Queen of the Road

by Tricia Stringer

  Leanne and Jim had been welcoming from the start, and already Angela felt as if they were old friends. They’d encouraged her to continue with the truck run and had made it quite clear they’d support her any way they could. Leanne had grown up on a farm; she was passionate about her district and keeping the community strong. She was assisting the local Women in Agriculture group run a gathering of farmers’ wives in a few weeks. They were offering all kinds of training, from bookkeeping to wool sorting. Leanne even asked Angela if she’d run a truck driving session.

  And she would have been happy to do it too, but the date was beyond her stay. She and Claudia would be back in Melbourne by then, a long way from Munirilla.

  Angela glanced across at Claudia, who was still singing to the music. She’d become very attached to Leanne, and even though they were on the road a lot, Angela was sure Claudia was happy and settled here. She’d taken to the pre-school as if she’d been attending it for months. Life on the road – and in Munirilla – was evidently better for both of them, even if the debt was the same.

  Angela clicked her tongue. She really needed to get her act together, to come up with a plan once and for all. She was making good money at the moment but somehow it kept disappearing. Her bank balance was always close to zero and both credit cards were still maxed out. Every time she made a dint in one, something else seemed to come along.

  ‘Mummy!’

  Claudia’s call startled her.

  ‘You went past. That’s Coop’s place.’

  Angela looked in the side mirror. ‘So it is. How do you remember that?’

  ‘There’s a bird.’

  ‘What bird?’

  ‘On the gate.’

  Angela found a place to turn around and they made their way back to the gate. Sure enough, on the post was a rusting bird fashioned from tin. They drove along the track and pulled up in the house yard. There was no sign of Coop, but as Jilly came running out to the gate Angela thought he wouldn’t be far away.

  She helped Claudia from the truck and attempted to keep her away from the dog as it sniffed their feet. Whatever Coop said about the animal being good with kids, she still didn’t trust it.

  ‘Take it easy, Claudia,’ she said, but she was wasting her breath. The little girl flung her arms around the dog and it nuzzled her cheek. ‘Maybe Coop’s not home,’ Angela said.

  As if in answer, Jilly ran back to the house and gave a short bark.

  ‘Yes, he is,’ Claudia said and set off after the dog.

  ‘Claud, wait.’

  Again, Angela’s call fell on deaf ears. The little girl and the dog promptly disappeared around the back of the house. Angela shut the truck door and followed them, but before she’d taken even two steps, Claudia squealed and the dog barked.

  Expecting the worst, Angela hurried forward. If that dog’s bitten Claudia again … She stopped suddenly as she rounded the corner. Whatever she was expecting to see, it was nothing like the scene before her. Coop was smeared in some kind of black stuff, lunging at Claudia and pretending to touch her, but just missing. Jilly was dodging between them giving short barks. Claudia was trying to evade Coop’s attempts to wipe the sludge on her – the reason for her squeals.

  Angela took a few steps closer then stopped abruptly, not knowing where to look. Coop was naked. Well, not totally naked.

  He had some kind of shorts on but the rest of him was bare skin, coated in this mud or whatever it was. She reached for the verandah pole, hoping it looked like a casual gesture and not like a woman struggling to hold herself up.

  ‘You stink!’ Claudia yelled as she narrowly dodged him again.

  ‘Claudia!’ Angela’s sharp call made them all stop and look at her, including Jilly.

  ‘Hi Angela. Jilly told me someone was coming. Sorry, I can’t shake your hand.’ Coop’s voice was gentle and welcoming, as if he’d wrapped his arms around her. She sucked a deep breath in through her nose, then gasped.

  ‘What is that smell?’ she said, putting a hand up to cover her mouth and nose.

  ‘Bushfire ash, rotting in Alice’s rainwater. I’ve been cleaning out the tank.’ He grinned. ‘I slipped though, which is why I look like this. I wasn’t expecting visitors.’

  Angela tried not to look at his chest but her eyes were drawn there. It turned out he wasn’t totally covered in the black sludge – there were still glimpses of pink skin. It also turned out that Coop had well-proportioned muscles, solidly contoured from physical work, and not quite a six pack but a waist that looked firm and disappeared into …

  ‘Mummy.’ Claudia was tugging on her hand. ‘Coop says we can have a cup of tea.’

