Savannahs secret, p.9
Savannah’s Secret, page 9
‘Well, that’s a nice bombshell.’ He nodded slowly. ‘I didn’t expect a city girl to like classic country.’
‘I’m full of surprises,’ she said. Around him, she just couldn’t help but feel so … something out of the ordinary.
‘Oh, trust me, I believe you.’ He gave her a sideways glance that skidded right into her soul, before looking back at the road.
Savannah tapped her foot in time to ‘Jackson’ and in the blink of an eye, they’d travelled along the main street and were heading out of town, in the opposite direction to when she’d arrived on the bus. The scenery was much the same, untainted and vast, but the company certainly was not. Music filling the cab, they drove in a companionable silence. She could feel his occasional stare, and a couple of lingering sidelong glances told her he liked what he saw. She knew she shouldn’t enjoy the fact, but she did. Who wouldn’t, with a spunky man like him? Besides, it was nice to have his attention, especially now she knew it took a lot for a woman to get it. It made her feel less like another face in the crowd, which was so common in Sydney. For the first time in a while, she felt like she truly mattered.
A few songs in and five clicks down the highway, Ash reached out and turned the music down enough for them to talk. ‘So, do you have family back in Sydney?’
‘No.’ The cold hard truth didn’t warrant any more of an answer, and she wasn’t about to elaborate.
Ash looked a little taken aback with her directness. ‘Oh, right, do they live somewhere else then?’
‘No.’ Another cold hard truth.
‘Okay. Hmmm.’ He rubbed at his five o’clock shadow.
With him seeming a little lost for words, Savannah jumped in to change the subject, and the focus, to him. ‘How about you? Does your family live here?’
‘No, Mum and Dad have retired to a place on the coast.’ His tone was easy.
‘Lucky them.’ She smiled. ‘Any brothers or sisters?’
‘Nope, I’m an only child.’
‘Same as me.’ She turned a little to face him. ‘So how did you end up out here of all the places?’
He shrugged, pausing a little too long. ‘I suppose … one thing led to another, and here I am.’
‘Fair enough,’ she replied, just as casually as him.
Ash wasn’t offering much, but then, neither was she. It made her wonder what secrets he had. Maybe they were more alike than she’d first imagined. With both of them treading carefully, they continued the conversation, keeping it light and easy, with no uncomfortable silences and pauses. Turning off the bitumen and down a winding dirt road, Ash dropped down a gear and stuck to the side, lifting a finger from the wheel to the two four-wheel drives that passed them in a cloud of dust. The other drivers did the same. Savannah liked the way they all acknowledged one another, unlike Sydney, where everyone was too busy hurrying from one place to the next, their heads buried in phones.
‘Well, here we are,’ Ash announced, slowing as he neared a rustic timber fence line broken up by a large wrought-iron gate. ‘Welcome to Silverton Station.’ Grabbing a buzzer from his door, he pointed and pressed, and the gate swung open.
‘Wow. Now that’s not something I was expecting.’
‘I’m full of surprises too,’ he offered playfully as he reached over and unclipped her seatbelt along with his. ‘We have a little bit more freedom out here, so enjoy it when you can.’ He wound his window down, rested his forearm on the windowsill, and breathed in deeply.
Sitting forwards, Savannah peered out and over the gorgeously lush countryside – such a sharp contrast to what they’d just driven through. ‘Your place is like another world.’ Wide-eyed, she stared at him. ‘How’s it so green?’
‘I’ve got quite a few natural springs beneath my land, which helps it to stay lush in the drier season.’ The four-wheel drive rumbled over a cattle grid. ‘It was one of the biggest reasons I grabbed this place.’
‘No doubt,’ she said in a daze, mesmerised by the oasis surrounding her, and the man beside her.
Cruising along a tree-lined gravel driveway that wound around paddocks dotted with burly cattle, and a couple of brawny bulls, Savannah sucked in a breath as they approached a gorgeous two-storey homestead surrounded by flourishing gardens. The Queenslander-style house had been built on a gentle rise, the land rolling away from it as if bowing to its magnificence and allowing what she could only imagine to be jaw-dropping views from every inch of the wide wraparound verandahs.
