Loving Lucy: A Prickle Farm Romance

by Edmonds, Melody

  Lucy closed her eyes as Gran chimed in. ‘Leave the girl alone, you lot. It’s her business who she wants to sleep with.’

  Heat flooded Lucy’s face and she crossed to the sink, filling a glass with water as she tried to regain her composure. She almost dropped the glass as Gran continued. ‘Although Garth McKenzie has certainly grown into a studly young man.’

  Seb and Liam howled with laughter. ‘Way to go, Gran!’

  ‘Studly!’ Jemmy’s laugh joined the hilarity. ‘Oh, Gran, I love that word.’

  ‘And you tell that young man of yours, I owe him a big apology,’ Gran said. ‘I was too quick to judge him. Invite him over for dinner tonight.’

  Lucy put the glass down and turned to find four faces, all grinning at her. One week she’d been here and it was the first time Gran had really smiled. She could put up with the teasing just to see that.

  ‘I will, and then you can tell him yourself.’ And Garth could put up with some of the teasing this time. ‘What’s the plan for today?’ she asked brightly.

  ‘The boys are going to the back paddock to bring in the cattle we mustered yesterday, and then you girls can help weigh and drench.’ This time Gran’s expression was challenging as she looked at Lucy.

  ‘Great, I used to love helping Mum and Dad when they came out to work in the yards with Pop.’ If Gran and Jemima could put up with the outside farm work, she’d do her best too. She waited for Gran to glare at her but she smiled. Things were looking up; Gran didn’t like any mention of the past.

  ‘But while they’re out mustering the other paddock, we are going to spend the morning baking.’ Gran’s smile got even wider. ‘The hospital just called. Harry’s coming home late this afternoon.’

  ‘Oh, that’s fabulous news.’ Lucy and Jemima smiled at each other.

  ‘So get your skates on, girls. We’re going to cook up a storm.’

  ‘Can we make your famous chocolate cake?’ Lucy widened her eyes. ‘Please Gran, that cake is to die for.’

  Gran nodded and pulled a piece of torn and stained paper from the pocket of her apron. ‘I’ve already got the recipe out for you two. I know it off by heart.’

  The atmosphere in the kitchen lightened as they greased pans and weighed ingredients. Lucy looked at Jemmy as she washed bowls between cakes. The painted nails were gone, her hair was loose and a smudge of flour dusted her cheek, and she was humming along with the radio as she worked. No one would recognise Jemima Peterkin of the Milan cat walk.

  Dust was tinting the horizon in the far paddock where Liam and Seb were out on horseback. Their laughter had drifted in from the horse paddock as they’d saddled up together. Prickle Farm was healing each of them; what was it doing for her? She stood there gazing out the window daydreaming about the night with Garth as the smell of freshly-baked chocolate cake filled the kitchen.

  ‘Ice the damn cake!’ Gran’s voice broke into Lucy’s reverie and her head flew up. Jemima’s eyes were wide as she stared at Gran.

  ‘What did you say, Gran?’ Lucy said with a frown. No one had ever heard a cuss word cross Gran’s lips and Lucy and Jemima looked from Gran to each other until a little giggle came from their grandmother. She held up the recipe and waved the paper at them.

  ‘See, the last line of the recipe says: cream the icing sugar and butter and ‘ice the damn cake’.’

  Lucy crossed over to Gran and wrapped her arms around her and dropped her head on Gran’s shoulder. ‘Oh Gran, it’s so wonderful to hear you laugh.’ Lucy fought back a sniff as tears threatened.

  ‘It’s wonderful to have you all home.’ Gran patted Lucy briskly on the back. ‘And I can laugh now that—’ Gran’s shoulders sagged as she relaxed in Lucy’s arms and her voice broke.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Gran?’ Jemima hurried across from the sink, wiping her hands on a towel.

  Gran shook her head and dug into her pocket for a lace edged handkerchief. She pulled away from Lucy’s arms and sat at the table and dropped her head into her hands as sobs wracked her slender frame. Lucy and Jemima stood beside her, staring at each other in alarm, each with a hand on her shoulders as Gran sobbed into her handkerchief. Great gasping sobs came from her mouth and she drew in deep breaths between each sob. Lucy crouched down and took the towel from Jemima and gently wiped Gran’s face as Jemima held their grandmother’s hand. Lucy clenched her teeth as her throat ached with unshed tears. Finally Gran spoke and her voice was hoarse and trembling.

