White Gum Creek

by Nicole Hurley-Moore

  A smile flickered across Nick’s face. Matt was a bit of a weird one, especially with all his writing, filming and that vlogging stuff, but he supposed all those creative types were a touch odd. Odd or not, he was his friend, and it was good to have someone to talk to because at times Tabitha didn’t quite cut it.

  Chapter 3

  Nick blew out a breath as he heard the car pull up. He wasn’t sure about this poker night. The car door banged shut and Matt arrived. There was no getting out of it now.

  ‘Hey, you ready to go?’ Matt said with a grin on his face.

  ‘Sure, I guess.’

  ‘God, Nick, anyone would think I was dragging you to the dentist or something. It’s just poker and pizza.’

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘C’mon, let’s get out of here,’ Matt called as he started back towards the car.

  The original poker club had been made up of four mates who had been friends since they were kids. Davey Blackwell owned the general store, Dean the grain and agricultural farm shop, Gary was joint owner of the local goat farm, and Freddy managed his family farm. When Matt had turned up from Melbourne a year ago, Davey had taken him under his wing and the guys had welcomed him into the secretive and mystic ways of the poker night.

  Now they were opening their doors once more to make room for Nick, which was nice, but he wasn’t sure if he was up to it. He’d isolated himself for so long, only speaking to people when it was necessary that it was hard to cope with the stares, the questions and even the noise itself. Added to that, Nick had never been any good at small talk. The evening was doomed before it had even begun.

  ‘Lighten up, Nick. It’ll be fun,’ Matt said as he negotiated the winding driveway. ‘And if it gets too much we’ll just leave. So no pressure, okay?’

  ‘Okay, thanks mate.’ Nick felt some tension fade. ‘So, what’s happening with you?’

  ‘I’ve started another book, which is always a good thing. Bec and I are going strong, though I still reckon her dad wishes I was a farmer and not a writer.’

  ‘I reckon you’re probably right,’ Nick chuckled.

  Matt’s stories about how disappointed Jack Duprey was in the choice of his only child’s partner were becoming legendary. There may have been some basis to it in the beginning but that was long gone. Bec at twenty-eight had officially taken over the running of Bluestone Ridge a few months back, however everyone in town knew that she’d been in charge of the biggest sheep run in the area ever since her dad had been left in a wheel chair after a farm accident several years ago. It had been difficult for Jack to formally relinquish the reins, admit Bec wasn’t a little girl and that she was more than capable of managing Bluestone Ridge. But he’d done it with the urging of his wife and now they were going to start a new chapter, in a new house on the far side of the property leaving Bec as the owner of fourteen hundred acres, five thousand head of livestock and the old manor house.

  ‘The house that Bec’s parents are building is coming along nicely and they think they might be able to move in about three months—fingers crossed. But I wouldn’t be surprised if something else crops up and it takes longer. You know how it is, nothing ever goes to plan.’

  Nick nodded.

  ‘So what happens with you and Bec, then?’

  Matt glanced over at him and gave him a grin.

  ‘I’m still trying to work that out. We’re together and we’ve decided to move in together. I guess we’ll take it from there and see what happens. I have some ideas but I’m not sure how the lovely Rebecca Duprey is going to react.’

  ‘Don’t worry, I’m sure she’ll let you know how she feels! And how is your sister?’

  Matt laughed as the car turned towards Moonlight Plateau.

  ‘Jules is great. She came up last weekend. Her and Bec are getting along great. She’s almost finished her teaching degree so she’s been busy with study and school rounds, but she tries to get up here as often as she can.’

  ‘I’m glad she’s doing well.’

  ‘Well, if anyone deserves it, Jules does. I wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t been for her pushing me. Without her, I’d still be buried and locked away in my flat in Melbourne. I’d never have moved here, or found Bec.’

  He knew what it was like to have your life taken away, the void it left and the overpowering guilt of survival.

