rush off. Something troubled him, plus it was the first time she’d seen him all week. She’d be lying if she didn’t admit that having him near made her realise how much she’d missed him.
She went to collect two mugs from the cupboard as Duke settled himself beside her kitchen chair. Saul placed the letter on the table before helping her with the coffees. If she didn’t know better she’d have said he needed something to do.
As much as she appreciated his help, she wished he’d simply sat at the table. In the small kitchen there was no escaping his fresh clean scent or the way the soft cotton of his black T-shirt hugged his torso.
The Boundary Fence (A Woodlea Novel, #7) Page 16