The Long Paddock, page 10
While Shaun flirted with the cowgirls, Cressy served other customers. She smiled as two tiny blonde-haired preschoolers approached. The taller child carried a plump Jack Russell puppy who yawned as the girls stopped in front of the cupcakes.
‘Lily, he’s so cute,’ Cressy said as she walked out from behind the table to take a closer look at the puppy. ‘What’s his name?’
‘Milo,’ Lily, the more confident of the sisters, said as she put the puppy on the grass.
Cressy knelt to tickle the puppy’s tummy. ‘Milo. Nice to meet you. I like your red collar and lead. Very smart.’
Tricia, the quieter twin, wound her arm around Cressy’s neck and leaned against her to play with her ponytail. Cressy hugged her back. She often babysat the adorable Higgins twins.
‘Your mare had her foal yet?’ she asked them both.
‘Nope.’ Tricia’s large blue eyes shone with excitement. ‘Soon.’
‘Well, when she does, can I come and see the new baby?’
Both blonde heads bobbed. Cressy slipped her arm from around Tricia and straightened. ‘I’m guessing you and Milo are after some of our fancy cupcakes?’
Both girls nodded again.
Cressy pressed a pink cupcake into each of their hands. ‘There you go. Say hi to your mum for me.’
They skipped away, Milo at their heels. Cressy’s gaze lingered. She had no time to listen to her biological clock but when around the twins the ticking sounded extra loud.
She returned behind the counter and took change from her wallet to pay for the cakes. As she replenished the cupcake supply, she looked towards the barbecue stall. The sea of hats and shoulders blocked her view but the longer she stared the more certain she grew that Denham was no longer helping out.
‘Something interesting over at the barbecue stall?’ Shaun asked with an unfamiliar edge to his smooth tone.
‘No, not at all. Actually … see that tall guy with the dusty Akubra, walking past Sue, do you know him?’
Shaun’s shoulder brushed hers as he moved closer to look where Cressy nodded.
‘No, I don’t know him. Why?’
‘I’m pretty sure he was a drover whose cattle were lucky not to be hit by an impatient city driver.’
Cressy stood on tiptoe to see better. Realising Shaun stood too close and wasn’t really listening, she stepped away and turned to serve the next customer. Shaun might dress like a cowboy but cattle talk bored him. He was a crop and machinery man through and through. She looked up and straight into Denham’s blue eyes.
Her breath caught as she fought the leap in her pulse.
‘Hi, Denham. What can I do for you?’
‘Hi.’ His steady gaze didn’t reveal his thoughts about seeing Shaun standing so close to her. ‘Meredith wants to know if you need any more cupcakes. She has two more containers in the esky in her car.’
Cressy nodded to buy time before she had to perform the inevitable introductions. ‘We will, if that’s okay. Meredith’s pink cupcakes are our best seller.’ She turned to Shaun. ‘Shaun, this is Denham, Meredith’s nephew.’ She again faced Denham. ‘Denham, this is Shaun. He’s an agronomist at Woodlea Rural so I’m sure you’ll cross paths soon.’
Shaun stepped forward but his usual easy charm didn’t warm his eyes. ‘Denham.’
Denham nodded and extended his hand.
The two men shook. Cressy could now understand why Sue had once said that people thought they were alike. Both had dark hair, tanned skin and blue eyes. But there the resemblance ended. Denham was the quiet, still water of a billabong that ran deep. Shaun was the noise and rush of a flash flood down a dry creek bed.
Denham’s arm lowered, his expression unchanging. ‘I’ll be in Woodlea Rural tomorrow for some salt licks.’
Shaun hooked his thumbs into his belt. Cressy eyed off the jut to his chin. She was sure she’d never seen such a gesture before.
‘Good to hear,’ Shaun said, voice deep. ‘I’ll get Steve to look after you.’
Denham nodded and turned to Cressy but didn’t meet her eyes as he focused on the pretty cupcakes on display. ‘I’ll get the extra cakes.’
‘I’ll come too and save you a trip back,’ she said, walking around the counter. ‘Shaun, you’ll be right for five minutes won’t you?’
