Riverboat Point (24 page)

“Ready for the next lot?”

Savannah lifted her head to look at the woman next to her. Pam was the wife of one of the shearers. She travelled with her husband and worked as a rouseabout when needed. She worked in the shed and came outside when Ethan was off getting more sheep, like he was now. Pam was very efficient. She sprayed the sheep for lice and painted a brand on their rump in less time than it took Savannah to spray their cuts.

Savannah had worried when she'd first seen the garish red lines in various spots on the sheep, such a sharp contrast to the shorn white bodies. Ethan had assured her the cuts were superficial and the spray was to guard against infection. After that she'd felt at least she was being useful.

She squirted the last two sheep.

“Done,” she said.

She watched as Pam opened the gate at the end of the long skinny area that looked like a passage between yards.

“Out you go,” Pam called. Her weathered hands gave the leaders a tap on their rumps.

Savannah clapped her hands to urge the rest forward. She didn't like touching them.

She lurched back as a sheepdog came from nowhere, leapt nimbly onto the rails, crossed the backs of the sheep she'd just sprayed and dropped to the other side. It was enough to urge the last stragglers forward and into the next yard.

That was another thing she didn't like. There were two dogs. When they weren't working they flopped down in whatever bit of shade they could find. Without warning they could appear and work the sheep. It made her nervous. At least there was only one here at the moment. The other was off with Ethan.

“You're doing well for someone new on the job,” Pam said. “It's not rocket science but I've worked with a few who had no idea.” She took a swig from her water bottle. “You live with Ethan?”

“No.” Savannah was surprised at the strength of her reply. “I live next door. Not permanently. Just visiting. Ethan's helped me with some jobs for my brother so I'm returning the favour.”

“Oh, I thought he was sweet on you,” Pam ducked her head. “My mistake, sorry.” She busied herself with the pot of branding ink.

Savannah reached down for her own water bottle stashed against the post beside her and took several large gulps of water. If Pam thought she was Ethan's girlfriend she wondered what the others thought. Maybe his parents had that idea too. Savannah rolled the idea around in her head. What did it matter what they thought? After today she was unlikely to see any of them again.

She pictured Ethan as he'd looked this morning. The headlights had illuminated him as he'd strolled towards her car. He'd been wearing a brown jacket against the chill of the pre-dawn air. Underneath was a faded blue shirt that stretched across his broad chest and tucked neatly into his jeans. When he climbed in beside her she'd noticed his clean-shaven face. His skin looked so smooth. Such a contrast to his unruly hair. She tried to imagine him in uniform. Soldiers had to have short hair, didn't they? As soon as he'd shut the door she'd smelled him. What was it about the slight hint of aftershave and scent of fresh male body that had her stomach doing flips?

“How are you managing?”

Savannah spun to see Mal studying her from the yard behind. He was tall like Ethan but that's where the similarities ended.

“Fine thanks.”

She hoped her voice carried more confidence than she felt. Somehow she got the impression it was important for her to do well, for Ethan's sake. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth and put the bottle down by her feet.

“You doing okay, Pam?”

“No probs. We're a good team here.” Pam's face split in a wide grin and Savannah felt pleased at the older woman's commendation.

“It'll be smoko soon,” Mal said. “You'll be able to take a break.”

“No probs,” Pam said. She moved away to do something with the ink bucket.

Mal lifted his hat and scratched his head. “It's a long day out here.”

“I'm good so far.” Savannah stared at him.

He held her gaze a moment. Savannah thought he wanted to say more. Instead he pushed his hat back firmly and pulled a notepad from his top pocket. He opened the gate in front of him and as the sheep filed into the next holding yard, he counted them. She hadn't realised that's what he'd been doing the first time she'd watched him. Ethan had explained it to her.

From her position behind Mal, Savannah tried to count as the sheep pushed through, sometimes two or three at a time. She lost the number quickly.

