The Outback Cattleman's Hired Wife

by Natalia Elder

  ‘And what about a story?’ he persisted. ‘Glengarry -’

  ‘No. I promised I wouldn’t write about him, but I’ll see what I can come up with.’ Annoyed, Kirra ended the call. She hated being pressured.

  The puppy was asleep so she put him back in his bed and closed the laundry door for safe-keeping, while she showered and dressed for the day.

  Once in the shower, she lathered herself in slow circles with soap. The soft rainwater from the tank felt heavenly on her skin. It made her recall Jared’s lovemaking and desire welled up in her loins in an instant.

  How could she miss him already?

  His gentle, loving touch that made her quiver all over and take her to a mind-blowing zenith was not something to be taken for granted. Zac didn’t love her, she knew that now. But did Jared? All he had to say to her last night was those precious three little words. ‘I love you.’ It would have made all the difference in the world.

  How could he block out his feelings? She wondered in hope.

  Now, everything rode on Caleb’s compatibility with her. Fear sent a chill down her spine. If he didn’t like her, what then? Was it the end of the road as far as Jared was concerned? She hoped not. It took time to nurture relationships - build trust, especially if Caleb had had a revolving door of carers.

  Kirra cleared her mind. It was imperative, lest she go mad. She turned off the water and stepped onto the soft bath mat. Towelling herself dry, she dressed quickly in jeans and a turquoise knitted top, applied moisturiser to her face and ran a brush through her hair. Peering into the mirror, though her eyes looked a little tired, she thought that she was presentable enough for a seven year old boy.

  She collected the puppy, took it outside and placed it on the grass. The warm sunshine brightened her mood, as she gathered her dried clothes and popped them in the basket.

  Taking the puppy with her, she headed straight to her room. Plopping the puppy on her bed, she proceeded to fold the clothes and slip them away in her drawers.

  Jared had never mentioned domestic arrangements. The house was clean, but Kirra noticed that there was a load of Jared’s clothes freshly-washed this morning in the washing machine.

  Ever-the-practical, she pulled it out and hung it out on the clothes line to dry. It would be foolish to let damp clothes sit too long in the machine. Mould could take hold very quickly with so much moisture in the air.

  Later, seated in a white wicker chair on the front verandah with the puppy curled up asleep in her lap, she sipped some hot lemon tea and read her book, awaiting Caleb’s arrival. Even Jesse shuffled out and sat beside her to wait.

  Her nerves on edge, Kirra peered out at the green pastures and the mountains. Breathing in the fresh country air, she relaxed a little. Jared’s farm was the closest place on Earth to paradise she‘d experienced. She hoped, even though things weren’t quite right between them, that he would return soon.

  Leaning forward, her heartbeat quickened when she spotted Jared’s Land Cruiser a long way off, coming up the gravelled road towards the homestead.

  A flicker of excitement coiled through her blood. She was glad that he arrived home before Caleb. When he drove nearer, behind the wheel, he looked so handsome with his rugged, tanned face and dark hair falling lightly over the collar of his shirt. He smiled warmly and waved to her, then drove around the back to park in the garage. It almost undid her. She had an impulsive urge to veto her conviction, run down the hallway and into his arms. She wanted him, needed him so badly.

  But in the end, common sense won out. If there was any hope for them, she’d have to wait for Caleb’s arrival and deal with whatever life threw at her.

  Moments later, Jared walked through the homestead and onto the verandah.

  ‘Morning, Kirra,’ he said in a low tone, as he leaned against the railing. He faced her looking every inch a virile man in his jeans, red-checked shirt and boots. ‘Did you sleep well?’

  Kirra glanced up from her book. ‘No. Did you?’

  ‘No,’ he informed her flatly. ‘Caleb will be home shortly. Maybe, then . . . Ah, I’ll clean up first, shall I?’

  It was then that she noticed his shirt was stained with blood. ‘Is the cow okay?’

  ‘Yes, I managed to save her calf too.’

  ‘You did?’ she said and smiled warmly. ‘I’m so glad.’

  ‘Me, too,’ he exhaled on a tired sigh. ‘It was touch and go for a while there.’

  ‘You must be a very good veterinarian.’

  ‘Thank you. Kirra, I -’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I want to thank you for hanging out my clothes. I didn’t expect you to.’

  ‘No problem.’ She lowered her eyes to the text in her book.

