Queen of the Road (8 page)

Angela heard them coming across the muddy yard, two men chatting comfortably like old mates. The rain had stopped at last and the early morning air was crisp and still. After a bit of sleep, she was feeling slightly better than she had last night.

By the time she and Claudia had reached Munirilla it was dark and wet. Angela had managed to find the depot and park the truck under a sign she could barely read – something ‘Transport’. But all she’d had the strength to do then was send her father a text to say they’d made it and crawl into the bunk beside Claudia.

Now, as she leaned against the side of the truck, sipping a fresh cup of tea and eating one of Jenny’s day-old sandwiches, listening to the approach of her first contacts in Munirilla, her confidence waned once again.

‘It’s a decent rig, Jimbo,’ one of the voices said.

‘Yeah Ronnie. At last we’ve got ourselves back on the map.’

‘Thanks to Ken.’

‘Yeah, I guess.’

‘Good load on board too. Do you reckon he’s brought everything?’

‘Don’t think so. There were a lot of tanks on order, and a couple of small sheds. Where do you reckon the driver is? Still sleeping?’

‘Dreaming with the fairies, more like. What kind of a guy is called Angel anyway?’

‘Could be an Italian, you know, as in “Angelo”.’

Angela straightened up as the two men, one tall and one short, came round the front of the truck.

‘Well, well, well,’ the short one said. ‘This Angel fellow’s one lucky son of a gun. He’s brought the missus with him.’

The reason behind her father’s vagueness now hit Angela with a thud.
The rogue didn’t tell anyone he was sending a female truckie
. Maybe so they didn’t have the chance to object, maybe to give her the opportunity to create an impression without being prejudged. Whatever his motive, it didn’t matter now. She was here, she was the driver, she was the manager of this depot, and there was a lot of work to be done. Sucking in a deep breath, she straightened her short frame and stepped forward.

‘I’m Angela,’ she said, looking from one to the other. She smiled. ‘Some people call me Angel.’

The two men looked at each other, then back at Angela. The taller guy recovered first and shook her hand. ‘Jim,’ he said with a nod of his head. ‘Some people call me Jimbo.’

The short one swore softly under his breath. Angela turned to him.

‘You must be Ronnie. Mind your language, okay.’ She jerked a finger towards the cabin. ‘I’ve got a four-year-old on board.’

‘Well, I’ll be …’ Ronnie mumbled as he shook her hand.

Jim laughed. ‘You’re a sight for sore eyes, that’s for sure. Welcome Angela. Or maybe we’ll stick with Angel, ‘cause that’s what you’ll
be around here after delivering this lot.’ He slapped the side of the truck.

Ken Harris was out of town but he’d sent Jim and Ronnie to help. They used their battered forklift and the one Angela had brought, and unloaded while she did the paperwork in the office. Claudia had woken up in a much better mood and, being used to truck yards, she kept within the confines of the office and its small verandah.

News of Angela’s arrival travelled fast. The next few hours were so busy she didn’t have time to worry about the stunned looks and surprised silences from each new client. She received a short text from her father who was happy they’d arrived safely. In the back of her mind she stored some notes for the little conversation she’d have with him later, but for now she had a steady flow of vehicles coming into the yard, their owners hoping their goods were part of Angela’s cargo. She’d prepared herself for some difficult customers, but even if their items weren’t part of the load, no one complained. Last night’s rain was the talk of the day, and the way they were speaking, it was as if Angela had transported that into town as well.

Claudia proved to be a sweetener too. She smiled and chatted to everyone, and alternated between exploring the tiny office, playing with her toys, and watching the comings and goings from a broken seat on the verandah.

Eventually, the traffic to Angela’s door stopped and so did the forklifts. Jim stuck his head in the office.

‘The rest of the load is for the IGA. We’re going to get some lunch.’

Angela looked up from the pile of paper she was sorting on the gritty desk. Her stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten since the half a sandwich she’d started the day with.

Claudia stood beside her. ‘I’m hungry, Mummy,’ she said in a little voice.

Angela stood up and scooped her daughter onto her hip. ‘You haven’t eaten anything today, you poor pumpkin.’

‘Do you want a lift?’ Jim offered.

‘We don’t need much. Is there a deli or a supermarket nearby?’

‘Depends what you call “nearby”,’ he chuckled. ‘The whole town is in walking distance if you have the time.’

