The Saddler Boys (12 page)

NAT
was sitting outside talking to Henny and Penny when she heard a car pull up out the front. Had Drew come to fix her cupboard already?

‘Hello? Natalie, are you here?'

Nat sprung up. ‘Gary?' Her heart raced in surprise. Her fiancé's head appeared by the gate. He was clean-shaved, sideburns perfectly even, and his lips spread in an alluring smile. ‘Oh my god, Gary, what are you doing here?' Nat hurried over to open the gate, still feeling shocked to actually see him in Lake Biddy.

‘Hey, princess,' he said pulling her into his arms.

He smelt like expensive aftershave, suits and the breath mints he lived on since he'd quit smoking.

‘I can't believe it,' she said, taking in his groomed hair, touching his smooth shaved jaw and gazing into his dark-coloured eyes. Gary's soft hands caressed her neck before kissing her deeply.

‘I've missed you,' he whispered. He was wearing his dark-blue pinstripe suit without the jacket.

‘Did you drive straight from work?'

‘I just sorted a few things before I came down. Hell, is it always this hot and dry?' He clutched at his matching blue tie and gave it a jerk.

‘Did you drive all the way out here? How long can you stay? You should have called me,' she said as she pulled him towards the shade of the small back verandah.

‘Yeah, it's a fair drive. Not much out here, is there? And nothing is open on a Sunday.' Gary pulled a face and wiped at the sweat beading along his brow. ‘I have to head back tomorrow night or early Tuesday. See how they cope without me. You do get phone signal here?' he asked before pulling out his phone and holding it up, waiting for the bars to show.

‘Yes, we're lucky – there's a phone tower nearby but if you face the wrong way or you're behind the wheat bins it drops out.'

‘Wheat bins?'

‘The big white sheds you would have driven past. Opposite the town.'

Gary nodded but didn't seem all that interested. ‘I'll get my stuff. I grabbed some things I thought you might like for dinner.' His teeth, all perfectly white and straight, shone as he smiled.

That night they had a little picnic outside, on a rug on the lawn: champagne, strawberries, chocolate, her favourite selection of sushi, all complemented by a bunch of beautiful flowers.

‘This is amazing. You thought of everything.' He really was thoughtful and sweet. It was what had made her fall for him in the first place. She pushed aside her niggling thoughts of being rushed into marriage and decided to just enjoy the moment.

Gary held her hand and moved the ring on her finger, which Nat was glad she had replaced after her trip to the farm.

‘I wanted it to be magical. We have so little time together.' Nearby the chooks made little noises as they moved about their coop. ‘They are rather cool, aren't they? Just going about their business,' he said as he watched Henny and Penny.

‘I love them. They keep me company and we'll have fresh eggs for our breakfast.'

‘Hmm, I like the sound of that.' Gary snuggled closer and kissed her lips. He'd changed into his denim shorts and a white polo shirt. ‘Maybe it's not so bad here.' His hand snaked up her thigh. ‘Shall we take this inside? Away from your feathered friends,' he added, kissing her neck.

‘Yes, I'd hate to scare the girls.'

‘Is there space for both of us in that tiny room of yours?' Jumping up, Gary grabbed the bottle and the chocolates and led the way inside.

‘I'll guarantee you'll like how cosy it is.' Nat gave the last of the food to the chooks and headed inside with a smile. She pushed away all the little voices that threw up caution and fear about her future. Maybe it would turn out okay and she'd be happier than she thought.

Gary stayed all Monday, working from her house while she was teaching and then coming to visit the classroom after school hours.

‘Can I come in?' he said, knocking on the classroom door.

‘Gary! Hi, babe. What do you think?' Nat got up and gestured to her classroom. ‘You've missed all the kids; they've gone home. But see? This is what we've been working on.' She may have gushed a bit over the kids' work and what they were doing but she was just so excited to be able to share her passion with him, and for the most part he seemed really interested.

