Jillaroo from Jacaranda, page 7
In his effortless way, he made her feel good, and lifted her spirits just by being around. He’d made her laugh more than she had in the past year. And her family clearly adored him, her GG going as far as to say Ty was one of the very few good ones. Heath and her mum had been quick to agree.
Tiptoeing past the guest room at the crack of dawn, she’d almost had a heart attack when she’d bumped into him in the hallway – he on the way back from the bathroom and her en route to it. After a quick, whispered discussion, Ty had suggested they watch the sunrise on foot – Ty wanted to see the place and Rose was all too happy to give him the tour.
Half an hour later, the glorious sunrise had added golden swathes to the powdery-blue sky and the sweeping landscape beneath, and the few drifting clouds resembled soft marshmallows. Sunlight bounced off the cherry-red coats of the Santa Gertrudis cattle dotting the rolling paddocks on either side of the earthen track worn into the scrub by many sets of boots over the years. Strolling along with her hands shoved into the back pockets of her frayed denim shorts, Rose admired how happy and healthy the cattle were – Heath and GG treated the cattle like close family, and it showed with their breeding programs, as well as how sought-after their livestock were. She smiled as she watched a couple of the calves leave their mother’s side to romp in the long grass, their playful antics giving rise to a soft giggle.
As they wandered side by side, Ty’s gaze travelled to the same place. ‘I love watching cattle, especially newborn calves. They’ve all got their own personalities …’ He offered her a sideways glance, as if gauging her response, ‘… and contrary to what some people might think, they’re highly intelligent creatures.’
‘I totally agree.’ Stopping at the gate, she unlatched it and it swung open, bumping against the post. ‘Some of them can be super intelligent, and others can be downright stupid. Just like humans, really.’
‘Ha, yup! Spot on, Rose.’ Ty took the liberty of closing the gate and latching it shut. ‘I’m a firm believer in raising cattle like you do here. Free to roam with a wild diet.’
Rose respected his beliefs about animal husbandry. ‘It’s the only way.’ She fell into step beside this man once more, keen to continue the thread of conversation, one she was passionate about. ‘We wouldn’t expect a child to develop normally if it was brought up in cramped conditions, on a diet of processed foods, with little or no exercise, and without any family around.’ She cleared the notch of anger from her throat – overcrowded feedlots boiled her blood. ‘So why do it to our cherished animals?’
‘Very well said.’ Ty’s expression was one of total awe. ‘Just like chickens that need to be able to hunt for worms and insects, and spread their wings in the sunlight, not be cooped up in those horrid cages where their feet become permanently clawed.’ He huffed an irritated breath. ‘That’s just bloody inhumane.’
‘Exactly.’ Rose nodded firmly. ‘I only buy free-range chicken, and bacon and meat, oh, and I like my milk to be as natural as possible too. Give me the cream on top over that horrible low-fat stuff any day.’
‘I couldn’t agree more.’ Ty bequeathed her a slow, easy smile. ‘I love how we think very alike, Miss Jones.’
Rose bathed in his rapt regard – it made her feel seen, and her opinions appreciated. If it were Finley, he’d be telling her to stop being ridiculous, because animals were bred for food and it was all about costs and business. The fact she was able to passionately converse with Ty about a subject she’d learnt to zip it on with Finley, just to save having another argument, meant the world.
Heading back towards the homestead, they made their way past the recently renovated stables. Squinting into the sunlight bouncing off the corrugated roof, Rose gazed at the home of her mum’s three horses. The two buckskins had their heads down and their contrasting black tails languidly swished pesky flies away. The lively, hot-blooded Arabian that her mum had saved from being sent to the meatworks six months earlier strutted his stuff along the fence line, his long arching neck and chiselled head as striking as his pure white coat. His proud, graceful temperament had only been brought about by her mother’s dedicated training routine and endless, unconditional love.
Pausing to take in the surrounds, Rose couldn’t miss the play of Ty’s muscles beneath his well-worn jeans, or how the rolled-up sleeves of his plaid button-up Ariat shirt showed off his tanned, tattooed forearms when he rested them on the railings of the training yard. She had to steal her eyes away from him and take a quiet breath – so much about him made her heart pump double time. Head to toe, Ty Parker was very easy on the eye and incredibly easy to like. She really needed to tread carefully around him or risk falling into something she was not ready for. Fling-worthy or relationship material, men were totally off her radar. She needed to heal her heart before she let anyone near a mile of it. As the saying went, hurt people hurt people, and she didn’t want to hurt a hair on the head of a man like Ty.
