long weeks, and Bella could see the next few months before they were due to head home, dragging like a reluctant child. Siobhan was on Bella’s back to clean the guest quarters, a crowd of VIPs having recently been and gone.
Bella missed Will. She hadn’t expected that. He’d awakened in her feelings that left her confused, scared even. Life had been so free and easy up till now. She didn’t need or want this complication.
Or did she? Will made her feel so good about herself, attractive, interesting. And when he focused on her, Bella felt like she was the only person in the world. He seemed to really care, about her, about the things she believed were important – family, friends and country life.
Patty was struggling too, dragging her feet out of bed where a few weeks before she had been bounding out before the alarm. Macca was to blame for that.
Bloody Will and Macca.
They’d also brought to Ainsley Station in northern outback Queensland the sweet calls and smells of the southern mountains and home. Station life out here had lost its shine, and Bella knew her uncertainty about what to do next in life was resolved. They were going home. And Bella couldn’t wait.
But now, she needed to move her butt.
She slung her gardening tools onto the back of the motorbike, pulled on her helmet and set off in the direction of the stockmen’s quarters.
The sky was bright; the warm wind whistled around the collar of her long-sleeve chambray shirt and the sun kissed her cheeks as she rode. The day was improving rapidly. You couldn’t stay disgruntled on such a beautiful, Queensland morning.
She felt her mobile phone vibrate in her back pocket. Surprised, she reached around with one hand to retrieve it while using her other hand to bring the bike to a halt. She hauled off her helmet and could hear her mother’s voice even before she got the phone to her ear.
‘Bella? Are you there? Hello?’
‘Yes, Mum. I’m here. Sorry I missed your call on Sunday night. How are you?’ she said to the woman who was the anchor in her young life.
‘Good, thank you, darling. I wasn’t sure I would get you.’ The relief of reaching her daughter was obvious in Francine Vermaelon’s voice. ‘And you?’
‘Yeah, I’m good. We just had a visit from cousin Macca and Patty’s brother Will. We had a good time.’ Bella just managed to keep her voice level. ‘Why didn’t you tell me they were up this way?’
‘I don’t know. Must have just slipped my mind.’
‘They’ve gone now. They should be just about home.’
‘Oh good,’ said Francine. ‘Rhonda will be so pleased to see that rascal back again. He didn’t lead you or Patty into any trouble, did he?’ Her laugh tinkled down the phone.
‘No, Mummy dear, he was as good as gold.’ As good as tarnished gold anyway. Quickly Bella changed the subject.
‘How are Justin, Melanie and the kids?’
‘Good, sweetheart. Mel’s five months’ gone now. She’s already counting down to her due date.’
‘What about Beccy and Joel?’ asked Bella.
‘Beccy just won Champion Rider for her age group at the gymkhana on Sunday, and Joel’s decided he wants to be a dairy farmer because you get to go home to have lunch with your family.’ Her mother laughed again.
Bella giggled. Joel was a card, a steady, placid little boy who loved helping his dad and Bella’s brother Justin on the farm. Beccy, on the other hand, was a dare devil. Anything that moved quickly and she was on it, in it or doing it. Bella reincarnated, said Francine, although Bella didn’t see herself like that at all.
‘Anyway, darling, I’ve got to go. Mobile calls cost the earth. Just wanted to remind you it’s your father’s birthday tomorrow. Justin and Mel are putting on tea for him at their place, so give us a call there, okay?’
‘Okay, Mum. Thanks for reminding me. You lose track of the date up here. And give Beccy my congratulations. I’ll check out her winning ribbons when I get home.
Bella missed Will. She hadn’t expected that. He’d awakened in her feelings that left her confused, scared even. Life had been so free and easy up till now. She didn’t need or want this complication.
Or did she? Will made her feel so good about herself, attractive, interesting. And when he focused on her, Bella felt like she was the only person in the world. He seemed to really care, about her, about the things she believed were important – family, friends and country life.
Patty was struggling too, dragging her feet out of bed where a few weeks before she had been bounding out before the alarm. Macca was to blame for that.
Bloody Will and Macca.
They’d also brought to Ainsley Station in northern outback Queensland the sweet calls and smells of the southern mountains and home. Station life out here had lost its shine, and Bella knew her uncertainty about what to do next in life was resolved. They were going home. And Bella couldn’t wait.
But now, she needed to move her butt.
She slung her gardening tools onto the back of the motorbike, pulled on her helmet and set off in the direction of the stockmen’s quarters.
The sky was bright; the warm wind whistled around the collar of her long-sleeve chambray shirt and the sun kissed her cheeks as she rode. The day was improving rapidly. You couldn’t stay disgruntled on such a beautiful, Queensland morning.
She felt her mobile phone vibrate in her back pocket. Surprised, she reached around with one hand to retrieve it while using her other hand to bring the bike to a halt. She hauled off her helmet and could hear her mother’s voice even before she got the phone to her ear.
‘Bella? Are you there? Hello?’
‘Yes, Mum. I’m here. Sorry I missed your call on Sunday night. How are you?’ she said to the woman who was the anchor in her young life.
‘Good, thank you, darling. I wasn’t sure I would get you.’ The relief of reaching her daughter was obvious in Francine Vermaelon’s voice. ‘And you?’
‘Yeah, I’m good. We just had a visit from cousin Macca and Patty’s brother Will. We had a good time.’ Bella just managed to keep her voice level. ‘Why didn’t you tell me they were up this way?’
‘I don’t know. Must have just slipped my mind.’
‘They’ve gone now. They should be just about home.’
‘Oh good,’ said Francine. ‘Rhonda will be so pleased to see that rascal back again. He didn’t lead you or Patty into any trouble, did he?’ Her laugh tinkled down the phone.
‘No, Mummy dear, he was as good as gold.’ As good as tarnished gold anyway. Quickly Bella changed the subject.
‘How are Justin, Melanie and the kids?’
‘Good, sweetheart. Mel’s five months’ gone now. She’s already counting down to her due date.’
‘What about Beccy and Joel?’ asked Bella.
‘Beccy just won Champion Rider for her age group at the gymkhana on Sunday, and Joel’s decided he wants to be a dairy farmer because you get to go home to have lunch with your family.’ Her mother laughed again.
Bella giggled. Joel was a card, a steady, placid little boy who loved helping his dad and Bella’s brother Justin on the farm. Beccy, on the other hand, was a dare devil. Anything that moved quickly and she was on it, in it or doing it. Bella reincarnated, said Francine, although Bella didn’t see herself like that at all.
‘Anyway, darling, I’ve got to go. Mobile calls cost the earth. Just wanted to remind you it’s your father’s birthday tomorrow. Justin and Mel are putting on tea for him at their place, so give us a call there, okay?’
‘Okay, Mum. Thanks for reminding me. You lose track of the date up here. And give Beccy my congratulations. I’ll check out her winning ribbons when I get home.
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