Novels 01 Blue Skies (19 page)

Chapter 44

Amanda threw her suitcase in the back of the ute and made sure she had plenty of CDs up front. It was a long drive to Perth and the music would take her mind off everything.

After the argument with Adrian, she had decided she just had to get away from Esperance and the farm. Her search for the owner of the hut had hit a brick wall. Maybe she should go to Perth for some time away from Kyleena and to see a solicitor. Jonno had a spare room in his flat and, after a phone call from Amanda, Jonno was expecting her late that afternoon. She’d checked the sheep, made sure all the gates were shut and put out a tank of fungicide spray over her oats crop. Now it was time to leave.

‘Get up, Mingus,’ she said as she stood by the back of the ute. Mingus jumped into the back and she tied him to a chain that was bolted to the back of the cab. Mingus was going to stay with Sharna for the few days that Amanda was away, and Sharna would bring the dog out to the farm every day after work when she came to check up on everything.

After one final glance at the house and shed to check that everything was in order, she climbed into the ute and took off.

Five hours later, she was refuelling at Lake Grace, and another four hours on she’d hit the outskirts of Perth. Adjusting to city driving took a little time – she changed lanes nervously, searching for street names that were so hard to find among all the road signs and trees and traffic lights.

Finally, with a sigh of relief, she turned into Jonno’s street and spotted his V8 ute – devoid of aerial and spotlights – sitting out the front of his unit.

As she got out, stretching and grabbing her bag off the back, a screen door slammed and she looked around to see Jonno in a pair of faded jeans, a blue and white rugby top and bare feet. His hair was tousled as if he’d just got out of bed. Amanda’s breath caught in her throat. He looked so . . . desirable. She knew she had done the right thing by leaving Adrian.

‘Mandy-Mands!’ he called. ‘How are you?’

‘Hi, Jonno, great to see you,’ Amanda called back, walking towards him. ‘What’s the deal with the ute? No aerials or spotties! Lost your country background?’

‘Nah, just getting sick of things being pinched off it. Two mornings in a row I came out to find that the spotties had gone. It wouldn’t be a problem if the unit had a garage, but parked out on the street it’s a prime target for low-lifes.’ He reached out and took her bag, then wrapped his free arm around her. ‘So you’ve given Adrian the Dear John letter?’

Amanda winced. ‘Yep.’

‘How do you feel about that?’

‘Pretty crap, actually. I think I’ve hurt him quite badly and that was never my intention. He was so good to me after Dad died, but I can’t see us going back to being friends now. I just wish he could have understood why I want to farm. It’s just one big balls-up.’

‘Well have a shower, while I order a pizza.’

When she came out, Jonno was standing in the kitchen serving piles of pizza onto two plates, a beer open in front of him. She stood in the shadows of the hallway, observing him, the feeling that she needed to tell him how she felt so close to the surface.

Jonno lifted another piece of pizza from the box that, as he lifted it across to the plate, slipped upside down on the bench top.‘Shit,’ he muttered and Amanda couldn’t help but giggle. She walked into the kitchen and leaned against the bench, smiling at him.

‘There’s beer in the fridge,’ Jonno said, ignoring her giggle and handing her a plate.

Finally they settled on the couch, eating and catching up with the news of the last few months.

Amanda was gobsmacked at the amount of travelling Jonno did for his job.

‘Yeah, one week they’ll send me to Albany to cover a sale, then it’s back to the sale yards to talk to the auctioneers, then up to Kununurra to interview people about the Ord River Scheme. I really love it though, Mandy. Some of the people I’ve had the opportunity to talk to or have a beer with have been amazing. The Minister for Agriculture for one! I’ve learned more about agriculture than I thought I ever would, and it’s not just cropping and stock – I can tell you about live cattle export, growing tomatoes or potatoes . . . And to portray it well, for people who haven’t seen what I’m seeing, you need to understand what you’re writing about. It’s been great!’

‘Well, you sound passionate about it. What’s next for you? Will you stay here or try and go higher up the ladder?’

