The Saddler Boys (11 page)

Drew disappeared while Billy knelt down beside her. ‘These are silky bantams. Nan said they were more bantams but the silky bits are the feathered feet and black skin. And they have pretty feathers. I thought you'd like the pretty ones.'

‘I do. I love them so much. Which one is Henny?'

As Billy showed her which chook was which, Drew came back and dumped a few bags down beside them.

‘One has wheat, the other some layer pellets and shells. Make sure you find a good bin to store it in or you'll have the mice in eating it,' said Drew.

Nat stood up and smiled at the kind-hearted man. ‘I don't know how to thank you.'

‘Least we could do for all the shed help.'

Nat realised she hadn't been very hospitable. ‘Would you like a drink?'

‘No, I'm right, thanks. We should be hitting the road. Take me forever to get this boy ready for bed.'

‘Oh, Dad. Can't we stay a little bit, please?'

‘No, you have school tomorrow and so does Natty.'

The way Drew said her nickname made her grin. ‘Yes, I must get ready. Then I'll be out over the weekend to help in the shed.'

‘Again? For real?'

‘If that's okay with you, Billy?' Nat knew it would be.

‘Sure is, Natty. I can't wait.' Billy spun around to face his dad. ‘Can I show her the bike track, Dad?'

‘How about we leave that for another time, okay? Say goodbye and jump in the ute.'

‘Goodbye, Natty. See you tomorrow.' Billy rushed off to the ute. She was about to walk Drew out when the phone rang inside the house.

‘Thanks, Drew. I'll see you on the weekend.'

‘Righto.' He waved as he ducked around the side of the house.

Nat sprinted inside to get the phone. ‘Hello?'

‘Hey, sis, how's things in the big dust bowl?'

‘Jase, hey, big bro. What are you up to?'

‘Oh, you know, just sorting out a media contract with Foxtel. It's actually more exciting than it sounds.'

‘Yeah, I'm sure,' she teased. But he did sound excited. He loved his job, working alongside their dad. Nat had never been offered a position in the company; her future had been sorted by her mum before she'd finished high school: marry a wealthy man, grace the social pages and run a perfect house. She'd set her mum's plans back by becoming a teacher.

‘How's things with you?' asked Jason.

Delighted that someone cared enough to ask, Nat told him everything. ‘Oh, it's gorgeous here, Jase. I love my kids; they all have their own little traits and try so hard to please me. You should see all the things they have given me – drawings and special bits are filling up my house. Oh, and I have new chooks. Two, to be exact.' She told him all about Henny and Penny and promised to text him a photo of them. ‘I've also been doing sheep work. Learnt how to throw a fleece.'

‘No way,' said Jason.

‘Yes way. You wouldn't bloody recognise me in my farm clothes, being a rousie.' Then she had to tell him what a rousie did, and all about the Saddler farm. For once she knew something her big brother didn't and it felt fantastic. ‘Oh, but we've just found out they want to close the school, Jase. It's awful. It's going to hurt this town so much. I'm helping them to keep it open. The whole community is rallying together. And you must try Mrs Harrison's homemade sausage rolls. To. Die. For!'

Jason laughed. ‘Well, sounds like I'm going to have to come back down there. You paint a great picture, sis, and you sound so happy. I'm feeling rather jealous.' Now it was her turn to laugh. ‘It's good to know you're doing okay. I miss you, though. I promise to call more often, or at least I'll try. I'll definitely be thinking about it,' he said with a chuckle.

‘Thanks, Jase. I love you too, big bro.'

After the phone call Nat changed into her PJs and sat outside with her new pets. They were probably trying to sleep but she talked to them anyway. Henny and Penny were the new loves of her life.

THE
phone rang just as she was about to slip on her farm boots. Damn. Who would be calling her on a Saturday morning? Gary's picture flashed up on her phone.

‘Gary? I thought you'd be in a conference by now.'

‘I am, just on a break. Been the first chance I've had to call you.' He sounded agitated. It was very unusual for him to call while away on business. He usually preferred to catch up when he got back.

‘Is everything all right?'

‘You tell me.'

‘Everything is fine here,' she said cautiously.

‘What's this I hear about you doing sheep work out on a farm, baby?'

‘I'm just helping out some friends.'

‘The way Jason tells it, you're turning into a country bumpkin. Sweetheart, you don't have to try to fit in.' Gary paused but she knew he had more to say. ‘This guy – Jason said he's single?'

‘Yes, he's just lost his mum. His son's in my class and needs a little attention and I'm helping out.'

‘I thought you went out there to teach, not become a station hand. Baby, don't overdo it.' Nat flinched at the patronising tone. Why was he acting like this? ‘I fly back tonight and was hoping to see you,' he went on. ‘Look, I have to go. I'll talk to you later. I love you.'

Then he hung up. Nat stared at her phone. Maybe sharing stuff with her brother hadn't been a great idea. Jason and Gary were good friends, even more so since the engagement.