  Angela raised her eyes to meet his. There was a sparkle of humour in them. He must have said something while she was gawping.

  ‘Coop’s busy, Claud, we’d better go.’

  ‘No, I want a picnic.’ Claudia crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her mother.

  Jilly gave a low woof.

  ‘It won’t take me long to shower,’ Coop said. ‘There’s mains water for that. And there’s a jug on the sink with fresh rainwater for the kettle. If there’s not enough you can refill it from the tank by the shed. That’s still clear, thank goodness.’

  Angela turned to look in the direction he was pointing and tried to compose herself. She felt flustered. Like Claudia, she wanted to stay, but she didn’t want to impose or seem needy. By the time she’d turned back, however, he’d already disappeared and the sound of running water came from the room at the end of the verandah.

  ‘Come on, Mummy.’ Claudia took her by the hand and led her through the back door into the kitchen.

  Chapter 35

  ‘This really is a beautiful spot.’ Angela leaned back against the large rock and surveyed the paddocks stretched out in front of her. From this height they could see a long way in all directions. Lines of trees followed fence lines and roads, and to the north there was a dense spread of vegetation that Coop said was a reserve. He pointed out other rocky outcrops on the undulating landscape, including a huge one that blended into the hazy horizon.

  He was the one who’d suggested they bring their picnic lunch to this spot at the edge of Alice’s farm. On the way they’d visited the sheep and Claudia had insisted she could see the twins she’d helped deliver, pointing out two of the lambs. Coop had agreed with her but Angela thought they all looked alike, lots of little skinny legs and shaking tails, running in groups or huddling close to their mothers.

  Coop then led them part of the way up a scrubby outcrop to a spot where a large rock formation jutted out of the dirt – which was where they were now. They’d sat on a flat area with the rock sloping up and away behind them and shared the sandwiches and fruit that Angela had packed. Coop supplied tea in a thermos and now they were taking a few final minutes to sit before they packed up.

  But Claudia was still full of energy. Wearing her new rubber boots she explored the little trickles of water and the shrubby bushes just below them, with Jilly as her shadow.

  ‘Don’t go too far, Claud,’ called Angela. ‘Coop has to get back to work.’

  ‘Today hasn’t gone to plan at all,’ he said.

  ‘We should go.’ Angela sat up again. ‘We’re keeping you.’

  Coop was leaning against the rock beside her, his hands behind his head. He smiled but didn’t move. ‘It’s okay. A few more minutes won’t hurt, and Jilly is having just as much fun as Claudia.’

  Angela laughed. ‘I know you like that dog but I can’t quite see her as a child minder.’

  ‘I’d trust Jilly with my life.’

  ‘Hmm.’ She laughed again and let herself relax a little. It was good being out here, away from work, bills, phones – just them and the great outdoors. Coop was a genuine panacea.

  ‘Child minding is the least we can do to repay lunch,’ he said. ‘I probably wouldn’t have had any if you hadn’t turned up.’

  ‘We’ll go soon,’ Angela said, easing back on her patch of rock
. She wasn’t entirely sure what was involved with the seeding he kept mentioning but she knew he’d already had to put it on hold to drive the load back from Adelaide for her. ‘I seem to be taking you away from your work a bit lately.’

  ‘I can spare ten more minutes.’ He looked at the sky. ‘I’ve got a paddock to finish but that may be the last of it for a little while. I got a call from Phil Cameron earlier – he’s the bloke that usually puts Alice’s crops in. Anyway, he reckons he can start her place fairly soon, if the forecast is correct. My date with the tractor can wait till tomorrow.’

  ‘You’ve got other jobs though.’

  ‘Well, I have to get the seed ready, clean that stench out of the yard and do a quick fix on the seeder, but after that I’m going to give up on today and start fresh tomorrow.’ He grinned at her. ‘Jeff used to go by that theory. When things didn’t go to plan and everyone was tired, he’d say, “Fresh eyes, Coop. We need fresh eyes.” Guess it worked for him.’

  ‘Who’s Jeff?’

