“Would you like to learn to ride, Josh?” Libby casually rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Maybe.”
“I can show you how.” Winton shrugged and handed his horse another piece of carrot. “It's not that hard. We can use one of the old nags to start with until you get the hang of it.”
The boys stood talking to Winton's horse while Tom called Puddin' over to the paddock gate and slipped a halter on her. He opened it and led the horse into the stable. Holly gravitated toward the pony Tom quietly brushed the burrs out of its tail. She watched him for a while and then made her way around the stall to the pony's head. Reaching out, she touched her soft nose, jumping when Puddin' snorted and sneezed all over her.
“Here, you brush her.” Tom handed her the brush and proceeded to show her how to use it. He held his hand over Holly's until she was comfortable and then stepped back, leaving her to work on her own.
He leaned back on the gate, while Libby climbed up and sat on the fence to watch.
“Did he mean it, Tom?” She watched her daughter making friends with Puddin'.
“'Fraid so, Libby. He was right when he said he gave Thaddius a break. He did, and I guess it's only fair we fix the fences before your bulls get his cows. The boy's put a lot of money into his breeding program. Be a shame for our mongrels to ruin it for him.”
“Could have gone about it a bit better though.” Libby was used to attitude working in a pub but she’d been hoping to lead a quieter life in the country. “How are we supposed to fix the fences? Do we get someone in for that?”
“Nope, you and me will start this afternoon on the closest paddocks. You want to learn how to run this place; it's a good skill to have. Never know when you need to fix a fence in a hurry. Got enough supplies in the shed to make a start, but you'll have to order more from town soon though. I'm sorry.” He apologized with a shrug of his shoulders. “I just never had time to get to them before now. Your uncle wouldn't let me hire more men, and fencing wasn't the most urgent job I had.”
“Don't let it worry you.” She watched Holly run her hands over Puddin's soft muzzle. “Between us, we'll get there. Aaron said we could afford to hire staff if we need to. Know anyone looking for work?”
“I can ask around, but shearing is going to start soon, so most stations have their guys already. You've come at a really busy time, Libby.”
“Fabulous.” She muttered under her breath as she made a decision. “Can I leave the kids here with you for a while and take the four-wheel drive? I want to pay a visit to our not so friendly neighbor and give him the ground rules for losing his cool in front of my kids. Holly’s had enough problems to deal with since John died. He doesn't need to add to them.”
“Keys are in it. It belongs to the farm, not me. Just bear in mind he was good to your uncle before you shoot your mouth off too much. He didn’t have to be. Turn left out of the driveway and head south for about five minutes. You'll find his place.”
“Mmm, right.” She slid down from the fence signaled to Josh.
“Help Tom keep an eye on your sister. I have an errand to run before we start work again, and I'll only be half an hour.”
Libby drove down the road, her temper at boiling point as she replayed Holly's reaction to Nathan's outburst. A big driveway with a sign saying Highfield Downs appeared on her left. She slowed the truck and pulled into the long drive. She followed it for a good kilometer before she saw sheds and yards. Pulling over, she got out and slammed the door.
“Can I help you?” The voice came from the shed.
“I want to see Nathan.” She walked toward the voice.
A movement to her right had her change track. Nathan stepped out of the shadows from behind a tractor, his hands covered with grease and holding a wrench.
“Well, well. I didn't expect a visit this soon.” He gave her a “Miss me already?”
“Now you listen here, you ignorant brute.” Heart racing, she stepped into his space and pointed a finger in his face. “I understand we have some work to do on the farm, and I even understand you would be impatient and not want to give me the grace of settling in. But what I will not tolerate is you mouthing off in front of my kids. They’ve had enough grief in the last couple of years since their father was killed, and they don't need to see a bully like you verbally attacking their mother. Do you understand me?” She finished her tirade by poking him in the chest.
She held her breath as Nathan stared down at the finger digging into him. He put the wrench on the tractor guard and pulled a rag from his back pants pocket. Slowly, his eyes never leaving her, he wiped the grease from his hands and dropped the rag. She watched his gaze roam her body and return to her mouth before he smiled, his eyes finally meeting hers, amusement visible in their depths.
“If I didn't know better, I’d think you were showing me how cute you are when you're angry.”
“Ooohh.” Libby growled, her hands clenched into fists at her side as she resisted the urge to stamp her foot and smack him on his smarmy face. She took a deep breath and started again, slightly calmer this time. “Look, my kids have issues with angry people, okay? If you could just make sure they aren't around the next time you want to give out to me, I’d appreciate it.”
“Give out to you?” He