‘This place is absolutely stunning, Rose.’ Ty tugged the brim of his hat down as he gazed out and over the land then to the outbuildings. ‘And these stables, wowsers. Talk about mighty impressive.’
Rose’s insides shivered – man oh man, his smile was lethal. ‘Yeah, this is basically Mum’s office.’ She smiled as soft as the breeze stirring wisps of dark hair about her face. ‘She’s just had them renovated a few months ago. Before that, they were still the same ones the fire had basically gutted.’ Memories of the night she’d almost lost her life, and her mother for that matter, flashed before her eyes. ‘GG, Heath, Trev and Kenny refurbished them, but they’ve needed a total rebuild for years.’
‘There was a fire in the stables?’ He lifted his sunnies, and she saw concern whirl in Ty’s eyes. ‘When?’
‘I was seven, so almost fifteen years ago.’ Rose shuddered with the nightmarish recollections. ‘If it wasn’t for Heath saving me and my mum, I probably wouldn’t be here to tell the story.’
Ty sucked in a sharp breath as his hand came to her shoulder, gently yet protectively reassuring. ‘Shit, Rose, that would have been terrifying. I’m so sorry you and your family went through something like that.’
‘Thanks, Ty.’ His touch was comforting, and she almost grabbed his hand and put it back when he dropped it back to his side. ‘It was really scary. We’re very lucky all the horses got out safely, too, thanks to the quick thinking of the guys.’ She could still see the flames licking at the walls and feel the overbearing heat and the pressure of the beam she was pinned beneath like it was only yesterday. ‘Mum was in a coma for a week. We all thought we’d lost her, but her fighting spirit helped her pull through, thank god.’ She blew a relieved breath. ‘It’s amazing what a family’s love and support can do.’
Ty’s regard of her was poignantly reverent. ‘So that’s where you get your fighting spirit from, hey? Your lovely mum.’
‘Ha, yeah.’ She tried to push away the echoing sounds of the horses rearing up and trying to kick their way out of the fiery depths of hell – her darling Buck had been one of them. ‘We Jones women tend to have a little fire in us. My great-grandmother, Elizabeth, was the same.’ She hated having to speak of her great-grandma in the past tense, and it must have showed on her face because Ty shocked her by grabbing her and pulling her into a consoling hug. She resisted a little at first, but within seconds she melted into the safety and security of him.
‘I’m so sorry you’ve been through so much, Rose,’ he said, his chin resting on top of her head. ‘I reckon it’s high time you got a break.’
Rose didn’t know what to say to Ty’s open display of empathy – it wasn’t something she was used to after Finley, who was so cut off from his emotions. So, to save seeming unappreciative, she just said exactly what came to mind. ‘Thank you. That means a lot.’ As his arms loosened, she took her cue to step out of his embrace. ‘You’re a real good bloke, Ty Parker.’
He held her eyes spellbound with the depth in his. ‘Thank you, Rose. That means a lot.’
Needing to clear the thickening atmosphere before she burst into tears, Rose grinned through trembling lips and gave his arm a friendly slap. ‘Come on, then. Let’s move it or you won’t be home until dark.’
Snapping from the trance they were sharing, he nodded and flashed her that charming dimple-clad grin. ‘You lead the way.’
And before she gave into some crazy notion of planting a kiss on his oh-so-kissable lips, she did. Even so, her heart beat in excitement at just the notion of it being a possibility. She was single. He was single. They were two consenting adults. They wouldn’t be doing anything wrong …
She mentally slapped herself. She was not going to have even a momentary lapse of self-control. No way, Jose. What in the hell had gotten into her? And how did she know Ty felt the same way? He might just see her as a mate, like how she should be seeing him. Step after step, she tried to shake the lustful feelings off, to no avail.
Pausing at Buck’s horse paddock, Ty greeted the gelding as the horse stretched his head over the railings. ‘Howdy, mate.’ He ran a hand over Buck’s neck. ‘You’re looking good, buddy. Your owner here clearly takes real good care of you, huh?’
