Queen of the Road

by Tricia Stringer

  He’d worried about taking Claudia home so late and he saw the anxiety in Angela’s eyes when she threw open the door of his ute. He’d never intended to take as long as they did, but the ewe was in trouble. Claudia wasn’t at all interested in staying in the car and so she was right beside him when he pulled the first lamb from the mother. The second was smaller and followed quite quickly. It was weak. He’d used an old towel from his ute to clean the lambs up. Claudia worked gently on the smallest lamb, talking to it and cleaning it with the towel.

  Coop thought he’d have to move the mother and babies to a pen even closer to the house, but the ewe had come good and the lambs had begun to suckle enough that he felt confident leaving them. By that time it was dusk, so he bundled Claudia into the ute and drove straight into town. Coop wasn’t sure how Angela would take the news of Claudia’s afternoon, but once she got over their lateness she didn’t seem too concerned – apart from the smell.

  Claudia had been hustled into the shower as soon as Coop finished washing his hands in their tiny bathroom. Angela then threw together some delicious pizzas and Claudia only managed a few bites before nearly falling asleep at the table.

  Coop smiled. There hadn’t really been any need to go back to Munirilla last night. Offering to keep Claudia with him had been a spur of the moment decision. He liked kids and Claudia had enjoyed her trip to the farm. Once she was in bed he hadn’t stayed much later, just long enough to finish the meal. Angela looked tired and he knew she was planning an early start.

  Coop looked east to the bright horizon. They’d be well on their way by now. Then he looked west, where the clouds spread as far as he could see. Maybe this was the next lot of rain coming. He still had plenty to do before seeding though, and if he was going to be away a couple of days this week, he’d have to put in some extra hours in the coming days.

  There was also the dilemma of who he could ask to keep an eye on things while he was in Adelaide. He’d only be gone two days but he couldn’t leave Alice’s precious ewes without someone to watch over them.

  He considered his options. There were the Barnes on one side and the Camerons on the other. Alice relied on both families from time to time, but the Barnes seemed to be the closer arrangement. Coop knew Barry Barnes and Skitch had done lots of odd jobs for Alice before he was on the scene. Joan Barnes called in for a cuppa every now and then, but he didn’t know if Alice reciprocated these visits.

  Alice had more of a working relationship with the Camerons. They’d done a lot of contract sowing and reaping for her over the years. She was worried about that arrangement this year, with Phil and his wife retired to town and Paul away on his honeymoon. His sister, Annabel, was keeping an eye on the property while he was away. Coop knew Phil came out regularly to help his daughter, but he also knew they’d be flat out seeding their own property.

  Coop glanced at the approaching cloudbank. If it delivered good falls there’d be plenty of farmers wanting to get seed in the ground, not just Alice. Her insistence he work on the air seeder might prove to be worth it yet. He looked down at the camera in his hand. That was something else to take a picture of. He’d hook the seeder to the tractor, he decided, and take it for a test run.

  A couple of lambs skittered around their mother, then did a short run away from her and back. He smiled. It hadn’t taken them long to gain strength. If the rest of the mob dropped good, strong lambs like these, Alice would have excellent breeding stock.

  Coop whistled to Jilly, who was sniffing along the fence line in the other direction. She turned and ran back to him as he climbed into the ute. He shouldn’t get too excited over these first few lambs. There was still a long way to go before the ewes all dropped, and then the young ones had to survive.

  And things weren’t going as smoothly as they could. So far five mothers had gone missing and he’d nearly lost the first set of twins in a difficult birth. He pushed his Akubra firmly onto his head. Best not to count your chickens before they’re hatched, he thought. Or in this case, lambs.

  When he reached the sheds, Jilly gave a series of barks. Coop slowed and looked around. There was a vehicle parked in the house driveway. He continued past the sheds and pulled up at the front gate. The car was a Barnes vehicle but there was no one in sight.

  Jilly jumped from the back of the ute, barked in the direction of the house, then made a dash for the verandah, disappearing around the back. Coop followed, rounding the corner before stopping in surprise.

