Her Outback Surprise

by Annie Seaton

  “It’s okay.” Angie lifted her head and held his gaze, her pale-blue eyes holding his. “It’s an awkward situation. We seem to be thrown together a lot recently. But it’s okay. We can be friends.”

  That’s not what he wanted, but the offer of friendship would do, for a start. Maybe as friends, he would have the right to probe a bit more about this new man of hers. See how serious it was. See if he had a chance.

  Damn fool. Even if he did have a chance, there was no point. He was leaving soon. Her life was here. His was not.

  “Ironic, isn’t it?” The words were out before he could think. “Last time you had to leave. This time, it’s me.”

  “Yes, it is.” Angie’s voice was hard to read as she turned away and checked on Willow. “You go and get some dinner. Willow will be fine while I take a shower. Then I’ll have to go back to the surgery and check on my other patients.”

  “Would it help if I came, too?”

  “It would, but I wouldn’t ask you to. It means cleaning out some nasty messes in the cages.”

  Liam laughed. “You might get a surprise, Ange. Farmer Liam is a bit different to the bloke I was in London.”

  This time, it was Angie who put a hand on his arm. He resisted the temptation to put his hand over hers.

  “I like both Liams,” she said. “But if Farmer Liam”—her eyes crinkled in a smile—“is willing to hose out some smelly cages, I would be most grateful.”

  “One condition.” He matched her smile. “We eat first, because I don’t think I’ll keep my appetite after doing that!”

  A couple of hours later, as Angie locked the door of the surgery behind them, Liam wondered if he would be able to keep his hamburger and chips down. He’d had no idea what Angie’s job entailed. When they’d lived together in London, he’d been selfish. All the times that she’d asked him to come along and see where she worked, he’d always had an excuse at the ready. He guessed he’d thought that her work was like a doctor’s, and someone else did the messy stuff. He’d been too full of his career, and his own self-importance, to take the time to see what she did. No wonder she’d taken off when she had the chance.

  The mess they had cleaned up tonight had made him gag a few times, but Angie had been patient and had spoken lovingly to each of the dogs after the cages were cleaned.

  “I really do appreciate the hand you gave me tonight,” she said.

  “I guess we’re even now. You helped me with the cake, and I returned the favour.”

  “Yep, we’re square, and I think the dogs are all improving.” Angie shivered and rubbed her arms as they walked along the road to her house. “Still a bit of a chill in that spring wind.”

  The night had come in quickly and a cool breeze was blowing from the north. Above them, the stars shone like diamonds, peppering the night sky with shards of brilliant light. Liam still couldn’t get over the difference in the night sky out here from the city.

  “It’s fresh tonight. I hope Willow has improved.”

  Angie pushed open her front door. “Me, too.”

  “Don’t you lock your door?” Liam frowned.

  “No need to out here.”

  “I beg to disagree. Just because you’re in the bush doesn’t mean it’s suddenly safe.”

  “Don’t start telling me what to do, Liam.” Her voice held a warning tone.

  “Just looking out for you.”

  “I’m quite capable of doing that myself. I’ve gotten used to being alone.”

  Liam pulled back before she lost her cool. “Whatever. I’ll just take a look at Willow before I go home.”

  The atmosphere was tense as they walked into the small enclosed veranda at the back of Angie’s house. The easy camaraderie that had been there as they’d eaten hamburgers and then worked together at the surgery had disappeared.

  Willow was sitting up looking out through the cage. When she saw them, her little tail thumped and she tried to stand up.

  “Well, that’s a lovely sight,” Liam said. He reached in through the cage, and Willow licked his hand. He felt her nose; it was cold and wet again.

  “Definitely not parvo virus.” Angie’s voice was brisk and professional. “She would have gone downhill without medication. Looks like she’s got what the others have. Whatever it is.” She turned to Liam and folded her arms. “I’ll keep her here overnight, and if she’s still good in the morning you can take her back home. I meant to tell you, too, I’ve had no luck finding anyone who lost a pup. She must have been dumped.”

