Queen of the Road (9 page)

Then there was the added complication of Claudia. She’d gone off with Leanne, who seemed very nice and happy to have an extra child for a while, but if Angela was going to do this run for a
month, she’d need to get more organised. Maybe it would have been better to leave Claudia in Melbourne, but a month was a long time to be apart. And there was no way Angela was going to give Janice the satisfaction of thinking she was right.

A small black spider scurried away from Angela’s bare foot as she stepped into the kitchen. She froze and watched till it stopped beside the leg of the table, then she cast her eyes around for a weapon. One of Claudia’s shoes sat discarded near the door and the spider was quickly dispatched.

Cautiously, Angela eased herself into a chair and glanced around. She wondered what other creepy-crawlies were hidden in the corners of the grotty little flat. Ken had given her a choice between this place and a small house on the other side of town. The house was closer to the shops and a park, but it came with a garden that needed to be maintained. The flat, however, was near the depot. It was basic, but Angela didn’t plan for them to be in it much anyway. They’d be in the truck or at the depot most of the time, not tending to gardens or making house.

She recalled the surprised look on Ken’s face when he realised she was the driver. He’d been speechless for a full minute as he blatantly
looked her up and down. Then the disappointment flooded his face. It rankled Angela to know he didn’t think she was capable of the job, but she was keen for her father’s business to do well so she bit back the retort she wanted to spit at Ken and put on her best smile. Then she reassured him that she was only the fill-in driver until her father could get a permanent person to do the job.

Ken accepted this explanation and looked embarrassed when he showed her the flat. Obviously he’d thought a man wouldn’t care, and this annoyed her as well. Whoever the truck driver was, they were entitled to a decent place to call home.

Angela pushed aside the remains of the casserole Leanne had given her for dinner. It was delicious and Angela felt overwhelmed by the kind gesture. Not only had Jim’s wife looked after Claudia all afternoon – and offered to have her again – but she’d cooked for them as well. Angela knew she’d have to get into a good routine or she and Claud would be eating too much fast food. And while it was tempting to buy the easy options, they were costly, and Angela had already added more to her credit card on the way over. She was determined to use this opportunity to cut back her debts. Maybe it would also be a chance to think about the future for her and Claud.

Her phone jingled with an incoming message, reminding her of the one from her father that had come through while she was unloading at the IGA.

She pulled the phone from her pocket and smiled. It was from Kate. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she read the message: she hoped things were going okay and reassured Angela that she was missed. Kate was a true friend. She’d stuck with Angela through good and bad. Angela sent a quick reply then went back to her father’s message. She smiled as she read that one too and the tears quickly dried up.

How are things going? Garry to chat anytime. Sing of when you free
.

Why his phone turned ‘Happy’ to
Garry
she had no idea. That was a new one.
Sing of
was ‘Ring me’. She sighed and looked at her watch. It was too late to call now. She dropped the phone onto the table. She’d ring him in the morning and let Claudia have a chat as well.

But no sooner had she thought this than the phone began to sing and vibrate. She glanced at the screen as she snatched it up. ‘Hi Dad.’

‘Angel. How are you? Not too tired? I didn’t wake you, did I? I just got in at the depot and thought I’d give you a quick call. How are things going?’

Angela’s head spun from his barrage of questions. ‘I’m exhausted but I’ll be in bed soon. You’re working late though.’

‘Nothing much has changed since you left, but we’re managing.’ He paused. ‘How did Big Red behave?’

‘Perfect gentleman. All I did was steer.’

‘And how’s Munirilla?’ he asked.

‘After they got over the shock of finding out their driver was a woman, you mean?’

He paused again. ‘I though it might be easier for them to accept you if they–’

‘If they were expecting a man and got me?’

