Queen of the Road (23 page)

‘You understand Jilly wasn’t trying to hurt you, Claudia?’ he said, still holding the girl in his other arm. ‘She was trying to keep you away from the edge.’

‘Like she kept me away from the snake?’

‘Just like that.’ Coop put her down, took her hand and offered the other to Angela. ‘We’d better get going.’

She took his hand, knowing she was more than capable of stepping down the rock face by herself but wanting to feel the warmth of his hold again.

He was silent on the way down and said little as they gathered their things and made their way back to the ute. Angela felt the pang of a lost opportunity. The spark had left his eyes. She shouldn’t have been cross with his dog. Jilly had kept Claudia from danger on two
occasions now. They drove off with Claudia between them chatting to Coop about his animals. He answered only when necessary and Angela didn’t speak at all.

‘Sorry to rush,’ he said once they were back at the house yard. ‘But I’d better get back to work. Thanks for lunch.’

‘We enjoyed the picnic.’ Angela pulled her face into a big smile. ‘Coop, I know Jilly didn’t mean any harm.’

‘Don’t worry about it.’

‘Maybe we could do this again,’ she said softly, but he’d already turned and was moving across the yard. He didn’t hear her.

‘Come on, Claud,’ she said, tugging the little girl away from a final hug with Jilly. ‘Time to go home.’

The dog glanced from Claudia to Coop, then trotted after her master.

Angela had really enjoyed Coop’s company, she reflected, and as she shrugged her neck into her shoulders, she thought of how much she’d enjoyed the feel of his arm around her.

Claudia was making hard work of climbing into her seat so Angela stepped up to help. Through the window she saw Coop disappear into a shed. She sighed. For the first time since they’d moved to Munirilla, heading back to the flat was a lonely prospect.

***

Coop tried to concentrate on clearing the seeder hose but there was a heaviness in his chest and a bad taste in his mouth. He hadn’t meant to hurry Angela and Claudia away but he couldn’t shake the sight of those sheep and their lambs.

The height of the rock and the slope of the hill had allowed a particular view over the Camerons’ property. It was relatively easy for the sheep to be seen from up there, but not so from down on the ground. At first he thought they might be some they’d yarded
to keep an eye on, but they were quite a distance from the house. That was odd in itself. There were a number of other holding pens between the outcrop and the house, all empty. If the Camerons needed to yard five ewes with lambs, you’d think they’d put them where they could better watch over them. That, and the fact there were five sheep, had sowed the seed of suspicion in Coop. Five – exactly the number missing from Alice’s mob.

Maybe Annabel or Phil had found them and shut them up till Coop could be contacted, but there’d been ample opportunity for that. Of course he could be wrong and they might not be Alice’s. He really hoped not. No one wanted to suspect a neighbour of rustling. Maybe it was just a coincidence. But now that he knew the sheep were there, tucked away out of sight, he had to check them – he just wasn’t sure how to go about it. He couldn’t simply turn up at the Camerons’ and ask to inspect their pens.

Jilly growled, ran to the shed door and gave a couple of sharp barks. Coop could hear a vehicle. He wiped his hands on an old rag and wandered outside as a ute pulled up at the house. Coop lifted his hand to attract the attention of the driver. The vehicle moved slowly in his direction.

‘Jilly, sit,’ he said, as the dog pranced about his feet and barked. He bent to pat her then straightened quickly. ‘Well, well,’ he murmured to the dog, ‘speak of the devil.’

Phil Cameron pulled up beside him and lowered his window. ‘G’day Coop,’ he said. ‘We’ve nearly finished our hay paddocks. Thought I’d call in and see how you’re going. Did you get that tank cleaned out?’

‘Yeah, just a bit of yard work left to do.’ Coop had told Phil about the sludge when he’d rung yesterday.

‘Same thing happened when I was a lad on the farm. You need to put on a decent filter.’

‘I’ve fixed it now,’ Coop said.

‘Annabel said you’ve got some ewes dropping those Dohne-cross lambs. I hope you’re keeping a good eye on the fences. I don’t want that ram getting anywhere near my flock.’

Coop smiled. ‘The Dohne,’ he emphasised the
doo-nee
sounds again, ‘is quite content here. He won’t be jumping any fences.’

‘Good. Well, if you’ve got the seed and fertiliser ready to go, I reckon we can start Alice’s oats about mid-week. Should be some more rain tomorrow or the next day.’

‘It’s all here. Do you want me to bring it over?’ This could be his excuse to visit the Camerons’ and have a look around.

