The House at the Bottom of the Hill Page 8

  ‘Such potent charm.’ She took the coffee from him and sipped.

  ‘Careful, it’s hot.’

  She looked up at him. ‘I’m sorry, the charm remark was uncalled for. It slipped out. Your coffee is delicious.’

  Backing down again?

  ‘It’s hard to keep secrets in this town, isn’t it?’

  Dan kept his gaze on her and off the ceiling, where it wanted to go. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Nothing.’ She turned from him.

  Jesus, for a second he’d almost panicked. If his intentions to open up the hotel slipped out before he was ready to face the council, he’d be burned alive.

  ‘Anyway,’ she said. ‘Thanks for the coffee. Oh, and by the way, I’ll drive myself on Saturday night.’

  ‘What’s happening Saturday night?’

  ‘Dinner at Burra Burra Lane.’

  ‘You’re going?’

  ‘Yes. Got a problem with that?’

  Well, at least he could keep an eye on her. Since his interest in why she was so guarded about being in town had heightened, so his fear of her coming between Sammy and Ethan had lessened. Sure, Ethan was in the picture somehow, but she’d shown such genuine outrage at his inference that he believed her. Man, he was doing a lot of reading of her recently. ‘Is anyone else going?’ he asked.

  ‘No, just you and me.’

  This was Sammy’s doing. He wondered if Charlotte knew that. ‘They’re not trying to … you know—I mean I hope Sammy hasn’t got the wrong idea here.’

  ‘Don’t worry. Sammy knows I can’t stand you.’

  ‘You think that’s going to stop her?’

  ‘I know two things: I like your coffee but I don’t like you. Three things actually: you don’t like me either.’

  ‘Yeah.’ One minute she was easing up, the next she froze faster than a drainpipe in winter. She charged him down every time he attempted to kick the ball of bad-temper away from them, giving him no chance of a drop goal. What had happened to make her plug such a solid stopper into the valves of her heart?

  He stepped away, raised a hand in farewell. Why should anything to do with her heart interest him? ‘Okay. See you Saturday then. Glad you don’t expect a lift.’

  Six

  ‘Oh, shit.’

  Dan sprinted from the edge of the hill at the northern end of town and charged into the alley behind Kookaburra’s. He’d been up half the night poring over plans for the hotel, mapping out a time frame for when and how the work could start, in order to get over the tension yesterday’s encounter with Red had left him with. It looked like he was about to pay the price for a later than usual morning run.

  He stopped outside the locked back door of the pub, got his breathing under control and stared at seven crated toilets sitting in a row alongside his garage.

  ‘They’re not supposed to be here,’ he told the truck driver, who stood with a clipboard in his hands.

  ‘Says there you ordered them,’ the guy said, thrusting the paperwork and the stub of a pencil at Dan.

  ‘Yeah—ordered, paid for—and requested they be stored.’ Dan grabbed the pencil and signed the invoice beneath his company name.

  The guy shrugged. ‘Can’t take ’em away, not without express consent from head office and given the thirty-minute time difference between us and Adelaide, they’re still closed and I’ve got other deliveries to make.’ He took the clipboard, ripped off the top copy of the consignment note and handed it to Dan.

  Dan shoved the stub of pencil behind his ear and glanced over the truckie’s retreating shoulder to where the back alley curved and led onto Main Street.

  ‘Lucy,’ he called as he spotted the dog lingering at the far end of the alley. ‘Come here, girl.’ He clicked his fingers and beckoned her.

  She began to trot to him but sidled to the side of the alley as the truck fired up.

  ‘Hang on, mate,’ he called to the truckie. He walked down the alley, took hold of Lucy’s collar and persuaded her to follow him with little words of encouragement.

  The truck’s reversing lights came on as Dan got Lucy to the back door of the pub.

  He bent and rubbed his fingers beneath her collar—pink with little diamond-like stones—giving her a scratch. ‘Where’ve you been, breathing so hard?’ He grinned at the dog, ripped the bottom off the consignment note in his hand, grabbed the pencil from behind his ear and wrote on the scrap.

  He folded it lengthways and tucked it safely around Lucy’s collar. His note might even make Red smile. Recently, that happened at the rate chickens grew teeth. Which was partly his doing for getting so stuffy with her yesterday. It wasn’t Red’s fault if Sammy had decided to push them together.

