The Outback Heart (11 page)

‘Let’s get this bus moving,’ said Jasper as he shut his door.

With a flash, Troy was gone, sitting in the car. Indi let go of his door as he shut it. Had she imagined the touch? Standing out in the cold air didn’t help to clear her head so she got in behind the wheel and begun the drive home. Jasper and Troy were chatting away about the game while Allan slept. She couldn’t see Troy in the rear-view mirror, even though she kept glancing back and trying to catch a glimpse of him. Her stomach was a bag of butterflies the whole way home, especially listening to Troy’s voice as he talked footy with Jasper. There was more emotion in his words tonight than she’d seen or heard from Troy since she met him.

‘I was in the AIS elite athlete program,’ said Troy. Indi detected an underlying sadness in his voice.

‘Bloody hell, really? So what happened? You must have been a shit-hot player,’ said Jasper. ‘Why aren’t you still playing today?’

‘Ah, you know. Same old story. The body just gave up. Footy is a killer on everything. I knew a kid, not even eighteen, and he’d had two knee operations and even after that he still couldn’t play footy again. Not at the level he was.’

‘Yeah, tell me about it. Dad has a bad knee and a shoulder and he blames footy.’

Indi wondered what part of Troy had given out. He didn’t limp and every now and then he’d kick the ball with the boys and he didn’t seem in pain. In fact, he looked to be in great shape. She had a niggling feeling that something else was wrong. Perhaps it was the reason that Troy didn’t like discussing his younger years or his footy.

When Indy dropped Troy off at his house, she watched him walk to his house, letting the car lights guide him inside. He turned towards the light, shielding his eyes, and waved goodbye before heading inside. Indi couldn’t help the feelings that rushed up inside her when she saw him. His handsome face, his powerful body, and that cloud of mystery. Oh, why couldn’t she just treat him like just another one of the guys? Life would be so much simpler.

ANOTHER
week had rolled by in a blink: it was game day again. Troy put the lost time down to being comfortable in his new town. He was happy and busy at work, the people were friendly and the team stuff kept his mind active.

Troy was doing a loop through town after getting a morning coffee from the bakery when he came across a guy walking down the middle of the road. He was shuffling along, a few inches at a time. Troy pulled up alongside him, recognising the old man instantly. He never missed a game and always had eyes for Indi. He had a lot in common with Trevor, he realised.

‘What are you doing in the middle of the road, Trevor?’

Trevor paused, wondering where the voice had come from, and seemed surprised to see a ute beside him. His hand went to the Saints scarf around his neck.

‘I’m off to the footy. Game’s on today,’ he said. He was studying Troy as if trying to place his face.

‘Well, it’s not starting for a few hours yet. How about I take you home?’

Trevor tilted his head then raised his finger. ‘You’re that bloke, the one coaching the team.’

‘Yep, I’m Troy.’ Indi had introduced them once but Troy wasn’t going to remind him.

The old man shook his hand. ‘Right. So I’m too early, you say,’ said Trevor, scratching at the thin grey wisps of hair above his ear.

Troy got out of his ute. ‘Come on, hop in and I’ll take you back home for a bit. Where’s your house?’

Trevor turned, glanced up the street and screwed his face as if thinking. ‘That way.’

Troy got out, opened his passenger door and helped Trevor climb in. ‘Don’t you normally get a lift to the footy?’ he said as he swung the ute around in the quiet street.

‘No. I like walking. That’s my house,’ he said. ‘I’m over there, that one.’ Trev pointed out the house they had just passed. Troy reversed and pulled into the old cracked cement driveway. Weeds were growing through the gaps, and he thought maybe Phil would let him come back to spray them on Monday.

The front door had been left wide open and there was a walking stick resting up against it.

‘How about I put the kettle on and make you a cuppa? What’s your poison?’

Carrying his own coffee with him, Troy followed Trevor inside. Trevor’s house smelt a bit musty but everything was as old as the man himself so it was no surprise.

‘A good scotch, but I’ll take a cuppa tea if you’re making,’ said Trevor as he sat down at the table. ‘I usually wait for Indi to come and get me. But I looked at my calendar and saw it was game day and just took off. When I get a bee in my bonnet, there’s no stopping me.’ He shot Troy a rascally grin. ‘Don’t worry about me, I’m not ready for a nursing home yet. So, you liking it here?’

‘Well, it’s been a few months already. I’m happy so far. Training on Thursday went well. The boys are really trying hard and shaping up. It didn’t even matter that they were flat out seeding – Pat turned up at training still dressed and dirty from work in the spray tractor. The lads have impressed me, for sure.’

‘Yes, Indi keeps telling me this year will be great,’ said Trevor, as the kettle whistled.

‘Yeah, it’s exciting. Even the new guys, the Kiwis especially, are showing promise. Killer’s turning into a good mark, too.’ Troy rummaged through Trevor’s kitchen for a cup and fixed his tea. ‘I’m almost willing to bet my left kidney that we’ll win at least one game this year.’

