3. Katie
3
KATIE
I pull into the driveway of Wildflower Ridge and come to a stop.
The morning sun is just beginning to line the hills of the farm that used to be my second home. After my vow four years ago, I thought I’d never see this place again and now that I’m here, I’m not sure I can cross the property line.
I don’t know why I’m nervous. A few minutes down this driveway and I’ll be reunited with my best friend, Olivia, and her mum Violet, who was friends with my grandma.
Olivia and Violet know I’m coming, this isn’t a surprise visit and if I delay any longer I’m going to be late for my first day of work at Wildflower Ridge.
Even though I’m working for my best friend—or especially because of that—I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot.
I ease off the brakes and my car rolls forward, passing through the wooden gates hand carved with sprays of wildflowers. Olivia once told me her dad, Henry, had made the gates, carvings and all, for Violet when they got married and he named the farm for her.
I used to think I’d find myself love like that.
Now, I’m picking up random guys in bars and taking them home for the best sex of my life.
I let myself have a moment or two, remembering how his body felt tangled with mine, before shoving the thoughts away. He was gone before I woke up this morning, as agreed, and if I’m lucky I won’t run into him again.
Constellation Station borders Wildflower Ridge, but the farms are both big enough that the chance of crossing paths out here is slim to none. The farm workers don’t usually head into town either, unless it’s to the pub or the farm supply store—two places I won’t be frequenting.
If I’m really lucky, Dallas is a seasonal hire and he’ll be out of here before long. Then I won’t ever have to worry about seeing him again.
I let myself have one more lingering thought about how his calloused hands felt on the soft skin of my inner thighs before the farmhouse comes into view, then I lock last night up in a secure box in the far reaches of my memory.
I pull to a stop in front of the house and climb out of the car, staring up at the building. It’s just like I remember it, except refreshed. It’s been painted sometime recently, but the exact colour it was before—a soft blue-grey that makes the old villa look fresh and inviting.
“Katie!” A voice calls from the side of the house. I turn towards Violet, standing at the corner of her vegetable garden, wide brimmed sunhat and gardening gloves on. She pulls the gloves off as I approach. “It’s so good to see you,” she says as I reach her and she immediately engulfs me in an enormous hug.
Tears instantly fill my eyes and I never want to let go. I haven’t been hugged like this since the last time I was here.
“Let me look at you,” she says and pulls back to hold me at arm’s length. She catches sight of the emotion in my eyes and pulls me in for another all-consuming hug.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t come for the funeral,” I say, my face pressed into Violet’s shoulder.
“It’s okay, my sweet. Henry understood why you left. We all do.”
“I should have been here for you all though, like you were for me after Grandma …” I trail off, the memories of that time too much to process right now.
“You’re here now, Katie. That’s all that matters.”
I nod and wipe at a stray tear that’s escaped. “How are you all doing?”
“We miss him very much, but we’re doing okay. The shock of it was the worst, but the farm is keeping us all busy.”
“Lady Violet?” A small voice calls and we both turn towards a little girl as she skips into the garden. She’s wearing a full skirt with her gumboots and has her blonde curls tied up in a messy ponytail.
“Over here,” Violet calls to her. “Come meet Olivia’s very best friend.”
The girl comes to a stop in front of me, eyeing me suspiciously. “I thought I was Olivia’s very best friend.”
“Hmm,” Violet says, clearly trying to think of a way out of this. “I think you are, but Katie has been Olivia’s friend for a very long time, so you’re a different kind of very best friend.”
The little girl, who must be around four or five-years-old, thinks for a moment. “Okay,” she says, then sweeps out her knee-length skirt and drops into a curtsey. “It is a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
“I’m not sure about the ma’am part,” I say with a grin. “You can just call me Katie.”
“Lady Katie,” she says. “I am Sadie.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Sadie,” I say and bob a clumsy curtsey myself.
She beams at me for playing along with her game.
“Sadie’s dad is working for us,” Violet says. “I help out with looking after Sadie and she helps me by picking all the strawberries.” Sadie giggles and shoots across the garden to the strawberry patch.