‘Actually, I’m thinking about leaving the city. I’m a bit sick of the noise and smog. I want to wake up and see blue skies and hear the birds. I was thinking about going back to Dad’s farm and giving him a hand there for a while and seeing what I felt like doing then. Might even venture down as far as your place! Even if I’m based in the country, I can still cover certain things for the magazine – clearing sales, ram sales, that sort of stuff. Could you cope with me bunking on your floor for a while?’

‘You know you can come and stay whenever you want for as long as you want!’ Amanda answered and tried to stifle a yawn.

‘Now I’m boring you,’ Jonno twinkled at her. ‘C’mon, bed time! Tomorrow I’m dragging you to the Midland sale yards with me – I’ve got an article to write on how dilapidated they are and where farmers think the new yards should be. Then we’ll go to Kings Park, prime Perth land – gotta show the country gal what’s in my territory!’

‘I’ve got an appointment with a solicitor tomorrow. To find out about that fenced-off piece of land that I found a while ago. I might have told you about it at Christmas. I want to know if it’s part of Kyleena or not. I thought I’d go and see Mum and Dad’s solicitors about it.’

‘Do you want me to come too?’

‘Maybe you could just drop me off or tell me which bus to catch to get there. It’s in the city centre.’

‘I’ll drop you off.’

Amanda grabbed his hand. ‘Thanks for having me, Jonno,’ she said softly.

‘You’re more than welcome, Mandy-Mands!’ He rubbed his thumb over her hand and Amanda felt shots of desire course through her. Yes, it was a good thing she’d let Adrian go. She knew that she could never end up with Jonno, but the way she felt when she was with him helped her realise she and Adrian would never have made it.

After Amanda had turned off the light, she went to the window and lifted the curtains. Cars sped past, carrying nameless people to nameless places. She couldn’t even see the stars, and tried not to feel so alone in this alien environment.

A little while later she heard the squeak of Jonno’s bed springs.

Amanda walked up the steps and into a huge skyscraper. The foyer was filled with glass and mirrors and it made her feel slightly disorientated and uncomfortable.

She told the receptionist who she was and was instructed to take the elevator to the third floor.

The carpet was thick and muted the sounds of any footsteps or voices. Once again, there was a desk with a receptionist, who looked up and smiled. ‘Can I help you?’

‘I’m Amanda Greenfield – I’ve got an appointment with Tony Buckley.’

‘One moment please.’ She pushed a button on her computer and spoke softly into the microphone. ‘He’ll be out in a moment, if you’d just like to take a seat. Can I get you anything?’

‘No, thank you.’

A few minutes later a man came into the reception area and said, ‘Amanda Greenfield? Come this way, please.’

They settled in his office and Tony asked how he could help. Amanda explained about the piece of land.

‘Well, we can find out the answer in two seconds flat,’ Tony responded. He tapped at his computer and brought up a government website that he then logged on to. He asked a couple of questions about where the farm was situated and then showed her a map of Kyleena, the river and Paringa. She pointed out the piece of land in question and Tony tapped a few more times.

‘Mmm, it seems that the page is unavailable at the moment. I’ll try again. Five attempts later he smiled ruefully.‘I’m so sorry, Amanda, there must be a problem with the website. Are you in Perth for long?’

‘I’m hoping to head home tomorrow.’

‘Well, I can keep trying until the web page comes up and then put the details in a letter to you. Would you like a copy of the title when I find out?’

‘Yes please.’

‘Fine. I’m sorry we haven’t been able to answer your question here and now, but you should have the answer in the next week.’

Jonno and Amanda drove up the winding road to the lookout. Kings Park at night was beautiful, but Amanda was shivering. The winter wind had blown off the sea all day and she hadn’t been able to get warm.

‘C’mon, grab another jacket,’ Jonno said as he locked the car.‘This way.’ Their breath came out in white puffs and the frigid air made Amanda’s eyes sting.

They weaved their way around cement paths that cut through carefully manicured lawns and garden beds to get to the spot that looked across the central business district of Perth. The view was spectacular and Amanda could make out the twinkling lights of the ferry crossing the Swan River. They stood side by side, Amanda aware of the heat coming from Jonno, even though she was wearing thick clothes. She longed to lean into him.

