A Dusty Christmas Read online

  “Okay, slow down, you’ve done one lap.”

  Blaise exhaled, and slowed the combine. He hadn’t even noticed he’d finished a lap—that’s how much he was in deep concentration.

  Dusty helped guide him to stop the combine.

  “Do I get the sack?”

  “Hmmm… just not paid.”

  With that, Blaise decided there was progress. “Thanks for letting me drive.”

  Dusty smiled and opened the door of the cab. “You okay to get to the ute? You remember, only drive on the fire breaks when you leave.”

  “I will.” Blaise stood, his legs felt like jelly, and his body ached after the short time in the cramped position at the wheel. He shimmied in front of Dusty, paused, looking into her eyes. Had this been a good or bad thing? He wasn’t sure.

  Dusty gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.”

  Blaise got the hint. He kissed her back, quickly, on the cheek, and then carefully climbed down. He looked up, Dusty waved, then closed the door.

  He walked to the back of the combine, and out of the way. His legs struggling to want to work properly as his muscles got used to not being in the same position.

  The combine started rolling forward, the roar of the engine loud and disruptive in this natural setting of wide-open spaces.

  Blaise made his way through the stubble, to the ute, and got in. Dusty hadn’t gotten angry with him like she often did, and it unsettled Blaise. It gave him hope that they could both adjust to each other. But then again, was it a sign that maybe she’d given up?

  He wasn’t ready to give up on them. He may well have messed up in Dusty’s eyes just then, but by driving the combine for a short time, he now had a renewed admiration for the work she had to do on the farm. He took a deep breath. The short time driving had left him exhausted. He put the ute into gear and slowly made his way out of the paddock, carefully keeping to the fire break. The last thing he wanted to do was to cause a spark which resulted in a bush fire. It had been drilled into him over the last few months, in particular.

  No wonder Dusty looked exhausted. Yet, she kept on going.

  This insight gave him much-needed motivation to keep on this path, to keep chasing his dusty cloud in the name of love.

  Blaise drove back along the unsealed road toward Acacia Plains. Dust blew up behind him in a smoky-like cloud. He’d never realized how much it didn’t rain now he was here living in the country. In the city, the rain tended to be more of a nuisance more than anything. Of course, out here on the land, it could make or break people.

  It was later in the day than expected, and he had planned on going back to the place he’d rented. Dusty had said she’d see him later. What annoyed him about the ambiguity was that it could translate to later being tonight, or tomorrow, or hell even Christmas at this rate. He’d never thought to ask her to commit to a time.

  The quick drive in the combine at least gave him the empathy he needed to be unforgiving about her lack of commitment. He’d been open-minded coming here to the country to live, to trial having a relationship with Dusty. What he hadn’t quite been prepared for was that he was also having to develop a relationship to the farm as well.

  Blaise looked ahead at the straight road. Eucalyptus trees lined either side, along with low-lying bushes he had no idea what their names were. He had a vague recollection Dusty had called them tea trees, Leptospermum. When they were moving a mob to a different paddock the other month, he’d sat in the passenger seat, and she’d named the species of trees and plants as if she were a botanist, and he’d been impressed. Long weedy dried grasses swayed as he passed. Even at his reduced speed, he couldn’t bring himself to drive fast on these dirt roads, not like the locals did.

  A magpie flew across the road, followed by a few swallows which were considered pests. Blaise couldn’t believe how much he had learned, and how much he noticed around him even when he was driving. He enjoyed the change, and it gave him hope, reminding him he was adjusting. So often it felt like he wasn’t and that he knew nothing.

  A banging noise started at the back of the ute. Blaise fought against the steering wheel to stop the car from veering toward the bank of the road. He automatically took his foot off the accelerator, and hearing Dusty’s voice resisted the urge to brake. There were sections of loose stone on this road and braking could send him into a skid into the nearest tree.

  Blaise held his breath as the ute skidded a little, then slowed, the thumping got worse, before the ute finally stopped. He exhaled with relief. This was one time Blaise was glad he didn’t drive fast on these roads. Dusty did, which was fine, she’d grown up and could read them, and knew the conditions and how to adjust. All he saw was dirt and potholes.

