Grand Parade (Show Time Fever Book 1)

by Lilliana Rose

  Jackson nodded. “You really do know what it’s like, don’t you? Losing someone you love?”

  “Yes.” The mix of grief-filled emotions surged inside of her, bringing tears to her eyes, but this time she was in control and she blinked them away. “And now I’m going to change the subject, abruptly, without any subtlety because we’ve gone to serious too soon.”

  He smiled weakly, but still it was a smile. “Now, I promised to help you keep your job. What do you need to do now?”

  “Pee.” She clamped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide, horrified she’d been on the crass side.

  Jackson laughed gently.

  “I mean I need to go to the bathroom.” Megan’s face burned with heat. Something about Jackson made her lose her mind and blurt out the first things that came into her mind. That and summon a thick fog in her mind which was returning.

  “Right. There’s one around the corner.” He stood.

  “I can go by myself.”

  He put out his hand to hers. “I promised I will keep an eye on you, which means I will have to wait outside like a perve, so please don’t be too long.” He winked, but his words were serious.

  Megan found that she didn’t have the strength to argue. She wasn’t sure how he managed to read her expression, but he did. She put out her hand and let him help her up. Much to her dismay, she swayed and was grateful that he helped to keep her anchored on her feet.

  “Careful.” His hand squeezed hers firmly.

  “I’m all right.” She made herself recover quickly, the threat of having to go to the hospital her motivation.

  He pursed his lips together and didn’t say anything as she picked up her camera. Megan knew that he wasn’t convinced. It’s that I’m daydreaming too much about him.

  She shimmied past chairs and people as they exited from the tent, heading across the flow of the crowd, to the members’ stand.

  “That way.” He pointed to the ladies’ bathroom, letting go of her hand.

  Megan was a little uneasy, but so far he’d been a gentleman, and he was certainly taking his promise to the nurse very seriously. She couldn’t believe she trusted him so much. He certainly made it easy for her, not like the other guys she’d known.

  “I’ll be waiting here, so don’t do a runner on me.” He looked at her, his blue eyes reflecting sternness.

  He actually read her mind rather well. She didn’t want to be away from him, but the thought of using going to the bathroom as an excuse to ditch him had crossed her mind. But, then I wouldn’t see him again. Megan rubbed her temples.

  “I think–,” started Jackson.

  “No.” Megan paused. Her response had been sharp, too sharp. “I’ll be fine. I won’t be long.”

  He made a soft noise like he didn’t believe her, but he didn’t stop her when she went off to join the line for the toilets. She waited impatiently in the queue, checking her phone. Kristie hadn’t responded, which was fine. Megan glanced back over her shoulder a few times, and saw Jackson waiting patiently in the shade nearby, his height and large hat making it easy to spot him in the crowd.

  She couldn’t help think that she was tuning into him and that was the real reason she saw him easily. I should make the best of this situation, come what may. Even though she had hot thoughts about Jackson, and didn’t plan to act on them, waiting gave her plenty of time to think.

  There, it’s decided. I’ll have a few hours of fun with him, then go home. It can be an example of turning a bad situation into a good one. She glanced at herself in the mirror. The bump on her head couldn’t be seen so much if she rearranged her fringe. Her face was white and there were lines under her eyes. Megan wished she had some make-up to touch up her appearance, especially with such a hot guy like Jackson waiting for her. With a deep breath she decided it wouldn’t matter. Jackson appeared a genuine guy, besides, it was only going to be for a few hours and she didn’t have to look her best to have fun.

  Coming out of the bathrooms, she walked up to Jackson and smiled. She also wanted to show him that she was fine and he didn’t need to worry about her.

  “Where to?” He uncrossed his legs, and straightened from leaning against the wall.

  “I need some photos of animals.” She suddenly felt inadequate in her job.

  “What sort of animals?”

  Megan looked blankly at him. Just when she thought she’d got her thoughts sorted, she lost them. She sighed. “Any.”

