Taming the Outback Read online

  “I’m not going; you can’t make me.” Josh glared at her and cursed under his breath.

  “I can and I will make you go. You’re underage and in enough trouble as it is. This might be the only way to keep this family together, and I’m going to take it. You will do as you are told for once.” Libby leaned against the kitchen bench, folder her arms, and glared back at him, refusing to give in this time even though her stomach was churning through yet another confrontation. “Holly, are you okay moving to the country, sweetheart?”

  Libby watched her daughter’s gaze flit around the room before coming back to make contact with her. “Can we have a puppy if we move?”

  “I think that’s a good idea. We can buy one before we leave if you like.” Libby’s heart tightened as she thought about the possibilities for her little girl. There was every hope she would come out of her shell once away from the city and where they all had room to spread their wings and grow.

  ***

  The weekend passed in a haze of housework and sorting. Once Libby had decided to make the move, she needed to decide out what she was keeping and what was going to the secondhand shop. She assumed the house had furniture, but she would take hers anyway. Who knew what an old man’s taste was like? Aaron told her she only had two weeks to take up residence and fulfill the initial phase of the will.

  She had given her notice at work, but surprisingly, instead of feeling jubilant upon handing in her letter of resignation and bidding her coworkers good-bye, she felt reluctant, bereft, even. Libby was having the worst case of cold feet now that her mind had been made up. But there was too much money at stake for her to walk away from it. She was nothing if not practical and would learn all she needed to tackle the work. Surely they could find help somewhere or even Google what they needed to know. Libby would be a willing participant in anything new, and the kids could do with learning some life skills. No one died from getting their hands dirty once in a while.

  The house had to be clean before she could hand it over to the real estate. Libby had decided the best option would be to rent it out. The rent money would at least cover the mortgage, and if things didn’t go according to plan, they had somewhere to come back to. It was one less thing she had to worry about.

  Josh wasn’t talking to her yet, but that was nothing new. Maybe a whole new environment and change of lifestyle will adjust his surly attitude; I can always hope.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Her body tensed with excitement as he ran his finger down the side of her face. Looking into his smoldering, dark eyes, she found it hard to believe she’d had any negative thoughts about him. He was certainly not the man she first thought he was. With her, he was sensitive and gentle, his soothing words calming her anxious feelings over moving to the farm. He encouraged her to go, telling her it was the right move for her and the children. His chiseled lips looked cold, but as they touched hers, they sent a warm thrill through her body. He teased her top lip with his tongue, sweeping along the ridges and toying with the nub now swollen from his kisses. She lay back in his arms and closed her eyes, giving into the need to pull him closer.

  The bed gave way with another weight seconds before a small, wet tongue lapped at her mouth. Coughing and gagging, Libby dragged herself from her dream as she pushed Holly’s new puppy away and wiped her lips with the back her hand.

  Holly was in hysterics at her mother’s reaction.

  “That was not funny, Holly.” Libby coughed, struggling to let go of her dream. “Dog spit does not do it for me first thing in the morning, not before my first coffee anyway.”

  “It’s time to get up, Mum,” her daughter said. “We need to get moving before the truck arrives.”

  “Since when did you get to be so organized, little one?” Libby asked as she pushed aside her blankets and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

  “I have decided you need all the help you can get. At least that’s what Josh said,” Holly replied.

  “Did he now?” Libby mused, rubbing a hand over her face, tugging her hair back over her ear. “Well, with that in mind, I am in the shower first while you wake your brother, and then I’ll have that coffee while you eat your cereal.” Libby ruffled Holly’s hair, ticked little Henry under the chin, and headed for her final wash in the dingy, old room.

  When Libby walked into the kitchen after her shower, Josh was on the back lawn with his dog, still unnamed, romping around with Henry while Holly sat on the grass with her bowl of cereal.

  “Morning, Josh,” Libby called. “Come get something to eat, and then we’ll make a move. If we don’t hurry up and get on the road, it will be pitch-dark before we find the farm, and I don’t want to end up sleeping in the car.”