  He got out of the ute, barely noticing the heat of the afternoon.

  What the hell was that?

  His legs were a little like jelly as he walked around the back of the ute trying to see anything obvious that might’ve caused the noise and affected the steering. For a gut-wrenching moment, he thought something very bad might’ve happened to Ted or Molly. The dogs were sitting on the tray of the ute, chained safety, and looking rather bored.

  “Glad you’re all right, boy.” Blaise patted Ted, happy the dog was fine. Molly barked at him as if telling him off for ignoring her. He smiled. “And you too, girl.”

  He didn’t want to be the one to tell Dusty he’d killed Ted or Molly. That would surely end any chance of a future relationship with each other.

  Knowing that Ted and Molly were fine, he focussed his attention on the ute. He’d been worried about damaging the ute knowing how tight money was for Dusty and her mom, and an accident in the ute would stress them financially.

  The tailgate of the tray was secure which he thought might’ve been the cause. With no idea what he was looking for, he kept moving until he came to the front passenger side.

  For Fuck’s sake. He sighed heavily. It was a flat tire. Of course.

  This was when he wished he could call the local roadside service, the RAA. They did come out here, but he knew damn well he’d be laughed at if he called them for a flat tire. There was no way he was going to ask Dusty for help, she needed to finish reaping that paddock. He wasn’t about to be the one to delay her. Her mom, Claire, might be the person to ask, but then again, she was going into Wilkton this afternoon, so she wasn’t at the farmhouse right now.

  Looks like it’s me and the ute.

  He looked at the very flat tire.

  Sure, he knew how to change them, he just wasn’t sure how to on this vehicle.

  Welcome to country life, hey, he thought to himself as he searched through the ute looking for a jack. Learn as you go and hope for the best. That was exactly what he was doing now and rescheduling the afternoon’s plans. He wasn’t going to get the accounts done for the Bakers and Hancocks, after all. Let alone get to Bluey’s Mechanics long, overdue accounts. He wasn’t sure why, but he seemed to attract clients whose accounting was behind or in an utter mess.

  The spare tire was under the tray, and he wasn’t sure how he was going to get that out.

  He looked down at his suit.

  Yeah, I gotta get better clothing.

  Though he wasn’t sure what his clients would think now if he turned up in jeans and a shirt, or even if he wore some Wrangler or Rossi clothing the country folk dressed in. He’d been persisting in dressing in his city-style suits all year. It was the clothing he owned, and he wanted to look professional and make an impression. Not for the first time, he wondered what sort of impression he was really making.

  Blaise managed to find the jack behind the passenger seat. There you are. One step done. He put it on the ground. Now, how the hell was he going to get the tire out?

  “You any good at changing tires?” he asked the dogs. They’d both laid down in the back of the ute and had settled for a long nap. “Yeah, didn’t think so.”

  At the back of the ute, Blaise squatted to try and work out how to get the t
ire out. Everything was thick with dust. He attempted to unscrew some bolts but they were seized with the dust.

  Fuck it.

  He got some tools out of the ute, and tried again, but nothing was budging.

  Fuck.

  This wasn’t going to be easy. In fact, he was beginning to think it could well be impossible for him. While it was just a tire, it was also a chance to prove he could problem solve in a situation like this.

  Blaise gave the bolts another turn, but hey still didn’t move. He put all his weight behind the movement, pushing hard, his feet moving in the dirt instead. In frustration, he stood and kicked the tire. The dogs looked up at him as if annoyed he’d disturbed their sleep.

  The rumble of an approaching vehicle made Blaise look up and behind him. He could do with some help. Even though it would be good to tell Dusty he changed the tire by himself, he wasn’t about to knock back another pair of hands.

  Blaise saw a ute come into focus further along the road behind him. As it approached his heart sank. He knew who owned that ute, and he didn’t want it to stop.

  Fucking Aaron.

  The ute stopped next to Blaise’s, blocking the road. Aaron wound down the passenger door window, leaned over and yelled out to Blaise, “In a bit of bother?”