‘This is my place here.’ Ash thumbed out the window to where hanging flowerpots lined the front verandah and a pair of boots sat by the front door.
‘Gosh, Ash. It’s really lovely.’ Her hand fluttered to her heart. ‘And I have to say, you keep the place immaculate.’
‘Thanks. I like it.’ His thankyou sounded so heartfelt that her own heart stirred in response. ‘Although, to be honest,’ he added, as if backpedalling, ‘it’s a bit big to be living in on my own, but thems the breaks when you’re a bachelor.’
Ash chuckled, but Savannah could hear a lilt of sadness in his tone. It made her wonder why a man as handsome, chivalrous, kind and sexy as him didn’t have a woman of his own, one who would fill such a beautiful house with the pitter-patter of tiny feet and the scent of baked goodies. Not that it was something she longed for – not by a long shot – but she could tell he’d be the type to. Most of the country souls she’d met over the years had that sort of wholesomeness about them.
About a kilometre on, up on a hill, a low-set farmhouse came into view, the corrugated iron roof glinting beneath the mesmeric sapphire sky. The green oasis that surrounded it gave way to open fields, and the front verandah was scattered with a multitude of potted plants, popping with bright coloured flowers. Most of it was shaded from the afternoon sunlight by magnificent towering ghost gums. Down one side was a huge water tank, and down the other, bougainvilleas climbed a trellis, pinks, purples and reds vying for space. ‘Chocolate box’ was the description that came to mind, as Savannah breathed it all in. There was something about it that reminded her of the home where she’d learned the love of baking and gardening, with that kind couple. It instantly made her want to uncover that piece of her.
‘Well, here we are. Home sweet home.’ Ash cut the engine. ‘What do you reckon so far?’
‘It’s absolutely gorgeous, Ash.’ With the railings painted white with green trim and the rustic timber fence surrounding it, the quaint home had the appearance of being peaceful and inviting, with all the sweet charm of a country bed and breakfast.
‘I’m glad to hear it.’ Jumping out, Ash made his way around to the passenger side.
Caught up in the magic of the place, Savannah didn’t even notice him appear at her door. Never had she imagined herself living in a house with a cute picket fence and a clear, untainted view. It was the kind of home she’d prayed to be raised in … before she realised it was never going to happen. That was, until now. Maybe all the wishes she’d made, and the prayers she’d prayed, were about to be answered.
Imagining herself lying in the hammock hanging on the verandah, reading the time away on the odd rainy day, she jumped when her door shot open. ‘Shit, you scared the bejesus out of me.’
‘Ha, sorry.’ Ash held out his hand to help her down.
Taking it, she slid out, heat travelling up her arm, irrefutably not from the sweltering temperature. ‘The surprises just keep on coming, Ash. This place is like heaven on earth.’ She looked from left to right, a wisp of a smile upon her lips. ‘It’s no wonder you were so confident I’d like it.’
‘Yeah, I fell in love with it the minute I arrived here too. There’s just something in the air that made me feel like I could finally take a decent breath.’ He thumped the door shut and stood beside her, thumbs hooked into his belt loops, staring out as if it were the first time he’d laid eyes on the place. ‘It was a no-brainer that this would be my forever home.’
‘I can certainly see why.’ And she could, hand on heart, totally understand why a cattleman would love living here.
She looked to the stable off to the side of the house, the paddock behind it housing a gorgeous chestnut horse. ‘Is that your sidekick?’ She longed to reach out and stroke its long powerful neck.
‘Sure is.’ He folded his arms, smirking as if he knew something she didn’t. ‘That there is Trigger, a total gentleman to women and a bit of a rogue with me.’ He pointed to the left. ‘And that’s his girlfriend over there, looking like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. Her name is Dolly. She’s a retiree, living life to the fullest now she doesn’t have to chase cattle anymore.’ He grinned. ‘But don’t let her fool you, she can be a right bitch at times. She’ll throw you out of the saddle just because she feels like it.’
‘Ha, the ways of a woman, hey?’ She smiled at Ash’s raised brow, no words needed to explain what was running through his mind. ‘Trigger is magnificent,’ she added, admiring the horse from afar.
‘Yeah, he’s the best horse I’ve ever owned, and I’ve had a few.’ He followed her gaze. ‘Do you know how to ride?’