But before Shaun could answer, Denham shook his head. ‘It’s no problem. You stay. I’ll go.’
Denham’s broad shoulders swung away before she could reply. Cressy gazed after him, making sure her confusion wasn’t visible on her face. Even without looking at Shaun, she knew his attention remained focused on her.
Despite Denham buttoning his shirt in the kitchen, as though nothing had happened between them, he shared her need to put space between them. She should be relieved but instead loss seeped through her.
The phone in her jeans pocket rung and she slipped her phone free.
‘Hi, Ella,’ she said, looking away from the direction Denham had walked. ‘Everything okay out there at Tucker Road?’
‘Hi. No, it’s not, that’s why I’m calling. I need your help. There’s an injured mare who needs a new home. The owner doesn’t want her and she’s too much of a sweetheart to euthanise without trying to save her.’
Cressy walked around the counter to grab her basket. ‘I’m on my way.’
‘Great. Tell Shaun I’ve called Sue and she’ll send someone to replace you.’
‘Okay.’
‘And Cressy … can you borrow a horse float from somewhere? I can’t reach Tony.
The mare’s in shock. I don’t know yet how we will get her into one but we’ll need something to move her.’
‘Will do. See you soon.’
Cressy ended the call and searched the crowd for Denham’s blue shirt. She knew where to get a horse float. She also knew the perfect cowboy to work his magic on a traumatised horse. A cowboy who’d always have a home for an animal in need.
***
The black tyre marks that scored Tucker Road told their own story. Denham tracked the marks as the twin lines led from the corner to the roadside verge. The driver of the horse truck had been travelling too fast, lost control and ended up in the table drain. From the bark missing off the nearby gum tree the truck had clipped the trunk before sliding off the road.
Denham looked ahead to where the only vehicles now were Cressy’s ute and the Woodlea Vet Hospital vehicle. The truck had been able to be driven away. He rubbed a hand across his jaw as he caught sight of a pale shape lying on the ground beyond Cressy and Ella. The mare didn’t appear to be moving.
He parked behind Cressy’s ute. From inside the white float behind him a horse shuffled. Denham went to check on Flame. Horses were social herd animals so he’d brought the placid chestnut along to reassure and calm the injured mare. He opened the side door of the float to take out a horse rug, a full water cooler and empty bucket. Cressy had said the horse was in shock so she’d need to be kept warm and hydrated.
Footsteps sounded and he turned to see Cressy heading his way. The gravity of her eyes communicated that the situation wasn’t good.
‘Thanks for bringing the float and for getting here so quickly.’
‘No worries.’
Together they walked over to the grey mare who lay on her side, flanks heaving. Ella kneeled beside her holding a bag of IV fluid.
Denham set the rug and bucket on the ground.
‘Hi, Ella, it looks like you’ve had a busy morning?’
He made sure his words were low and calm. The mare couldn’t see him as Ella had placed a small towel over her eyes but she’d sense another stranger had arrived.
‘I have. Thanks for coming. Cressy said there was no-one better than you with horses.’
He glanced at Cressy who had her head bowed as she poured water from the cooler into the bucket.
‘Cressy’s too kind. I’m sure Bandit would disagree. He often looks at me as if I have no clue what he’s thinking.’
He assessed the stricken mare and examined the raw scrapes that marred her grey legs and shoulder. A cut beneath her eye had already started to swell. Compassion fuelled his need to help. The mare had been tossed around inside the truck like windmill grass in a summer storm. He frowned as he examined semi-healed cuts on her back legs. Even with her lying on her side, he could see the contrast between her bloated belly and her sharp hip bones. It had been a long time since she’d been wormed.
‘The poor old girl. Someone hasn’t taken very good care of her.’ Denham didn’t censor the disgust hardening his words. ‘She doesn’t even have any wraps on her legs that would have given her a little more protection in an accident.’
‘I know,’ Ella said, her own tone unimpressed. ‘Her trouble didn’t start with the truck running off the road. You should have met the owner. All he’d cared about was his precious rig. He said he had no money to spend on her and if I didn’t put her down he’d call a mate who knew a dogger.’