  “It’s hard to understand how anyone would do that, isn’t it?” Liam felt as though he’d been dismissed so he quickly said, “Thanks. You’re a great vet.”

  “Thank you.” It was hard to read her tone.

  “I mean it. I’m sorry I didn’t appreciate what you did when we were in London.” He gave Willow one last tickle beneath her chin. “I’ll come in about lunchtime tomorrow, if that’s okay? I’ve got a cattle truck coming and I have to load a couple of dozen heifers.”

  “I really can’t get used to this new you.” This time Angie smiled. “Whenever you can make it in is fine. If there’s any change in her condition, I’ll give you a call. Give me your number again. I think I got it wrong last time.” She shook her head as she pulled out her phone and updated Liam’s contact as he gave her the number again. Angie walked to the door with him.

  “Bye, then.” A moment of awkwardness hovered as Liam shoved his hands in his pockets. He fought the automatic reflex to kiss her good-bye. You couldn’t live with someone for two years and not have little habits or rituals that came naturally.

  “Good-bye,” she said. Before he could say anything more, the front door closed gently.

  Liam walked back to the car park of the surgery to collect his car.

  Chapter Nine

  Angie’s buzzing phone woke her just after seven the next morning, and she groaned.

  Please don’t be Cissy calling in sick again.

  She’d have to get her skates on to get to the surgery in time. Picking up the phone, she yawned and opened her messages as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. There were two; she must have been so deeply asleep she’d only heard the last one beep in.

  The first one was from Cissy saying she’d be in for work today. Thank goodness.

  The second one was from Lucy asking if it was okay to add Angie’s name to the helpers roster for the Spring Downs Agricultural Show next weekend.

  She quickly responded to Lucy’s text. Sure, prefer afternoon Saturday or anytime Sunday.

  Angie checked on Willow, who was now standing on her back legs, front paws resting on the middle of the cage. “Well, look who’s all better.” Before she headed for the shower, she served out a very small portion of boiled rice and chicken protein mix to see how Willow fared with that. The small pup wolfed it down and then curled up for a sleep. Angie picked up her phone and hesitated.

  Go on, she thought. Liam will be worried.

  Willow much better, she typed. Her finger hovered over the keys. In the old days, they had always sent long and funny texts to each other. She took a deep breath and pressed send. Those days were gone.

  When she was in the shower, Angie tipped her head back and let the warm water soothe her. Her sleep had been fitful, and when she had finally dozed off, Liam had filled her dreams for the fifth night in a row. Last night they’d been back in London, walking around the streets holding hands. Then he’d disappeared and she’d run around trying to find him. She’d been annoyed that her cheeks had been damp with tears when she’d woken up in the middle of the night. It had taken ages to get back to sleep.

  As soon as Liam collected Willow, she was going to do everything she could to avoid him. Her feelings for him were rushing back like a freight train. Eating hamburgers with him last night, and working side by side in the surgery, had been satisfying—you couldn’t call it fun, not with some of the messes he’d helped hose out. But it had been too chummy, and old habits had kicked in.
She’d gotten the salt shaker out of the cupboard and was salting his chips before she even realised what she was doing. Her hamburger had been perfect—no onion, and double cheese with chilli sauce, just how Liam knew she liked it.

  They couldn’t go on this way. Angie wasn’t strong enough to be left behind when he hightailed it to Sydney.

  Even though, through dinner and the cage scrubbing, he’d been kind and interested in her well-being. And that apology for not appreciating her in London had filled her with warmth. It had come from his heart. If he’d been like that in London, she would have begged him to come home with her—but she was getting ahead of herself. Just because he now appreciated what she did—and did well—didn’t mean that they were going to get back together.

  And Liam would be leaving at Christmas. Only a few weeks away.

  It would be better all round if they only saw each other when it was absolutely necessary. When he came to pick Willow up, she’d make sure Cissy took him over to the house. Vet and client relationship, that’s all they had. And that’s all they would have from now on. It was called self-protection.

