Chapter 17

CHAPTER

17

Bree closed the gate behind her and carefully latched it. A woolly brown head reached over the top bar and lips nibbled the end of her plaited hair.

‘Stop it, Cass.’ She gently pushed the alpaca’s head and Cass moved away to join the group grazing nearby.

Bree looked over the herd with a feeling of satisfaction. Her daily check had shown all her pregnant girls to be healthy and content. Even Sky. She was showing more than the others, because of the twins. Bree still didn’t hold out much hope for two live births, but as long as Sky looked healthy, she wasn’t giving up.

September was drawing to a close and spring was very much upon them. The paddocks were covered with young, bright green grass. She had already made arrangements for the alpacas to be shorn. And with the babies coming soon, she was going to be busy.

Leaving Maggie in charge of cleaning around the stables and yards, she walked back to the house, ticking off in her head the things she had to do next. She had to confirm the spinning arrangements for the fleeces and she’d found a couple of small but well regarded yarn shops to take some of her stock. She’d have to get the new offers up on the website so she knew how much she would have available for the shops. It would be nice to have a shopfront herself, somewhere to display the yarns that were currently stashed in boxes in her bedroom office. Knitters liked to feel a yarn before they bought it. Maybe a shop could be a good-sized place where the knitting club could meet, rather than using the hall. It was far too early to think of expanding the business, but hopefully one day. She’d started taking bookings for alpaca walks. She was mapping out routes for those and would take some of her alpacas out soon, to get them accustomed to the area and this new aspect of their lives. The excursions would also help teach Maggie, who was showing signs of becoming a good addition to the farm.

Bree stopped walking and raised her face to the blue sky and the warmth of the sun. She was happy in her new life, but, if she was going to be honest, today she craved some human company. Rose had gone back to Sydney the day after the last knitting club meeting and she hadn’t actually spoken to anyone other than Maggie since them. An email was no replacement for a conversation. Not that she wanted to see anyone in particular. No. Just someone to talk to. Anyone, really. Rural life was great, but after the tense and busy life of a lawyer, there were moments when she felt a bit … unused.

Yesterday’s mail was lying on a table in her hall. On top was a flyer telling residents that the mobile library would be setting up next to the hall today—Bree checked the time—about now. She glanced around her living room. There were plenty of books on her shelves, some of which she hadn’t found time to read yet. But the mobile library would have more than books. She reached for her keys.

She was halfway into town before she realised she hadn’t stopped to check her hair or her outfit. She grinned. She had come such a long way already from her Sydney life.

The area around the hall was bustling when she arrived. The mobile library was open for business and people were also milling around the wooden lunch tables next to the hall and the small playground was well in use. More than anything else, the scene looked a bit like a town picnic. Bree found a park and had barely stepped away from the car when she heard her name called.

‘Bree! Good to see you. Come and join us. We have tea and sandwiches and cake.’ Two of the women from the knitting club were seated at one of the wooden lunch tables and were sliding over to make room for her.

Bree didn’t see how she could refuse and the cake did look good. ‘Hi, Sarah, Alison. I hadn’t realised the mobile library visit was such an event.’

‘Oh, yes,’ Sarah replied. ‘Most of the town turns up, even if we aren’t looking for books.’

‘My kids are in there, hassling Lou about some new fantasy books they want.’ Alison pushed a plastic mug of tea across the table. ‘How’s your injured alpaca? All better, I hope.’

Bree blinked with surprise. ‘Ah, yes. He’s fine thank you. How did you …?’

‘You’ll get used to the grapevine. That’s good news, though. Have you met Anna, our vet, yet? She started studying up on alpacas when she heard you were setting up your stud here.’

‘Yes. She came by to check the herd and the expectant mothers.’

‘She’s very good. It’s such a shame about that scar on her face. Rodeo bull did that.’

‘Oh.’ Bree was slightly taken aback. She’d read about how badly rodeo bulls were treated at times, and she couldn’t really reconcile that with the gentle and caring woman she’d met.

‘Yes. She got hurt while trying to rescue the bull when it was trapped in an overturned truck. Terrible thing, it was. She was such a pretty young woman. Cake? Or a lamington?’

Bree blinked at the abrupt change of topic. ‘Cake, thanks.’

The cake was good. She sat chatting for a few minutes, watching the townsfolk visiting the library. Some she knew, others she didn’t. But the way things were going, she probably soon would. She felt comfortable, sitting her in her casual clothes, chatting to people who seemed genuinely friendly. Far more so than most of the people she’d met in the course of her legal work. Many of those friendships had been centred on position and influence. Perhaps she was being too harsh. Not everyone was like her parents.

And speaking of parents.

Four people were approaching from the direction of the pub, Matt and Vicki with the older couple she’d seen before. Vicki’s grandparents.

‘Bree!’

Vicki’s excited voice carried across the distance between them. Bree got up from the table as the little girl skidded to a stop in front of her and then flung her arms around Bree’s waist.

‘Well, hello to you too.’ Bree hugged her back, then looked up at Matt. ‘Hi, Matt.’

‘Hi, Bree. I don’t think you’ve properly met Vicki’s grandparents. Sally and Brian Holden. Sally, Brian, this is Bree Johnston. She owns the alpaca farm just outside of town and was kind enough to let Vicki visit to meet her animals.’

‘It’s nice to meet you.’ Bree remembered what the postmistress had said about Matt’s in-laws, and while she didn’t like to judge based on gossip, she also remembered their rudeness that day in the pub. But that might have been a bad day. She smiled in a friendly fashion, but Sally’s face was cold. Almost hostile.