Denham ground his teeth. Doggers bought horses for one reason: dog meat.
‘Where was he taking her?’
‘No idea. All he said was she was a companion horse he didn’t need, or want, and I was welcome to her.’ Ella glanced towards Cressy who had gone to the float to talk to Flame. ‘If we can save her, it would do Cressy good to have another animal to feed carrots to.’
Denham nodded. He’d been thinking the same thing. Cressy hadn’t had a horse since she’d lost Star years ago.
The grey kicked her hind legs and tried to lift her head.
‘Easy, honey,’ he said, smoothing her hot and damp neck. ‘So her back legs aren’t broken, how about the front?’
‘I don’t think so. She was curled up into a ball on the floor when the guy opened the truck. I have no idea how he got her out but there were ropes on the ground when I arrived. She hasn’t tried to stand at all.’ Ella lifted the IV bag higher. ‘But she should be feeling less pain and more comfortable soon … Maybe we can get her to at least sit up?’
‘Does she have a name?’
‘Jazz.’
‘Okay, Jazz. I’m just going to get to know you a little more.’
Denham carefully moved around the mare, rubbing and smoothing her coat to gauge her body language. A swish of her tail or the flare of her nostrils indicated what she was and wasn’t comfortable with. On his gap year in Montana a wise old cowboy had taught him to build a relationship with horses based on mutual understanding and respect.
Denham continued to talk softly and to take his time to prove he wasn’t a threat. Soon Jazz’s closest ear flickered towards him and the tension leached from the muscles beneath his palm. He nodded at Ella as he moved around to Jazz’s back. Still holding the IV bag, Ella scooted a little to the left and out of the way.
‘Okay, Jazz.’ He gently removed the covering from over her eyes. ‘I know you’re sore and tired but let’s get you sitting up.’
He applied light pressure to the mare’s back to encourage and reassure her. With a groan she tucked her legs beneath her and rolled onto her side. She then thrust out her two front legs and pushed herself to stand. Shaking and unsteady, she blew out a deep breath.
‘Good girl.’ Denham rubbed below her white forelock and her head lowered to press against his hand.
He smiled. He could see why Ella fought to keep this sweet mare alive. Despite everything she’d gone through she remained capable of gentleness and trust.
Cressy stepped forward with a lead rope and rug. When Jazz was both secure and warm, Denham brought over the water bucket. The mare sniffed the water before taking a slow drink.
Ella lowered the now empty IV bag. Relief relaxed the furrow between her brows. ‘That’s the best thing I’ve seen all day.’
Denham smoothed Jazz’s neck while Ella completed a thorough examination. Her smile signalled Jazz would be okay.
‘We’ll have to watch some of those deeper cuts on her nearside leg for infection and her eye will need medication but it could have been so much worse.’
She ran her hand over Jazz’s shoulder and gently pinched her chest. The mare moved backwards. ‘I know. That hurts. Sorry. Your shoulder’s out, isn’t it? Probably your neck as well? I’ll call Hugh and next time he’s near Woodlea, he’ll put you back in.’
Denham gently felt around Jazz’s ears and found the hard mound of a knot that indicated her poll was out too. The mare would feel much better once the horse chiropractor had worked on her. He’d seen equine chiropractors ease the discomfort of rodeo horses with what seemed like a simple lift of their front leg.
Ella gazed over to where Cressy held Flame’s purple lead rope as the chestnut snatched mouthfuls of roadside grass. ‘What do you think our chances are of getting Jazz into the float?’
‘Good.’ He paused as Jazz slowly swung her head to look at the grazing mare. ‘She should follow Flame inside.’
Denham let Jazz walk at her own stiff pace as he headed towards Flame. When they drew near, Flame lifted her head and whickered softly. The horses touched noses before Flame nuzzled Jazz’s neck in a universal gesture of acceptance. Cressy smiled her sweet smile that never failed to make his heart beat a little faster. Denham looked away. She’d flashed Shaun a similar smile when they’d worked together on the cake stall.
‘Okay, Jazz, let’s get you back to Claremont,’ Denham said, when Ella joined them after repacking the vet vehicle.
