Edna stayed silent, her gaze speculative.
Saul held her stare. There was a reason why, just like Denham, he had a world champion bull-rider belt buckle stashed in a box somewhere—he never gave in.
It was Edna who broke the silence. ‘You know, seeing you has reminded me you haven’t put your name down for our paddock-to-art fundraiser. I thought that the paddock between your place and Ella’s would be perfect for a combined display.’
He resisted the urge to cross his arms. He’d heard about the hay bale challenge to raise money for the new windmill museum. He’d been too preoccupied with settling in his bison to give any design a second thought so had planned to give Denham a hand with his.
‘It would be except I’ve missed the deadline to sign up. I’ll let Ella know she’s welcome to use my paddock.’
‘Consider yourself signed up.’ Edna’s smile could only be described as smug. She half turned. ‘Tell Ella as committee chairperson I’ll also add her name to the list. I can’t wait to see what the two of you come up with.’
‘Sorry, no can do.’ He kept his words quiet as he remembered the vulnerability tensing Ella’s mouth. She wouldn’t want to be thrown together with him on a project, no matter how worthy the cause, and she might have had her own reasons for not participating. ‘By all means put my name down but it’s Ella’s call whether she wants to be involved or not.’
Edna faced him again. Denham had mentioned that Edna was the town’s go-to person in a crisis and he could see why. Her smile didn’t dim even when a cool hardness narrowed her gaze.
‘Ella wouldn’t hesitate to be involved. She has a big heart as well as an unflagging sense of community spirit. She’s been busy and that’s why she hasn’t registered.’
Saul let his own steely gaze answer for him. He wasn’t having Ella being railroaded.
Edna gave a lighthearted laugh that didn’t fool him. When it came to getting her own way, Edna possessed an arsenal of ammunition. ‘There’s nothing disingenuous about my very practical suggestion of the two of you working together. Many neighbours are doing joint projects.’
He kinked a brow. Edna had as much subtlety as a rodeo bull at a chute gate.
This time her laughter was more genuine and her expression softened. ‘Everyone knows Ella’s content on her own. As much as I’d love to see her with the happily-ever-after she deserves I promised my dear Noel I wouldn’t give her a helping hand. Ever since she saved his prize bull he thinks the world of her.’
Saul nodded and waited for where Edna was going with her apparent sincerity. He didn’t need to wait long.
‘So, I’ll not do anything until you’ve spoken with Ella about your proposed joint project and then I’ll sign her up.’ She gave him an airy wave. ‘I really must get back to work. The charity shop will soon have a rush. Enjoy your pies.’
He scraped a hand across his unshaven jaw as Edna left. His appetite had deserted him. So much for being free from thoughts of Ella. They’d now have to have a conversation about the hay bale challenge. Worst case scenario, for the benefit of the community she might decide to participate as well as share Edna’s belief that it was a good idea to work together. Moving hay bales would require farm machinery she wouldn’t have. Best case scenario, she’d have a valid reason for being unable to sign up.
If he was a lesser man he’d ignore Edna’s directive, but his conscience had never allowed him to let others down. He’d always been a team player, even when it hadn’t been in his best interests.
He sighed and looked at Duke who gave a soft whine. ‘Yeah, buddy. I should have listened to Denham about never underestimating Edna. We’ve just been outplayed.’
CHAPTER
3
‘Don’t give me those big hungry cat eyes, Oscar,’ Ella said, stifling a yawn. The day that had started with seeing Saul’s young bison was almost over. ‘I saw Penny feed you dinner.’
Oscar gave a throaty purr before he padded across the front counter in the closed vet surgery to rub his head against her arm.
‘Penny also snuck you an extra handful of food so you can schmooze me as much as you want but you’re not having thirds.’ She scratched under the cat’s chin and his purrs grew louder. ‘I’ve two phone calls to make before you’re lord of your kingdom again.’ The kennel room was free of overnight visitors so the cat would have the building all to himself.
The first client she needed to call was Sophie’s parents. The teenager had sent a photo of the tarpaulin tied onto a metal frame that shaded the Hereford and had promised to let Ella know as soon as Polly was mobile.
