Family Farm (49 page)

Izzy opened her legs and let Will nestle in closer. The heat they were making was melting her insides. She felt for the door handle and yelped when something licked her hand.

The light in the ute came on when she opened the door and Izzy had her answer. ‘Oh, Will. You’ve got a new puppy.’ With Will momentarily forgotten, Izzy picked up the most adorable kelpie puppy she’d ever seen. She had a beautiful brown coat with tan spots above her eyes and the cutest floppy ears. Her tiny little paws tried to climb her jumper as she reached up to lick Izzy’s face. ‘She’s gorgeous, Will. What’s her name?’

‘Well, she’s not really mine,’ Will said, and saw Izzy’s disappointment. ‘I actually got her for you. She’s yours.’ He shrugged, trying not to make a big deal out of his gesture. ‘Seeing as you weren’t home to name her, I decided to call her Gully. It just seemed to fit, don’t you think?’ Leaning over he kissed her tender lips again. ‘I picked her because she had a lot of spunk and she reminded me of you. I hope you like her. I figured you’re going to need a good sheepdog, seeing as you have the family farm to run now.’

Words could not describe how deliriously happy Izzy felt. To think she had spent so many years hating him, and now she was completely gaga over the bloke. She had never known such a compassionate and generous man.

‘There is just one thing, though,’ said Will, his tone suddenly serious. ‘Gully is used to living at my place and I can’t bear the thought of her leaving, so you’re just gonna have to move in with us.’ Will flashed a devilish look filled with lust. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll make an honest woman of you,’ he said with a wink before grabbing the top of her jeans and pulling her hips close to his.

Izzy shut the puppy back in the car and snuggled into Will’s hard body. ‘I’m counting on it,’ she sighed against his chest. Breathing deeply the scent of fresh clothes, soap and Will, Izzy was filled with a sense of being home.

Will nuzzled into her neck eager to continue, but she pulled back. ‘And don’t you think I’m going to be chained to the sink. Oh, and you can wash your own socks too. I’ve smelt those feet.’

Will laughed, picked her up and sat her on the bonnet of his ute. Wriggling between her thighs, he pulled her close. ‘Now, where were we?’

GULLY rushed past Izzy’s legs and around the side of the verandah. It was early evening and the large yellow sun was making its descent, casting the earth in an orange glow. The floorboards groaned as Izzy followed her dog around the corner. Gully had already jumped up onto the old couch and was greeting Will. Will was rubbing her ears and patting her head, and in response Gully’s tail belted the edge of the couch. He smiled into her shiny brown eyes. ‘How ya going, girl?’

‘Oh, you know, so-so,’ said Izzy, appearing around the corner. Her blue singlet and shorts were covered in grease and dust and there was a lengthy gap where her long legs trailed down to her boots.

Will looked up and smiled. The glow from the sun had turned her skin a shimmering gold. ‘Hey, gorgeous. How was your day?’

Izzy sat down next to Will. Automatically he put his arm around her shoulders, his fingers absentmindedly stroking the tiny scar on her shoulder. She snuggled into his naked chest and felt his heartbeat against her cheek. ‘Okay. Dad’s dragged out all the bookwork and we’re slowly going through it. I’m loading it all onto the computer and Dad’s just completely lost. But I’m happy doing it. We went and did a few jobs after lunch and we’re gonna do the fence in the white dam paddock tomorrow and I’m sure we’ll butt heads occasionally. But of course, it’s nothing I can’t handle.’

Will kissed her on her forehead. ‘That’s my girl. Want a beer?’

‘I thought you’d never ask.’

Will handed over a cold stubbie, and Gully curled herself up between their feet. There was hardly a sound except for the crickets and a hiss as Izzy cracked open her beer.

Will tapped his foot nervously against the floorboards. He’d been waiting for her to return all day, for there was an engagement ring burning a hole in his shorts and people hiding in his house. ‘Blake rang before. He said he’ll be down soon. He’s catching up with Dean and wants to drop in and see us.’

‘About time he came for a visit. Seeing as we were up there in January, when Chloe was born. With Simone and Mickey’s wedding, we’ll be back up there again in September. I hope they visit us before then too. What day is he coming?’

Will smiled. ‘In a month, so in March some time.’ A blatant lie, for he knew damn well they were all hiding in the back room of the house, probably trying hard to keep Chloe from crying out and giving them away. They had their car parked in the bush on the other side of the house so as not to give the game away. He’d told them he was going to propose to Izzy and they were over the moon and insisted on coming down straightaway to celebrate. He couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when they came out after his signal.

‘Oh, that long,’ Izzy said sadly. Leaning forward, she gave Gully a splash of beer in her empty bowl. ‘Just enough to wet your chops and no more, okay?’

