I frowned as I tried to work my way through everything he had actually said. “Why don’t you hire a different catering company?”
Hiring someone new sounded like the perfect solution to me.
“The truth is there aren’t a lot of companies to choose form around here. And sad to say most people won’t do business with us because they disapprove of Alec’s and my lifestyle. I know it seems backward in this day and age, but this is the reality of where we live,” he said with a miniscule shrug.
“And you think hiring a gay cook for the interim is going to make things easier? Hell, I spent the last couple of weeks being ignored by the men I cook for here. I think my being there might cause more problems for you, not benefit you.”
Lester blushed and I wondered why. He looked at me and fiddled with his cup. “Before coming here today I may have called your old restaurant and asked questions about you. Everyone all agreed when you cooked you took no shit from anyone and this’s what we’re hoping you can do for us. I’ve been trying my best to take over for Aaron but Alec and I both work right out there among the hands and I don’t have enough time for everything.”
He looked at me with big brown puppy dog eyes. “I’ll get on my knees and beg if I have to.”
I stopped him from leaving the chair. “You don’t have to, though I appreciate the gesture.” I watched him for a long moment while I decided. “Okay, I’ll help you on one condition: Before I go with you I need to prepare the dinner for here tonight. I can make it and leave instructions for Lizzie to reheat it.”
“Okay.”
I grinned. “That’s not the condition. The condition is I have total say over what’s going on. I know it’s your party, but this is my reputation and you’re right in one thing — when it comes to work ethics I take no shit from anyone.” I wasn’t lying. The whole mess with the guys here wasn’t work related; it was what it was.
Lester stood and gave me a grin. “Okay then, I’ll leave you to it and go and harass Lizzie in the office for a while. We haven’t had a good gossip session for yonks. Just don’t tell Alec I’ve been slacking off.” He chuckled as he waved and left the room.
What the hell had I agreed to do? How did I go from being exiled here to running a barbeque for people I haven’t even met yet? I suppose there was nothing like jumping feet first into the deep end of things.
I needed help and I knew exactly which people to call.
As I worked at preparing the night’s meal, I couldn’t help but get a little excited about Lester and Alec wanting me to help out.
I knew then and there I was gonna do the best damn job I could.
The hard part was going to be not losing my cool if the catering firm pissed me off. I didn’t want anyone to see the chef in me really come out when I got my dander up about something which wasn’t going my way. This happened quite a lot as I expected perfection in cooking or very close to it. I made mental notes in my head about what I needed to check out once I got to Hazeldowns. I was hoping Aaron kept his own notes to help me get through everything. During the ride I knew I was going to be asking Lester so many questions his head would spin. But in my line of work questions needed to be asked and answered for everything to run smoothly.
By the time I had finished prepping the dinner. I heard the voices of some of the hands coming my way. One I immediately recognised as the softly spoken drawl of Ren and he sounded like he was in some sort of pain.
“Fuck! God-damn-it.” Ren swore as he was helped through the door and onto one of the chairs in the dining room. Pain rippled across his face and by the looks on Bo and Lance’s faces I got the impression whatever was wrong was pretty bad.
Shit, what should I do? Hovering in the doorway wasn’t going to help anyone.
“What should I do?” I asked as soon as Ren was settled.
“There’s nothing to do. We already radioed the office and they have help coming.” Bo stated.
“What happened?”
Ren frowned at me and I took a step back. Maybe I’d overstepped my boundaries with my concern. Who the hell would know? I certainly didn’t. I was so far outside the box with these people I didn’t know whether I was Arthur or Martha.
For the first time a smile graced Bo’s face and it put me somewhat at ease. Things couldn’t possibly be as bad as I was thinking if Bo could crack a smile.
“Someone, and I’m not mentioning any names…” He gave me an exaggerated wink. “But if you whistle, I’ll point,” he nodded in Ren’s direction, “got clipped by a bull and found himself going arse over tit,” he let out a bark of laughter. “It was bloody funny, the bike went one way and Ren here went the other.”
The look of annoyance on Ren’s face told everyone he wasn’t impressed. “It wasn’t that funny, arsehole.” He said through gritted teeth.
“Can I make you a cuppa? Nana Daisy always said in a crisis tea will solve everything.” I blurted out as I left the room before I had even got their replies. The chuckles of laughter behind me were a sure sign they were thinking the same thing.
“Two teas and a coffee,” Lance yelled from the other room.
I could do this. I made their beverages and took them out before returning to the kitchen and double checking everything was okay. All they would have to do would be to cook the rice and greens and everything would be alright. I had every faith they wouldn’t screw it up. Well, almost every faith in them.
“Okay, if you are sure there is nothing I can do. I better go and pack.”
“Where are you going?” Ren asked. His grip on his cup tightened and I wasn’t sure where it was from pain or from me saying I was packing. Maybe it was wishful thinking on my part, but I liked the idea Ren was worried about me.