  Rusty and Jilly each had their noses in a bowl and Joan Barnes was standing in the doorway, holding the screen open, watching them. She looked up and gave him a wan smile.

  ‘Hello Coop. I came over early to catch you but you were already off. Alice always says you’re a hard worker.’

  Coop tugged his hat from his head and shuffled his feet, unsure of what to do. Joan was standing inside the door, as if he was coming to greet her at his own house. He turned his hat around in his fingers. Well, not his house, but Alice’s house, and Alice wasn’t home.

  ‘I just came to drop off some fresh cake and thought I’d bring the dogs some scraps as well,’ Joan said.

  Coop stared at her.

  ‘I told Alice I’d call in from time to time. Bring you some food.’

  Coop found his voice. ‘You don’t need to …’

  ‘I said I would.’

  ‘Thanks.’ He tried to smile. ‘It’s nice of you, but I can manage.’

  The dogs were both pushing the bowls at her feet, licking up the last bits of whatever it was she’d given them. Joan bent down and retrieved the spotless dishes. ‘I’d best be going.’

  As she drew level with him, Coop remembered the vehicle tracks he’d seen in the driveway a couple of weeks back.

  ‘Have you been over before today?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes, twice. Just to bring some scraps for the dogs.’ She glanced back at the two animals, sitting side by side, watching her every move, then looked up at Coop. ‘Barry says I shouldn’t interfere but I did a lot of baking and thought you might like some …’ Her voice trailed off.

  This time his smile came easily. ‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘I like cake.’

  Joan ran her fingers through her limp hair, pulling it away from her face, which was lined with concern. ‘Have you heard any more from Alice?’

  ‘She’s making slow progress.’

  ‘I guess that’s better than none.’

  ‘Yeah,’ he said. He shuffled the hat around in his hands again.

  ‘I sent a card. I hope it got to her.’

  ‘I’m going to see her later this week. I’ll find out for you.’

  ‘Oh, that’s nice.’ Joan’s face almost lit up. ‘She’ll be pleased to see you. Be sure to let her know I send my best wishes.’

  ‘I will.’

  Joan looked at her car. ‘I’d best get back. Enjoy the cake.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Coop said again, turning to watch her go.

  ‘Oh, I did your dishes,’ she called over the roof of her car before disappearing inside it.

  Coop watched her reverse out and drive away. This was Alice’s house and she could invite whoever she liked into it, but all the same, he didn’t like the idea of Joan Barnes going inside without anyone home.

  He turned and looked at the dogs, both watching him expectantly.

  ‘As for you two,’ he said patting their heads, ‘some guard dogs you are. Bribed by food.’

  Rusty settled down on the verandah but Jilly left to take up her place by the gate. It was the second time Coop had seen Jilly in Rusty’s domain in a short space of time. Maybe the old boy was softening.

  In the kitchen, the dishes were stacked neatly on the bench and beside them was an opaque plastic container, in which Coop could see a chocolate cake. He flicked on the kettle and opened the lid. His mouth watered. Seemed he was just as easily bribed.

  As he sat eating the cake and drinking his tea, he thought again about Alice and her struggle. The only sound in the house was th
e reassuring tick of her clock. He dropped the cake on the plate as a shiver ran down his neck and tingled along his arms. He turned his head slowly. He’d shut the door on that ticking clock just after Alice had left and hadn’t touched it since. Now it was open.

  Coop hesitated a moment. He had no desire to invade Alice’s privacy, but what if something had been stolen? He pushed the door open wider. The blinds in the lounge were closed, only allowing a dim light in. He felt along the wall for a light switch and flicked it.

  The room was sparsely furnished, and neat and tidy. Coop shook his head. How would he even know if something was missing? He’d never been in there before. The ticking drew his eyes to a tall grandfather clock in the corner. It was a magnificent piece of furniture, standing out against the more modest chairs and bookshelves. As did the old piano on the wall opposite it.

  Coop picked up a photo from the top of the piano. It was a black-and-white shot of a much younger Alice, taken on her wedding day. Coop studied the man who hugged her to him. This was the husband who’d died too young.

