Outback Dreams

by Rachael Johns

  After another fifteen minutes or so, Faith spoke. ‘Do you mind stopping so I can get my pillow from the back? I’m tired.’

  She’d barely finished her request before he skidded to a halt at the side of the road. He was exhausted too, but at least if she was asleep he could focus on the drive rather than the horrible tension hanging between them.

  ‘Thanks.’ She tossed a tense smile his way as she got out of the ute.

  On her return, she clicked her seatbelt back into place and leaned her pillow against the window. They hadn’t driven more than five hundred metres before she was asleep. As Monty drove, he found his gaze drifting sideways. He couldn’t seem to stop stealing glimpses at her. She looked mostly peaceful but even in slumber, fine lines creased her brow. He almost reached over and smoothed them, but stopped his hand in mid-air.

  She barely made a sound or moved a muscle in the time it took to get to Perth. Having eaten his weekly requirement of food in the last two days, he didn’t need to stop for takeaway, yet as he drove past a city travel agent, he found himself pulling into a parking slot just outside.

  Faith woke at the lack of motion and rubbed her eyes. ‘Where are we?’

  He pointed ahead to the travel agency window.

  She frowned. ‘Planning a holiday?’

  ‘Yes, your dad’s. Remember?’

  ‘Oh, that.’ She ran her hands through her hair, tugged a black elastic hair band off her wrist and shovelled her hair into a ponytail. Wet when they’d left the farm, it had dried into a beautiful tangle of curls. He forced himself to look back towards the row of shops in front of them.

  ‘I doubt he’ll go for the idea.’

  ‘You’ll never know if you don’t try him. Go on.’

  Faith bit her lip as if in thought, then said, ‘Okay, back in a moment.’ He couldn’t tell if she agreed with him or was simply jumping at the chance to get out of the car and away from him.

  Normally, he’d follow, but they both needed space today. ‘I’m going next door to get a bottle of Coke. Want anything?’

  ‘Uh, yeah, some more water, please.’ At least she didn’t offer to pay for it; that would have really highlighted the chasm between them.

  When Monty returned to the car, he watched through the travel agency window as she spoke to a young man who appeared to be piling her high with brochures. She laughed at something the other bloke said, and Monty’s chest ached at the ease of their conversation. He almost went inside and told her to hurry up, but instead settled for tapping his fingers on the steering wheel while he waited.

  Five minutes later, she emerged with a massive grin on her face, a skip in her step and her arms laden with brochures. He reached across and pushed the door open for her.

  ‘Thanks.’ Her smile seemed closer to her usual one.

  ‘You’ve got quite a selection there.’

  She nodded, dumped the pile on her lap and clicked her seatbelt in. ‘If Dad doesn’t find something to entice him here, he never will.’

  As Monty reversed back into the traffic, Faith took the brochure from the top of the pile and opened it. ‘How does a cruise down the Nile sound?’

  ‘As long as there’s a stop to see the pyramids, it sounds perfect. I could even be tempted to join him.’

  She snorted. ‘Now you’re just getting carried away.’

  He laughed. She was right. If he ever decided to take a holiday, Frank wouldn’t be on his list of top ten companions. ‘What’s next?’

  ‘Hmm … let’s see. There’s a safari in southern and east Africa or a temple tour of India. Either of those take your fancy?’

  Somehow those travel brochures kept them going the whole journey back to Bunyip Bay. While they planned holidays for the unsuspecting Frank Forrester, they could forget about the elephant in the cabin between them. But when they turned down the road to Faith’s house, the tension returned like a storm cloud to a clear blue sky. Faith gathered up the brochures and sighed heavily as her house—lit up by lights on the verandah—came into view. No doubt her mind was occupied with thoughts of how to say goodbye, as was his. When he stopped the ute, there was no more time for pondering.

  They unclicked their seatbelts in unison, and he got out to help her with her things, but by the time he arrived at the back of the ute, she’d already hauled her pack onto her back and had the esky in her arms.

