Her Outback Surprise

by Annie Seaton

Are you up there looking out for me, Mum?

  Angie put the coffee mug down carefully. She looked down at the coffee stain on her pink T-shirt. That was the least of her worries. Walking over to the door, she hesitated before she lifted her hand to flick the lock open. There was no point ignoring him, and she wanted to know how Liam had tracked her down.

  The door opened slowly and there he was. All six foot plus of him, a hesitant smile gracing his face.

  “Liam,” she said briskly, “what are you doing here?” Her voice was steady, and her heartbeat had slowed to normal. He stood at the door and Angie lifted her head to meet his gaze. Her stomach did a little dance as he looked back at her. His green eyes were full of…full of what?

  Certainty? Tenderness?

  “May I come in?”

  She was surprised to hear the tremor in his voice. She stepped back and let him into the room. “What are you doing here?” she repeated.

  Liam closed the door gently behind him. He stood so close, his fresh soapy fragrance surrounded her, and she could feel the heat of his skin. She dropped her gaze to the floor, not game to look at him. If she did, she was scared her heart would splinter into a thousand pieces.

  Gentle fingers took her chin, and her heart began to thud.

  “Look at me, Ange.”

  She shook her head and her lip trembled. Slowly he lifted her chin until she was looking into his beautiful green eyes. A little burst of hope radiated through her chest and her heart stayed intact.

  “I want you looking at me when I tell you something I should have said on a cold night in London last year.” His eyes were holding hers and she couldn’t have looked away if she wanted to. “Instead, here we are in a tacky motel room in the outback. Even if you don’t want to hear this, even if it’s too late, I want you to know.”

  “Know what, Liam?”

  “I love you.” His voice was tender as he ran his thumb gently along her cheek. “I’ve loved you since I first saw you on a rooftop beer garden in London. And I’ll love you for the rest of my life…if you’ll have me.”

  Angie closed her eyes as the first tear splashed onto her cheek. “I—”

  Liam shook his head. “I’m so sorry it took me so long to wake up. I’ve been a stupid fool.”

  Angie lifted her hand to wrap her fingers around Liam’s. “But you’re my stupid fool.” Another happy tear splashed down her cheek as Liam lowered his forehead to rest against hers.

  “Oh, Ange. Do you really mean that? It’s not too late?”

  “It’s never been too late, Liam. I’ve loved you since that same moment. On that old rooftop at the Feathers pub.”

  Liam’s happy and relieved sigh warmed her cheek. “Oh, sweetheart, say that again. No, let me say it again. Angie Edmonds, I love you.”

  Angie leaned back and cupped his cheeks in her palms. “Liam Smythe, I love you, too.”

  His lips slid across her cheek towards her mouth and a delicious shiver ran down Angie’s back, but he paused before he reached her lips. “I’m not kissing you yet. There’s more to be said and sorted first. Let me finish. Listen to everything I have to say.” His warm finger touched her lips before she could finish. “Really listen to me. This is something I should have asked you before I let you leave me in London.”

  “What, Liam?”

  He shook his head again and let go of her hand as he dug in his pocket. He pulled out his car keys and Angie frowned as he took one of the keys off the circle of steel that held it. As he watched, Liam put the keys back in his pocket, took her hand and pulled her to the door.

  “Come with me.”

  Angie was beyond words. She was still processing the three little words that Liam had said. He loves me.

  Behind the car park a high hedge blocked the motel from the road. A narrow strip of lawn in front of it held a tiny garden with rose bushes in bloom. Liam led her over to the small patch of grass and, still holding her hand, he dropped to his knee.

  “Ange, I am not going to propose to you in a tacky motel room.”

  “P-p-propose?” She looked down at him as he turned her hand over and kissed her palm gently, and then wrapped his fingers around hers. She trembled as love for this man filled her.

  “Angie Edmonds, will you do me the honour of being my wife?” Liam’s voice was firm and strong, and he smiled as he held her gaze.

  Tears splashed onto their joined hands as she looked down at their entwined fingers.