Behind her, the phone rang. Angela turned to look at the old handset. It was coated with grime; she hadn’t even thought it worked. Claudia wriggled from her arms as she picked up the receiver. She hesitated, but a sharp, enquiring ‘hello’ boomed in her ear, forcing her to answer.

‘Ranger Transport, how can I help you?’

There was a brief pause before a man responded, although all she caught was ‘Frank’ and ‘IGA’. Claudia was tugging at her arm.

‘Mummy, I’m
hungry.’

Angela glanced down at her daughter, putting one arm around her shoulder and pulling her in close while she listened to Frank. Half the truck was loaded with supplies for his supermarket. It would take the rest of today and some of tomorrow to unload it. Claudia slipped out of her hold again and Angela dug the fingers of her free hand into the tender muscles at the back of her neck. Every part of her was aching.

She listened carefully as Frank described where his shop was and where she could pull in to unload. From the sound of it, the trailer would need to be unhooked first.

When she hung up, Claudia was dancing around her.

‘Mummy, Jimbo said I can go to his place. He’s got kids.’

‘I’ve rung the missus,’ Jim said, waving his mobile at her. ‘She’s happy to have an extra for a while.’

‘I don’t …’ Angela muttered. ‘I couldn’t impose.’

‘Please, Mummy.’

Angela looked down as Claudia tugged at her hand. This was all so complicated. She didn’t know Jim or his wife. She didn’t know anyone, for that matter. How on earth had she thought she could manage the business
and
Claudia? Once again Janice’s words came back to haunt her.

‘There’s always extras at our place,’ Jim said. ‘Leanne will come and pick Claudia up – you can meet her then.’

‘Please, Mummy,’ Claudia begged again.

Another vehicle pulled up outside and the phone began to ring once more. Angela knew she was out of her depth. She made a quick decision.

‘Okay, thanks Jim.’

‘Yes!’ Claudia yelled, jumping up and down on the spot.

‘It’ll only be for a couple of hours, until I can get some order here,’ Angela said.

‘Claudia can have lunch at our place and I’ll bring you something back from the shop,’ Jim said.

Claudia skipped to the door.

‘Don’t go away,’ Angela called as she reached for the phone.

‘I’ll watch her,’ Jim said. ‘Leanne’s on her way over now.’

‘Ranger Transport,’ Angela spoke into the phone, sliding her sore body into the old wooden chair. She gave a brief thought to the bubble bath she’d shared with Claudia back in Melbourne. It already seemed so long ago. Then she picked up her pen and gave her full attention to the person on the end of the line.

***

Coop got out of his ute and looked at the truck with ‘Ranger Transport’ printed on its door. He’d noticed the name, ‘Big Red’, in bold letters above its window as he’d driven into the yard. It was an impressive rig, fairly new too – hopefully a sign that Ranger Transport was going to stick with the run.

He walked around the front of his ute and nodded to Jim and Ronnie, deep in conversation at the other end of the office verandah. A little girl with blonde hair, dressed in hot pink pants and a bright green shirt had hold of a verandah pole and was spinning herself around it.

‘Hello,’ she said as he moved to step past her.

‘Hello,’ Coop replied.

‘I’m Claudia. I’m going to Jimbo’s house.’

Coop looked down at the little girl. She’d stopped spinning and was studying him with her big brown eyes.

‘Hi Claudia. I’m Coop.’

‘Have you come to pick something up or drop something off?’ She stood with her hands on her hips, her cheeks flushed from spinning and her hair fluffed out in all directions.

Coop smiled. Normally he evaded busybodies, but this one was very charming. ‘I’m hoping there’s a parcel for me, Claudia.’

‘You have to wait. My mum’s on the phone. Then she has to meet Leanne. Then she can look for your parcel.’

‘Your mum?’

‘Her name’s Angela.’ The little girl dropped her arms and puffed out her chest. ‘She drove Big Red here for Grandpa, all the way from Melbourne. That’s where we live, but we’re having a venture in Money Real.’

She said the last words very importantly, then grabbed the pole and began swinging around it again, singing to herself.

Coop couldn’t help the smile that formed on his lips. It seemed he’d been dismissed. He wondered if Claudia took after her mother or her father.

The screen door of the office was closed and he couldn’t see through it. He swung it open and stepped inside.

The woman on the phone glanced up to acknowledge his presence, then continued talking and making notes. There was no one else inside – she must be Claudia’s mother.

