Family Farm (48 page)

Once Izzy reached the top of the hill, she looked around as far as she could see. Out of the darkness of the night shone more tractor lights in the distance, like large twinkling stars. Every farmer was out making the most of the wet soil. She could count ten tractors out at it, and when the train was in at the bin for loading, she could easily spot their floodlights as well, even from this far away.

Izzy wondered whether Will was on his tractor tonight. Lifting her head, she checked the two-way. She had it on scan. Some nights you could catch the farmers telling jokes back and forth to relieve the boredom. Some were highly entertaining. Plenty of housewives turned their radios down at night so they could get some peace without hearing every dirty joke.

Finishing off the paddock, Izzy headed towards the gate and diesel trailer. She wasn’t going to do any more as she was low on fuel. She parked the tractor and climbed into the back of the ute where her swag was waiting. She didn’t like to go home and disturb everyone. It was much easier to catch some shut-eye, then get back on the job at daybreak.

Izzy stretched out and stared up at the black sky. Only a handful of stars gazed down at her. With the cool of the night on her skin and the smell of the freshness of the soil, it wasn’t long before she was sound asleep.

At first light, Izzy filled up the tractor with diesel and managed to get two laps in before she noticed a newish point stuck in the dirt. She stopped, ran out into the soft brown soil and picked it up. It was a fairly new one, so she lifted up the plough and checked all the points and found a few missing. Grabbing the hammer out of the tractor, she went and banged on the one she’d found. She stood up to stretch her back. The sun wasn’t even up yet. Give it another five minutes or so, she reckoned.

As she worked on the points, Izzy saw a ute heading towards her through the paddock. It was Blake. What was he doing here? It wasn’t even six o’clock. Alarm bells rang. Oh, God. I hope nothing’s happened to Dad. She’d heard of people turning a corner one minute and then dropping off their perch the next, like a last-minute miracle before giving up.

A soft white fog had settled, lingering in and around the trees. As beautiful as it was, it gave her a haunting feeling. Izzy began walking towards Blake. She tried to shut off her brain and stop the troubled thoughts creeping in. She climbed over the plough and found Blake standing a few metres from her.

‘Yo,’ she said, still nervous. ‘What’s up?’ He didn’t look like someone bringing bad news, and the tension instantly drained out of her.

‘I was up doing some work in the shed and thought I’d bring out brekky. Don’t stress – I didn’t make it. Your mum did.’ Blake handed over a square parcel wrapped in foil.

Tearing it open, she said, ‘Bacon and egg toastie. You beauty.’ She took a mouthful and hungrily chewed away. ‘Want some?’

‘I’ve already had one, thanks. Just as well, ’cos watching you eat like a starved cow would make anyone lose their appetite. So you still want me to take over on the tractor some time after lunch?’

Izzy swallowed. ‘Yes, please. That would be great. I have to get ready for the engagement party. I feel bad that I didn’t even know Jess and Travis had got engaged.’

‘Well, you’ve hardly been around now, have you?’

‘Guess not. I’ll text you and tell you how much fun I’m having.’

‘Yeah, cheers for that.’ Blake checked his watch. ‘Don’t you think it’s about time you got on your big green horse and hightailed it back to work?’

‘Gonna let me finish my bloody brekkie? Christ, you’re just itching for us to finish so you can go see Dean.’

Blake turned her towards the tractor and slapped her on the butt. ‘Off ya go now. I’ll see ya later.’

She looked back. ‘Bring me some more food at lunchtime. Oh, and maybe some cake.’

‘Don’t push your bloody luck. No wonder I don’t like women. You’re a bunch of bossy buggers.’

Izzy walked to the tractor and sat down in the large rim of the tyre to finish her breakfast and watched Blake wave before he climbed back into the ute and drove out of the paddock.

Blake had just finished throwing his snacks bag into the front of Izzy’s ute when Will pulled up. ‘How you doing?’ he asked Will.

‘All right. Yourself? You heading home now?’ Will’s eyes were drilling into Blake as he tried to read his face for the answer he wanted.

‘Not quite. I’m taking over from Izzy so she can go to the engagement party tonight. Are you going?’

‘Yeah. I’ll show my face, I think.’

