Family Farm (34 page)

Izzy nodded but she felt like rolling her eyes. She could finish his list by herself before he was back with the truck. It wasn’t the first time she’d prepared for seeding. But she didn’t tell Alan in case he misinterpreted it as arrogance. This job meant too much. ‘Sure. It won’t be a problem.’

Alan climbed up into the truck without another word, backed out of the shed and roared up the driveway towards town. Black smoke trailed behind as he put his foot down.

Izzy checked her watch and then continued. She’d managed to find the oil and the right tools that they’d need by the time Blake eventually turned up.

‘Ten minutes, my arse,’ Izzy said as he strolled in.

‘Hey, I was on the phone. My mate Mickey rang. He was chasing some welding rods. Anyway, he was just telling me he has a huge bonfire ready to light up for a party on Saturday night. And you’re coming with me.’

‘Why? Do you want me to shepherd off the young ladies for you?’ Izzy half joked.

Blake’s eyes gleamed. ‘That sounds like a bloody great idea. You know, there is this one girl, Kelly, who’s been trying to get her claws into me for ages. Bet my left butt cheek she’ll be there. I seriously could use you.’

‘Just use and abuse, don’t you,’ she laughed.

‘Come on, Izzy. I want you to come so I can introduce you to Mickey. You’ll love him. Everyone does!’

‘You can stop trying to convince me. You had me at the words “bonfire” and “party”.’ She needed a good time out with a few ales.

‘Great!’ Blake looked around, noticing for the first time that things appeared different. It was tidy. ‘Looks like you’ve been keeping busy. Where’s the old man?’

Izzy pointed to the empty spot in the shed. ‘He’s taken the truck in to get fixed. He left us some instructions.’

Blake nodded and together they went about servicing the tractor.

Three hours later Izzy spotted Di coming towards the shed carrying a tray. She was wearing denim capri pants and a black shirt, which suited her slender frame. It was easy to see where Simone got her looks.

‘You two ready for morning tea?’ she asked, as she carried a freshly baked cake to the tiny table that was pushed up against the back wall of the shed.

‘You bet. Is that carrot cake? Yum! Thanks, Mum,’ Blake said, switching on the old white kettle while Di unloaded the cake.

Izzy watched them joking together. Di only came up to Blake’s shoulders. Izzy chuckled at the thought of Di trying to tell him off while he towered over her.

Di glanced over her shoulder at Izzy. ‘What would you like – tea or coffee?’

Cleaning her hands, she joined them both at the small table. ‘I’ll have a tea, thanks. White with one.’

‘Pull up a chair, Izzy,’ said Blake as he sat down. ‘I’m going to try some of this cake. It looks great.’ Blake handed a piece to Izzy first. ‘You look like you could do with some fattening. Here, eat up.’

‘Gee, thanks,’ Izzy said sarcastically, but she took the cake with a smile.

Di handed out the cups and then sat down. ‘So, you’re settled in okay? I hope the house wasn’t too messy. They’re not the cleanest housemates around.’

‘Ma,’ Blake whined.

‘No, it’s great, thanks. I think I’ll enjoy living with them both. It’ll be nice to have some company for a change.’ Izzy licked the icing off her fingers as Blake gave her a wink.

Di didn’t miss it. ‘You know, my Blake’s an amazing man. He’s sensitive and he’s single.’

Blake’s hands flew up in the air. ‘Jesus, Mum. Give Izzy a break. She only just got here. Don’t go scaring her off with that. For your info we’re just friends. Besides, Izzy’s in love with someone else, so give it a rest.’ He turned to Izzy. ‘You know, the number of times Mum has tried to set me up lately is amazing. She could start her own introduction agency.’

Di butted in. ‘I’m just looking out for your best interests. I want grandchildren one day, and preferably before I’m too old to hold them.’

Izzy caught the glimmer of something sad in Blake’s eyes but he hid it quickly. She knew the comment would have hurt him and it would only get worse over time. She decided to change the topic. ‘Living with Blake and Simone will be like having a brother and a sister. They’ve already made me feel so welcome. I’m incredibly lucky to have met your family,’ Izzy said to Di.

Di gave her a caring smile as she brushed back her golden hair with her fingers. ‘Do you have any brothers and sisters, Izzy?’ she asked.

Izzy shook her head. ‘I had an older sister called Claire, but she died in an accident on the farm when I was seventeen. Nearly five years ago now.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ Di said sincerely, reaching across to her.

