"Don't speed. Do you have your inhaler?"
"Yes, Sami." He frowned and shook his head then walked out to the car.
Tibby stood on the path and waited for Sami to get ready. "Young 'un seems a little bit pale on it."
"Yeah, but don't let that fool you, kid has a will like steel."
"So what's with the inhaler then, asthma?"
"Yeah, but usually only when he is stressed or there is a dust storm around. Something I reckon you wouldn't get too much of here." She pushed her hands down in the pockets of her jeans. "Let's get this show on the road then. Lead the way."
Tibby walked out the gate and headed for the shed where a battered old farm truck was parked. He rummaged around in the tool shed and pulled out a roll of wire. Adding it to the back of the vehicle he also threw in a sack containing wire strainers.
The dogs jumped in the back and Tibby reversed out of the shed and headed down toward the back of the farm, driving slowly over the rutted driveway swerving to miss the odd pothole along the way.
He leaned an elbow out the open window. "Down the back side here is where the fences have started to sag a bit. Worried some of the cattle will get through to the vineyard so I moved them across to the next paddock for now. I'd hate to be responsible for the cows chewing on such expensive vines so we should start our repairs there first."
Sami gazed over to where the said vines were.
"Surely if the cows got in by some chance, we could replace the vines. Not that they would or anything, just saying." She looked back to the paddock and shook her head.
"Ha ha ha, you don't have a clue do you?" Tibby roared with laughter. "Wait until you meet Mason."
Chapter 6
Sami waited patiently for him to get over his private joke before filling her in on what was so damned funny.
"These vines are not your common old garden variety, oh no, not by a long shot. These little threads of dead looking sticks have an impressive pedigree." He gave another little burst of laughter.
"And you know all this because?"
"Because young Mason told me about them when he very cordially pointed out the cows trying to get through the fence we are repairing today. Very proud of his little sticks too he is."
"Hmmm, well whatever. I still think beer is easier and the cows can't fuck it up."
"Cuss a lot, don't you? Sound just like your grandfather, he could spout off a mouthful when it suited him too. Don't sound right though coming from a lady."
Sami crowed with laughter, slapping her leg. "No lady here Tibby, get used to it."
He grinned at her and parked the truck near a section of sagging fence line. Opening the door he got out and reached into the back of the vehicle for the wire strainers. Throwing them down at the fence post he signalled her to pass down the wire and bag of tools.
"Let me show you how I strain a fence and then you can tell me how you used to do it."
"Hardly had any fences to tell you the truth of it. Our holding was so big because of the amount of acreage per cattle and fences were an expense not really warranted apart from boundary fences. Our cattle were tagged and if any got into the next farm they were usually returned at mustering time. Cheaper to truck a few head back than fence the whole place."
She walked over and stood with her elbow on the fence post watching him attach the wire strainers to the broken top fence wire. "Looks pretty easy. Can I have a go?"
"Sure. Work the handle until you think it is tight enough and we'll join the ends together." He stood back while Sami pulled the top wires taut then he handed her a set of fencing pliers and watched as she made a loop in the end of the wire before threading the other end through and twisting it several times to make a tight top wire.
She undid the fence strainers knocking the back of her hand before she let them fall to the grass and turned to him. "So, good enough for you?" She rubbed her knuckles and wiped them on the leg of her jeans when blood trickled down her fingers.
"Yeah, great job. Want a bandaid for that?" He indicated her grazed knuckles.
"Nah, all good. Bashed it against the tools. Bit of blood won't kill me if I ignore it. Now, how about I do the next couple of strands too so calves don't get carried away by the yummy looking sticks over yonder and piss off our neighbour?"
"Sounds like a good idea. I'll sit and watch you to make sure you do it right." He leaned back against a post, a big grin over his craggy features.
"I guess I have it coming. It must have been hard keeping this place going on your own after the old man died." Sami latched the fence strainers to the next row of broken wire and started pulling it tight. "Thanks," she murmured when Tibby handed her the pliers.
"Was a bit but it didn't feel right to employ anyone to help me. Out of our hands if you know what I mean until they found you. Young Mason did offer a couple of times to help me if I needed it though. He's a good neighbour to have."
She stood up and wiped a hand over the sweat trickling down her face. "Sounds like such a sweet guy. Funny how I don't really believe any of it after meeting his father."
Tibby coughed loudly and tried to cover his mouth with his hand but Sami saw the big grin covering his face and her stomach did a sudden surge
