The Outback Heart (14 page)

‘After Mum died,’ Indi began – she was so softly spoken Troy had to lean towards her – ‘I don’t know. I guess I just stepped into her roles.’ Indi turned to him. ‘Coming home from life in the city, coming back to spend every moment with Mum, to be there for her, to care for her, gave us such a close bond. It made it all the more difficult when she finally passed. I lost my mum and my best friend. But I love helping out Trevor,’ she said. ‘He’s like my grandfather and I would never give up helping him.’ She seemed horrified at the thought.

‘But why the CWA? Surely they don’t expect you to keep helping out?’

‘No, I guess not. Maybe it’s just me. I feel like I need to support everything in town just to keep it going. And I guess I feel like I’d be letting Mum down if I didn’t. In a way, staying busy helps. I feel closer to her, doing what she did.’ Her voice trembled and Troy squeezed his fists.

‘I don’t think your mum would want you to burn out, Indi. I think she’d like you to enjoy life, do things for yourself. Like today.’

‘Do you stop and enjoy life?’ she asked, her chin resting on her arm.

‘Yeah, I do. I love to sit by the oval on a cold night, like after training when it’s quiet. Just me and the smell of the grass. That’s my moment, that’s when I’m thankful for being alive.’

Indi frowned.

‘What? Is that too weird?’ he said.

‘No, it’s not that. I just think that you might appreciate the world, but you don’t live in it. I mean, you don’t seem to let people in. You mix with people but in a way that avoids you ever having to share yourself.’

Now it was Troy’s time to look away and admire the landscape. He hadn’t expected Indi to throw him a curve ball. How had she pegged him already? It was unnerving. He didn’t like people looking too deeply for the scars they’d find. ‘I move around a lot. It’s easier this way.’

Indi made a noise like a buzzer. ‘That was my bullshit detector,’ she said with a smile. ‘I know you’re hiding or running from something, Troy Yoda Mitchell, I just can’t work out what. But if you’re not ready to share, that’s fine. We can just enjoy the afternoon, right?’

Troy didn’t know what to say.

Indi glanced at him. ‘If I try to stop and smell the roses more, would you at least relax around me, be more of a friend, one you don’t have to be so guarded around?’

He thought about what she’d asked, already aware he’d shared more with her than he’d wanted. Would it kill him? He wondered if maybe they could be just good friends.

‘Okay, then. You have yourself a deal. But I’ll be keeping an eye on you, just to make sure you’re not trying to be Mother Teresa,’ Troy said. ‘And it would be nice to see you turn up at training on time for once.’

Indi sat up, her mouth open, ready to protest, before she smiled. ‘And I’ll be watching you too. None of this moody stuff. It won’t kill you to wear your heart on your sleeve a bit.’

Oh, but it would,
Troy thought. If only Indi knew what she was asking of him.

Straightening up, she slapped him gently on the arm. ‘Come on. Let’s go and have a look at the white kangaroo. Have you still got time?’

They got off the boulder. ‘Yep, a few hours.’

‘Cool. Jasper’s got his foot up, glued to the TV, I think I’m safe for a few hours as well.’ As they made their way through the bush Indi started chatting about Jasper, and the dilemma of his broken ankle.

‘Tell me about it. My sister fell out of the truck when she was younger and broke her leg. I ended up carrying her everywhere. Lucky for me she was only ten. Jasper would be a tad heavier.’

‘Oh, no. How did she fall out of the truck? You didn’t push her? Brothers are horrible like that,’ she said with a smirk.

‘No, I’m not that bad,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t even there. Her foot got caught in the torn upholstery on the seat. Dad felt horrible.’

Indi paused, her eyes squinting. ‘It’s nice to hear you talk about your family. So you just have one sister?’

‘Yeah, Geraldine. She’s a few years younger than me.’

‘Where is she? What does she do?’ Indi asked.

They were simple questions but they put him on edge. He shrugged. ‘She’s in Perth.’ At least he thought she still was.

Indi was waiting, her head tilted. It made her look dazzling in the afternoon light that filtered down through the trees. ‘She’s studying nursing at uni,’ he managed to get out before turning to continue on through the bush. He felt Indi step in behind him.