‘When can I come and see Digby again?’ Vicki asked.

Bree looked at Matt and raised an eyebrow. He nodded slightly. ‘Soon,’ she promised. ‘Your dad and I will arrange a time. We’ll have baby alpacas soon. I know you’ve been reading about them. Do you know what they are called?’

Vicki shook her head.

‘A baby alpaca is a cria.’

‘Baby horses are called foals.’

‘That’s right. Well, it’s sort of the same.’

‘Cria.’

Vicki tested the word so carefully, Bree had to smile. She glanced at Matt, who was smiling too. Behind him, she saw two women whispering and looking their way. One was Val. More gossip was likely to come from this meeting.

‘Well, I’d better take my turn finding something to read.’

‘I’ll come too,’ Vicki said.

As they made their way towards the library truck, Vicki put her hand into Bree’s. After a moment of surprise, Bree decided it was nice that the little girl felt confident with her. But as they climbed the folding metal steps, she happened to glance at Matt and his in-laws. Sally’s face was thunderous.

Librarian Lou greeted them both warmly. ‘I was wondering when I’d see you, Vicki. I managed to find a very special book for you.’

While Vicki collected a new book about alpacas, Bree perused the crime shelf, selecting a couple of unfamiliar books by a favourite author.

‘So you’re a crime reader,’ Lou said as she noted the titles. ‘Good to know. I get first dibs on the older books from a couple of the official libraries. I’ll keep my eye open for any newer crime I see.’

‘That would be great. Thanks.’

‘And if you’ve got any books you don’t need any more, we’re always open to donations. Particularly any unwanted books on alpacas.’ Lou nodded to where Vicki was now sitting on the floor, her head buried in the book. ‘I suspect I’m going to start getting more requests for those.’

‘I don’t doubt it. I’m going to offer to have the school kids out one day soon. I was going to give some books to the school.’

‘That’s great. All the school books eventually end up here. It’s sort of a book swap meet really. Actually, when you have one of the schools coming by, if you let me know, I can make sure they get some of the books.’

‘Yeah. I’ll do that.’ Bree liked the idea of a book swap. She had a few books, novels mostly, she would be happy to add to the mix. ‘Coming, Vicki?’

They made their way back to Matt. ‘Look, Daddy.’ Vicki held her book up for inspection.

‘I’ve got a few books at home I’m going to add to the library shelves,’ Bree said. ‘I want to start opening up for school outings soon. The kids might like to read about the animals first.’

‘That’s a good idea. The library isn’t just for the Ridge—a lot of small towns around here depend on it. And the schools share resources through it.’

‘In fact—’ Lou had descended the stairs behind them, ‘—there’s the annual fundraising dance coming up in a couple of weeks. I do hope you’ll come, Bree.’

‘I’ve got an even better idea.’ Deb Fraser appeared from somewhere. ‘Matt, why don’t you bring Bree? Then she won’t feel like a stranger walking into the hall.’

‘Oh, no.’ Bree held up a hand. ‘Matt. Don’t feel you have to.’

‘Have to what?’ Sally’s voice was sharp as she joined them.

‘Daddy’s taking Bree to the library dance.’

Sally’s face froze for an instant, before she turned a harsh glare at Bree.

Bree looked helplessly at Matt and as she did, she realised two very important things. She did want to go to the dance with Matt, but only if he invited her for the right reason.

‘Bree? Will you come to the dance with me?’

‘Well … I …’

‘Please.’

How could she resist that sweet tone and the smile that lit his face? ‘I’d love to.’

‘Yay!’ Vicki jumped up and down on the spot.

Matt’s smile was genuine and Bree started to feel better.

‘It will be great to have you join us. Get to know more of the people here.’ Deb and Lou wandered off towards the refreshment bench.

‘Let’s go and find your grandfather,’ Sally said to Vicki in a voice that sounded like she was talking through gritted teeth.

Matt and Vicki went to find Brian, but a hand on Bree’s arm stopped her. She turned to look into a face full of anger.

‘I know what you are trying to do,’ Sally hissed, ‘and I won’t hear of it. Understand? I won’t have it.’

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘I know you went to my daughter’s house. I know you flung yourself at Matt. Kissing him in front of Vicki. That’s unacceptable. You stay away from them.’

The vitriol in the woman’s voice was shocking. Bree wanted to defend herself. More than that, she wanted to defend Matt, but everything in Sally’s face told her to do so would only make matters worse. Bree’s heart went out to Matt and Vicki. This woman was poison. Had she always been like this? She could see many struggles ahead for Matt and she didn’t want to make things worse for him but at the same time …

She pulled her arm away and stepped back. ‘I think you are out of line. What I do is none of your business.’

‘When it involves my granddaughter, it is my business.’

Bree had no idea how to answer the woman. There was a passion in Sally’s eyes that was wild and disconcerting. Did Matt know about this? She guessed he didn’t. But he should, because everything about Sally said she was not going to step back and allow him to raise his daughter as he wished. And what about Brian? He had seemed a reasonable man. Was he aware that his wife seemed to be on the brink of losing her self-control?

‘I think you should talk to Matt about that.’ Bree walked away, feeling Sally’s eyes burning into her back. Matt and Vicki were chatting to Brian a short distance away. Vicki waved to Bree and she waved back, but turned towards her car. It might hurt their feelings that she didn’t say goodbye, but under current circumstances, that was the lesser evil.