‘This kid can draw,' he said of one of Liam's artworks. ‘Those chairs seem so little.' He shook his head in disbelief. ‘That was us once, sitting in those little chairs. Next it will be our kids.'

Nat was still beaming when Kath dropped by.

‘So this must be Gary,' said Kath. ‘Not many fellas scrub up like that around here.' They shook hands. ‘It's nice to finally meet Natalie's fiancé. She's such a gem to have here, we're all so thankful.'

Nat felt her cheeks flush. She hoped he could finally see how important this job was – to her and to her colleagues.

Kath said she'd lock up, so Nat and Gary went to the shop to buy something for dinner.

‘Holy heck, check out the price of that!' he said after a quick lap around the small shop.

Nat felt uncomfortable with how loudly he'd spoken, but felt even worse knowing that had been her first impression too. She was fast learning that the cost of getting things to the country was exorbitant. Even the bread and milk seemed ridiculously expensive, but Frank had explained just how much the trucking company charged to deliver it. And he couldn't haggle over the freight price or find another transport company because no one else wanted to deliver to their little town. Struggling locals paid the prices and did so with a smile just to keep their community shop alive. If it closed they'd have to travel 60 kilometres to the next town.

Jess walked past in a pair of torn shorts, singlet and ugg boots. Nat loved the way no one seemed to look twice at what others wore or judge them by it. It was so different to the world she came from.

‘Natty!' yelled a familiar voice.

She turned just in time to collect the hug thrown at her. Billy was still in his school uniform, with long pants and long sleeves despite the heat.

‘Hey, Billy, how come you're here?'

‘I'm allowed an ice-cream.' His cheeks strained with his grin, then he spotted Gary and slowly took in the man beside her. His nose scrunching up. ‘Who are you?'

‘Billy, this is Gary, my fiancé. Gary, this is one of my students.'

Gary bent over and held out his hand. ‘Nice to meet you, young man.'

Billy beamed from being greeted so formally.

‘G'day, g'day,' said Drew as he came down the aisle where they were standing. ‘Wondered where you'd got to, Billy. Hi, Nat.'

Drew's shorts were torn on one corner, grease stained his khaki work shirt and he smelt like fuel. But he pulled it all off with an alluring working-man look. A look she knew Gary was taking in. Nat's heart sank.

‘Hi, Drew. I'd like you to meet Gary,' she said, knowing there was no way around this moment.

‘Nice to finally meet you, Gary,' said Drew as they shook hands.

Nat was fascinated by the stark contrast of hands: one pale and smooth with perfect nails, the other tanned, callused and etched with dirt.

‘Come on, Billy. We'd better go. Frank's waiting out back with our stuff. Grab your ice-cream.' Drew gave them a nod goodbye and turned to let them be.

‘Bye, Natty.' Billy almost followed his dad before turning back. ‘Hey, maybe you should bring your boyfriend out to see some shearing. He might be as funny as you were,' he said with a cheeky grin.

‘Bye, Billy.' Nat waved him goodbye and was relieved when he darted off after Drew. She turned to the shelf and picked up a small jar of apricot jam. ‘Did you want this for your toast in the morning, or are you happy with eggs again?' she asked Gary.

But Gary didn't answer. While they finished their shop, he smiled and spoke with the locals, who all wanted to meet him, but didn't say another word to Nat.

Back at the house, Nat changed out of her work clothes and put on shorts and a singlet. Gary seemed to have mellowed a bit, and was texting on his phone again. Nat felt nervous. The meeting in the shop would surely come up again.

‘Can't you leave some of that stuff for Sharon?' she asked.

‘It's Sharon I'm texting. She's trying to find a report that Dad's chasing for a meeting.' He looked up and frowned. ‘Besides, she's Dad's assistant, not mine.'

‘You'll need your own soon. Do you get Sharon when your dad retires?'

‘Ha, Dad will die before he retires,' Gary said, a little forcefully. ‘That's why I'm putting so much work into this new venture. If I can seal this new resort deal, then I want to go to Dad and ask for a partnership, or at least my own casino resort brand.'