Mal jotted in his book, closed the gate and opened the one that led to the yard where she and Pam worked on the sheep. He whistled and the dog jumped into the yard with him. The sheep raced forward and were soon ready for their spray and brand.

Savannah gritted her teeth, picked up the spray unit and began squirting sheep again. She didn't look back but she sensed Mal was watching her. She concentrated on the job at hand, determined to appear efficient.

Finally Mal whistled. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the dog rise from its position in the empty yard and leap over the rails. She glanced behind her. Mal had gone.

“How's it going?”

She spun the other way at the sound of Ethan's voice.

“I didn't realise you were back.”

“Next mob are ready to go,” he said. “I can take over again here, Pam. You go and get smoko. They'll want you in the shed as soon as the break's over.”

Pam handed over her gear. Savannah realised the motor that had been running all morning had stopped.

“Don't take too long.” Pam grinned at her. “You've earned some of Barb's cakes.”

Savannah smiled back. She hadn't spoken to Pam much but they'd worked side by side well enough. In spite of that she was relieved to have Ethan back. Strange to admit it but she felt more at ease when he was working with her. Perhaps because she didn't have to pretend she knew what she was doing.

Once they'd done the last of the yarded sheep Savannah followed Ethan to the small room tacked on the side of the shed. Outside was an old concrete trough with a block of soap. A towel hung from a nail. They both washed their hands. His brushed hers as he handed over the towel. His touch sent a tingle up her arm.

“Ready?”

His smile sent her already alert body into a higher state of awareness. Relieved that he had his back to her, she followed him into the shed.

“Barb, this is Savannah,” he said to the only other woman there besides Pam.

“Hello, Savannah.” Barb wrapped her in a warm hug.

“Pleased to meet you,” she said, glad she had the excuse of the welcome for the huge smile that split her face at the sight before her.

Ethan had been right. His mother was dressed in an embroidered cheesecloth shirt worn over the top of loose-fitting pants. Her fading brown hair flowed over her shoulders. Several strands of colourful beads hung around her neck and a long pair of earrings dangled from her ears. The pair of workboots she wore on her feet were the odd things out.

“Sorry I didn't come over and say hello earlier,” Barb said.

Her face lit up with a warm smile. This was where Ethan got his good looks from.

“I've been flat out with the food today. My oven decided to play up this morning.” She waved her hands about as she spoke. “I had trouble milking the cow, nearly lost the whole bucket. Then I found the pig in my vegie patch. Mal needs to fix his pen. Luckily the damn pig hadn't done much damage before I found him or he might have become dinner earlier than expected.”

“Oh,” Savannah said lamely.

“Tea or coffee?” Ethan asked, unfazed by his mother's diatribe.

“Tea please.”

“Have you met everyone else?” Barb asked.

Savannah flicked a look around the end of the shed where the men were resting on old chairs and bags finishing their morning tea.

“Yes,” she said. “This morning.”

No sooner had she spoken than some of the men moved off, gathering their belongings as they went.

“Piece of cake?” Barb asked. She held out a flat tin with chunky slices of dark chocolate cake.

“Oh, wow.” Savannah reached in and took a slice. “Thanks.”

Ethan took a piece and started eating.

“Anything else you want?” Barb asked.

“No, thank you,” Savannah said through a mouthful of cake. “This is delicious.”

Ethan shook his head.

The others in the shed began to take up their positions again talking among themselves as they went. Barb started packing up. Across the concrete floor opposite them Mal sat studying his notepad. He didn't raise his eyes. Ethan stood eating his cake. His mother bustled on one side of him packing away food and his father sat on his other side studying his notepad. Talk about awkward.

Music played in the background. Sheep shuffled and the shearing crew prepared to start again.

“How much longer will shearing take?” Savannah asked Ethan.

“About two more days.”

“And Blake will be okay to come back?”

“He'll be here this afternoon. You can relax a bit then. Have a look around at the shearing in progress.”

