Loving Lucy: A Prickle Farm Romance Read online

  ‘What the heck am I doing out here?’ Lucy closed her eyes and let the warm water slide over her body. If she scrunched her eyelids tightly closed, she could imagine the translucent green waters of Hamilton Island whispering over her hot skin. Summoning up the feel of pure white sand squeaking beneath her feet, and the sound of the ocean breeze rustling the palms, she let the idyllic tropical picture fill her mind for one brief moment. Until she opened her eyes and looked out over the golden paddocks and the red dirt road in front of her.

  Hamilton Island was where she’d dreamed of spending her short summer holiday this year. Not that she really had time to take a holiday; she had a proposal to finish. The biggest lingerie company in Australia had chosen Goodbody and Grech as the company to launch their new line of sexy underwear. And the advertising manager had dropped the campaign in Lucy’s willing hands. A campaign that would give her advertising career an almighty push upwards.

  If I can find the right image. Something new, something fresh; not like the current garbage that was being spewed out by some of the Sydney agencies.

  And if I can ever get online here in the boondocks. The bloody internet used to be unreliable out here; she’d tried to check her email before she’d changed into her swimmers. Even with her dongle, the connection here at Prickle Farm was painfully slow.

  She tilted her head back, letting the lukewarm water swish through her hair as the hot sun beat down on her face. Lucy closed her eyes as the past flashed by. Where had the years gone? And why did she agree to come back? Seb was right; maybe she’d made a huge mistake. Even though it was five years since Mum, Aunty Carol and Aunty Jean had died in that horrendous pileup on the German Autobahn, her grief was still raw. She and Sebastian had grown closer after the tragedy and he was still as close as the brother she’d never had. Memories of playing in the dam when they were kids filled her mind; happier times when laughter had filled their days.

  In the days before the tragedy when their lives had irrevocably changed. But their childhood growing up in the country town nearby had been carefree and it was sad that they had all gone their separate ways when they grew up.

  Lucy floated and blocked out the sound of the headers as the hay was baled in the paddock across from the dam. The heat out here in the Pilliga Scrub in early summer was searing; it was a tossup whether the heat, the flies or the cat’s-head prickles were the worst part of this landscape. Lucy grinned as she floated in the warm water. Seb was right; she was a soft touch. She’d always been the most emotional of the four cousins. Not that Gran had said as much about them being soft touches; but she’d had a satisfied little smile on her face when she’d told Lucy that Jemmy and Liam were coming too. She hadn’t seen much of them since the funeral. She didn’t think Seb had seen his cousins at all.

  Lucy flicked her hand in the water and kept her eyes closed as she counted the days and tried not to think of her cancelled tropical holiday. Fourteen days working her butt off in this arid, hot and flat landscape was not a fair trade but she’d agreed and she’d see it through.

  ‘Just for two weeks, Luce.’ Gran’s tearful plea had been all it took and Lucy’s eyes had pricked in sympathy as she pressed the phone to her cheek. ‘I wouldn’t ask but if your Pop doesn’t have this operation, he’ll be no good for the property at all.’

  How could she ignore Gran when her voice had quavered over the phone? Her strong grandmother who’d worked like a trooper as she mustered, drenched and branded cattle, driven the tractor and helped Pop on the family property for as long as Lucy could remember. That grandmother never cried.

  ‘Lucy Lou! I thought it was you I saw walking across the paddock.’ The laconic voice pulled Lucy from her daydreaming and she opened her mouth, spluttering as she copped a mouthful of muddy dam water.

  She lowered her feet and squealed as her toes sank in the squishy mud.

  ‘Oh, gross,’ she muttered.

  Lucy knew that voice too well; memories tugged at her as she remembered a few afternoons by the dam with Garth McKenzie when they’d been at high school. But there’d been a lot of water under the bridge since then. Last she’d heard he’d married some girl from Narrabri. She walked to the edge of the dam grimacing as the cool mud oozed between her toes.

  ‘Garth! It’s been a long time.’

  Garth leaned down and his hands were strong and firm on her shoulders as he brushed his lips across his cheek. ‘It surely has. What are you doing back here? Thought you’d abandoned the country for the big smoke years ago?’

  ‘I’m here to help Gran out for a couple of weeks. Pop’s in the hospital.’