‘No. I’ll get you to bring it out when we’re ready. Saves double-handling. I’m heading home for a feed and an early night. Annabel’s doing the late shift and I’ll take over again in the morning. If all goes to plan, you’ll hear from me again soon.’

Phil reached a hand out the window. Coop shook it then stepped back as the ute pulled away. He shifted his hat on his head. If Phil was going into town and Annabel was out on the tractor, maybe now was the time to check out these sheep. The thought made his stomach churn. Again he pictured the sight from the vantage of the rock. Just as rustling was a serious crime, so was trespassing – unless, of course, he didn’t actually go on the Camerons’ property. Coop had never followed the base of the rock all the way round to the fence, but maybe there was a way he could get close to the holding pen without crossing the boundary.

He glanced to the west. The sun was getting low. If he was going to go, he should do so while he still had the light. Besides, he didn’t know how long Annabel would stay out on the tractor.

He looked back at the seeder. He just had to reattach a hose and it’d be ready to go again. Phil was going to let him know when they wanted the seed, which just left the yard to clean up. He could get over, check the sheep and be back before dark. Jilly rushed ahead of him to the ute.

‘No, Jilly. Stay.’

The dog dropped her head and watched with big eyes as he jumped into the ute without her.

‘Not this trip, girl,’ Coop said. ‘But I won’t be long.’

He retraced the journey he’d made with Angela and Claudia and thought back over the day. He wasn’t being completely honest with Angela when he said that work could wait but he hadn’t wanted to pass up the opportunity to spend more time with her. He liked her, and she didn’t seem to be averse to spending time with him.

He shook his head. It was a futile, surely. She was going back to Melbourne soon, and once Alice was home and settled, he’d be shifting on himself. Yet a sense of yearning persisted inside him. Maybe this was his time to stop moving. Jeff had always said there’d be a place for him one day – somewhere he’d want to stay. But after fifteen years on the move he wasn’t sure this was it. Or was it Angela alone that he cared about, be it in Munirilla or Melbourne?

The rock loomed ahead and thoughts of Angela were replaced by the distaste of snooping around someone else’s property. Coop took a different track towards the fence line and parked the ute at the edge of the paddock, where it met the scraggly bush that grew at the base of the rock.

On foot, he followed the fence with difficulty. On Alice’s side, the bush grew right up to it. In stark contrast the Camerons’ paddock was bare, showing only the dark grooves of recently turned soil.

A branch snagged his shirt and he stopped to look ahead. The rock and the bush formed an impassable barrier for the last fifty or so metres. On the other side of the fence the paddock stretched to a thick line of trees, beyond which he knew was the holding pen. He was so close to being able to check out those five sheep and their lambs.

He looked around. There was no one to see him out here. Phil had gone back into Munirilla and Annabel was out on a tractor
somewhere. The afternoon was still, with only a slight breeze. If she was close, he’d hear the engine.

He pushed down on the barbed wire and hoisted himself over the fence. The paddock had been ploughed right up to it, probably to create a firebreak. Coop’s boots sank into the soil as he moved quickly towards the stand of trees. When he reached them, he had to climb another fence and force his way between the branches of a low, sprawling gum, planted to create a wind break. The bleat of a sheep and the movement of hooves made him stop. He peered through the bush at the five ewes. They’d heard him coming and were on their feet in the corner of the yard looking in his direction. Several lambs skittered about their mothers’ legs.

Coop stayed very still, waiting for the animals to get used to his presence. The last thing he wanted was to cause a commotion that might send Annabel to check if, by some chance, she
was
nearby. Eventually, the sheep settled and he watched them closely. The green tags that identified Alice’s mob were missing from these sheep. He wasn’t close enough to tell if there were holes in their ears where the tags may have been, but he got a good look at the lambs – they were definitely crosses.

The sheep became restless again at the sound of dogs barking in the distance. Reluctantly, he eased his way back through the trees and over the fence. He felt exposed as he made his way back along the fence line to where he’d climbed over and he was glad to finally reach his vehicle undetected.

Coop sat in the ute for some time. He felt sure the sheep in the Camerons’ pen were Alice’s, but he had no way of proving it. Claudia couldn’t have known the lambs were Dohnes from her viewpoint up on the rock. She’d just said that because they were the only lambs she’s seen. But Coop now knew the lambs in that pen were the same size as Alice’s and that they were crosses. Phil and his son bred Merinos and Poll Merinos. There was no way they’d have
crossbred lambs and Phil’s recent comments only reinforced that.