The motor purred to life as the shearers began their work.

“So long as she doesn't get in anyone's way.” Mal had stood up and was watching them.

Savannah felt every bit the nuisance he had intended to make her feel. She was grateful Ethan was the only witness. “I'll get back outside then.”

Behind her she heard Barb's warning tone as she spoke her husband's name followed by Ethan's outburst.

“Bloody hell, Mal, talk about making someone feel welcome.”

Savannah kept walking. The voices faded. She clenched her hands. Damn the old bugger. He had something up his nose.

Footsteps crunched behind her.

“I'm sorry about my father,” Ethan said.

“Don't worry about it.”

“If it wasn't for Blake we'd be in the car heading for home right now.”

Savannah turned. Anger burned in Ethan's eyes. It was him she felt sorry for, not herself. Her parents had died some time ago but when they were alive she had no doubt they loved her. Ethan's relationship with his parents was very different.

“I can look after myself, Ethan,” she said.

He took a step towards her. The fire had left his eyes. His face relaxed as he bent towards her.

“Ethan …”

Her words were lost in his kiss. His arms gripped her shoulders and pulled her close. Then, just as suddenly he let her go.

“I'm sorry,” he said.

“I'm not.” Her brain was telling her she was stupid but her insides were on fire. His lips had been warm and soft and tasted like chocolate.

“When we get home, will you come for dinner?” he asked. “Just the two of us this time?”

“Okay.”

She'd replied before she had time to think about it. Once more her brain was sending her warnings that her body was ignoring.

“I've got to mix some more spray,” he said.

He smiled and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her again. He turned quickly and strode away.

She put her fingers to her tingling lips. It was a long time since she'd been kissed like that. In fact, had she ever been kissed like that?

Savannah stared at the river beyond the houseboats. The thick cloud cover meant there wasn't a lot of moon or star light and yet she was sure she'd seen a light. From Ethan's deck she had a good view through the trees.

There it was. She turned more to the right but it was gone again. It reminded her of the night she'd seen the light in the distance over the Palmers' fence. Perhaps she should ask Ethan to take a look.

She took a step. Jasper stood in the doorway watching her.

Savannah sucked in a breath. She stood perfectly still. Her heart thumped in her chest. Why did dogs have this effect on her? Perhaps something had happened in her childhood but there was no-one to ask anymore.

“Ethan,” she called. “Can you come out here?”

She heard a cupboard close in the kitchen then his footsteps across the floor. Jasper came outside with him.

“What's up?”

“I thought I saw a light.” She pointed. “Out there.”

“On the river? Could have been a boat.”

“I didn't hear anything.”

They both watched for a moment but the light didn't appear again.

“Could have been someone kayaking,” Ethan said and turned on his heel. “Food's ready.”

Savannah was quick to follow him in case Jasper blocked her path again.

“Have a seat,” Ethan said. “I'll just put Jasper to bed.”

She took her jumper from her shoulders and hung it over the back of her chair. The dog followed his master outside. She listened to the clatter of claws and the thud of Ethan's shoes on the wooden steps as they went down. From the river there was the distant sound of a motor, something bigger than the tinnies and speedboats that often went up and down.

She fiddled with the bamboo placemat. They were going to be alone. It had been just the two of them driving home in the car but that had been different. She'd been full of questions about everything she'd seen and done today and there was no way he could kiss her while she was driving.

What had that been about anyway? Was Ethan the type that played any available woman? She hadn't thought so and yet there had been Belinda at their last dinner. What had gone on there?

He burst through the door. She jumped. The placemat slithered from her fingers and fell to the floor. He gave her a funny smile. She ducked down to retrieve the mat. By the time she was upright he was in the kitchen serving the meal.

“That smells divine,” she said.

“Lamb shanks.” He crossed the room carrying two plates. “Would you like a beer or a glass of red?”

“I didn't bring anything.”