Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
T he afternoon sun warmed her as they left the factory. Freya let her hand brush Justin's briefly and when he didn't object, she slipped her fingers between his. The grin he sent her made her heart thump so loud she was surprised he couldn't hear it.
She led him down the path marked ‘private’. She wanted to share things with him, experience things with him, do things with him.
"Where are you taking me?" He had a lightness in his voice.
She squeezed his hand, enjoying the feel of his touch. "You'll see."
He signed. "There is something about this place. It's almost magical."
Freya breathed in deeply, the scent of wisteria filling the air. "Do you believe in magic?"
He shook his head before turning to her. "At least, I didn't."
"Hello," her father's voice called from further down the path.
"Hi, Dad."
"Afternoon, Mr Montgomery." Justin moved to release her hand but she squeezed it and held him still.
She didn't care if her dad saw them holding hands. Her father wouldn't mind her being with Justin. He was very open-minded about letting people love whoever they wanted and be whoever they wanted. Her mother was the same, and she was proud of their modern, unprejudiced views. If only more people were like them.
Besides, she already knew how much they liked Justin. After dinner, they hadn't stopped speaking his praises. Who wouldn't like Justin, after all? With his mild manners and easy conversation, he was just the sort of man most parents would be thrilled to welcome into a family.
"I would have thought you had gone back to Brisbane by now," Mark said. Although his gaze flickered over their intertwined fingers, he didn't mention it.
"I was packing things up when I got the call about your offer. I'm just doing due diligence."
"Not a problem. These things have to go through the right channels, after all. We're here when you're ready."
Justin smiled at Mark, and her father shook his hand warmly. "You should come over to the pub tonight. All the locals will be there for our regular Friday night dinner and trivia."
"Oh yeah, you must," Freya said enthusiastically. "It's parmy night at the Bunya Bar."
"Parmy?" He shot her a quizzical look.
"Parmigiana. You know, crumbed chicken schnitzel with cheese and tomato sauce. Fridays are pretty much Greer’s only night off."
Mark nodded in agreement. "Even with all her experience, Greer still won't try to compete with the Bunya Bar when it comes to parmy night."
"Why would she want to give up her night off though, really." Freya adored her sister. She worked so hard and was so talented.
Justin chuckled. "I haven't had a good parmy in years."
"Great. I'll see you tonight then." Mark waved before turning down the path that led towards the milking shed, where the cows would be lining up ready for their afternoon milking.
Justin's gold-flecked hazel eyes held hers, and he spoke quietly. "Your family are great. I really like them."
Nerves skittered in her stomach. "Yeah, they are, and they like you too."
They continued up the path until Nutmeg came into view. She was quietly grazing in her paddock, just where Freya had left her that morning. "I was thinking that if you had grown up here, you probably would have learned how to ride a horse."
Justin looked at her with a furrowed brow. "Who says I don't know how to ride a horse?"
She rounded on him. "Do you?"
He laughed and shook his head. "No, I don't. But I know how to ride a bike, so it can't be that much harder, right?"
"Yeah, it's kind of different." She nodded before laughing. "Are you up to the challenge?"
He straightened. "Are you?"
She raised one eyebrow at him. "I am."
It didn't take long to saddle up Nutmeg, who dozed quietly as Freya tightened the girth and altered the stirrup length. After putting on the bridal, she handed Justin a helmet and waited for him to put it on.
"Okay, left foot in the stirrup and then lift yourself up," Freya said, turning the stirrup slightly, so he could angle his foot into it.
He tried but didn't get enough muscle behind the movement and ended up sliding back down the saddle, rather ungracefully.
She bit her lip so she wouldn't laugh at him. "That's okay—you've never done this before. Try again."
He repeated the process and this time managed to swing his leg up and over the back of the saddle. Before long he was sitting nervously astride her horse. She showed him how to hold the reins before gathering up the lead rope and urging the horse forward.
"Okay up there?" she asked when he remained silent.
"Yup."
Freya turned her neck and watched him. "Straighten your back and try to relax."
He did as she said, and after a few minutes he started to look more comfortable.
He looked good. Not just good—hot. She had always had a thing for guys on horseback.
Freya led Nutmeg around the paddock at an easy gait. She could feel Justin’s confidence growing with each step. "You're starting to get the hang of this."
"It's actually really fun. Beats mountain-bike riding—probably won't hurt as much tomorrow either."
"I don't know if that's true. If I go even a week without riding, I feel it the next day."
"Have you always liked horses?"
"Oh yeah. I was the kid who did pony club instead of ballet. I never competed seriously, but I loved being able to hang out with my best mate." She scratched Nutmeg behind the ear, just where the horse liked it. "Do you want to have a go by yourself?"
"Is that safe? Will you show me how?"
She nodded and unclipped the halter. "Nutmeg is as bombproof as they come. Finn rides her all the time."
She taught Justin how to direct and stop the horse before standing back and letting him practice. He caught on quickly, and the two walked around the paddock for quite a while.
She could see his mouth moving, and it occurred to her that he was talking to the horse. Horses, she found, were very therapeutic, and she wondered what he was saying. Was he talking about his father and the life he may have lived had his mother stayed? Was he talking about his life in Brisbane? Was he talking about her? Did he feel the same connection that she felt? Like they were meant to be?
Eventually, he pulled up alongside her and stopped. She searched his eyes for clues, but they were shaded over. Whatever he and Nutmeg had discussed was private.
He slid down slowly from the saddle, and together they untacked Nutmeg and brushed her down.
"Thanks for that." He stroked the horse's neck one more time.
She slipped her fingers into her back pockets, looking at him from under her lashes. "Did you really enjoy it?"
"Yeah, I really did. She's a beautiful horse."
Freya smiled proudly. "One of the perks of living in the country." She hugged the horse's neck and rubbed her cheek against the silky fur. She loved the smell of horse, even a sweaty one.
"I better go and get changed if I'm coming out to the pub for dinner tonight."
"And what exactly are you going to change into? I didn't think you had any spare clothes."
"I'll raid Boyd's closet again. Although it mostly consists of checked shirts and jeans."
"You probably wouldn't be my dad's size, otherwise I'd offer you some of his clothes." She looked Justin up and down. "His wardrobe is mostly checks and jeans too."
"Boyd's fit me fine. Thanks though."
She smiled as he handed her the helmet and their fingers brushed, causing heat to rush through her body. "Do you want me to walk you back to your car?"
"No, it's okay. I remember the way, and you probably have lots to do here."
She nodded, not wanting him to leave. "See you tonight then."
"Save me a seat?"
She nodded and watched as he turned and walked away. She would be happy to save him a seat next to her, every night for the rest of their lives.