  ‘I was so scared when Harry went to hospital. It brought back all of the memories of your mothers’ deaths. I was so sure he was going to die.’

  ‘But Gran it was only a simple knee operation.’

  Gran lifted her head and her eyes were fierce. ‘Yes, but we’re old.’

  Lucy let the first tear roll down her cheek as Gran reached for her hand and gripped it tightly.

  ‘I couldn’t live without Harry. Since he’s been in hospital it’s the first time I’ve ever been away from him at night. Ever. We’ve been together since I met him in Israel. I followed back to the Pilliga and I didn’t even go home to London until we went there together for the wedding.’ Her hand shook as she lifted the handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. ‘Every decision since then, every moment of happiness has been shared with him, as well as the horror of losing our three daughters. I couldn’t bear it if I lost him too. I lay there every night imagining he wouldn’t come back to me. My life would be over too.’

  Lucy tilted her grandmother’s chin gently and looked at her. Gran’s eyes were red-rimmed and her chin trembled. ‘Today is a celebration, Gran. Pop’s coming home and we’re all here to be with you both.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I know Mum, and Aunty Carol, and Aunty Jean would be happy if they knew that we were all here and that the farm was staying in our family.

  Lucy firmed her voice. ‘Our farm, our family. Let’s have a fabulous party tonight.’

  Gran stared back at her. ‘But I still want you to invite your young man.’

  ‘My young man? Gran, Garth and I are friends, nothing more. He’s helping me with some work.’ Lucy shook her head as heat ran into her face. ‘No, tonight is for family. I’ll ring Garth and tell him I’ll see him later in the week.’

  Jemima took Gran’s other arm. ‘I think you need a lie down and a lovely bath before Pop gets home. And then I’ll get out some of my war paint, find you a pretty dress and we’ll doll you up.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’ Gran laughed, back to her usual pragmatic self. ‘A Bex and a lie down will do me, and then we’ve got to drench those beasts before the boys go to town to get Harry.

  Lucy sat down at the table with her head on her hands as Jemmy took Gran down the hall to her bedroom. The power of love was an amazing thing. For the first time in her life, Lucy craved to be loved like that.

  But not out here in the red dust.

  Garth’s face stayed in her head as she crossed to the sink and finished the dishes.

  Chapter 17

  As it turned out, Lucy didn’t have to ring Garth after all. She was perched on the rail at the cattle crush holding a clip board and writing down the weights. Jemima read the scales and called the cattle weights out to Lucy over the thundering hooves and baying of the beasts who weren’t too impressed with being penned in. Liam was cutting them out and Seb had the drench gun. Gran was on horseback guiding them into the adjacent paddock after they were drenched.

  ‘Nice look, Lucy-Lou.’ Garth’s hand curved around her waist and Lucy grabbed for the rail, almost falling backwards before he held her steady.

  ‘Whoa, just what I wanted. A gorgeous woman falling into my arms.’ His voice was deep and a tremble ran down her back.

  ‘Hi there,’ she said shyly. Being up close and personal with him had been in her mind since he’d dropped her off this morning. ‘I was going to call you when we finished here. I can’t come over tonight.’

  ‘I know.’ He gestured back to Gran. ‘You’re having a welcome home party for H
arry. Your gran’s already asked me to come over.’

  ‘Did she?’

  ‘Yeah. Liam and Seb are taking her into Spring Downs to collect him, and she asked me to get the spit going and cook the roasts while they’re in town.’ He looked at her curiously. ‘Is that okay?’

  ‘Yes, yes. It’s cool. I’d love you to come over. I was just worried that you might feel a bit uncomfortable with Gran being the way she was.’

  He shook his head. ‘She called me at lunch time and we had a long chat. She apologised to me and I said it was fine. No problem. No hard feelings.’

  Lucy pursed her lips. Wily old Gran must have rung from the bedroom. ‘That’s good then.’

  ‘Two hundred and seventy-five!’ Jemmy’s voice registered on Lucy’s hearing as she stared down at Garth. ‘Lucy! The next one’s coming through. Quick!’