  “Nothing I can’t handle,” Blaise called back.

  He would never trust Aaron, especially not after he had hit Dusty. They’d come to blows themselves, and it had cost Blaise his job in Adelaide. But, at least, that had a silver lining to it as he was now here in Wilkton, and he was in a relationship with Dusty. Aaron was the annoying ex, who was a neighbor, and Blaise was still coming to terms with having to see him around town. He didn’t think he would ever get used to it.

  “Really? I must say I’m surprised you’re still here.”

  The grin on Aaron’s face caused Blaise to cringe, but he squared his shoulders and glared back. “It’s only a flat tire. I’ll have it changed in no time.”

  Aaron chuckled dryly. “I would’ve thought the likes of you would’ve gone back to Adelaide by now.”

  “And why is that?” A chill went through Blaise, he didn’t like where this conversation was heading. While he was still getting used to the country banter, this was something more coming from Aaron.

  “Ahhh, well, you know… city boy like you living out here is one thing. But dating a someone like Dusty, I’m surprised she hasn’t kicked your ass out.”

  Blaise darkened his glare at Aaron.

  “Oh, right, I forgot. You’re not living together, are you?”

  Asshole. Blaise clenched his jaw tightly to stop himself from responding. He knew Aaron was baiting him, and it took all his self-control not to bite back.

  “Here, I’ll show you there’s no ill-feeling. After all, what are neighbors for? Gotta put our differences aside and help each other.”

  Much to Blaise’s annoyance, Aaron turned the engine off and got out. Blaise knew he needed help, but he sure as hell didn’t want that help to come from Aaron. He didn’t care if he were there all afternoon trying to change this bloody tire. Besides, surely someone else might come along and give him a hand. The chances of that happened had to be in his favor.

  Aaron kneeled at the back of the ute. “These old utes are tricky. You got to loosen it here first.”

  Blaise clenched his jaw. He hated how easily Aaron got the tire out. He was on edge after the comments about him and Dusty. He had some nerve talking like that.

  “Where’s the jack? Oh, I see it.”

  In no time at all, Aaron had the ute jacked up and was undoing the nuts on the wheel. Blaise struggled to find the words to tell Aaron to get on his way and not to punch him one. Hell, Aaron deserved a punch or two just for being Aaron. Blaise flexed his right hand as he stood next to him, feeling a bit like a third wheel. Not for one moment did Blaise think that Aaron was doing this out of the kindness of his heart. Then he realized what Aaron was really up to.

  Bastard.

  For the next few weeks he wouldn’t be going to the local pub, Ol’ Billies, because of the ribbing he’d get from the other men about not being able to change a tire.

  Looks like frozen meals for me for a while.

  That or maybe he would stay at the farm. He shifted uneasily on his feet at the thought. Aaron’s words had hit a raw nerve. Even though Blaise had been here for nearly a year, and while the relationship had its bumps, everything was going well enough with Dusty. The thing that was beginning to get to him was that he’d never spent more than one night in a row at her farm. Even then, he’d only stayed over a few times. Dusty always blamed her mom being there, so when he did happen to stay over, it was when she’d gone to Adelaide to visit Dusty’s sister, Jody.

  It was becoming crunch time.

  The time when he moved in with her or moved on.

  He didn’t want the latter.

  With the business of harvest, he wasn’t able to have the conversation with Dusty to sort the issues out. He was beginning to worry if she’d ever have the time. There was Christmas and New Year, and he really didn’t want to have such a conversation then because what if it ended badly? Then future Christmases and New Years would be ruined by the bad memory. If he waited until January, then it would be shearing. There was always going to be something which got in the way.

  He looked down at Aaron as he took off the flat tire and realized even Aaron was getting in the way of him and Dusty.

  “Here, let me help you, it’s heavy,” said Blaise, his words aimed to have a dig at Aaron. He’d kept up his gym visits, it helped to blow off a lot of steam from sitting all day at the computer balancing figures.