  ‘It’s okay, I can manage,’ she said, not meeting his gaze. ‘The esky’s light as a feather now. Thanks for a…’ Her voice drifted off. ‘I’m glad Clancy’s Breakaway looks like a goer for you. Call me once you’ve talked to Mack.’

  ‘Will do.’ He nodded and went to hug her like he’d normally do, but something stopped him at the last moment. Instead, he offered a naff, ‘Have a good night,’ and escaped to his ute.

  As Faith climbed the front steps, she prepared herself for the mess that would be waiting inside. It would be the shitty icing on the crappy cake that had been her day, but maybe it would help take her mind of Monty. How could he shrug his shoulders and suggest they go on like before after what they’d done together? She’d never experienced anything like the pleasure he’d brought her in the tent last night, but maybe it hadn’t been as mind-blowingly good for him.

  Deflated, and wishing she could erase the last two days, she dumped the esky with its empty containers on the verandah, to be dealt with tomorrow, and entered through the flyscreen. Two steps into the house, she stumbled and glanced around in shock.

  What the?

  As she ventured farther inside, she frowned at the tidy, clean floors and surfaces. The two baskets of washing she’d left to fold on the dining room table were gone. There were no dirty dishes in the sink. No socks in the hall. It was then she noticed an aroma she hadn’t smelled since before her mother had been diagnosed with cancer: Cassie’s famous lasagne—a dish Faith had never been able to bring herself to cook.

  ‘Dad? Ryan?’ She called through the house, which appeared deserted.

  A flush sounded from the bathroom and moments later Ryan appeared. He rushed forward and enveloped her in a hug. ‘Welcome back, sis. Let me get you a drink.’

  ‘Where’s Dad?’

  ‘Gone to bed early, reckons he had a headache.’

  Faith raised her eyebrows. She looked slowly around, wondering whether all the mess was stuffed into cupboards or under beds somewhere. But she held her tongue, not wanting to discourage Ryan’s new helpfulness.

  After checking the progress of dinner in the oven, her brother poured wine into two glasses. Even as she watched him do it, she was so stunned she didn’t register what he was actually doing. Yet, when he crossed the kitchen and offered her a glass, she got a whiff of the fruity aroma and almost retched. She pressed a hand against her stomach and shook her head. ‘No thanks.’ After last night, she wasn’t sure she could ever drink a drop of alcohol again.

  Ryan grinned. ‘Big night, hey?’

  ‘You have no idea.’ She hadn’t meant to groan at the recollection but couldn’t help it. ‘And anyway,’ she said, before he started asking questions she didn’t want to answer, ‘since when have you drunk wine?’

  He shrugged and looked a little cagey. ‘Since forever.’

  ‘O-kay then.’ Everything in the world seemed a little crazy today. She sank into a chair and gestured to the oven. ‘Does that taste as good as it smells?’

  Ryan shrugged. ‘Don’t know. I was waiting for my guinea pig to return.’ He grabbed a couple of tea towels to protect his hands and turned to the oven to take out his culinary efforts.

  Faith glanced at the oven mitts hanging on a hook on the wall but couldn’t summon the energy to direct him to them. She stared longingly at the glass of wine; if it had been a beer she might have overlooked her heavy stomach and downed it, just for the relaxing effect.

  ‘Are you okay?’

  She looked up to see Ryan staring at her and for one second contemplated telling him everything. She swallowed the urge because, although Ryan was her br
other and loved her in his way, he’d no doubt find the idea of Faith and Monty loose between the sheets a ripper of a yarn to share at the pub.

  And it might have been funny if it had been just that, but the more she pondered what they’d done, the more she knew it was anything but. Never in her life had she wished more that her mother was still around.

  ‘I’m fine. Just tired. And hungry. How long are you going to make me wait?’

  ‘Anyone ever tell you how bossy you can be?’ Ryan asked, but he was smiling as he dished up the lasagne.

  ‘This is amazing,’ Faith said a couple of minutes later, after finishing her first mouthful. ‘Who’d have known you were such a good cook?’

  He shrugged, then grinned, obviously pleased by her compliment.

  ‘And I’m guessing you’re responsible for the clean house and non-existent washing pile?’