  ‘Go on home.’ He straightened and shoved Lucy off gently in the direction of the B&B, then followed the truck as it backed down the side of Kookaburra’s and onto Main Street, alerting the town to its presence as its reversing beeps sliced into the quiet of the morning.

  ‘Have you seen Lucy?’

  Dan spun around to Charlotte. ‘She was around the back, I just sent her home.’

  ‘Oh. Thanks.’ She’d been running, and was wearing the tight-fitting sleeveless vest and the hip-hugging black Lycra shorts, but no baggy sweatshirt.

  ‘Where’s your hat?’

  ‘Don’t start, charm-boy.’ She leaned forwards, hands on her knees and took a number of ragged breaths.

  ‘Training for our five-K run?’ he asked.

  ‘I didn’t take you up on the bet, remember?’ She nodded at the truck. ‘What did you have delivered?’

  ‘Seven toilets.’

  ‘Huh?’ she asked, face scrunched.

  ‘Backup mixers,’ he said offhandedly, taking her arm and leading her to the side of the walkway as the truck moved off. ‘We go through them like a soda fountain gone dry now summer’s just about here.’ He checked the street. All Tillmans were out, the twins standing so close it looked like they’d been glued together. Grace was staring at the truck and Ted had his official look on his face. Dan clamped his teeth together.

  ‘Ouch! You’re squishing my arm.’

  Dan released the pressure. ‘Sorry.’ He rubbed the reddened fingerprints he’d made. Such tender skin. Warm from her exercise and smooth to touch.

  ‘Can I have my arm back now?’

  He let go, holding the warmth from her skin in the palm of his hand as though he didn’t want it to fade. Christ, he wasn’t getting starry-eyed about her, was he? He was looking at her only as a possible friend, right?

  She was smart, in intelligence and style. Her usual attire spoke of expensive department stores and speciality boutiques. She’d bought the B&B with cash, according to speculation. She’d turned up completely unexpected and caused a stir. Why? What was she doing here?

  ‘Want a coffee, Red?’

  ‘No, thanks. I’m too busy. And don’t call me Red.’

  ‘Perhaps I’m chatting you up.’ Perhaps he was.

  ‘Pfft.’

  ‘Not working, eh?’

  She started jogging on the spot. ‘Let me know when the committee gives me the okay for my list of renovations, would you?’

  ‘Will do.’ He nodded down at her legs. ‘What distance did you sprint today?’

  ‘Ten K.’

  ‘Bullshit.’

  She backed off, still jogging, an upbeat grin on her face. ‘You know, one of these days I might fall for you and your provoking charm.’

  Dan’s grin grew. And one of these days he might like that a lot.

  She turned and ran towards the B&B as Lucy galloped from the alley, yapping and twirling her lithe body in the air next to her mistress. Well, what do you know? He’d made Red smile. Which, given his reaction, could be dangerous.

  He turned and eyed the Tillmans. The ladies went back inside but Ted glared. Dan raised a hand and smiled.

  Ted didn’t wave back.

  Dan breathed deeply and headed over to the stock feeders’. ‘One ton of charcoal briquettes an
d seven toilets,’ Ted said. ‘Is there something you’re not telling us, Dan?’

  ‘Eh …’ Dan shoved his fingers into his jeans pockets. ‘Actually, Ted—’

  ‘Expecting a big turnout for your barbecues after last Friday night, are you? Planning on extending the bathrooms in the bar, eh? That’s gonna stuff up the plumbing. Council won’t like it. Extra drains, you know…’

  This was a chance to come clean but it was too soon. He hadn’t fully evaluated how he was going to let them know what he was up to. If he came out and admitted he was planning a hotel now, the resulting interrogation would create a commotion so big it’d be talked about for the next ten years. He’d be knocked off his feet by the squall.

  A vision of Charlotte standing in the bar, looking up at the ceiling and pondering the upstairs space came clearly into his mind. He looked Ted in the eye. ‘I’m renovating the upstairs area and turning it into an apartment for myself.’

  ‘With seven bathrooms?’