Coop pulled off his hat and looked around the office. It hadn’t been used in a long time by the look of things. Someone had attempted to clean out the dust and cobwebs and had brushed the windows with a broom – he could see the bristle marks in the stubborn dirt. The walls were solid, made of large cement bricks that had once been painted pale green but now just looked murky. There was a door in the back wall through which he could see a rusty sink. The only furniture was a couple of old chairs under the front window and the desk and chair occupied by the woman before him. Along one side of the room was an assortment of parcels, large and small, set out on the floor. Coop scanned them, hoping he’d find his parts amongst them.

‘Can I help you?’

He turned to the desk. The woman had put down the phone. Her hazel eyes looked tired and wisps of her long, fair hair, the same colour as Claudia’s, had escaped her ponytail to flop around her face. She stood up from her chair and rubbed the back of her neck. She was only short and looked almost vulnerable, but something about the set of her face made Coop think she was stronger than she appeared at that particular moment.

He held out his hand. ‘I’m Coop. You must be Angela.’

The hand she’d been about to offer hesitated. ‘How …?’

‘I met Claudia outside,’ he grinned. ‘She got me up to speed.’

Angela held his gaze for a brief moment then her lips formed a smile. Coop saw a glimpse of sparkle in her eyes.

‘Oh, that’s my shy, retiring four-year-old.’ Angela shook her head. ‘She’s spent a lot of time in truck yards, I’m afraid.’

Her hand took his in a firm shake, then quickly let go. Coop could still feel the softness of her touch. He looked down at his hand.

‘Have you come to collect something or send something?’ she asked.

‘I’ve …’ His eyes locked with hers, and for a moment he couldn’t speak.

Angela put her head to one side and raised her eyebrows.

Coop pointed to the parcels on the floor. ‘I’m expecting a parcel.’

Angela turned and picked up her clipboard. Coop couldn’t help but notice the way her clothes hugged her in all the right places.

‘What name, Coop?’ Angela held the clipboard in front of her, forcing him to look at her face.

‘Pardon?’

‘You didn’t say Coop who? What’s your last name so I can check my list?’

‘Oh … No …’ Coop struggled to get his mouth to form the words. ‘It will be in my boss’s name. Alice … Alice Tansell.’

Angela consulted her list and Coop noticed the little frown that creased her brow. Right now he didn’t care if the parts were here or not.

‘Tansell, I thought I remembered the name.’ She tapped her clipboard then walked the length of the packages on the floor before stopping and pointing. ‘It’s here.’

‘Mummy, she’s here!’

Claudia’s loud call startled Coop. He dragged his eyes from Angela’s face to the box she was indicating.

‘Mummy!’

Angela made a sharp clicking sound. ‘Claudia, please calm down. I’m coming.’ She offered Coop the clipboard. ‘Can you sign here?’

Coop signed the sheet next to Alice’s name and parcel number.

‘You can take the package now.’

‘Sure,’ he stammered.

She gave him a quick smile as she passed him and headed for the door. He listened as she quietly cajoled her daughter. Her voice faded as she walked away.

Coop stood for a moment, imagining that Angela was still in the room. It was a long time since a woman had stirred any interest in him, and it had taken him by surprise. He shook his head and came to his senses. Why was he even contemplating this? He was envious of Angela’s husband, sure, but Coop wasn’t the sort to chase another man’s wife. And he wasn’t looking to complicate his life right now anyway.

Coop pushed his Akubra firmly into place and stooped to collect his package. He had plenty of work to do after last night’s rain, he thought. That would keep him busy. There wouldn’t be any more trips to town for a while.

***

Angela waved to the bloke in the ute as he drove out of the yard, but he wasn’t looking in her direction. She struggled to remember his name as she stepped onto the verandah and slumped into the seat. Coop, that was it. He hadn’t said much and he’d acted quite aloof, but there was a raffish gleam in his green eyes and she’d seen him look her up and down. He was a good-looking guy, that was for sure.

Angela sighed and smoothed the loose strands of hair back to redo her ponytail. After her recent experiences with men, there was no way she was going to go looking for more trouble, especially while she was in Munirilla. Besides, she was going to be too busy. She had to get this office into shape, for starters, and work out a system for package storage and retrieval before she headed back to Adelaide with the next load. And from what she’d seen and heard, she’d have plenty to backfill with already.