Izzy held up her hand. ‘It’s okay.’

‘That must’ve been hard, and you were so young. I couldn’t imagine losing one of my kids.’ Di looked lovingly at her son.

‘Yeah, my dad didn’t take it too well. He’s tried to keep me in a cocoon ever since. He won’t let me work our farm in case I get hurt like Claire did. That’s why I’m here working for someone else.’ Izzy moved the cup around in her hands before taking another sip.

‘I can understand his worry. It’s hard being a parent, you know. Your children never stop being your babies, no matter how old they get. I hope you don’t hate him for it?’ Di had sensed Izzy’s resentment towards her father.

Izzy sighed as she shook her head. ‘No, I don’t. I know he’s only trying to protect me, but it doesn’t make it any easier to accept.’ She drained the last of her tea and placed the cup back on the table.

‘He’ll come round one day,’ Di reassured her.

‘I hope so.’

‘Well, I hope he doesn’t,’ said Blake, butting in. ‘I want to keep you here with us. Call me selfish, but I don’t care.’

Di got up and started to pack up. It wasn’t until she was almost back at the house that Izzy felt free to talk.

‘You should tell you parents, Blake. They’re gorgeous people and they clearly love you. It might take a while for them to accept it, or it might not, but you have to give them that chance.’ She held his arm to stop him walking away. ‘You can’t avoid it forever, you know. It will only eat you up.’ She spoke from personal experience and wished that someone could have told her the same thing years ago.

‘I know. But I’d just hate to see the disappointment in their eyes – or worse, disgust.’ His face clouded over and creased with lines.

‘Well, I’m here for support, and I’m not going anywhere, hopefully. Maybe you could start by telling Simone?’ She watched the terror spread its way through his body at her suggestion. ‘She probably already knows, or at least suspects,’ said Izzy.

‘What makes you say that? Has she said something?’ said Blake quickly.

‘Keep ya tits on. What I mean is you don’t grow up that close to someone and not notice things. I think you’ll find she won’t be shocked. I mean, you’ve been living together for a while now. She would put things together.’ Izzy could tell he was worried. ‘Just carry on as normal and when you feel the time is right, sit down and have a chat with her.’

‘What if she hasn’t guessed and she goes ape shit?’

Izzy smiled. ‘What if she doesn’t? All I can say is be thankful you still have a sister.’

Blake smiled and rested his hand on her shoulder fondly. ‘You know it’s strange talking about it here. In Perth it doesn’t bother me, but out here … it’s like I’m in a different world. I feel like I have two lives, like I’m two different people.’

‘And that’s not going to change until you can start combining the two.’ Izzy wiped the sweat from her forehead. ‘Come on. Let’s get these points changed. I don’t want to be in the bad books with the boss.’

Blake laughed. ‘Yeah, well, I don’t want to get too much done, just in case he expects it to be like this all the time.’

‘Slack arse!’

By late afternoon, the sun was sinking fast, causing long grey shadows to crawl along the land and off the nearby sheds. A cool breeze picked up, bringing with it the soft rustle of the gum leaves and the flapping of loose tin on the old shed next door.

When Alan brought the truck back, the five-in-one bin sat parked in its spot. He came and stood by Izzy, who’d been working on it. His large hands rested on his hips.

‘What are you doing, and where’s the tractor … and Blake for that matter?’ Alan asked rather gruffly.

Izzy smiled, grease smudged on her brow and all over her hands. ‘He’s taken it down to the bottom paddock, ready for tomorrow.’ She felt like laughing at the look on his face. ‘We ended up having to change most of the points. He told me this motor had been playing up, so I said I’d take a look at it while he made a start in the paddock.’

‘Oh.’

Izzy pointed her greasy finger at the outdated motor. ‘I think I found the problem. I replaced a seal and cleaned it. I’ve just about got it back together to see how it goes.’

Alan watched her quietly as she went about putting the small motor back together. He didn’t miss anything. He could tell from her technique that this wasn’t her first time working on motors. She held a screwdriver with precision and instinctively reached for the right parts without looking. Alan hadn’t seen a girl so keen or so knowledgeable. He knew of girls who liked to help move sheep and drive a tractor every now and then, but he could tell Izzy was well beyond that. He smiled, thinking what a handy wife she’d make for Blake. She could have kids
and
drive the header.