‘That sounds great.'

He was watching her as she opened the fridge door for an apple. ‘I've been thinking . . . You should come home with me. You've been here long enough, you've proved your point.'

She turned to face him. ‘What point would that be?'

‘That you can teach. You don't need to see out the year in this backwater to prove to any of us that you can do your job. I want you at home, with me. Maybe you could finish the year at a Perth school, one close to home.'

Nat clenched the apple as she stood before him. ‘No, Gary, I can't do that. These people are depending on me. They can't find another teacher at short notice and besides, I'm all involved with trying to save the school.'

‘I really don't see why you're putting so much energy into this. You seem far too invested. I think they should shut the school. That way they can pool resources. It makes sense.'

‘No, it doesn't!' Nat felt a void the size of an ocean beginning to form between them. How could he think that? He knew how much this job meant to her, didn't he? Had she not fought for this time and time again? Was he ever going to understand? ‘That is a crap trade-off in comparison to what closing this school will do to the town. Kids on long bus rides, people leaving the district. The town needs its school, Gary, and I can't abandon my kids.'

Gary's eyes narrowed. ‘Is this about that Drew guy? He's the one you've been helping, isn't he? Not quite the single old guy I was picturing.' His brown eyes took on splashes of crimson, like a red desert storm gathering across the land.

‘Of course it's not about him. Don't be ridiculous. Drew and Billy are just friends in need of a little help. I want to do what's right and see out my year,' she said, trying to stand her ground. Her voice was firm but her knees were not, and neither were the fingers trying hard to hold on to the apple.

‘Don't be ridiculous?' he growled, taking a step closer. ‘You are my fiancée.' He was so close she could smell his minty breath and see the grey hairs in his neat sideburns.

‘I'm sorry, Gary but —'

He didn't give her a chance to reply. His hand came around her neck, pulling her even closer.

‘Is this just a game to you? Are you playing around on me with this guy while I'm not here?'

He squeezed her neck, her throat, and Nat felt the air rush from her lips. What was he doing? Did he not realise he was hurting her? The apple fell from her hand, bounced once on the floor and rolled under the table.

‘Gary, stop!' she rasped.

He released her and stumbled back, looking almost shocked. She somehow found the chair by the table and sat down, totally focused on breathing.

‘I'm sorry. I love you, babe. I just couldn't handle you cheating on me.' Gary brushed her hair back gently, causing her to flinch and jerk away from him. Had that really happened? Gary placed the bruised apple on the table in front of her. ‘I just love you so much.' With that he kissed her forehead and disappeared into the lounge room.

Nat pushed the apple away as hot tears slid down her cheeks.

NAT
was juggling an armful of classroom materials and trying to unlock her front door when she heard her phone ring. She groaned as she ignored the phone in her bag and shunted the door open with her hip. No sooner had she stepped inside when her phone started up again.

‘Seriously?' She tipped her armload onto the table. Files, sticker sheets, her pencil case and kids' schoolwork slid across the top as she dived into her bag.

‘Hi, Drew,' she said cautiously. Her mind went straight to Gary and his strong fingers around her neck. She swallowed slowly and tried to ignore the reaction of her body. Drew was not at fault.

‘Oh, Nat, please tell me Billy is with you,' came his agitated voice.

‘Billy? No. He went home on the school bus well over an hour ago.' Nat panicked for a moment. Was she supposed to have him?

‘No, he got home all right – his bag's here, but his motorbike's gone and I can't find him. I've looked everywhere. I half hoped he'd ridden in to you for some reason; it's all I could think of. I've got Kim and Matty checking their place.' Drew sucked in a shaky breath after his rapid-fire words. ‘Shit, Nat, I'm going crazy. Where could he be? What if he's hurt?'

His words caught in his throat and Nat's heart ached for him. ‘Take a deep breath, Drew, and let's think about it. Have you checked the bike track?'

