Down Outback Roads

by Alissa Callen

  Ewan’s breath shuddered, his thumb caressing her hand. ‘I know. But he’ll have to get himself another ute, and this time I’m going with him.’

  She searched Ewan’s face. ‘Is he really okay?’

  ‘Yes, he’s down the hallway nursing a few cuts and bruises, but going off the amount of young nurses going in and out of his room, he’s doing fine. It seems they remember him from his last visit.’

  Kree laughed, stopped and pressed her fingers to her temple. The drip line attached to the back of her hand lifted from off the bed covers. ‘Please don’t make me laugh, it’s worse than nodding.’

  Ewan again kissed the hand he held.

  ‘How are you doing?’ she asked softly. ‘You’ve been here all night. And you would have heard the crash on the phone.’

  Ewan briefly closed his eyes and when he spoke his words were hoarse. ‘I’ve had a coffee, so I feel almost human. And just as well I was on the phone, as I knew exactly what happened and where you were.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Her eyes misted. ‘You’ve saved Seth again, as well as me.’

  ‘It was a team effort. I didn’t know Old Harry could move so fast.’

  She squeezed his hand as she struggled for words. She knew without Ewan saying it that the accident had ended the tourist centre opening celebrations.

  ‘Please thank everyone for me,’ she managed, ‘and apologise for ruining what was a great party.’

  ‘No one would think twice about the party ending early. Everyone’s simply glad you and Seth are okay. Even before people knew you were Mary Ellen’s children, you’d become part of the community.’ The corner of his mouth curved. ‘Besides, you could be home before you know it and can thank everyone yourself.’

  ‘I can go home … soon?’

  Ewan nodded. ‘The doctor said possibly this afternoon. He’ll check on you during his next round and he’s optimistic he can then give you the all clear.’ Ewan paused. ‘The bad news is he’s already said he wants to keep Seth under observation for a little longer.’

  Her grip on Ewan’s right hand tightened. His gentle fingers touched her cheek. ‘There’s nothing to worry about, Seth really is okay. He just hit his head in a different place to you. I’ll come back and collect him when he can leave, which should be tomorrow. He’s said he’s more than happy to stay.’

  ‘Now, why does that not surprise me? After having his food delivered by pretty nurses, I don’t think he’ll ever want to leave.’

  Ewan smiled and eased himself off the side of her bed, still keeping hold of her hand. ‘Why don’t you have another sleep? It will be a while before the doctor visits. I’ll head to a mate’s house for a shower and a power-nap, and then that way, if you’re right to come home, we’ll be good to go.’

  He bent to kiss her. The tenderness of his mouth brought tears to her eyes.

  The day passed in a sleepy blur. The doctor visited and, after a stern word about not flying in the immediate future due to her concussion, he was happy for her to be discharged. She’d then thanked everyone who’d taken such good care of her and now was sitting in a chair in Seth’s room, waiting for Ewan to return. She’d texted him on Seth’s undamaged phone that she had the green light to go home. Her own cracked phone was in the backpack Ewan had made sure accompanied her to hospital. She slipped off Tish’s wedges and tucked her feet beneath the teal skirt of her dress. It seemed a lifetime ago, instead of six weeks, she’d been here visiting Seth in the very same room.

  He now sat propped up in the bed before her. While he was pale, and she knew his head must pound as much as hers did, he did indeed appear fine.

  He glanced up from his phone screen where he’d been surfing the web. ‘There’s one for sale here in Dubbo.’

  Kree allowed her frown to speak volumes. ‘Seth Garrett, you’re not going out to look at a new ute. You’re in hospital, remember?’

  His blue eyes twinkled. ‘Ewan said he’d take me to check out any that looked okay.’

  Kree risked a small shake of her head. ‘At least wait until you’re out of hospital.’

  Seth grinned. ‘You could come, too?’

  ‘Me, go shopping for boys toys? I don’t think so. I’d rather stay here.’