  Got him. The old boy wasn’t interested in the renovating—not if it simply meant an apartment. ‘Nah, course not.’ Dan pulled his fingers from his pockets and folded his arms across his chest as he pulled his shoulders back. ‘Got the order wrong, didn’t they? Only ordered one toilet, now I’m stuck with seven.’

  ‘Well, don’t go getting any ideas now you’ve got an additional six toilets, will you?’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘Like opening up in the day. Selling alcohol during the day.’

  ‘Happy to open up for anyone who wants a coffee, morning or afternoon.’ He should get the official paperwork from the Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing any time now, granting him an extension for the all-day opening licence.

  ‘Yes, but not for paying customers. What was the Simmons woman doing inside the bar yesterday? And just now. She got something wrong with her arm? The way you were holding it, I thought for a second you might be getting all gooey about her.’

  It wasn’t only Mrs J who had a gossip antenna tweaked for perfect reception. And what business was it of Ted’s if Dan had been getting smoochy with Red? But Ted appeared to be getting wound up. Perhaps he’d just come from his computer and space research. That always set him off. ‘She likes coffee.’

  ‘So she’s reacting to you?’

  ‘To my what?’

  ‘The mediation. Is she coming round to our way of thinking?’

  ‘Oh, that. Well, I reckon we have to give her a bit of time to adjust to our ways.’

  ‘You’ve been mediating for a week. You said you’d charm her.’

  Dan had an uncomfortable impression he just had. She’d certainly charmed him with her teasing, buoyant smile. ‘Give her a chance, would you? How about we give her a gesture?’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Is there anything wrong with the picket fence idea?’

  ‘Mmm.’ Ted chewed his bottom lip. ‘It’ll take her a while to get shire approval.’

  ‘So why don’t we say she can apply for it? That’ll give us all some breathing space.’

  ‘Just don’t like it when things are done so fast and behind our backs.’

  ‘Right.’ As if that was news.

  ‘There’s something not quite right about her, Dan. I feel it. Right here.’ Ted tapped his chest. ‘I’ve got a nose for these things. I’m going to Google her.’

  ‘No need for that. She’s trying to do the right thing. Give her a few more days, eh?’

  ‘What’s she doing here?’ Ted asked. ‘Why does our little town interest her enough to have boarded a flight from England? Why would the likes of her want to run a business in a town like ours if it wasn’t for disreputable motives?’

  Dan couldn’t rightly answer those questions but if ever there was a moment when he should show Red some support, it was now. He was breaking down her barriers, but he needed a bit more time to suss out how he’d done it, because all he could think of was her soft arm under his hand and the pretty smile she’d produced for him—even if it was a tongue-in-cheek smile—and how all that had left him feeling a bit giddy.

  Ted didn’t give him a chance to answer. ‘There’s something familiar about her. It’s like I’ve seen her before. Not recently— a long time ago. And I don’t feel it was a pleasant experience. I’m open to all possibilities not of this earth,’ he said. ‘I’ve made studies and the like, and as such, I think I’m qualified to recognise what’s not quite right.’ Ted gathered himself like a peacock settling its ruffled feathers. ‘There’s nothing on the interweb about the galaxy, habitable planets or aliens I haven’t researched.’

  ‘It’s called the internet, Ted.’

  ‘Google. Takes you places, Dan.’

  Dan nodded.

  ‘We’re an exoplanet here in Swallow’s Fall.’

  Sounded technical enough to be plausible.

  ‘Things have dimmed in town since her arrival. It’s a bit like transits. Planets crossing in front of their host star and dimming the light. She’s dimmed our light.’

  ‘Charlotte,’ Dan reminded him, wondering if Charlotte realised she’d hit the final frontier when she moved into town.

  Ted looked down the street as though looking into the future. ‘My ultimate goal is to be taken and remember it.’

  ‘Steady now, Ted.’ This is what Mrs J had warned Dan about. He followed Ted’s gaze down the street. Last time this happened, Ted got lost for four hours before being found in the back field, apologising to everyone for being away so long; he thought he might have been gone with the aliens for a month, but he couldn’t remember any specifics.

  ‘I’ll have to keep my focus sharp if they take me. I believe they’re very demanding.’

  Dan put an arm over Ted’s shoulders. ‘Tell you what. I’ll do the Googling on Charlotte, in case you need some … time out.’