‘You know your sister’s fall reminds me of when Pat came off the motorbike on a mate’s farm . . .’ said Indi.

She continued on as if she hadn’t noticed the tension in Troy’s voice. He was grateful that she didn’t push it.

As they swapped innocent stories, Troy felt like a thin layer of shell had been chipped away. He just hoped there were no repercussions from opening up with Indi, even though it wasn’t much. But it had been so long since he’d enjoyed spending time with a girl, just talking and sharing stories, like he had with Peta. To talk about the past without it hurting. It was scary going down that path again, even just with a friend, but maybe Indi could help him. While she was beside him, his demons were kept at bay and he wondered if today had changed something. For the first time in years he actually felt good.

INDI
stepped into the Karlgarin club, her work clothes covered in dust and her skin itching. She waved to Chopper behind the bar and headed for the showers. She had just enough time to get cleaned up before the others arrived.

Indi was sitting at the bar on the green high-backed stool with a cold beer in her hand, chatting to one of the locals, when Jasper, Tegan and her dad arrived. Tegan held the door open for Jasper, who was still getting used to his crutches. He clanged them against the metal-framed doorway. It sounded like Jasper was trying to fit a double-decker bus through a small tunnel. From the cursing she could hear, he might as well have been. When Jasper finally cleared the doorway, Allan appeared. Her dad was wearing the new blue shirt she’d given him for Christmas last year.

‘Hey, you guys. Where’s Jaffa?’ she said, joining them in the front bar by the pool table.

‘He’s working late and didn’t feel like coming,’ Tegan said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

‘You been here long, sis?’ said Jasper, eyeing off her beer.

‘Long enough to change out of my work clothes. Quite handy that I was working across the road at the bin. Do you want to order dinner now before the Friday rush?’ she asked.

Jasper nodded. He was wearing trackpants – he couldn’t get much else on with his cast – but he wore a nice shirt and she could smell his aftershave. Usually he was too lazy to put any on.

‘I’ll order for us. What do you want?’ asked Tegan.

‘The smell of garlic prawns has been driving me crazy,’ said Indi, handing her money to Tegan.

Indi, Allan and a shuffling Jasper went around the corner to get drinks and settled up at the bar not far from the dining tables. ‘How’s it going, bro?’ Indi asked as she watched him climb his way onto the stool, his crutches leaning up against the bar.

‘Bloody better now. Shit, remind me not to do this again. It’s fricken annoying.’

‘I second that,’ Allan said dryly. ‘I need this drink more than you bloody do.’ He reached for his cold glass and headed back around the corner to chat to Chopper, and no doubt to get a break from Jasper.

‘Come on, there must be some perks?’ said Indi, noticing that he was watching Tegan.

‘Bugger off, Indi,’ he growled. ‘Tegan’s been a great help. I like having her around. Much better than you,’ he said. They went quiet as Tegan arrived back with their table number.

Indi handed over Tegan’s beer.

‘Thanks, mate. Man, what a week. Looking after your brother is hard work,’ said Tegan, with a dramatic sigh.

‘Aw, come on, Teegs. You know you love helping me put my pants on.’ He winked at her. ‘Now I just have to convince her I need more help in the shower.’

Tegan threw her head back and laughed, carefree and wholehearted. Indi hadn’t seen Tegan so relaxed in a while.

‘I’m glad Dad came,’ said Indi.

‘Yeah. Tegan won him over,’ said Jasper, giving Tegan a conspirator’s glance.

Indi released a huge sigh of relief.

‘Gee, Indi. You need to relax.’ Jasper’s brow creased as he reached over to shake her shoulder.

Indi smiled. ‘Huh, that’s what Troy reckons too.’

‘Ah, so Troy has noticed you, then, hey?’ asked Tegan, brushing her long locks over her shoulder. A soft cream leather jacket fitted snugly around her tiny waist and sat just above her skinny leg jeans.

‘No, more like he commented on how I’m always late for training.’ She rolled her eyes as she watched Jasper glance from her to Tegan and back again. ‘We kinda came to a deal. He said he’d open up more if I didn’t take on so much.’

