17. 17
17
Colton
P eople didn’t survive in the country without thick skin. That’s what my grandfather had always told my dad and what he’d said to Beau and I in those years we’d known him before he’d passed. The thick skin ran in our blood. Mum had said we’d been birthed looking like weathered cowboys—we’d only been missing our hats and boots. I’d never been fazed about what people said or thought of me. I laughed at the comments people made about the Australian blow-in stirring up the sport of bull riding. I wasn’t afraid to swing a few punches to protect someone I loved—as the weekend had proven.
Honey McBride was the only person in the world to get under my skin. I wanted to scratch her out until there was nothing left. Honey McBride, the sweet country belle, with a radiant smile and kind heart, who was nothing like where she’d come from, proving to everyone that bloodlines weren’t always a guarantee to how a youngster would grow. But the girl I’d left, she wasn’t the girl I’d seen recently. The girl who I’d seen tearing home—after another argument with Beau, my dad had informed me with a wary glance—was broken and tired.
To do what I did in my career, I had to be a little selfish and a lot cocky. I’d built myself an inner switch to shut off emotions and outside interference when I had to get my head in the game. I’d been able to do it seven years ago, not looking back to a heartbroken Honey, my selfish arse too determined to achieve his goal. So to see what my homecoming was doing to her, messing with her head and bringing the connection we’d always shared back to life when she was trying to start anew with my brother …
I’d rather have The Bounty Hunter come and send me into a coma.
So driving into town three days later, with a cowboy crooning a sad song with his guitar through the radio, was the last place I wanted to be. The gossip mill was still smoking from the fight at Tailgates and the social media posts weren’t showing signs of slowing down. I’d somehow been turned into a collection of memes. A sweet fucking cherry on top. I’d been given strict instructions from Glenn and my PR manager to keep my head down throughout the rest of my dad’s recovery, only daring to glance up once I was boarding that plane to the US.
I hadn’t wanted a sliver of a chance to bump into Honey, but a storm was brewing with Beau and I at home, one which I had a feeling would have us scuffling in the driveway. It wouldn’t be the first time, when high-running teenage hormones would have us going off like firecrackers at the smallest of things. I couldn’t remember what those fights had been about. The events of the last seven years made fighting about anything else … comical. I wasn’t going to dare ask him what the latest fight between him and Honey had been about for him to move about the ranch like a thundercloud. When Dad had been whining about needing the next book by Fleur McDonald, I’d used it as an opportunity to avoid a fist fight.
Except this time, I definitely wasn’t going to The Honey Pot.
I swung the ute into a park out the front of the town library. The Australian, state and shire flags flew on poles out the front. Its gardens were currently being manicured by a couple of shire workers wearing broad-brimmed hats and fly nets. A mob of primary school children walking in two lines behind their teacher made their way inside. I couldn’t help but smile as the array of colourful backpacks disappeared behind the doors. Monday mornings were always the best part of the week, when each class was allocated an hour to walk down to the library and pick their books to read for a week. Honey and Ellie-May had always been excited to choose what they’d read next. Riley and I had just been glad to get out of class for an hour.
When I stepped inside, the smell of books wafted around, throwing me back to my school days. The kids’ library bags were either over their shoulders or being dragged on the carpet behind them as they trawled rows of books. A group of girls fawned over a picture book with a rainbow unicorn. A trio of boys, unsurprisingly, were mucking around in hushed giggles and whispers. If the Monday library routine was like the rest of Gumtree Valley and hadn’t altered, the kids would move to the reading corner where a teacher would read from a massive book propped on an easel. I wondered if the books my teachers had read to me were still options. Or if there was still a fight for the beanbag. I’d gone head-to-head with Ellie-May for it more than a few times. The only person who’d been allowed to squeeze onto it with her whenever she won was Honey.
‘Oh for fuck’s sake, what do you want?’
I turned to the counter, where I was surprised to see Ellie-May now angrily stamping the inside covers of books. When I’d seen her at Tailgates on the weekend, her newly decorated body being flaunted by a little black dress, I hadn’t envisioned her to be a librarian .
I couldn’t help but grin, enjoying the way her nose ring moved as her nostrils flared wider. ‘That’s no way to talk with children around.’
She shoved the stamped books into a cart and wheeled around the counter to the shelves. The school kids moved around us with their noses in books. ‘Why are you in a library? I can’t say it’s the most natural habitat for a bull rider.’
‘Honey’s got my dad hooked on these books by a Fleur lady. He needs the second one.’
Ellie-May rose a brow before shoving a book in a gap. ‘So why don’t you go back to her?’
I adjusted the cap on my head. ‘I think you’d agree that it’s best to stay away from her.’
‘No arguments there.’ Ellie-May sighed and abandoned the cart. ‘Follow me.’
I was glad when the teacher called her class over to the reading corner, making it slightly easier for my large frame to chase after Ellie-May without having to sidestep children or bowl them over. Some of the kids whispered quickly amongst each other, their small fingers pointing and eyes widening at me with recognition. We were now in the RURAL FICTION section according to the laminated sign glued to the shelves. Ellie-May plucked out a book and passed it over to me.
