Right As Rain (17 page)

“He'll probably head off again soon.” Mackenna tidied a pile of clothes dumped on the floor.

Louise cast her eyes around the large room. “Why don't we bring over the tallboy from the top bedroom?” she said. “It's not being used and it would suit the bed and the room perfectly.”

“That'd be great.”

“We'll get the men to wrestle it. It's such a heavy old thing. Might be good that Adam's still here.”

Mackenna stood tall and put her hands on her hips.

“Mum, Adam and I met on holiday. He's just a friend. Don't go making more out of it than that.”

“I'm not.” A flood of relief swept over Louise. Thank goodness Lyle was wrong and there was still a chance for Hugh. “I just meant it will probably take three of them to move it and I'd rather one of them wasn't your father.”

Mackenna's frown changed to concern. “He's alright, isn't he? What did the doctor say?”

“Yes, he's fine. I'm trying to convince him to take this New Zealand holiday before lambing but you know what he's like. Won't leave the place.”

“Well maybe I can help.” Mackenna slipped her arm through Louise's and they walked together. “I think he should go and check out those two farms I visited near Queenstown. Maybe I can convince him it's a business trip.”

Louise nudged her daughter. “Thanks, Mack,” she said. She hoped Mackenna was right. Once upon a time Mackenna could have convinced Lyle to do anything but in his current mood even she might have trouble.

“We really need a holiday,” she said.

They stopped at the edge of the verandah and looked up at the clearing sky.

“Damn!”They said in unison.

“Hopefully there'll be some more rain again soon. “Lyle cast his eyes to the sky. “The forecast sounds promising for the weekend.”

Mackenna looked back at the paddock they'd just sown. The soil looked dark and rich in spite of the drier than normal summer. With the seed in the ground all they needed was the rain to produce some excellent pasture, but she still had her doubts. Sowing before they had a good rain was her father's idea. The twenty millimetres they got a few days back had galvanised him into action and she'd gone along with it.

“I'll move the seeder over to Murphy's place ready for an early start in the morning,” she said.

“Didn't you say you had an appointment in town? I can shift the machinery.”

“I've got time,” she said. “You head home, Dad. Ask Mum or Patrick to come and pick me up.”

“I'd rather not just yet.”

“But you look worn out.”

“I'm okay. I had a restless night. Didn't sleep much.” He moved along the seeder checking the hoses. “Where's Adam today?”

His question took her by surprise. At dinner last night Adam had been asking about the caves. She was up early and out on the tractor and hadn't been up to the house today. “Doing tourist things, I think.”

“Shouldn't you be looking after your guest a little better?”

Her father's weary expression had been swapped for a strange half smile.

“Shouldn't you be minding your own business?” she said.

He ran his hand over a hose. “Have we got enough fertiliser ready for tomorrow?”

“We were running a bit low. I asked Cam to pick some up today. He's going to do the first shift in the morning.”

“How are you finding him?”

Mack glared at her father. “Is this another personal question?”

“You're being a bit touchy.” Lyle leant back against the tractor wheel and folded his arms. “Must be what comes from two blokes making goggle eyes at you.”

Mackenna felt a wave of heat flow through her. “What are you talking about?”

“Adam's obviously totally smitten with you.”

Mackenna opened her mouth to protest but her father cut her off.

“And Cam's got his eye on you as well.”

“Cam!” Mackenna scrunched her face up in a frown. “Dad, you've lost the plot.”

“You may have noticed he's not hanging around the house as much since Adam's been here.”

“What's that got to do with anything?” Mackenna cast her mind back over the last few weeks. She'd been too busy to give Cam much thought other than the work he did for them. He liked a joke and sometimes he'd been a bit . . . she wasn't sure what. He had good looks and a good body but that didn't mean . . .

“He seems to know what he's doing.” Lyle's voice cut into her thoughts.

“Yes,” she murmured. “You know, maybe he doesn't like sharing a room with Adam. He wasn't actually given a choice.”

