Blackpeak Station Page 27

  ‘It’s a bit of a stretch for me, qualifications-wise.’ Rob raised her chin. ‘But I saw someone around these parts was advertising for a shepherd.’

  Epilogue

  Charlotte walked across the flat to the hut in the last of the autumn dusk, the dogs trailing wearily at her heels. Smoke drifted over the old tin roof. The sheep bleated in the yard. She opened the door. Mmm, something smelled good. She leaned on the frame and pulled off her boots.

  Rob paused beside her, a clean shirt and a towel in his hand. ‘You know, these mustering huts are really much more fun’ — leaning in, he ran his other hand speculatively over the upright beside her head — ‘when there aren’t any musterers in them.’ Looking up at him, Charlotte breathed in. His skin smelt of fresh sweat and woodsmoke.

  ‘Give it a rest, you two. This isn’t school camp.’ Jen rolled her eyes. ‘And if it was, you’d be sent home.’

  Charlotte moved back to allow Flavia through the door.

  ‘Grazie.’ Not quite meeting her eye, Flavia set two fresh billies of water on the table. That was funny — Flavia hadn’t been at the creek a few seconds ago. Nick sauntered in, looking flushed.

  ‘Oh, for Christ’s sake,’ sighed Jen. ‘Am I the only one who’s actually come on this muster to work?’

  Smiling, Charlotte sank onto her bunk. ‘You’re just jealous.’

  ‘Not for long.’ Jen raised her eyebrows. ‘One more night on this hill, then it’s Friday.’

  ‘What time’s Hannah coming down?’

  ‘She said she’d be there before six — she’s going to leave work early.’

  Nick sniffed the air. ‘No way — have you made pesto?’ His arm circled Flavia’s waist.

  ‘Si! Peasant food,’ she smiled. ‘We Italians, we know how to cook over a fire.’

  ‘Amore mio. You’re amazing.’

  Flavia beamed. ‘And there is only one pot to wash!’

  Nick kissed her neck.

  Jen threw her towel at them. ‘Enough!’

  The towel fell at Rex’s feet as he opened the door. ‘Thanks.’ Picking it up, he took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his head. ‘Oh good, grub’s up, is it? I’m starving.’

  As the six of them rode back to the homestead the following evening, a helicopter whirled over their heads. Charlotte watched it touch down on the lawn.

  ‘Looks like Mum’s home.’

  ‘I hope she had a nice time in Queenstown,’ Flavia smiled.

  Nick shot her a look.

  ‘What? It is a very nice place.’ She pouted wickedly. ‘I liked it.’

  Hannah’s ute was already parked in the drive. Dismounting, Charlotte looked at Jen. ‘Go on, then — we’ll see to the horses.’

  Archie breathed heavily down her shirt, and she scratched behind his greying ears. ‘Good work today, mate.’

  ‘Well, I don’t know about you’ — Rex heaved his saddle off — ‘but I’m about ready for a beer.’

  By the time they’d tacked down and turned the horses out, Jen was in the shower, and Andrea was nowhere to be seen. In the kitchen, Rex gave Kath a kiss on the cheek. ‘Gidday, love.’

  ‘Right!’ Nick cracked the beers open. ‘You’ll have a chardonnay?’ he suggested to Flavia.

  ‘No! I am a musterer now. I shall have one of these.’

  Nick grinned. ‘You sure?’

  Raising her eyebrows, Flavia took a swig from the bottle. ‘Amore, it is not my first, you know.’

  Hannah wandered in. ‘I’ll take that chardonnay if it’s going spare.’ Glass in hand, she sidled up to Charlotte. ‘Charlie,’ she said quietly, ‘look, I don’t want to interrupt the party, but could I have a word?’

  Uh-oh. That sounded like trouble. ‘Sure.’ Charlotte followed her through to the lounge. ‘What’s up?’

  Hannah smiled and sat down. ‘Well, you know your housekeeping job.’

  ‘What about it?’

  ‘I want it.’

  ‘You!’ Charlotte stared at her. After six years of vet school? ‘You’ve got to be kidding.’

  Hannah smiled again. ‘Not quite the reaction I was hoping for.’

  ‘But I thought you loved being a vet?’

  ‘I love being out on the farm. The vet part,’ — she shrugged — ‘well, that I can take or leave.’

  Wow. Charlotte closed her mouth.

  ‘Anyway,’ Hannah went on, watching Charlotte’s face, ‘some things are more important. Right?’

  Yeah. She smiled. They were.

  ‘So.’ Padding in, Jen sat on the arm of Hannah’s chair and looked down into her eyes. ‘Did she say yes?’

  Hannah smiled up at Jen. ‘Actually, she hasn’t said anything yet.’

  ‘Charlie? Well?’

  Charlotte shook herself. ‘Yes! Yes, of course. Absolutely.’ Hurrying over, she put a hand on Jen’s shoulder and, bending, kissed Hannah’s cheek. ‘Welcome aboard.’

  ‘Ciao, ragazze!’ Uncle Gianni stood in the doorway, a vision in cashmere and jeans. ‘Excuse me, but I have been sent for champagne.’ He gave them a dazzling smile. ‘Perhaps you might help me find it?’

  Copyright

  A BANTAM BOOK published by Random House New Zealand,

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  First published 2013

  © 2013 Holly Ford

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  ISBN 978 1 77553 282 8

  eISBN 978 1 77553 283 5

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