  Ted firmed his mouth. ‘It might be best. I don’t want to start my search and then find myself somewhere north of the Milky Way without means of contacting my loved ones at home.’

  ‘Don’t worry, mate, I’ll do a thorough job. If there’s something to be found on Charlotte, I’m the one who’ll find it.’

  ‘Apparently you’re very tired when they return you to earth.’

  ‘I bet.’

  Ted took Dan’s hand in both of his and gripped hard. ‘Thank you, Dan. I appreciate this. You’d look after Grace and the twins for me, wouldn’t you?’

  ‘You can count on it.’

  Ted moved off and Dan headed over to the beauty parlour where Julia was unlocking the door for Mrs J. Mrs J must be getting her hair done or something.

  ‘You were right, Mrs J,’ Dan said. ‘Looks like Ted’s hoping to be abducted.’

  ‘Oh God.’ Mrs J stood stock still. ‘Does Grace know?’

  Dan shrugged. ‘She’s his wife, she ought to see the signs first.’

  Julia grinned and Dan shot her a warning look while Mrs Johnson stared across the street at the petrol station. Suddenly there was female business to be done.

  ‘Mrs Tam, could you come over here for a minute, please?’ she called, giving Mrs Tam the news when she joined them.

  ‘Oh good heavens.’ Mrs Tam patted her bun. ‘Does Grace know?’

  ‘I’m about to tell her,’ Mrs J said. ‘She probably hasn’t noticed, she’s been busy with sewing for the twins for Grandy’s birthday party.’

  ‘Does this mean you don’t want your facial today, Mrs Johnson?’ Julia asked.

  ‘Can’t go pampering ourselves while there’s trouble brewing.

  Mrs Tam primed herself, heaving her bosom and squaring her shoulders. ‘Ever since the twins came home with all that trouble they brought with them, poor Ted hasn’t been right. It’s like he’s developed stress-related hypochondria.’

  She looked more perturbed than Dan liked to see. ‘It’ll be fine,’ he told her. ‘And the twins haven’t been prosecuted and nor are they likely to be—’

  ‘Please don’t bring that business up now, Daniel,’ Mrs J said, po
inting a finger at him. ‘There are more important matters to discuss.’

  Dan straightened and gave her a salute. ‘You’re right. What can I do to help?’

  ‘Once I’ve got the key to the committee safe from Grace, I’d like you to go and grab the gavel. But do it surreptitiously and look after it.’

  ‘Not a problem. I’ll come with you to see Grace, then nip over to the Town Hall and collect it.’ Last time Ted had gone off into outer space the gavel had gone missing too. He couldn’t remember what he’d done with it and the loss of it put him in bed for an extra week.

  Mrs J drew in a long breath. ‘It’s a bad time for Ted to be going into space with his aliens. There are decisions to be made on the committee.’

  Julia grabbed the silky scarf around her neck and stuffed it against her mouth.

  Dan’s smile warmed his soul. This was one crazy town. How could anyone not love it?

  Seven

  ‘Oh, bugger.’

  Charlotte slowed to a walk as she entered the town from the southern end. She sucked in air, her lungs burning from the sprint she’d forced herself into for the last two kilometres after jogging up the hillside and down—twice. Maybe she should have given herself a day off. Yesterday’s run had worn her out but somewhere in her mind was the thought that one day she might actually beat Hotshot.

  Lucy galloped on with a full tank of youthful vigour and headed for the mob outside Morelly’s hardware store. Were they waging war about her colour schemes again? No. Too many of them. Something else was going on.

  Problem was, how to slip past them? If she strode down the middle of Main Street she’d look like she was ignoring them. If she walked up the steps to the walkway she’d look like she was hoping to join them.

  Oh great. Lucy was sitting, calm as you please, on Daniel’s foot. If she called out to the dog she’d draw attention to herself and—worst-case scenario—Lucy might stay seated at Daniel’s feet and ignore Charlotte.

  No choice then. Heaving in another breath as her heart rate subsided, she climbed the stairs in front of her and padded cautiously down the walkway. She passed the closed beauty parlour, the empty toy shop and the grocer’s store but stopped a few metres short of Morelly’s. More people stood there than she’d seen in once place since the committee meeting. Must be something major to see this many townspeople out and about on a weekday afternoon.