Will was fidgeting and glancing at his watch. Blake could tell he didn’t really want to stay and chat. ‘It’s good that Izzy’s staying on the farm now. She’s ecstatic about it and I s’pose you are too?’

Will ran his hand through his soft brown hair. ‘Oh, yeah. She’s a great girl. I’m glad she’s staying, for Bill’s sake,’ he added.

Blake chuckled. ‘You don’t have to explain anything to me, mate. I can tell you care for her.’ Will looked very nervous, like he was worried about stepping on Blake’s toes. Blake put him out of his misery. ‘Don’t stress. Izzy and I are only friends and it will always stay like that. Trust me. I would have said something sooner but I haven’t had a chance to catch you alone.’

‘Huh?’

The look on Will’s face was priceless. He really was a good-looking man. Blake knew what he had to do. He leaned back on the ute and sighed. ‘Believe me, she’s not my type.’ Will looked slightly offended at Blake’s words, as if they implied something was wrong with Izzy. ‘Don’t get me wrong, she’s a top chick, and if I liked women, she’d be my first pick, but I don’t.’ He saw the light bulb go on in Will’s head.

Will rested his back on his ute and crossed his arms on his chest. ‘Why didn’t Izzy say something? I thought you two were together.’

‘Izzy’s not a gossip. She’d rather wait for me to say something when I’m ready. Being “out” is still a bit new for me, you see.’

Will wasn’t smiling, but Blake could tell he wanted to – his eyes had lit up like a Christmas tree.

‘I take it this is good news?’ Blake didn’t wait for his answer. ‘I really wanted to tell you sooner, but you’ve been avoiding me like the plague.’

‘Sorry, I was a bit pissed, you know.’ Will clapped Blake on the shoulder by way of an apology.

‘You know you should tell her how you feel. Give her a chance to respond. A good friend once told me the same thing. I know she cares for you.’

‘She does? But why hasn’t she —’

‘Izzy may be as tough as old boot leather on the outside, but on the inside she’s as fragile as glass. She’s afraid of rocking the boat just in case she loses you as a friend, and I don’t think she could handle you rejecting her either.’ Blake studied Will and smiled. ‘Mate, it’s up to you to make the first move. She’s too darn scared.’

Blake had said his piece. For now, anyway. He’d be around to try again if they needed a bigger nudge. He held out his hand to Will. ‘I’m off in a few days, so if I don’t see you, good luck.’

‘Yeah, see ya,’ Will replied slowly. ‘And thanks.’ He watched Blake get in the ute and drive away. Then, in a daze, he wandered off towards Bill’s house.

WEARING a singlet, shirt, jumper and jacket, Izzy was snuggled up ready for the party. It was already dark as she drove into Travis’s farm, heading for his shearing shed. She parked behind the nearest utes and stepped out into the cold. Digging her hands deep into her pockets, Izzy was thankful for the large fire roaring just outside the sliding door of the shed. She didn’t stop but kept going on inside to see Jess.

The shed was decked out with a large table covered with dips and biscuits and a small pile of presents, and heaps of chairs, which were mostly occupied by oldies. Trav and Jess had strung up some large coloured lights to brighten the dark space but they did nothing to hide the strong smell of sheep. She noticed a bathtub full of ice and beer against the wall and went and helped herself. Jess came running up to her and gave her a hug.

‘It’s so good to see you again, Izzy. I’m glad you could make it.’

‘Congratulations, Jess. I can’t believe it.’

‘Me either. Come and sit. We can talk for a few minutes before I go do the rounds. I must catch up with the grandparents before they head off early. I’m sorry about your dad. How’s he going?’

‘Coming along, making small improvements but they say he should recover fully. I can’t wait to get him back out on the farm in the fresh air – do him the world of good. But anyway, tell me about the wedding. Have you set a date?’

‘We’re thinking a September wedding and that’s about as far as we’ve got. Plenty of time to work out the other details. Just make sure you don’t go nickin’ off again. I can’t have you missing my wedding.’

‘Don’t worry, Jess. I’ll be around and I’ll throw you the best hen’s night ever.’