“Adam's a nice bloke.”

“Yes?” Mackenna drew the word out slowly like a question.

“Is there something you're not telling us about him?”

“I don't believe so.” Mackenna opened the tractor cab door and took out her jumper. The air was getting chilly.

“So you reckon Cam will be right to sow those paddocks tomorrow while we organise the crossbreeds for market?”

“I'll be keeping the seed up to him. He says he's done it before and he certainly knows about the machinery.”

“I think he's done some work as a diesel mechanic.”

“Really?” Mackenna rested her chin on her hand and tapped her lips with a finger. “With his truck licence it makes you wonder why he hasn't taken up the money the mines are offering.”

“He's worked with a mechanic. Hasn't got the actual qualification from what I can gather.” Lyle pushed himself forward. “Besides, mine work doesn't suit everyone.”

“I guess not.”

“I've got my second wind now. Hopefully it won't be much longer and I'll be back to my old self – right as rain,” Lyle said. “You drive the tractor and I'll follow in the ute and bring you home.”

Mackenna thought he looked a bit brighter and it was then that she remembered her suggestion she would try to convince him to go on the New Zealand holiday. The trip home together in the ute might be the best chance she'd get.

Louise turned the parcel over again then placed it on the kitchen table where it covered one end and poked out over the edges. It was a large cylindrical shape but not excessively heavy and it was addressed to Lyle. She didn't want to open it, but to her chagrin she was busting to know what was inside. It wasn't his birthday and he rarely received parcels. The odd incentive from a stock and station company maybe, but they were only ever towels or umbrellas.

She snatched up the bag of New Zealand brochures Mackenna had given her and sat at the other end of the table. The information Effie had provided was good for maps and special features, but she wanted to look at Mackenna's collection again. It was full of brochures that had been collected along the way and held snippets of information not necessarily found in the travel guides. There were other assorted bits and pieces that Mackenna had hoarded in the bag, like receipts for train travel, tickets, food menus and a photo of her aboard a jetboat. Louise glanced at Mackenna's smiling face then stopped to look closely at the man next to her. It was Adam. They were sitting close together and, like the other occupants of the boat, they each held an arm aloft in a group wave for the camera.

Louise put the picture to one side and continued sliding papers and brochures from the bag. It was just one of those travel photos people collected, nothing special about it. Mackenna certainly didn't act like there was anything between them.

A couple of sheets slipped from her hand and slid to the floor. As she bent to retrieve them she noticed handwriting on the back of a menu from a takeaway shop in Queenstown. It was a note that began with ‘My dear Aussie princess'. Although it was personal, Louise couldn't stop herself from reading it. Adam had had to go and help a mate, he'd written, but he'd bring back lunch and there was still time for their afternoon jump together. That was the gist of it.

Louise recalled the night Adam had arrived and she'd gone up to the bedroom to make sure he had everything he needed. He and Mackenna had been having words over a note. Louise had heard that much and something about a fling before she'd stepped in to interrupt them.

The words in this note were more than a message – they were intimate. Something a lover might write. And at the very bottom was a mobile phone number. Now she was totally at a loss to understand what was going on. She couldn't believe Mackenna and Adam were close now from the way they acted. It surely must have been only a holiday fling. But why would Adam come all this way to see Mackenna and stay so long? Whatever the reason, he needed to leave soon.

Louise ripped the menu into tiny pieces and pushed it into the bin then she gathered up the pile of brochures she wanted to look at and put the rest back in the bag. Mackenna was seeing quite a lot of Hugh and Louise didn't want anything to stand in the way of that possibility. She could already see a church wedding in her head.

Lyle's parcel attracted her eye again. She ran her hand over the wrapping then turned her back on it. It was time to prepare the evening meal and these days she was never sure how many to expect at her table. She'd gone from cooking for three to cooking for anything up to six if they all turned up, although Cam had let her know he wasn't staying tonight. They'd fallen on their feet employing him. He was able to turn his hand to anything, which helped take the pressure off Lyle, and he was always so polite and helpful around the house – when he was around. That was another reason she'd be glad to see Adam leave. Cam hadn't stayed over as much since Adam had taken up residence.