  ‘Guilty as charged,’ he said, digging into his dinner. ‘All your talk of changing and standing up for yourself has made me start thinking about my own life. I realised you were right, lots of things need to change around here.’

  ‘Mmm … at least I know you and Dad won’t starve to death if I get work elsewhere.’

  ‘You really think you might do that?’

  ‘Yep.’ After what had happened with Monty, she was in even less of a mood to keep ignoring her own dreams. She might not be able to make him see her as a woman—if what they’d done in the tent last night hadn’t done the trick, nothing would—but she could start being more proactive about other areas of her life. ‘I’m going to start looking straight after the Barking Ball. In the unlikely event that Dad changes his tune before then, I might reconsider, but I’m not holding my breath.’

  ‘I understand, but I really hope we can work something out.’ Ryan put his fork down. ‘I’d miss you.’

  ‘Humph. You’d miss having someone around to sort your socks and tease.’

  He shook his head. ‘I could get a wife if that was all I wanted.’

  She smiled. ‘Don’t let the girls around here hear you talking like that. They might stop falling all over themselves to get you into bed with them.’

  ‘No great loss.’

  It was her turn to rest her fork on her plate. ‘I don’t understand you, big brother. You’re thirty-one, you’ve had plenty of years sowing your wild oats, you could have the pick of young women in this district and they’re not all bad… What is it you want out of life?’

  ‘That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it, Faith?’

  Chapter Fifteen

  ‘It looks like the purchase is going ahead,’ Monty said, leaning against the fence as he delivered his news to Ruby.

  ‘That’s such fabulous news.’ She turned away from the horse she’d been grooming and grinned. ‘I couldn’t be happier for you.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  After days of emails and faxes going back and forth to work out logistics, he was now waiting for the big one from Mack— the contract to buy Clancy’s Breakaway. In the end, Tim and Nora had offered vendor finance. Mack had explained this meant Monty’s loan from the bank would pay what he could and the Pattersons would provide the rest of the money as an interest-free loan. It sounded too good to be true, but having met the couple and spent two inspiring days in their company, he was confident this was the real deal.

  All told, he should have been feeling a lot happier than he was. He had work lined up for the six weeks until the settlement on Clancy’s Breakaway was complete. The lease on his rental had a few months to go, but the landlord had agreed to let him out of the contract early. And he’d been out with Ruby two nights out of the last four. Although they hadn’t kissed properly since the first date, it was only a matter of time, and he couldn’t have asked her to be more enthusiastic about the farm. She’d listened intently as he went over every single detail about the property and his plans for it. Really, he was one lucky bugger.

  Yet despite all this, he had to force his smile at Ruby’s enthusiasm. Maybe it was the guilt that gnawed at him over what he’d done with Faith. He’d conveniently left that little detail out of their discussions about his trip, not knowing how to bring it up without ruining things with Ruby. Yet the longer he didn’t say anything, the more it felt as if he were walking around with bricks inside him.

  ‘I should make you dinner to celebrate,’ she suggested, offering her horse a carrot as a reward for good behaviour throughout the grooming. Thankfully, she was looking at the horse and couldn’t read the anxiety in his face.

  ‘That would be great,’ he said, trying to sound enthusiastic when all he could think about was the fact that he’d betrayed her.

  ‘What’s your favourite dish?’

  ‘You mean aside from macaroni cheese?’

  She raised one eyebrow and laughed. ‘I’ll cook that if you want me to.’

  ‘Surprise me,’ he said, loosening up at the easy banter.

  ‘Okay.’ But she sounded a little uncertain as she hauled herself over the fence. ‘I’m working this afternoon, so how about I come round to your place about six. I’ll bring the ingredients.’

  ‘Sounds good.’ How could he not smile at the idea of a beautiful woman cooking for him in his kitchen? Today she looked sensational in fitted riding pants, a polo-necked pale blue shirt and a sexy blush that crept right up her neck and bloomed in her soft cheeks. Would he ruin whatever was between them if he told her about Faith?

