Whispers At Wongan Creek

by Juanita Kees

  ‘Have your sheep gone missing again, Harry?’

  Finding Harry Murchison’s missing sheep was becoming a weekly ritual, as was the discussion with Travis after they’d herded them back into Harry’s paddock.

  Harry stared off across the creek for a moment then brought his gaze back to hers. The emptiness in the old man’s rheumy eyes worried her sometimes.

  ‘Missing sheep? I don’t have any missing sheep. They’re down in the back paddock unless those mongrels from the mine site have moved them again.’

  Heather stole a glance at Travis who flashed his trademark bone-melting grin. Oh, he knew, the sexy bastard! He knew Harry hadn’t lost the sheep, playing along so as not to upset or confuse Harry any more than he already was, protecting him all the way.

  ‘Okay, would you like me to go and check on them just in case they have wandered off?’

  ‘Sure, knock yourself out. I’ll put the kettle on.’ Harry shuffled towards the front door of the ramshackle homestead. ‘Travis, go with the girl. Don’t want her getting lost and trampling all over my canola.’

  Travis’ grin widened and she wished she could wipe it off because it made her feel things she had no right to want. She let it keep until Harry was safely inside the house. ‘He knows it’s not canola he’s growing, right?’

  ‘Daisies, canola—same yellow colour. At least it’s not bindii weed. As long as he sees something growing, he still feels like a farmer.’

  ‘He needs to consider his choices, like securing a place in a care facility. His loss of memory and mobility is getting worse.’ Travis’ eyes lost their sparkle and Heather regretted having to raise the topic. ‘It won’t be long before Doc Benson assigns me to his case officially. Then I’ll have to do what’s best for Harry.’

  ‘I know, but without Murchison’s Run he has nothing to live for. He doesn’t have any family to care for him. Taking him away from here will finish him off. He won’t survive in a care facility.’

  ‘I know what you’re doing, Travis.’ She stepped in closer and lowered her tone in case Harry was listening. ‘You can’t keep this up.’

  His features set to neutral, he turned that hot green gaze to hers. Along his jawline, the shadow of a beard caressed his skin. With almost a foot difference in height, she had the perfect view of his strong tanned throat as it worked around his response. ‘Keep what up?’

  Her thoughts wandered way off track from Harry’s welfare as the heat from his body permeated hers and the smell of his aftershave teased her senses. She drew her mind back into focus.

  ‘Covering for his forgetfulness, taking care of his land and yours. Taking care of him without him knowing it.’

  Travis shrugged. ‘He’s my neighbour. It’s what we do out here. We look out for each other.’

  ‘You can’t keep the expansion of the gold mine at bay singlehandedly, and you know it. It’s only a matter of time before John Bannister figures out you’ve been covering for him and lodges a court order to have him declared mentally incapable.’

  His hands were on her arms in an instant, firm and determined, warm and exciting. ‘I won’t let them take his land, Heather. I know his mental health is deteriorating, but I won’t help it along by taking away the only thing he has to live for. You have no idea how much this land means to him. Do you understand that if we move him away, it will be like ripping his heart out and turning off his life support? He’ll die faster in an institution.’

  The passion and determination in his voice reached in and twisted her heart. He might have incredibly broad shoulders but he wasn’t superhuman. He was simply a man juggling way too many balls, a burden he couldn’t possibly shoulder alone for much longer without it affecting his niece’s quality of life. And that was her business. Right now, that’s where her focus needed to lie.

  ‘They’re not institutions. Not anymore. They’re care facilities that focus on providing quality of life in the final years.’ Sometimes she wished she hadn’t had to experience the service they provided first hand. ‘Haven’t you got enough on your hands raising Casey and managing your own property without taking responsibility for a man who isn’t family?’

  Temper flashed in his eyes and he dropped his hands. ‘Out here, everyone is family. You’re passing judgement on things you can’t begin to understand.’

  ‘Travis, you can’t keep doing this. How long before you wear yourself out? What good will you be to Casey then? You can’t care for a child alone when you’re too exhausted to take care of yourself.’