The cold beer went down nicely as she sat chatting with Jess, all the while her eyes scanning for Will. Blake had said he was coming but she still couldn’t see him. Somehow, the party didn’t seem very exciting without him, and after Jess went to circulate, the stuffiness of the shed got the better of her. Izzy headed out into the crisp night air, relishing its freshness. The flickering fire soon beckoned her and she joined the other blokes in beanies and jackets under the black starry sky. She got chatting to Travis for a while but it wasn’t until he went to find them some more beers that she finally spotted Will. He was leaning up against the shed wall in the dark, and if the glow of the fire hadn’t reached his face, she would have missed him completely. But he hadn’t missed her. His eyes were watching her intently. She raised her beer in a wave. He didn’t acknowledge it. Instead he just kept staring. He was wearing a large jacket over a jumper with a hoodie. One hand was shoved down deep into the pockets of his jeans. He had her pulse racing just seeing him all dark in the shadows with his vibrant blues still watching her.

Travis came back and handed her the beer. ‘Cheers,’ he said, clinking his bottle with hers.

She was glad she’d rugged up. She’d brought her beanie too, just in case it got colder.

‘Thanks, Trav. Hey, I’ll catch up with you later.’ Izzy nodded and made her way behind the dark bodies that lined the fire’s edge. The entire time she could feel Will’s eyes set on her. It took a moment for her own eyes to adjust away from the flames, but she didn’t need to see clearly to know where his body stood.

‘Hey, Will. I was wondering if you’d turned up.’ He didn’t reply. Was he still giving her the cold shoulder? ‘You know Dad’s been talking more and more, and from what I can gather, you had something to do with his change of heart. I don’t know what you said, but thanks. God, I seem to be thanking you a lot lately. You’ve done so much for our family, and I really appreciate it. I am indebted to you forever. Well, at least for a week.’ She tried some humour to see if he’d react.

‘No biggie,’ he said quietly.

‘Holy shit, he speaks.’ Will laughed at her attempt to faint on the ground, while keeping her beer upright and not spilling a drop. As she stood back up she said, ‘You know, it’s good to hear you laugh. You’ve been a bit distant and I was worried you had the shits with me. I’ve felt the coldness of your shoulder a few times.’ Will wasn’t looking so deadpan now.

‘Sorry. I’ve had a few things on my mind, but it’s all sorted now.’

‘Good, because I was missing the old Will. Now that I’m back for good, we’re going to be in each other’s pockets, and I can’t have you shitty at me —’

‘Izzy, I’m in love with you.’

‘— or walking around in a strop all the time. It just wouldn’t be … What did you say?’ Izzy finally caught on. ‘How much have you had to drink, Will Timmins?’ He must be off his trolley, she thought. Either that or he just wanted to shut her up. ‘What did you just say, Will?’ she asked again.

She must have looked pretty confused because in the next breath he’d caressed her cheek with his cold hands and said, ‘I’m in love with you, kiddo. Can’t believe I didn’t tell you sooner.’

Then his hot mouth was over hers and she felt the tingle rocket through her body. His hand wrapped itself around her waist and drew her closer. Hungrily she deepened the kiss. All the dreams became distant memories as they paled in comparison to this. Her hands instinctively rose up to his chest, trembling at the sensation it brought. Touching Will was way better than she’d remembered.

Will pulled back, but only by an inch. His eyes were alive and the passion in them matched her own desires. Her mouth moved but no words came out.

‘What are you trying to say, Isabelle Simpson?’

Izzy brushed back his fringe with her finger and then traced it down to his jaw and lightly across the top of his lips. ‘Just that it’s about bloody time.’ Eagerly she leaned into Will, kissed his neck up to his ear, and whispered, ‘I love you, too.’

He quivered as he grabbed her bum and pulled her closer while she devoured his neck. Someone wolf whistled, bringing them back to reality, so they broke apart. Will clasped her hand and led her out the back into the dark. He struggled to walk properly as he practically dragged her to his ute. He needed a quiet private spot. He had tasted her and badly needed more. When he got to his ute he pushed her against the door and kissed her hard. Quickly he attacked her jacket and unzipped it before pulling up her assortment of clothes. He found her warm flesh and searched upwards until his fingers found more fabric. Lifting it up and out of the way, he released her silky skin into the palm of his hand and heard a groan. He wasn’t sure whether it was him or Izzy.