Life Support: Escape to the Country

by Nicki Edwards

  He nudged her with his elbow. “Are you even listening to me?”

  “No. I’m still too busy watching you.”

  “Is that right?” He pulled her into a sideways hug. “It’s not too late to say no to Ruby joining us,” he said, reading her mind. He flashed a lopsided smile. “She can talk non-stop under water with marbles in her mouth.”

  Emma laughed. “It will be fun, and you and I can have all afternoon together.”

  He bumped into her again, this time with his hip. “That’s twice you’ve made that promise.”

  Ten minutes later the ponies were brushed and saddled. Emma heard laughter and turned to see Judy and Ruby heading their way. Shock filled her as she looked at Judy. She had lost weight and dark circles smudged the heavy bags under her lower lashes. Emma slid down from her position on the top rail of the white post and rail fence.

  “Emma!” Ruby raced over and threw herself at Emma. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”

  “Hi Ruby.” With Ruby’s arms wrapped around her hips, Emma’s heart skidded. What would it be like to have her own child? Ruby dropped her arms and skipped over to her dad and Emma keenly felt the loss of her embrace. She peered into Judy’s face. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m tired today. We must be due for rain, all my joints are aching.”

  Tom’s face softened as he pulled his mum into a gentle embrace. “Thanks for having Rubes this morning.”

  “We thought we might take her out for a ride with us,” Emma said, “to give you a break.”

  Judy glanced from Emma to Tom as Ruby jumped up and down, clapping excitedly before racing off to the stables. “I think that’s a very good idea. It’s about time the three of you got to know each other better.” With a quick hug for both of them, Judy shuffled back toward the cottage.

  While the adults were chatting, Ruby reappeared, leading the dapple gray pony toward them.

  “Do you need a hand?” Tom asked.

  Ruby took her horse toward an upturned feed bucket. “No thanks, I’m fine,” she said, determination written on her face. Emma hid her smile.

  “She’s been having lessons almost since she could walk,” Tom said. “That’s why I wasn’t worried about putting her on Buckley to begin with. She’s a great little rider for her age.”

  Ruby stood on the bucket, gathered the reins in her left hand, and put her left foot in the stirrup. She launched her body into the air and landed gracefully in the saddle with a wide grin. “See.” The horse snorted softly as though proud of its rider. Ruby patted the mare’s neck.

  Tom turned to Emma. “Your turn.”

  She ran her gummy hands down the legs of her jeans. It was now or never.

  “If you stand on the bucket you’ll be able to put your foot in the stirrup and swing your leg up and over the same way Ruby did.”

  That was the plan, but when Emma tried, she couldn’t spring herself off the ground. Heat rushed to her face and she dipped her head so her hair covered her flaming cheeks.

  Tom laughed. “Try again and I’ll give you a hand.”

  She placed her foot into the stirrup and to her shock, discovered Tom’s idea of “giving her a hand” was to place both hands on her backside, providing her with the extra thrust she needed.

  She landed heavily in the saddle and fumbled for the horse’s mane and reins. She still felt the warmth of the imprint of Tom’s hands on her backside. Other than a twitch of his ears, the horse didn’t move, for which she was very thankful. She refused to meet Tom’s eyes, but she could see they glowed with mirth. He helped her position her feet in both stirrups, checking they were an appropriate length, then gave her a quick lesson on the correct way to grip the leather reins loosely between her fingers. Once he was satisfied she was safe, he tipped his Akubra back and beamed at her. “Are you ready?”

  Pulse hammering in her throat, she glanced at Tom then at the ground. It seemed a long way down. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” she answered nervously.

  With another grin, Tom effortlessly swung himself onto his horse and with a clicking sound, the three horses moved slowly off. Ruby led the way out of the yard into the paddock at a gentle pace.

  They walked slowly across the paddock and Emma gradually found herself relaxing into the gentle rocking rhythm. The only sound was the horses’ hooves and the warbling of magpies in the nearby trees. Emma eventually let the reins go slack and went with the movement of the horse under her. Ruby walked and trotted, riding circles around them in the paddock, but thankfully they didn’t move beyond an amble. Other than concentrate on sitting, Emma didn’t even need to steer the horse. Hers followed meekly behind Tom. She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. If this was horse riding, she was a professional.

