Emotion threatened to swamp her and she coughed before turning to the cattle again, resting her arms on the top wire of the fence. "Look good, don't they?"
"Yeah, they do but don't go changing the subject on me. He isn't going to hammer you to sell, Sami, he promised me and he’s already made other plans, I told you. But he said it would be nice if he could show you what he has done with the place." Garth put his hand on her shoulder and leaned his chin on his fingers, his mouth close to her cheek. "You need to start living now. The past is finished and gone. Let's make a promise to each other. We need to make a life for ourselves and stop looking over our shoulders thinking something worse is about to happen."
She hunched down and rested her head on trembling hands.
"It's time to stop being scared and live. I told Mason we would be there."
"What the fuck did you do that for?" She lifted her head and glared at him, her stomach knotting in dread.
"Because I can, that's why. You can go into town and buy a dress or whatever it is women wear at these things." He laughed at her. "It's not for a couple of days so don't use it as an excuse. We are going. This is the beginning of our new life and no amount of evil looks from you will change it. Get used to it, sis."
Tibby roared with laughter and slapped Garth on the back. "Well said, my boy. Well said."
Fuming and embarrassed, Sami stalked away and headed for the stables.
Mallika was standing with her head over the stall door. She whickered when Sami reached her.
"Bet you won't let anyone tell you what to do, my precious girl." She opened the door and took hold of the horse’s halter. Leading her out of the stall, Sami hitched her to a lead rope and dangled it over the fence line. She took a brush and worked her way around the mare, brushing until her coat gleamed. By the time she’d finished her temper had abated enough to think things through logically.
Yes it would be fun to mix with other adults on a friendly 'let's get to know you' basis instead of 'what can I get you to drink'. She had never had that before. Both she and Garth were School of the Air kids. They hadn’t got to meet many other people in real life until they moved into Alice Springs and when she’d started work at the pub they were looked upon as intruders.
It was one thing reading about friends, another thing entirely to actually have one. She wrapped her arms around the mare’s neck and rested her cheek against the warm coat. Sami was desperate for someone to love her for who she was, a feat she felt impossible.
"Let's take a short ride and get to know each other my girl." She grabbed the saddle Tibby had pointed out the day before and the bridle earmarked for the mare. Careful of the protruding stomach, Sami tacked her up and led her out to the yard before mounting her.
The world from the saddle of a horse was a different view altogether. Stress seemed to slide away and Sami's body relaxed with each rolling movement. Holding the reins loosely in her hands, she let the mare take the lead and headed down to the laneway where she had worked on the fences for the past couple of days.
From high up on the horse’s back she could appreciate the farm in a way that melted her heart, pushing away the stilted boundaries she held close in case of hurt and disappointment. The freshness of the green valley was a balm on her soul and she breathed deeply, letting go of even more stress. This farm was hers, it was time she realised it and relaxed enough to enjoy it.
Her eyes were drawn to the rows of posts and wire next door. Grudgingly Sami admitted the vineyard looked beautifully neat and tidy. Although she didn't understand the process of winemaking, she could appreciate the work that must have gone into setting up the winery. If she stretched her neck high enough she could see the tip of a building.
It was enough to pique her interest and she decided it might not be a bad idea to go and see what had her brother so enamoured with Mason and his farm. The fact she might meet someone she had something in common with never crossed her mind.
Never one to worry about clothes or make up Sami hadn't really missed those sleep over's where girls discussed such things or tried out new styles on each other. Now she wondered if she would have gotten a buzz sharing with other girls.
Is it too late to make female friends and do the whole besties thing? Do I want to anyway?
She would go to Mason's 'do' on the weekend because Garth wanted to go and so did Tibby. It would look petty if she didn't join them. Leaning forward, she ran her hand over the horse’s soft ears and smiled to herself. The gentle rolling of the animal under her was relaxing and for the first time in months the tension was drifting away leaving a sense of peace surrounding her.
Sami leaned down and undid the gate, pushing it open with her foot. Guiding the horse through, she turned back to hook it closed before letting Mallika plod along toward the back of the farm.
The sun was slipping in the sky casting a warm glow over the back hills. A slight chill ran over Sami's bare arms and she rubbed them, cursing for forgetting she was no longer in the dry heat of the desert. Another half an hour and she would turn back to the house and find some warm clothes.
The stretch of fence she had repaired was now in view and she admired