As if understanding, and agreeing in full, Buck nodded then flashed Ty a toothy grin.
‘What a champ,’ Ty chuckled. ‘As well as being a handsome boy, you’ve got an awesome personality to boot.’
Rose’s already buoyed heart soared higher as she watched man and horse bond instantly – it wasn’t like Buck to connect with a stranger so quickly, especially a male. Going off first impressions, Buck appeared to like Ty quite a lot. ‘He’s a clever boy, my Buck. I’ll give him that.’ Rose gave him a kiss on the muzzle. ‘I love ya, mate.’
With Buck whinnying his response, Ty looked to her with a smile from ear to ear. ‘I think it’s fair to say he loves you too.’
She drank in his smile, one just for her, as she graced him with one of her own, made only for him. ‘Well, I’m afraid to say, that’s the tour, done and dusted.’
‘I suppose that means I need to think about heading off and leaving you in peace.’
Rose wished she could tell him how much peace he was bringing to her tattered heart, but she was afraid it would sound weird, so instead she said, ‘Right you are.’
Reaching the homestead, Ty followed her through the gate and down the pathway lined with lemon and orange trees. ‘Would you like another cuppa before you head off, Ty?’ she asked over her shoulder as they climbed the steps. Anything to keep him here that little bit longer.
Please say yes …
‘I wish I could, but I’d better hit the road.’ His footsteps fell closely behind her. ‘I’ll take a raincheck, though, if that’s okay with you?’
Although disappointed he wouldn’t be here for the length of time a coffee would take to make and drink, Rose liked his reply. ‘Yeah, sure. Sounds good.’ A natural smile settled on her lips as she turned to face him, her restless hands once again going to the confines of her pockets. ‘Raincheck it is.’
Holding her gaze a little longer than she was prepared for, he cleared his throat and ran a hand over the back of his neck. ‘I’ll just go and grab my bag and say goodbye to your mum, if she’s awake.’
‘She should be by now.’ Her pulse sprinting once again, she looked to her laced-up hiking boots. ‘I’ll wait out here for you, though, so I don’t have to take my boots off.’
‘Sure thing. Mine are a cinch to get off.’ To prove his point, he comically kicked them off in mere seconds, grinned, then disappeared into the homestead.
Rose took the few minutes he was inside to try to regather and regroup her zigzagging emotions. Only a week ago, she’d been completely torn up over Finley, and now here she was, enjoying Ty’s company. She silently reprimanded herself for feeling so attracted to him. It was a total mind maze, to say the least, and it was also the last thing she needed right now.
Is it?
No. She was meant to be healing, not swooning. What was the universe playing at, bringing him into her line of vision now, of all times? She really needed to get a damn grip of the reins of the horse Ty Parker had come in on, before she became reckless and rode off into the sunset with him.
Oh, in a perfect world …
The sound of Ty returning snapped her from her thoughts of galloping across a golden field, cuddled up behind Ty, and back to the present moment. ‘Ready to head off then?’
‘Sure am.’ He slipped his socked feet back into his boots.
‘You see Mum?’
‘Yup. I got to say goodbye to the whole lot of them.’ He thumbed over his shoulder. ‘They’re all in the kitchen, getting breakfast on the way. It smells bloody delicious, I have to say.’
‘You can stay for some brekkie, if you like?’ Rose hoped she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt for him to do so.
‘Your mum already offered, but as inviting as it is, I really should head back to Wildstone Station. I’ve got heaps to catch up on after being away for a few days. And I need to let the old bloke looking after my place get back to his place.’
Knowing the amount of blood, sweat and tears it took to run a cattle property, Rose nodded. ‘Totally understand.’ With Rose leading the way, they wandered down the front steps and towards where his four-wheel drive was parked beneath a towering paperbark tree.
Tossing the bag into the trayback, Ty stopped short of her, shoved his hands into his pockets and then rocked back on his heels. ‘So, Rose Jones. Hopefully I’ll see you soon, out at my station, if you accept my offer of a little stay-cay.’
Raising a hand, Rose shielded her eyes from the brilliance of the sunrise. ‘Yeah, we’ll see.’