Tegan raised an eyebrow and made a noise of delight. ‘Well that’s a start. Go you.’

‘What’s a start?’ asked Jasper. ‘Do you like Yoda?’ His face contorted.

‘Jasper, get a clue,’ said Indi.

‘Yeah, Jasper. Gee whiz,’ added Tegan. ‘You know, Jasper isn’t as bad as you make out, Indi. He doesn’t complain as much as you say he does.’ Tegan grinned cheekily.

Indi nearly spat out her beer. ‘You’re kidding. He’s done nothing but whinge since he came home from the hospital.’

‘What do you expect?’ Jasper asked. ‘I’m going insane inside that house, Indi. Oh, and next week you’re taking me to training. No buts.’ Jasper took a swig of his beer and plonked it down hard. He was trying to be serious but it just made Indi giggle.

‘I didn’t take you yesterday because you weren’t dressed, you were whining and I was running late already. You wanna come next week, be ready.’ Indi finished her beer and put it on the bar. ‘You’re just pissed off because the team won another game without you.’

‘Thanks for the kick in the guts, sis,’ said Jasper as he got up off his stool.

Tegan shot her a look that said
be nice
, just like their mother used to.

‘Just because you don’t have any annoying brothers,’ Indi said to Tegan. ‘He’s not as sweet as he makes out.’ When she saw the look on Jasper’s face she got up and gave him a hug. ‘But for some reason I love you madly.’

‘It’s my good looks and my charm,’ said Jasper as they prepared to move to a table.

Tegan had their table number in her hand and automatically held Jasper’s crutches out for him. Indi waved to her dad to let him know they were taking their seats.

‘I’ll be pissed if we make the finals. Just my luck: we finally have a chance with Yoda at the helm and I’m out.’ Jasper pouted, and Tegan squeezed his shoulder.

‘There’s always next year, Jasp.’ Tegan smiled at him and Indi saw Jasper turn to mush. Tegan had that effect on guys. Indi wondered if she could learn it.

‘So, will we win against Corrigin tomorrow?’ Tegan asked.

‘Anything’s possible,’ replied Indi. She had her fingers crossed already. ‘Have you seen how the crowds are building? Of course not many are following to the away games yet but the home crowds are bigger.’ It was exactly what she’d hoped for: build a team to be proud of and watch the townsfolk flock to the games. Everyone needed something to believe in. Indi believed in this town and the people, she believed in the team and Troy. The moment she met him she knew he’d be a man to change things. She just hadn’t realised he would change her too.

They were in Corrigin early on game day. The big oval was the first thing they saw as they came around the corner into town. It was just Indi, her dad and Jasper in the car. Maddie was working and Pat had offered to take Troy to the game. Indi was a little disappointed.

Inside the change room she started rubbing down a few of the guys while others got changed and handballed the footy around. It was loud and smelly, as usual. Patrick, being captain, rounded them up into a group and began shouting out strategies and plays to pump them up. Indi made a quick exit before the testosterone suffocated her.

‘So what do you think our odds are for winning today’s game?’ Troy asked as he jogged to her side.

‘Pretty good, I reckon. Especially if Pat’s got anything to do with it.’

Troy smiled at Indi.
He is certainly giving them out more freely these days
, Indi thought.

‘I did it, you know,’ she said, stopping by the edge of the oval.

‘Did what?’ Troy tilted his head. His eyes shining with interest.

‘Gave up the CWA and the Telecentre jobs.’ She bit her lip. ‘Well, mostly anyway. I’m still around if they need help but I’ve taken a step back from both.’

Indi had been able to control her feelings around Troy so far, but that look on his face was undoing all her good work. He looked like he was actually proud of her.

‘For real? How does it feel?’ he asked.

‘Actually, it’s a relief.’ Indi glanced at her feet. ‘And I guess I have you to thank for that,’ she mumbled.

Troy nudged her arm. ‘Say what? I didn’t quite catch that. You’ll have to speak up,’ he teased.

‘I know you bloody well heard me,’ said Indi, putting her hands on her hips. But she repeated it anyway because she liked seeing his cocky smile and the amused glint in his eyes.