  Lifting her eyes to his again, she nodded. “Yes, Liam, I will marry you.”

  He reached into his pocket again and smiled as he slipped the circle of steel from his key ring onto her ring finger. “Just a temporary ring, but it makes it a formal engagement.”

  He rose to his feet and slipped his arms around her. “Now before we say anything else, we are going to seal our troth with a kiss.” Angie needed no second bidding. She lifted her arms and linked her fingers behind his neck, and smiled as the ring flashed silver in the sunlight.

  My engagement ring.

  It was almost half an hour before Angie and Liam went back to her room. He looked around. “I guess it’s not such a tacky room, after all.” His smile was loving. “Or is it that I’m looking at everything through rose-coloured glasses?”

  “I think everything has a special glow this afternoon,” Angie said.

  Liam pulled out the chair and pointed to it. “I want you to sit down and listen to everything else I have to say. We should have everything clear between us.”

  Angie sat. She reached out and took his hand. “So tell me.”

  “My Skype interview. I told you I’d get the job?”

  His expression stayed the same as she nodded. “You did.”

  “I did.” Now a grin lifted his lips. “But I told them I didn’t want it. I withdrew officially this morning. Because I’m staying on the farm.”

  “You’re not going back to Sydney?” Angie squeezed his fingers.

  “No. Or London. Or anywhere else. Unless you want to go somewhere else, and then I’ll follow you wherever you want to go. When I was talking to them, I could see the frantic pace of the newsroom in the background. It was a job interview but there must have been at least six interruptions. And you know what?”

  Angie shook her head as she stared at him. “No?”

  “I sat in the kitchen, where we cooked that cake together. I looked out the window at the waving fields of wheat that have grown under my hand. I looked at the cattle lying contentedly in the shade of the huge gum trees in the paddock. And then I looked back at the frantic newsroom on the screen, and I realised I was happy exactly where I was.” Liam looked at her and love shone from his eyes. “Do you think you could be happy married to a cattle and wheat famer in the outback of New South Wales?”

  A laugh of pure joy bubbled up from Angie’s chest to her lips. “I’d be happy wherever we were. Now that I know you love me.”

  “Oh, sweetheart, that’s something you don’t have to worry about. We’ll stay here and make a life. I’ve already chosen the spot to build our house on the farm.” Warm lips claimed hers and happiness burst through Angie like the fireworks at the show. A few moments later, Liam lifted his head and there was laughter in his voice. “There’s only one thing we have to worry about now.”

  Angie frowned. “What’s that?”

  “Whether we are going to spend this afternoon and tonight in your room, or whether we are going to move to my room. All the lovely lady in reception could give me was the bridal suite!”

  “Just as well I haven’t got my bag out of the car yet, isn’t it?”

  Liam’s cheeky smile brought a giggle from Angie.

  “It’s just as well,” he repeated.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Liam’s hand held Angie’s tightly as they opened the gate at the edge of the driveway of Garth and Lucy’s house. In his other hand he carried a Santa sack full of gaily coloured presents, and Angie clutched Willow’s new lead. The little pup had grown and now
she pulled, anxious to get to the house. The garden was a riot of colours and fragrant flowers. Angie smiled. It reminded her of Lucy’s exuberance. Snapdragons, phlox, marigolds, and zinnias were clumped together haphazardly but the effect was as soothing as Lucy’s personality. The fragrance of summer roses filled the air, and the working dogs watched mournfully through the fence as Willow was allowed to walk across the soft green lawn to the house.

  Lucy’s smile had been like the cat that got the cream the morning that Liam and Angie had driven out to tell her they were a couple. When she related the story to Sebastian and Jemima after they arrived a couple of weeks ago, Lucy had taken full credit for them getting back together.

  Angie’s stomach twisted with excitement. It was the first time she’d been to a family Christmas party since she was a small child. Sitting with Liam on the floor of her living room—he and Willow had moved into town to Angie’s house as soon as Sebastian had come home from Europe in the middle of December—wrapping presents over the past week had been fun, even with Willow getting tangled in the coloured twine.

