Fifty-four
‘Why are we out here?’ Harper complained as Ash led her by the hand to her car, parked under the cool shade of the back shed.
‘If you’re going to drive to town—how many days a week?’ Ash pulled back the dust cover he’d bought for the Audi to protect its black polish. Parked beside it was his old sunburnt ute covered in a layer of red dust, in the long car shed of sorts filled with assorted vehicles, tractors, and a truck. Dex had his fancy sleek ute at the far end, black of course, it was parked closest to the rundown stockman’s shack. Next was Cap’s mustard-coloured Tojo with the large dog cage on the back. There was Ryder’s big beast of a fancy vehicle. The crazy and fun Razorback. And the latest addition—the 1957 FJ Holden, the car they’d found hidden in the Stoneys after that sandstorm.
‘Three days. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to help Ryan with the vet clinic. Don’t forget, on Fridays, Mason has his playdates at the train station and the school library.’
‘That leaves me to play daddy day care when you’re at work. Are you sure you want to work at the vet’s? And not the council office?’
‘I’m not going anywhere near any government offices. No more politics for me. And it’s only part-time, so I’ll still get my cooking lessons from Bree. We’re making regular lunch dates. Oh, and horse riding, lots of horse riding.’ Her smile was nothing compared to the inner joy threatening to burst from her chest, because Ash had given her a horse. A beautiful horse. ‘Did I say thank you for my horse.’
‘Many times. Have you got a name for your horse, yet?’
‘Shortbread.’ It suited the cream horse she’d ridden during her first muster, the horse she’d survived the sandstorm with. ‘Can we go riding now?’
‘We’ll do this lesson, first. By then Bree will have finished making us our hamper to take on our ride.’
‘Aww …’
‘Date night, baby.’ His kissed her nose. ‘You know, you don’t have to work. You could stay home.’
‘I like being in an office and having my independence. I want to put on make-up, be near shops, and hear my shoes on concrete at least once a week, or this city girl will go through withdrawals.’
‘You’re so weird. But you’re my kind of weird. But you in that tight office skirt, hmmm.’ His eyes, laced with hunger, slowly walked over her body in her muster clothes—boots, jeans, long-sleeved work shirt and hat.
No need for make-up or fancy dress for her date on this station.
‘Besides, poor Ryan needs the help sorting out his surgery. I’m doing up his website and I’m going to create an online campaign to help raise funds for all the animals he saves.’ She had so many ideas.
‘Don’t forget that promise you made me.’
‘To have a life outside of work.’ She grinned, looping her arms around his neck to lean against his chest. ‘Hell yeah, I’m good with that promise.’
‘Good.’ He kissed her nose.
‘So, why are we here? Cap has Mason for the afternoon, we should do something other than hang out in the shed.’
‘Because I want to give you a lesson.’ Ash juggled her car keys, pressed on the button and the Audi’s boot popped open, where he dragged out the tools.
‘A lesson about?’
‘Changing a car tyre. I’m not having some other bloke come to your rescue.’
‘Everyone knows that…’ She trailed off, biting her lip.
‘Go on, say it.’ He stood close, their noses nearly touching, daring her.
‘We’re a couple.’ She slid the toe of her shoe across the dirt. It was so new to her.
‘We’re family, Harper.’ He kissed her lips as if never tiring of kissing her. ‘Now, this is called a lug wrench, also known as a torque wrench …’ Ash patiently explained the name and purpose of each tool, as he showed her how to change a car tyre.
Nearby, Charlie and Dex worked on the Holden’s large engine. The vintage car they’d found in the Stoneys, was massive, and despite its rough condition it looked cool, like an old gangster’s car.
‘It’s a good skill to learn there, missy,’ called out Charlie, wiping greasy hands on an old rag. ‘Which reminds me to check out the toolbox for this beast. Did you order them tyres, Dex?’
‘Yep. Whitewalls to really make this thing look schmick. And the local mechanic can get us the paint—the original Brookmere Green—for the body.’
‘Where did they score that?’
‘Not sure. But we can use our brother’s spray booth out at Sandlot Station. Jonathan’s got all the spray guns and buffers to give it a professional paint job,’ said Dex. ‘He reckons he could sell this car for you today, as is.’
‘Nah, I’d like to keep this old girl in the family. My brother and I had some good times in this car.’ The lid of the boot creaked as he opened it to rummage around inside. ‘I’ll be buggered.’ Charlie dropped the old toolbox with a clang.
‘He’s not having a heart attack, is he?’ Ash whispered to Harper.
Harper approached. ‘Are you okay, Charlie?’
Charlie’s hands shook as he dragged out a long package from the boot of the car.
‘What did you find?’ Dex followed Charlie as he laid it out on the workbench and unwrapped the old, oiled cloth.
‘Is that a branding iron?’ Harper shrugged at Ash. ‘Bree’s been giving me the basics. Did you know they’re a family heirloom?’
‘She’s right. And this here …’ Charlie held up the metal rod, with letters shaped on the end like a brand. ‘This was my father’s branding iron. He gave it to Harry the first time he moved on.’
‘Not you?’
‘I was making them. I got the one I wanted, the Elsie Creek Station brand. But this is the Splint family brand. A legacy brand made by my grandfather who had dreams of owning his own cattle station … My father gave this to Harry, so he’d always remember who he was on his travels.’ He poked back the brim of his sweat-stained Akubra, with its distinctive crocodile leather hatband as the creases deepened around his grey eyes.
‘Harry would never leave this behind. The guernsey, sure. The car, maybe. But never this. This brand meant everything to Harry. He wouldn’t have run off and left this behind. Something must have happened to him…’ Charlie turned to face the direction of the Stoneys where the breeze scattered fine red dust across the outback, where many secrets were buried from a past that has yet to be discovered.
To be continued