Trevor thanked him for the tea and watched him sit down. ‘You and young Indi are the same. She told me she’s betting on a finals berth.’

‘Well, Indi’s game. The finals are a long way off and I only focus on each game as it comes.’

‘Yeah, but you gotta have a bit of hope, Troy. Indi has a lot riding on this year. I just hope she’s not disappointed. She’s already had enough heartache.’

‘I know.’ Troy didn’t like that word ‘hope’. Hope had never helped him – all it had done was set him up for disappointment of the worst kind. Now he lived day by day.

‘Did you know that I nearly played for the WAFL? I could have gone far but alas, my Elsie stole my heart. I don’t regret one minute of giving up football for her. She wouldn’t move from here and I wanted to be with her more than the football.’ Trevor stood up. ‘I have some photos in the drawer. Let me show you.’

Troy glanced at his watch. He didn’t have anything else to do. ‘You sit, I’ll get them. Over here?’ he said, pointing to the big old chest of drawers by the wall. Sitting on top of the drawers was a photo of Indi, Trevor and another lady. By the resemblance, he figured it was Indi’s mum. He picked up the photo for a closer look.

‘A heart as big as her mother’s,’ said Trevor. The old man didn’t miss a trick. Troy quickly put it back. ‘She’s a beauty, isn’t she,’ he said.

‘Yes, she is,’ he agreed. He glanced back at the photo of Indi and wished his life were different. He wished it were as simple as falling in love and moving on. But it wasn’t. This was his life and wishing didn’t fix anything.

Two hours later Troy paced out the front of the change rooms waiting for Indi – one of the blokes needed her to strap his ankle.

Jasper had said she wasn’t working today, so Troy wondered what was taking her so long. It wasn’t as if she’d be working out what to wear. He didn’t think it mattered what she wore – she’d still look irresistible. He paused, disturbed by his train of thought.

He did another sweep of the Saints’ home ground. They were playing Bruce Rock today and it looked like a few extra supporters had turned up. Usually Troy could count them all on two hands. Seemed that word had got out that the Saints were worth watching this year. Or maybe Indi had been busy drumming up business. As he looked back down the verandah of the clubhouse he spotted Indi running towards him, her hair flying out behind her like a silk ribbon.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. Her hand gripped his arm as she stopped to catch her breath. ‘I went to pick up Trevor and he’d slipped over. Had to take him to the nursing post,’ she said, puffing.

‘What? Is he okay?’ Troy tried to ignore the burning sensation that her fingers caused. ‘I was with him this morning.’

As if sensing his discomfort, she released her hand. ‘Yeah, luckily he didn’t break anything, just bruised. They’re going to give him some painkillers but he’s gutted that he’ll miss the game. He reckons it’s going to be “a corker” – his words,’ she said with a smile. ‘He told me you stopped by for a visit. That was nice.’

He could tell that Indi thought it was more than nice that he’d been with Trevor. Actually, she was looking at him like he’d just saved Trev’s life. ‘More like I found him in the street and took him home,’ he said, playing it down.

‘Oh?’

As far as Troy knew, Indi and Trevor weren’t related. He wondered how they’d become so close. ‘Look, you’d better get in there. The guys are waiting for you. Some of them seem to think you’re their good luck charm,’ he said, smirking.

Indi laughed. ‘I don’t think Jasper would agree.’ She headed into the change rooms, shouting a warning as she went. He didn’t know why she bothered – the blokes tried to bare all on purpose.

Troy hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, but with Bruce Rock on the bottom of the ladder, he had a feeling the Saints were going to win today. He knew the boys had what it took to win.

As the team ran out onto the oval in their white shorts and team jumpers he clapped them on. He was so proud.

Indi stood beside him again. He liked having her there. During their fourth game she’d had to work at the bins – she hadn’t been able to get out of it – and as much as it pained him to admit it, the footy just hadn’t felt the same without her beside him. He realised just how much he’d come to depend on her, how much they all depended on her. Because she couldn’t be there herself for that game, Indi had organised for Patrick’s wife to come and strap the guys. Maddie was good enough at strapping but she knew nothing about football, and he’d had to use one of the kids as a runner.

When Patrick kicked another goal to put the Saints three goals up by quarter time, Indi leaped into the air.

Troy kept his face emotionless but inside his heart was pounding. Everything was safer that way.

‘My brother is a legend,’ she said.

By half time Troy realised that the crowd had grown. Word must have got out that they were going to win a game. They were up by thirty points and playing well. Then in the third quarter Jasper had flown for a mark and come crashing down in a pack of big bodies. He didn’t get back up. He sat on the ground, reaching for his foot and gesturing for help.

‘Oh, shit! His ankle,’ Indi said as they ran towards him. The umpire blew his whistle to stop play.

‘Is it twisted?’ Indi went to touch his ankle when Jasper yelled at her.

‘Don’t touch it. I think it’s broken,’ he said through clenched teeth.