He held her arm, his long fingers curling over her tingling flesh. ‘I’m glad, Indi,’ he said softly. Then he dropped his hand and headed to the edge of the oval near their interchange bench. Indi couldn’t move just yet. She was still waiting for her blood to start pumping again so she could have the use of her limbs. Her eyes were still functioning, glued to Troy’s denim-clad backside and strong thighs.

Jasper hobbled across to her just as the team ran out from the change rooms. He leaned on his crutches so he could high-five the guys as they ran past. He smiled but as soon as the team was on the field his face sank. ‘Hey, you’ll be back soon enough,’ she said, walking with him to the boundary.

‘Yeah, I know. Lucky we have Pat still out there,’ Jasper said, and then smiled weakly.

Indi agreed. ‘Have you had a good brotherly chat to Pat lately?’ she asked.

‘What about?’

‘Did he tell you they’re trying to have a baby?’

Jasper shrugged. ‘No, he hasn’t said a thing. Really? Cool.’

‘Don’t tell Dad. Let them surprise him.’

‘Righto.’ Jasper was digging a hole into the lawn with the end of his crutch.

‘What’s up with you?’ she asked. ‘You’ve got something else on your mind, I can tell.’

‘It’s just . . .’ He looked up, his shaggy hair flopping across his forehead. ‘I overheard Jaffa with Tegan earlier.’ Jasper looked uncomfortable as he began digging at the grass again.

‘Why? What happened? Is he still being a jerk?’

Jasper’s head snapped up. ‘What do you mean
still
?’

Indi waved him off. ‘It wasn’t much, just that I think she’s been having a few issues with him. Some blokes shoot their mouth off when they get full of grog.’

‘Well, he wasn’t drunk this time and I know it wasn’t my place to step in or embarrass Tegan, but he was so wrong. You don’t degrade anyone like that. He was putting her down in front of the guys and treating her like shit. When she tried to defend herself he called her a bitch and told her to pipe down.’ Jasper looked lost for words for a moment. ‘And I thought Jaffa was okay, that Tegan was with the best bloke around here, but now I’m starting to think that with Jaffa it’s all a front.’ Jasper turned to Indi and she noticed fierceness in his eyes. He was really angry. ‘Look, don’t say anything, will you, sis – just in case I got it wrong.’

‘But Tegan . . .’

Jasper held up his hand, cutting her off. ‘She’s with me a lot, I’ll suss it out.’

Indi pulled a face. She wasn’t sure how subtle Jasper would be. Sure he had a compassionate side, but he was pretty good at putting his foot in it too.

‘It’ll be okay. I’ll keep an eye on her,’ Jasper said, trying to reassure her.

‘Indi!’ yelled Troy. ‘You gonna help today?’ He motioned for her to join him.

‘Coming,’ she replied, but turned back to her brother. She really wanted to know what went down with Tegan and Jaffa; she needed to finish this conversation.

Jasper motioned for her to move. ‘Go on, I’ve got it. Don’t worry. Run to Yoda,’ said Jasper, with a smirk. Indi would have loved to kick his crutch out from under him but she couldn’t risk him hurting his sore leg so she shot him a glare and flipped him the bird instead.

‘Oh, classy,’ Jasper replied as she walked away.

Indi stood beside Troy. She was close enough to feel the heat radiating from his arms. She wished he’d put a jacket on and hide himself from her. It might also help mask the fresh, sexy scent that was making it impossible to concentrate.

She knew Troy wasn’t standing there thinking about her in the same way. He would be fully focused on the football. Maybe she should wear skimpy outfits made of skin-tight black leather? It seemed to work for Gracie.

‘What are you thinking about?’ asked Troy. His eyes were piercing, as if trying to read her thoughts. He put a finger to her forehead and wiggled it. ‘You have a little thinking line, right here.’ He smiled and she realised he was teasing her.

‘Ha ha,’ she said dryly, but inside she was beaming. She liked this Troy, the one who wasn’t afraid to tease her and have a bit of fun. It wasn’t much but she hoped over time he would let the rest of his guard down. Those mysterious clouds that darkened his moods still remained but maybe one day they’d float away.