  ‘What did I tell you?’ Seth said to Ewan as he entered the room, his tone pained. ‘Still no appreciation for boys toys.’

  Ewan returned his grin and handed Seth a pile of glossy car magazines. ‘That’s all right, mate, it means we don’t have to go shopping with Kree when she buys shoes. Tish texted to say Freckle’s found Kree’s new boots.’

  ‘Just. Great.’ But her groan ended in a grin. The camaraderie and respect between Ewan and Seth dulled the pain of wearing Tish’s high wedges until she could get her sore feet into a second pair of new boots.

  She slipped on the offending wedges and carefully stood. She’d learned on the short walk to Seth’s room that moving too quickly intensified the hammering at her temples. Ewan came to her side, concern erasing the amusement in his eyes. She answered his unspoken question with a smile before making her way over to Seth and dropping a kiss on the top of his head.

  ‘Behave, little brother. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  Despite the support of Ewan’s arm linked through hers, what had once been a quick stroll from the hospital sliding doors to the car park now seemed endless. She slid into the passenger side of his ute and closed her eyes to quell her dizziness. She felt the brush of her backpack against her bare leg as Ewan placed the bag at her feet, and breathed in the fresh scent of soap as he leaned in close to fasten her seat belt. The driver’s side door shut, before the ute engine sounded and the cool waft of air-conditioning washed across her face.

  ‘Berridale, here we come,’ she said softly as Ewan clicked his phone into the hands free cradle.

  ‘About that …’

  Kree opened her eyes to look at him. His serious gaze caught hers. ‘Tish has your room ready at Marellen, plus one for Seth. Don and Maureen did end up catching an earlier flight and arrived in Sydney last night. They caught the red-eye plane to Dubbo this morning where their daughter collected them. They send their best wishes and huge thanks for the great job you’ve done.’

  She stopped herself from nodding. ‘That’s wonderful they’re home.’

  She closed her eyes again as Ewan navigated his way around the roundabouts leading out from the hospital and the world again spun. She couldn’t dwell on the fact that with the Tylers back, she no longer had an official reason for staying in the district. At least, thanks to her concussion, she was now grounded. The talk she and Ewan had to have mightn’t happen today, or even tomorrow, but there now would still be time. She could only hope the outcome didn’t then break her heart.

  ‘Tish went over there this morning and collected anything you and Seth had left.’ Ewan’s quiet words broke into her thoughts.

  Kree risked opening her eyes again. They were passing over the bridge that spanned the wide and tree-lined Macquarie River, and a straight road stretched before them. ‘Thanks. She’s such a sweetheart.’

  ‘She also delivered Fudge and Freckle. Don and Maureen can’t believe how much they’ve both grown. And also how well-behaved they are.’

  ‘I’m not sure they’re any better behaved than when Don and Maureen left, but I’m still going to miss them.’

  Ewan chuckled. ‘I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’ll miss them, too.’

  Ewan’s phone suddenly blared into life with the strains of ‘Going to the Chapel’. Ewan muttered under his breath and pressed the phone’s green button.

  ‘Hi, Harry, you’re on loud speaker and Kree can hear everything you say. We’re heading home now.’

  ‘You’ve taken a while?’ Old Harry’s gruff words filled the car.

  Ewan spoke quickly. ‘We had to wait for the doctor to check Kree over.’

  ‘So, no talking to missy, then?’

  Kree turned to look at Ewan. Had he just ground his teeth?

  ‘
No.’

  ‘I’m not getting any younger you know, and neither are you.’

  ‘Harry, now’s not the time –’

  ‘Why not? A promise is a promise, isn’t it, missy?’

  Kree laughed and then pressed a hand to her head. ‘Hi, Harry, I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, but yes, a promise is a promise.’

  ‘See, Ewan.’

  ‘Bye, Harry.’ Ewan ended the call.

  ‘He sounds full of beans. I wonder what’s got him so excited?’