  ‘I heard that.’ His gold-flecked hazel eyes held hers. ‘I was sorry to hear about your Mum, Lucy. I was away and I didn’t get to the funeral. It’s been a tough time for your whole family.’

  ‘Yep, it has, but time passes and helps us heal, doesn’t it.’ She squinted up at him in the bright sun. His Akubra shaded his chiseled face and Lucy stared. Garth had always been the best looking boy at school. His eyes were always alight with laughter and he’d been a good friend to her, both before and after their brief fling. As she gazed up at him, her mouth dropped open and she stepped back.

  ‘Don’t move.’

  ‘What?’ His deep voice was as sexy as ever and Lucy’s creative juices kicked in.

  ‘You, are the answer to my dreams.’

  Brilliant blue sky formed a back drop for his rugged face and strong shoulders. Lucy let her eyes travel down past his shoulders, to his buttoned up shirt tucked into navy blue work pants. Scuffed boots were planted firmly in the red dust at the edge of the dam, his strong thighs outlined by the close fitting pants. In the background a shiny brown horse pawed at the ground and snuffled behind the fence.

  ‘Where’s Seb when I need him,’ she muttered. Lucy lifted her gaze back to Garth’s face and made a square with the fingers of both her hands, and captured both him and the horse through a pretend viewfinder. The perfect shot for her advertising proposal was out here at Prickle Creek, a place where she would never have thought of looking in a million years.

  ‘Madcap as ever, Luce?’ His eyes crinkled at the edges, full of laughter and interest.

  ‘You, Garth McKenzie, have solved my problem. Want to come over to the house for a cuppa and we can talk about it?’

  Chapter 3

  Garth ignored the surge that rocketed straight to his groin when he spotted Lucy Peterkin crossing the paddock. He’d blinked, dropped the wire strainer and rubbed a grimy hand across his eyes.

  Memories hit him like a sixer.

  Yep, it was Lucy. He walked over to the fence line and his horse ambled along behind him. He stood there and watched her floating in the dam for a few minutes before he called out.

  The small copse of trees where they’d both lost their virginity one warm winter afternoon still stood in the middle of the wheat paddock. For a few weeks afterwards, he’d expected to see her grandfather arriving with a shotgun because they’d used no protection. Condoms weren’t something he’d carried when he’d been fencing back in those teenage years. He grinned; it had been a good lesson in contraception for him. Now there was a condom in his wallet wherever he went.

  Those lazy afternoons popped into his head when Lucy stood in the water and waded out towards him. Her one piece swimsuit clung lovingly to her curves and he let his gaze sweep her length. Her body was more womanly than when she’d been an athletic teenager.

  And drop dead gorgeous.

  As he kissed her cheek and stepped back he became the subject of her intense scrutiny and she invited him over to explain.

  He shook his head. ‘Thank you, but no. Your grandmother wouldn’t be too impressed if I rolled into her kitchen at the moment.’

  Lucy looked up curiously as she bent to pull on her boots.

  ‘Nice look. Blundstones boots and swimmers. Takes me back a few years.’ He chuckled at the picture she made. Quirky, but still very, very beautiful.

  A flush of self aware
ness ran up her cheeks as she looked up at him. ‘Why wouldn’t Gran be impressed with you coming over? You used to live in her kitchen when we were kids.’

  Garth huffed a sigh. ‘Long story, Luce. I’m sure she’ll fill you in some time.’ His horse snickered and he turned. ‘I’ve got a crew waiting for me at the back paddock down near the bore, so I’ve got to go. Come on over to my place whenever you want.’

  ‘Your place?’

  ‘Yeah, the olds handed it over to me. Dad said there was no point waiting till they carked it. They’ve moved down to the South Coast.’

  ‘That’ll keep you busy.’ She tipped her head to the side and Garth caught his breath again. Lucy didn’t look a day older than when they’d left school eight years back. Her hair was still long and her fringe brushed her high arched dark eyebrows. Her lashes were wet from her swim, clumped together in long spikes. Yep, beautiful.

  ‘Got any kids yet to carry on the tradition?’ she asked with a smile that showed off her pretty teeth.

  ‘None that I’m aware of,’ he said with a grin.

  ‘And your wife? Does she work in town or help you out here?’