‘A bike, yes. A horse, no.’ She wasn’t about to tell him that she used to gallop across the neighbour’s paddocks when she was a young girl, bareback, hair wild, heart broken and spirit free. It had been the only place she’d found peace, but what if that piece of her was well and truly dead? Besides, they were stories she wasn’t comfortable delving into, and never had been. Her childhood was where she wanted it – in the past.
Leaning through the passenger window to grab his hat, Ash tugged it on. ‘Would you like to go over and meet the pair of them, seeing as they’ll be your neighbours?’
‘Yeah, I’d like that.’ She shoved her hands into the back pockets of her shorts.
They headed over and Ash introduced her. ‘Trigger, this here is Savannah, and I can vouch she’s a top chick, so you better be on your best behaviour.’ The horse nickered softly as he padded over to them. He nuzzled Ash’s open hand when he reached the railings.
‘Hey there, buddy.’ Savannah moved closer, her arms brushing up against Ash’s as she brought her hand out for Trigger to sniff. Standing so close to this gorgeous man felt so right.
Trigger bent his head over the fence and brought his muzzle to her cheek. She giggled like a schoolgirl as he horsey kissed her. ‘You are a charmer, aren’t you, buddy?’ Rubbing his neck, she looked into the gelding’s eyes. ‘And you’ve got a kind heart, I can see that.’ She turned to Ash. ‘Just like your owner.’ Maybe a little too forwards, but it felt good to give Ash a compliment, with what he was doing for her. He deserved it.
‘Why, thank ya, Savannah.’ Ash’s cheeks flamed a little, but he cleared his throat and regathered himself in a flash. He gestured to Trigger with a tip of his head. ‘I tell you what, you know your way with a horse.’ He eyed her curiously. ‘Are you sure you’ve never been around one before?’
‘Oh, I’ve been around them. I’ve just never ridden one.’ No harm in a half lie, was there?
‘Hmmm, I can see you have been.’ After regarding her a little longer, he turned and gave Trigger a pat on the neck. ‘Righto, old mate, I’ve got to show Savannah through her new place. I’ll catch you in the morning, bright and early, because you and I have some cattle to check.’
As if understanding him, Trigger bobbed his head and whinnied.
Savannah’s heart sang. She loved witnessing the connection between Ash and his horse – it said a lot about the person he was. Her foster father had used a heavy hand, and a PVC pipe, to show a horse who was boss. She’d lost count of the times she’d run home, crying, after witnessing him beating one of the gorgeous creatures.
‘You ready for your inspection of the place?’ Ash said, breaking into her thoughts and snapping her back to the present.
She nodded, mentally shaking away the images of her foster father belting her beloved pony. ‘Sure am. Let’s do this.’ She couldn’t wait to see inside.
Following Ash, not trying particularly hard to not check out his sexy behind the entire way, she wandered up the three front steps to the welcoming arms of the wide front verandah. Coolness engulfed her, and the scent of the frangipanis blossoming near the steps lingered. She didn’t realise she was holding her breath as Ash opened the front door, but when she stepped inside, she released it in a whoosh.
‘Oh wow, it’s even prettier than I could have imagined.’ Savannah glanced around the sunlit lounge room with its complementary brown leather lounge suite, cowskin rug and what appeared to be handmade timber furniture – the rustic coffee table, side table and bookcase harmonising with the mounted aerial shots of mustering cattle. Wandering over, she ran her fingers over the glossy timber. ‘Who made these pieces?’
‘I did,’ Ash said proudly.
‘You did?’ She spun to face him.
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Why’s that such a shock to you?’
She shrugged and slipped off her shoes. ‘I just didn’t know you were so clever with your hands.’
‘I can do most things I put my mind to.’ A cheeky smirk on his oh-so-kissable lips, Ash removed his hat and waved his hand forwards. ‘Come on, let’s go check out the rest of the place. Ladies first.’