  Ewan shrugged. ‘Sometimes it’s better not knowing what makes Old Harry tick.’

  ‘I thought you didn’t do promises,’ she said, darting a quick glance at his profile.

  ‘Thanks to Harry, I now do.’ He briefly met her eyes, worry creasing his brow. ‘You’ve gone pale again. Why don’t you sleep? We’ve still got a ways to go.’

  What felt like five minutes later, Kree reopened her eyes. She recognised familiar landmarks and knew they’d been driving close to two hours. It wouldn’t be long until they reached Marellen. The white cross of Fergus’s roadside memorial came into view as they rounded the sharp corner. Surprise jolted her fully awake. Ewan wasn’t taking the usual side road into the homestead; he was driving the road he hadn’t driven since Fergus’s death. She turned to him. Ashen beneath his tan, his eyes were fixed on a distant point and his knuckles shone white on the steering wheel.

  She rested a hand on his denim-covered thigh. ‘Ewan? Are you okay?’

  He nodded as though words were impossible to speak.

  The memorial flashed past and he visibly relaxed.

  He released a deep breath. ‘I’m hoping it will get easier.’

  ‘It will.’

  He covered her hand on his thigh with his own. ‘It might have taken a while to get it through my thick head, but you’re right, I need to accept Fergus is gone and that the accident wasn’t my fault.’

  Incapable of words, Kree turned her hand over beneath his so their palms touched, and she entwined her fingers with his. Ewan had climbed out of the abyss carved by his guilt. No longer would the past hold him hostage.

  The blinker sounded as Ewan turned into Marellen’s driveway. But instead of crossing the cattle-grid he pulled to the side, stopped beside the white picket fence and turned off the ignition.

  He smiled an almost boyish smile. ‘Out we get.’

  ‘Out we get?’

  But Ewan had already left the car. He opened the side door and took her hand to help her stand. He wrapped an arm around her waist and turned her to face Marellen’s front entrance. Hip-to-hip, they studied the tree-lined drive. Amber leaves drifted from the twin rows of towering poplars, standing like living flames. The red rooftop of the homestead gleamed in the distance.

  ‘I’d forgotten how beautiful the drive in is,’ Ewan said, tone hushed.

  ‘It is, and to think my grandparents planted the poplars.’

  ‘I know.’ Ewan tugged her against him and she rested her head against the warm wall of his chest. Beneath her ear his heartbeat sounded steady and strong.

  He cleared his throat. ‘I thought this would be the perfect place to have our “talk”, if you are up to it?’

  She lifted her head to see his expression. The hollows in his cheeks had become more pronounced. Her stomach plummeted to her toes. She’d never be up to having their talk if it travelled along a different path than she wanted it to.

  Eyes fathomless, he held her gaze. ‘I was hoping … we could take the no promises card off the table.’

  Joy unfurled within her. A joy so exquisite and precious it stole her breath. ‘As in you want to … make promises to each other.’

  ‘If that’s what makes you feel safe.’

  She twined her arms around his neck, uncaring how the quick movement sent the world into a spin. ‘There’s only one thing you could ever say that would make me feel safe.’

  Need and hope raced across his eyes. He pulled her even closer. ‘I love you, Kree.’

  ‘I love you t –,’ she whispered, before he stole her words with a kiss that made her all the promises she’d ever need.

  As if from a long distance away, Ewan’s phone played ‘Going to the Chapel’ from within the car.

  ‘Are you also going to tell me why you have that song on your mobile?’ she said against his mouth.

  ‘I made the mistake of leaving my phone on the kitchen table before I left for the tourist centre opening and Tish got to it. I’ve been a little too … distracted … to change it.’

  Kree leaned back in Ewan’s arms to see the face she’d once had trouble reading. But no longer were his features a closed book. She could see his every emotion. Now, her slow-smiling and gorgeous Aussie country-boy had let her into his world.

  ‘I will,’ she said, voice soft.

  ‘You will? But I haven’t asked you yet?’