Unless, of course, this was Annabel experimenting. Still, Coop couldn’t see Phil allowing it. He’d been one of the locals to advise Alice against her trial. But then, that could explain why Annabel would keep the sheep away from the house, somewhere her father was unlikely to go, but for how long, and what was the future in it? He didn’t think she was planning to stay on much after her brother and his new wife came home.

Coop tapped his foot on the floor of the ute and started the engine. The sun was low in the sky now. There was still the yard to clean up and his grumbling stomach told him it’d been a long time since Angela’s picnic lunch. He turned the ute towards home and struck the steering wheel in frustration. His clandestine visit to the Camerons’ had raised more questions than it had answered. His suspicions remained undeterred, and despite adding trespassing to the mix, he was no closer to finding out the truth.

Angela wrapped her fingers around her cup of coffee and looked through the rain-splashed windows at the people hurrying past. The weather in Adelaide was miserable but she knew the farmers back in Munirilla wouldn’t think so. She just hoped they were getting some of this rain.

She looked at her watch again. Jeremy was late. Maybe he wouldn’t come, even though it had been his suggestion to meet for lunch. Angela had been grateful for the distraction and was looking forward to his company.

The place he’d suggested was more than the little eatery he’d described it as. It was a fine-dining restaurant full of smartly dressed diners. She was glad she’d had time to shop in the mall on the way and luckily had bought a cute jacket to throw on over her jeans and shirt.

She wondered how Claudia and Nigel were faring. It had been a hard decision to bring the little girl along on this trip. Claudia
hadn’t wanted to come. She was going to miss both of the pre-school sessions for the week and had been very vocal in her dissent. Angela had found it tough enough convincing herself that she was doing the right thing, that her daughter should have the chance to spend time with her father no matter how bitter she felt. But listening to the little girl’s tearful protests Angela had certainly doubted her decision.

They’d driven in yesterday and unloaded and the truck was going to be out of action most of today for its service. Even if Angela got some freight loaded later on, there was more to collect tomorrow. Which meant they wouldn’t be getting home till late Wednesday night.

Nigel had arrived on time this morning with a toy in hand and the promise of a day in the hills at a fauna park. Angela had to give him credit for planning to win his way into Claudia’s affection. After a moment’s shyness and a quick kiss goodbye, she had taken his gift and his hand and left. Angela had stood in the yard, glumly watching the empty gate until the rain started to fall and Shell called her in for a cuppa.

Now in the city and several bags of shopping later, she was still trying to convince herself she’d done the right thing. She’d loved Nigel once, and she believed he’d loved her. And because of that love, they had Claudia. Even if they were no longer together, it was her duty to make sure the little girl knew who her father was.

‘Hello.’

Angela jumped as an arm went round her shoulder and lips brushed her cheek, jolting her back to the present. ‘Hi Jeremy.’

‘Sorry I’m late. Couldn’t get rid of my client. Have you ordered?’

‘Just a coffee,’ she said, tapping her cup.

‘They do a great grazing plate here,’ he said. ‘Prawns, calamari, the best salmon. It’s plenty for two.’

‘Sounds great,’ she said and sat back. She’d already perused the menu. She liked the sound of the soup but Jeremy was so enthusiastic about the seafood that she was happy to go with it.

A waiter appeared at his elbow and he placed their order. ‘A glass of bubbles?’ Jeremy asked.

Angela shook her head. ‘No thanks, I have to drive later.’

‘Oh, come on, just one won’t hurt, will it?’

‘I’ll have a lime and soda.’ She looked from the waiter to Jeremy. ‘That has bubbles.’

Jeremy ordered himself a wine. ‘Are you sure? I’ve got an hour or so free.’

Suddenly Angela wanted to be irresponsible. She could worry about work tomorrow. ‘Actually, I’ll have a glass of sparkling as well,’ she said to the waiter.

‘Good on you,’ Jeremy said. ‘You can still drive on one glass.’

‘Not trucks. I have to be zero alcohol, but I can do all the loading in the morning. I’ll take the rest of today off.’

‘I don’t know how you do it.’

‘Do what?’

‘Drive that big truck.’

‘It’s not that hard.’ She smiled at him.

‘Come on, it must be. Then there’s all the loading and unloading …’

‘I don’t do it on my own, you know, and there’s usually a forklift or two involved.’

‘What about driving long distances, and living out bush? I nearly went crazy in Munirilla.’ Jeremy shook his head. ‘I’m not looking forward to going back. I’m hoping Dad will see reason and send someone else.’

‘Maybe it’s in my blood. My mum was from country Victoria and Dad’s always driven trucks. I like the city, sure, but I don’t mind Munirilla.’