  The walls slammed up around him as he froze her out. ‘You’d love it if I caved, wouldn’t you, Heather? Another score on your government reports. Another child ripped from their family and delegated to foster care because the powers that be can’t see past the red tape. Another lonely old man torn from his land to be institutionalised so that money-grabbing sons-of-bitches like John Bannister can add to their portfolio.’ He slapped his hat on his head. ‘You won’t take Casey from me. And Harry will be taken care of my way. I’ll see you on your official visit as scheduled where you won’t find so much as a toilet seat out of place.’ He turned and walked away towards the main road, anger etched into every taut muscle.

  Tears stung her eyes and she dashed them away. His harshly spoken words cut deeply into her heart. He was wrong. So, so wrong. Any fool could see how much he loved Casey and it would tear her heart out if she did have to move the little girl into foster care. No matter how good a home could be with foster parents, it could never replace the love of your own family. She knew all about never having a family.

  ‘May the cat eat you, and may the devil eat the damn cat.’ She muttered the curse under her breath at his departing back and thanked her Irish mother for teaching it to her. She might be a Darwin girl by birth, but the Irish blood still sang in her veins. ‘Maybe the long walk to the bus stop will melt all that God damn sexiness from your backside and fry some common sense into your brain.’

  She tore her mutinous stare from his back as he stalked away up the gravel road. Turning towards Harry’s back paddock, she picked her way through the field of daisies, careful not to squash them as she tried not to dwell on how far out of her depth she was with Travis Bailey.

  He wasn’t some invincible superhero, for God’s sake, but she did respect what he was trying to do for Harry.

  At the edge of the daisy field, she stopped and counted the sheep—all five of them—and noted they’d need shearing before too long. Another task that would fall to Travis because Harry probably didn’t even remember the sheep needed shearing.

  Well, the least she could do was make the old man a cup of tea. No doubt he’d forgotten he’d boiled the kettle, and she could do with a cuppa herself. Heather hoped Harry had chamomile tea in his cupboard since her next visit would be with the man she’d just made angrier than a frill-necked lizard.

  Chapter 2

  Travis cursed himself for letting Heather get under his skin. Her intentions were good, no doubt about that, but she had no idea how hard it was to keep developers and miners from getting their hands on what was left of the good farming land in the area.

  If it wasn’t the developers looking to build new housing estates for the mine workers it was the mine owners determined to follow the vein of gold that ran beneath their precious earth, destroying good, fertile farming land for it. He was damned if he’d let it happen before he was ready to abandon the farm he loved. He’d already had to sell the cattle because he couldn’t keep up with the chores. It was a stroke of luck that Angus beef had taken off in the south-west and he’d been able to sell them at a good price.

  He burned his anger off as he walked the distance to the school bus stop. The main road leading into town was quiet at this time of day and the heat shimmered off the tar. The sun chewed into the flannel material of his shirt. He shrugged it off and tied the arms of the shirt around his waist. By the time he reached the stop, he hoped he’d have walked off his bad mood because he’d hate for Casey to see
the knots Heather had him tied up in.

  He could still feel the softness of her skin against his hands and wondered if the rest of her felt the same.

  She might be an interfering know-it-all, but she sure as hell made her DOHW uniform look like something off a city catwalk. Heather Penney took pale blue shirts and uniform pants to a whole new level of sexy.

  Her arms when he’d held them were firm, her skin silky soft and warm in contrast. She was strong enough to flip a man on his arse without missing a breath. He’d seen her do it. She’d have to have had some self-defence training to manage the arseholes she dealt with in her job. Domestic abusers who attacked before they talked weren’t fun to handle in a crisis, especially if they were drunk or drugged up.

  The thought took some of the sting out of his anger. He wasn’t sure he liked the thought of her being in dangerous situations like that. She had a job to do, he got that, but there were kids out there far worse off than Casey who needed her attention more, and their situations were not nearly as pretty to deal with.

  The corrugated roof of the two seater bench bus shelter shimmered in the heat. He slowed his steps and concentrated on breathing to calm his thoughts.