Jonno pointed out significant landmarks until there was nothing left to show, then they stood quietly side by side and looked across the city. Jonno’s leg accidentally brushed Amanda’s as he shifted his position and she turned to look at him, colour flooding her cheeks as she realised he was staring at her. He reached up as if to touch her face then let his hand fall. Clearing his throat he said, ‘It’s pretty cold, hey? We’d better head home.’

The next morning, Amanda hugged Jonno and thanked him for having her.

‘It’s been so good to see you,’ she said.

‘I reckon I could be down your way before long.’

Amanda smiled and climbed into the ute, started it and eased onto the road.

As she drove out of the city, Amanda reflected on the last couple of days. The break had done her good and she’d been left wondering if there was a chance Jonno felt the same way about her as she did for him.

Chapter 45

It seemed the whole town was at the cemetery to
farewell Kathleen Cramm.

Shock waves had flooded through the town when
her body had been found downstream from Kyleena,
and her horse tethered on the road.

Michael and Grace had been questioned at length
by the police, but since neither of them had seen
Kathleen they didn’t have much to tell.

Michael had been devastated by the turn of
events. Even though he hadn’t thought of Kathleen
for some time he remembered their time together
with fondness and would always think of her with
affection, but he hadn’t any idea why she would
have been on Kyleena or why she would have taken
her life nearby.

When the coffin was lowered into the grave under
the tall, shady tuart trees, a muffled wail was heard
as Anna Cramm’s knees buckled and she had to lean
on Thomas for support.

After the final blessing, the mourners began to
disperse. Michael, who was at the back of the crowd,
waited under a nearby tree until he could speak
with Thomas alone. He watched as the small group
of family members started to move off and the men
arrived to fill in the grave.

Thomas broke away from the group when he saw
Michael waiting.

‘Thomas, I am so sorry. I can’t imagine what you
must be feeling.’

‘It’s a sad day, Michael.’

‘Why did she do it?’

‘Only she would know.’

‘Can I do anything?’

‘Not really.’

‘You know where I am if you need me.’

Thomas nodded and walked back to his family.

Racked with guilt, Michael walked back to the
truck and sat there for a while. He couldn’t help but
feel that he must have unwittingly played a part
in Kathleen’s death. Why would she have come to
Kyleena otherwise? Resting his head on the steering
wheel, he began to weep.

Chapter 46

Amanda pulled up at Lake Grace to refuel and turned on her mobile. She had left it turned off in her glove box, only wanting the security of it as she was travelling. It started to ring almost immediately.

‘Mandy, it’s Sharna.’

‘Hi,’ Amanda said, surprised.‘How’s things?’

‘Not too bad, but I’ve had a bit of a problem with the farm. I’ve sorted it now, but I thought you should know. When I went out after work last night I found some sheep on the road. I put them back in your driveway and shut the gate, then did a quick run along the fence. Mandy, it’s been cut.’

‘What? Bloody hell! Is everything else okay?’

‘Well it’s a bit hard for me to tell, since I don’t really know what animals you’ve got where, but it seems all right. There’s still water in the troughs, couldn’t see any dead stock. I’ve strained up the fence again, with Scotty’s help, and the sheep are back in the paddock.’

‘Oh, Sharna, thanks for that – I didn’t think you’d have to cope with anything like this. I’m so sorry!’

‘No problem. Anyway, I just thought I should let you know. Are you on your way home?’

‘Yeah, just refuelling at Lake Grace. I’ll call in and pick Mingus up tonight.’

‘No worries. See you then.’

Amanda drove in a daze. Someone had cut her fence? Why? Apprehension built up in her and she pushed her foot down on the accelerator. She needed to get home as quickly as she could.

Several hours later, with Mingus sitting beside her, she turned into the drive, her eyes scanning the house and surrounds. Was anything different? At first glance all seemed fine, and she began to relax. She drove to the AI lambs and, in the fading light, checked them. Finding nothing wrong, she breathed a sigh of relief.

She checked the answering machine and found the red light flashing.

‘Mandy, it’s Adrian. I can’t get through to your mobile. I’m sorry I upset you. I was wondering if we could have dinner and talk about it?’
Beep
.

‘Mandy, it’s Adrian again. Please ring me. I miss you.’
Beep
.

