Page 17 of Wild Horses

As Christy dressed in her old painting clothes one cold Saturday morning at the end of June, she realised – much to her surprise – that she was happy.

A few months earlier she’d fled Sydney in a pit of despair, her career in ruins.

Then she’d managed to get a job she wasn’t qualified for, at a salary not even half what she’d been paid at St Luke’s.

Now it seemed like the best move she’d ever made.

Who’d have imagined she’d be looking forward to each day?

She drew in a bottomless breath. The inspirational beauty of the Western Downs was a gift Christy hadn’t seen coming.

It might be mid-winter, but the weather remained set at balmy twenty-degree daytime temperatures.

Each morning she woke to a world washed in the soft, golden light of dawn, the southern horizon stretching wide and inviting beneath a sky of endless blue.

To the north, the Bunya Mountains loomed like mysterious sentinels, their ancient pine forests perfuming the breeze.

The simple, enduring beauty of the land was weaving its magic and townies didn’t know what they were missing.

Christy had made friends here at Currawong Creek.

She treasured Astrid’s quirky wisdom, their shared passions, and the fact that their age difference didn’t matter at all.

The two of them were simply great mates.

Christy was also getting on famously with Clare.

They often spent lunchtimes discussing educational theories and comparing notes on various students.

And every second Sunday Christy joined Tom for an exciting afternoon at the Merriang Clay Target Shooting Club.

Christy’s professional life was also on track.

She had a great connection with her students and was rocking her art and English classes.

Leo was blossoming and she treasured his trust. Even Maggie was bearable now her foot had healed and she was back at work.

Although her underlying hostility remained, Christy had learned to handle it.

There was another astonishing, rather wonderful aspect to her life here at Currawong Creek. Christy was falling for Tyler Ward. The famous chef she’d watched on television every Sunday – the one she’d secretly crushed on while sitting beside Andrew – was now a day-to-day presence in her life.

For a long time she’d kidded herself she was content in the friendship zone.

And the two of them had certainly become friends.

Working together at the camp. Slowly repairing the hall in their spare time.

Sharing evenings at Astrid’s cottage where he’d cook fabulous meals and they’d watch movies from Astrid’s extensive library of 1940s and ’50s film noir movies.

So far there’d been no overt signs of romance.

Tyler played his cards close to his chest, always keeping things light.

But the time had come to accept that she wanted more.

Christy no longer resisted the frisson of excitement she felt when they accidentally touched.

She looked for Tyler throughout her day, longing for even a glimpse of his tall frame.

And she surrendered to romantic daydreams. This morning they’d be painting the hall together and she couldn’t wait.

Today might be the day they connected in a deeper way.

Christy used a screwdriver to pry open a can of cream undercoat.

Tyler rolled up his sleeves, revealing lightly muscled forearms sprinkled with chestnut hairs.

His arms bore the subtle definition and strength of someone accustomed to hours in the kitchen rather than the gym – an elegant balance between power and finesse.

‘Thought I’d bring some colour to the mix.’ He revealed a set of paint swatches he’d tucked into his pocket – bold hues that promised warmth and vibrancy. ‘And I’ve found a place in Dalby where we can get materials without breaking your budget.’

‘Practical and creative,’ Astrid noted approvingly. ‘A rare combination.’

Together, the three of them set to work transforming the dingy interior into a light-filled space.

As they painted and scrubbed, laughter filled the air and echoed off the walls.

Christy loved how enthusiastically Tyler joined in with their project, and the way he seemed to genuinely care about the hall and its future.

Yet, something in the back of her mind still nudged her – a curiosity about what lay hidden behind his charming smile.

Christy balanced on a ladder, paint roller in hand, her strokes firm and smooth.

The walls seemed to absorb the undercoat as fast as she applied it.

There were a few bittersweet moments as she erased nostalgic graffiti.

She paused before painting over a faded heart containing the words Jenny + Kevin 4ever .

The scent of fresh paint mingled with sugar soap and Pine O Cleen.

You could almost feel the hall smiling at receiving so much love.

When they stopped for morning tea, Tyler produced raspberry jam drop muffins and a flask of coffee.

‘These are delicious,’ said Christy, savouring the sweet treat. ‘How do you find the time?’

‘I whipped these up in five minutes, tops,’ said Tyler as he offered Astrid the plate. ‘Another twenty minutes in the oven and voilà.’

‘My dishwasher’s never worked so hard.’ Astrid laughed, patted her stomach and groaned. ‘And I’m growing fat.’

‘Did you bring us something delectable for lunch?’ Christy tried to peer into his backpack.

‘Sorry. I’m watching the footy with Leo and the gang this afternoon. Lions versus Collingwood. Let’s hope the Lions win.’ He held up his hand with crossed fingers. ‘To be honest, I’m surprised Leo wants me there. I wasn’t sure he’d forgiven me for staying on as camp cook and cramping his style.’