“Speaking of work, where’s the boss lady?”
“She’s down at the barn with the horses. Why don’t you go see her? You could take Sadie down for a little bit too if you like?”
“Of course,” I say, then call to Sadie. “Lady Sadie, would you like to escort me to the barn?”
She skips back to us. “Can I?” She asks Violet, who gives her a nod. “Can we take the side-by-side?”
I’ve never driven one before, but I shrug. It can’t be too tricky. “Sure thing.”
After a quick lesson in driving the farm vehicle, Violet waves us off and Sadie chatters excitedly beside me as we head further down the driveway to the horse barn. She tells me all about her fifth birthday party they had two weeks ago and how she’s starting school soon, at the start of next term. She points out all her favourite parts of the farm, like she’s giving me a grand tour. She obviously hasn’t realised that me being Olivia’s long time best friend means I already know all these places.
I pull to a stop outside the yards and grin as I catch sight of the horse Olivia is cantering around the arena.
Scout has aways been my favourite and was always reserved for me to ride whenever I visited, which in my teenage years was at least several times a week. Sometimes I didn’t go home and would go to school straight from the Ridge.
Olivia spots us and slows Scout to a walk then leaps from the saddle to engulf me in an enormous hug. “Katie!” She squeals into my ear.
I squeeze her back, just as tightly. It’s been way too long since I’ve seen my best friend. She tried to come and visit me as often as she could, but she’s spent the last few years getting a new business off the ground so her time has always been short.
“Oh my god. I can’t believe you’re actually here,” she says.
“Me either,” I say with a laugh that’s only slightly bitter.
“I got Scout all ready to go for you, and the farm manager will be here soon so he can show you what’s on the agenda today. I’m sorry I can’t hang out, but I have to get to an appointment in town. I hope you’re staying for dinner.”
“I sure am. Your mum has already twisted my arm.”
“Like you need convincing,” she says, grinning. She’s right. Eating with Violet and Olivia is a thousand times more appealing than cooking for myself at home. Olivia turns to Sadie. “Morning Sadie. Do you want to wait for your dad with Katie and have him take you back to the house, or come with me?”
“Can I stay with Katie and Scout?”
“You sure can, just remember—” Her phone rings and she winces at the sound. “I’m so sorry. I have to answer this. I’m so late. I double booked. I should be here to introduce you.”
“Liv, it’s all good,” I say, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. “Go deal with your stuff. I’m capable of meeting your farm manager. Besides, Lady Sadie will be here to formally introduce us. We have all the time in the world to catch up.”
Olivia sighs and nods in defeat. “I’ll see you at dinner. Later, Sadie.”
“Bye, Olivia,” Sadie calls as Olivia strides away.
“This is Scout,” Sadie says, tentatively reaching up to stroke her muzzle.
I smile. “I know. I remember the day Scout first came to Wildflower Ridge.”
Sadie’s eyes go wide. “Really? You have been friends with Olivia for a long time then.”
“Longer than you’ve been alive,” I say with a smile. “You want to have a ride while we wait for your dad?”
Her eyes go even wider and for a moment I worry they’re going to pop out of her head. “Can I?” she breathes.
“Yeah, sure. Scout’s a sweetheart.”
I help Sadie up into the saddle, then start leading the horse around the arena. Every time I glance up at Sadie she has the hugest grin on her face, like she’s going to burst from excitement.
The thrum of a motorbike engine approaches, then cuts off.
“Daddy, look!”
“Sadie, what are you doing?” A man’s voice. One I recognise.
I shiver at the memory of the things that voice said to me last night.
“Katie let me ride Scout,” Sadie calls back.
I take a deep breath and turn towards where I know he’s standing.
He looks even better in the bright light of day. Wearing jeans and a dark green jacket, his boots dusty and worn, Dallas stands in the middle of the open gateway, his arms folded across his chest, emanating disapproval.
Oh, fuck my life. I have screwed up so bad.