  ‘You have. Just not in words.’ Fingers unsteady, she touched the firm line of his jaw. ‘By your side is where I want to be and it doesn’t matter if it isn’t in Colorado.’ She grinned. ‘Even though I do happen to know of a secluded mountain cabin filled with old west memorabilia that would be perfect for a honeymoon, or for taking Braye and Darby over for a holiday.’

  Ewan’s mouth again covered hers and when they drew apart to breathe, happiness lightened his eyes to a clear grey. ‘So, there’s no hope I’ll get the man-cave back?’

  ‘No hope at all, so you’d better get used to sharing. It just needs some air-conditioning and it will make a perfect art studio. You do realise your confirmed bachelor days are also over?’

  ‘Absolutely. I’m the first to admit that Marellen will be rather quiet when Tish and the boys leave, so we will need a noisy goat and a boot-chewing puppy.’

  She looked over his shoulder at the homestead bathed in the late-afternoon light that would again be filled with love and laughter. ‘And kids.’

  ‘Lots of kids.’

  Hand-in-hand, they walked to the ute. A whirly-wind sent a delicate spiral of ochre dust dancing alongside her. Her fingers tightened around Ewan’s. She smiled.

  Love had taken her mother from Marellen but love had brought Kree down red outback roads and … home.

  BENEATH OUTBACK SKIES

  by Alissa Callen

  Paige Quinn will let nothing and no one distract her from caring for her wheelchair-bound father, Connor, and fighting for her remote, drought-stricken property, Banora Downs. Least of all a surprise farm-stay guest named Tait Cavanaugh, whose smooth words are as lethal as his movie-star smile.

  Except Paige can’t help noticing that, for a city-boy, Tait seems unexpectedly at home on the land. And he does ask a lot of questions …

  It doesn’t matter how much he helps out or how much laughter he brings into her life, she soon suspects he is harbouring a big secret – the real reason he has come to Banora Downs …

  A captivating rural romance featuring an indomitable young woman determined to save her family farm, and the city-boy who is not all he seems …

  Available now!

  BET ON IT

  by Cheryl Adnams

  Gabrielle didn’t believe men like this existed in real life – the three Muller brothers are ridiculously good-looking, and they’re officially her new bosses. She’s in need of a change of scenery, and the Mullers’ winery might just be the right place …

  Seth Muller isn’t sure it’s a good idea to bet on who can seduce Gabby first, but the new girl working at the winery is too gorgeous to give up to his brothers without a fight. But what happens if he starts to fall for her? Will he lose everything if she finds out what he’s done?

  A sizzling rural romance set in the McLaren Vale, with a girl who’s ready for a change and the three brothers who are determined to win her over.

  Available now!

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Many thanks to Beverley Cousins, Lex Hirst and the team at Random House Australia for making it possible for the rural community of Glenalla to
once again come alive. Huge thanks to my special writing buddies Allison Butler, Mel Teshco, Rachael Johns and Madeline Ash for their ongoing friendship and wisdom. And finally, much love and thanks to my husband and four children – whose patience, encouragement and understanding never wane.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Once a teacher and a counsellor, she remains interested in the life journeys that people take. She is also partial to historic homesteads and gardens and has been known to drive hours to visit an open-garden.

  She draws inspiration from the countryside around her, whether it be the brown snake at her back door or the resilience of bush communities in times of drought or flood. She currently lives on a small slice of rural Australia in central western New South Wales. Beneath Outback Skies was her first novel and Down Outback Roads is her second.

  Also by Alissa Callen

  Beneath Outback Skies

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  Version 1.0

  Down Outback Roads

  9780857984975

  Copyright © Alissa Callen, 2014

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  A Bantam book

  Published by Random House Australia Pty Ltd

  Level 3, 100 Pacific Highway, North Sydney NSW 2060

  www.randomhouse.com.au

  Addresses for companies within the Random House Group can be found at http://www.randomhouse.com.au/about/contacts.aspx