  But somehow, with the help of his sister, Matt had been able to rebuild a life and miraculously find a second chance at love. One day, Nick hoped that maybe he could find a life outside the self-imposed prison of Winters Hill. The truth was he’d just settle for being able to have a conversation without feeling like a total freak.

  He hadn’t always been like this. Once, long ago, he’d been a normal guy. He used to laugh, hang out with mates and have a good time. He liked to watch the odd footy game with the guys as well as a decent horror movie. His life changed when he met Sophie. He never believed those stories about love at first sight, but from the very first moment he’d seen Sophie, Nick knew they were destined to be together. And she had felt the same, well at least after three dates she did. She had a system to weed out her potential suitors—three strikes and you’re out. Somehow, Nick managed to make it to the fourth date and from then on they had been inseparable. He moved away from his friends and followed her back here to White Gum Creek confident in the knowledge that they would have a long and wonderful life together. Loving Sophie had made everything easy and Nick had been happy. Nick had come from Miners Rest over near Ballarat. And when he moved to White Gum Creek he had every intention of keeping in touch with his friends. But as time passed and he spent his time wrapped up in Sophie and trying to establish the farm, they’d drifted apart. It was only about an hour away but it could have been on the other side of the world. That was on him, he knew it—he should have made the effort to keep in touch but he didn’t. He had always intended to, but good intentions aren’t worth a damn thing. Then after he lost Sophie he pushed everyone away—his parents, the town and any friends that had been left.

  But he wasn’t that guy anymore. He hadn’t been for a long time.

  They headed down through Sailor’s Gully and as Nick looked out the window he could see the dark bulk of the Moonlight Plateau in silhouette against the moonlit sky. Freddy Carmichael’s place was just around the next bend.

  Nerves tightened in his stomach as Matt stopped the car outside a long, ranch-style house. He was being ridiculous. When had he become this pathetic? Nick forced himself out of the car, he wouldn’t let his fears control him—not anymore.

  ‘So this is the Carmichael’s place,’ Matt said. ‘Apparently there used to be an older home up there, but about fifteen years ago they replaced it with this one.’ He laughed. ‘I don’t know why I’m telling you this, you probably already know since you’ve lived here longer than me.’

  Nick shook his head.

  ‘I’ve been out of the loop for a while.’

  ‘Anyway, Freddy used to share the place with his mum, but it’s only him now.’

  ‘Sorry to hear it.’

  ‘He doesn’t talk about her much, but Davey said that she got sick a couple of years back. It was sudden and quick.’ Matt slapped Nick on the back. ‘Anyway, enough sadness. This is going to be fun.’

  Nick nodded, but he didn’t say anything. The night was cool and clear and quiet. For a second he wished that he could just stand there rather than going inside. Reluctantly, he followed Matt up the steps.

  ‘There’s just one other thing I forgot to tell you.’

  ‘What?’

  Matt broke into a grin as he knocked a couple of times before opening the front door.

  ‘Freddy cheats.’

  ‘Then why do you play cards with the guy?’

  ‘Because it’s fun to catch him out.’

  Nick trailed after Matt as they walked along the hallway that seemed to run through the length of the house. It led to a large open-plan room that included a kitchen, a lounge and a huge wood-burning heat
er sitting against a sandstone feature wall.

  Nick liked it, especially the fire, but there was still something about it that reminded him of the caravan, which was crazy as you could fit five caravans in this one room. Nevertheless, the feeling was there; a sort of emptiness invaded the space and made it feel cold despite the fire. But Nick recognised it because he lived with it too.

  Four guys sat around a large wooden table and there was a deck of cards sitting on top of four pizza boxes.

  ‘Hey, this is Nick,’ Matt said as he pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘Nick, you know Dean and Davey, but this is Gary. He makes the award-winning goat’s cheese. Grab a chair.’

  ‘Which is alright, if you like that sort of thing,’ Dean said with a wink.

  ‘Just happens that I do and I can attest that it’s bloody fantastic,’ Matt continued. ‘And that’s Freddy.’