‘Yes, twice. I've checked the sheds, all the dams. Even Turbo is still here, which is freaking me out – he's always with Billy. That's why I thought Billy might have gone to you, Turbo wouldn't have followed him that far.'

‘Would he really ride on the road to me?' she asked, feeling a sickening wave churn through her stomach.

‘I honestly don't know, Nat. I was at the sheds, and he always comes to me if I'm not home. It's not like him. I'm freaking out. Can you come over?'

The pleading in his voice melted her heart. ‘I'll get changed and come right now. I'll check the roads on my way.'

‘Thank you, Nat. Thank you so much. Call me if you find him.'

‘Of course I will. See you soon.'

Nat ran to her room to change into jeans and a T-shirt and put on socks and her boots. She glanced at the small bruise on her neck, wincing more from the memory than any pain. Gary had continued on as if nothing were wrong; he had left as planned, hugging her as if he hadn't harmed her. Nat didn't know what else to do, so she just left it, even though she felt confused by his sudden outburst. But now was not the time to dwell, she thought as she rushed from her house. She had a boy to find.

She hoped to god that Billy was just somewhere unexpected. Visions of his little body sprawled and twisted on the ground, motorbike bent beside him, accosted her mind. Tears prickled as the full weight of this possibility hit home. She forced them away. It just couldn't happen.

Nat had no idea where Billy would go, and she didn't know the ins and outs of the farm. Was he hiding on purpose? Had something happened at school? Maybe he'd done something silly, and was trying to avoid the consequences. Where would he go? It wasn't until Nat was driving past the cemetery that she was hit with a sudden thought. Billy had always had someone he used to turn to. His nana.

She hit the skids and turned her car around, veering down the short gravel track towards the cemetery's entrance. Beside the gate sat one little 50cc motorbike.

‘Oh, thank god.'

She pulled out her phone and dialled Drew as she watched the little figure sitting by a lone grave.

‘Have you found him?' were his first words.

‘Yes. I'm at the cemetery.'

‘What the hell? Oh,' said Drew when he finally realised. ‘I never thought of that.'

Nat told him about the picture he'd drawn of his special place when she'd first come to the school.

‘I'll be right there,' said Drew.

‘Take your time. I'll stay here with him. He might open up to me.' Nat knew it would take Drew at least ten minutes to reach them.

‘Righto. Thanks, Natty, I really appreciate it.'

Nat made her way into the cemetery. It was a coolish afternoon; ominous clouds filled the sky, and a gentle breeze brought with it a crispness that raised the hair on her skin. She found Billy, sitting cross-legged by Alice's grave, near the bright new headstone, pulling at the tough weeds growing nearby. His voice was soft and muffled as he talked to the grave.

Her feet crunched on the gravel stones. It was a small, rustic cemetery with only a few graves and an old gazebo in the middle that was flaking its green paint like a snake shedding its skin. A cream brick wall next to it held plaques and, no doubt, ashes from past residents.

Billy's head snapped up when he heard her approach.

‘Natty, what are you doing here?' he said, scrunching up his face.

‘Looking for you. Your dad was worried out of his mind,' she said gently. She didn't want him to run off, thinking he was in trouble. Instead he dropped his head and remained quiet. Nat got down on the ground beside him. ‘Talk to me, Billy. Are you okay? What's going on? Did you just feel like talking to your nan?'

He shrugged.

‘You know how worried we were when we couldn't find you? It's very dangerous for you to ride off like that. Even I was worried you'd had an accident on your bike. I was scared you were hurt.'

His face turned up, his eyes bright. ‘Oh, that wouldn't happen. I'm real good on my bike.'

‘I know you are, but sometimes unexpected things happen, like you hit a pothole or pop a tyre, or a kangaroo jumps out. A passing truck could push you off the road. Any number of things could happen. You know how sad your dad would be if any harm came to you?'

‘I guess.' He glanced to the grave. ‘I wish Nan was really here,' he said softly.

