by Tamsin Baker
“Right. Good idea.” He carefully placed the bunch on the rock she indicated, hoping any creepy-crawlies didn’t infiltrate the leaves in his absence.
“When you come out for a walk,” Marnie instructed, “you should bring a bag with you. That way, when you come across some bush tucker, you’ve got something to put it in.”
“I obviously I have a lot to learn. I’ve no idea what’s edible and what isn’t. I’m more likely to pick poisonous mushrooms.”
She laughed, a loud, discordant sound. On cue, the kookaburra started its raucous cackle. Marnie looked at him and shrugged as if to say, “See, even the birds are laughing at you.”
“Stop by my stall at the Harrow Show this Saturday. There you can see a range of bush foods. Might be safer for you if you buy some.”
As before, she turned abruptly and continued on her way. There were no words of farewell. Daniel had seen notices promoting the Harrow Show, but hadn’t paid much attention. He made a note to check the detail later that day. Probably Raff would know. He could ask him when he dropped the car off for the agreed repairs. After he’d done some work, of course. His progress on the script since arriving in town had not been what he’d anticipated. Time to address that. Deciding not to walk any further that day, he turned and made his way back to the cottage.
☐
As requested, Daniel delivered his sadly misshapen car to the workshop the following morning. Raff was disgustingly cheery for that time of day. Daniel was never quite sure what mood to expect on his encounters with the other man.
After handing over the keys, Daniel turned to go, with the library his next intended destination. He paused, looking back to Raff. “I heard a whisper about a country show this weekend. What’s that all about?”
“The Harrow Show, mate. You can’t miss that. It’s the local event of the year. It’s when the local farmers showcase their produce. There are awards for best this, that or the other, and various stalls and sideshows. It’s like the Royal Agricultural Show in the big city, just on a smaller scale. Everyone will be there. The showgrounds are on the edge of town.”
“I’ll make a point in fronting up. It’s been years since I’ve been to anything like that. You’ll be there, I suppose?”
“Too right, I will. I’ll be in the tent with the Country Fire Service volunteers. Drop in and say g’day. It’s always a good opportunity for locals to catch up with people they haven’t seen for a while. A lot of out-of-towners come as well. People look forward to it.”
“Sounds like a good diversion from my work. Give me a call when the car’s ready to be picked up.”
Daniel bypassed the shops in the main street and headed straight to the library. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too busy at this time of morning, and he would have the opportunity to speak to Cassie privately. Lord knows what he would say to her. Perhaps he should ask her to join him for lunch. Then, at least they could have a conversation.
After pausing inside the entrance to the building, he looked around to locate Cassie and to note who else might be within hearing distance. He’d seen some of the current visitors in the library on his previous visit. He didn’t know their names but they had the assurance of library regulars as they hunched over the computer keyboards or sat at the reading tables. Cassie was stationed at the library desk, checking out books and responding to queries. There was no trace of the wild, passionate woman who had occupied his bed or his dreams. In her place, there was her alter ego—the professional librarian.
As he watched, he saw her stiffen and straighten up, looking around in confusion. Her eyes met his, and for a frozen moment, they stared at each other. She didn’t acknowledge him further before directing attention back to the person in front of her, standing patiently clutching a stack of books.
A slight tremor slid up his spine, so gentle he wondered if he’d imagined it. Perhaps the air conditioning was too high, although he didn’t feel cold. Far from it. There was a pulsing heat radiating from his body. He rolled up his shirt sleeves, hoping that would help him to cool down.
A line grew in front of Cassie’s desk. It wouldn’t be easy speaking to her in private. Grabbing a piece of paper from the reservations desk, he turned it over to the blank side and wrote on it, Meet me for lunch today? Pulling a murder mystery off the shelf, he joined the queue, shuffling forward as each customer was served. It seemed to take forever before he stood in front of her, book proffered with the slip of paper on top.
“Good morning,” he said, the formality masking the internal churning that threatened to erode rational speech.