With a deep breath she slipped her phone in her pocket and looked at her boots. Maybe she shouldn't go out to the farm today. She didn't want to upset Gary, but she didn't like this possessive side of him. And she had so enjoyed spending time out there. She felt so comfortable with Drew. And she didn't want to disappoint Billy.

Nat slipped on her boots and reached for her keys. Lucky she hadn't mentioned to Jason just how good-looking Drew was.

Out at the farm, shearing was in full swing. It was a hot day and would be stifling in this shed after lunch. Nat didn't know how anyone kept working through this ridiculous heat. Billy and Drew looked as if they'd been at this for hours already.

‘Hey, Natty.'

Billy's grin was infectious and his enthusiastic wave always made her feel so special. ‘Morning, Billy. Shall we see if I can remember how to do it?' Billy's dedication to helping his father never ceased to amaze her.

They headed over to where Drew was shearing. His fitted blue singlet clung to his damp skin and even in this heat he wore pants. His hair curled at the base of his neck where it was damp with sweat.

‘Welcome back,' he said, looking up with a grin. His blue eyes were bright and alive as if he had just been skydiving, not shearing endless sheep. ‘A sucker for punishment, aren't ya?'

Nat smiled. ‘I think you are. Crazy shearing in this heat.'

‘That's all right. We have dams for swimming.'

Nat screwed up her face. ‘I did bring my bathers, just in case I was desperate.'

Drew laughed, then he went back to shearing with a smile on his face, as if he knew something she didn't.

Nat worked hard and the next few hours disappeared quickly. They stopped for lunch, eating the chicken wraps she'd made for them all.

‘That's half the flavour,' she said when she caught Drew pulling out the cucumber from his.

‘I can't eat spewcumber,' he said with a grimace. He held it out for Turbo, who took one sniff and walked away. ‘See, if a dog won't eat it, it must be crap.' His lips turned up into an innocent smile. ‘But I eat everything else.'

Nat pressed her lips together to hide her grin before focusing on Billy. ‘What about you? What don't you like to eat?' she asked him.

‘I don't like snotoli.'

‘Mum overcooked the broccoli one night and it turned to mush,' Drew explained. ‘Billy here said it resembled snot and he hasn't eaten it since then. Damn near put me off it for life too.'

‘Gosh, is dinner at your place always this . . . exciting?'

‘Come on, surely there's something you don't like to eat?' Drew asked.

‘Like liver? Yuck,' said Billy pulling a face.

‘I eat most things, but to tell you the truth I can't seem to like oysters. Gary loves them but I struggle to get them down and end up just swallowing them whole.' Nat felt her throat constrict as if trying to keep one of those slimy suckers down.

‘What's an oyster?' said Billy.

Nat explained it while Drew finished his second wrap. She'd brought an extra just in case and was glad she had as Drew seemed to inhale his food. Must be all that energy he expended in the shed.

‘Gary get to his conference okay?' asked Drew.

‘Yeah. He rang this morning. I'd told my brother about all this,' said Nat, gesturing to the shed full of wool, sheep and smells she was getting used to. ‘And then he told Gary. And now Gary's worried.'

‘About what?' Drew frowned.

That fact that Drew didn't get it showed just how safe she was here with him. Why couldn't Gary understand?

‘It's just different to what he knows. He didn't really want me to come out here in the first place.'

‘To Lake Biddy?'

She nodded.

‘But you still came?'

‘Yeah. I just had to do this for myself, you know? Before life takes over.'

‘You make it sound like there's some pressure involved, that you're not happy where it's going?' said Drew softly.

‘In a way. I guess I'd hoped I could continue teaching but with my family business and Gary's, it's just not really going to work. I was able to wrangle this year because they all expect me to give it up afterwards.' Nat hadn't ever been this frank with anyone before. She couldn't voice her innermost thoughts with her family or her friends, besides Uncle Kent. They just wouldn't get it. They didn't understand her desire to be a teacher, for a start.

‘That seems a bit sad that you feel you have to give up something you're passionate about,' Drew said.

‘But marriage and family are about compromise, so I'll do my part,' she said.

‘And what about you, Nat? I hope Gary is compromising things for you too.'

Those eyes sliced through her like the handpiece cutting the sheep's wool.

‘I'm sure he is,' she said hopefully.

They sat there quietly for a moment. The tin walls creaked in the heat, flies buzzed around seeking out a cool spot and Turbo's tail pounded the floorboards every time Billy took a bite of his wrap. Nat really didn't want to be left with her thoughts so she got up and poured them all some cold water.

After a few more hours of shearing, Drew stopped the machine, putting the last ewe from his pen down the chute. ‘Well, I think we've earnt a break. Who's for a swim?' said Drew.

Billy was lying in the wool in one of the bins having a rest but he shot up like he'd been stung by a wasp. ‘I am. Can I take Natty on the bike track before we swim?'

Drew shrugged and gestured to Nat.

‘Okay, you'd better show me this bike track. It's all I've heard about for ages.'

They went outside into the hot sun and Billy got on his little motorbike. ‘Mine is a 50cc but you can take Dad's quad bike,' he said, pointing to a big red four-wheeled bike.

