Ashleigh Paton’s glance rose from the shimmering, heat-soaked bitumen to the cloudless blue sky above, and she sent silent thanks to the pimple-faced mechanic who, two days earlier, had repaired the air conditioning in her aging car.
As she sped down the hill leading to the tiny town of Featherwood Falls, the butterflies in her stomach somersaulted wildly. Was it anticipation? Or terror? Had she made the right decision? Three months ago, teaching in a country school had not featured on her agenda. Much easier to remain in the exclusive city faculty where the children were from supportive families, the class numbers small, and the pupils under her guidance were all the same age. If it hadn’t been for that hoity-toity new principal hauling her over the coals in front of the entire staff, she might not have lost her temper and stormed out, spitting her venom—and resignation—at the woman as she stomped past. Okay, she probably shouldn’t have used the principal’s niece as an example of a bully. But … how was she to know they were related? Ashleigh’s only regret in resigning was leaving her class in the hands of another teacher three weeks before the Christmas holidays.
Too late now. I’m here.
Lost in thought, she failed to notice the kangaroo bound from the bush until the last second. Wrenching the wheel with a jerk, she swerved, narrowly missing an oncoming four-wheel-drive utility as her car slid into the grassy table drain. She switched the ignition off, thankful that at least she hadn’t hit the animal, and watched it leap away.
Peering into the rear-vision mirror, surprise replaced her relief. The opposing vehicle had stopped, and the driver’s door was partially open.
‘Darn. I hope it’s not a cop. Suppose I’d better apologise,’ she muttered to herself and climbed out before closing the door firmly behind her. Turning, she jumped with shock and pressed her back against her car. The thunderous face of the ute driver stood a bare metre away.
‘What the bloody hell were you thinking? Don’t you know you should never swerve for wildlife—especially when there’s oncoming traffic? You could have killed us both!’ he ranted.
Ashleigh’s initial thoughts of saying sorry vanished in an instant as she met his flashing green eyes. The dark beard and surprisingly good-looking face failed to hide a mutinous glare. Drawing her five-foot-nothing frame to its fullest, she shouted back, feeling her cheeks burn and not only from the hot afternoon sun. ‘What … and hit that creature? It was the size of my car.’
‘Don’t exaggerate. It was a male eastern grey, and you wouldn’t have hit it,’ he snapped. ‘If you’d kept your speed down, it would have either turned away or got out of your path.’ He pointed to the road sign behind her. ‘Can’t you read? This is a sixty zone, and you were doing at least ninety.’
She stiffened. ‘Don’t yell at me!’
‘I’m not yelling at you. I’m pointing out the need for you to be wildlife aware.’
‘I am …’ she began before reconsidering and closing her mouth. It had been a while since she’d checked her speed and she hadn’t even noticed the sign.
Meeting his eyes in a frozen stare, she tipped her chin, clamping her lips tightly, silently daring him to continue his tirade.
His jaw moved as though he was about to say more, but instead, he ducked his head. ‘Right. Well … if you’re going to be travelling around this area, I suggest you take notice of your surroundings. There’s a lot of bush and good farmland—a haven for wildlife.’ Then he gave the slightest nod, turned on his heel, and strode to his vehicle.
Her gaze followed the stiff, broad back and the ragged brown curls touching the collar of his khaki shirt. A tree graphic decorated the driver’s door with print beneath it. Ashleigh squinted at the writing, able only to make out the word Forestry before the vehicle drove away.
Sliding into her little car, she glanced down, astonished her hand was quivering on the steering wheel. She huffed out an annoyed breath.
So much for my resolution to control my temper. Not exactly a good start.
Her shoulders slumped for a moment before she switched on the ignition. Arching a brow, she swung her gaze around her surroundings, absorbing the peaceful, seemingly lifeless scenery. The rugged, tanned face of the only person she had met flashed through her mind.
At least there’s one person out here—even if I didn’t get his name.
***
After thumping the vehicle into reverse, she shot backwards onto the bitumen. Then, squaring her shoulders, she changed gear and calmly continued into town.
A quaint general store greeted her, its archaic fuel bowser perched on the road edge of the footpath a bare two metres from the bullnose roof of the shop’s veranda. She slowed, studying the pretty building. An ancient blue heeler dog lay sprawled across the doormat and to the casual observer the animal may have appeared dead—but Ashleigh presumed if that was the case, someone would have removed it.
Opposite the store, tennis courts and a freshly painted pavilion filled the space between two small paddocks—one containing a few cows and the other, long grass with heavy golden seed heads drooping in the breeze. She wrinkled her nose. Cows in the middle of town?
As she lowered her speed to a crawl, her gaze shifted to the police sign outside the cream-painted building beside the empty paddock, a clearly marked police vehicle squatting in the driveway. Another sign of life. Shady trees stood tall on either side of the road and pots of petunias decorated the footpath outside the tumble-down pub that crept into view.
A sign indicating children crossing was planted firmly in the grass verge opposite the pub. At the further promise of life, she blew out a relieved breath, her hopes rising. She braked abruptly and turned onto a wide bitumen strip running parallel with the road before parking in front of the sturdy chain-wire fence. Sitting for a moment, she gazed at the house in the corner of the school grounds before scanning the area for a second dwelling—the one she would call home. There was no sign of a cottage. Only a white steel-clad shed at the rear of the field.
Her stomach plummeted once again.
What on earth have I done?