‘Why aren’t you calling me?’
Beep
. Tears filled her eyes at something gone so badly wrong.

‘Amanda, it’s Detective Burns here. I was just ringing to let you know the results have come back from the lab and we did find a partial fingerprint that definitely isn’t yours or your friend’s. The rest of the paper is clean, so I think we can assume that whoever sent the letter was trying to keep their fingerprints off the page.

‘Of course we don’t have anything to compare the fingerprints to – we’ve already run them through our data system and not come up with anyone.

‘From our previous conversation I can assure you, we will be talking to Slay Tyler, but at present we’re unable to locate him. The only thing I can suggest is that if you receive another letter you get in contact with me.’
Beep
.

‘Well, Mingus,’ Amanda said softly, ‘this is all a bit eventful.’ She poured a glass of wine and, ignoring the chill of the evening air, went to sit on the verandah, breathing in the clean air and enjoying the sounds of the magpies singing to the full moon and their mates.

The next day Amanda found her diesel tank had been drained and she decided it was time to call Detective Burns.

‘So, we’ve got a rock through your window, a cut fence and an empty diesel tank?’ he clarified.

‘Yep.’

‘Any tyre tracks that you can see?’

‘No, I’ve been looking but haven’t noticed any.’

‘Amanda, there’s still nothing I can do other than make a report so you can claim your diesel on insurance. The chances of finding the perpetrator are pretty slim. I’ll fill out the report and give you a number and we’ll look a bit harder for Mr Tyler. But if anything else happens, call me back.’

‘Okay.’ Amanda hung up the phone feeling rather disgruntled. What were the police for if they couldn’t help? But at the same time, she understood his position. There weren’t any witnesses – or even a motive.

The next evening, as once again she sat on the verandah, having an evening drink, she saw Adrian’s car drive in and up to the house.

‘You haven’t returned my calls,’ he said.

‘Is there anything to say,Adrian?’

‘We could talk about it. See if we can work something out.’

‘Look, I don’t think we can. I’d like to stay friends, because I miss having you around, but I don’t think that’s fair on either of us. It’s better to make a clean break.’

‘You make it sound so clinical. Clean break? What about me or what I want, Mandy? I’ve waited for you so long and then you give me everything I ever wanted, for – what? An hour? I lived my dream for an hour! And then you snatched it all away without even trying to work it out. It just seems like you’ve been playing with me all the way along.

‘You seem to forget how you needed me – how I was your fix-it man, how I helped and guided you. Doesn’t that count for anything?’

Amanda looked at her feet.What a horrible position to be in. She did love Adrian in a way – just not the way he wanted.

‘I never played you along,’ Amanda said finally. ‘You know that. You started off as my friend and stayed that way for a long time. I never once led you on – you can’t possibly believe that I did.

‘And yes, you were dependable and solid and I needed that. I still do – but not if it costs me Kyleena and my work.

‘Look, I’m sorry you’re sad. I am too. I never wanted it to end like this – yes, perhaps I got caught up in the excitement of the ring and future plans. Maybe I should have asked you about the farm and work before I said yes. But at the time I didn’t think to. And I can assure you I wouldn’t have said yes to marrying you if I thought it was going to blow into the big shit-fight that it has. I would’ve said no and hoped we could’ve still stayed friends. Maybe sometime in the future, when the hurt isn’t as strong, we’ll be able to be mates again. I’d like that, because I miss you as a friend. Goodbye, Adrian.’

Amanda walked inside, gently shut the door and leaned up against it, breathing out heavily with her eyes shut. What a bloody mess.

It was some time before she moved and, when she did, she realised that she hadn’t heard Adrian’s car leave. She peeked out from behind the curtains and to her horror saw him sitting in his car staring into the distance. As she watched he brought his hand up to his eyes and wiped them – he was crying!

Amanda closed her eyes against the hurt she’d caused him. After a time, she collected the mail and sat in her father’s office, absently flicking through the latest farm magazine. As she turned another page, she came face to face with the photo that had been taken of them at Sharna’s birthday party.

She gazed at their happy smiles and ran her fingers over Adrian’s face, then she covered her eyes so the tears couldn’t fall.

When she looked through the curtains again, he had gone.