Louise had the braised steak simmering and was preparing the vegetables when she heard Lyle and Mackenna come in.

“You've got a parcel,” Louise said as soon as Lyle stepped through the door.

“What's that, Dad?” Mackenna asked from right behind him.

Lyle picked up one end and looked at the address.

“Have I missed someone's birthday?” Mackenna went to look at it too.

“No,” Lyle said with a smug look on his face. “Just something I ordered.”

“What is it?” Mackenna asked. Louise wanted to know as well but she was biding her time.

“It's something I ordered for your mother and me.” He gave Louise a proud smile. “You can open it, Lou.”

Louise wiped her hands on her apron and took a pair of scissors from the drawer.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course,” Lyle said. “You do the honours.”

“For goodness sake, will someone open it,” Mackenna said, glaring from one to the other.

Louise cut the tape binding the package together and slid the paper away.

“What is it?” Mackenna peered over her shoulder.

“I don't know yet,” Louise said.

All she could see was something white. She slid the plastic away to reveal some kind of tightly rolled fabric. She squeezed. It felt spongy.

Lyle put his arm around her shoulders. “It's for our bed,” he said. “It goes between the mattress and the bottom sheet and is supposed to give you a good night's sleep.”

“That's a nice surprise,” Mackenna said. A smile hovered at the corners of her mouth. “Perhaps you'd better tell her your other surprise, Dad, while we're on a roll.”

Louise was trying to keep the emotion from her face but she wasn't sure she was going to like Lyle's next surprise any more then she had the first.

“Oh yes,” he said. His grin spread wider. He guided her to a chair. “You'd better sit down, Lou.”

Louise shook herself free of his arm. “I'm not sitting down and you can stop being silly, the pair of you.” She'd endured enough suspense for one day. “What's going on?”

“Am I missing something?” Patrick wandered into the kitchen and lifted the lid on the braising steak.

“Leave that be,” Louise said.

“What's this?” Patrick asked, picking up one end of the mattress overlay.

“Never mind,” Louise snapped.

Patrick gave her a pained look but she ignored him. “What else have you got to tell me?” She locked eyes with Lyle.

“Only that you can book the tickets for New Zealand, but if you don't – ”

“When?” She cut him off as her heart did a little leap. Was he teasing?

“In the next few weeks. I want to be back by lambing.”

“Does that mean you'll need me longer?” Patrick still bore the injured expression.

“Of course,” Louise said eagerly.

“Only if you want to,” Mackenna said. “Cam and I can manage.”

“We'd love you to stay,” Louise said. “I'm sure Mackenna would be grateful for the help.”

“Well, yes,” Mackenna said, “but it's not necessary. Isn't your boss wanting you back?”

“We can talk about it later.” Louise kissed Lyle. “I'm so pleased. We'll both enjoy the break. I've got the fundraiser luncheon next week but the art show is under control for the moment. I can leave it in the hands of the committee until I get back. There's a lot to plan in a short time.” Louise was already making lists in her head.

“I'd better get going,” Mackenna said.

“Will you be back for dinner?”

“No. By the time I get back from Bunyip Wines it'll be late. I'll make myself a snack at my place.” Mackenna threw an arm around her parents and gave them both a squeeze. “Great news,” she said and hurried out the door.

Louise turned to Patrick as his mobile rang. He peered at the screen and left the kitchen.

“It might be just you and me for tea,” Lyle said.

“Where's Adam?”

“Mackenna thought he'd gone off to visit the caves today.”

“Oh yes, I'd forgotten. I suppose he'll be back for the meal.”

“Probably.” Lyle picked up the overlay and gave it a squeeze.

“When did you order that?” Louise asked as she set to peeling the potatoes.