  Nick gave a nod and the muscular bloke with the straw-coloured hair grinned back. He was tanned from working outside and Nick figured that they were around the same age, somewhere around thirty.

  ‘Glad that you could finally make it,’ Freddy said. ‘So now we’re all here, and Gary once again has supplied us with dinner, let’s eat.’

  Nick gave Matt a questioning look.

  ‘Whoever loses has to buy dinner for everyone next time. So far Gary has brought dinner the past three times.’

  ‘Yeah, but all that’s going to change,’ Gary said with a smile. ‘I feel lucky tonight.’

  ‘That’s what you said last time,’ Davey said with a shake of his head.

  ‘Tonight’s different. I feel lucky and Freddy has a new person to cheat.’

  ‘I don’t cheat!’ Freddy called out. ‘You’re just useless at poker.’

  Again, Nick glanced at Matt for clarification. Matt shrugged and waved his hand in mid-air.

  ‘A little from column A and a little from column B.’

  Freddy laughed and it seemed to reverberate through the whole room.

  ‘Matt caught on quick,’ he said, glancing towards Nick. ‘Let’s see how you go.’

  A slow smile tugged at the corners of Nick’s mouth.

  ‘Is that a challenge?’

  ‘Oooh, I like him,’ Freddy said to Matt, his blue eyes glittering. ‘Come on, the pizza is getting cold, and I want to win.’

  ***

  So, he’d managed to survive poker night and, if he was honest, there was a part of Nick that really enjoyed it. Of course, the other half had wanted to run screaming out the door as soon as he arrived. For most of the night Nick had felt awkward and self-conscious, but the guys didn’t seem to notice. They talked, laughed and tried to include him, which was nice, although there were several times during the evening when he had almost been overwhelmed by the noise. Nick had tried so hard to be calm and focused on the game—it was the only way he could get through. And then it happened: the whole evening seemed to fall into place and the steady anxiety that had been with him the moment he walked through the door disappeared. And because he had been paying such close attention to the poker, he had caught Freddy Carmichael cheating.

  He called Freddy on it and all at once he found himself congratulated by everyone else around the table. For the first time in years he felt like his old self, like he belonged, and it was a good feeling. It buoyed him for the rest of the night and by the time it was over he kind of wished it wasn’t.

  They said their goodbyes and Matt drove Nick back towards home. As he sat trying to digest the evening, Matt pushed the boundaries even farther.

  ‘So, in two weeks’ time I’m throwing myself a birthday party. I’ve let them slide over the past few years and I’m now ready to celebrate the fact that I made it through another year. It won’t be a huge thing. Just all the usual suspects coming to the cottage for dinner.’

  ‘Right. I’m sure you’ll have a great time.’

  Matt glanced over to him as he turned into the driveway.

  ‘Which means you’re invited—idiot.’

  ‘What? Oh, I’m not so sure…’

  ‘Just stop. You had fun tonight, didn’t you?’

  Nick didn’t say anything but gave a nod.

  ‘So why would my birthday dinner be any different? It’ll be the same guys from tonight, plus Bec and her friends. Jules will be up, too. See, nothing scary? And as long as you don’t get on the wrong side of my beloved, it’s all good.’

  ‘I would never—’

  ‘I’m joking. We’d love to have you over,’ Matt said as he stopped the car. ‘Anyway think about it?’

  ‘Okay, I’ll think about it. Thanks for the ride.’

  Nick opened the door and got out. He stood there for a moment and watched Matt turn the car around and head back down the drive. So much company would be exhausting. He blew out a breath and let the stillness of the night wash over him. The noise and the laughter of the evening faded away and was replaced by the silence of Winters Hill. The air was crisp, and the only light came from the stars and the half-moon that hung in the sky. He was thankful for it. He’d forgotten to leave a light on as he wandered up to his caravan.

  Chapter 4

  Nick’s caravan wasn’t exactly brimming with personal possessions. He’d never been a collector of anything, but when Sophie was alive the place had been crammed with stuff—photos and knick knacks had been dotted over every available space. He used to tease her about it, but she always said that everything would have its right place once they moved into the new house.