  Jared let out a frustrated sigh. ‘I’ll take a shower. Then we need to talk.’ He turned on his heel and disappeared inside.

  A few minutes later, a silver sedan approached the house and Kirra’s heart pounded beneath her breast. What if Caleb didn’t like her? She couldn’t bear that. Kirra watched wide-eyed as a dark-haired boy opened the passenger side door and jumped out. He slammed the door and Kirra jerked upright, taking the puppy with her.

  Her eyes widened in shock, when the driver hopped out of the car. It was Phil, Elise’s fiancé. What was he doing here?

  Gob-smacked, she watched him collect a backpack from the backseat, before he came up to the homestead with Caleb.

  ‘Phil, what are you doing here?’ she said, her journalistic mind kicking in.

  Caleb stopped on the verandah. ‘That’s Uncle Gus. He drove me home. Where’s Dad?’

  ‘He’s in the bathroom taking a shower,’ Kirra informed him. ‘He’ll be out shortly. Come and sit down. I’ve got someone waiting to meet you.’

  Caleb’s blue eyes widened. When she held out the puppy, he ran over to her. ‘Awesome!’

  ‘He’s only little,’ she said softly, ‘so sit down please and you can hold him in your lap.’

  Caleb did as he was beckoned and Kirra smiled at him, as she placed the puppy gently in his hands.

  ‘Bridie sent him over for you, but he needs a name. Your Dad says you’re good with naming animals.’

  Caleb stroked him gently and thought long and hard. ‘I think I’ll call him, Chocolate because he’s nearly dark brown all over.’

  ‘Chocolate, it is then,’ she said, smiling at him.

  Phil put Caleb’s backpack on the verandah and gave Kirra a sheepish look. ‘Ah, I have to get back.’

  ‘Not so fast, Phil,’ Kirra said and gave him a piercing stare. ‘Are you related to Caleb?’

  ‘Not exactly.’

  ‘What does that mean?’

  Jared appeared in the doorway. ‘Thanks for bringing Caleb home, Gus,’ he said, then looked from one to the other. ‘Do you two know each other?’

  Kirra’s hands fisted her hips. ‘This is Phil, Elise’s fiancé. He works in the print room at the Brisbane Bulletin.’

  ‘What’s this all about, Gus?’ Jared’s voice demanded the truth.

  ‘Alright!’ Phil said, putting up his hand and took a tentative glance at Kirra. ‘My name is Augustus Phillip Haynes. Elise hates Gus. She thinks it makes me sound like a horse or something so she calls me by my middle name.’

  ‘So are you related or not?’ Kirra said, impatiently.

  ‘Yes, I guess. Jared’s aunt adopted me when she and her husband couldn’t have kids of their own.’

  ‘Gus is my cousin,’ Jared informed her flatly.

  Putting two and two together, Kirra glared at Phil. ‘Did you print up a fake ad for Jared wanting a wife and mother?’

  Phil’s shoulders slumped. ‘I’m no good at lying. I told Elise this would be a mistake me driving Caleb home.’

  ‘Elise is behind this?’ Kirra said, keeping her voice low. ‘Wait until I see her.’

  Jared intervened and his blue-grey eyes softening with amusement. ‘Tell Elise, it was the best mistake she’d ever made.’

  Kirra’s mouth drop
ped open. ‘What?’

  ‘Really, Jared?’ Phil said, relief evident in his voice.

  ‘Yes, really,’ he replied. ‘I’ll calm Kirra down. You’d better go. She looks like she wants to throttle you.’

  Phil grinned. ‘Bye, Kirra. Bye, Caleb.’

  ‘Bye, Uncle Gus,’ Caleb said, waving. ‘See you at the football game.’

  ‘Yeah, mate!’ Phil said, as he hot-tailed it out of there.

  Jared took hold of Kirra’s shoulders with a gentleness that almost made her weep. ‘Look at me.’

  Kirra met his eyes with an angry flash and her spine stiffened.

  ‘Does it really matter how we met?’ he said and hugged her to him. ‘Be grateful someone cares enough about us to go to such lengths.’

  Kirra let out a breath that she hadn’t realised she’d been holding.

  How good it felt to be in his arms again! Her mind swirled in delighted circles.

  ‘Everything will be okay,’ Jared whispered in her ear. ‘Come and meet my son, Caleb.’