‘No, I …’

‘It’s okay, Dad.’ Angela was too tired to press the issue. If her father hadn’t been so secretive there would have been no surprise, but most people had been welcoming anyway. And when it came down to it, it really didn’t matter to her what people at Munirilla thought. ‘No one even noticed I was a woman,’ she joked. She smiled as she remembered the looks on Jim’s and Ronnie’s faces. She’d had that reaction several times over the day. ‘Except maybe Ken Harris, he seemed a bit put out.’

‘You’ll be able to charm him.’

‘Maybe. The depot’s pretty run down. There’s a lot of work to do there.’

‘You organise it how you think. If you need anything, book it up to the company. You don’t have to worry about the customer accounts. Shell will organise those from Adelaide. All you have to do is pick up and drop off freight.’

‘I’ve still got to track it so Shell will know when and where to send the accounts though.’ Shell was Ranger Transport’s depot manager in Adelaide. She organised all the cargo and looked after the clients there.

‘I’m organising a laptop,’ he said. ‘Should have it ready for you soon, but I’ve no doubt you can manage, Angel.’

‘Thanks Dad.’ She felt encouraged by his faith in her, but he didn’t really know how messy it was at this end.

‘Much freight for the trip back to Adelaide?’

‘Nearly a full load already.’

‘That’s great. How did Claud go?’

‘Apart from eating too many red lollies, she was fine.’

There was a pause then her father murmured apologetically. ‘My fault. I should have given the stash to you.’

‘It was a lesson for her. She’ll get used to life on the road soon, and I think I may have found someone to look after her while I’m busy at the depot.’

‘I’m glad she’s okay. Janice has been asking about her … About both of you, of course.’

Of course
, thought Angela, feeling her grip tighten on the phone. ‘We’re fine.’

‘You sure? Janice said I wasn’t thinking about Claudia’s needs, letting her go off with you. I just imagined it would be a big adventure for her. You used to come on long runs with me when you were her age.’

‘She’s all right, Dad. Fast asleep, dreaming as we speak.’

‘I’m glad. It’s best she’s with you.’

‘Where else would she be?’

‘Well, we’re her grandparents. She could have stayed with us.’

‘You’re even busier than me.’

‘Janice would have looked after her. I think she’s really missing Claudia.’

Angela frowned. ‘It’s only a month. And as you said, I used to go with you. It’s a great holiday for Claudia, a life experience.’

‘Good. I’ll be able to reassure Janice that all’s well.’

‘Mummy?’ Claudia’s drowsy voice, calling from the bedroom, startled Angela.

‘I’ve got to go, Dad. I’ll ring you tomorrow.’

She hung up quickly as Claudia called again. Angela crossed the drab living space and stuck her head through the door of the only furnished bedroom. The dull glow from the bedside lamp illuminated Claudia’s sleepy face in the middle of the double bed. The room smelled musty but at least Angela knew the sheets and quilt were clean – she’d brought those with her.

‘What’s the matter, Claud?’

‘Something’s scratching.’

Angela pulled the sheet back quickly. ‘Is something biting you?’

‘No, something’s
scratching.’
Claudia turned her head and her eyes fluttered shut.

Angela lay down beside her. Perhaps she’d been dreaming. Even though it sagged, the bed was quite comfy, and her every aching muscle began to relax. She knew she should get undressed before she fell asleep, but it was so peaceful just lying there.

Then a scratching sound came from behind her. She stiffened, then slowly raised her head and listened intently. Claudia wasn’t imagining it after all.

The scratching came again. Angela sat up quickly and glared at the wall but the light from the lamp wasn’t enough to show anything in the gloom.

She eased off the bed and tiptoed to her backpack to fetch a torch. Dropping onto her hands and knees, she lifted the edge of the quilt and ran the beam under the bed. A thick layer of fluff covered the old lino floor but nothing else was in sight. She flicked the torch from side to side at the head of the bed. A lump caught her eye, right near the bedside table. She grabbed one of her boots and shuffled a little closer. The lump didn’t move. Holding her breath, Angela thumped it hard with her boot. It stayed where it was. Carefully, she dragged it out.

