His Outback Nanny (Prickle Creek)

by Annie Seaton

  Her voice was cold and cynical. “That’s nothing new. I have hundreds of people looking at me like that, every time I get on the catwalk. Besides, he told me I was beautiful, but he didn’t tell me that he loved me.” The words wobbled, and she dug under the pillow for the tissue as her eyes welled up. “Bloody tears. Why won’t they stop?”

  “Don’t you dare make the same mistake that Angie and I did. Go and talk to Ned. Make sure he knows how you feel. Please promise me you’ll do that before you go anywhere?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Jemima.”

  “Oh, maybe. All right. I’ll think about it.”

  They both jumped as Angie pushed the door open. Her eyes were wide, and her face was pale. “We need to go over to Ned’s. Now.”

  Jemima jumped to her feet. “What’s wrong?”

  “Kelsey’s missing.” The look she shot at Jemima was sympathetic.

  “Oh no. How can she be missing?” Jemima pulled on her sweatshirt and grabbed her car keys from the dressing table.

  “Ned said he was on his way to bed and checked on the kids, and she was gone. He’s searched everywhere. The house, the hay shed, and he’s about to load the other two kids in the ute and head down to the dams.” Angie looked at Liam as Jemima pulled the door wide open. “He asked if you’d drive along the road and then to the main road. Wait, Jemmy. I’ll come with you. I told Ned to wait and I’d sit with Ryan and Gwennie.”

  Liam followed them up the hall. “I’ll take my ute up the road.” He gave Angie a quick kiss and picked up his keys. “I’ll see you both over there.”

  As Jemima drove to the Prickle Creek Farm gate, she and Angie both kept their eyes peeled for Kelsey, but all they saw were kangaroos, standing sentinel-like next to the trees lit in a ghoulish glow by the headlights on high beam.

  Jemima muttered, “I thought she seemed a bit quiet when we left the club. And when we got home, she ran straight inside.”

  “She can’t have gotten far in such a short time,” Angie reassured her.

  “What if she’d got as far as the main road and hitched a ride with a truckie?”

  “She knows better than that, Jemmy.”

  Jemima shook her head. “I just hope she didn’t overhear us when we were talking about me leaving. Oh God, I hope she’s all right.”

  They cruised along the driveway down to the Daniela homestead but didn’t see anyone until the lights settled on Ned standing beside the hay shed.

  Jemima pulled the hand brake on, jumped out of the Audi and ran over to him.

  “Ned, tell us where you want us to look.” Her heart went out to him, but she pulled her hand back as she went to comfort him.

  Ned glanced over at Angie. “The kids are inside, and Gwennie’s really upset.”

  “Come on, I’ll come down the back with you.” Jemima hurried over to the ute before he had a chance to tell her otherwise.

  …

  The front yard was filled with a dozen or more utes as neighbours from along the road arrived to join in the search. Jim Ison announced at midnight that the police were on their way out, and the volunteer SES guys were bringing searchlights. Jemima stayed by Ned’s side as they searched the back paddocks and roads, but there was no sign of Kelsey. The only hopeful sign was that one of the farm dogs, a young pup, was missing too, and as they searched, Ned called out for Rusty every few minutes. But there was no answering dog bark, and no child, to be heard or seen.

  By three a.m., the SES was searching the paddocks along the road, and the contract shooters had their spotlighted utes scouring the back paddocks. Jemima grabbed Ned’s arm as they finished the circumnavigation of the last wheat paddock.

  “Come on. We’ll go back to the house and have a break. You can’t go on like this all night.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not stopping until I find her.”

  Jemima knew the voice of reason would win out. He’d kept in touch with Angie back at the house every fifteen minutes.

  “It will be the most logical way. There’s a coordinated search being set up.”

  Finally, he agreed, and they headed back to the front of the farm. It was lit up with spotlights, and Ned shook his head when he saw how many utes were there. A tented stand had been set up at the back of the house on the lawn, and tears pricked Jemima’s eyes. There were at least a dozen women there, making cups of tea and handing out sandwiches. Her eyes widened as she spotted the three Mrs. Sykes, all helping out.

  The heart of the country, she thought. The people who live on the farms and in the towns. There was nothing like it, and they all pitched in when one of their own was in need.

  Ned slumped in the front of the ute and put his hand over his eyes. “Where now? Where will we look next?”

  “Did you search the house in case she was hiding?”

  “I did.”

  “Come and we’ll get a cup of tea and then meet with the sergeant.” The white police Pajero with the blue numbers on the top and hood was parked at the gate.

  As they walked across to the house, Jemima stopped dead. She put her hand on Ned’s arm. “Ned, wait. Look!”

  A little red kelpie wiggled out from under the hay shed wall, covered in straw.

  “It’s Rusty.” Ned scooped the pup into his arms and ran back to the shed, with Jemima close behind him. “Where is she, Rusty? Take me to her.”

  The small dog ran to the stack of hay bales in the corner at the back of the shed and disappeared behind them. Ned called him, and he came from behind them, covered in loose straw again.

  “Wait here with Rusty.” Ned picked him up and handed him to Jemima before he walked across to the bales and pushed himself between them and the shed.