  Chapter 18

  After riding for close to an hour, Tom called out for Ruby to stop. Dismounting, Tom grabbed Emma’s reins in the nick of time as her horse’s head went straight for the grass and Emma almost tumbled over the withers. His fingers grazed her thigh as he helped her stay in the saddle, burning through her jeans.

  “Take both feet out of the stirrups and swing your right leg backward. Lean forward and slide down.”

  “You made it look easy.”

  “It is.”

  “Will you catch me if I fall?”

  “Always.”

  When she stared into his darkened eyes and saw the seriousness in his expression, her heart melted faster than a snowflake in the sunshine.

  She slid from the pony in an ungainly fashion, her legs crumpling when her feet hit the ground. Tom’s hands encircled her waist as he helped her regain her balance. He pulled her toward him so her back was pressed into his chest.

  “Did you enjoy that?” His voice was low, his breath warm against her ear. She shivered involuntarily.

  She gently pulled out of his embrace and turned to face him, pasting on the blankest expression she could manage. “Did I enjoy the riding?”

  His lips twitched. “Yes.”

  “I loved it. Although I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to walk tomorrow.” She took a couple of bow-legged steps to test her theory. “Ouch.” She grinned at Tom’s expression. “It’s all right, I’ll live.”

  Tom hooked the reins through the stirrups and gave the pony a quick pat on the rump. “Off you go boy.” The horse took two steps away and dropped his head to graze.

  “Won’t they run away?”

  “They won’t go far.”

  Emma took in her surroundings while Tom helped Ruby. She still had to pinch herself that all of this was hers. Each blink of her eye was like the shutter of a camera, taking another perfect image of Lexton Downs. Dotted together in a distant paddock was a flock of sheep. In another paddock, black cows looked like ants as they marched single file down the hill. To her left a row of green poplars stood tall and proud.

  “I’ll bring you back here one day at dusk to see the platypus,” Tom said softly.

  “Platypus? Here?”

  He nodded. “We’ll put a canoe in further upriver and paddle downstream. There’s a special spot further down the river where I’ve seen platypus every time.”

  A small shiver played up her spine again as her mind filled with romantic images of paddling down the river with Tom as the setting sun hovered over them. “I’d love that.”

  They crossed the grass and went down a small embankment. Emma gasped in surprise. The river had widened and formed a natural shallow pool. The sandy riverbed extended in a small beach-like area. Dead silver river gums lay across the river to her right. To her left the river flowed gently over a scattering of rocks into the pool in front of her. It was stunning.

  “This is so pretty.”

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  Ruby bounced between them. “Dad, did you bring anything to eat? I’m starving.”

  “You’re always starving,” Tom said with a chuckle as he unhooked the small backpack he was carrying. “Lucky Nanna packed enough food to feed an army. Go and show Emm
a the rapids while I get a fire lit.”

  Emma raised her eyebrows. “A fire?”

  “Sure. We’ll need some billy tea to wash down the sandwiches.”

  The smile he gave her made her insides spin. She would have liked to stay and watch Tom as he bent to gather small sticks to create a fire, but Ruby’s chatter about the waterfall forced her to drag her unwilling eyes away. She followed Ruby as she scampered across the dry rocks toward the river.

  “Come on Emma,” Ruby said, tugging at her hand. “Come down to the river.” Emma followed, enjoying the fleeting feel of Ruby’s little hand in hers before she ran ahead. Emma picked her way carefully over the uneven ground, but Ruby moved with the surefootedness of a mountain goat.

  “Be careful,” Emma warned.

  “I’m fine,” Ruby assured her. She scooped up several small river stones and one by one flicked them in the water. “Do you know how to skip stones, Emma?”

  “I do, but I’m not very good at it.”

  “You flick your hand like this.” Ruby demonstrated and giggled when Emma’s stones sank again and again and again.

  After ten minutes, Emma gave up. “We should head back and see if your dad needs help with the fire.”