  He replaced the photo on its lace doily and turned his attention to the door beside the piano, which was also ajar. He pushed it open but didn’t enter. It was Alice’s bedroom and he wasn’t going to go any further. The bed was neatly made and the floral bedspread with flounces on the sides surprised him. Alice didn’t strike him as the frilly type. He scanned the rest of the room. Nothing looked out of place as far as he could tell.

  He quickly retraced his steps and pulled the door firmly shut on Alice’s rooms. He felt like a snoop but he obviously wasn’t the only one. Maybe Jeremy or Angela had opened the door yesterday. He screwed up his face. Surely he would have heard the ticking clock this morning at breakfast or last night when he was nodding off. He looked from the stack of dishes by the sink to the door. Maybe Joan had gone in there. Coop couldn’t imagine why. She’d been Alice’s friend a long time. Perhaps she was just doing as she’d said, keeping an eye on the place.

  Chapter 25

  ‘It’s got to be tomorrow or this time next week.’ Shell looked stern as she peered over her glasses at Angela. ‘That truck’s due for its service and tyre check and it’s my job to book it in. Your father would have my guts for garters if I let it go overdue.’

  Angela sighed. ‘Make it next week then.’ She knew Shell was right. If she kept cutting corners her father wouldn’t be happy, but she was desperate to get the Munirilla run into a routine and organised for him. She was searching out freight wherever she could, drumming up business and keeping things moving. Next week would be her last run before someone else took over and she didn’t want to lose a day while the tyres were being checked and replaced.

  ‘I’ll make the booking,’ Shell said, reaching for the phone.

  ‘Okay.’ Angela tugged her diary from her pocket. She would have to make the best of a day out. Perhaps she and Claudia would spend it sightseeing in Adelaide.

  Angela looked out the window at her daughter, who was hopping around as if she had ants in her pants. She’d been fidgety ever since she woke up that morning. Hopefully she hadn’t picked up some bug from her farm trip.

  Angela stepped out of the office feeling more optimistic and turned her attention to the next job. She still had kegs to collect and a couple of orders for the stock and station agency. There was no way she’d be able to pick up everything today, so she changed the pick-up for the refrigerated IGA goods to the morning. She could still make it back to Munirilla by tomorrow night and unload first thing the next day. Then she’d be back at the end of the week for the chemicals.

  She couldn’t help but smile at the thought. Coop would be with her on that trip. Sure, Angela liked travelling with Claudia, but it would be nice to have some adult company. The only problem would be working out a way for Claud to travel safely. The little girl would be delighted to spend her time in the bunk instead of the passenger seat, but Angela wasn’t convinced that was a good idea.

  ‘Mummy!’ Claudia’s yell from across the yard made Angela jump. ‘It’s Grandpa, it’s Grandpa!’

  Angela looked from where Claudia was bouncing up and down beside the shed to the truck that was waiting to turn into the yard. It was definitely one of theirs, more than likely their Melbourne to Adelaide driver.

  She walked over to Claudia. ‘That’s not Grandpa. He’s busy in Melbourne. It’ll be one of the other drivers.’

  ‘It is Grandpa,’ Claudia insisted, continuing to bounce up and down. ‘He told me on the phone.’

  ‘Well, he didn’t tell me.’ Angela thought back over the hurried call she’d made to her father last night after Claudia was cleaned up. He hadn’t mentioned doing an Adelaide run.

  ‘It’s a surprise,’ Claudia said with a glint in her eye.

  Angela looked at the truck that was now manoeuvring through the gate. She couldn’t see through the windscreen well enough to recognise the driver, but there were definitely two silhouettes behind the glass.

  ‘Janice is here too,’ Claudia said with a squeal.

  The truck stopped and both doors flew open. Claudia ran towards it.

  Angela’s heart skipped. ‘Claud, wait!’

  The little girl didn’t stop. Thank goodness there were no other vehicles moving in the yard. Angela watched in amazement as her father jumped down from the truck and scooped up Claudia in his arms. Even more surprising was the identity of his co-driver. Claudia was right – it was Janice, stepping gingerly from the cabin and hurrying round to hug her granddaughter.

  Angela walked slowly towards them feeling like an outsider. Her father looked up and smiled. He passed Claudia into Janice’s grasp and held his arms out for his daughter.