  “Nah, I got it.” Aaron moved in front of Blaise to stop him from helping. “Don’t want to break a nail.”

  I’d happily break every one of them, if it’s from punching you. Blaise inhaled to stop his temper from erupting.

  Aaron hauled the tire on to the back of the ute, just missing Molly.

  Ted growled at Aaron.

  “Good boy, Ted.” Blaise couldn’t help praising Ted, who at this point was showing he had an excellent judge of character.

  “Never liked that dog,” grumbled Aaron.

  “Can’t see why,” said Blaise sarcastically. This day wasn’t going at all well. He wanted to get back to his place. Maybe if I hung around at the farm I might get to see Dusty. The thought was encouraging. She might be vague about when we will see each other next, but I can make sure it’s sooner rather than later.

  Aaron replaced the tire and started refixing the bolts. “You know Dusty will never let you move into the farm with her.”

  Not this again. Another chill went through Blaise. He hated these sorts of games.

  “It’s none of your business,” Blaise said bluntly.

  “She needs someone who knows what they’re doing.” Aaron fixed the last bolt tightly.

  I know what I’m doing—

  Aaron interrupted his thought by saying, “On the farm.” Aaron looked snidely down his nose at Blaise.

  ‘Course that’s what you meant.

  “She needs someone who can actually help her and not just bring her lunches.”

  “You spying on us?” Blaise narrowed his eyes at Aaron.

  He chuckled. “Oh, so, I’m right. Well, there you go. You’re doing the women’s work and bringing the lunches. How damn quaint. It’s good Claire has a bit of a break.”

  “You should get on your way.” Blaise wasn’t sure if he were going to be able to hold back from punching Aaron if this bullshit kept up.

  “I guess my work here is done.” Aaron raise an eyebrow. “It won’t work out, you two aren’t from the same worlds, and despite what you might think, I can wait patiently. She’ll come around and back to me. You wait and see.”

  “Like hell she will.” Blaise could feel the heat in his blood begin to reach boiling point. Aaron may well have helped changed the tire, but he had ulterior motives which were setting him on edge.

&nb
sp; “You never know, and based on your reaction, I’m on the money.” He stood. “No worries about fixing your tire, you can buy me a beer at the pub when you’re in next.”

  “Sure,” Blaise lied. There was no way he was about to buy Aaron a beer, not after what he’s insinuating. “We can reminisce on old times.”

  “Say hi to Dusty for me.” Aaron got into his ute, started the engine, and pumped the accelerator a few times for good measure.

  Blaise stood, angry, blood boiling as he watched Aaron drive away. Wanker.

  The problem was, all that Aaron had said had rung true about how Blaise was really feeling about his relationship with Dusty. He tried to remind himself as the dust settled on the road, when driving the combine she hadn’t got angry with him when he messed up. At least, not as dramatically as she had in the past. But it just felt like there was something between them which wasn’t going to let them have a future together.

  Would Dusty commit to the next step in their relationship?

  Would she let him move in with her?

  The potential answers scared the hell out of Blaise.

  The sun was sinking fast, approaching the horizon much quicker than Dusty would’ve liked. She suppressed a yawn and refocussed. She was so close to completing this paddock.

  To keep herself amused working such long hours, she was having a competition with the sun. At least it was a focus.

  The packed lunch had been eaten hours ago and also the extra snacks her mom had included. Dusty had tried to make the silverside and corn relish sandwiches last longer into the afternoon, but a combination of hunger, exhaustion, and boredom meant that she’d given in to the temptation to eat them. The pumpkin scones were delish, freshly baked this morning by her mom, though she wished they had a little bit of butter on them and were warm. That’s how she really liked to eat pumpkin scones. The handful of hard-boiled lollies were a little pick-me-up. Dusty almost felt like she was back at school eating a packed lunch and finding the sweets her mom had given as a treat.

  She’d drunk all the black tea her mom had provided which was full of sugar. It was a tradition started by her dad, Sam, as that was how he liked his tea. It had arrived hot, but she left it too cool, just the way to drink it on a hot day. About an hour ago she’d finished the last of the water in her water bottle.