  ‘I’ll leave you to it.’ Garth climbed the bottom rung and reached around and pulled Lucy’s head down to his and kissed her hard and fast. ‘Sorry. I couldn’t wait any longer to kiss you.’ His grin was cheeky. ‘I might walk over for dinner and maybe you can drive me home later?’

  He winked and those damned butterflies in Lucy’s stomach set up a rapid fluttering, but she couldn’t help the goofy smile she knew was on her face as she wrote down the next weight.

  ##

  The welcome home for Harry Peterkin, much loved husband, grandfather, neighbour and friend was noisy and boisterous. Garth sat back and smiled as the four cousins argued, Harry told jokes and Helena sat there with a permanent smile stuck on her face as she stared at her husband. The table was set with a lace cloth, the good china and crystal wine glasses had been pulled out of the Welsh dresser, and the smell of the good country feast enticed them to eat way too much. Harry sat back and emitted a loud belch and Helena tapped his arm. But the look in her eyes was loving as she chastised him.

  ‘Harry! I hope you didn’t do that in the hospital.’

  ‘Sorry, love. Just showing my appreciation for a grand feast.’ He put his fingers over hers and held them. ‘And no, the food was crap there.’

  Everyone looked at the older couple as they smiled at each other.

  But it was Lucy Garth couldn’t keep his eyes off. Her dark hair was pulled up into a twirl thing on top of her head, and she’d done something with her pretty eyes that made them look all dark and mysterious. The three women wore dresses and Lucy’s dangly silver earrings caught the light every time she turned her head to him.

  Which, he smiled as he thought to himself, was as often as he looked at her. She was beautiful, and his gut clenched as he stared at her. He grinned as Liam nudged Sebastian and gestured towards Garth with a nod. Sebastian rolled his eyes.

  ‘He’s a goner, mate,’ he said just loud enough for Garth to hear. ‘We’ll have to warn him.’

  ‘What are you two up to?’ Lucy frowned at her cousins.

  ‘Nothing. Just talking about whose turn it is to do the dishes,’ Liam said with an innocent smile in her direction.

  Helena pushed herself to her feet and waved at her two grandsons. ‘Jemmy and Lucy cooked this feast with Garth’s help, so you pair are on kitchen duty. Jemima, you can help me get Harry up the hall, and Lucy can drive Garth home.’

  Harry winked at him, and Garth smiled back as Liam and Sebastian cleared the table.

  ‘Thanks for helping us out, Garth.’ Lucy’s grandfather had been a good support to him when he’d first arrived home and his parents had headed east. Always willing to share, and give good advice, he was sure the misunderstanding about the manager wouldn’t have happened if Harry had been home and well. He’d pulled Garth aside before dinner and thanked him for alerting them about the cattle theft. ‘Helena feels bad that she thought you had ulterior motives. She’s been in a bit of a state since I went to hospital and came up with this scheme by herself. It was done and dusted before I even got wind of it.’

  ‘Scheme?’

  ‘For the kids to come home and take over.’ Harry had nodded to the kitchen where Lucy and Jemima had been helping Gran put the final touches on the meal. Liam and Seb were checking on the cattle and locking the dogs away.

  ‘Ah yes. Lucy told me.’ He was hard pressed to keep the grin off his face. ‘You must be pleased to have the family home.’

  ‘I am.’ Worry niggled at him when Harry lowered his voice. ‘I’m not convinced it’s such a good idea for all of them though. I think Lucy’s only agreed because the others did.’

  Lucy was quiet as Garth said goodbye to the others and was thanked again for helping out. ‘No, thanks for letting me join your family celebration. And such a great meal.’

  ‘I’m sure it gets lonely over there for you. Now that Lucy and Liam are going to be here for a while, you’ll have to come over more often. Make sure you come over before Seb and Jemmy head back too.’

  ‘I will.’ He nodded with a smile as he held the door open for Lucy. ‘I can walk home over the paddocks if you’d rather.’

  Her smile was shy, different to the young wanton in the shower this morning. His blood heated as the memory of her naked in his arms filled his mind.

  ‘We’ll take my car,’ she said as they crossed the green lawn. He followed her to the machinery shed where a small sedan was parked between the bales of hay.

