Country Roads

by Nicole Hurley-Moore

  ‘When did I say that?’

  ‘The day you rescued me in the paddock.’

  ‘Ah, I suppose you think you’re pretty clever,’ she said as she looked up at him.

  ‘Today – you bet I do.’

  Then Matt wrapped his arms around her and Bec realised that it was the first time she’d felt at peace in a long, long time. Matt was right. Even if the worst thing happened and her father sold the farm, she’d be okay. She and Matt were together and that was more than enough.

  ‘So what’s next?’

  ‘I guess I’d better go home and see what my father is up to.’ Bec sat up and climbed out of the bed.

  ‘I’ll come if you want.’

  She shook her head. ‘No, I’ve got this. Dad and I need to work this out between ourselves. But I’ll ring you straight after, and can I come around later tonight?’

  Matt grinned. ‘You don’t have to ask. How about dinner – say around eight?’

  ‘I’ll be here,’ she said, pulling on her clothes. When she’d finished getting dressed, she hesitated for a second. ‘Thank you.’

  Matt looked puzzled. ‘What for?’

  ‘Loving me.’

  ‘That’s the easiest thing in the world to do.’

  Bec gave him a smile before she left the room and let herself out the front door.

  The sun was just beginning to peep over the ridge and the early morning air had a crisp chill to it. The grass was still wet from the previous night’s frost. In the distance a magpie began to warble. Bec pulled her jacket closer around her as she headed over the paddock towards her home.

  Chapter 17

  Maggie was in the kitchen when Bec walked through the back door.

  ‘Oh thank heavens – I’ve been wondering when you were coming home.’

  ‘Mum, I’m not fourteen,’ Bec said with an embarrassed kind of smile. ‘You don’t have to keep tabs on me.’

  ‘Oh, yes . . . I see what you mean. Um, sorry – it’s not that.’ Maggie gave a laugh as she shook her head. ‘I’d better rephrase that. I was worried about you because when your dad and I got back, well, he found the message you wrote down for him. I tried to ring you, but I think your phone’s turned off . . .’

  ‘Ah – I see.’

  ‘But I don’t think you actually do. Hang on a sec – I’ve got to get your dad. He’s been frantic, especially since you didn’t come home.’

  Bec leant against the kitchen bench and waited for her parents to return. She didn’t have to wait long because her mum only made it halfway up the corridor before she heard the rumble of her father’s voice.

  ‘She’s back?’

  ‘In the kitchen.’

  Here it comes, Bec thought as they appeared in the doorway.

  ‘You didn’t come home,’ her father said.

  Bec shook her head. ‘No, I didn’t.’

  ‘Who were you with?’

  Bec raised an eyebrow at the question. ‘That isn’t any of your business, Dad. We may share a house but my private life is just that – private.’

  Her mother poked Jack in the shoulder. ‘Really, Jack – those are the first words out of your mouth. God help me – you’re the bossiest, most stubborn and most infuriating man I know. Get to the point.’

  Jack looked a little sheepish. ‘Yeah, okay, your mother’s right. I’ve been trying to plan a surprise for you and your mum. Probably gone about it the wrong way, but that’s the way I do things. So I know that you’ve noticed that I’ve been acting different.’

  Bec nodded. That cold ball of tension was beginning to form back in her stomach. ‘I have.’

  Her father looked up at her. ‘I never meant to worry you. But I reckon after you took the message yesterday you jumped to the wrong conclusion.’

  Bec blew out the breath she hadn’t been aware she was holding. ‘You mean you’re not selling Bluestone Ridge?’

  ‘Not exactly.’

  ‘What? Wait . . . I don’t understand.’

  ‘Sweetheart, I would never sell the farm without consulting you and your mother. I know that I can be stubborn, as your mother constantly points out, but I would never make such a big decision by myself. Bluestone’s been in our family for generations, but more than that, it’s our home. I know that I can be pig-headed when it comes to running it – I guess that I forget that you’re grown up and more than capable of running the place by yourself. I suppose I felt that after my accident I didn’t have any control over my body but I could still run this place. I didn’t want to see that you could do just as good a job – hell, it’s hard for me to admit it, but maybe even a better job. I felt that if I didn’t have the farm then I had nothing left. Bec, I’m sorry.’

  Bec felt a lump in the back of her throat as she walked across the room, which was difficult as her eyes were misting up. She knelt down and hugged her father. After a moment she felt his arm wrap around her.

  ‘I’m sorry, sweetheart – I really am.’

  ‘How could you even think you had nothing without Bluestone? You have us, and you always will have.’

  ‘I know that now. I’ve been an idiot and I never meant to hurt you.’

  ‘It’s alright,’ Bec said as she wiped away the tears with one hand. ‘It’s alright – it doesn’t matter.’