  By the time Libby had loaded the vehicle and cleaned up the rest of the kitchen, the movers were at the door. She handed over the keys and left them to it. As she prepared to drive away from the first house she had ever owned, her eyes misted, and her stomach clenched as a sudden wave of terror grabbed her. She sat with her head on the steering wheel breathing deeply until she had herself under control, ignoring the kids’ questions until she could speak without tears clogging her throat.

  “Sorry, guys.” She sniffled loudly. “Just a little bit emotional there for a moment. It is an ugly house, but it is ours, and if things go totally wrong in Charleville, we will still be able to come back to it.” Am I trying to convince them...or myself?

  They were quiet as they drove through the suburbs and headed north up the Logan Highway toward Goodna, the first stop on their journey. The scenery changed noticeably as they drove inland. Bustling cities gave way to smaller, quieter towns and large, open spaces. They stopped for fuel and a cold drink before heading toward Toowoomba where Libby had planned on stopping for lunch.

  “Oh, look at those flowers,” she cried, pointing out the window at the brightly colored blooms as she drove slowly into the country town. “They’re so pretty. I’m going to have a flower bed at the farm.”

  “Huh, you kill anything that looks like it wants to grow, Mum,” Josh said, laughing at her.

  “I can try, can’t I?” Libby replied, determined to make an effort.

  “You always try, Mum, and look what happens. I say let the poor plants be and work on something you are good at.”

  “Oh, like what, tending the bar. I don’t think there will be much call for a barmaid at the farm somehow,” Libby mused.

  “I’ll help you, Mum,” Holly interjected.

  “Thanks, baby.”

  The next few towns all passed by in a blur. The kids were alternating between sleeping and listening to music, and Libby’s mind started to roam back to her dream that morning. Why she thought of the guy from the lawyer’s was beyond her. He certainly wasn’t the type of man she would choose if she were in the market for another partner. He was too arrogant, too grumpy, and too handsome for his own good.

  Her thoughts were interrupted again when the kids started to complain. They had been on the road for over eight hours including stops, and they were all tired and getting cranky. Libby gave the map to Josh with the torch so he could direct them once they got to Morven, the town closest to Charleville.

  “It’s only thirty kilometers, Josh, so keep an eye out for the turnoff.”

  Libby glanced down at the red needle of the temperature gauge. She was sure it hadn’t been in the middle before. When she checked again, it had moved even farther toward the red zone on the instrument panel.

  Libby started to panic. Should she keep going or pull over and let the car cool down? If she stopped, would the car start again? It was no good calling Aaron. He couldn’t do anything for her this far out. Before she could make a decision, there was a loud hiss, and the car filled with steam before grinding to a halt.

  “Damn, damn, damn,” she muttered, slamming her hand down on the steering wheel.

  “What the hell just happened?” Josh yelled, his voice high with fright.

  “The car has overheated,” Libby
answered, knowing full well there was more to it.

  “Can you start it again when it cools down?” he asked.

  “I don’t know, Josh.” Libby’s heart pounded as she tried to think of what chances they had of being rescued on this dark, deserted road. Trying to sound brave, she turned to him with an attempt at positive thinking. “Let’s wait and see, shall we?”

  “Just great,” he snapped in his usual angry tone. “What a welcome to the country, broken down on the side of the road, no houses in sight, and no hope of recovery.”

  Holly sat quietly, thumb in her mouth, holding onto Henry with her gaze on her mother.

  “Let’s just give it a minute, okay?” Libby pleaded. “If the car won’t start, I’ll call Aaron and ask him to send Tom to get us. We aren’t that far from the farm.”

  They sat in silence for fifteen minutes before Libby felt confident the car was cooled down enough to start again. She sat up in her seat and put her hand on the key. Turning it, she held her breath. The clicking sound made her groan, and she quickly turned off the key, slumping back in her seat.

  “I think you killed it, Mum,” Josh said.

  “Thanks. I kind of figured that much.”

  “What do we do now?” Holly’s voice was timid and scared.