Her bare feet cool against the polished timber floors, Savannah was led along a tongue-and-groove panelled hallway to a quaint kitchen reminiscent of something out of a homes and garden magazine. Seeing an Aga, a Smeg refrigerator and a multitude of pots and pans hanging from hooks above a centre butcher’s block, some weird part of her desired to do what she’d always steered clear of – cook up an absolute storm. Cream walls and cupboards contrasted with the timber benchtops and floors, and a rustic timber table took centre stage beside a huge window with stunning views of the paddocks. Before she realised it, she was blinking tears back. She quickly tried to cover them up by going to the window and gazing out at the glow of the late afternoon sun. A chorus of kookaburras chuckled from the hills hoist out back, and cattle moseyed up the adjacent hill, tails swishing. It couldn’t get more country than this.
‘I’m not too sure what your silence means.’ Ash’s voice brought her round to face him.
‘It means I absolutely love it.’ She held out her hand, in a bid to seal the deal. ‘I’ll take it.’
‘Excellent.’ Ash took her hand in his, looking genuinely pleased. ‘And trust me when I say, you’re never going to want to leave.’
In her heart of hearts, Savannah hoped this was true.
CHAPTER
9
Standing in the kitchen of the farmhouse, Ash couldn’t have been any happier with the thrilled look on Savannah’s face. It was everything he’d hoped for, and more. ‘So, when do you want to make all this official by moving in?’
She pushed up on her tiptoes, grinning. ‘Tomorrow too soon?’ Her shoulders lifted. ‘After my shift?’
‘No way, I’ll come and grab you whenever you like.’ Crossing one socked foot over the other, he leaned against the butcher’s block in a bid to look a hell of a lot more casual than he felt.
Her gaze casting downwards, Savannah sucked in a breath then brought glistening eyes back to him. ‘Thanks for this, Ash, it really means a lot to have a place of my own, especially one as beautiful as this.’ She looked at him with such heartfelt appreciation in her beautiful green eyes that his heart dipped and soared, as if he’d just leaped off a mountaintop.
‘I’m just happy you’re happy, Savannah,’ he said gently. They shared a brief moment until his stomach growled in protest of him having skipped lunch. Chuckling, he tapped it. ‘On that note, how about we head back to my place and I’ll get us some dinner started.’
‘Sounds good to me. I’m actually really hungry too.’ She stepped in beside him as they headed down the hallway and out the front door. ‘What’s on the menu?’ She slipped her cute diamanté-studded thongs back on.
He flipped his hat onto his head. ‘Rib eye and salad, followed by some good old-fashioned damper, cooked in the campfire.’
‘Oh wow, yummy.’ Her delighted smile was radiant.
Ash slid his feet back into his boots and tugged them on. ‘So you’ve had proper bush damper before?
‘Ah, yes, a couple of times when I was a kid.’
‘I betcha none have been as good as mine.’ Arriving at the LandCruiser, he opened the door and watched her settle into the passenger seat. She looked good there, as if she belonged beside him. He could only imagine what she’d look like in the saddle. ‘I make my own buttery golden-syrup sauce to pour over it.’ He kissed his fingertips like an Italian chef.
‘Holy heck, that sounds amazing, Ash.’
‘Trust me, it is.’
The drive back to the homestead was short, his passenger sexy and sweet. For the first time in a long time, Ash felt hope bubble up inside of him. Hope for precisely what, he wasn’t quite sure, but nonetheless, it was a damn good feeling. It made him feel alive, and less alone. Pulling up in the shade of the carport, he jumped out and told Savannah to stay put so he could open her door for her. No sooner had her feet hit the ground when, out of nowhere, came his barrelling beast, headed straight for her. Spotting the incoming pig, Savannah screamed and dashed behind him, clinging to him like her life depended on him. ‘What in the hell is that?’ She peeked around his side, eyes wide as saucers.
Ash laughed. ‘I forgot to mention. I have a pet pig.’
Huddled at his side, she considered him, her glossy lips itching to smirk. ‘You’re pulling my leg.’
‘Nope, I’m ridgy-didge.’ He kept her behind him and held up his free hand. ‘Slow down, Porky, before you cause some damage.’
Pork Chop skidded to a stop at his boots and oinked impatiently. From her favourite spot on the verandah settee, Minx stretched to life and assessed the kerfuffle with disinterest.
‘Did you seriously just call it Porky?’ Savannah gingerly stepped out from behind him.
‘Pork Chop, to be exact.’ He bit the inside of his cheek as Savannah took another cautious step. ‘And it is actually she.’