  “How about if I show you mine?”

  Megan felt the blood drain from her face.

  “Don’t worry. Bruce won’t hurt you. I’ll make sure you don’t get that close to him.”

  Megan inclined her head, reminding herself that she didn’t get enough photos of the Grand Parade. Jackson could pose in some photos and it would be better than nothing. At least that what she hoped as she walked with him through the crowds, to the back of the show grounds to the pavilions where the cattle were kept. Plus I’ll have another few photos of him.

  The thought lightened her steps. She hurried to keep close to him, her shorter legs slowing her down along with the ache in her head. She wasn’t sure she wanted to see Bruce again either, but the last few hours had shown that Jackson was a caring soul and she trusted him.

  “My parents’ cattle are this way.” He guided her with a gentle hand on her back, into an oversized shed that smelt of hay, grain, and other odors. She had no idea of the sources and wasn’t sure she wanted to find out. The shed was divided into rows, and along each side were cattle securely tied. Along the partitions were stockpiles of hay, and personal belongings.

  Owners sat with the cattle, some on bales of hay, others on chairs, drinking tea or coffee. Some even had small portable TV’s and were watching football. It was an entirely new world for Megan. Her fingers tingled with the urge to start taking more pictures.

  “Watch your step,” warned Jackson.

  Megan stopped and looked down to see fresh cow manure in front of her. She wrinkled her nose at the ripe smell. “Gross.” She stepped around it and now walked with regular glances at the ground. “That was close. How do you cope with the smell?”

  She couldn’t resist asking. The stench of animals, waste, hay, and goodness knows what else wasn’t helping her headache, which in turn was making her blurt out things that she shouldn’t.

  Jackson shrugged. “I don’t notice it.”

  “Sorry, I must sound rude, like a city slicker experiencing animals for the first time, which I will add isn’t true.” It was the first time she was getting so close to the animals, not just the petting section for kids.

  Jackson glanced back and smiled at her. “That’s good to know. Though I think I would’ve liked to have shown you this side of the show for the first time.”

  Megan flushed red. Is he flirting? “Well, I will admit I haven’t been this close to the cattle before.”

  He continued down the aisle. She watched him, broad shoulders, and tight arse. “Maybe, the smell isn’t working for you, but I hope everything else won’t be a disappointment.”

  Chapter 3

  Her gaze lingered on his arse. She watched the sight in front of her for a few breaths before she managed to pull herself together and force her legs to move. Despite keeping a watchful eye where she placed her feet, her new Rossi dress-boots weren’t made for walking around minefields of cattle waste. She didn’t like the idea of having to clean the manure off afterwards, so she trod carefully.

  She still managed to take in her surroundings, walking straight in the center of the aisle to avoid the cattle on either side of her. Owners groomed some of the cows, combing their short hair, which amused Megan a little. Some cattle stood, swishing their tails, and others lay on straw, chewing their cud. One thing was certain. They were huge beasts and she was scared of them, especially after meeting Bruce.

  But, then something else started to happen. Her photographic sight kicked in and she began to think of the type of shots she could
take for the paper. Slowly, she became aware that most of the people around her were farmers, or people exhibiting the cattle, and not city slickers like herself come to the show for the day.

  She paused. Lifting her camera, she took a wide angled shot down the aisle, Jackson’s back off center in the frame, and not the focus. He was one of a few of the owners in the picture, even though she was tempted to zoom in on just him. She wanted snapshots of life here for the farmers who had come into the city for the Royal Show.

  She took a few more photos, changing the perspective, thinking about how she could get up higher for more of a bird’s eye view, when she saw a young girl sleeping next to a huge cow. Megan swallowed her fear, stepped softly towards the girl and cow for a close-up shot. She squatted down, her focus only on the subject, her professional eye taking over for the moment. The innocent face of the dozing child, a pink bow in her brown hair, she leaned against the black and white hide of the cow. It appeared as if the animal nestled the girl as closely as it would its own calf.