  “Angie! Liam! Where have you been? Everyone else is here.” Lucy’s excited voice reached them from the verandah as the smell of roast pork wafted around from the barbeque area that Garth had built especially for the Christmas party. “Gran won’t let me open one present until everyone’s here.”

  Angie let go of Liam’s hand and climbed the steps of the verandah.

  “Merry Christmas, Lucy!” She hugged Lucy tight. “And thanks so much for inviting me. You have no idea how special this day is to me.”

  “Of course you’re here. You’re one of the family now.” Lucy kissed Angie’s cheek. “Now, Angie, you come inside. Gran is holding court in the kitchen and Jemima is pouring the wine. Liam, you put the presents under the tree and then go out and rescue Garth. Pop is telling him the best way to keep the new Webber hot. They’re roasting enough meat to feed all of Spring Downs.”

  “Yes, ma’am!” Liam put his arm around Angie’s waist and dropped a kiss on her lips. “How crazy are we to have a roast dinner when it’s going to be a stinker of a hot day?”

  “It’s an Aussie Christmas. And we’ve got plum pudding and custard, too,” Lucy protested.

  “I’ll be back in a minute. I have something for Angie, and I want the whole family to see it, too,” Liam said with a smile.

  Angie frowned. “See what?”

  “Be patient, woman.” Liam dropped another kiss on her lips and headed inside with the presents.

  “I wonder what he’s up to now,” Angie said.

  “It’s Christmas Day, so I’m sure it’s something special.” Lucy smiled.

  “You know, don’t you?” Angie nudged her as they walked towards the kitchen. “I know that secret smile of yours, Lucy.” Angie detoured via the laundry and put Willow in the basket that was kept there for her.

  “No chance, girlfriend. I kept your secret about Grant, the non-boyfriend, so I’m keeping Liam’s secret for him.” Lucy walked behind Angie into the kitchen.

  “Hugh, not Grant!” Angie’s giggle was loud.

  “Yes?” Gran turned around, wiping her hands on her apron.

  Angie and Lucy laughed louder.

  “Gawd, you pair, you’re laughing like loons already and you haven’t even had a Christmas wine yet.” Jemima walked over gracefully and hugged Angie. “Merry Christmas, Angie.”

  “Thanks, Jemmy.”

  Angie gasped as she looked into the dining room adjacent to the kitchen. A long table was set with a white damask tablecloth, and silver cutlery shone beneath red candles that were already burning brightly. Red bonbons were at the side of each plate and a crystal wine glass completed each setting

  “Oh. It’s beautiful! I’ve never seen anything so lovely.” Angie clapped her hands with delight.

  “It’s a Christmas tradition,” said Gran who had followed her to the door of the dining room. “This is the first time we’ve had a proper Christmas out here for a long while, but Lucy insisted I bring over the family Christmas tablecloths and the special cutlery.”

  The door from the verandah opened and Liam came in, followed closely by Garth and Pop. James gurgled from the port-a-cot in the family room, the flickering lights of the Christmas tree keeping his attention.

  “Present time.” Lucy jumped up and lifted James.

  After Garth and Pop had greeted Angie they all made their way to the family room. There was a quiet air of expectancy, and Angie wasn’t surprised when Liam stayed standing in the centre of room as the others all took a seat.

  “What’s going on?” she asked suspiciously.

  Liam came over to her chair and stood in front of her. “This is your first Christmas with our family and I wanted to make it special and memorable for you,” he said.

  “On your knee, Liam,” Lucy called out and the rest of the family smiled.

  Heat ran up Angie’s neck as Liam dropped to one knee and pulled a small silver box from his pocket.

  “I know you’ve already got an engagement ring of sorts, and I know you thought we were going to Narrabri to the see the jeweller next week.” Love shone from his eyes and Angie blinked away the happy tears that threatened as he leaned close enough to whisper in her ear. “I love you, Ange. More than life itself.”