  ‘My wife?’ Garth fair snorted the words. ‘What makes you think I’m married?’

  ‘I heard you married a girl from Narrabri.’ Lucy stared up at him. She was such a petite little thing. She’d always been the feminine one of their group, but had a backbone of steel. Took after her grandmother.

  ‘That was my cousin Brent. He got married just before Mum and Dad moved south. His wife’s family has a big cotton property out near Moree and he’s looking after that.’

  ‘So you’re all settled here in the Pilliga?’ Lucy’s forehead wrinkled in a frown and a feeling that he’d been judged and found wanting flickered though Garth.

  ‘No desire to see the world?’

  ‘Oh, I’m not quite a cow cocky yet, Lucy. I’ve travelled.’ His voice was clipped but he tempered his words with a smile. ‘Unlike most who grow up out here in the country, I’m quite happy to stay.’ He didn’t mention his degree and his time working in Western Australia making as much money as he could. Dad thought he was mad but even as the only child, Garth refused to be given the property; he’d worked his butt off as a mining engineer for three years and he’d paid for the beach house down on the coast for his parents before he’d let them sign over the farm.

  ‘Now what’s this crazy—’ he put his hands in a square to his eye, mimicking her action ‘— that you are on about?’

  ‘You’ve inspired me, Garth. Can I come over later and talk to you about it?’

  ‘Sure can. I’ll expect you after dinner. Okay?’ He tipped his hand to his hat. ‘Been good catching up, but I have to go. Just came up here to fix the fence.’ He tipped his hat back and shook his head. ‘Couldn’t believe my eyes when little Lucy Peterkin strolled along the road.’

  ‘We’ve got more contractors arriving tomorrow.’ Lucy reached for the dress hanging on the fence and slipped it over her head. ‘I’ll see you later.’ She looked at him from lowered lids. ‘That’s if you want to have a city slicker come visit.’

  With that parting shot, she turned and headed for the red dusty road winding around the paddock where the wheat swayed in the afternoon breeze.

  ‘See you soon, then.’ Garth stood and watched her walk away before he turned to the waiting horse with a frown.

  He wasn’t really happy with the interest that Lucy Peterkin sparked in him. Not the way things were at the moment anyhow. Garth was thoughtful as his horse cantered down to the back paddock.

  Chapter 4

  Liam Peterkin hefted his backpack onto his shoulder and stepped onto the footpath outside the international airport. Crowds of people rushed past him, in and out the sliding doors, horns blared, and the car fumes hanging in the air were the same as any city in the world. Travellers queued for taxis, purpose written on their faces and for the first time in a while, Liam realised he, too, had a purpose today. Out of habit, he patted his shirt pocket for a cigarette and then remembered he’d given them up when he left London behind him. He’d also not had a drink on the whole thirty hour long haul trip.

  He tipped his head back and stared at the vivid blue sky. Nowhere else in the world was the sky this blue; he was looking forward to getting out west where it was an even deeper hue.

  To the big sky of the outback. The only place where he’d ever felt at home. He glanced down at his watch. He’d taken an earlier flight and called Jemima from the transit lounge in Dubai, and she’d agreed to wait for him in Sydney so they could travel out to Prickle Farm together.

  ‘So what’s the go?’ he’d asked his sister on the phone.

  ‘I don’t know. I’ve got a horrid feeling that one of them is ill. That’s the only reason I’m going back out there.’

  ‘I was surprised you said yes. What about Lucy and Seb? Did they get the call too?’

  ‘Lucy’s already gone home but she said Seb won’t go.’

  ‘Not surprised. He and Gran had a huge ding dong row after Mum’s funeral. He said some pretty harsh words to her. Seb always held a grudge when we were kids.’

  ‘And you were the perfect kid? Give me a break, Liam. You and Seb were always vying to be the best at everything, and you always fought with him.’

  Liam stared at the glitzy interior of the airport. He couldn’t believe that he had chucked his job and headed home after one phone call from his grandmother. Especially in the current job market where journalists were being retrenched all over Australia and the market for freelance work was drying up. After he’d had a break, he might have to go back overseas.

  He ran his hand through his short-cropped hair. Christ, he needed a break. The last couple of years had been tough.

