Between the Vines

by Tricia Stringer

  Taylor paid attention. He leaned over and pushed the masher through the mush. Then he dragged it up, took a small step along the plank and repeated the action.

  “Do you want to give it a go?” He turned the full force of his clear blue eyes on her.

  Taylor glanced down. His look made her weak at the knees and this was not the time. Especially since the plank she had to balance on didn’t look very wide. It was stained with the same deep red colour as the grapes underneath it. She stepped up and edged her way to where Pete still watched her. She took the handle from him and focused on the job at hand. She pushed down. The masher slid through the liquid. She gasped as she tried to pull it back up.

  “That’s the hard part.” Pete grinned at her.

  “Looks like I won’t be needing to find a gym.” Taylor breathed in and pulled harder. The masher released from the liquid and she wobbled backwards.

  “Take it easy.” Pete’s strong hands steadied her.

  Taylor peered down at the dark red liquid, thick with grapes. “How deep is this?”

  “Over your head. I don’t recommend falling in. Hold the plunger a bit lower.” He put his hands over hers as she slid them down the pole. “Now push down steadily.”

  They leaned together. She relished the strength of his body pressed against hers and the earthy scent of him.

  “And then slowly up.”

  The plunger came to the surface with less force than her first attempt.

  She steadied herself as Pete took his hands from hers.

  “You right?”

  She nodded, not trusting her voice.

  “Have another go.”

  Taylor pushed the plunger through the liquid again. This time she planted her feet and eased it back to the surface.

  “That’s it,” Pete said. “This has to be done several times a day.”

  “You’re kidding.” Taylor thought she was fit but she could already feel the strain in her upper arms.

  Pete chuckled. His eyes sparkled. All too aware she was in close proximity to his strong arms and hunky chest, she forced herself to turn away. She gripped the plunger tightly and slowly pushed down. Pete remained at her side. She could feel him watching her.

  She’d hardly seen him since their afternoon at the beach last Sunday. She still made an evening meal each day but Antoine had been the only one to share her table. Ed and Pete called at different times and took their food with them. Taylor found herself watching the clock at night wondering when Pete would arrive and then feeling vaguely disappointed when he thanked her for the meal and left. She didn’t feel the same about Ed. In fact she felt nothing. She couldn’t believe she’d fallen for him.

  Cass had been right. Taylor had got up the courage to call her last night. She’d apologised and filled her friend in. It was a relief to be on good terms again. Cass had sent a text after she’d returned home from her weekend visit but last night was the first time they’d spoken since then. Taylor missed Cass but nothing else about Adelaide.

  “You seem to have the rhythm of it.” Pete’s voice cut through her thoughts.

  Once again she raised the plunger carefully. “I think so.”

  “Happy for me to leave you to it?”

  “Yes. As long as you’re happy I’m doing it right.”

  “As you’ve said before, it’s not rocket science but it has to be done. All three tanks.”

  Taylor looked across at the other two. Her arms were going to have to strengthen up if she was going to do this every day. “I’ll be fine,” she said.

  “I’ll see you later.” The board wobbled a little beneath her as he made his way off.

  “Don’t fall in,” he added with a grin and left her to it.

  Taylor wondered if he was speaking from experience. She gripped the handle of the plunger tightly and shifted her feet. The action made her teeter forward. She steadied herself and gazed down at the chunky liquid below. Falling in was not an option.

  She edged along the plank, took a deep breath and pushed the plunger down again. The dark liquid swirled below her. There was something almost therapeutic about the activity. She got into a rhythm, lift and plunge, lift and plunge. By the time she’d done all three tanks her legs and arms felt like jelly and she’d worked up a sweat. She climbed down from the last tank and went in search of her water bottle.

  The air was warm inside the shed. She stepped out, closed the door behind her and stood in the shade where a slight breeze cooled her. Across the vineyard she could see the cellar door. There were a few cars there. It was Friday so Noelene probably had a steady stream of customers. Taylor already had a vegetable lasagne made for tonight’s dinner. She wasn’t in a rush to head back to the empty quarters.

  She decided to walk down to the cellar door. She could help Noelene with the cleaning if nothing else. When she got there the older woman was saying goodbye to a group of people and only one couple remained. Taylor said hello and went into the back room to wash glasses. Noelene’s day had been busy judging by the number that had to be done.

  She’d just picked up the tea towel to polish the first rackful when Noelene stuck her head around the door.

  “You don’t have to do that. You’ll put me out of a job.”

  Taylor smiled. “I like to keep busy. There will be more customers I’m sure.”

  “They’ve had you plunging, have they?”

  “How did you know?”

  Noelene pointed at her t-shirt. “I hope that’s not your best shirt and jeans.”

  Taylor looked down. She was splattered with streaks of red. She hadn’t noticed. Thank goodness she hadn’t gone out to serve customers.

  “I’ve been plunging some shiraz.”

  “Everyone gets a go at that at some time, except Felicity. Wouldn’t want madam to break a fingernail.” She winked at Taylor and ducked back into the front room at the sound of the cellar door opening.