  Megan looked around for the parents. She needed to get permission for the shot. A lady in her thirties sat nearby, leaning back in a green fold-up chair, coffee in hand. Megan held up her camera, and the mother nodded.

  Her world becoming narrow, Megan lifted the camera and framed the image. Click. Click. Click.

  She took a series of photos, then put down her camera. Megan smiled, knowing this shot was the one she’d been wanting, the one that would help make up for missing the Grand Parade. She stood and went over to the woman, and showed her the photo.

  “Can I have a copy?”

  “Of course. I also need you to sign a release for the photo to be used in the paper, if that’s all right.” Megan rummaged around in her handbag and pulled out a consent form, a notepad, and a pen. “May I please have your name?”

  “I’m Rachael Fields, and my daughter is Katie. We’re from up north near Clare. Our stud is called Cloverfield.”

  Megan scribbled quickly and messily on the small lines of the tiny notepad. She also took down Rachael’s email to send her a copy of the photo later. “Thank you.”

  Finished, she suddenly realised she’d forgotten all about Jackson. She looked around for him, not wanting to lose him, despite the previous thoughts of ditching him. He was nearby, waiting patiently. The sight of him sent a ripple of calmness through her and she smiled at him, as he walked over to her.

  “Good picture,” he said, nodding his head towards the sleeping girl.

  “I don’t know how she can sleep there,” said Megan. “I’d be too scared.”

  “They get used to us, and if you treat them right then they are really peaceful animals.”

  Megan chewed her bottom lip. Taking the photo just then and interacting with Rachel had taken her mind off the pain, now it was coming back. “Well, except Bruce.”

  “He’s a softie. He’s not keen on the crowds and all the noise around here. It’s a bit different to home.”

  “I bet.”

  “Come on. My cattle are this way.” He motioned for her to follow. “That’s if you still want to see them.”

  “Of course.” There were still plenty more photos for her to take. With photography, she needed to take a lot to get those perfect shots.

  They walked under a banner which said ‘Feature Breed ~ Murray Grey’s.’

  “What does that mean?” She pointed to the sign when Jackson turned and looked back at her.

  “Each year the show selects a certain animal breed to be the feature for publicity.”

  “Oh.” It sort of made sense, she guessed. “Have you finished the judging?” Some of the cattle around them had ribbons hung on the walls near where they stood. Some blue, some red and some white, and then there were a few broad ribbons that had all three colors.

  “Finished most of the competition today. We just got the wide ribbons tomorrow.”

  “Wide ribbons?” She took a deep breath against the throb pounding in her head. Thinking was making it worse, but she was curious to learn more about Jackson and this world he lived in. Megan found it fascinating, so different to the mundane life she lived in the city.

  “Champions, like those ribbons over there for the Angus breed.” He pointed to his right. She saw the black cattle standing in a row, backsides pointing towards her. The ribbons were blue, white, and red, stitched together with gold colored lettering over the top.

  She kept an eye on where she walked, and tried not to get too close to the cattle on either side. Her pulse rate was elevated, and she wasn’t sure about walking down the aisle so close to the animals, even with Jackson near her. “Are these cows milked?”

  Jackson smiled broadly at her. “You don’t know much about cattle, do you?”

  “Nope, I’m a city girl through and through.”

  “Angus are bred for beef, just like Murray Grey’s. Milkers are in the other shed to the east of the show.”

  Megan clamped her mouth shut to stop herself from asking what direction was east, and walked behind him, taking in her surroundings, the smells and energy that vibrated around here. Despite the noise of the show filtering inside, a calmness filled this shed. It helped her to feel like she was connecting to the earth and life instead of just walking over concrete paving all the time.