  The worst part was Heather was right. He knew he couldn’t manage alone much longer. How much time did he have left before Harry’s forgetfulness turned hazardous? It wouldn’t be long before he forgot a fire burning or left the gas cooker turned on in his kitchen. How did you tell a man who’d been independent all his life that he had to go into an institution?

  Slipping into the shade of the bus shelter, he sat down on the wooden bench and stretched his legs out in front of him, studying the worn leather of his work boots.

  He’d have to talk to Doc Benson before much longer. Putting it off had felt like a much better route to explore, but with Harry’s episodes escalating, he’d have to take action soon.

  Pulling his phone out of his back pocket, he checked for a signal before dialling. Mobile phone reception in Western Australia was sketchy at best, out here it was like finding opals among the gold.

  He tapped his foot in the red dust as he listened to the phone ringing on the other end of the crackly line. It didn’t take long for Mrs Benson to answer.

  ‘Hey, Mrs B. Is the doc in?’

  ‘Travis, honey! Is everything okay? Nothing wrong with little Casey, is there?’

  ‘No, no. She’s fine. I just need a little chat about Harry.’

  ‘Oh dear. Hang on a sec, Doc’s between patients at the moment. I’ll put you through.’

  ‘Thanks, Mrs B,’ Travis replied, thankful he didn’t need to explain. The whole of Wongan Creek was concerned for Harry’s welfare, but all were powerless to do anything, except for Travis who was the closest the old man had to family.

  ‘Travis, my boy.’ Doc Benson’s voice boomed down the line. ‘I heard from Riggs that Harry’s having some trouble again?’ His tone softened. ‘You know it’s time to make a decision about his future, right?’

  ‘Yeah, that’s why I’m calling.’ Travis took off his hat, balanced it on his knee and ran a hand through his hair. ‘We need to talk to him, Doc. Any chance you could stop by the house later?’

  ‘Of course, no worries. Harry’s place or yours?’

  ‘Harry’s, I think. He’ll feel less agitated in his own surroundings.’

  ‘Righto, mate. I’ll meet you there after my last appointment this afternoon.’

  ‘Cheers, thanks, Doc.’ Travis stabbed the button to end the call and shoved the phone back in his pocket, his heart weighing a ton in his chest. At least he had a couple of hours to think things over.

  The rumble of the school bus reached his ears and he stood to shrug on his shirt. Casey had lost so much already. Harry was like a grandfather to her and if they had to send him away, it would break her heart. Then it would be just him and Casey, two lonely souls not so different from the old man who’d spent almost all his life alone.

  The bus full of local school kids came to a halt in front of him and the doors hissed open. A cool wave of air washed over him from the air conditioning.

  ‘Hey, Travis,’ called Marge Everett, one of the few CWA volunteers licenced to drive the school bus. ‘I’ve finished knitting that Wongan Nuggets footy scarf for you. Pity the season’s over for another year.’

  ‘There’s always next year, Mrs E.’ He grinned.

  ‘It’s in Casey’s backpack. Don’t forget to take it out when you get home.’

  ‘Cheers, thanks.’

  Casey hopped down off the bus, her feet slapping onto the red dust. She launched herself at him and his arms were ready.

  ‘Uncle Trav! Wait till you see the picture I drew for you.’ She squealed as he swept her up, backpack and all, and hugged her tight.

  Travis’ heart squeezed as she cupped his face and smacked a kiss against his forehead. ‘Hey, sweet pea.’ He pinched her rosy cheek with one hand while he held her tight with his arm. ‘I see your braids survived the day.’

  She grinned widely. ‘Mrs Everett says you did a great job on them. Look, my tooth’s wobbly.’ She wiggled a front tooth.

  ‘Wow, wobbly teeth and growing feet. Before we know it you’ll be driving.’ Reluctantly, he set her on her feet and took her small hand in his.

  She turned those big eyes on him, shaped so much like Tracy’s, reached down to retrieve her hat from where it had fallen and dropped it back onto her head. ‘You’re silly. I can’t drive yet. Where’s the ute?’

  ‘We’re walking today, sweet pea. I had to drive Harry’s ute back to the farm earlier and walked back.’ He squatted down and hunched over a little. ‘Hop on, I’ll give you a piggyback ride.’ He blessed the fact that his and Harry’s driveways were only a few kilometres apart.