  “Oh, Kelsey.” Ned’s voice shook.

  “Daddy,” came the plaintive cry from the back of the hay bales.

  As they walked around the front of the shed, Jemima’s heart clenched. Kelsey was covered in sticks of straw, and she rubbed her red-rimmed eyes.

  “I only went in there so you wouldn’t hear me crying, and when Rusty crawled in with me, I went to sleep.” She looked at Jemima, and her lips trembled. “Don’t you love us anymore? Are you sick of us? Are you going to leave us, too? I thought you were going to be my mum, but I don’t want you to leave us like Mummy did. I want you to love us all forever.” The last words hitched on a sob.

  “There’s no need to cry, sweetheart.” Jemima walked over and put her arms around Kelsey.

  “There is! I heard Daddy say you were leaving. Please don’t leave us. Even if Daddy doesn’t want you, we do.” Jemima’s heart broke as Kelsey buried her face on her shoulder and started to cry in earnest. “We love you, Jemmy. Can’t you love us back?”

  “Oh, sweetheart, I do love you.” Tears filled Jemima’s eyes. What have we done?

  “Kelsey, wait.” Ned’s voice was firm. “I need to tell Jemmy something.”

  Jemima looked across at Ned as Kelsey held onto her as though she’d never let go. His eyes held hers, and she waited to hear what he had to say.

  “Jemima, I made a huge mistake tonight. We all want you to be with us. As a mother and a wife.”

  In a tiny place in her heart, Jemima let the joy of his words take root, but she shook her head. She needed more than that; she didn’t need to be wanted for how useful she was, no matter how much the kids loved her.

  “Why?” She kept her voice soft. “Why do you want me to stay?” Her eyes challenged Ned’s as she dug deep for the strength to resist Kelsey’s plea.

  Ned reached out and moved Kelsey gently away from Jemima. She frowned as he got down onto one knee. It was strange looking down at him. Kelsey stood beside her father with one hand on his shoulder and a wide smile on her lips as Ned took Jemima’s hand and pressed his lips to her palm.

  “I want you to stay because I love you.”

  Joy spiralled through her as she saw the honesty and love in his eyes.

  “I was wrong to tell you to go. I was crazy. I couldn’t bear th
e thought of losing you, but by sending you away, that’s what I was doing. Losing you. I love you, Jemmy. I always will.”

  Jemima looked down at the tanned and strong hand holding hers, and her heart flooded with all the love she’d been holding back.

  Kelsey took her other hand. “Can you love Daddy back? He’s very nice, really he is.”

  “I know that already, darling.” Jemima tugged on Ned’s hand, and he stood up beside her. “And yes, I do love your daddy.” She held Ned’s beautiful brown eyes as she answered. “Would you mind if he kissed me?”

  Kelsey shook her head and smiled. Ned lowered his head, and his lips took Jemima’s in the sweetest kiss. A soft kiss she would remember for the rest of her life.

  A kiss full of love. A kiss full of promise.

  “Does that mean you’re going to stay forever?” Kelsey’s voice interrupted them, and Ned pulled away with a chuckle.

  “No one can promise forever, sweetie.” Jemima looked up and held Ned’s eyes with hers. “But as long as humanly possible, I promise I will love you, all of you, and stay with you, and Gwennie and Ryan…and your daddy, if you all want me to.”

  Ned’s eyes gave his answer, and Kelsey cried out, “Oh yes, Jemmy. We all want you to. We love you.”

  “We’d better go out and tell everyone that you’ve been found, young lady.” Ned put his arms out and lifted Kelsey up while Jemima carried the pup.

  The cheers that resounded around the paddocks that night would stay with Jemima always. She was home, and she was here to stay.

  Epilogue

  A month later, Jemima walked out of the doctor’s surgery in Spring Downs. Ned had gone to Cartwright’s store, and she’d had an appointment with Dr. Wenham. The old doc had been in the surgery since she was a child. Ned had insisted that she have a check up because she’d been so tired, but Jemima thought it was only because of the different sort of work she’d been doing the past six months.

  She stepped out into the winter sun and pulled her coat around her. The stiff westerly wind blew straight down the main street, and everyone who was out there scurried into shelter as soon as they could. Wandering slowly down the street, she felt like pinching herself as happiness almost overwhelmed her. Her husband was chatting to Kev Cartwright in the door of the produce store, and his face lit up with a smile as she walked towards them. As she approached, he excused himself and hurried over to her, his smile replaced with a look of concern.

  “Are you all right, darling? You look pale. Were the test results okay?” Ned put his arm around her and shielded her from the cold wind as they walked to the ute.

  “They were. But Lucy’s going to be surprised. We can’t blame the pineapple for me not feeling right.”

  Ned frowned. “The pineapple? That was ages ago.”

  “Yes, but apparently when you have a tummy upset, the pill doesn’t do what it’s supposed to.”

  Jemima chuckled as Ned’s mouth dropped open. “If the wind changes, you’ll stay like that.” She put her hand beneath his chin and gently pushed his mouth shut.

