‘They’ll come – they ain’t turning down a free feed. You can lay a quid on that,’ Bob observed cynically. Bess Himan had promised to provide the meat so we could definitely count on her and George, I thought, and Mike, of course, as well as the Thorntons and whoever else Eric may have asked.
The Thorntons flew in around noon on Wednesday and from there everything went to plan. It was a warm, clear-skied day with new growth on the creek gums and a brilliant blaze from the wattle. It perfumed the air and laid a speckled carpet of gold below its canopy. Ute looked radiant in a short white dress with her blonde hair piled high and held by a glittering comb; she carried a gilt horseshoe and a tiny white-jacketed bible in lieu of a bouquet. Eric plainly thought her a splendid sight with her bare tanned arms and shoulders and brilliant gaze. I supported her at the makeshift altar in the amber dress I’d worn to the dance, while Bob, dapper in his sateen shirt and grey trousers, made a passable fist of his speech. The wattle I’d picked failed to droop and enough people had turned up to make a good showing in the decorated seats. Ute’s ‘nibblers’, though eyed warily at first, were quickly demolished and rounded off with a quantity of quiches and other easily prepared eats.
Some people had brought wedding gifts, which, when the newly made couple finally departed for the Alice, I promised to pack and hold for them.
‘You’ll never get to the Alice tonight. It’s past ten already.’ I spoke into the dim circle of torchlight, for I had accompanied them out to Eric’s vehicle, and was helping him remove the assorted cans that some of his workmates had tied to the tailboard.
‘No matter, we’ve got a swag. Thanks a lot, Charlie. It’s been a great day and it’s meant a lot to Ute, and to me, what you and Molly have done for us.’
“Is the best day ever,’ Ute agreed. She’d changed into jeans and now turned on her heels, spreading her arms wide to take in the glitter of stars above us, the soft breeze on our faces and the distant music flowing from Don’s fingers on the piano accordion. He was taking requests and the crowd were singing along. ‘Me, I am married wife. And now I get to sleep maybe, under the stars. This I have never done.’
‘First time for everything, wife.’ Eric ushered her into the vehicle, the cab light shining on their animated faces before the door closed. I waved as they drove off, then returned to find Mike and rejoin the party.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Later, as the two of us stood in a little island of privacy beneath the coloured lights, Mike said quietly, ‘It was a great day, Charlie. A credit to both your and Molly’s efforts. I hope our wedding goes as smoothly.’
‘It will,’ I promised. ‘Maybe Ute will help with the catering – she’s some cook. For all his talk of wog tucker, I noticed Bob putting away the hors d’oeuvres at a decent rate. Have you heard from your parents?’
‘Of course. Mum said she’d sent an RSVP – hasn’t it come yet?’
‘Maybe next mail. Tell me about them – I can’t even imagine what they’re like and they’ll be my in-laws!’
‘You’ll like them,’ he said confidently. ‘Dad’s easygoing, and Mum’s … well, she’s Mum, you know – nice, average, I suppose, kind. Everyone likes her.’
‘The point is – will they like me?’
‘What’s not to like?’ He kissed me. ‘You’ll be Dad’s favourite daughter-in-law, and Mum’ll love anyone who loves me. She’s over the moon about the wedding. I think she thought the three of us were going to stay bachelors. She had hopes for Dan – he had a girl for two years, but they broke up after they’d been living together for six months. Of course she didn’t approve of that, but she’d have forgotten about it if he’d married her.’
‘Well, if I only have to marry you to win her approval … That’s okay. When can I see the house?’
‘First free day I’ll be over to get you. Don’t expect too much,’ he warned, sounding suddenly worried. ‘There’s no garden, not even a lawn. The house is just two small bedrooms and a kitchen.’
‘That’s okay. We can easily live and eat in one room, and there’s a bedroom each for when we row. It does have a bathroom though? I rather like being clean.’
‘Yep, with hot water when you light the donkey, a flushing loo and a laundry out the back … power when the diesel’s running. And what’s with the rowing? We won’t.’
‘Of course we will. There’ll be times you’ll be cranky, and occasionally something will upset me. It’s only natural. Every couple rows – ask your mum if you don’t believe me. How long have your parents been married?’
He blew out his breath. ‘Jeff’s thirty-two so … thirty-three, thirty-four years maybe? I’ve never inquired. Why’ – he ruffled my curls – ‘do you think we can top their record?’
‘Definitely. I’ll be trying for sixty – that’ll only make you ninety, after all.’ I leant into him, murmuring into the swell of the music that covered our conversation. If we’d had a floor instead of lawn we could have danced.
Then, like the abrupt arrival of a cloud before the sun, my happiness was momentarily pierced by the thought of how easily all of this could have never happened. If Annabelle hadn’t died, then I wouldn’t have come back when I did, and I might never have met the man whose life I would now share. Fate or chance had brought us together, the odds against our ever meeting astronomical. It was scary to even think about the many ways we might never have met. If Mike hadn’t taken the job at Abbey Downs, if I hadn’t needed a lift home from the Alice … But having triumphed over these probabilities and come together, I was suddenly, fiercely resolved that nothing would ever sever us.
I turned within Mike’s arm lying loosely about my waist to loop my hands about his head and pull it down to meet mine, glimpsing beyond the dark outline of his hair the heavens lit by the million pinpricks of distant stars. Despite the odds, the universe had been on our side and that had to mean something. We had met, and he was mine until death parted us.
I kissed him then and told him my deepest truth.
Acknowledgements
I shall lift up mine eyes unto the Hills and give thanks for their often useful (and sometimes zany) suggestions. I should also like to thank my hard-working editor, Amanda Martin, for being particular and highly professional, my publisher, Ali Watts, for being there, Sarah Fletcher, dedicated proofreader, and the rest of the crew who design and print my books.
About the Author
Kerry McGinnis was born in Adelaide and at the age of twelve took up a life of droving with her father and four siblings. The family travelled extensively across the Northern Territory and Queensland before settling on a station in the Gulf Country. Kerry has worked as a shepherd, droving hand, gardener and stock-camp and station cook on the family property Bowthorn, northwest of Mount Isa. She is the author of two volumes of memoir, Pieces of Blue and Heart Country, and several bestselling novels. Kerry now lives in Bundaberg.
Also by the author
Pieces of Blue
Heart Country
The Waddi Tree
Wildhorse Creek
Tracking North
Mallee Sky
Out of Alice
Secrets of the Springs
The Heartwood Hotel
MICHAEL JOSEPH
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Penguin Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.
First published by Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd, 2019
Text copyright © Kerry McGinnis, 2019
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, published, performed in public or communicated to the public in any form or by any means without prior written permission from Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd or its authorised licensees.
Cover design by Louisa Maggio © Penguin Random House Australia Pty
Ltd
Cover photographs: roadhouse by Pailin S. Kulvong/Getty Images;
landscape and road by Drunaa/Trevillion Images
ISBN: 9780143794202
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