  Taylor smiled to herself at the mental picture of Frosty Felicity teetering along the board in her high heels and falling in to the thick red mixture. There was something about the young office manager. Taylor plunged her hands into the frothy hot water and rubbed at a glass, imagining it was Felicity’s face.

  In no time at all Noelene was back. “Freeloaders,” she said. “Not really interested in buying. Just wanting free samples. Still have to be polite to them. You never know where it may lead.” She began to wipe as Taylor washed. “Did you enjoy your trip to Robe last Sunday?”

  “Yes. It was a beautiful day and such a nice town. I’ve never been there before.”

  “I’m glad Pete went with you. He always loved the beach as a boy. His mother used to take them quite often. Since she died he hardly goes anymore.”

  “I like the beach too. My parents live fairly close to the water in Adelaide so we went as kids. They’re not home much to enjoy it anymore.”

  “What do they do?”

  “They’re doctors. They do a lot of overseas aid work. I don’t see them much these days.”

  “You must miss them?”

  Taylor thought about that. “I used to but now it’s just the way we are.”

  “Bit like me and my hubby, Frank. He’s a truck driver. If he’s home too long we get in each other’s way. Goodness knows what we’ll do when he retires. I’ll have to keep working for the boys until I drop off the perch.”

  “You obviously enjoy working here.”

  “I love it. Frank and I only had the one child.” Noelene’s face stiffened. “A daughter. She was born with multiple disabilities and only lived a few years.”

  “That must have been hard.”

  Taylor pulled the plug from the sink and Noelene took the cloth and wiped everything down.

  “It almost seems a different life now.” She looked at Taylor. “Edward and Peter are like surrogate sons to me. Neil and Pearl were good friends. They’re not here anymore and I feel they’d like someone watching over their boys. Even though they’re men I like to keep in touch. Wo
rking for them makes that easy.”

  Once more the cellar door squeaked.

  “I’m sorry it didn’t work out with you and Edward.”

  Taylor remained silent. She hadn’t said anything to anyone about breaking up with Ed but the word had got around. Felicity was being more smug than usual.

  Noelene patted Taylor’s arm. “You’re his type but not his type. I love him to bits but you can do better.” Noelene winked then turned and disappeared into the front room.

  Taylor listened as the older woman greeted the next lot of customers, not sure what she’d been trying to say exactly. She’d been almost motherly. It made Taylor think of her own parents. Cass had been right about that too. Taylor rarely had decent conversations with her mother anymore. Skype didn’t lend itself to pouring out your heart. Chats and parental advice were few and far between these days. She hadn’t checked her email for a while either. She had a sudden urge to have some kind of contact. Her parents should be back from whatever remote part of Cambodia they’d been to by now and she still had Ed’s laptop.

  She let herself out the back door and walked along the track that ran past Pete’s special cabernet grapes. The leaves on the vines were no longer the bright green they’d been when she’d first arrived. Now the green was fading and being replaced with yellow and orange and even deep red. Autumn was changing the colours.

  About halfway along the carefully groomed rows she stopped. At the other end of the row, on the road side of the fence, two men were leaning into the vineyard peering at the vines. One of them was tall and wide. The sun reflected off his bald head. As she watched, another car came slowly along the road and pulled up beside them. They turned and got back into their car. They looked to have a brief conversation with the old guy who leaned out of the second car’s driver-side window before both vehicles moved on. The black car went back towards the highway and the other, a faded green colour, continued on up the dirt road past the winery.

  Taylor wondered what that was about. Still, there were people and machines everywhere you went at the moment. Vintage was in full swing, perhaps they were something to do with picking these grapes. Funny thing was the two men in the black car both wore suits. It was probably nothing but she thought she’d mention it to Pete when she saw him next.

  As she drew level with the winery she saw Felicity coming out from between the rows of wine tanks. She didn’t notice Taylor or if she did she ignored her and headed back towards the office. Taylor smirked. Felicity almost hobbled along in her high heels on the rocky ground, such impractical shoes for working in this environment. Although if she spent most of her time in the office there was no need for practical footwear there, Taylor supposed. She rolled her shoulders and felt the ache down her arms. First things first. She was going to stand under the shower to ease her tired muscles then check her emails.

  CHAPTER

  33

  “What do you think, Howard?” Pete watched as the old man chewed the grapes.

  Howard crunched some more, the saggy skin around his jaw jiggling up and down, then he swallowed. “I’d be picking them soon. Earlier than we thought. A few more days maybe.”

  “I’ll have to line up my pickers.”

  “Count Margaret and me in.”

  “Thanks, Howard.”

  Howard rubbed his hands together. “It will be a pleasure.”

  “I’ve got a small team of seasonal pickers on standby. We’ve also got Antoine and Taylor. I’ll give Ben a call. His wife Jane will help as well. If it’s Tuesday or Wednesday Noelene might lend a hand and there’s me and Ed of course. We should get it done in half a day.”

  “I think Noelene’s best left out of it and you should make sure Eddie’s busy that day.”

  Pete turned his head sideways. He trusted Howard’s knowledge of grapes implicitly but he had noticed the old bloke say a few odd things of late that made him wonder if he was just starting to lose his grip a bit.

  “Ed has to be there.”