I graced him with a grin. “I’ve been asked to go over and lend a hand at Hazeldowns for a couple of days while their cook is away dealing with family matters. Lester came and asked if I could help out with the barbeque. They need me to make sure everything runs smoothly.” I didn’t want to go into greater detail and talk about stuff which Lester and Alec might prefer I kept quiet.
“How long will you be gone for?” Bo asked. “You’re coming back home, right?”
His concern touched me. “Yes, I’m coming back. As soon as the barbeque is over I’ll be back among you all. Billingsford’s still my home for the foreseeable future.” I tried to make light of what was being asked. I think I failed miserably as all three men frowned at me. Sighing, I added. “Honestly, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be back in a week. All depending if I’m needed to make sure everything gets back to where it’s meant to be.”
Bo said warily, “As long as you come back and aren’t doing a runner because some of the guys were being dicks toward you.”
“I swear, I’m only going to help out until the barbie. I’ll be back before you’ve even had a chance to miss me. Hell, I’ll see you all at the barbie anyway, won’t I?”
Bo grinned again and the tension which had been swamping the room dissipated. “Of course you’ll see us; no one misses out on Hazeldowns Australia Day barbie. Ren’ll be there even if his leg’s broken in three places. Isn’t that right, mate?”
“My leg isn’t broken. I only landed wrong and pulled something I shouldn’t have.” Ren said. “The doc’s probably gonna tell me to put some ice on it and rest up.”
I was about to say something when Lester re-entered the dining room. “Are you almost ready? Alec has a tendency to get worried if I’m away too long.”
I nodded. “Let me run and grab some clothes and I’ll be right with you.”
“Don’t forget your good duds for the party. I wouldn’t want you to miss the chance of getting all gussied up in your good clobber.” Bo winked. “Who knows, you may even catch the eye of some young fella.”
As I was leaving I saw the grip Ren had on the coffee cup tighten a fraction and I was in too much of a hurry to wonder why, though I did store the information away to pull out and peruse at a late date. If I was h
onest with myself cowboys were a lot more confusing than the city dwellers I was used to associating with. More often than not I was left at a loss as I tried to figure out what the hell was going on. Somebody should write a book about the inner working of a cowboy and how to interpret what they mean, because for the life of me, I understood them less and less with every day which passed.
Chapter Six
Dillygaff
Translation: Do I look like I give a flying fuck?
By the end of the first day at Hazeldowns I was frustrated as hell and ready to kill someone. I didn’t care who, but the idiots on the other end of the catering service line were looking like pretty good targets at this moment in time. I thought Lester had only been joking when he had said the caterers had been unwilling to help. Boy, were the owners and staff of Kings Catering in for a surprise when they realised I was going to have them blacklisted in the foodies world. I may only be new to my time in Western Australia, but I still had my connections with people in the know.
Back in Queensland the staff had named me Captain Dillygaff. It was a moniker I wore proudly.
Lester and Alec had almost passed out when I announced I’d fired the caterers and was having my own staff flown in. I didn’t tell Lester and Alec I had already called my friends before I grabbed my clothes from my room at Billingsford. I may not be rich but I had friends who owed me, and right now they were all on their way here to help get this party started. I was more determined than ever to make this the best damn party Hazeldowns had ever thrown.
“I can’t believe you fired them.” Alec stared at me in shock, and I didn’t know how the hell to reassure him everything was going to be alright.
“Yes, I fired them. They weren’t willing to do what they had agreed to. So instead of waiting around for everything to go south; I took things into my own hands and made some decisions. I promise you the barbeque will go off exactly as planned. The only difference is instead of Kings Catering supplying the food, I’ve called in some friends who owe me a favour or two and they’re coming to help me cook. Most will be here tomorrow morning. Fear not, I have everything under control.”
As confident as I was, I didn’t want to admit there was a small window of everything imploding and becoming a complete and humiliating disaster. No, it was better to keep thoughts like this to myself. Also, I was hoping my friend Arthur would be himself and take over exactly like he did whenever any of us threw a dinner party.
The look on Alec’s face had me thinking maybe he didn’t quite believe me, and I was determined to prove him wrong.
“Alec, I swear to you, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. Between my friends and myself we’ll put on a spread that’ll be talked about for years to come.”
“It’s only meant to be a barbie.”
“And you’ll be getting a barbie with a few added extras,” I said as soothingly as I could.
These two men had put their trust in me and I didn’t want them to start doubting me now. In all honesty I was still in a little shock I was even doing this considering before today we were complete strangers.
“I’ve been told you guys put on more than an average barbie. I think what I’ve planned will fit in nicely with the mini fair you have going on.” I pulled up pictures on my mobile phone and showed them pictures of the people who would be arriving tomorrow. I think it helped relax them a tad.
After getting Alec somewhat calmed I made a quick and easy dinner for the Hazeldowns hands. I was fricken knackered and all I wanted to do was put my head on the pillow and fall into dreamland. Hell, I didn’t care if I didn’t dream at all as long as I got some sleep.