A giggle escaped her lips and she flopped her head back against the bed. She had successfully flattened a sock – it must have been left by the last tenant. And a long time ago, judging by the layer of dust on it.

Angela sighed. She was about to pull herself up when she heard the scratching again. She dropped down quietly, shone the torch under the bed and wriggled further in. The sound seemed to be coming from the wall. She shone the torch along the skirting boards, into the corners and behind the wardrobe. There were no obvious gaps. Whatever was wriggling around in there couldn’t get into the bedroom. At least, she hoped it couldn’t.

Coop drove slowly behind the group of ewes while Jilly did the hard work keeping them together. The sheep were in no hurry to be moved though, and he couldn’t blame them. They were as round as berries and nearly ready to drop. He and Alice had discussed moving them to a paddock closer to the house for lambing.

It was going well but a single misgiving continued to gnaw at Coop as he watched the sheep amble forward. Before he’d urged them out he’d had Jilly move them past his ute so he could count them. There were five missing, or so it seemed. Missing stock created suspicion.

The paddock was at the back of Alice’s property. It was bordered by the Camerons on one side, a reserve at the back, and a road on the other side, over which was the Barnes’ farm. There were no sheep down anywhere that he could see, and even though the roadside fence had been partly damaged a week ago, there was no sign any sheep had actually gone through it. The mob of seventy was, by
his reckoning, down to sixty-five. Coop wished he was wrong, but deep down he knew his count was reliable.

He cast his eyes over the fence. After the rain, there were a couple of hints of green in the stubble of last year’s barley crop. This wasn’t a good sign. That was where Alice wanted to sew her lucerne and it needed to be kept weed-free. He’d read about farmers who’d planted lucerne and ryegrass combinations and used these to increase their prime lamb production. Alice had contacted a few who’d had success, and was keen to give the lucerne a go herself, along with the Dohne-Merino cross lambs, to try for better returns. Coop was interested in her ideas and happy to play his part.

Without any formal agricultural training, Coop had learnt most things on the job. He liked animals, and preferred working with sheep to cattle, but generally tried his hand at whatever came his way. His mother had let him down so many times but she did bring Jeff Vickers into their lives, and for that Coop was eternally grateful. It was on Jeff’s property, as a young teenager, that he discovered his interest in animals and farming in general. And it was Jeff who’d given him the opportunity to turn his life around when, as an eighteen-year-old, he’d been making all the wrong choices.

Coop gazed off into the distance and instead of Alice’s dusty paddocks he saw the extended pastures of Jeff’s Queensland property. He’d been truly happy there, if only for a short time, and Jeff had been the father he never had.

Jilly barked a quick short note and brought him back to the present. They were nearing the gate where he could funnel the sheep for another headcount. Jilly gently urged the ewes through. Coop watched and counted carefully, then pulled the gate shut behind the last of them. He frowned. The second count only confirmed the accuracy of the first – sixty-five sheep, not seventy.

He leaned on the gate, watching them discover their new home. Jilly sat at his feet, panting softly. He gave her a pat.

‘Well, Jilly, there’s a bit of trouble.’

The dog pricked her ears at him, then went back to panting and watching the sheep.

‘Trouble with a capital T,’ Coop murmured. He checked the gate was secure. ‘Come on, girl. We’d better head back to the barley.’

The dog followed him and jumped onto the tray. Coop cast a final look over the mob then turned his vehicle around, the bad feeling remaining as he drove away.

***

Coop hadn’t intended to be in town again so soon, but there were definitely weeds showing in Alice’s barley paddock. He’d called her agronomist, who’d come out for a look, and they’d discussed what needed to be done. Now Coop had to go and pick up the spray.

Coop entered the stock and station agency and walked along the rows to the counter, but there was no one in sight. He stood for a moment, then heard the murmur of voices approaching from the back of the shop. A phone rang and he heard Ken Harris answer it from the office.