  His gut ached at the quandary. He wasn’t the type of bloke to mess around on a woman, and he knew that if he didn’t tell her he’d be lying by omission, but technically they weren’t officially together when it happened. And anyway, the thing with Faith was a one-off. A crazy, drunken one-off that hopefully hadn’t ruined the best friendship he’d ever had.

  ‘I’ll buy some wine,’ he said, deciding that for now at least omission was the kindest option. ‘Red or white?’

  ‘I’m not sure I should tell you.’ She flicked her long hair behind her shoulders and grinned. ‘You wouldn’t give me a hint about the food.’

  ‘Fine. I’ll buy one of each.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I’d better go. Mack’s faxing the contract to the library anytime now.’

  ‘See ya later.’ She wiggled her fingers in a wave and he thought about kissing her goodbye but couldn’t quite bring himself to do it.

  The Jones’ small-acre property was only two minutes from town, so it didn’t take long to reach the main street. It was Wednesday, and although midweek usually saw fewer people in town, it appeared today was the exception. Somehow he scored a parking space right outside the library building. He spotted Faith’s four-wheel drive a couple of cars along and wondered what she was doing in town.

  They’d spoken a few times since that fateful night, but not seen each other. As promised, he’d kept her updated with news of the purchase, which was good because it had given them something to focus on aside from the other thing. He thought they’d done a great job of ignoring it, but now for some reason he was nervous about running into her.

  Slamming his door shut, he strode down the pavement.

  ‘Morning, Mandy.’ He nodded at a local farmer and her three kids under school age who were squabbling at her feet. ‘Nice day.’

  ‘Ya reckon?’ But she grinned at him as she scooped up the youngest who’d found something to nibble off the pavement. ‘Heard your good news. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke.’

  ‘Thanks.’ He picked up a plastic toy phone that one of the kids had dropped and handed it to her before continuing on his way.

  As was the way in small country towns, he stopped to talk with three other people before making it inside the building. Mrs O’Neal sat behind the desk, squinting at something on the computer. A determined old woman, she refused to wear glasses even though everyone could see she was half blind.

  She looked up and beamed at him. ‘Hi, Monty. Put the kettle on, Cara,’ she ordered the younger woman who worked there part-time, before turning back to him. �
��We’ve got your fax. And I’ve made some scones to celebrate with.’

  ‘Scones and tea. Can I be in that?’

  Monty’s heart hitched another beat and he turned at the familiar voice. He found himself staring at Faith in the doorway behind him. Even in faded, torn-at-the-knee jeans and an old shearing singlet leftover from her uni rousing days she looked as edible as her famous caramel slice.

  ‘Of course you can,’ Mrs O’Neal chirped. ‘The more the merrier.’ She went to fetch the fax and the scones, leaving Monty and Faith on their own.

  He swallowed, his mouth parched and desperate for that drink. ‘Hey, Faith.’ He hoped he didn’t sound as weird as he felt.

  ‘Is that fax what I think it is?’ she asked, dropping her keys and phone on the counter. She didn’t quite look him in the eye.

  ‘Uh-huh.’ Inside he grinned, but the awkwardness between them made him hesitant. ‘Want to be my witness?’

  She bit her lower lip before speaking. ‘Do you think I should? Tim and Nora think we’re … you know. It might be better if they don’t recognise the name. I’m certain Mrs O’Neal would love to do the honours.’

  ‘Yeah, you’re right.’ At her reference to their time away, his blood heated. ‘So, what brings you in here?’ he asked, as much to distract himself as anything.

  ‘I need to use the photocopier to print off the tickets for the ball.’ She pulled a folder out of her bag and then held up an A4 sheet with ten tickets on it. ‘Things are really taking off now. We’ve already had loads of interest, so I’ve decided to put them on sale early.’

  ‘Very exciting, isn’t it Monty?’ Mrs O’Neal called from the back of the room. ‘I’ve marked the night in my calendar.’ Her eyes might have been failing her but those ears were supersonic. ‘I’ll be expecting a dance with you.’

  He and Faith laughed.

  ‘And by the way, Faith, Those books you ordered arrived this morning. I’ll get them for you in a moment.’