She flicked a glance towards him as he slid the book towards her. “Good morning, Mr Burton.” Such formality. She passed the book under the barcode reader before noticing the slip of paper. Daniel scanned her face for immediate reaction, watching with anticipation as she read it. She quickly screwed up the note and shoved it to one side. When she looked up, she didn’t meet his eyes. Rather, the few terse words were delivered more at chest level.
“I have other plans for today.”
She handed the book back, and only then did she raise her eyes to his. “I hope you enjoy your book. It’s a very popular title.” He caught a momentary glimpse of the woman behind the facade before she looked to the next person in line. The dismissal was clear. He was disappointed at her response, but not altogether surprised. The shutters had come down when she saw him in the street with Amber. Something had happened in that moment and he didn’t know how he was going to make it right again.
☐
Seeing Daniel in the library had shaken her, although she shouldn’t have been surprised. He was a member of the library, and it was only to be expected he would be there on occasions. She felt the vibrations before seeing him. The sensation that was becoming familiar shimmied up her spine, startling her into looking around to see where it came from. He stood watching her. What was going through his mind? She hadn’t trusted herself to look into his eyes, fearful of what she might read. Derision? Lust? Pity? Even worse, perhaps there would be nothing at all. Perhaps she didn’t even register on his psyche.
When he joined the queue at the desk, her heart began to thump. She wanted to put her hand on her chest to stifle it within its bony cage, scared of what it might do. The closer he edged in the line, the harder it beat.
“You’re looking a bit flushed today,” Mary Fischer said. “Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine, thank you Mary. It’s always a little warm in this section of the library. I should adjust the air conditioning.”
“Doesn’t seem warm to me,” Mary said in a perplexed tone. “I had to keep my coat on when I came in here.”
Cassie put on her most conciliatory smile and handed back Mary’s books. “Let me know what you think of them, Mary. That top title is a recent addition to the collection.”
The line shuffled and then he was in front of her. She could feel the heat on her cheeks. No wonder Mary had commented. She didn’t want to look up. Anything but look him in the eyes.
“Good morning.” Simple words in a low voice that in her imagination carried a message for her ears only. Good morning, you fabulous woman. I don’t understand the miraculous forces that brought us together, but I’m so glad they have. As if. More likely, Good morning. Can you hurry up and check out this book? Now that I’m found my feet in this town, I want to investigate who else is on offer.
“Good morning, Mr Burton.” She directed her eyes towards his breastbone and picked up the book he had towards her. A thriller. Strange. She’d thought it would be another research book, but then as she’d observed, all work and no play wasn’t his style. A piece of paper slipped off the top. She was about to hand it back to him when she saw what was written on it. Meet me for lunch today?
Her breath caught and her heart did an extra flip. Did Daniel think he could come back for seconds? He’d probably spent last night with Amber. Not likely.
“I have other plans for today.” She kept her voice low, n
ot wanting to spark curiosity in those waiting behind him. She had no plans—none that involved Daniel Burton, anyway. With a pang, she thought how wonderful it would be to have a lover want you so much, he also wanted to meet you for lunch. Not this time, but she needed to at least appear professional and in control.
Cassie handed the book back, and only then did she raise her eyes to his. “I hope you enjoy your book. It’s a very popular title.” Duty done, she turned to Gerard Thompson, who was next in the queue. She could feel Daniel’s eyes on her, but after a moment he and his book left the library. She threw the screwed-up note in the bin. Her cheeks still burned. They would calm down, and so would she. If the Goddess had anything to say, she knew what it would be. Toughen up, Buttercup.
☐
The weather on the following Saturday held fine. In the privacy of her home and at her altar, Cassie had asked the Goddess to ensure the weekend remained rain-free. The ceremony was not as powerful as when she visited the stone, but she couldn’t drag up the required enthusiasm, even knowing the town was relying on her.
“Cassie, dear,” her aunt Rowena said on the phone, “you haven’t forgotten the Show this weekend, have you?”