Meanwhile, the voices stopped in one of the rows. He could see through the shelves that they were unloading boxes from a sack truck. It was Ronnie and the new young lad.

‘She’s on the ball,’ Ronnie said. ‘I reckon she’ll have that office knocked into shape in no time.’

‘Yeah?’ the lad replied.

‘She must be able to manage a rig. Drove all the way from Melbourne, no probs.’

‘Yeah?’

Coop’s interest was piqued. He gathered Ronnie was talking about Angela, but he hadn’t realised she was the driver. Maybe she shared the driving with her husband.

‘Works hard too. Not a slacker off painting her fingernails and fluffing her hair. And she’s raised a smart little kid on her own.’

‘Yeah?’

This piqued Coop’s interest even more. Perhaps there wasn’t a Mr Angela, after all.

‘To top it all off, she’s a good looker with a great set of–’

‘Haven’t you blokes got anything to do?’

Ken’s bellow startled him as well as the yard workers. Coop turned quickly to see the older man standing behind the counter, his face like thunder.

‘We’ve got a customer and you two are lazing about like girls.’

‘Sorry Ken,’ Ronnie muttered.

‘Hurry up and get that gear unloaded,’ Ken snapped. ‘If you’ve got time to gossip you can go home early and save me some money.’

Footsteps accompanied the squeaking trolley as they retreated to the back of the shop. Coop had never seen this side of Ken. He’d always found him an amiable man.

‘Don’t fuss on my account, Ken. I only just walked in.’

‘The spray you need is out by the back door. Sign for it and I’ll give Ronnie a yell to bring it round.’

Coop took the paper Ken held out. ‘No problem. I’ll drive round the back.’

Ken’s face softened and he ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Sorry Coop. I shouldn’t lose my cool, but Ronnie’s been on a go-slow lately and he’s not teaching the new lad good work habits. This freight business is wearing me a bit thin as well. I’m stretched to the max and I’m not sure we’ve secured a carrier after all. I’ve just been on the phone with the head bod in Melbourne. I think he’s stringing me along.’

‘What’s the problem?’

‘He told me a few porkies.’

Coop pictured the gleaming truck in the yard and the efficient woman in the office, who also, it now turned out, was the driver.

‘Like what?’

‘He told me he was sending an enthusiastic young driver. Turns out it’s his daughter – a single mother who’s brought the kid with her.’

Coop shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Ken was a good bloke but some of his ideas were a bit old-fashioned.

‘Can’t see he’s told you any untruths,’ Coop said gently.

‘What?’

‘I met her when I went to collect Alice’s freight. Angela seemed very organised and bright, pretty capable, if you ask me.’

Ken searched his face carefully. ‘Yes, well, it’s a big job making regular runs to Adelaide and back. She’s only a tiny thing and she’s got a four-year-old.’

Normally Coop didn’t interfere in other people’s business. And even though he hardly knew Angela, he felt the urge to defend her.

‘I think you should give her a chance, Ken. She’s made it this far. I don’t reckon her old man would have sent her if he didn’t think she could do it.’

‘I wish he’d at least warned me. There’s nowhere decent for her to stay.’

‘I’m sure she’ll manage.’

‘That’s what he said. Angel, he calls her.’ Ken gave a snort. ‘I assumed it was a nickname for some burly truckie. How was I supposed to know she’d be a woman?’

Coop shifted his weight back to his other foot. He really couldn’t see what difference being a woman made, but it
was
none of his business, and it didn’t sound like Ken was going to change his mind in a hurry.

‘I’d better get going,’ he said. ‘Conditions are looking good for an early start on spraying in the morning.’

‘Good luck,’ Ken said.

Coop strode out of the shop, unable to help the little spring in his step. He knew it was stupid. He’d hardly said two words to Angela, but finding out she was single had put a whole different light on the day.