Riverboat Point (34 page)

“I don't know how to drive it,” she said.

“Hop on the back,” Mandy said.

Savannah hesitated. Mandy patted a piece of wood perched on top of the guards above the back wheels.

“Put your butt on there and watch over my shoulder,” she called.

Mandy took them for a drive around the yard then made Savannah get in the driver's seat. They went around the clothes line in a kangaroo-hopping fashion in fits of laughter. Jasper barked. Savannah was sure they were yelps of encouragement. Finally, she managed to go a distance without jerking.

“You've got it,” Mandy said. “I'll get started on the boats.”

Savannah wasn't sure she'd mastered the controls but she managed to make it back to the shed without too many jerks. She loaded up everything she needed and drove carefully down the slope, stopping as close to the path as she could.

She looked up and down the river. There were a couple of speedboats going in opposite directions and a huge houseboat passing by but no sign of
Riverboat
. After her episode with Fred she'd learned to lay down the rules firmly with the customers. The group on board
Riverboat
were mainly young blokes. She'd made it perfectly clear the return time was ten o'clock and it was nearly midday. She hoped she wasn't going to have a repeat of the Fred experience.
Riverboat
was booked to go out again tomorrow afternoon. She didn't want any delays.

The sound of a car drew her back up the drive. Belinda waved as she got out.

“Hello,” she called.

Savannah gritted her teeth behind her smile. She had so much to do.

“Fancy a drink this afternoon?” Belinda asked.

“Not sure I'll have time.”

Belinda pouted. “Ash is going back to the city overnight. I'll be all alone but someone has to stay because of the horse.”

Savannah relented. “Come over about four. I'll take a short break when you get here.”

Belinda gave her a tight smile. “That's perfect. Ash won't leave till then anyway.”

“How is the horse?”

“Still hanging in there, poor thing. One of us has to stay on the property. We can't leave it on its own but the vet doesn't think it will last much longer.”

Savannah recalled the bobcat. She shrugged her shoulders to hide her shudder.

“I'd better get back to it.”

“It's a big job all this houseboat business, isn't it,” Belinda said looking towards the river.

“I'm lucky Mandy's come out to help me today and Ethan's been fantastic.”

“Yes, considering.” Belinda patted her arm and winked. “It must be your charm that's got him helping.”

“Considering what?”

“He doesn't like houseboats.”

Savannah frowned.

“He was telling me that first night we met,” Belinda prattled on. “He doesn't like the idea of the houseboats being here. Says it spoils the peace and tranquillity of the river.”

“He prefers to fish,” Savannah said but Belinda's words rang true. They sounded like something Ethan would say.

“Look, we should exchange phone numbers,” Belinda said. “That way we can just call each other to make arrangements. I meant to ask you the other night.”

“Good idea.”

They swapped numbers and Belinda was getting in her car as Mandy came up the path.

“Hello, Mandy,” Belinda gushed.

“You two know each other?” Savannah said.

“We've met in town,” Mandy said.

“You clean the pub, don't you?” Belinda said.

Mandy nodded. There was no sign of her usual bright smile.

Belinda shut the car door. Mandy stared at her.

“I'm so grateful Mandy's come out to help me with the boats,” Savannah rushed to fill the silence.

“The mop head's had it,” Mandy said turning her back on Belinda. “I'm hoping Jaxon's still got some replacements in the shed.”

She went on past them.

“You know I'd be happy to help out when you're stuck,” Belinda said. “You don't have to call in others when I'm right next door.”

“Thanks.” Savannah tried to imagine her well-heeled neighbour cleaning up the mess left behind on Fred's boat. She just couldn't see it.

“See you later.” Belinda waved a hand, flashing bright nail polish, as she backed out.

Mandy came to stand beside Savannah, a new mop head in her hand.

“You two seem chummy,” she said.

“Belinda's been very kind.”

Mandy was staring after the retreating vehicle. Lines creased her brow.

“Don't you like her?” Savannah asked.

“Just something about her. She and that brother of hers come into town and flash money around but they keep to themselves. I don't trust them.” Mandy shrugged her shoulders. “Not my type, I guess.”

Savannah looked along the empty driveway to the gate. She frowned. Belinda was a bit of a square peg in a round hole in a town like Riverboat Point. She could be gushy at times. It probably came over a bit strong for some of the locals.

“Your sheet and towel supplies are getting low,” Mandy said.

Belinda was forgotten in an instant. “I took a pile into town …” Savannah pursed her lips trying to remember. “That was last Tuesday.” Where had the time gone?

“They pick up and drop off Tuesdays and Fridays. They're pretty quick with their turnaround. Could be some waiting for you already. If not it should be there tomorrow. And this is the last mop head. You'll go through them pretty quickly.”

“I'd better start a list.”

“Jaxon kept a book and noted things like that down so he could keep ahead. He would leave it out for me if he wasn't here so I could jot down anything I noticed.”

“He has a few notebooks in his desk drawer. I'll go and get one of those.”

“He's left you in the lurch a bit, hasn't he?”

“I've surprised myself how quickly I've picked it up.”

“Funny he didn't stay and show you the ropes before he left.”

Savannah knew why he hadn't done that. She was sure he knew she would never have agreed to stay had he been here and told her he was going away.

“How's his holiday going anyway?” Mandy asked as they headed back to the boats.

“Fine.”

“Do you have a date you're expecting him back?”

“Not yet.”

“It's just that he offered to do some work on the community hall. A few of the locals are pitching in but it's come to a bit of a standstill now till he does his bit. It will be a better space for our fitness group. We'll even have somewhere to store equipment once it's finished.”

“I'm sorry. I don't know how much longer he'll be away.”

“There's a fundraiser coming up for Red Cross. We were hoping to use the hall. Still, as I told them, when people volunteer their time you have to accept when they give it.”