  ‘Yeah, it does. I made you feel that you weren’t part of Bluestone and that’s the furthest thing from the truth. Without you the farm doesn’t go on. I was gripping on to it so tight, I forgot what I was trying to hold on to and why.’

  ‘Dad, it’s okay.’

  ‘Well, maybe it will be,’ Jack said as he gave her another squeeze before letting go. ‘You see, this is what my surprise is all about. I’m selling off the paddock between our place and Cara Downs.’

  ‘Please tell me you didn’t sell to Mick Turner?’

  ‘Of course not. I wouldn’t do that – I know how you feel about Zane. No, I’ve sold it to a young couple. They want to start a winery or something like that . . . come to think of it, it could have been olives. Anyway, they’ll have almost forty acres to play around with. The reason is that I wanted to have some cash in hand. Your mum and I are going to build a place on the other side of the property, over on Gold Reef Road down by the creek.’

  ‘What, move out of here? But you love this house.’

  ‘I do, but we all know it doesn’t work for me. I haven’t been upstairs in years. Besides, your mother never really liked it. No, we’ll be building a new single-storey house that’s modern and sleek and that I’m able to wheel around.’

  Maggie put her hand on Jack’s shoulder. ‘It’ll be great. It’s a fresh start, and that’s something we all need. I can’t believe how much I’m looking forward to it. I always thought this place was like living in a museum.’

  ‘Okay, love, you don’t have to rub it in,’ Jack said as he turned his head and grinned at her.

  Maggie gave him a wink.

  Bec looked at her Mother. ‘How long have you known about this?’

  ‘Only since this morning. Your Dad was worried that I might object, but I think the idea is brilliant. I can’t wait to move into our new home.’

  Jack turned back to Bec. ‘Which means you get this place.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’m handing over the reins. We’ll keep a share of it, but basically Bluestone Ridge is yours to run as you see fit. You know how to handle yourself and this place – God, you’ve been doing it ever since I came off that blasted quad bike.’

  ‘Dad . . . I—’

  ‘You do want it, don’t you? I mean, I just assumed.’

  ‘Of course I want it.’

  ‘Good, then it’s all settled. I’ll organise everything with the lawyers – just so everyone knows where they stand. And just remember, I’m here if you need me. Any time you want to discuss farm business, I’m happy to do it.’

  ‘Always – don’t ever doubt it.’

  ‘Good,’ Jack said as he moved back in his chair. ‘So, why don’t we
all go out to dinner tonight and celebrate?’

  ‘Love to, but I can bring a friend?’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘You know damn well who,’ Maggie said with a laugh. ‘Yes, bring Matt along – it’s high time your father got to know him better.’

  Jack went to open his mouth but caught the look his daughter was sending him and closed it again.

  ‘Well, I suppose I’ll organise the restaurant then. Any preferences?’ Maggie asked.

  ‘Nope, wherever we go it’ll be great,’ Bec said. She was already pulling her phone out of her pocket, and as she slipped out of the room to call Matt she heard her father say, ‘I suppose we’d better start tonight. There’s a heap of work ahead. Because let’s face it, Harvey’s got a hell of a lot to learn if I’m going to make a farmer out of him.’

  Bec rolled her eyes. Well, at least he was obviously going to try and get on with Matt. It was a start, and that’s all she could hope for. She held the phone up to her ear and waited for Matt to answer.

  ‘Hey . . . yeah, everything is good. So how do you feel about a small change of plans – want to go out to dinner tonight? Yep, you, me and my parents.’

  ***

  Bec could feel the early summer sun warm through her shirt as she stood on the ridge next to Matt. Bec sighed as she looked at him. ‘Are you actually going to put that camera away? Come on, your fans must be sick of seeing the farm by now.’

  ‘Nobody could get sick of this place – it’s beautiful.’ Matt gave her a grin. ‘And yes, I’ll stop filming in a minute. But first – hey, Bec – smile and wave to everyone.’ Matt aimed the camera in her direction, leaving her no option at all.

  ‘Hello, everyone! Thanks for joining us on Bluestone Ridge, hope you liked it,’ Bec said before she shot him a not-so-pleasant look. ‘How about a little more warning next time?’

  ‘Aw, now, sweetheart, where’s the fun in that?’ He flipped the camera back on himself. ‘So like I said before, we’re here on the ridge at Bec’s place. Did you like the walk up? I swear those last few metres were a killer. Anyway, the climb is worth it – check out the view.’ He turned the camera back to pan across the landscape. From there he could see down to the paddocks and past his cottage to the hills beyond. The old dirt road ran past Bluestone Ridge and his place and disappeared off into the distance. ‘Isn’t it beautiful? See, way down there on the left – that’s my cottage.’