As she dialled Sophie’s home phone number, Oscar curled up on her lap. She stroked his neck while the answering machine picked up the call and she left a brief message. Even though it had been confirmed Polly had pesti, the Hereford should soon regain her appetite and once recovered would have lifelong immunity. Ella ended by wishing Sophie all the best in her upcoming chemistry assessment.
She shifted on the seat as fatigue turned into a dull ache in her lower back. She’d had to pull an oversized calf in the afternoon heat that had proved difficult.
One more call to go. She opened a new file on the computer but made no move to dial the listed number. She’d conducted follow-up phone calls countless times. Even if this one was to Saul it shouldn’t be any different. But she just needed a moment.
She’d replayed that morning’s visit many times and came to the same conclusion. There was no justification for feeling uneasy. She’d conducted herself in a competent and capable manner. Saul had also been a dream client. Helpful. Respectful. Appreciative.
She hadn’t noticed she’d stopped patting Oscar until he batted her hand with his paw. It shouldn’t matter that it had been impossible to tell from Saul’s closed expression if he remembered they’d once waltzed around a wooden dancefloor beneath the soft glow of fairy lights. His indifference should have been welcome, even if a persistent niggle reminded her there hadn’t been a flicker of interest in his eyes.
Oscar again swiped at her hand and she ran her fingers through his thick ginger fur. ‘Wish me luck.’
She dialled Saul’s mobile. She’d keep their conversation short and professional. But when Saul’s deep voice rumbled in her ear and her stomach fluttered, all thoughts about how she wanted to sound fled. It became simply a matter of making sure she spoke in coherent sentences.
‘Hi, Saul, Ella from Woodlea Vet Hospital here … just calling to see how your young bison was doing.’
‘She’s going well.’
‘Great.’ She paused. It would be too easy to end the conversation there. But she’d never taken the easy option even when she should have. ‘She recovered okay from the sedation?’
‘Yes and having no trouble moving now her shoulder’s been stitched.’
‘Wonderful. Give me a call if anything changes.’
She readied herself to lower the phone. Apart from her composure deserting her when his deep voice had strummed across her senses, she’d stuck to her game plan.
Except Saul wasn’t following the same narrative. Their conversation wasn’t over. ‘I hope it’s okay but I asked Denham for your number. I sent you a text about the hay bale challenge.’
She glanced through the side door at her brown leather tote that sat on a bench and contained her mobile. She hadn’t checked it for a few hours.
This time when she stopped patting Oscar, the cat jumped off her lap in disgust.
She forced a smile to make sure her voice would come across as relaxed. ‘We’re neighbours and having each other’s numbers is only sensible.’ Needing a distraction, she wrote Saul’s number from the file on a scrap of paper. ‘Are you doing the challenge?’
‘I am now.’
The wry edge to his words suggested he’d come into contact with someone who’d been on a mission to recruit people. ‘Let me guess … you bumped into Edna.’
‘Let’s just say I turned around and there she was.’
; ‘Edna has many talents.’
‘So I’m discovering.’
She wasn’t sure if it was amusement or another emotion that made his accent sound more Australian.
‘Do you need hay? Hewitt dropped over some small lucerne bales the other day.’
‘I’ll keep that in mind. Tanner’s delivering a load of round bales tomorrow. To be honest I don’t know what size I’ll need.’ Saul paused and when he continued his voice had deepened. ‘I just wanted to say that if you were interested we could do a combined design in the paddock close to the road.’
Surprise and suspicion held her silent. Whenever Edna was involved things were never as straightforward as they appeared. ‘Thanks … did Edna say anything about me entering?’
‘The topic did come up.’
She briefly closed her eyes. So much for being safe from Edna’s machinations. ‘I really appreciate your offer but I was planning on helping Fliss and Hewitt and not entering myself.’
‘All good.’ It could have been relief lowering Saul’s tone or his need to end the conversation. ‘But if you change your mind let me know. Thanks for calling.’
