Page 6 of The Talk Around Town
His favourite breeding cow was ready to calve any day now. She’d seemed out of sorts the last few days, more so than usual when at this stage.
“No. I think she’ll go a few more days yet. She doesn’t look too comfortable though. We’ll just keep an eye on her. She’ll be all right,” Ed Jameson said.
Looking at his dad was like looking into a time machine and seeing what Max would be like in thirty years. It was uncanny how alike they were. Tall and broad and lean, his dad was as fit as they came. Gabe believed his dad would even givehima run for his money. He had his dad to thank for his height and build, and his mother to thank for his face. He and Darby took after her, right down to the flint-grey eyes, while Max and Simon had their father’s bright blue. While his mother had naturally blonde hair, theirs was their father’s black.
“Was that your sister on the phone?” his dad asked. At Gabe’s distracted nod, he continued. “She end up going over to see that new filly everyone’s been making a fuss about?”
Gabe glanced up at him. “She’s not a horse, Dad. Yeah, she did.”
“And?” Ed prompted.
Gabe shrugged a shoulder. Leaning into the wheel nut, his muscles ached with the effort. “And what?” he growled.
“And is she as pretty as they say? What did you think? She worth another look?”
Gabe’s grip on the ratchet slipped. The ratchet flew off the wheel nut, causing his knuckles to scrape hard over the rough metal. Gabe swore loud and long, and threw the offending tool to the ground, sucking at his hurt hand through his teeth.
Ed picked the ratchet up and held it out to Gabe.
“I take it that’s a yes,” he said. A grin flooded his face.
Gabe glared at his father and shook his throbbing hand. “You take nothing.” He dropped the ratchet into the open toolbox. “I’ll finish this tomorrow. I’m going for a shower.”
He didn’t wait for an answer, turning his back on his grinning father.
Chapter Four
Emma stopped andgrabbed at Darby’s arm. Darby turned toward her, puzzled.
“What is it, Emma?”
Emma swallowed. Heat suffused her skin and made her all clammy. “I don’t know if I should. Go in, I mean. What if…” She trailed off, not wanting to sound like a nervous schoolgirl.
Darby sent her a reassuring smile. “It’s okay. There’ll be a fuss, but you’ll be fine. I won’t let them eat you alive. Maybe chew a little,” she teased. “A couple of the locals might be a little stand-offish, but most of us just wanted to meet you. It might get a bit intimidating, but we’ll all be with you. Max, Si and Gabe won’t let anyone hassle you. There’s no need to be nervous. You look amazing, so you don’t need to worry on that count.”
Emma looked down at her dusky-pink-and-cream dress, the long flowing sleeves, which came over her shoulders to meet a fitted baroque-style bodice that pushed her small breasts up and cinched her waist, giving her the illusion of a longer line. A full skirt ended just below her knees. Silver, heeled sandals with ties that wrapped around her ankles finished the look. She’d calmed her thick hair with hot rollers, giving her a glossy, chocolate-brown mane that fell over her shoulders and halfway down her back.
She’d worried that she’d overdressed, but Darby had arrived wearing a lovely flowing jersey dress that reached almost to her ankles.
Emma nodded. She was being ridiculous. “Okay. Lead on, Macduff.”
They pushed in through the double front doors; the smell of fresh-cooked food and the underlying scent of stale beer instantly overwhelmed her senses. Emma looked around, curious. She hadn’t taken much notice last time she was here, because she’d been more concerned with finding her new home before dark.
This was a busy place. The general hubbub of conversation andbackground country music from the jukebox complemented the relaxed dinnertime atmosphere. She willed herself to relax a little. This was what she’d wanted when she picked Kurrajong Crossing. The relaxed country atmosphere, the fresh air with no hint of smog, and the feeling of community. A new place to call home and, if she was lucky, somewhere to fit in. Somewhere far away from the troubles and memories.
Eyes slowly turned their way, pair by pair, as more people became aware of her presence. Conversations stuttered and stopped, until all that was left was the sound of the jukebox.
Emma faltered, ready to turn and run, when a warm, soft hand grasped hers and squeezed gently. Darby walked ahead, ignoring the scrutiny they were receiving, her hand a thread of support in a suddenly scary world.
Emma looked around and was caught by several sets of eyes, some welcoming and smiling, a few openly hostile. She smiled quickly at them, glancing away before seeing reactions. She was as nervous as hell. Not even on her first date had she been this tense. She’d never felt so on show in her life, and it wasn’t a feeling she liked.
They reached a booth up near the bar on the right. Emma lagged slightly behind Darby, still tethered by her hand. Darby stopped in front of her, beside her twin.
Gabe glanced up, not seeing Emma behind Darby, then back down to the bottle in his hands.
“Hell, Darby. About time you showed. I’m just about dying of thirst. Amy said I couldn’t open this until you got here.” He reached forward and slid the corkscrew into the bottle, twisting until it popped out.
Belatedly, he seemed to notice all had stilled in the bar. He looked around, his eyes betraying his surprise at Emma’s presence.