  Chapter Eight

  JARED SLIPPED HIS arm around Kirra’s waist. She relaxed a little as he walked with her over to Caleb.

  ‘Son,’ he said quietly, hunkering down on his haunches.

  Caleb looked up at him immediately. ‘Dad!’ he said with barely contained excitement, ‘Look what this nice lady gave me.’

  ‘This nice lady is my friend, Kirra. I told you on the phone she’d be here, remember?’ Jared glanced at Kirra to gauge her reaction. She seemed to have a puzzled look on her face. But what else could he call her? He couldn’t tell his seven year old son that she was his lover. It would be too much of a shock.

  Kirra was the best thing that had ever happened to him. She was kind and generous. He’d seen that when she’d cared for the puppy until Caleb returned home, and when she did some of the domestic duties of her own volition. He hadn’t expected that. Kirra just being such a passionate and whole-hearted lover was enough for him. And she loved him! What more could any red-blooded man want? He mentally kicked himself.

  Heather had only wanted to have sex one way, in bed, missionary position. And she’d certainly never told him about any of her sexual fantasies. That’s if she’d ever had any. She was never the one to initiate sex. After Caleb was born, there was no sex at all. Jared had been celibate for so many years, he’d lost count. He’d told himself that he could live without it. He wasn’t superhuman however, and when the tension became too great, he would release in the shower. When Heather died, the celibacy continued - grieving, caring for Caleb and his mother to some extent, and the veterinary and farm commitments zapped him of sexual impulses. He really did believe Kirra was an angel delivered to him on his doorstep.

  And if he didn’t make things right between them soon, he knew that she would be taken away from him for good!

  ‘Say, hello to Kirra,’ Jared said to Caleb in an encouraging tone, as he straightened and stood beside Kirra.

  ‘Hi Kirra,’ Caleb said. ‘Are you my new nanny?’

  Kirra’s spine stiffened again, as she felt Jared’s large, supportive hand on her back. ‘No, I’m . . . I’m. . .’ She gave Jared a piercing stare. It was the first time she’d ever been lost for words. ‘Help me out here.’

  Jared smiled his reassuring, crooked smile, then looked towards Caleb. ‘Kirra’s a journalist. She’s having a two week holiday with us. She wants to see what it’s like living in the country.’

  ‘Are you going to stay after that?’ The little boy stroked the puppy faster and gave her a painful look, as if he was already preparing for a rebuff.

  ‘I hope so,’ Kirra said, warmly. ‘But that will be a decision your father and I will make.’

  In the end, it had to be a mutual agreement, Kirra realised. Even if she and Caleb made friends, ultimately, she also had a say in the matter.

  But she could see now why Jared was concerned for Caleb’s feelings. He seemed a sensitive boy and he’d been abandoned many times by women, leaving him insecure.

  She knew that could affect his relationships later in life if he couldn’t count on a woman being honest, loyal and respectful of his feelings.

  Jared slid his arm around Kirra’s waist and gave a gentle squeeze. ‘I couldn’t agree more,’ he said, giving her a brief smile, before turning his gaze to Caleb. ‘How about you take your puppy inside for a nap while we have lunch,’ he suggested, a genuine cheerfulness in his tone.

  ‘Okay, Dad.’

  Kirra stepped forward away from Jared’s embrace. ‘I’ll show you where his bed is.’

  Caleb stood with the puppy close to his chest and Jared bent down on one knee.

  ‘Come here, Tiger,’ Jared said, ‘and let your Dad give you a big hug.’ Caleb walked forward and he swept his son and puppy up into a heartfelt, bear hug. ‘I’ve missed you so much. Did you have a good time at the beach?’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ Caleb replied, all excited again. ‘Granny and I collected lots of shells. They’re in my backpack.’ He pointed to it on the verandah. ‘Granny wants me to make her a shell necklace. She said that you’d be able to help with drilling little holes in the shells and you might have some fishing line in the barn to string them on.’

  ‘We’ll see.’ Jared carried him inside, picking up the backpack on the way. ‘How about I make us all some ham, cheese and tomato toasted sandwiches?’

  ‘Then can we work on the necklace?’ Caleb asked, as Jared set him down on his feet.

  Jared ruffled Caleb’s hair with his fingers. ‘Sure thing, Tiger,’ he said, reassuringly. ‘Maybe, Kirra would like to make one too.’