  Before she could answer, lights blinded her in the rearview mirror. She put her hand up to shield her eyes and got out of the car, telling the kids to stay put.

  The four-wheel drive truck pulled up behind her, and the driver’s door opened. She couldn’t see the occupant until he stood right in front of her, towering over her in the dim light. He was dressed in dusty work clothes and jeans, which sat snugly on broad hips. A thick cotton work shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows showed off strong, tanned arms. An old, worn hat was pushed down over short hair, hiding his face as he stood looking down at her.

  “Are you okay?” he asked in a deep voice that rolled over her, triggering something familiar deep in her brain.

  “No, my car overheated, and now it won’t start.” Libby sighed as she followed him to the front of the vehicle.

  He shone a flashlight at the hood and told her to release it. He lifted it and stuck his head beneath. Muttering and cursing drifted back toward her ears. He slammed it back down and turned to her.

  “You have a broken radiator hose,” the stranger said. “The top one has completely blown, and the bottom one is on its way out. Don’t you check your car at all? It’s a bloody mess under that hood.”

  “My car runs fine normally.” Libby straightened her spine. So much for country charm; Mr. Personality, you aren’t. “But thanks for looking at it anyway. I won’t hold you up any longer.”

  “Testy little thing, aren’t you?” He pushed his hat back on his head as he came closer to her, his face barely visible in the fading light. “We don’t leave women on the side of the road out in this country.”

  “What are you doing here?” Libby asked as she recognized the lawyer who had made such an impression on her at Aaron’s.

  “I live here. The question should be what’re you doing here?” He sneered before walking away from her.

  “I think you know the answer to that question. It’s such a shame our first encounter is enough to upset you.” Libby kicked at the dirt, knowing her softly spoken words had gone unheard.

  At least he’s easy on the eyes; pity his attitude isn’t as nice.

  ***

  Leaning on the back of his dust-covered truck, Nathan pulled his mobile phone from his pocket and punched in a number. He glanced over at Libby pacing back and forth while he waited for someone to pick up.

  He’d known she was due soon, but he didn’t expect to meet her out on the highway, broken down.

  “Tom, it’s Nathan, I’m out on the side of the road at the highway end, just before the turnoff. I think I have something which belongs to you.” He grimaced as he looked back toward the women watching him. “You had better bring the truck out. Yeah, sure, I’ll wait with her. Don’t be too long. She’s a little bit fiery. Sure, ‘bye.”

  “So...” he drawled, walking back to stand before Libby. His heart was thumping, and a thin sheen of sweat was making his face heat up as he let his gaze run over her body from her pert nose to her long, bare legs. He noticed the blush on her cheeks while he scrutinized her under the flashlight beam. Damn you, Uncle Aaron. Cute and fiery. Too dangerous out here. If circumstances were different, or even another time and place, he could get attached to this woman—at least, physically. “You’re the city chick who’s going to take Quincy Station into the black, eh? I wonder if you know what you’re taking on, sweetheart?”

  “Don’t you ‘sweetheart’ me, mate. It’s Libby. Libby Holland, and yes, I am the city chick who’s taking over my great-uncle’s farm.” She glared at him in the torchlight.

  “Do you have a problem with that?”

  Damn. This sheila is going to be a handful of fun and frustration. I don’t know if I want to deal with her right now. Thanks again, Uncle Aaron.

  ***

  Libby stood her ground as he glared back at her, one hand on his hip, the other holding the flashlight on her, lips pulled over even, white teeth as his gaze brazenly roamed up and down her body. Libby felt uncomfortable in the crumpled shirt, which had come out of her wrinkled shorts. Her sneakers were the old, comfy ones she wore to mow the lawn, stained and muddy. Her hair had mostly fallen out of the knot she had put on the top of her head where her sunglasses were still perched. Libby tried to hook some of the stray bits behind her ear as he scrutinized her, and she could feel her face flaming in the light of his torch.