  As Lucy reached down to open the door, Garth swooped. He grabbed her around the waist and spun her around backing her up against the hay bale as he nuzzled her neck. Satisfaction filled him as her arms laced around his neck and she lifted her lips to his.

  ‘God, I’ve wanted to kiss you all night.’ He punctuated his words with kisses over her lips, her face, and her neck. Her deep throaty chuckle sent a shiver through him and he put his hands on either side of her face. ‘And I want to tell you how happy I am that you’re staying.’

  ‘Whoa, boy.’ Lucy stepped out of his arms and shook her head as she unlocked the car door. ‘Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m staying but I’m not staying.’

  Garth walked around to the other side of the car and opened the passenger door. ‘Not staying?’ Maybe old Harry was right.

  ‘Three months on, three months back in Sydney and then three months back here. And then I’ll go back to the city to stay for good.’ She glanced at him as she started the car. ‘I love what I do and my career is going well. Goodbody and Grech is one of the top agencies in the country and I’d be crazy to throw that away.’

  Garth looked at Lucy as she backed the car out of the machinery shed, and turned onto the road that led to the back gate between the two properties.

  ‘I understand what you’re saying. I love what I do too. Now that I’m back home, that is.’ The jolt that shot through his body when she turned briefly to him and held his eyes rattled him. Ever since he’d seen Lucy walking to the dam the other day, he hadn’t been able to get her out of his head.

  Hell, before Harry had shared his doubts, he’d even had crazy thoughts of her settling here and moving over with him, and starting a brood of kids. He shook his head and looked away.

  Slow down, man. She doesn’t even want to stay here.

  Garth jumped out as Lucy pulled up at the gate and opened it, waiting as she drove the car through to his property. ‘I’ll leave it open so you don’t have to get out when you come back. There are no cattle in the back paddocks at the moment.’

  The rest of the short drive was quiet but sexual tension hummed in the air between them. When they parked outside Garth’s new house, Lucy climbed out of the car and followed him to the back door. Garth was surprised to see his hand shaking as he put the key in the lock. He held the door open as she stepped inside and he reached for the light switch but her hand caught his before he could flick it on.

  ‘Leave them off.’ Her voice was deep and throaty. God, he loved the sound of her voice and beautiful smile he could see in the dim light. And it was for him.

  He wanted her. And she stood there beside him, waiting, anticipating his move and he knew in a heartbeat that Luc
y wanted him too.

  Pulling her hard against him, he ran his hands down the outside of her silky dress until he reached the hem. Lucy reached up and grabbed his hair in her hands and pulled him to her until her lips were a breath away from his. She opened her mouth and he plunged his tongue into the silken depths. Her hands were beneath his shirt and Garth moaned as Lucy’s nails raked down his back. He didn’t lift his mouth as he gently guided her to the wall, and pushed her dress up. Lucy moaned as he slowly walked his fingers up her thigh and slipped his finger beneath the edge of her silky panties. She gasped as he brushed his fingers through the soft fine hair between her legs

  Moist heat slipped around his fingers. Her sex was hot and swollen and she was ready for him in an instant. He tugged her pants down in one swift movement and she kicked her sandals off at the same time. He moved his lips down her neck and felt the goosebumps rise on her skin as he sucked at her neck.

  ‘Oh, God,’ she whispered.

  He moved his lips back to her mouth and teased her with soft kisses as he worked his fingers on the soft nub beneath his touch. She cried out softly and when he slid his fingers inside, her muscles clenched around him.

  Lucy’s hands dropped to his waist and she pulled his shirt over his head. The silk of her dress whispered sensuously against his chest as Garth held her gently. His eyes opened wide as she dropped her hands to his belt and held his gaze as she undid it. Slowly, she pulled down his zipper and her warm hands encircled him. She held his gaze for a moment, her hair tumbling down and her lips red and swollen. A surge of need hit Garth like a rocket and he groaned as Lucy slid down the wall to a crouch, tilting her head back and holding his gaze. He closed his eyes as she took him between her swollen lips and worked magic with her tongue. He lowered his hands and gripped her hair as she licked and sucked before she took him into her mouth.

  ‘Oh, babe.’ He pulled her up and hooked his arm beneath her leg before plunging into her sweet depths. She gasped against his mouth and Garth took her lips as his hips moved fast and he was almost to the brink.