  But that never happened, she was gone and the house was never finished. And all the stuff that she had collected was gone too, given away or donated to charity. But there were some of Sophie’s favourite things that Nick couldn’t bear to part with and he’d filled up a couple of old chests and stored them in the loft of the big shed. Over the course of the past year they had played on his mind. He should make himself go up to the loft and go through the chests. It wasn’t healthy to hang on to the past, that’s what one doctor told him six months after Sophie’s death. Funny, he never did go back for another appointment.

  Nick muttered a curse under his breath as he hunted behind the small set of shelves behind his desk. Where was the damn cord for his phone?

  ‘Bugger! Have you seen it, Tabitha?’

  The cat gave him a supercilious stare and returned to napping in the middle of the couch.

  ‘Thanks for the help.’

  Eventually, Nick found the cord when he opened the bottom drawer. It had been wound up and was sitting next to a small blue velvet ring box. Nick grabbed the cord and shut the drawer, taking a deep breath. The ring box always had the power to unsettle him. He’d taken his wedding ring off about a year after the accident—it hurt too much to look at it—and he’d shoved it in its box and placed it in the bottom drawer, out of sight, out of mind. At least, that had been the intention. Problem was, it still held sway over him; now only the little blue box was enough to fill him with loss and longing and guilt.

  Nick stood up and tried to shake off the feelings. He walked back to the desk and started to recharge the phone, before turning his attention to what he could make for dinner.

  ***

  Tash hurried up the steps of the pub and through the front door. The Black Sheep was an elegant Victorian building that boasted two storeys and lace ironwork. It was grand for such a tiny town and it was said that the first proprietor had paid for it with the gold he’d found on the local goldfields. It had been built in 1874 and retained many of its original features, like the long wooden bar, the high ceilings and ornate fireplaces, but much of it had been modernised.

  Brett, who bought the pub a good decade ago, ran a tight ship. The meals were good, the prices fair and the staff always friendly. Prior to his management, the only food available was a few sandwiches from the bar, but his new dining room had been a great success, and opened up a wider customer base. Most locals used the pub as a meeting place as well as a bar and diner.

  Tash had been the first to arrive
at The Black Sheep, as usual. Sally hadn’t been too far behind, but Bec was late. Tash smiled as Bec approached the table.

  ‘Finally! I was beginning to think you were going to bail on us.’ She stood up and gave Bec a hug.

  ‘Sorry! I was bit held up,’ Bec said as she kissed Sally’s cheek before sitting down. ‘Have you decided what you’re having?’

  Sally smiled as she handed Bec a menu.

  ‘You don’t get out of it that easily…Why are you late? Please don’t tell me you were up the back paddock and forgot about the time.’

  Bec shook her head.

  ‘No, Matt and I were a bit tied up, that’s all.’

  ‘What—literally?’ Tash asked with a grin.

  ‘Ha ha.’

  ‘Come on, Bec, you know I don’t have a love life. I have to live vicariously through yours.’

  ‘She does have a point,’ Sally said.

  ‘Well, maybe we can do something about that,’ Bec said as she flicked through the menu.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Tash asked.

  ‘Matt’s birthday is coming up and we decided to throw a dinner to celebrate. So that includes you two, the poker buddies, Matt’s sister and our favourite recluse, Nick Langtree.’

  ‘How did that happen?’ Tash asked.

  ‘Nick is friends with Matt.’

  ‘Friends? I didn’t think he had any,’ Tash said, then grimaced. ‘That came out wrong. I mean that’s great, but when did that start?’

  ‘They’ve been hanging out for a few months now. You know how Matt is always wandering around with his camera or phone filming stuff? Well, apparently, one day he ended up at Nick’s place and they got to talking. I did mention it to you before…’

  ‘I didn’t realise it was an ongoing thing!’

  ‘I’m with Tash, here. This is a total fail in retelling interesting gossip,’ Sally said with a laugh. ‘Come on, girls, get your acts together.’