  “I think you will be the one with the problems, sweetheart, not me,” he drawled, moving closer. He leaned over Libby, his hand resting on the roof of the car when the back door opened, and Holly crawled out with Henry snuggled tightly to her body. She was followed by Josh with his red-heeler pup tucked under his arm.

  “Who are you?” Josh demanded, standing beside his mother.

  “Nathan Miller.” The man stepped back a couple of paces. “Your neighbor.”

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Miller.” Libby turned toward him, gritting her teeth and held her hand out.

  “I’m not sure the feeling is mutual,” he said. Before she could reply, lights shone on them, and another four-wheel drive pulled up beside Libby’s car. The window rolled down, and an older man put his head out, tipping his hat in acknowledgement.

  “Thanks, Nathan. Hi, missus, I’m Tom, your foreman.” The man held his leathery, work-hardened hand out the window for Libby to shake. “Sounds like you need a new car, way Nathan was talking.”

  “Nothing I’m sure the local mechanic can’t fix,” she replied through her clenched jaw.

  “I have my doubts,” the man called Nathan retorted. Waving to Tom, he walked to his car and left them standing there.

  “That was so bloody rude,” Libby said, trying to drag her gaze away from his retreating back. “Surely that’s no way to greet a new neighbor.”

  “Nope, that was just Nathan being Nathan.” Tom’s voice was matter-of-fact as he got out of the car to help Libby and the kids. “He’s a bit peeved you’ve come out to take over the station, but he’s a big boy. He’ll just have to get used to not getting his own way all the time.”

  Tom helped her pack their bags in the back of the truck and pile the kids and dogs in the back seat. Libby got in the front next to him, and they headed for their new home.

  ***

  Dogs barked and pulled at their chains as they drove past them over the cattle grid, past the barn and stables toward the huge, low-built homestead. Libby’s spirits lifted at the sight of the old house surrounded by a large bull-nosed veranda complete with French doors running the length of the building A potted plant sat on the steps, the wilted red flowers screaming out for water. Even with the paint peeling and the weeds growing around the steps, Libby fell in love.

  Standing on the top step, watching them arrive, was a youn
g boy of Aboriginal appearance. He held onto one of the veranda posts, giving them furtive glances as they climbed out of the vehicle.

  “Winton, get your butt down here and grab some bags.” Tom growled at the boy.

  Winton scampered down the steps and took some bags from Tom and ran back into the house with them.

  “Follow Winton, and we’ll show you the house,” Tom instructed as he nudged Libby, who was standing dazed on the pathway, too awestruck to move. She shook her head, still unable to believe this place was hers...at least for the next two years.

  Gathering the kids in front of her, they walked up the steps into their new home. The room she walked into took her breath away. The walls were tongue and groove and rose twelve feet to meet ornate ceilings bordered by delicate scrolled plasterwork. Chandeliers hung low on brass posts, the crystal throwing rainbows around the ceiling. The cobwebs hanging in the light fittings and in the corners of the room did nothing to dampen the beauty of the house. The furniture was old, dark, and heavy. It was worn in patches and just beautiful. Some of it was just about ready for the dump, but the overall effect was perfect...at least Libby thought so.

  They followed Winton down the long, wide hallway to the rooms with Tom following them, carrying more bags. Winton stopped at the first door.

  “You can have whichever rooms you want since it’s your house.” Tom’s rough voice came from behind her. “There’s plenty to choose from. I just thought I would set out some for now so I could put fresh sheets on the beds for tonight.”

  “Thanks,” Libby said. “I really appreciate it. It was very kind of you.”

  His eyes looked at her from under his bushy, gray eyebrows.

  “How about I put the kettle on and make a cuppa?” he asked. “When you sort yourselves out, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

  Libby settled the kids in the rooms Tom had readied for them. They were huge, and their doors opened onto the covered veranda. Josh’s room had twin beds, and Holly’s had a single bed the old man had made up with pretty bed linen that would appeal to a young girl. Heavy, dark dressers gave the kids plenty of room for their extra clothes when they finally arrived. Libby was thinking her furniture would look ridiculous in this house, but the kids might want their own stuff to make them feel more comfortable.