  ‘Liam? Are you still there?’ He listened to the precise tones of his sister’s voice. She’d worked hard to get the posh accent in place. She sounded more Sloane Ranger than half the Pommie girls he’d gone out with since he’d arrived in Fleet Street.

  ‘Yeah, I’m here. I get into Sydney at six in the morning. Flying Qantas.’

  ‘Wait out on the footpath in arrivals. I won’t come in,’ Jemima said, always the organiser. ‘If you’re not too tired, we can get an early start and drive out all day Sunday.’

  ‘Sounds like a plan. See you, Jemmy.’

  ‘Jemima.’ Her voice was not amused.

  Now he waited on the edge of the footpath for a few minutes, waiting for his sister to arrive and his eyes widened when an Audi TT pulled up beside him. Jemima called through the window. ‘Liam, over here.’

  He shook his head as he hefted his bag into the back and climbed into the front seat. ‘Hey, sis. Nice wheels.’

  She blew an air kiss over to him as he closed the door. Glancing over her shoulder, she indicated and pulled out into the traffic. ‘So you’re all set to go west today? Don’t need a sleep first?’

  ‘I can sleep in the car on the way out.’ He nodded and gestured to the flash dashboard of the Audi. ‘Are you stopping somewhere to pick up another car or are you going to really piss Gran off and turn up in this?’

  ‘This is my car, and this is what we are going in.’ Jemima’s face was set in a closed expression. ‘She wants us out there; she gets us on our terms.’

  Liam shrugged and leaned his head back on the seat. ‘Wake me up when we hit the first coffee stop out of the city. I’ll need a hit of caffeine before I can share the driving.’

  This time her face cracked into a smile. ‘Oh no, big brother. You’re not getting your hands on this baby. I’ll drive the whole way.’

  Chapter 5

  Lucy took heed of Garth’s words and didn’t mention to Gran where she was going after dinner. Gran had chatted to Lucy over their meal but she’d seemed preoccupied. When they cleared the table, they worked together in the kitchen making a few more batches of scones ready for the next day.

  ‘You get the thermos flasks from the pantry, Lucy. I just need to sit down for a while.�
� Lucy frowned when Gran put a hand to her chest and reached for a small bottle of tablets on the kitchen windowsill.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Lucy closed the door of the walk-in pantry room and followed Gran to the living room.

  ‘Nothing.’ Gran waved a dismissive hand. ‘My digestion isn’t what it used to be. Just a bit of heartburn.’

  ‘Really? That’s all.’

  ‘Yes. That’s all.’ But Gran didn’t meet her eye. ‘Now go and get those flasks out and make sure we’re set for the morning. It’s going to be a busy day.’

  ‘Okay, and then I’m going to go for a bit of a drive around. Is the old bore still running?’

  Gran nodded. ‘Yes, a lot of them have been capped off, but your grandfather loves getting in that one. He says it helped his knee.’

  ‘So his operation is tomorrow, Gran? How serious is it?’

  ‘Yes, tomorrow. And then he’ll be home a couple of days after that. I’ll get you to drive me in to visit him on Wednesday night.’ Gran’s voice was a bit shaky but she didn’t answer Lucy’s second question and she let it go.

  ‘We can all go. He’d love that, wouldn’t he?’

  ‘That he would.’ Gran yawned and Lucy picked up her car keys. ‘I’m going to go for a bit of a drive. I won’t be long. I’ll make you a cup of tea for supper when I get back.’

  Lucy headed down to the old bore and parked there for a while watching the hot water spurt from the large round pipe. The grass where they’d had their family picnics was long and unkempt and a few pieces of rusty equipment lay around the paddock. She’d round the cousins up and they’d come down here and clean up through the week. It was too nice a place to let go.

  She jumped into the car and took the back road over to the McKenzie farm, and pulled up at the gate in the fence shared by the two properties. She walked across to open it and was surprised to see a padlock securing it closed rather than the usual loop of steel that circled the post to hold the gate shut. Lucy shrugged, got back into the car and headed back past the Prickle Farm homestead and out onto the road. It was a few extra kilometres down to the main gate of the McKenzie farm, and she flicked the lights onto high beam, keeping an eye out for wild pigs and kangaroos. In the paddock on the other side of the road, a spotlight lit up the horizon as contract shooters hunted feral wildlife.