  “Are you and my dad girlfriend and boyfriend now?” Ruby asked, slipping her hand into Emma’s.

  The question was a total surprise and Emma stopped in her tracks, swallowed, decided how best to answer. She looked down at Ruby. “Your dad and I are just good friends,” she said carefully, watching Ruby’s face to gauge her reaction.

  “Mummy and Rick are good friends too. Rick says it’s good when you get to marry your best friend. So that means you and Daddy could be best friends and get married.” Ruby did a little jig on the spot. “I’m going to ask Daddy if you and he can be best friends. Then you can have sleepovers.”

  Emma bit her lip to hide her smile. She squatted beside Ruby and smoothed her wispy locks from her face. “Would you mind if I had a sleepover at your dad’s place one night?” she asked.

  Ruby shook her head vehemently. “It would be cool. Then I’d be like Sienna.”

  “Sienna?”

  “She’s a girl in my day care. She has two mummies and two daddies.”

  “Is that right?”

  Ruby put a hand on Emma’s shoulder and gazed at her with sparkling eyes. “And if you get married, I could be the flower girl. Sienna got to do that. Twice. She’s soooo lucky.” Ruby’s eyes widened further. “And you know what happens after that?”

  “What?”

  “You have babies. That’s what Sienna said.” Ruby bolted away, singing at the top of her lungs. “Daddy and Emma, sitting in a tree. K.I.S.S.I.N.G. First comes love …” Her voice faded and Emma finished the phrase.

  “… then comes marriage, then comes baby and a baby carriage.” She shook her head to clear the school yard nursery rhyme. Her stomach churned. Although she liked Ruby’s logic, if Ruby said anything to Tom about their conversation, he’d slam the brakes on hard or run a mile, Emma was almost certain of it.

  She wandered toward where Ruby and Tom stood watching the small fire he’d built. It was crackling merrily and suspended over the flames was a blackened tin filled with river water.

  “You’re a regular Bear Grylls,” Emma said as she plonked down in the sand. “Where did the billy come from?”

  Tom pointed to a dead gum tree. At the base of the tree was a large hollowed area. “Ruby and I keep a few things here.”

  He handed her a sandwich and she took it gratefully. Breakfast seemed like hours earlier. She checked her watch. It was only eleven o’clock.

  “Riding is hungry work,” he said.

  She grinned and took a bite. “So is keeping up with Ruby.”

  Ruby sat beside her, telling Tom how bad Emma was at throwing stones. Emma was grateful she remained silent on their other discussion. Once the sandwiches were gone, and the flames had burned the logs down to coals, Tom checked the billy. The tea was boiling.

  “I’ve never had billy tea,” she said.

  “The main thing to remember about billy tea is it’s not important what it tastes like as long as you look good when you’re making it.”

  He grabbed the handle with a stick and removed it from the fire. Wrapping an old piece of towel around the handle, he stepped away from them. Emma laughed as he swung it three times in circles to the side of his body.

  “What are you doing?”

  “That’s how you get the leaves to settle into the bottom of the can.” He poured the tea into a metal mug and handed it to her.

  She inhaled deeply, meeting his gaze. “Smells good.” He studied her face while she sipped. “I like it,” she said. “It’s got a kind of smoky flavor to it.”

  “I’m still hungry,” Ruby said, nudging her way between them. “Did Nanna pack dessert?”

  “There’s apples.”

  Ruby screwed up her nose, squishing her freckles together. “Is there some dessert other than fruit?”

  “Hmm,” Tom said, peering into the backpack. “There might be Nanna’s famous caramel slice in here, but I think I might have sat on it.”

  “Daddy!” Ruby wailed. “No.”

  “Just teasing,” he said, pulling out the small container and opening the lid.

  The three of them devoured the sticky chocolate and caramel slice and when they were finished, Tom sent Ruby down the river to wash her hands and face. When he was sure Ruby wasn’t watching, he leaned over and touched Emma’s chin with his finger.

  “You’ve got a tiny bit of caramel here,” he said, wiping it off and putting his finger to his own lips before softly kissing hers.