Jeremy snorted. ‘Sorry, but it’s a real hole as far as I’m concerned.’

Angela felt defensive of the little town. ‘The people there are friendly. Everyone talks to you.’

‘Busybodies wanting to know your business, you mean.’ His phone vibrated on the table and he snatched it up. ‘And my phone didn’t work half the time.’

She watched while he sent a message, wondering if she should have come after all. The drinks arrived, however, and Jeremy lifted his glass to propose a toast.

‘To the most beautiful truck driver I’ve ever met.’ His face lit up with a smile and there was a sparkle in his eyes.

Two sips and Angela relaxed again. She put her elbow on the table, rested her chin on her hand and leaned forward. ‘Jeremy,’ she said, ‘I’m the only truck driver you’ve ever met.’

‘Aha,’ he said. ‘Not true. Remember that I’ve made the acquaintance of one Clifford Berl Junior.’

‘Oh no.’ Angela moaned. ‘I was hoping you’d forgotten about that.’

‘Forgotten! That was the most entertaining evening I spent in that town. How long are you staying in the city? I could return the favour.’

The waiter arrived with the platter of food. Angela had to admit that it did look appetising.

‘Only tonight,’ she replied, emptying her glass. She didn’t object when Jeremy ordered a refill – they were only little glasses, she told herself. ‘I’ll be loading up tomorrow and on my way home … back to Munirilla in the afternoon.’

‘When are you coming back next?’

Angela frowned. ‘I’m not sure. There’s a small amount for this Friday but I can put it off till next week.’

‘Let me know. I’m having a few friends over next Friday night. If you’re in town, you should come.’

‘Sounds great.’ She took a sip of the fresh glass of sparkling.

‘Try this salmon,’ he said, reaching across the table to offer some on a fork. ‘It’s the best around.’

Angela opened her mouth to accept the food. ‘Mmmm.’ She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had salmon, or prawns for that matter. She tried one of those as well. ‘This really is delicious,’ she said. ‘Good choice.’

He raised his glass again and she did the same.

***

Angela rang Shell from the taxi on the way back to the motel but all she got was the answering machine. She said she’d be in first thing and hung up. A taxi from the city was going to cost a bomb but she couldn’t face working out the bus timetable. After three glasses of bubbly, she’d finally convinced Jeremy she had to go. She sobered up quickly when she saw the bill though. Another hit on her credit card after the shops this morning – and now this taxi. No matter what she did, there was always something messing up her plans to save.

She dropped her parcels inside the motel room door and flung herself onto the bed. Her head was still spinning a little and she groaned when her phone rang.

‘Where are you?’ Nigel’s tone was accusing.

Angela sat up quickly and put a hand out to steady herself. ‘At the motel,’ she replied, her heart thumping. She’d told Nigel she’d meet him at the yard. How could she have forgotten?

‘You could have let me know you’d changed your plans.’

‘I had a few things to do in the city. Did you have a nice time? How’s Claudia?’

‘We did, but she’s wet and cold now. You should have sent her with a jacket.’

Angela fumed. She’d dressed Claudia warmly enough. She hadn’t been the one dragging her about in the rain.

‘Where’s the motel?’ he asked.

Angela gave him directions and looked at her watch. It would only take a short time for them to drive over from the yard. What she did with her time was her own business, but she’d rather Nigel didn’t discover she’d been out drinking at lunch. She washed her face and brushed her hair, pulling it back into a ponytail.

In hardly any time she heard the car outside. She opened the motel door to see Nigel and Claudia, both bedraggled, their hair stuck to their heads. Claudia put her hand in Angela’s.

‘You’re like ice, Claud.’

‘I’m cold.’

Angela rubbed her daughter’s hands between her own and drew her into the room.

‘It rained quite a bit at the fauna park but she was determined to see everything,’ said Nigel. ‘The heaters don’t work in my car.’

‘I’m hungry, Mummy. Nigel said we could have McDonald’s but we couldn’t find one.’

Angela looked over Claudia’s head to Nigel standing in the doorway, his hands in his pockets. He often ate a big breakfast, then hardly anything for the rest of the day. Food wasn’t a priority for him.

‘Has she eaten anything?’

‘She had some chips at the park.’ He shifted his feet and brushed a hand lightly over Claudia’s head. ‘I thought I’d better get her back and warmed up.’

‘You don’t have a towel or a rug in your car?’ Angela spoke quietly but was secretly enjoying the opportunity to point out his lack of preparedness, especially after his attempt to shift some of the blame to her.

Claudia reached her hands up and Angela lifted the damp child to her hip. Little cold lips brushed hers.