  ‘Yes!’ She did a little fist pump and clambered onto his back, looping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. ‘I love you, Uncle Trav. Can we go see Harry later? I drew a picture for him too.’

  ‘He’ll like that, I’m sure.’ Travis hooked his arms under her legs and started walking. ‘Doc Benson is coming over to visit Harry too.’

  ‘Is Harry sick?’

  ‘Not sick, just getting older.’

  ‘Oh.’ The sadness in her tone made his heart contract a little more. ‘You won’t get old like that will you, Uncle Trav? Benji says when people get old, they die and leave us all alone. My mummy wasn’t old and she died. You won’t die too, will you, Uncle Trav?’

  Travis couldn’t blame the heat and sweat running down his forehead for the sudden sting in his eyes. ‘No, sweetheart, I’ll be around for a long time. Long enough to chase away all the boys like Benji when you’re a teenager. No boyfriends for you, missy.’

  She giggled and pressed her cheek against his back. ‘Silly! I’m never getting married. Yuck.’

  ‘Yuck, indeed. You remember that when Benji tries to kiss you on your sixteenth birthday.’

  Travis turned his head at the sound of a car approaching and the toot of a horn. He slowed his steps as Heather pulled up next to them.

  She rolled down the window. ‘Want a lift?’

  He eyed her for a moment, still a little angry with her although angrier at himself for having to admit she was right.

  ‘Can we, Uncle Trav? I’m all hot and sweaty and if we do, I can get a drink faster.’ Casey bounced on his back excitedly.

  Heather wiggled her fingers in a wave. ‘Hi, Casey. I’ve got a fresh bottle of water here if you’re thirsty? It’s nice and cold from my little cooler bag.’

  ‘That’s bribery, Miss Penney,’ said Travis, keeping his tone cool and trying to ignore the pretty flush on Heather’s ivory-coloured skin.

  ‘I’d say this was an emergency situation. We’ll call it a rescue mission. Come on, Travis. It’s hot, and it’s a fair hike home for both of you. I know I’m early for our appointment. I promise not to deduct points if you’ve left the toilet seat up again.’ A little smile twitched on her lips.

  Her tone
offered reconciliation so for Casey’s sake, he wouldn’t refuse the offer. ‘Okay, thanks.’

  He squatted down again so Casey could slide off his back, then straightened to open the back door for her. She scooted into the middle and shrugged off her back pack.

  ‘Sit back and buckle up,’ said Heather.

  He closed the door and walked around the rear of the vehicle to the passenger side to slip into the front seat. Fastening his seatbelt, he kept his eyes on the road and as far to the left as the confines of the car would allow. Out the corner of his eye he saw Heather cast him an amused look, but said nothing as she hit a button on the radio and the soundtrack from Casey’s favourite animated movie filled the car. Casey squealed with delight and sang along as they pulled away. As silence stretched between them down the long driveway to his house, Travis wished he was six again.

  ***

  Heather turned off the driveway to park in the shade of the vacant carport outside Travis’ house. She loved the old federation style building with its red brick walls and wraparound veranda set against the backdrop of the hills and canola fields. He’d freshened the green paint on the lattice work and she wondered where the hell he’d found the time with all he had going on in his life.

  Under the canopy of a massive old Jacaranda tree, a yellow and green swing set stood silent next to Casey’s boxed sand pit. To the left of it, a thriving vegetable patch. Down in the paddock separated from the garden by a white wooden fence, a palomino grazed in the shade of a eucalyptus tree. There was no doubt he’d catered for every need he could think of to keep Casey amused and give her every opportunity available to a kid growing up on a farm.

  ‘Here we are,’ she said, stopping the car and turning down the music. ‘Was that fun?’

  ‘Yes, thank you, Miss Penney. Benji will be so jealous when I tell him at school tomorrow. His mum says he has to wait till Christmas for that CD.’ Casey loosened her seatbelt, leaned between the seats and kissed Heather’s cheek. ‘You’re the awesomest.’