The phone rang as they passed the house.

“I'll be back with you in a minute,” Savannah said and ducked inside to answer it. She could start a list while she was there.

As she picked up she noticed the message light flashing. She peered at it surprised to see there'd been three missed calls.

“Hello, J&S House –”

“At last,” a young male voice cut in before she could finish. “It's Tim. I'm on your houseboat. We've broken down.”

Savannah's heart skipped a beat. A million thoughts went through her head. How was she going to get help? What kind of help did they need? The boat had to be ready to go again tomorrow. Perhaps someone was hurt. She took a deep calming breath. First things first.

“Is everyone all right?” she asked.

“Fine.”

Tick.

“Where are you?”

“We camped at Old Man's Landing last night and we didn't get far from there.”

Tick.

“What's broken?”

“The boat's got power but we can't steer it.”

End of ticks. Savannah had no idea what to do about that.

“We're making slow progress. One of the lads is a farm boy. Bit of a bush mechanic. He reckons the steering cable's snapped. There're two of them down the back using their feet to steer.”

“Is that safe?”

“He reckons it's okay but the girls are getting jittery.”

Savannah didn't blame them. She didn't like the sound of it even though she had no idea what they were doing. What to do? What to do?

Her first thought was Ethan but she didn't have his number. They hadn't needed to phone each other. She had the tinnie but no idea how to start the thing and what good would she be if she could?

“We'd be happy to keep ambling along like we are,” Tim said. “But a few of the group have to get back by mid-afternoon.”

Savannah thought about the trip she'd been on with Ethan. Then she remembered Ash's big speedboat.

“Is there a place where you could moor the houseboat?”

“Plenty of spots along this stretch.”

“See if you can do that. I've got a friend with a boat. Perhaps we can ferry you all back here.”

“That'd be great.”

“Let's swap mobile numbers and I'll let you know as soon as I've got it organised.”

Savannah ended the call and selected Belinda's number.

“Hi, Savvie. That was quick. You ready for a drink already?”

“No,” she said. “I've got a problem and I was hoping Ash could help, if he hasn't left.”

“Of course, if he can. What's the problem?”

Savannah explained. She hated asking but she didn't have any other ideas. At least if the boat was safely tied up and she could get the people off, she could deal with the rest later. She could hear a muffled conversation then Belinda was back.

“He'll come and pick you up in about ten minutes,” she said.

Savannah ran down to tell Mandy what was happening.

“Good of him to help out,” Mandy said begrudgingly. “That boat of his will be too big to get close to the bank. You'll have to wait at the swim deck of the houseboat.”

Savannah hadn't thought of that. When they came back and unloaded it would be the same. Tim and his mates would have to transfer everything to the swim deck of
Tawarri
then carry their gear back to land from there. It was going to be a laborious process but she didn't know what else to do.

The deep throb of a large motor drew her attention upriver. Around the bend came the sleek black boat. Savannah watched its approach and gave Ash a small wave as he eased back on the throttle and let his boat glide up to the deck of
Tawarri
. Mandy helped her aboard and Ash turned the boat in a tight U before Savannah had a chance to sit. She looked back at Mandy staring at them from the houseboat.

“They're just upriver you think?” Ash called over his shoulder.

“Yes,” she shouted.

He didn't look quite so Mr Cool today. He hadn't shaved and his eyes looked bleary as if he'd only recently woken up.

The boat surged forward at a faster rate. Wind whistled past Savannah. She snuggled back into the comfy seat behind him and ran her hands over the soft smooth covering. Surely it wasn't leather. In front of Ash's legs was a small door. There was a big covered space in the pointy front of the boat but she hadn't realised it was a cabin. At least that might mean more room for luggage.

She looked up as they passed his jetty. Harder to see the house from this level. They went on around the bend and further up the river. It was the same journey she'd made with Ethan in his tinnie and in the houseboat. It was much quicker in Ash's boat.

“Is that them?” Ash pointed ahead.

Savannah stood up and hung on to the seat in front. There was a houseboat moored near a sandy bank,
Riverboat
painted on its side.

“That's the one,” she said.

Once more Ash cut back the engine and let his sleek boat glide through the water to the back of the houseboat. He tied his boat securely to the deck.

“We're so pleased to see you,” called one of the girls.

“Sorry you've had trouble,” Savannah said. “I hope your holiday was good.”

“Up till this morning it was lovely.”

Tim and his mates started handing down luggage.

“Shall we put some in the cabin?” Savannah asked Ash.

“No,” Ash snapped. He pulled a smile that looked more like a grimace. “There's not much room in there. We'll have to do the best we can with the space out here.”

They loaded up the three who had to leave first and their luggage. Ash turned the boat and they retraced the journey to
Tawarri
. Once they were off Ash went back for the next lot alone, it meant more space in the boat and Savannah could keep working while she waited for them to return.

Ash undid the ropes as soon as the last group were unloaded.

“Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it,” Savannah called.

He nodded and locked his gaze with hers. She willed herself not to shiver. His eyes looked cold, like a snake's.

“Good to have neighbours you can rely on,” he said. “Belinda said she'll catch you later.” He lifted his hand in a wave and roared away.

“That wasn't quite the ending to our holiday we'd planned.”

Savannah tore her gaze from the retreating boat and looked at Tim standing on the deck behind her. He'd been in the last group to be ferried back.

“I'm sorry,” Savannah said. “I'll have to organise some kind of discount for your trouble.”

“Don't bother,” he said. “We had a great time. You've never seen anything so funny as two blokes steering a houseboat with their feet.”

“At least you had someone practical on board who knew what to do.”

“That's Angus.”

He turned and called to the tall bloke in the checked shirt chatting to those remaining from their group.