‘We’re all very glad that you did,’ said Christy. ‘But surely your restaurant empire must be missing you?’

‘Some things are more important than business – my son being one of them.’ His face split into a broad grin. ‘It’s ages since the two of us have done anything fun together.’

‘Well, it’s about time then,’ said Astrid, firmly.

‘It is indeed.’ He looked wistful. ‘I’ve made my fair share of mistakes with that boy.’

Astrid patted his hand affectionately. ‘Parenting isn’t a perfect art, my dear.’

Christy studied Tyler curiously. It didn’t make sense. He seemed like a devoted father. Yet if his son was really more important than his business, what had caused him to send Leo off to boarding school at such a young age? How had Tyler let the disconnect between them grow so wide?

‘Did you always want to be a chef?’ she asked.

‘Always had a thing for food.’ Tyler wiped his chin with the back of his hand, leaving a smudge of jam. ‘But dreams change.’

‘Change how?’

‘Sometimes dreams grow. Sometimes they get put on a shelf. And sometimes they blow up in your face.’

‘Sounds like a story there,’ she prompted, her tone light but persistent.

‘And some stories are best left untold.’ He finished his coffee and stood up. ‘Come on. I can only help out for another hour or so.’

It had happened again. Each attempt she made to delve deeper was expertly sidestepped. Christy returned to the task at hand but found it hard to concentrate with Tyler standing so close. She was full of unanswered questions and couldn’t help herself.

‘What brought you and Leo to Currawong Creek?’

Christy immediately regretted the question. Most of the kids were there because of court orders, or at least because their families or other schools hadn’t been able to manage them.

Tyler’s brush paused mid-stroke and he offered her a tight smile. ‘We wanted a change of scenery,’ he said. ‘What about you, Christy? What’s your story? Drama teaching in Sydney to this. Quite the change as well.’

Christy gulped as the conversational tables turned. She felt like a spotlight had been shone on her own carefully packed-away skeleton. She’d been unforgivably nosy. His question reminded her that everyone had chapters they’d rather not read aloud.

‘It’s ... complicated.’ Her voice trailed off.

‘Things so often are.’ Tyler stepped down from the ladder and stretched his cramped muscles. ‘Looks like we’ll need more paint.’

Half an hour later they were finishing up at the hall, although it was only twelve o’clock.

Tyler was leaving for Currawong Creek and Astrid had to get back for a Zoom meeting with the Darling Downs Astrological Society, whatever that was.

Christy didn’t have the heart to continue by herself, and anyway, they were almost out of paint.

She surveyed their work without much satisfaction.

Her failed attempt to quiz Tyler had put a dampener on the morning, leaving her feeling disappointed and a little embarrassed.

Was she fooling herself to think there could ever be something more between them?

He clearly didn’t want to open up to her.

Christy wondered miserably what she’d do for the remainder of her Saturday.

Since moving to Merriang, Tyler and Astrid were her go-to companions.

To Christy’s surprise, Tyler approached her as she was packing her car.

‘I want to thank you,’ he said, ‘for the time and effort you’ve invested in Leo.

You’ve managed to do something I’ve been struggling with for far too long – you’ve earned his trust.’ He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing.

‘I’ve seen a change in him: a lightness that I feared was gone. ’

Tyler’s expression shifted, reflecting a vulnerability she’d not seen before. ‘He relies on you, Christy. You might not realise how important you are to him. Leo’s had a great deal of loss in his young life. I’d hate to think how he’d feel if he lost you too.’

Tyler’s sincere plea melted her heart and lifted her spirits.

All morning she’d been fishing to learn more about him without success.

What an impatient fool she’d been. If she simply gave him space, he’d open up in his own time.

‘I’m not going anywhere,’ she promised. ‘And I’ll always do everything I can to support Leo. ’

Tyler let out a deep breath and his shoulders relaxed.

‘Thank you.’ He took her hands in his. ‘I’m not expecting miracles, but I do want to be more present in Leo’s life.

Seeing the bond you’ve built with him, I .

.. I was hoping you might help me bridge the gap.

’ He gently squeezed her fingers before letting them go.

‘Any advice, any guidance you could offer, would mean the world to me.’

Christy stared at him open-mouthed, feeling as starstruck as she had when they first met. To think that the famous Tyler Ward wanted her help in such an important matter.

‘Oh, and Leo wants you to join us watching the football this afternoon. He’ll be unbearable if the Lions lose, but it might be worth your while coming for the spread I’m putting on. Traditional footy food with a twist.’

Christy’s earlier misery dissolved, and her doubts fell away. Tyler’s heartfelt desire to mend his fractured relationship with Leo spoke volumes about the kind of man he was: caring, responsible and open to change. He was just the kind of man she could fall in love with.