  He raised his voice and smiled at her. “Now I really want you to feel a part of our family today and I could think of no better way than this.”

  Angie smiled up at him and whispered, “I love you, too, Liam.”

  “Ange, will you do me the honour of accepting your real engagement ring, and let me tell you how much I love you in front of everyone that matters to me?”

  Angie looked around at his family. The love in the room was there, and she knew it was for her, too. Even Pop wiped away a tear as he and Gran sat together on the sofa.

  “Of course I will, Liam.”

  Liam slipped the plain silver key ring circle—it had been on her finger since the afternoon in the motel—from her finger and put it on the table. He flipped open the small box, pulled out a ring, and slid it onto her finger. Sun shone through the window and Angie looked down at the brilliant light flashing from the sapphire and diamond ring until Liam’s head got closer to hers. Everyone apart from the man she loved disappeared from her view as Liam’s lips clung to hers and Angie closed her eyes.

  She had a family. She had come home.

  To Prickle Creek Farm. For Christmas. For life.

  Epilogue

  Jemima Smythe kept her gaze fixed on the red dusty road as she walked down the long driveway to the mailbox. It was mid-January and the brown snakes were active out here at Gran and Pop’s farm; Jemima kept her wits about her and made sure she didn’t go off into a daydream. She knew to keep an eye out for movement in the long grass on the side of the drive. It was a long walk to the front gate of Prickle Creek Farm from the house but Sebastian and Liam were at the back of the large wheat and cattle property with both of the farm utes. Jemima hadn’t thought it worthwhile getting her sports car out of the shed just to collect the mail, so she’d walked the kilometre from the house to the front gate.

  It seemed almost a lifetime ago since she had received the phone call from Gran—that call that seemed to be changing so many lives. Stopping at the front gate where a solid wire fence separated the farm from the dusty outback road, Jemima held onto the post as she stood watching the waving fields of golden wheat on the neighbour’s property across the road and thought back to that day twelve months earlier.

  To everyone’s astonishment, Liam had decided to stay working at the farm, once his time was up. Even though Sebastian and Jemima had come for their six months, albeit later than planned, Liam’s announcement that he had decided to stay for good had stunned them all. He was now engaged to Angie, the local vet, and they were about to move in together, closer to town, while they planned a new house to be built near the bore at the back of Prickle Creek Farm. Liam was also involved with the alliance that w
as fighting the introduction of coal seam gas, and doing some occasional reporting for the local Spring Downs paper.

  Jemima smiled as she walked to the large milk crate that doubled as the farm mailbox. She had a plan but hadn’t disclosed it to anyone yet.

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  Glossary of Australian Terms

  Akubra: a type of broad-brimmed hat worn by farmers and cattlemen in Australia.

  B&S ball: Bachelor and Spinster (B&S) balls are regular social occasions in rural Australia, known locally as “B&S balls” or simply “B&S’s.” They are often held in wool sheds and are usually attended by young (18 years and older) spinsters and bachelors. Traditionally, the couples dress up in formal wear.

  Battered sav: saveloys are a seasoned hot dog–like sausage. A battered sav is a saveloy which has been battered, deep fried, and is often served on a stick with tomato sauce.

  Bikkie: an Australian abbreviation for sweet biscuits (cookies).

  Bore: a bore is where you find groundwater by drilling a bore into underground water storages called aquifers.

  CWA: the CWA (Country Women’s Association) is the largest women’s organisation in Australia and aims to improve conditions for country women and children.

  Dam: a reservoir used as a water supply.

  Fairy Floss: cotton candy, a form of spun sugar.

  Header: a versatile machine designed to efficiently harvest a variety of grain crops.

  Milk bar: a corner shop that sells milk drinks and other refreshments.

  Paddock: a small field.

  Prickle: a short pointed outgrowth on a plant; a small thorn.

  Pilliga Scrub: a forest of some 3,000 km2 of semi-arid woodland in temperate north-central New South Wales, Australia.

  RSL: the Returned Services League is a support organisation for men and women who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force and provides a social club in communities.