Nat put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. ‘I know, sweetheart. I wish she was here for you too. But I'm here now and I'd like you to be able to talk to me just like you did your nan. If you want to.' His only reply was to hug her tightly. ‘Your dad will be here soon,' she added.

Billy sat up and turned back to the grave, rigid. ‘I don't want to see him.'

‘Your dad? Why not? Has something happened? You don't have to worry, he's not angry. He's just happy you're safe.' He shrugged again. ‘Please tell me what's wrong, Billy. I'm here to help. You can trust me.'

‘Can I go home with you?' he asked, his eyes pleading.

She reached out and stroked his head around his ears, just like her mum used to do when she was little. ‘Sure, of course. But will you tell me what's up? Is it the kids at school or something to do with your dad?'

He nodded. Nat couldn't figure out which bit she'd got right. She was trying to think of another question when Billy glanced up at her.

‘Do dads lie?'

‘Lie? Not usually. Why, what would your dad lie about?'

‘He said my mum was dead, like Nan.' His eyes watched her so intently, Nat was almost too scared to say something wrong.

‘You don't believe him?' Nat felt way out of her depth. Billy really should be talking to Drew about this.

‘She said she was my mum.'

‘Who did?'

‘The lady at the bus stop today. She got out of her car to talk to me. I thought she was lost, 'cos I've never seen her before. But she said she was my mum.'

Holy crap. Nat's mind swam with thoughts. Was this woman trying to abduct Billy? Or was she really his mum? ‘What did you do, Billy?'

‘I just said that I don't talk to strangers and got on my bike. Why would she say that?'

Nat was at a loss. Had Drew been lying all this time? Or was this lady seriously misguided? ‘I don't know, Billy. Maybe she was just confused.' She stood up and held out her hand. ‘How about we take you home to the farm and get something to eat? Maybe I can make you my famous mac and cheese. I'll tell your dad to come grab your motorbike.'

Billy grabbed her hand, jumping up. ‘You eat mac and cheese?'

‘It was my favourite meal when I was about your age. Now I try to eat healthier but I think we deserve a treat, don't you?' She was rewarded with a grin as they started walking to her car. ‘I like to use lots of cheese. Do you like pasta?'

‘Yeah, Dad makes a carbonara with lots of bacon. It's my favourite.'

‘Goodo.' Nat tapped a quick text to Drew to let him know their plan.

Back at the farm, Nat told Billy to go change out of his school clothes and quickly rang Drew.

‘What's up?'

Nat didn't have time to fill him in but just asked if it was okay if she stayed and made dinner.

‘Of course, but it's me who should be making you dinner,' he said. ‘I'm sorry I dragged you into this.'

Nat was actually dragged into it further than she wanted, but she didn't mention that. At some stage tonight, when Billy wasn't around, she would have to explain about the woman.

‘I'll talk to you later,' she said quickly as Billy returned in jeans and monster truck T-shirt. Slipping her phone away, she clapped her hands together. ‘Okay, I need a helper to show me where everything is. Up to the task?'

‘Yep,' said Billy as he walked to the pantry door. Inside he pulled out a little stool, which he used to reach some aprons. ‘Nan uses these when we cook. You can wear her flowery one. This one's mine.' He pulled a black one that said ‘chef in training' over his head.

‘You've done this before, haven't you?' she said while tying up the apron. Billy gave the apron a longing glance and she wondered if he really was okay with her using it.

But he held out his hands and turned them over, moving onto the next thing. ‘We have to wash our hands first.'

‘Yes, you're right. Where do we do that?'

As she followed him to the laundry she felt a pang of sadness that such an amazing kid was growing up without his nana or his mother. That they got to miss out on all his smiles, his silly jokes and that laughter. They wouldn't get to see him grow into an amazing man, just like his father, or see him get married and have his own children. Nat made a mental note to call her parents when she got home. Crazy and overbearing they may be, but they were her parents and they loved her.

Just like she felt about Billy. This funny, wonderfully different, unique, sweet boy was already bringing her so much joy, and she knew, without a doubt, he had stolen a place in her heart.