Cressy led Flame to the horse float. The mare’s hooves clattered on the ramp as she walked inside. Jazz’s head lifted and her nostrils flared but after only a moment of hesitation, she followed her new friend.
Denham stayed with her to check she was settled before closing the ramp. With steady Flame beside her, the injured mare continued to stand quietly.
‘Great job,’ Ella said, giving Cressy a hug.
Ella then gave him a hug. ‘Thank you, too. We make a great team.’
He returned her hug. ‘We do.’
Within his arms Ella felt warm and lithe. The faint scent of vanilla clung to her blonde ponytail. He had no doubt every single male in the district would wish to be him right now. But apart from feelings of friendship and respect, Denham felt nothing. The only woman who made his breath catch stood nearby, her face expressionless as she watched them.
His arms lowered from around Ella and she stepped back. In the rich brown of her gaze he also saw nothing but friendship.
‘I’ll visit Jazz tomorrow morning. Let me know if anything changes overnight.’ She handed him a small tube of ointment. ‘Please use this daily on her right eye. The swelling should go down soon. I’ll also bring worming paste.’
‘Thanks.’
Ella turned to take a last look into the float. ‘Now I’d better head back to the market day. The lunchtime rush will still be on.’
‘I should go too,’ Cressy said. ‘I won’t be far behind you.’
Ella smiled and nodded before heading towards her vehicle.
Cressy glanced at him, eyes guarded, before she too looked into the float.
He didn’t imagine the awkwardness that weighted the space between them. He should have accepted her offer to help collect Meredith’s cupcakes. It would have given him the chance to apologise for his loss of control in the kitchen. Their moment of intense physical connection shouldn’t have happened. His desperation to hold her would have been stamped all over his face. But the timing hadn’t been right to talk after he’d seen her with Shaun.
His jealousy had flared when Shaun had whispered in her ear and when he’d stood so close to her. He’d also seen her face when little Tricia had snuggled next to her and played with her ponytail. He’d once thought he’d be the one to give Cressy the family she deserved and had always wanted. But he couldn’t. Not anymore. The family truths his brother’s final words had revealed were seared into his soul. The secrets he’d been entrusted to keep had to die along with the Rigby name.
Cressy turned away from the horse float to face him. ‘You’ll be right driving home?’
‘Yes.’ His tone was carefully casual. Now also wasn’t the time to apologise. Jazz had been through so much today and he had to get the mare unloaded as soon as possible. ‘I’ll take it slow so Jazz has a smooth ride.’
‘Is it okay if I come and see her tomorrow too?’ Her gaze searched his.
He nodded, stifling the bittersweet pain he’d be seeing her again so soon.
‘Thanks.’ She swung away before he could identify the emotion flitting across her face. ‘See you then.’
CHAPTER
8
‘Now remember, Tippy, we’re here to see Jazz, not Denham. He’ll have things to do.’
Cressy shut the ute door and gave the kelpie her best serious look. Tippy wagged her tail, scattering purple jacaranda blooms over the toes of Cressy’s boots.
‘We’re also not staying long. There’s washing to be done and the caravan to be cleaned before we leave for the long paddock on Monday.’
Tippy tilted her head, her black and tan face all innocence. Cressy wasn’t fooled. The second she looked away the kelpie would bound towards the stables where they’d glimpsed the green of Denham’s shirt.
Cressy settled her cap on her head before pulling her over-long ponytail through the hole in the back. She really needed to see Sue for a haircut.
Movement flickered from over near a cluster of white roses in the garden bed beside the old tennis court. She turned to see Meredith filling a basket with flowers.
‘Come on, Tip. This way.’
Cressy headed through the park-like garden towards Meredith, making sure Tippy remained by her side.
The older woman looked up. A smile brightened her blue eyes and a new bloom freshened her cheeks. Having Denham home and being out at Claremont had provided Meredith with something more to focus on than losing her best friend. A ute rattled past to their left and they both turned to wave as Phil headed to the manager’s cottage. Meredith’s smile widened. Cressy could only hope that the older woman’s relaxed appearance also had something to do with seeing Phil every day. Phil might rarely speak when in Meredith’s company but his gaze never left her.