‘Oh, I've never ridden a bike before,' she said and then wondered if she'd have to ride on the back with Drew.

‘Here, it's pretty easy.' Drew showed her how to start it and change gears, where the brake was, and then let her head off.

She was hesitant at first but Drew just seemed to have this faith in her ability to give it a go. She took off around the shearing shed and felt her nerves disappear at the sheer elation of having the wind in her face and the thrill of something new. She pulled up next to Drew after a few laps.

‘That was cool,' she said, mimicking Billy's catch phrase.

‘Well, I think you're set to tackle the bike track. Don't hurt yourself,' he said with a wink and handed over a helmet.

‘Follow me, Natty!' yelled Billy. His red helmet made him easy to spot.

He took her towards a patch of bush and soon she found herself riding along a little track, dodging trees, flying over mounds of dirt, weaving around dead branches and then more jumps that made her stomach roll. They did it three times, and each time she got faster and took more risks – but with the risk came exhilaration.

Pulling up back at the shed she had a smile from ear to ear. ‘I feel like a kid,' she said, whipping off the helmet and feeling like her face was fried from the wind.

‘You look like one,' said Drew. ‘Time for a swim now.'

She grabbed her bathers out of the car and got changed in the small toilet beside the shearing shed.

‘Ready?' asked Drew as he walked towards her in a low-hanging pair of blue-and-black boardies.

‘I guess so.' Nat saw Drew's eyes drop to her simple one-piece black halter-neck bathers. She'd gone conservative.

‘Don't mind my sock tan. Comes with the job,' he said.

It wasn't really his sock tan that was holding her attention. It was the smooth, tanned body that was firm with hard-earned muscles. And when he reached out and scooped up Billy, his arms rippled like a Muay Thai fighter's.

‘This way.'

He led them towards another shed. Nat was a little confused as she thought they'd need the ute to get to the dam. It wasn't until Drew walked inside the big machinery shed that she saw what was on the ground beside a red machine with two massive wheels and two small ones at the back.

‘Is that a pool?' she asked.

‘Yep. Bush style.'

‘It took a whole load of water from the truck,' said Billy, who had picked up a black tube.

Nat had a feeling it was a tube from a car tyre. But the pool was a massive blue tarp draped over square hay bales. Straw was littered everywhere, but the water was clear. It looked so much more inviting than a muddy dam.

‘Last one in's a rotten egg!' Billy jumped in with a splash and a squeal.

Nat followed and found the water temperature perfectly refreshing. It was deep enough that it reached above her chest when sitting down. Perfect for leaning back against the covered bale. ‘Drew, this is fabulous.'

‘Yeah, it beats driving to Lake Grace to use the public pool.'

Billy paddled about while Nat and Drew sat there talking about saving the school, the farm versus the city and all sorts of everyday things.

‘I went to an all-girls private school and it was okay. I enjoyed sport and hanging out with my friends. Uni was even better, especially when I got to do my prac in real classrooms. We had a local tavern that was our hangout and they'd get these great bands in over the weekends. Can't beat live music, Drew.'

‘Yeah, I got a small taste of it while I was at Muresk. So many opportunities.'

‘Dad, Seth and Mallory would love this,' Billy said, swimming up between them.

‘I know. Kim's bringing them over in an hour.'

‘Yippee!' Billy sank into the water with his hand over his head, pretending to be a shark and nibble on their toes with his fingers.

Nat made a mental note to leave before Kim arrived, mainly because she didn't want to be the third wheel. At times it was hard to understand what they were talking about – some of the farm stuff was quite technical and they mentioned people she still wasn't familiar with. Maybe part of her was a little uncomfortable with Kim finding her at Drew's again in case she got the wrong idea; maybe Gary's phone call had put her on edge. Either way, it was nearly time for her to head home and prep some work for school on Monday.

‘Aww,' said Billy when she announced her departure. ‘Do you really have to go?'

‘Yep, buddy, sorry. Thanks for the swim and the bike ride. I had lots of fun.'

Billy gave her a wet hug. It made sweating her butt off in the shed all worth it. The hard work was forgotten with the fun she'd had, the new things she'd experienced. Was farm life always like this?

‘Thanks, Drew, I had a great time. I'll catch up with you again soon.'

Drew walked her to her car. He didn't bother with a towel and she was thankful for the last glance of this handsome man. How had Kim not made a move all these years? He only had eyes for his son, which was sweet, but it wouldn't hurt if he found someone to make their family bigger. Billy would thrive with a mother figure, someone to help take Alice's place, someone to help share Drew's workload.

‘You're welcome anytime, Nat. Seriously. We love having you out. Thanks for all your help. Let me know if anything ever needs fixing and I'll try and repay the favour.'

Nat opened her car door before turning. ‘Actually, now that you mention it, are you any good at putting cupboard handles back on? This morning I went to get out the coffee and pulled a bit too hard.'

‘Not a problem,' he said with a smile. ‘I'll come take a look next time I'm in town if you like.'

‘That would be great. See you!'

Nat left the farm feeling recharged and happy – a feeling that was becoming a regular part of life in Lake Biddy.