“Of course, I haven’t. Even if I had, Rosie Wilson came into the Library, and Carmen Fielding trapped me in the street. I gave thanks to the Goddess and asked her to honour my prayer.”
“I should have known you’d remember. You don’t sound quite yourself. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Just a bit tired, that’s all. I might go to bed early tonight.”
“That sounds a good idea. I’m helping Marnie in her stall. You will stop by, won’t you?”
“Sure. I’ll see you then.”
When the first day of the Show arrived, it was frosty, but the sky was clear. Cassie dressed with layers, knowing by mid-morning, she would probably need to shed the top layer. The townspeople were milling through the entrance gates, and she exchanged nods with those she knew, which was most of them. The smell of warm cinnamon donuts lured her towards the food van. The line at the window was still short, given the time of day, so she stopped and purchased a half-dozen of the tasty treats. She only wanted one, but she would leave the rest with Rowena and Marnie. They were so hot, steam emerged as she bit into the sugar-coated dough. Those still in the paper bag warmed her hands delightfully.
Rowena and Marnie were equally as enthusiastic when she wandered into the Produce Hall and found Marnie’s stall. It was sandwiched between a stall displaying local fruit, and another with bottles wine produced from the region. Marnie had bags of fresh and dried herbs, and other products such as bags of wattle seed and dried bush plums. Donuts were a non-aboriginal delicacy that she embraced with enthusiasm.
“You’re a good girl, Cassie. You’ll make some man a wonderful wife one day.”
Cassie winced inwardly. She knew Marnie meant well, but the days of subservient domestication were long past.
“Thanks, Marnie. If supplying donuts is a pre-requisite, there might be a problem. This is the only time of year I eat them.”
“You know what I mean, girl. You’re thoughtful, intelligent, and gifted.”
“Now that sounds better.” Cassie laughed. “I could marry this paragon myself. I’ll wander back this way a bit later. I’m off to see the results of the competitions and then perhaps I’ll visit the animal exhibits.”
“I think there was a litter of piglets born this morning,” said Rowena. “I might see them later as well.”
“Don’t forget Raff is with the Country Fire Service,” called Marnie as Cassie edged her way towards the entrance of the hall. “They’ll be down behind the animal pens.”
I think I’ve outgrown my childhood fascination with fire trucks, though perhaps not the men in uniform. Even so, I might give them a miss on this occasion. She flung a wave and a smile in the direction of the two women and wove her way through the crowds who were dribbling into the hall.
A marquee housed the cooking exhibits. There were entries for best fruit cake, best scones and various other baked goods. Then there were the jars of jams and bottled fruits. Usually the same few people were prize winners each year, but sometimes an outsider disrupted the status quo and snatched the award instead. That created an upset for a while, but as Cassie never entered these events, she could stay at arm’s length from disputes.
On leaving the marquee, the winter sun seemed incredibly bright. She paused uncertainly, waiting for her eyes to adjust. She was about to head towards the animal enclosures when someone seized her arm. Turning, she was surprised to see Raff at her side. Her reaction must have been apparent, because he dropped his arm.
“Sorry, Cassie. Didn’t mean to startle you. You walked right past me. Didn’t seem to see me.”
“No, I can’t say I did. I visited your mum’s stall a short time ago. I think she was making a few sales, but it’s still early. Activity should pick up from lunchtime onwards.”
“Yeah, right. Mum always does well. She has a lot of regular customers. I dropped in on her earlier.” He cleared his throat, sounding surprisingly nervous. “I wondered if you’d like to go to dinner one evening?”
Oh, no. Marnie, you must have put him up to this. Raff is just being friendly, surely?
“Um, dinner? I’m not sure, Raff. I’m fairly busy most evenings.” She grappled for a way to decline the invitation without being too blunt. In a small town, it didn’t pay to upset people.”
“It doesn’t have to be this week,” Raff insisted. “We can make a time to suit you. With you on your own and me on my own, it makes sense to get together when the opportunity arises.”