  ‘Hey, Matt, look at that,’ Bec said as she pointed up into the sky.

  Matt turned the camera skywards, where an eagle circled high above them. ‘Wow, are you guys seeing this? How cool is that?’

  After another few seconds Matt addressed the lens again. ‘Okay, guys, thanks for tuning in. This is Matt Harvey and Bec Duprey signing off from Bluestone Ridge. Next week I’ll be chatting about a new idea for a story. Catch you then.’ He turned it off and placed the camera on one of the large boulders.

  Stepping forward, he wrapped his arms around Bec. A strong breeze blew against his face, clean and fresh. It was a good day and one filled with possibilities.

  ‘Are you happy?’ Bec asked as she looked up at him.

  ‘More than I thought was possible,’ Matt said as he gave her a squeeze and rested his head on her shoulder. He smiled to himself as he continued. ‘You know, it’s a nice day and the damn book is finished.’

  ‘Ah, so I have nothing to do with it then?’

  ‘Well, I don’t want you to get a big head or anything,’ Matt answered with a laugh. ‘Ooooph, that hurt.’ He rubbed his side where Bec had jabbed him with a well-aimed elbow.

  ‘You deserved that.’

  ‘Yeah, maybe I did.’

  Still in his embrace, she turned around and wound her arms across his shoulders. ‘Seriously, though, you are happy, aren’t you?’

  He bent down and kissed her mouth. ‘Yes, I’m happy, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here, on this ridge with you.’

  ‘I love you, Matt Harvey. Sorry it took me a while to realise it.’

  ‘Hey, we’re here now and that’s all that counts.’

  Bec leant against him and sighed. ‘You’re right, that’s all that counts.’

  ‘So how’s the building going?’

  ‘Not bad. All the planning permits are done and dusted – so now all they have to do is build the house.’

  ‘How’s your dad with it?’

  ‘He’s good. In fact, I haven’t seen him this excited and happy since before the accident, nor Mum for that matter. In typical style he’s jumped in head-first: he’s called in favours and got the whole thing poised to go. Oh, it also helps that Uncle Pete – and that’s an honorary title, by the way – is a builder.’

  ‘Uncle Pete?’

  ‘He’s dad’s best friend since school. Anyway, he and his team will be doing most of the construction but if he needs a hand there’s an excellent company in Violet Falls.’

  ‘So it’s all systems go, then.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ Bec said as she took a step back and laced her fingers through his. ‘Have you heard the recent talk about the Turners?’

  ‘What, they’re in trouble – or that Tanya has left town?’

  ‘Wait . . . what about Tanya?’

  ‘Apparently she has finally come to her senses and ditched Zane for good; those are Davey’s words, not mine, by the way. She’s chucked in her job and taken off for the coast to be with her sister for a fresh start.’

  ‘Well in that case I suppose I should say, good luck to her.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes and no,’ Bec said with a smile. ‘I guess it’s complicated.’

  ‘Yeah, not really. They hurt you and you don’t pretend that they didn’t.’

  ‘You know when I heard that Cara Downs was in trouble I thought that on some level it would make me feel . . . well, I don’t even know – good? No, that’s not it. More as if the Turners were getting their just desserts.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘I just feel sorry for them. I know how much the farm means to both Zane and his father. So I discovered that I really must have forgiven Zane, because the last thing I feel like doing is gloating.’

  ‘Do you think they’ll pull out of it?’

  Bec shrugged. ‘From what I heard, they’re consolidating and seeing what they can save. I wouldn’t be surprised if they sell part of the land. I know Mick won’t want to but it might be his only option.’

  ‘Hang on a minute, I’m confused – I thought he was trying to get your dad to sell him Bluestone Ridge?’

  ‘That was just a smokescreen. Oh, he wanted Zane to romance the farm out of me – still probably does – but the whole notion of buying the place was just to hide the fact that they could lose Cara Downs.’

  Matt tugged at her hand. ‘Speaking of romance . . .’

  ‘What’s on your mind?’

  ‘A great many things, but the most obvious one is you naked on my bed.’

  ‘You do have a way with words. Maybe you should be a writer.’

  Matt let out a laugh and pulled her back into his arms. ‘I want you, Bec, now and forever. And even though my farming skills are more than questionable – and a huge disappointment to your father – I want to build a life with you.’

  ‘I want that too, more than anything,’ Bec said before she stretched up and kissed him until the fire began to warm him from the inside. He was about to wonder if they were even going to make it back to his place when Bec broke off the kiss and stared up at him.

  ‘But just to be on the safe side, maybe leave the farming to me. Better stick with the writing, don’t you think?’ she said with a wink.

 

 

 
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