  She followed Jackson down to the end of a row near the middle of the shed, and nearly bumped into him when he suddenly stopped. Megan got a mouthful of his shirt, and a strong smell of his spicy, testosterone, sweaty farm smell. Her mind swirled from the pleasant scent. Something grabbed her arm.

  “You sure you’re all right?” His voice filtered through the spicy fog in her mind.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m going to take you to the hospital.” The grip on her arm tightened.

  Megan pulled herself from the haze. Her mind focused and she looked at him directly in the eyes to prove that she was fine. The panic of going to that place bubbled inside of her threatening to surface. She pushed it back down. “No, I don’t need to be in a hospital. I was miles away in thought. It’s what I do when I’m taking photos.”

  Again not entirely a lie, she thought. She had a tendency of over-thinking all things photography when she was taking shots, but a few seconds ago that was far from her mind. She swallowed deliberately, keeping herself engaged with Jackson’s eyes that were burning through her white lies.

  She clenched her right hand, stopping herself from rubbing her temple. The headache gradually worsened. Megan figured she needed some more painkillers. She didn’t have any with her. All she had to do was endure the next few hours, get home, then she could take some paracetamol. She attempted to change the subject of her going to hospital. “So, where are your cattle?”

  “Here.” He pointed to the cattle in front of them. “Those three girls are ours, then the bull, Bruce, another bull, Jeremy, and behind us,” he spun around, “these two young ladies.”

  Megan shivered as she looked at Bruce. “Okay, that’s quite a few. And they are all Murray …” She tried to remember what breed he’d called them.

  “Murray Greys.”

  Megan ignored the shadow of concern that crossed his face. It was clear he thought she should go to hospital. I have to show him that I’m fine. She determined to do just that, because she was pretty sure if she didn’t, then he’d sling her over his shoulder like a bag of wheat and take her there. Though that could be an interesting position to be in. She couldn’t help smiling at the thought. She stopped, thinking that she must look loopy standing here, grinning for no reason other than the thoughts in her head.

  “You doing your photography thing again?” he asked, raising his eyebrow.

  Megan nearly choked in surprise from his deep observation, which was wrong this time, but a glance at his cheeky grin made her think he’d chosen the safer comment to make. “Sort of.”

  She looked back at the cattle behind them, thinking what sort of photos she could take that would show off an aspect of
the show. The Murray Grey cattle were light grey colour, broad-shouldered and very muscled. If I can get up a little higher, maybe on top of the stalls, then I could take a wide angled shot. She turned around. The cows lined up were all standing, and the backside shot would be a cheeky one, maybe for her own collection.

  The cow on the end turned around and looked at her with big dark eyes gleaming with curiosity. For a moment, Megan forgot about the headache, thinking about the photos to take, and how to engage Jackson. He’d mentioned something about bulls and cows, and to her they all looked more or less the same. She couldn’t really tell the difference.

  New questions sprang in her mind. She wanted to know more about the world that he lived in because she was completely clueless. “How do you know the difference between the girls and boys?”

  A few seconds of silence passed before Megan realised that Jackson wasn’t answering the question. He looked a little uncomfortable, and had a cute, confused expression on his face. She couldn’t help but mirror the uneasy feeling between them. Good one, Megan. Next time, think about the question first.

  “Same as with us.”

  “What?” With her headache she found it harder to concentrate. “They can’t be the same as us.”

  Jackson’s cheeks flushed red, along with his neck. Megan thought it was very sweet.

  He cleared his throat. “Well … um …”

  His uneasiness made Megan wish she hadn’t asked such a question. I wanted to know how he could tell them apart? After her embarrassing question she wasn’t sure exactly what she had asked him. Whatever it was, caused him to be flustered. She looked at the ground and shifted her weight between her feet.

  “You know it’s like people,” he rushed with his answer as if trying to get it out as quickly as possible. “Guys have testicles and …”

  Megan look at him sharply, mouth open, wondering how he was going to end his sentence without turning beetroot red.