Page 18 of Outback Secrets
Liam didn’t look like he needed a bouncer. Henri reckoned those broad shoulders and muscular arms would be more than capable of handling any drunk and disorderly behaviour.
‘What kind of dog is she?’
‘Blue Heeler Kelpie cross.’
That accounted for her multicoloured fur. ‘I miss having pets. That’s the one negative about not having an actual house to call home.’
‘Do you live in your van?’
She nodded. ‘Kinda. When I’m working on stations, the owners usually give us accommodation, and other times I stay in hotels, dormitories—it all depends on the location and the contract. But Cecil is my home. He’s where I keep my few important possessions and it’s handy to just be able to pull over on the side of the road and have a kip when I’m driving long distances between contracts.’
‘Did you always want to be a pilot?’ he asked, taking a bite of his toast.
‘For sure. My dad was into aircraft—he made and collected little models—but one of my earliest memories is of an Air Tractor flying over our farm, spraying fertiliser on the canola. I remember thinking that flying so low, swooping dangerously close to the ground, must be what it felt like to be a bird. I know every kid wants to fly like Wendy and Peter Pan, but from the moment I first saw that AT, I knew the only thing I wanted to be was an ag pilot.’
‘So you were a plane-mad kid, rather than a horse-mad one?’
‘Horses schmorses.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘I honestly don’t know why girls get so stupid over them.’
‘Don’t let Ruby hear you say that.’
‘Or my niece, Macy. She’s obsessed as well. What about you? Did you always want to own a pub?’ she asked.
‘If you mean was it what I told people I wanted to do when I grew up, then no.’
‘So, what did you want to do?’
Liam took his time replying and it seemed to Henri that he was thinking over his answer more than necessary for such a simple question. ‘Um … I wanted to be a professional surfer. Only problem was there weren’t any beaches where I grew up.’
‘Colorado, right?’ She smiled victoriously. ‘See, I wasn’t that drunk last night. But yes, I imagine no beaches would be quite an obstacle to becoming a pro. Do you surf now?’
‘No, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but I swim most days,’ he said. ‘How often do you come back to Bunyip Bay?’
‘That depends on who you ask. I think I come back often enough, but Mum would disagree. She doesn’t understand that …’ Henri’s voice drifted off as she realised how close she’d come to unloading on Liam about her family issues again. ‘Speaking of my mother, I’d better be getting back to the farm or she’s liable to send out a search party.’
‘We don’t want that.’
He didn’t know that her mum thought she’d been at Tilley’s place, but she’d already overstayed her welcome. Liam had probably only been being polite when he’d offered her breakfast and was likely now wondering why she was still here rabbiting on.
She took her empty plate and mug across to the sink and turned on the tap.
‘Leave that,’ he said. ‘I’ll do it later.’
‘Okay, thanks—for the coffee, the toast, and for everything. I owe you one.’
He shook his head. ‘As I said, all part of the service. Come on, I’ll see you out.’
The two of them headed downstairs, with Sheila trailing dutifully behind. They emerged into the main area of the pub and came face to face with a friend of her mother’s. Oh shit.
‘Henrietta!’ Janet exclaimed. ‘What are you doing here?’
Henri could ask the same of her, but the cleaning equipment she was carrying gave her away.
‘Um …’ She didn’t exactly want to say she’d passed out and Liam had to put her to bed, but if she didn’t come up with something, half the town would soon think that Henri Forward had spent the night with the publican. There was a lot to love about small towns, but idle gossip was not one of them.
‘Henrietta stayed in room seven last night,’ Liam said quickly. ‘She was going to sleep in her van but since we had some free rooms, I told her to take one.’
‘Oh, I see. That’s very generous of you, Mr Castle.’