“Sure. Actually, there are a few people who are on their own in town. Amber Fielding, for instance, and there’s one of my colleagues at the library. Perhaps we can organise a social event. Good thinking, Raff.”
“Yeah, that would be great, but what I meant was you and me. I’ve always liked you, Cassie—we’ve both grown up in Harrow and understand how things work. I bring to the relationship the indigenous side of things, and the understanding of the ways of the old people. You bring the spiritual connection with those who balance the earth and our environment. Together, we could be a power-house. Think how astounding our kids would be!”
“Kids! Whoa, that’s taking a huge leap.” Cassie stopped to draw breath, her mind racing. “Raff, you’re a great guy. I’ve known you all my life and we’ve always got on well.”
“Do I sense a ‘but’ coming?” Raff interrupted.
Cassie laid a hand on his arm. “Let me finish. Your mother has probably been talking to you. The women of the clan are pressuring me to find a partner, but I’m not ready for that. I’m not sure if I ever will be.” She crossed her fingers behind her back and hoped the Goddess wasn’t listening. “For now, I’m happy as I am and this might be my destiny—to be able to focus on my work and my spiritual connections for the benefit of the community, without the distractions or a partner or family.”
Raff’s frown was perplexed. “But, Cassie, you can’t sacrifice your future happiness for other people. That’s just stupid.”
“It’s not a sacrifice, Raff. It’s my choice. If things ever change, that will be my choice too. I’m happy to join you in social events, but my feelings don’t support anything closer.” She tightened her grip on his arm, willing the power of communication to flow between them. “You do understand, don’t you?”
He stared at her a moment, before sighing. “I guess I do. My offer still stands though, remember that. Any time you change your mind, I’m here. For anything, in fact. I’m not the sort to hold a grudge just because you’ve turned me down.”
“I know you’re not. Thank you for being so supportive.” On impulse, she reached up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “It’s good to know I can rely on you. I’m on my way to the animal pens, so I’ll catch you later.”
With one last pat to his arm and what she hoped was a respectful smile, Cassie stepped back from the
encounter and turned towards the section where the animals were housed. She didn’t enter the barn straight away, but diverted to a quiet corner of the grounds, under the shade of an ancient oak tree, planted by an early settler. There was a seat beneath the tree, old and splintered, but she sank on it with relief. Here, with a modicum of privacy, she could make her prayer. She sat quietly for a moment, freeing her mind from distraction and meditating on the link she needed with the Goddess.
Blessed Aphrodite, hear my prayer. Raphael Hunter is a good man. Find him another woman to love, a woman who will appreciate him for the gifts he has to offer. Make him forget me. With my heartfelt thanks, this I ask of you. Blessed Be.
She remained for a while in quiet contemplation, before rising and emerging from under the shaded canopy. She hoped she’d handled the situation with diplomacy.
Chapter 8
Daniel arrived at the showgrounds mid-morning, intrigued to discover what a country show was all about. He was swept along by excited groups of people, and followed the general direction they were headed, assuming he would eventually see everything there was to see.
He spotted Marnie’s stall in the produce hall. She wasn’t alone. Another woman was behind the counter, and they were both busy serving. He didn’t like to interrupt a commercial enterprise, and intended passing the booth with a wave if Marnie looked up, but she spied him as she completed her latest transaction.
“Eh, Daniel,” she called. “You can’t pass my stall without having a look.” She turned to the woman. “This bloke’s staying in Bob Russell’s cottage. I’ve run into him out walking in the mornings, down in the valley.” She faced Daniel again. “Rowena’s helping me. I’d be run off my feet without her.”
Daniel extended his hand to Rowena and introduced himself. “Pleased to meet you. Business is good from what I could see.” An array of bottled products and packets of herbs were displayed on the table. “I’ve tried your native spinach substitute, Marnie. You’ve won me. You’ll have to show me where to find it.”