  *

  On the ride home, they chatted easily. Ruby was full of stories about everything and anything from her favorite television show to starting school the following year. Emma loved listening to the animated sound of her voice and was glad for the time they’d spent together. Birds flew overhead, cawing loudly. In the distance, a cow bellowed. Emma relaxed. It had been a fantastic day so far.

  When they arrived back at the stables Tom helped them unsaddle the ponies and brush them down. They were returning from putting them back in the paddock when Christine pulled up.

  Ruby’s face fell. “Why is Mummy here? I wanted to stay with you and Emma.”

  Emma tried to hide her own disappointment. She’d loved spending the morning with Ruby and hoped the three of them could spend the rest of the day together too.

  Tom misread the look on her face. “I asked Christine to pick Ruby up,” he said. He lowered his voice. “I thought we could spend some time together. Alone. You made that promise, remember, and I’m going to hold you to it.”

  Her brain quickly shifted gears. “Great idea.”

  Ruby threw herself at Emma and hugged her tight. “Thanks for riding with us today, Emma. I had lots of fun.” She dropped her voice to a stage whisper. “When you have a sleepover can you read me a bedtime story?”

  Emma hugged her in return, aware Tom’s eyes were on them. She had no idea if he’d heard Ruby’s last comment. “I had fun too sweetie. Thanks for showing me how to skip stones.”

  Ruby ran to Christine’s car and Emma caught Christine’s wave before they were gone in a cloud of pale yellow dust.

  Tom led her into the orchard and pulled her down onto the soft grass in the shade of an overhanging apple tree. He leaned against the trunk and she sat beside him. Stretching her arms above her head, she yawned. A full morning in the sunshine and a horse ride had exhausted her. She flopped back in the grass and stared up into the bright blue sky, shielding her eyes from the sun.

  “Thanks for today Emma.”

  “Thank you. I had a lovely time.” She wriggled her legs and chuckled. “I may not be able to walk tomorrow, but riding was so much fun and I hope we can do it again soon.”

  “Do you think you’ll ever go back to Melbourne?” Tom’s left-field question startled her.

  She sat up and stared at him
. “No, I’m not going back to Melbourne. Birrangulla is home, and I’m glad to be back. Plus, I’ve fallen in love with Lexton Downs and don’t think I’ll ever leave.”

  Was that what was holding him back? Did he think she wasn’t going to hang around?

  Tom’s lips parted slightly and his tongue darted out to moisten his lips. “I’m glad.” He held his arms wide and a slow smile spread across his face. “Come and sit here with me.”

  His husky voice caused Emma’s mouth to go dry and her breath to quicken. He pulled her into the V between his legs. She was aware of his warmth, aware of her pounding heartbeat, aware of his presence. And acutely aware of how much she wanted to touch him, kiss him, run her hands over the smoothness of his chest.

  She leaned back into his chest, focusing on breathing slowly in and out. They sat like that in silence, watching the clouds pass by, listening to the birds chirp, the bees buzz. Emma shifted slightly. “Where do we stand, Tom? You and I?” she asked softly. It was time to get things into the open.

  “What do you mean?” Tom changed position to look at her.

  “Ruby said something today.”

  Tom’s brows pulled together further.

  “She wanted to know if you and I are going to get married.”

  “What? What did you tell her?” Tom’s words came in a rush.

  Emma’s good mood faded fast.

  “Relax. I told her we’re just good friends.” She shrugged. “What else was I supposed to say?”

  “You could have told her we’re seeing each other.”

  “Are we?”

  He tilted his head to stare at her. “I’m not seeing anyone else. Are you?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Then what’s the issue?”

  She swallowed. “No issue, it’s just—” She stopped herself.

  “What?”

  “I don’t understand why you keep things so cool between us whenever we’re around Ruby.” She exhaled. There. She’d said what was playing on her mind. “I don’t expect you to kiss me passionately in front of her, but until today, whenever I’m around, you act like we barely know each other, never mind let on that we’re friends …” She shrugged one shoulder. “… or more. She’s smart Tom. She knows something’s going on between us.”