  As she rinsed the shampoo from her hair, Angie blocked the image of Liam cooking his chocolate cake. It made her feel altogether too warm and fuzzy. She needed to be strong. Last night, he’d been thinking of kissing her good-bye. She knew him well enough to see the intent in his eyes.

  She loved him enough that she would have let him do it. As the water ran down her face, she knew some of it was from the tears spilling from her eyes. After the show next weekend, she’d get a locum in and go to Melbourne for a visit. She hadn’t caught up with Jenny for a while. Angie bit back a smile. If Jenny’s boyfriend was there, technically she’d be visiting Hugh, too!

  …

  On the way to town, after the heifers had been rounded up and loaded onto the truck, Liam swung by the Mackenzie farm. He’d gotten into that habit since Lucy had moved over there. Invariably, she needed something from town, and he’d enjoyed sitting on the veranda with her as her pregnancy had progressed. He slammed the door of the ute and climbed up the steps and stood at the back door.

  “Luce? You home?”

  “Come through, Liam. I’m on the front veranda.”

  “Do you want me to make a cuppa on the way through?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Five minutes later, he juggled two cups of tea and a plate of homemade bikkies as he walked down the timber floor of the hall. He looked around with admiration. Garth had designed and built this house before Lucy had come back to Prickle Creek Farm last year, and he’d done a superb job. It was almost a Japanese minimalist style. The last thing you’d expect to see in a farmhouse. Liam looked around enviously. It would be good to create something like this, and have a place he could call his own out here on the farm. He’d build it overlooking the back bore. There was a good view of the mountains from there.

  He shook his head and the tea slopped over his hand. God, what is getting into me? I’m not staying, so why on earth would I think about building a house here?

  “What are you looking so worried about?” Lucy was sitting in an old rocking chair and James was asleep in the pram beside her.

  “Nothing.” Telling Lucy what he was thinking would be tantamount to telling her she knew what was best for him. He passed her a cup of tea and took two biscuits from the plate before he put it on the small table between the chairs. “Need anything in town?”

  “No, thanks. Garth took a list to Narrabri with him. He’s taken his parents back to the airport.”

  “That was a quick visit.”

  “They’re good in-laws. Susan said they didn’t want to overstay their welcome, though I have to learn to be more patient with her when she tries to tell me what to do.”

  “A bit of your own medicine,” Liam couldn’t help adding, and Lucy smiled.

  The silence was companionable as they looked out over the paddocks.

  “What do you have to go to town for?” Lucy reached over and patted the baby’s back as he began to stir.

  “Have to go the vet. Willow got sick last night.”

  “Oh, that’s nice.” Lucy smiled like a cat that got the cream.

  “No, it’s not. Poor Willow was really crook. She could have died.”

  She waved a hand. “I didn’t mean that. I meant it was nice that you were seeing Angie again.”

  “Lucy.”

  “I like her. And I can see why you loved—love—her.”

  “Lucy, drop it.” Liam held his temper, keeping his voice low so he didn’t wake the baby. “It’s over, okay? Angie has moved on, and I’m moving away. And seeing you are so concerned about my dog, yes, Willow is fine. Angie sent a text.”

  “Okay.”

  He looked at her suspiciously as she acquiesced.

  “So how did the icing go? You didn’t ring me.”

  Liam felt his mouth drop open. “Oh no! I forgot all about icing the cake.”

  “The ‘damn cake’.” Lucy smiled and he forgave her for being persistent about Angie. “Bring it over here and we can do it together later. It has to be in town by tomorrow for the judging. And that’s what else I wanted to ask you. Can I put you on the roster to help out at the show next weekend?”

  “I don’t know if I’ll have time. Especially with another trip into town tomorrow.”

  “Come on, where’s your community spirit?” Lucy’s smile was innocent.

  “In the cattle crush, in the irrigation pipes, and all the other places where I have chores banked up.”

  “I told you, Garth can come over and help you out.”