‘We surely will.’ Ty lingered in a moment of hesitation before leaning in and brushing an awkward kiss on her cheek. ‘Bye then.’
Rose found his unease endearing, as was the fact he’d just planted a kiss on her. ‘Bye, Mr Parker.’
Settling in behind the wheel of his LandCruiser, Ty slipped his sunglasses on and revved the engine to life. ‘Thanks again for having me, Rose. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you and the family.’ His lips curved upwards, deepening his dimples. ‘They’re a real good herd, your lot. You’re very lucky to have such a loving, supportive family.’
‘Yeah, they sure are, and don’t I know it.’ Taking a step closer, she rested her hands on his windowsill – such a big part of her didn’t want him to leave. A silent, fleeting moment passed between them, one filled with a profound connection. ‘It’s been fun hanging out. I’m so glad you enjoyed Christmas with us.’ She stepped back a little to let him go. ‘Let me know when you get home safe and sound, okay?’
‘Will do.’ He tipped his hat to her. ‘And let me know when you decide if you’re going to come stay. I reckon you might find you love it out in my yonder.’
‘I’ve got a feeling I will too.’ A deep feeling of gratitude washed over her. ‘I’ll have an answer for you by tomorrow.’ She kind of already knew what it was going to be.
‘All good. Chat then.’ He offered her one last charming smile then drove away.
Rose watched the dust spiralling out behind him until he was completely out of sight. She felt a tiny tug on her heart the instant he was, as if he was dragging a little piece of her away with him. How could someone make such an impact on her in such a short amount of time? Looking to the sky, as if she were about to find answers there, she drew in a slow, calming breath, trying to make sense of this crazy situation. A week ago, she’d never in a million years have believed that she would cross paths with a man, a professional bull rider to be exact, who would make her feel so … well, for lack of a better explanation, so much, and so quickly.
All in all, whatever powers were at play, she knew in her heart of hearts that one very special man had just left – she wasn’t sure that spending the next three or four weeks around him was going to be wise. Then again, she’d always been one to preach being happy, and sometimes wise and happy didn’t go hand in hand. But maybe it was time she put her happiness above all else.
A couple of hours later, her belly filled to the brim with a lavish breakfast of Christmas leftovers rebirthed by her mother’s amazing cooking skills, she was bent over at Buck’s rear end, his foot in one hand and a hoof pick in the other. Lost in her thoughts, with Ty’s face front and centre, she barely avoided a slap to her face from Buck’s swaying tail. She chuckled as she straightened and place a hand to her aching lower back. It wasn’t Buck’s fault – the flies were relentless today, as was the sweltering summer heat beating down upon the awning above. Waving her hands about her face, she tried to shoo the pesky buggers away.
‘Hey, my handsome boy.’ She scratched Buck beneath his muzzle. ‘How would you feel about going on a little adventure to Charters Towers with me?’
Buck dipped his head and gave her a little shove to her chest – his way of letting her know he wanted a hug. ‘Oh, mate, you’re just too loveable.’ She wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘I have to make my mind up by tomorrow, so let’s just hope I make the right decision, hey?’ She sighed. ‘I know I should probably talk to Mum about it, but I feel bad taking off so soon after losing Great-Grandma. I feel like I’m being selfish and deserting everyone who’s been here for me.’ Hopefully, her ride over to Aunty Jade’s place was going to help put her mind into some kind of coherent order.
Buck whinnied and she chuckled ‘Yeah, yeah, I know, Mr Impatience. We need to get moving.’
Slipping her boot into the stirrup, she tugged herself up and into her leisurely riding Western-style saddle. ‘Right, my awesome mate. Let’s hit the trail.’
She twitched the reins and Buck didn’t need any more of an invitation. Leaving the stables behind them, they eased from a trot into a canter as they crossed the open paddock which led to Jade and Melinda’s five-acre property, Apple Grove. Losing herself to the elation of riding with the wind, Rose looked up at the fluffy white clouds moving to the west – the same direction Ty’s cattle station was situated. Maybe that was her sign to go that way too? Her belly flipflopped with the very thought and her heart pitter-pattered that little bit faster – if she listened to her heart, she’d be packing her bags right now. But could she trust it, after making the mistake of falling for Finley?