  “No he doesn’t. His heart’s not in it, Pete.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s best he does something else that day. That’s all I’m saying.” Howard scratched his chin. The skin wrinkled beneath his fingers. “Best for everyone.”

  Pete studied Howard. He was talking in riddles but his gaze was as sharp as ever. There was nothing about his look to suggest he was losing his marbles.

  “Do you think he’d try to stop us? That would be ridiculous. The grapes have to be picked.” Pete scratched at the back of his neck.

  Howard grasped Pete’s shoulder in a firm grip. “Trust me on this, boy. Eddie’s better off kept in the dark about this until it’s all over and Noelene, well, I think it’s best she doesn’t know either.”

  “Noelene’s as solid as a rock.”

  “I didn’t say she wasn’t. I just think it’s best to keep this as close to your chest as possible.”

  Pete screwed up his face. “I wish you could explain it better.”

  “No need. Let me know which day you choose and what time and Margaret and I will be here.” He lifted his hat and shoved it firmly back on his head.

  Pete opened his mouth but Howard turned away, moving towards his old green car with his hobbling gait.

  Back at his cottage Pete was restless. He replayed Howard’s comments over in his head. Pete didn’t like subterfuge. He could think of nothing that would distract Ed and keep him away from the winery and he knew Noelene would want to be part of it if she could.

  He stuck his head out the back door. Taylor’s van was still parked at the quarters but he’d heard Antoine drive off a while ago. The Frenchman was planning to have a few drinks in town. Pete could have gone with him but he was half thinking he’d see if Taylor was staying in. Maybe they could eat whatever meal she’d prepared together. This last week he’d been late every night and had taken his meal home to eat alone and then fallen into bed.

  It was Friday night after all. He pulled on a clean shirt and dragged his fingers through his tight curls. He needed a haircut but there was no time to fit that in at the moment. In the mirror he looked at the stubble shadow on his chin. He should shave but splashed water on his face instead. Now that he had decided to visit Taylor he was keen to get there.

  He took a bottle of chardonnay from his fridge and made his way through his backyard and along the track to the quarters. He could hear music as he approached and through the screen door he could see the wooden door was open.

  “Hello,” he called. When there was no answer he pulled open the screen and stuck his head inside. “Knock, knock,” he called.

  Taylor appeared from the passage, rubbing at her hair with a towel. Her face lit up with a smile.

  “Hello, Pete.”

  “Are you going somewhere?”

  “No. Have you come for your dinner? It’s still heating up.”

  “Yes, but I wondered if you’d like company.” He held up the bottle of wine.

  “Of course. Just let me finish my hair. You know where the glasses are. I’ll be right back.”

  Pete whistled along to the music. He opened the wine and poured two glasses. In the background he could hear Taylor’s hair dryer. There was a laptop on the table. The music was coming from there. Pete couldn’t help but notice the picture of the Eiffel Tower on the screen. It was a night shot, taken close to the base looking up.

  “I was re-reading my blog.” Taylor came up behind him. The floral scent of her freshly showered body enveloped him.

  “Did you take this photo?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s a great perspective. How long ago where you there?”

  Taylor slid on to the seat next to him. “A few years now. Cass and I went together.”

  “I did a vintage in France straight after uni. That’s where I met Antoine. I had an incredible time. I’d love to go back one day.”

  “Me too.”

  “So this blog is about your travels?”

 
; “Yes. It was a way to keep in touch with my family and share photos.”

  “Great idea. I don’t think to use the computer for those kinds of things.”

  “I’ve been looking at websites and Facebook for local wineries. I hope you don’t mind me saying but Wriggly Creek’s could do with some work.”

  “I have to admit I haven’t looked at it for ages. Ed oversees that side of things and I think he leaves most of it to Felicity.”

  “Oh.” The excitement slid from Taylor’s face.

  “Perhaps you could share your ideas with her. I’m sure she’d appreciate it. She’s got so many other jobs on her plate.”

  “I’ll give it some thought.” Taylor stood up. “That lasagne should be heated through by now. Do you know if Ed wants some?”

  “I’ve hardly seen him all day. Last I saw he was heading into town to get some hose joiners.”

  “I’m putting some aside for Antoine. I’ll do the same for Ed.”

  She was quiet as she dished up. He wondered if she was thinking about Ed.

  “Can I help?” he asked.

  “There’s a green salad in the fridge and some dressing.”

  He put it on the table as she set down two plates of lasagne. Taylor sat and he followed and topped up their glasses. He raised his towards her.

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “What for?”

  “For the meals, for all the jobs you do for us.”

  “I’m on the payroll now,” she said.

  “How did the plunging end up?”

  “Good. I’m glad Antoine did the next couple of shifts. I’m going to be sore tomorrow.” She wrapped her arms across her chest, squeezed her shoulders with her hands and groaned. “What a weakling.”

  “It uses muscles you don’t usually work so hard.”

  “Well, I’ll be able to lift tall buildings once I get used to it.”

  “I don’t think we’ve got any tall buildings that need moving but we can have you lifting wine barrels again.” He smiled at her and was rewarded by a return grin.

  “Do you think you could write me a list of things I have to do each day?”

  “I could.”