  Kirra was used to playing games with her cousin’s children so she was delighted to be included. ‘Yes, that would be lovely. Come on, off to the laundry, Caleb.’

  With the puppy, held tightly to his chest, Caleb walked down the hallway, while his father headed to the kitchen.

  Kirra kept pace beside Caleb. ‘If your father agrees,’ she said calmly, ‘Chocolate may be able to sleep in your room.’

  ‘Wow!’ he said, ‘That’d be cool.’

  They entered the laundry and Kirra placed the puppy gently on his bed. ‘Come,’ she whispered, ‘we’ll wash our hands in the bathroom sink so as not to wake him.’

  He nodded and followed her out. ‘Puppies need a lot of sleep,’ he whispered to her.

  ‘I know,’ she whispered back.

  When they entered the kitchen, Jared was pouring hot water from the kettle into the teapot. There was a red and white checked tablecloth covering the table, on top of which sat a large plate of toasted sandwiches and a glass of milk for Caleb.

  ‘Good timing,’ Jared said, giving Kirra a grateful smile.

  They all sat down at the table and Kirra felt a pang of envy. How lucky was Jared to have a child? Something she’d yearned for, but had never been blessed with. Sitting simply together, sharing a meal, a warm feeling washed over her.

  If this is what being a family was like, she was all for it.

  ‘Help yourself,’ Jared said, pouring a cup of tea for Kirra and himself.

  Caleb sipped his milk, then asked excitedly, ‘Dad, can Chocolate sleep in my room?’

  ‘Chocolate?’ Jared said in puzzlement.

  ‘That’s what I named the puppy,’ Caleb said proudly.

  ‘After I give him his vaccination and put something on him to prevent fleas, ticks and worms this afternoon,’ Jared said, ‘It’s okay.’

  While they ate, Kirra told them some funny things she’d come across in her work as a journalist like interviewing a man who kept forty-four snakes on his property as pets and a rubbery-faced man who could pull his bottom lip over his nose and eyes.

  ‘You sound like you love your work,’ Jared said, his eyes hooded. ‘Never a dull moment.’

  ‘There’s a lot of routine things and down time waiting for a story to break,’ she said, ‘like most jobs.’

  ‘Is that what you want to do all your life?’ Jared looked up, his grey-blue gaze inte
nse.

  Kirra shivered under the scrutiny. She knew that he was fishing to see whether she could leave it behind to make a life in the country.

  After some thought, she said, ‘I’ll always want to write in some capacity and have a family.’ Then she added, as if to test his mettle. ‘Do you still hope to study endangered animals?’

  Jared’s eyes widened in astonishment. ‘No, not now. My life is full enough as it is, but I read about their progress when I can.’

  Kirra then turned to Caleb and asked him about his soccer and computer games.

  Jared seemed surprised that she knew so much about both topics and that Caleb had never talked so much at the table.

  After lunch, Jared took them both out in the Land Cruiser to the barn to feed the heifers. With three pair of hands, feeding was accomplished quickly and enjoyably.

  Jared hunted around and found a small hand drill and a reel of fishing line at the back of the barn. He held them up and said, ‘This do?’

  ‘Yeah, Dad!’ Caleb said, jumping up and down punching his hands in the air. Kirra patted the corralled heifers near the entrance with Caleb, when suddenly their attention was caught by the crunching sound of a tractor coming towards the barn.

  ‘Max!’ Caleb shouted and when Max stopped the machine just outside the entrance, Caleb clambered up on it.

  ‘Hi, kiddo,’ Max said, putting his hat on Caleb’s head. ‘I’m glad you’re back.’ He gave Kirra a split-watermelon grin.

  Kirra smiled back, remembering him when he dropped off the puppy yesterday. He was about eighteen, she guessed, fresh-faced, tall and athletic. ‘Hi Max, Caleb has named the puppy, Chocolate.’

  ‘Sweet,’ Max replied. ‘Are you going to the Bush Dance on Saturday night, Kirra?’

  ‘Maybe, if Jared and Caleb are going?’

  ‘Will you save a dance for me?’

  ‘Sure.’

  Jared appeared at her side. ‘Max,’ he said in a congenial, but deeper tone. ‘Come for more hay?’

  ‘Yeah, Boss. We’re out at the bottom paddock,’ Max replied, winking at Caleb.

  ‘Caleb,’ Jared said, turning his gaze to his son, ‘how would you like to help Max load up some hay for the cows?’