“Kind of, I guess. But I suppose it would be best coming from you.”
“I've been with your granddaddy and his brother since I could walk, just about.” He smiled at her. “Know all there is to know about the place, that's for sure. Been hard these last few years, trying to keep the place going with just me and Winton. Boy should be in school, but your uncle was too cheap to hire any men, so we just had to make do.”
“Excuse me, did you say my uncle kept Winton out of school and made him work?” She was shocked. “Why did his parents let him get away with it?”
“Cause he ain't got no parents anymore, that's why.” He sniffed. “Dad was a jackaroo who did a couple of seasons on the farm. Ran off years ago when Winton was a little bit of a thing, and his mum died a couple of years back. She was one of the local Aboriginal women who used to do the cooking for the shearers and other farm workers. Didn't have any family either, so he ended up staying here.”
“So who looks after him then?” Libby couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“I do.” Tom said it in a way that made her think it was obvious. “Neither of us has anyone else, and we get by okay. Winton is scared you're going to send him away from here. It's the only place the boy has ever known.”
Libby jumped to her feet and crossed to the back door where Winton still hovered. She pulled him into the kitchen as she tried to find her voice.
“Consider yourself family from now on, the pair of you.” Tears filled Libby's eyes. “Neither of you are going anywhere, except maybe to school for you, Winton.”
Tom smiled and shook his head.
“What?” She dared him with a glance to challenge what she’d just said.
“Just like your grandma, you are. Never could let a stray get passed her, that was for sure, stubborn as a mule with it too. This should be interesting.”
“I'm sorry.” Libby stood tall. “I don't mean to be difficult. It must come with having to stick up for myself so much. It can be a pretty mean world, Tom. The kids and I’ve been on our own for a while now, and some days, I feel like a mama lion with my cubs. I'm the only one who’s going to protect them, and if that means I get stubborn, then so be it.”
“Don't get your heckles up with me. I loved your grandmother like she was a sister. Lovely woman, she was, in spite of her stubbornness.”
“What's going on?” Josh wandered into the kitchen. He had his belligerent look on his face, but Libby was too tired to care. Holly walked in behind him, taking glances at Tom and Winton from behind her brother's back.
“Come here, baby.” Libby held her hand out as reassurance when Holly shuffled over to her. Henry squirmed in her daughter's arms, wanting down. “Why don't we take him outside for a wee walk, and then I think we need to think about dinner and bed for you guys?”
“I've got dinner sorted if you don't want nothing fancy.” He looked away when she gasped.
“You’re an angel, Tom. I think I could just about eat anything you put in front of me tonight.” Already he’d made her life easier.
“Just cold meat and salad. Winton killed a couple of sheep for the freezer last week, and we cooked up a leg yesterday. Should feed you all for another couple of days.”
“You killed some sheep?” Josh cried out, looking at Winton with horror on his face. “That is so totally gross.”
“That's how we live in the country, sonny.” Tom shot back with spirit. “If you want to eat while you're here, you'll learn to help out with the stock as well.”
“I'm not killing anything.” Josh cringed. “I'd rather live on potatoes.”
“Well, that's your choice, I guess.” Tom . “I can show you how to grow those as well. Your grandma set up a lovely, big vegetable patch out back by the chook house, Libby. I'll show you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Tom. Come on, let's get these dogs out before they pee on the floor.” Libby pushed her kids out the door into the backyard.
When they were a little away from the house and the pups were sniffing around, Libby spoke to them. “Look, you two. This is a huge move for all of us, I know that. Things are different here in the country, and I want you to promise to think before you open your mouth and complain, Josh. So what if they kill their own meat? It's no different than what I buy in the supermarket. It's probably fresher though.” Libby watched their faces. “And I'll make sure Tom doesn't make you kill anything, at least not yet, so settle down and listen and learn. Now, let's have some dinner and an early night, and tomorrow we can check out our new home, okay?”
Holly agreed by nodding her head, and Libby waited for a reply from her son. “Josh, I'm talking to you.”
“All right then, jeez; chill out, Mum.”
When they walked back inside the house, Tom and Winton had set the table and pulled a big plate of cold meat and a bowl of salad from the fridge. Jars of pickles and homemade mayonnaise sat in the middle of the table, along with a big jug of water and some glasses.
“Thanks, guys.” Libby's smile was for both of them. She sat down, Holly on her right, Josh on her left, and filled their plates with food, encouraging them to tuck in.
Talk over dinner was minimal. They were all tired from their journey.
It was late by the time Libby settled Holly to bed, Henry in the dog bed beside her on the floor