  ‘Surprise!’ he called.

  Angela’s nagging questions evaporated as she relaxed into his hug. She felt like a little girl again, enjoying the security of her father’s embrace.

  ‘Mummy, Janice has brought me a necklace.’

  Angela pulled away from her father and inhaled deeply, the brief moment of respite over. She was pleased to see her dad, but Janice she could have done without.

  ‘That’s pretty,’ she said, glancing at the shiny chain Claudia was dangling at her.

  Janice pulled Angela into a quick hug. She stiffened as the other woman’s lips brushed her cheek.

  ‘Hello Janice,’ she said, then turned back to her father. ‘What’s going on, Dad? You didn’t mention you’d be here.’

  ‘Last-minute decision. I knew you’d be here today. Tommy was happy to do some local work for a couple of days so we could come. Haven’t seen my daughter and granddaughter for a long time.’ Claudia squealed in delight as he scooped her up again and blew raspberries on her cheeks.

  ‘You’ll have to tell us all about what you’ve been doing,’ Janice said, moving closer to brush a hand over Claudia’s hair, turning her back on Angela. ‘What do you do while Mummy’s driving?’

  ‘Sometimes I sleep in the bunk,’ Claudia said. ‘I’ve got my own drawers in Big Red with all my things. We sing songs and play ‘I Spy’. One day we spied a policeman …’

  ‘It’s been great to see you,’ Angela interrupted, keen to put a stop to that story, ‘but we have to get on with our pick-ups.’

  ‘Aww!’ Claudia clung to her grandpa’s neck.

  ‘How about you show Janice your things inside Big Red?’ He put the little girl down and met Angela’s gaze. ‘Mummy and I have some business to discuss.’

  Angela frowned at her father. Janice was dragged away by Claudia, who was talking ten to the dozen as they moved across the yard.

  ‘I won’t keep you for long. I’ve got to unload and refill for the trip back myself, but we really need to talk. Let’s sit out here,’ he said.

  They perched on the edge of the verandah, shaded from the bite of the sun. There was supposed to be rain on its way in Munirilla, but there was no sign of it here.

  ‘So what’s this about? Are you checking up on me?’

  ‘You know I do an
Adelaide trip when I can. I like to see for myself how things are going.’

  ‘You were here just before I took up the run,’ she said. She looked up at the truck and saw Janice’s and Claudia’s heads through the windscreen. No doubt the little girl was describing every detail of their life on the road. Her father’s eyes followed hers.

  ‘Janice misses her terribly.’

  ‘She’s doing fine, Dad. You didn’t have to come.’

  ‘It was an opportunity too good to pass up.’

  Angela leaned in and kissed his cheek. ‘We miss you too.’

  ‘What about Melbourne?’ he asked.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Your friends, the parties – do you miss them?’

  ‘Kate keeps me posted … But parties?’ She raised an eyebrow at her father. ‘You can count on one hand the big nights out I’ve had since … since Nigel left. You know I don’t go out much, why do you think I care about those things?’

  ‘Just something Janice said about you needing time away from Claudia. It hasn’t been an easy four years.’

  ‘I don’t regret one minute of it.’

  ‘And work?’

  Angela stared at the ground. She could feel her father’s eyes on her. ‘Honestly, I don’t miss the office. I’ve enjoyed the driving these last weeks. It’s been hard work but you were right, the change was good for me … for us.’ She nodded in Claudia’s direction.

  ‘How would you feel about doing it a little longer?’

  ‘I can’t.’ Angela held her father’s gaze and added gently, ‘You know I can’t.’

  ‘You said the change has been good for you.’

  ‘But it was only ever meant to be temporary, Dad. I can’t just leave my job.’

  ‘You don’t enjoy it there.’

  ‘But it pays the bills, and there’s Claudia to consider.’

  ‘Don’t get too concerned, I’m only asking for a few more weeks.’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Angela looked again at the truck. She could see Claudia’s head close to Janice’s. They were deep in conversation.

  ‘Claud could stay with us. Janice would be happy to take her to pre-school.’