Putting down the spanner, Izzy wiped her hands on a rag and gave the rope a pull. The motor screamed into life, then soon settled down to a constant, normal rhythmic thudding. Izzy raised her eyebrows at Alan as if asking him what he thought.

‘Music to my ears,’ he shouted over the motor.

Izzy turned it off and began to put away the tools she’d used.

‘Izzy.’ When he had her full attention, he continued, ‘The job’s yours.’ He saw the puzzled look on her face and laughed. ‘I know the week’s not up – hell, the day’s not even up – but you’ve shown more nous than half the blokes I’ve had working for me over the years. And I want to apologise because it wasn’t fair putting you on a trial. I’m man enough to admit that I didn’t think a girl would be capable. So, I’m sorry.’ Alan held out his hand.

Izzy grinned and shook it. ‘Thank you. I appreciate it.’

‘I’m just bloody impressed with what you’ve achieved today. You might give Blake something to aspire to, and I might actually get some work done around here!’

Izzy laughed as she watched Alan head to his truck.

Turning back, he yelled out, ‘There’s a beer fridge near the table. Help yourself before you head home. I’ll see you in the morning.’

With a quick wave he left, leaving Izzy in high spirits. Grabbing a beer, she made her way back to Blake’s place. As she walked, she breathed in the fresh evening air that swirled around her. Galahs squawked overhead in the trees and a bunch of them eating spilt grain nearby flew away. Despite feeling so happy, there was still a deep longing to be home on her own land, and closer to Will.

THE rest of the week flew by as Izzy got used to the MacDougalls’ routines and machinery. By Saturday night, she was ready to have a good time.

‘Simone, get out of the bathroom. We need to use it too.’ Blake banged on the door once again.

‘Yeah, all right. Hold ya flippin’ horses,’ came her reply.

A minute later Simone opened the door, her hair neatly styled up on top of her head and her face glowing with fresh make-up. ‘He’s just as bad as I am,’ she said as she walked to her bedroom, passing Izzy on the way. ‘God knows why a bloke needs to take so long.’

Izzy laughed. Watching their banter made her wonder what life would be like if she still had her sister around.

Simone popped her head back out of her room. ‘Are you getting ready?’ she asked, scrutinising what Izzy was wearing.

She ran a hand over her jeans and pulled some fluff off her long-sleeved fitted shirt. ‘I am ready. I’ll have you know these are my good jeans.’ She saw the disapproval in Simone’s eyes. ‘What’s it matter anyway? It’ll be that bloody cold we’ll all end up with jackets on!’

‘You’re all class, Izzy. Me – well, I’m out to impress.’ Simone strutted out of her room wearing tight jeans and a gorgeous silver top with thin straps.

‘So, is this for anyone in particular?’

Simone shook her head far too quickly. ‘No, it’s just in case. You never know when Mr Right might pop up.’ With flushed cheeks she disappeared into her room again.

Izzy had been ready for a while. She’d been looking forward to the party all week. It was a great way to meet some of the locals and to help her forget things for the night.

Blake came waltzing out of the bathroom looking very handsome in jeans and a white open-necked shirt.

Izzy joined him in the small lounge room and sat down in an old rocker recliner with worn brown vinyl armrests.

Blake stood in front of her while he did up his cuffs. ‘You know, Dad can’t stop praising you and talking about how quickly you found that oil leak yesterday. He reckons you saved a shitload of hydraulic oil. Not to mention the damage it could have done.’

Izzy shrugged as she rocked gently. ‘It’s not that big a deal.’

‘He doesn’t think so. If you keep this up, he’ll end up turfing me off the farm and handing it to you.’

‘Yeah well, I like your dad. At least he acknowledges me and what I can do. It’s more than I can say for my old man. Maybe we could swap farms. I’ll work here and you can go help my dad.’ Izzy thought of Bill and pictured him back at Gumlea stuck in his wheelchair, gazing helplessly out the window. ‘I wonder how he’s coping. Will must be helping him, unless he’s hired a worker.’ Izzy’s voice faded away.

Blake squatted down, put his hands on her knees, and waited until she stopped rocking. ‘If you’re worried about him or the farm, why don’t you give him a call, or your mum? She must be beside herself wondering where you are.’

Izzy shook her head defiantly. ‘No, no, no. It’s too soon. I don’t want him to know how much I miss the place or how much he hurt me.’

‘Sure. But why not call Will then?’ Blake said, giving her a devious smile.

‘
No!
How could I call him? I wouldn’t know what to say.’