  “All right. Add me to the roster, you witch. You always get what you want, anyway.” He nudged her with his elbow. “Always did, ever since you were a little girl. You really are a chip off Gran’s old block.”

  “I hope so.” Again the innocent smile. “She’s a good person.”

  Liam stood and gathered the cups. “I’ll come back over at teatime and we’ll ice that damn cake together.”

  Lucy’s laughter pealed out.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Did you read the end of the recipe?”

  “No,” he said. “Why?”

  “You’ll see.”

  “If anyone had ever told me coming home to Prickle Creek Farm would see me cooking and icing cakes, there is no way I would have ever left England.”

  Lucy stood and gave him a hug. “But you did, and you’re doing very well. And you know what? To be honest, I really think you should consider staying here. Gran and Pop reckon you are. I know you just said that so they’d enjoy their trip, but Liam, do something for me?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Give it some thought.”

  “Maybe.”

  Not in a million years.

  An hour later Liam was on his way back to the farm, with Willow curled up in a box on the seat beside him. To his disappointment, there’d been no sign of Angie, and Cissy had taken him to the house and bailed Willow out of the cage. The little spaniel had almost wagged her tail off when she’d spotted him, and Liam hadn’t been able to help the smile that came to his lips.

  “So how was Angie this morning, Willow?” Liam shook his head, and turned the radio to the country and western station. Not only did he have a pretty pup—a non-working dog—now he was talking to the damn thing. He turned the volume up and next time he looked across at Willow, she was curled up asleep in the box.

  Yep, Smythe. You are getting soft. It was past time to start looking for a job back in the city.

  Chapter Ten

  Liam smiled when he read Gran’s icing recipe in Lucy’s kitchen that evening. Ice the Damn Cake was at the top of the instructions. James co-operated by staying asleep, and he watched as Lucy twirled the finishing touch on the icing with a flat knife.

  “There’s no way I could have done that,” he said.

  “Really?” Lucy licked the last of the icing off the spatula. “I heard you say that about the cattle w
ork when we first came home. Amazing the new skills you’ve picked up this year.”

  “Look who’s talking,” Liam teased back. “Whoever would have thought you’d pick up all these new skills when we came back?”

  Lucy held up the spatula and her nose wrinkled in a frown. “What, making cakes?”

  “No, silly. Being a wife and mother.”

  “Never in a million years did I think I wanted that. Amazing what true love does, isn’t it?” Her grin was fast and cheeky. “There’s hope for you yet. We’ll have to look for a wife for you. To get you to stay here. I’d miss you if you went, and so would Garth.” Her grin widened. “And so would Ang—”

  Liam cut her short. “I’m going to see Garth about the cattle work next week.” He turned on his heel and headed for the side door where Garth was sitting on the veranda having a beer. He glanced back before he went outside and saw the look on Lucy’s face. She was up to something.

  “Don’t you even think about matchmaking, Lucy. Or I’ll go back to Sydney sooner than you can say snap. You can look after Gran and Pop’s farm until Sebastian and Jemima arrive.” He wasn’t fast enough to look back at her but he swore he caught a glimpse of Lucy poking her tongue out at him.

  “Don’t forget you have a child to set an example for now, smart-arse,” he shot back.

  “Come on, you pair, stop fighting. You’re worse than a brother and sister.” Garth reached down into the cooler beside his chair and passed Liam a beer. “Pull up a pew, mate. You look like you could do with a drink.”

  “Thanks.” Liam reached for the beer and sat in the chair opposite Garth. “Lucy said you might be able to spare me some time over the weekend.”

  “For sure.” Garth nodded. “Where do you need help?”

  “You name it, I’m behind in everything, but if you could help me drench the cattle from the front paddock, that would be great.”

  “Sunday morning suit?”

  “Perfect. Appreciate it.” Liam tipped his beer up and let the cool liquid run down his throat; it barely touched the sides. Summer was approaching fast and when the cool westerly eased off, the temperature got hotter each day.