Will smiled and said, ‘We can head up any time you want, kiddo, if you’re missing them that much.’

‘Go and get some more SAMM rams while we’re there, hey?’

Will tilted her chin up and kissed her lips softly. ‘Ah, a woman after my own heart, always thinking of the farm. I just hope you think about me that much.’

Izzy kissed him back and then nestled into his shoulder. ‘Heaps more.’ She took a sip from her beer and closed her eyes against the bright glare. She breathed him in and sighed. ‘This is just perfect.’

The sun dipped further down towards the horizon and Will needed no better sign to reach into his pocket. He moved off the couch and knelt on the verandah, while Gully took the chance to lick him. He said the words quickly as his chest was in his throat and his blood pumped in his ears. ‘Izzy, you know I love you. Will you marry me?’ He held up the engagement ring – a thick gold band with three large diamonds set into it and clusters of smaller ones on the side. Will knew she wouldn’t want anything high and impractical – she was a working woman and, God, did he love that about her. He watched her face, which was dead serious, and his heart skipped a beat.

‘Took you bloody long enough, William.’

Then she smiled and he felt like a floating cloud.

‘Is that a yes, kiddo?’ he asked as he knelt there holding out the ring with the sun setting behind them.

‘You bet your cute arse it is.’ Izzy held out her hand and let him slip it on her finger. ‘Now, get off the floor and come and kiss me!’

Will stood up and whistled as loudly as he could as the excitement brewed up from his chest into his throat.

Izzy heard the sound of feet clattering and doors opening and closing and looked up at Will. ‘You cheeky devil. Is that our parents in there waiting?’ Will just smiled and let her believe what she wanted. He held out his hand and pulled Izzy up before kissing her and spinning her around to face the onslaught of people.

First was Blake with a ‘Howdy, stranger’. He was deeply tanned and had shaved his head, making him ruggedly handsome. He was followed by Simone, who had already lost whatever baby weight she’d gained and had her hair back in a necessary mum-style ponytail. ‘Surprise! I hope you’ve said yes!’ And finally Mickey holding Chloe, who was in the prettiest pink dress with matching headband and was cooing at her fingers. Will watched Izzy’s mouth drop and her face drain of colour. It took her twenty seconds before she could react.

‘Holy hell! What the devil are you lot doing here?’ she said finally, then began to hug them all furiously. She saved Chloe for last and prised her out of Mickey’s arms for a cuddle and lots of kisses.

Will couldn’t wipe the smile off his face and as Izzy turned to him with Chloe snuggled in her arms and a glow like that of an angel, he knew they were going to have a very happy future together. Izzy reached out and hugged him close, savouring the moment.

Firstly, I’d like to thank my Uncle Mocka and Aunty Di for the use of their farm name Gumlea for this book (even though the farm in the book is fictional). Gumlea is where I spent a lot of my childhood and I have many, many happy memories of time spent there with my cousins and brother Chad.

To Rachael Jensen, who provided the inspiration behind Izzy, from there the story grew.

My dear friends Jim Jim and Lynnie Stewart, and also Aunty Ida – I owe you all a huge thanks. Without your support, enthusiasm and encouragement this book never would have seen daylight.

To Margaret Cole and our writers group, who helped me to believe that what I was doing was important, as well as adding some much-needed self-belief!

To my Aunty Flossy, thank you for your support and endless help in getting these words printed, and Uncle Lionel, for giving me some great pointers and proofreading everything for me.

To Myra Harradine, thanks for all the times my kids came to play at your place; it was the best time to do some writing.

I’d like to thank the ASA and its mentorship program, and Janet Woods for her mentoring. It was a huge learning experience.

Thanks to Arwen Summers for pulling my letter out of the slush pile. It’s amazing to have my first book published. To Ali Watts and Anne Rogan from Penguin, thanks for being such an ease to work with and so encouraging.

A special thank you to everyone in my hometown of Pingaring. You make it unique and a great place to call home!

To Jacinta Holmes, everyone needs a close friend when you live where we do. Thanks for always being there. And to Wendy Saunders, you make me laugh – thanks for finding our town and becoming my neighbour and friend!

Thank you to my mum, Sue Hicks, who read everything I wrote hot off the printer, and to the rest of the family and friends who gave their eyes to these words. Also my dad, who I’m like in so many ways – I love you to bits. To my brother Chad, Mel, and in-laws Leanne, Michael, Bob and Coralie – you’re an awesome family to be a part of. To my cousins, who are like my sisters – you guys are the best. I am blessed to have such a great family.

But most importantly, to my husband Darryl – where would I be without your love and support. I got lucky the day they put me to work on the same bin as you. Thanks for putting up with me. I know you and the kids were partly neglected while this story was born. And to our gorgeous children Mac and Blake, you are my little angels. I love you all very much.