  Angela watched the shine leave his eyes.

  ‘My old boss,’ he said, and leaned forward again.

  For a while the only sound was the chatter from Claudia interspersed with Jilly’s answering woofs drifting up from the scrub below. Angela studied Coop’s profile and wondered what had gone on between him and Jeff.

  ‘It’s strange how these lumps of granite just appear on the landscape,’ he said at last.

  ‘Like a giant hand just dropped them,’ she said, glancing at the strain of his shirt pulled tight over his shoulders. She imagined him topless – as she’d seen him earlier, but without the sludge.

  ‘Maybe.’ He looked back at her and grinned. ‘Have you been to Wave Rock? In Western Australia?’

  She shook her head. ‘I’ve seen pictures but never been.’

  ‘There’s another formation, further west from here.’ He indicated the horizon. ‘It’s like a smaller version of Wave Rock.’

  ‘Apart from a few trips to Queensland, and now Munirilla, I’ve not been out of Melbourne much.’

  ‘My first job away from home was on a property in the central wheatbelt country of WA.’ He leaned back on the rock beside her again. ‘I’d get a weekend off every month and go exploring. There were amazing granite formations all around that area. It’s probably on roughly the same line as this.’

  ‘Maybe God had a hole in his pocket when he passed along this way.’

  ‘Maybe,’ Coop chuckled.

  ‘WA’s a long way from Queensland. Is that where you worked for Jeff?’

  ‘No. Jeff lives in Queensland too. He got me the job in WA though. It was what I needed at the time.’ There was a pause and he stared at something in the distance. ‘I’ve seen a lot of outback Australia. I grew up in Queensland. We shifted around a fair bit. Since Western Australia I’ve worked in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, back in Queensland, and now here.’

  ‘Don’t you get sick of moving?’

  ‘Not really. There’s always a new challenge and I like exploring places I’ve never been.’

  ‘I wish I could be like that.’ She gazed at the landscape stretching west until it disappeared into a hazy horizon.

  ‘Why can’t you?’

  ‘It’s no life for a kid.’ Speaking of which, she hadn’t seen Claudia for a while. She listened and was reassured by the dull woof of Jilly followed by Claudia’s tinkling laugh.

  ‘You’re right.’

  Angela looked back at him. ‘About what?’

  ‘Kids need stability.’

  ‘They do.’

  Angela’s mind cast back to her recent confrontation with Nigel. She’d said those very same words. What was she going to do about him?

  ‘Claudia’s father is a musician. He’s often away from home – was often away from home when we … before we … My childhood memories are good ones. I guess I just tried to make our flat in Melbourne a home for Claudia …’ Angela trailed off. She wasn’t sure if she’d succeeded in making a good life for her daughter, or that Coop was interested in hearing her ramble.

  ‘Tell me about it.’

  She turned to him, so close beside her. His eyes met hers – kind eyes, eyes that emanated a depth of longing and understanding she desperately craved. She suppressed the impulse to throw herself into his arms and looked back at the view. The view was safe.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t asking about your personal life. I meant about Melbourne.’

  ‘What do you want to know?’

  ‘What’s your favourite spot? Is there somewhere special you take Claudia for picnics?’

  ‘We didn’t have much time for picnics.’ As she said the words she heard how pathetic they sounded. ‘The beach,’ she added quickly, thinking of the few times they’d stayed with Nigel’s family at their holiday house in Lorne. There’d been some special days there but she didn’t want to think about them right now. ‘The Dandenongs are beautiful too. Once, when I was small, Dad took me to a tiny town up there where they re-enact the bullock dray days of carting timber. It’s gorgeous country.’

  ‘Sounds as if you like being out of Melbourne.’

  ‘I don’t mind either way, I guess. Life’s so busy there. If I had a day off like this, I’d probably spend it washing and cleaning and trying to catch my breath for the next week.’

  ‘What about your family?’

  ‘Mum died when I was in primary school, my brothers are a bit older and live interstate, and Dad’s always been pretty busy with the trucks.’ Angela stopped to think about her relationship with her dad. ‘We’re not so close anymore. I’ve loved him and missed him all my life. That’s just how it is … He has Janice.’