Tomorrow was going to be one hell of a long arse day.
§ § §
After the hands had all left — some to start making preparations for Saturday’s party — I began to get a little roll of fear in my gut. Not because I thought we wouldn’t get everything done in time, because the people I had coming knew what hard work was. The six friends I’d called in to help all arrived not long before lunch, thanks to Alec going into Kununurra and picking them all up for me.
We made quick work of getting food out for the hands then we could start planning what we were going to do for the barbie and how fast we needed to get things done. There was less than a week and still much to do. I’d already worked out that we needed to get up before dawn to get the barbeque pits fired up and the meat on the spit. I had lucked out and a local mobile butcher had given me a good deal on the beasts we would be cooking. He seemed happy to be to be associated with the day. He was even offering to cut some parts into thick steaks for burgers. I gave Alec his card in case they wanted to use him again next year.
The help I had called in included my childhood friend Mathew Delany, who usually worked as a mechanic and was one of the best guys on a grill I’d ever met (what that man could do with some hot coals and raw meat was amazing). I wasn’t going to tell him this because he already had a big enough ego. Arthur Miller was a big plus. He was currently on holidays due to the fact the restaurant where he’s head chef was in the middle of massive renovations. Arthur’s partner, Jayden Rush, who also worked at the same restaurant, was eager to lend a hand. In my time of need I called three people I hold very close to my heart even though one is by default; they’re David, Corey, and my younger brother Garreth. I’ve always known both David and Garreth would have my back when needed. Corey had only come along for the ride.
Little did he realise I was going to put his hands to work right along with the rest of them.
It was damn good to have my family with me once more and it wasn’t long before Garreth pulled me aside to ask me what was wrong. He always could read me like a book. I had to tell him the truth because he had an uncanny knack of knowing when I was lying or not telling the whole truth.
“So how’s it really going big brother?” His gaze was penetrating as he waited for me to answer.
“It goes well.” I shrugged. “I’m doing okay. Lizzie is great and I love cooking for everyone. I was a little rattled when I was asked to come and do this for Alec and Lester. The caterers were being dicks as you know since I rang complaining and begging you all to hurry up and get here to help. They didn’t appreciate getting fired.”
Garreth stared at me and I could almost see the cogs ticking over in his brain while he decided if I was being honest or not.
His next words let me know he wasn’t totally convinced.
“Are you telling me nothing’s happened since you moved away from your family to the other side of the country? Why don’t I believe you?”
Shit! I couldn’t even look him in the eye which was a dead giveaway I was hiding something.
“Spill it. You know you will eventually. You mose well get it over and done with now; you know I’ll only keep asking until you end up telling me.”
The sad thing was I knew this is exactly what he’d do. Garreth, or G as we all called him, was the brother who could ferret out even the smallest secret any of the siblings kept. He never held the secrets over our heads. He was more our sounding board.
G was a big believer in, a trouble shared is a trouble halved, and truthfully he was usually right.
“Okay, maybe everything isn’t quite as hunky dory as I said it was. I had a couple of days…okay weeks…there at Lizzie’s where everyone was giving me the cold shoulder. Mainly, the men were.” Admitting what had gone on was like a kick to the stomach and something I never wished to go through again –
Ever! Even talking about it now made me feel like utter crap.
“What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything,” I said a little haughtily. “Bo made a dumbarse comment about me marrying one of the cowboys then I’d stay and cook for them. It didn’t sit well with most of the male population. Yesterday Lizzie chucked a hissy fit at them all and things started to get back to normal, but I got roped into helping here and haven’t seen anyone since then to see if they’re really over the whole thing or no
t.” I shrugged trying to make light of the situation.
“Is that everything? I’m sensing there’s more to the story.”
“Damn, G, what are you, psychic now?” Laughter bubbled out of me I couldn’t help it. G was being serious and honestly he was freaking me out a tad.
He shook his head. “I know you. Laugh it off, but I know there’s something else going on.”
“Fine!” I spat in mock exasperation. “There’s one of the hands I kinda think’s a bit of all right. He’s older than I am and he’s straight.”
“How do you know?”
I rolled my eyes at my brother. “I know because I’ve met his son. His family came to stay a couple of days ago.”
“He’s married then.”
For a moment I was at a loss for words as to how to answer him, because I didn’t know the answer. “I don’t know. We’ve never talked about Ren’s private life. The hands all know my orientation but I’ve no clue what theirs are. As a matter of fact, it’s none of my business. Though with Ren I kind get the feeling… I don’t know. He keeps giving me mixed signals or something.”
G stood there nodding, he reached out and gently held onto my shoulder. “I think one day you’ll find the perfect person for you. Someone who’ll stand by you and not throw you over for the next cute thing who walks by.”
I knew he was talking about David. I never could convince my family it wasn’t David’s fault we didn’t work out as a couple.
As much as we tried it’s hard to stay together when you have grown too far apart. We still loved each other. We just weren’t in love with each other.
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