  “You mean you’re…we’re…”

  “Yep. I hope that’s okay. Just as well we’re married, isn’t it?” Her words were muffled as Ned put his arms around her and kissed her, not caring who was watching them.

  “I’ve got something to say about that,” he said. “But after we tell the kids. I think this calls for a milkshake at Con’s when we pick them up. What do you reckon?”

  Jemima rubbed her still flat stomach. “I agree. Milk’s good for pregnancy, so they tell me.”

  …

  It was Saturday night, and Ned had sworn Jemima and the kids to secrecy. The pregnancy was to be their family secret just for a few days. As he drove back in through the gate—the special passengers safely in the ute—he was pleased to see that all of the guests had arrived. Liam’s ute was parked beside Lucy and Garth’s SUV. He’d refused to tell anyone why he was going to Dubbo, just tapping the side of his nose and saying, “You’ll see.”

  “Ssh,” he whispered to his passengers as they walked behind him to the house.

  Jemima was standing with Lucy and Angie. Garth and Liam had fired up the barbeque. She wore those loose pants and a fitted T-shirt, and a surge of pride filled him to think that she was carrying his child. She looked up and caught his eyes, and as she smiled at him, happiness flooded through him.

  “Nanny, Grandpa!” Gwennie was the first to spot his parents, but Kelsey and Ryan ran just as fast and reached their grandparents at the same time.

  “Oh, what a lovely surprise.” Jemmy’s warm breath whispered in his ear, and he put his arm around her.

  “That’s only half of it. Once the hubbub dies down, we’ll see the next bit.”

  Her beautiful arched eyebrows rose, and she brushed her lips against his. “I’m sure the children will love whatever you’ve done.”

  “I’m sure they will,” he replied with a grin.

  Once the greetings had died down, and Jemmy had been introduced to his parents, Ned put his fingers in his mouth and whistled. It was the only way he could be heard over the din.

  “Come on, you lot. I’ve got another surprise. Everyone come over here.” He stood on the pavers beside his mother’s rose garden. Jemima had done an amazing job of bringing it back to life.

  He took her hand and led her to the wrought iron table and chair set beside the small fountain that was fed by the bore. “Ryan, Kelsey, Gwennie, I want you here, too.”

  He’d told the kids what was going to happen, and Gwennie was under threat of being grounded for life if she talked about it at school.

  Ned looked around the families that were gathered around them. The only ones missing were his sister and Jemima’s grandparents, but they’d all promised to come for a visit at Christmas.

  “Thank you all for being a part of our celebration today. We’ve got two lots of news, and this is the first one. Ryan?”

  Ned dropped to his knee as Ryan pulled a small royal blue box from his pocket with—Ned smiled—a very grubby hand. Kelsey and Gwennie stood beside Ned, a hand on each of his shoulders, and Ryan crouched in front of them.

  Together, three loud voices blended with Ned’s as he held out a diamond and sapphire ring. “Jemmy, will you do us the honour of being a wife and mother?”

  Ryan continued. “That’s Daddy’s wife and our muvva, we mean.”

  Jemima’s beautiful blue eyes were awash with tears as she gazed back at him. “Yes, I will.” She turned to the three children. “And that’s another yes, yes, and yes!”

  “And for the rest of you, there’s a yes, number four, too.” Jemima stood and patted her stomach. “Our family is growing.”

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  Glossary of Aussie Terms

  Bore: a bore is where you find groundwater that has been accessed by drilling a bore into underground water storages called aquifers.

  CWA: (Country Women’s Association) The CWA is the largest women’s organisation in Australia and aims to improve conditions for country women and children.

  Dam: a reservoir used as a water supply.

  Derro: Australian slang for a homeless person; a social derelict.

  Gumtree: an online classifieds website

  Larrikin: a mischievous young person, rowdy and good hearted, with a sense of humour.

  Milk bar: a corner shop that sells milkshakes and other refreshments.

  Paddock: small field

  Pajero: A type of four-wheel drive vehicle

  Prickle: a short pointed outgrowth on a plant; a small thorn.

  Pilliga Scrub: is a forest of some 3000 square kilometres of semi-arid woodland in temperate north-central New South Wales, Australia.

  RSL: The Returned and Services League, Australia (RSL) is a support organisation for men and women who have served or are serving in the Defence Forc
e and provides a social club in communities.

  Tuck shop: a school cafeteria

  Ute: a utility vehicle; a pick-up in Australia or New Zealand

  Acknowledgments

  As always, thank you to my awesome editor, Erin Molta. Love your work!

  A huge thank you to Vicki Hickey for teaching me how horses are cared for.

  About the Author

  Annie Seaton lives on the edge of the South Pacific Ocean on the east coast of Australia with her own hero of many years. Their two children are now grown up and married, and three beautiful grandchildren have arrived. Now they share their home with Toby, the naughtiest dog in the universe, and two white cats. When she is not writing, Annie can be found in her garden or walking on the beach…or most likely on her deck overlooking the ocean, camera in hand as the sun sets. Each winter, Annie and her husband leave the beach to roam the remote areas of Australia for story ideas and research. Readers can contact Annie through her website annieseaton.net or find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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