  ‘Is Janice a friend?’

  Angela laughed sharply. ‘His wife. The evil stepmother in the fairytale.’

  ‘Really?’

  She laughed again, but more softly this time. ‘Not exactly. We tolerate each other. We’re not close. She looks after Dad well though, I’ll give her that.’

  Like lizards they were pressed against the rock absorbing its warmth. Somehow she’d ended up closer to Coop and her arm was touching his. It was comfortable. She wished he’d lift that arm and put it around her.

  ‘So there’s no one to drag you back to Melbourne?’

  Angela thought for a moment. ‘Kate,’ she replied. Until she’d said her name, Angela hadn’t realised how much she missed her. Talking on the phone just wasn’t as much fun as seeing each other face to face.

  ‘Who’s Kate?’

  ‘My best friend. She’s been there for me more times than I can count.’

  ‘Does she live near you?’

  ‘Not really close, and she may be on the move yet. Her husband, John, has a job that takes him rural quite a lot. They could end up shifting so he doesn’t have to travel so much.’

  ‘So there’s nothing stopping you from keeping this job if you wanted to?’ He lifted his arm and she almost fell against him.

  ‘No … I …’

  A series of urgent barks came from behind them. Coop scrambled to his feet and listened.

  ‘Where’s Claudia?’ Angela was up and scanning the scrub.

  Jilly barked again.

  ‘This way,’ said Coop, pointing to where a narrow track disappeared around the rock. ‘She’ll be with Jilly.’

  Angela gave one last look towards the scrub below then turned to follow him. Her heart pounded and she berated herself for being so cosy with Coop when she should have been keeping a closer eye on her daughter. They ducked under tree branches and edged past parts of the rock that jutted onto the rough little track until they came to a cutaway where water seeped from the rock. Jilly barked again, closer now, and they looked up. Angela could just see Claudia’s fair head above the rise of the rock.

  ‘Claudia!’

  Jilly appeared next to her and barked again. Claudia yelled and Angela hurried after Coop, who was working his way quickly up the rock slope. The erosion, from years of wate
r and wind, had cut ridges and grooves that were almost like steps. As they got closer, Angela could see that Claudia was sitting on a flat part of the rock, her arms folded across her chest and tears staining her face, red with anger. Her boots and hat were scattered around her.

  ‘Sit, Jilly,’ Coop commanded.

  The dog stopped rushing around and sat beside Claudia.

  ‘Go away!’ Claudia shouted at the dog.

  ‘Claud,’ Angela said, bobbing down beside her. ‘What’s wrong? How did you get up here?’

  ‘Jilly won’t let me look at the sheep.’

  ‘There aren’t any sheep up here, Claudia,’ Coop said gently. He was patting Jilly’s head.

  ‘They’re over there.’ Claudia pointed behind her. ‘Jilly wouldn’t let me go there. She bit my new boots.’

  ‘Are you all right?’ Angela eyeballed the dog sitting patiently beside Claudia. Coop said he’d trust the animal with his life but she seemed to like taking nips at little girls.

  ‘Perhaps we’d better go.’ Angela put her hands on Claudia’s shoulders and tried to stand her up. The little girl resisted.

  ‘Jilly didn’t attack her,’ Coop said. ‘He was rounding her up.’

  ‘She’s not a sheep,’ Angela snapped.

  ‘I want to see the sheep.’ Claudia kicked her feet.

  ‘That’s enough. There aren’t any sheep up here.’

  ‘No, down there.’ Claudia flung an arm out and stabbed the air behind her.

  ‘Calm down,’ Angela said.

  ‘There’s quite a sharp drop off the side,’ Coop said and took a couple of steps in the direction Claudia was pointing.

  Angela picked up the discarded boot closest to her. It had small indents in the back of it. She glared again at Jilly.

  ‘Jilly, come.’

  The dog rose and went straight to Coop. Claudia got to her feet. ‘Stay here, Claud,’ Angela said.

  ‘It’s okay. She’s right,’ Coop said. ‘Claudia, put on your boots and come here.’

  Angela wasn’t sure what he was getting at, but she helped Claudia with her boots all the same. Coop held his hand out to them and Jilly gave a low growl.