‘No worries. Bye.’
She ended the call and went to collect her mobile. Her frustrated sigh echoed in the quiet as she dialled Edna’s number.
Thanks to her friendship with Noel, Edna’s husband, she’d enjoyed an immunity from Edna’s matchmaking. But with the number of single locals dwindling she had to be back on Edna’s romance radar. There was no other explanation for why Edna would have mentioned her in a conversation with Saul. Call her cynical, but nothing Edna ever said, or did, was by chance.
When Edna’s mobile went to voicemail, Ella didn’t leave a message. The only way to deal with Edna was to talk to her in person. She wanted to make it clear Edna wasn’t to meddle in her life. The last thing she needed was to be bulldozed together with Saul.
She shut down the computer, gave Oscar a pat and locked up. The cool of the air-conditioning gave way to the warmth of early evening and the fragrance of eucalyptus as she made her way to her four-wheel drive parked in the shade.
She heard the chug of a diesel engine before a graphite-grey Hilux pulled into the car park. The vehicle might be Mac Barton’s but a glimmer of blonde hair through the dusty windscreen said it was Edna’s daughter, Bethany, behind the wheel.
Bethany parked alongside Ella’s four-wheel drive and got out. Usually dressed in jeans and a bright cotton farm shirt, today Bethany wore a white top and tailored black trousers. Tall and willowy, she resembled her quiet and reserved father.
‘That was perfect timing,’ Bethany said with a pretty smile. ‘I was hoping to catch you.’
When Ella had first met Bethany she’d kept to herself and had spent as little time as possible in Woodlea. Ella could only guess how difficult it was to be known around town as Edna’s daughter. But since she’d been with Mac, Bethany appeared more relaxed and comfortable in who she was and where she belonged. She’d recently started work as an exercise physiologist at the health collective that had opened to provide local access to much-needed specialists.
Ella returned her smile. ‘Heading home?’
‘Yes, after I do a quick grocery shop.’ She hesitated. ‘I’ve a favour to ask … you can say no. I mean I would.’
‘That doesn’t sound promising.’
‘It’s nothing bad, it just involves my mother.’
‘Did you buy another pony?’
Last autumn Bethany had bought a black Shetland to distract her mother from her interest in Mac. The plan had been for Edna to be so sidetracked by then eligible bachelor Tanner training Skittles with Bethany she’d not realise her daughter had fallen for the son of a man Edna had been embroiled in a family feud with.
‘Thankfully those days are over. Mac and Mum are great mates now.’
At Ella’s dubious expression, Bethany laughed. ‘Well, as much as they can be with Mum already having organised our engagement party when Mac and I haven’t even set a date yet.’
‘I heard talk about a three-piece orchestra coming up from Sydney.’
Bethany groaned. ‘All we want is a quiet and simple get-together.’
‘Everything will work out. Your dad will make sure of it.’
It was common knowledge that Bethany and her father were close. It was also a relief for many that even though Noel didn’t say much, when he did even Edna listened.
‘Actually that’s why I’m here. Dad thinks very highly of you and it’s no secret he’s told Mum not to interfere in your life. You’re the only person she leaves alone.’
Ella didn’t miss the edge to Bethany’s voice. Even as Edna’s daughter she hadn’t been spared from her mother’s plotting.
‘I think after today I might be back on her list.’
She didn’t add any more. As much as her mother needed to know everything, Bethany never pried.
She touched Ella’s arm. ‘By tonight, you’ll be off again. I’ll make sure of it.’
‘Thanks, but it’s fine. I’ll take care of it.’
Bethany nodded. ‘It would be very handy if Mum went back to having as little to do with you as possible, because the favour I need to ask is that you’ll be her surprise party co-coordinator.’
Ella’s mouth fell open. It wasn’t Bethany’s request that shocked her but what she was planning. ‘No one can keep a secret from Edna Galloway.’
‘True but if anyone knows the way she thinks, I do.’
‘Call me crazy but I’m in. I love a challenge. What do you want me to do?’