‘Blue Skies.’ I chuckled. ‘Doesn’t sound like something my dad would read.’
I looked up when Ellie-May didn’t respond, feeling myself shrink slightly when her eyeliner-circled gaze narrowed on me and her arms folded across her chest. ‘You got a lot of nerve coming back here after everything you did. You might have Riley fooled and skipping around like a leprechaun about your return, but you sure as hell ain’t fooled me.’ She snatched the book from me and marched back towards the counter. ‘Seriously Colton, do you enjoy putting her through more agony?’
My jaw tightened as I leant my arms against the bench decorated with displays of bookmarks. ‘I came home to help my dad and brother. That’s all. I can’t help that Gumtree Valley is the smallest place on Earth. I was going to run into her sooner or later.’
Ellie-May stamped the book with what I felt was unnecessary force. ‘It’s not like you’ve been trying your best to avoid her. She’s with Beau now. After everything she’s been through, everything she’s lost—’ She startled. ‘Just … leave her be happy.’
‘Everything she’s lost?’ I questioned, leaning forward with anticipation until my forehead pressed against the clear screen. ‘What is she hiding from me? The other night she said something about being glad I wasn’t around to suffer.’
Ellie-May gave a scoff and shook her head. ‘Typical Honey. Even after everything you’ve done, she still wants to protect you …’ She slid the book towards me. ‘It’s not my place, or anyone else’s to say. So don’t you dare go around town trying to squeeze answers from people.’
‘Come on, EM, we used to be friends. Remember?’ I wasn’t proud of it, but I looked at her pleadingly. ‘Please, just tell me.’
‘Yeah, we were good friends until you broke my best friend’s heart,’ she snapped before sighing. ‘I’m not keeping it from you out of spite—okay, maybe a tiny bit—but this is something only Honey can tell you. Don’t go nagging her about it either. The pain is still raw. In your defence though I always believed you should know and I think that’s still only fair.’ She chewed her lip. ‘I’ll talk to her, but you need to let her do it in her own time.’
I nodded, turning to face the door. ‘Of course. Thanks.’
‘Oh, and Colton?’ called Ellie-May after me. I turned. ‘Keep getting your dad’s books from here, yeah?’
I gave another nod and stepped outside. My mind was whirring as I walked across the pavement towards my ute, glistening in the sun. What was so bad Honey wasn’t telling me? Something so bad Ellie-May had to try and convince her to tell? Was it about her parents? Had they weaselled themselves into her life again only to hurt her? I was the only one Honey talked openly to about her family. Surely she wouldn’t feel so weird about telling me those things now. I suppose I hadn’t broken her trust big time and disappeared for seven years back then. But she was holding it to protect me. What could I possibly need protecting from?
‘Colton Hayes!’
Annoyance filled me. I dropped my head, gritting my teeth in what I hoped came across as a polite smile when I turned to the person who’d recognised me. But when I recognised them , that annoyance was quick to fade. My smile grew into one that was genuine as Lee waddled towards me, wearing a plaid button shirt, faded jeans, broken boots and a shiny belt buckle. His hand was wrinkled and calloused when he clapped it into mine.
‘I thought the gossip mill must’ve been malfunctioning when I heard you’re back in town.’ The old cowboy grinned at me, making his handlebar moustache expand. ‘It’s good to see you, son.’
‘It’s good to see you too, Lee. I wouldn’t be where I was if you hadn’t given me those lessons.’ He’d been a member of the local rodeo association, as well as getting a rodeo school up and running to help kids hone their skills.
‘Ah, a teacher can only teach so much. Your talent was what helped you get to the big time.’ He looped his thumbs through his belt and nodded to the book in my hand. ‘I see you’ve got enough time to be reading.’
For some reason I looked down at it, too, chuckling. ‘Nah, it’s for Dad. We’re trying to keep him entertained while he’s propped up with pillows.’
‘I’m sorry to hear about his accident. As bad as it is, he’s lucky to be alive.’
I nodded solemnly.
‘So, uh, when you’re not babysitting your old man, you lookin’ for something to do?’
I shrugged. ‘Nothing that will take too much time.’
‘How are you with kids?’
‘I like them and they seem to like me. Why?’
Lee smiled. ‘As you can imagine, your return home has caused some excitement amongst our junior bull and bronc riders. I was wondering if you’d come out to the arena someday and have a chat to them.’
I lifted my cap to scratch my scalp. ‘Like a lesson?’
Lee shrugged. ‘I was thinking you could tell them how hard you had to work to get to the big time and give them some pointers.’
‘Jeez, Lee, I dunno. It’s one thing to sign a kid’s hat but it’s another to do a TED talk.’
‘You ride some of the craziest bulls I’ve ever seen for a living. Are you telling me you’re scared of some kids?’
‘ No. ’
Lee grinned. ‘Next training lesson is Friday night at four thirty. I’ll let the kids know you’ll be coming.’
I nodded, putting my hands on my hips as I watched him amble down the pavement. I had to tell Dad I would no longer be doing his book errands. I always seemed to get roped into something whenever I drove into town.