Troy waved both his arms to get the attention of the ambulance officers on standby. Eric and Paula jogged over.

‘Jasper thinks it’s broken,’ he told them. He hoped Jasper was wrong.

‘Sorry, mate. I can see the break. We need to take you to the hospital for X-rays and my guess is surgery, too.’ Eric was shaking his head.

‘Oh, shit,’ said Jasper.

Indi’s hand went to her mouth as she mumbled, ‘No.’

Patrick had jogged across from the other side of the oval.

‘What’s going on, little brother? Taking a breather?’ said Pat, leaning over, hands on his thighs.

Indi slapped Pat. ‘He’s broken his ankle.’

‘Oh, really? Shit, I’m sorry, Jasp.’

Jasper was loaded into the back of the ambulance and the game continued. Troy knew that look on Jasper’s face wasn’t just from the pain. It was the disappointment of realising he’d be out for most of the season. Troy wanted to tell him that at least he’d be back, that his footy playing days weren’t over, but the words stuck in his throat.

‘Troy?’ asked Indi. She touched his arm again to get his attention. ‘Is it okay if I go with Jasper?’

Her concern was sweet. It was like having his mum nearby.

‘Of course. Go,’ he said, nudging her. ‘I don’t think we’ll lose today.’

‘Will you text us the final score?’ she asked.

‘Sure thing.’ Troy walked back to the game. He hated having Indi’s number in his phone. It was like keeping a part of her close to him, and it scared him. So long as he didn’t get drunk and use it, he should be fine.

After a minute he had this weird sense, maybe it was the sweet vanilla he could smell, and he turned to find Indi standing nearby. ‘What are you still doing here?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Jasper didn’t want me mothering him. Dad went instead. You’re stuck with me,’ she added with a smile.

He nodded, crossing his arms as he watched the game. He fought back his own smile.

‘Bloody hell!’ screamed Indi when the final siren sounded. Everyone – players and supporters – was in the air celebrating as if they’d just won the AFL grand final. Patrick leaped into Spud’s arms, and the Duckworth brothers were whooping and high-fiving each other.

Beside Troy, Indi was jumping up and down, hitting his arm as she screamed. ‘We won a game! We won a game!’

Her joy was infectious and he found himself smiling as they jogged to join the team. All the boys took great delight in hugging Indi. Troy turned away and massaged his tight neck muscles.

There were going to be some celebrations tonight, that was for sure.

Back in the change room the boys went straight into a huddle and chanted the team song. Troy didn’t know the words but Limp and Patrick pulled him in, their arms around his back, and he was swept up in the euphoria of the moment.

Five hours later, drunken slurs had replaced singing voices. By now the Saints song was almost unrecognisable. Troy still didn’t really know the words anyway. But he did know when Indi walked back into the clubroom. He was busy laughing at Lucky, who was wearing the old pink dressing gown and handbag for the clanger he did during last quarter. Limp had come close to winning the ritual award but Lucky had passed off a handball directly to the opposition which led to a goal, giving him the honours tonight. But Lucky was no match for his attention when Indi waltzed in. Most of the boys and the cheer squad – which had grown throughout the night – were packed in the club celebrating but he still felt her presence.

He knew she’d left to take her dad and Jasper some clothes, and see how he was going. He wasn’t expecting her to drop back in – it was a welcome surprise.

With the alcohol racing through him, he headed over to talk to her. He should have known better. He was playing with fire.

‘How’s Jasper going?’ he asked.

He could see his approach had surprised her, or maybe it was his smile. Troy straightened his shoulders and tried to sober himself up.

‘He’s fine. Whingeing, of course. He’s been told he could be out for a few months. Dad’s down a worker and he’ll have to do some of the spraying. So all in all, not the happiest of chaps.’ She pulled a face and he smiled again.

God, she’s lovely
, he thought. She wasn’t as delicate as Peta but they were similar in other ways.

‘Who’s going to replace Jasper on the field?’ she asked.

Troy blinked as he tried to clear the boozy fog from his brain. ‘Good question. I hope you’ll think about it, and then let me know,’ he said with a giggle.

‘Had a few, have we, Troy?’ Her full lips arched in a smile and Troy found himself staring at her mouth. Eventually he processed her words and tried to reply.

‘Just celebrating the win. Mind you, I’m faring better than some of them. Huey is talking about bringing out the phone book. God knows what that means.’

Indi threw her head back and laughed. ‘Oh, you have so much to learn.’

Jaffa and Tegan walked by. ‘Who’s got to learn what?’ Tegan asked.

‘Troy was just wondering about the phone book.’

Tegan laughed as she tried to stop Jaffa from wandering off. ‘I’ll leave that for you to explain. How’s Jasper?’ Tegan asked as Jaffa kept slapping her hand away from him. He clearly wanted to be back at the party.

‘He’ll be fine. Can I come see you tomorrow for a cuppa?’ asked Indi.

‘Great idea. I’ll see you then. We have to go.’