‘I’ll draft up a guest list if you can handle the invitations and RSVPs and be the contact person for the bookings.’
‘Too easy.’
‘Thank you.’ Bethany turned with a smile. ‘We can do this.’
‘Yes, we can.’
On the drive home Ella made a mental list of all the people to be kept out of the birthday plan loop while she watched for kangaroos and wallabies grazing on the roadside verge. By the time she’d reached her front gate she’d come to the conclusion that two-thirds of the town would be a liability when it came to keeping the party a secret. Edna’s social network had more threads than a spider’s web.
She left the driver’s seat to the sound of galahs chirping overhead. The pink blush of their feathers blended in with the sunset sweeping across the sky. It wasn’t only humans who appreciated the cooler evening temperatures. If she had time she’d go for a walk to loosen the kinks in her stiff back.
Once the veranda front light shone out into the dusk, she went to feed Cinnamon and Nutmeg. When Nutmeg saw her with the food bucket she pirouetted and jumped from a block of wood onto the top of an old box and back again. Ella stopped to watch. No wonder the internet was full of cute clips of agile goats doing goat-parkour.
But as adorable as Nutmeg was, Ella’s attention strayed towards the distant boundary fence. Thankfully there was no sight of Saul on his pinto. Today had brought more than enough contact. If Fliss and Hewitt didn’t need help with their hay bale design she’d find someone else to work with. It was out of the question she join forces with Saul.
The way she’d reacted to him, both this morning and during their phone call, proved she’d been right to protect herself by avoiding him, even if her self-imposed isolation had come at a personal cost. He continued to threaten every barricade she’d constructed. Staying in control meant never letting a man affect her again.
Nutmeg’s plaintive bleat had her walk forward to open the small gate into the goats’ paddock. It was a certainty that she’d see Saul again and when she did she’d make sure he didn’t glimpse the chink he’d witnessed in her defences at the wedding. No one could know the depths of her anguish or the desolation of her guilt at having caused emotional and physical pain to someone who had loved her and who had wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Least of all Saul who harboured his own darkness and who might understand.
Compassion or support weren’t
on her list of things that she needed or wanted. Until Cressy and Denham’s wedding she’d been doing more than okay on her own. Once Saul saw her as the together person that she was, and she’d worked out how to remain unaffected when around him, she’d be back to coping just fine.
She tipped chaff into Cinnamon and Nutmeg’s feeders before checking their water. Then, making sure she didn’t glance at the boundary fence, she retraced her steps along the mosaic stepping stones that dotted the garden. Every so often she stopped to pull out weeds. Even though there’d been no rain, between the water from the bore and the buckets she recycled from inside, the weeds thrived as much as the plants. Next trip to town she’d cut a bunch of the double-delight roses for Violet.
She stepped into the enclosed back veranda that was now a sunroom and, just like always, she took her time looking around. Violet had confirmed that the house had been searched multiple times after Libby had vanished and nothing had ever been found. But every time Ella packed a box to take to Violet, she checked cupboards for secret hiding places and ran her hands over and under shelves. Somewhere there had to be a clue as to why Libby disappeared.
A shadow above the external window frame caught Ella’s eye. She dragged over an old church pew to give herself extra height. When she took a closer look, while a sandstone block was set a little further back, there was nothing in the small crevice at the top of the window frame but dust.
Resolve filled her as she returned the church pew to its spot against the wall. She had no idea what she was looking for but if there was anything in the farmhouse that would explain what had happened to sixteen-year-old Libby, she would find it. Violet’s peace of mind depended on it.
‘Where do you want this hay?’ Tanner asked as he jumped out from the truck cabin.
‘Shed to the left, thanks, mate.’ Saul didn’t bother to whistle to Duke as the Australian shepherd bolted towards Tanner. Duke and the horse trainer were firm friends. Saul too had connected with Tanner over their need for wide open spaces and both having spent time in the Rocky Mountains. Tanner’s free-spirited palomino gelding was a mustang he’d brought back to Australia when he’d come home to go droving.
The Boundary Fence (A Woodlea Novel, #7) Page 4
