Page 14

‘Tell me, how did you come to work here at the station?’ Carter asked, massaging soap into ewe number eight’s wool. ‘Did Nova snatch you up from agricultural college the moment you graduated or something?’

Indy gave a dry chuckle, adjusting her grip on the sheep. ‘Nova snatched me up when I was sixteen, a little young for ag college and way too rebellious for it.’

‘Sounds like there’s a story there.’

Indy sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. There was a story—her story. Was she ready to share it? She didn’t even really know this guy. Maybe it would help make things clear for her? Really iron out the differences between them.

She cleared her throat. ‘My upbringing was the complete opposite of what I’m guessing yours was.

My parents decided early on that getting high was much more exciting than looking after a child and spent most of my childhood in and out of prison until my dad didn’t come out alive and my mum missed his funeral because she was serving time for some stupid act of retribution that was a total failure.

I bounced between foster homes until I got as sick of them as they got of me and made a family with other screw-ups on the streets of Denarlie. ’

‘How’d you find Nova then? I doubt she was one for advertising.’ Carter’s hands never stopped scrubbing the ewe and his face remained neutral. Interesting.

‘She found me.’ Indy bent her knees, bracing herself for the ewe’s upcoming displeasure as Carter stopped scouring and grabbed a bucket of water.

‘I was in a café, stealing from the rich people out for brunch, when the police sergeant walked in. I promise my intention was to give to the poor, which was me. I was flat broke, starving and desperate. Probably not something you’ve experienced.

’ She glanced at his face. Still no reaction.

‘Anyway, I was on my last warning with Sarge so I quickly took a seat on the only free stool in the place, which just happened to be next to Nova. Threw me for six when she called me by my name and knew what was in my pockets.’

‘She already knew you?’

‘I think she knew of me because we’d definitely not met before.

It was a setup by Sarge. Anyway, she bought me breakfast and gave me an ultimatum: either I give her everything in my pockets and come out here to work or she’d turn me in to Sarge, and I’d do a long stint in juvenile detention.

Wasn’t really much of a choice, and Nova and Sarge knew it.

I wasn’t cut out for jail so I figured I’d give this place a go for a few weeks.

I could always walk back to Denarlie when I’d had enough.

’ She laughed as the ewe gave a high-pitched bleat but was once again an off-white colour.

‘Turns out Nova had been collecting strays well before me and continues to. Mara’s her latest.’

Leaving the sheep in the pen, Indy headed over to the bar fridge near the light switch and pulled out a couple of water bottles. She tossed one to Carter and sat down on an overturned milk crate left by one of the shearers last season.

‘Why does Nova collect strays?’ he asked.

Indy shrugged. ‘Maybe because she used to be one herself.’

Carter turned over the empty bucket and perched on it. ‘Looks like your few weeks turned into a few years.’

Bonnie’s face swam before her and Indy tensed her stomach for the blow. She unscrewed the cap on the water bottle and took a long guzzle as the pain subsided. ‘’Bout ten years or so, if anyone’s counting. Long enough for this place to become all I know.’

Carter was quiet. Indy fiddled with the bottle cap.

Had she shared too much? Proved to him that she was some giant freak show; the girl from the rough side of Denarlie hiding from a fucked-up past on a sheep station she had no real business being on, but was here because she didn’t know how to function anywhere else?

‘I’m sure there are worse places you could’ve landed in,’ Carter said.

Indy looked at him sharply, prickles barbing the inside of her skin. ‘What would you know about worse places? You probably sleep in a bed made with gold satin sheets, Mr Big Time Footballer, and had a wholesome childhood with your parents at every game.’

Carter let out a relaxed chuckle and her barbs retracted. Did anything get to this guy? ‘Your assumptions could use some work. You and I aren’t so different, you know.’

‘Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.’

Indy headed back into the pen, switching out the clean sheep with a painted one. Carter came back in with a fresh bucket of water and the dance started again. Indy tested the weight of the Solvol bottle. It was growing empty.

It took until they started soaping up sheep number twelve for Indy to ask about the words replaying in her head. ‘What did you mean by you and I not being so different?’ Her temper had cooled and her curiosity had returned.

Carter was holding the ewe this time and Indy was scouring. He looked up at her and she ripped herself out of the clutches of his gaze. There wasn’t time to be caught in those deep pools.

‘My dad died when I was a kid too.’

A flash of abandonment hit Indy and she frowned. ‘I’m sorry.’

It was an automatic reaction, and he nodded before looking at the ewe again. Guilt spread through her. Losing a parent as a child wasn’t something she wanted to have in common with anyone, let alone this man, who’d been kind to her while she’d been nothing short of a bitch to him.

‘My dad died in a prison brawl,’ she offered. ‘He was serving time on supply charges. Wasn’t really much of a businessman. How’d your dad die?’

‘During a training exercise.’

Indy did a double take. ‘He was a footy player?’

Carter chuckled, and the sound was soothing. ‘Ah, well, he was once. He was an awesome player and could’ve had a professional career in the sport, but he joined the army instead. It was one of their training exercises that meant he never came home.’

‘That’s a much more admirable way to go.’

Carter shrugged. ‘Doesn’t really matter in the end, though, does it? I mean, they’re both not here anymore.’

‘True.’

‘Tell me one good thing you remember about your dad. Surely there’s one thing.’

Indy reached tentatively into the box of memories in her mind she generally kept taped shut.

It was too painful to rip the tape off but maybe she could peek in through a corner.

She grabbed a memory that made her smile.

‘He used to make the best chocolate chip pancakes. When he wasn’t locked up or using, he’d make them for dinner as a treat.

Lift me up on the bench and get me to stir the mixture.

He’d put Paul Kelly on in the background and sing along, really badly.

Guy was tone deaf for sure. But it’s one of the only times I remember him being happy.

Like genuinely happy, not substance-affected happy. What about you?’

Carter looked thoughtful and Indy deflated a little. He probably had a million moments to choose from.

‘Dad was the one who taught me how to kick a footy. We’d spend hours kicking the ball and refining my technique when he was home. Jonathan claims a lot of my career but that skill solely belongs to my dad.’

‘Jonathan?’ Indy grabbed the bucket and slowly poured it over the front of the ewe. The wool was still tinged green. She needed more soap.

‘My stepfather,’ Carter said. ‘And the Scorpions coach.’

Indy dropped the bucket, jumping back when the leftover water splashed up. ‘Your stepdad’s the coach? Mate. You’ve got more issues than I thought.’

Carter laughed. ‘You have no idea.’

Indy grabbed the Solvol bottle and squeezed. Nothing came out. She shook it hard then squeezed again. The tiniest amount of liquid spluttered out.

‘Shit,’ Carter said. ‘We’ve still got eight sheep to go.’

Indy leant back, resting her elbows on the top rail. She checked her watch. ‘It’s just gone one am. There’s nothing more we can do about it tonight. We’ll have to come back tomorrow.’

Carter yawned. ‘Righto. Let’s wash this one off and get to bed. For the record, I’m more than happy to spend a second night in this historical shed with you.’

Indy caught her smile before it was fully formed and squished down the excitement that frothed. She didn’t have room for distractions in her life and Carter Hendrix was proving to be one big distraction.