‘You smell like the pub at Money Real, Mummy,’ Claudia said.

Nigel’s eyes snapped to Angela’s, his previous uncertainty gone. ‘You’ve made the most of your time, then.’

‘It’s time for Nigel to go,’ Angela said, using his name, just as Claudia had, and putting her hand on the door to close it. This man was a father by right of blood alone and Angela would be damned if she was going to let him make her feel guilty for having an afternoon off. ‘Say goodbye and thank you.’

Claudia clung to Angela but turned her head and murmured a thankyou.

Nigel reached forward and brushed the top of her head again. ‘We had fun looking at the animals, didn’t we? I’ll see you in Melbourne soon. We can go to the big zoo there.’

Claudia nestled her wet hair into Angela’s neck and gave a small wave.

‘Goodbye Nigel,’ Angela said and shut the door.

By the time the pizza delivery guy arrived, Claudia was showered, in her pyjamas and snuggled up to Angela on the bed. After one bite Claudia dropped her piece back in the box.

‘You make better pizza, Mummy.’

Angela was torn between pride that Claudia liked her home-cooked pizza better than this and the need to get the little girl to eat.

‘Homemade’s always better but we’re not home and we have to eat.’ Angela didn’t feel hungry after her long lunch with Jeremy but she took a bite to coax Claudia. ‘Just a little bit.’

Claudia picked up her slice and nibbled at the edge. ‘Can I go to kindy tomorrow?’

‘We won’t be back in time for pre-school.’

Claudia pouted, taking another nibble and staring at the little DVD screen.

Angela took another bite of her own piece and forced herself to swallow. Pizza hadn’t been the original plan, but she thought it was
better than taking Claudia back out into the cold. Now they were propped up in bed watching a Disney DVD.

She thought again of her credit cards. One of today’s purchases was the portable DVD player they were now watching. She’d felt selfish only spending money on herself and had reasoned that the player would be useful for Claudia in the truck and at the depot. Even back in Melbourne it wouldn’t hurt to have a second player. She pushed the guilt away and concentrated on the animated characters on the small screen.

Beside her, Claudia’s head drooped back onto the pillow and her eyes closed. A different kind of remorse flooded through Angela as she slipped the slice of pizza from her daughter’s hand and tucked the blankets around her. Claudia should never have come on this trip. She would have been much better off at Leanne’s, going to pre-school, eating proper food and getting a good night’s sleep. Once again, Angela had been manipulated by Nigel.

The mobile in her pocket rang and she snatched it out quickly with one eye on Claudia. The little girl didn’t move.

‘Hello,’ Angela whispered as she eased herself from the bed.

‘Angel,’ her father’s voice boomed in her ear. ‘Is everything all right?’

‘Why wouldn’t it be?’

‘I thought you’d be loaded up, ready for an early start.’

‘How do you know I’m not?’ She frowned at her reflection in the mirror.

‘You didn’t go back after the tyre check.’

Angela’s neck prickled. Surely her father wasn’t checking up on her. Had Shell rung him to say Angela wasn’t coming back today? ‘I decided to have a day off. It won’t take long to collect tomorrow’s load and we should be on our way by mid-morning. I am capable of working out the schedule, Dad.’

‘Of course.’ His voice softened. ‘You’re entitled to take a break.

I work you too hard. You should take some time for yourself when you can get it. Catch up with friends, have a drink …’

Claudia murmured but her eyes remained closed. Angela flicked a worried eye over her daughter. Her cheeks were flushed but the rest of her face was white.

‘Dad, I have to go. Claudia’s been out in the rain all day with Nigel. I don’t think she’s well.’

‘Should you take her to a doctor?’ Now there was alarm in his voice.

‘No, Dad. She just doesn’t seem herself. I’m sure she’ll be okay. She’ll be back in Munirilla tomorrow night, in her own bed.’

‘I worry about you both. Not too much longer and you can come home.’

Angela sank into a chair. She found no comfort in her father’s words. It struck her that Munirilla now felt more like home than her flat in Melbourne. Claudia moaned and tossed over on her side.

Angela clicked her tongue. ‘I’d better go, Dad.’

‘You’re a good daughter, Angel. I haven’t thanked you enough for doing this job. It looks like being a real boon for the business, and I can tell you, we needed something. There’ll be a bonus for you when you finish.’

‘There’s no need …’

‘Yes there is. This run could become a good strong arm of our business thanks to your hard work. No reason why you can’t take a break and have a few drinks with friends.’ He was cheerful now. ‘You get a good night’s sleep and give Claudia a kiss from us.’