Women? We don’t have time to beat around the bush?’
‘There are more subtle ways to ask, and they have only known each other for a week’ Debbie said.
‘Well we knew after a week.’
‘Not everyone is like us, Bill.’
‘Oh, it’s alright, thanks Debbie,’ Richard starts, ‘I’m used to the team giving me the curry all the time. But I can’t tell you much more than Jeanette is a great girl and she has shown me nothing but respect, and I’m hoping that she is feeling that in return’
Jeanette beamed. ‘I am feeling respected.’ she said while looking at Richard. Richard feels all skittish and shy, breaks her gaze and looks down at his hands as they grab the next sandwich.
‘Joey tells us that you’ll be back at the sheds next week?’
‘Yeah. We have a couple of months work close to here. I’m going to keep working them and see if I can make it back here for weekends, and we’ll take it from there.’ Richard was feeling a little more comfortable and looked over to Jeanette. She caught his eye and started to blush. He was going to make it through.
The rest of the meal went without a hitch. They laughed and talked, making Richard feel comfortable around them. They ended up spending an hour talking. Bill had to attend to the shop for a couple of customers, but he was only gone for a few minutes at a time then he would be back.
When Richard left, it was the first time for a long time that he had felt like he was home.
For the next few weeks the sheds Richard was working in weren’t far from Cobar. On the Friday night he was eager to head back and spend the weekend with Jeanette. There was always a great roast family dinner with Bill and Debbie on Sunday. After that, he would pack up his gear and be off on Sunday evening to be onsite for the shearing on Monday. Jeanette was feeling special having him be there and spend time together.
As the weeks progressed though, the sheds Richard worked got further away. It wasn’t easy to travel the distance after work, and not having a car meant Richard was at mercy of someone in the team wanting to drive him to Cobar.
During one of these weeks, Jeanette was feeling very sick. She had a talk with Debbie about the situation. Debbie was a great comfort and gave her some advice. She recommended going to the doctor as you never know what a doctor may say. Jeanette made an appointment for the Thursday afternoon, and was told she needed to come back in after the weekend for the results.
The weekend came, and Richard arrived on the Saturday morning, because it was too late to drive on the Friday night. After they had lunch on Sunday with Bill and Debbie, they returned to Jeanette’s little unit.
‘Button, I’ve been thinking,’ Richard said as they sat on the back porch. ‘It’s not right for us to keep this up. I mean, you deserve someone who’s going be here for you.’
This caught Jeanette by surprise. ‘What do you mean? You are here for me now?’ Jeanette said, looking at him with concern.
Richard was looking at the ground, as he did so often when he was nervous. ‘Yeah, but I mean, you know. More like a man.’
Jeanette bit her lip, not sure where this was going.
‘I’ve been thinking. You’re a very special lady. Not someone that I’d run into that often. I think I’ve got a plan that’ll mean I get to living with you full time. Would you like that?’
Jeanette sprung out of her chair and wrapped her arms around Richard. ‘Oh Ric. That would make me so happy.’ She planted a kiss squarely on his lips. At first, Richard was a little surprised, but it didn’t take him long to settle in and enjoy the deep, intimate moment.
‘But your shearing, and the competition. Have you thought about them?’ Jeanette questioned as she sat on his leg with her arms still wrapped around his neck.
‘I was talking to Boofa about this, and he’s tee’d up with Mr Jarrot, the owner of the next shed, to get me some flying lessons. There are a number of stations close here that use pilots, and once I’ve got my license, I’ll be able to base up here and fly for some of the locals.’
Jeanette was bursting. She was so excited to hear that she would have Richard around all the time. She was a little giddy, and lost for words, but tears welled up in her eyes and she couldn’t hide them.
‘Oh, didn’t think I’d get tears, Button.’ Richard said with his cheeky smile. Jeanette just slapped him on his chest and laughed.
‘Don’t’ she said, ‘they are happy tears. I couldn’t be happier knowing that you are willing to come and live here with me.’
‘It’s been tough, just thinking about it,’ Richard said, ‘but I don’t have anywhere else to go, beyond the next shed. And you have been the magic thing that has happened to me. So, I just want more of what you got.’
‘Are you sure that you handle more of me?’ Jeanette taps him on the end of his nose with her finger.
‘Wouldn’t have said it if I wasn’t going to try.’ they laughed at each other, and kisses again.
Richard said that he would not be able to come back for the next three weekends because of the flight training. The next time he would be back, he would be back for good.
News is New
The next month went very slowly for Jeanette. She received letters from Richard that flight training was going well. He said there was also a shearing competition coming up in four weeks that he may be able to fly down to, if he can borrow a plane. If that doesn't work then he may be able to rally a group of local shearers together and share the drive in a van. He was still expecting to make it home late on the Friday night.
It was nine thirty before Jeanette heard an engine pull up at the front of her flat. Not wanting to appear anxious, she waited until she heard the car door close, and the car drive away. She waited silently behind the door for the knock before opening it. To her surprise, Richard was too fast. He dropped his two bags, grabbed her by her shoulders and planted a kiss square on her lips.
‘Sorry, I’m so late, Button. We got a flat and there was no jack.’ Jeanette looked into his eyes. He looked tired. ‘But that is the last time.’
‘It’s great to have you home, Ric. Come on in. I’ve made a roast,’ and Jeanette ushers Richard in. As he makes himself comfortable, washing his hands and face in the bathroom, Jeanette serves up the roast lamb with baked potato, carrots and fresh corn that had just ripened from her garden.
‘Oh, this looks amazing, Button!’ Richard said as he sauntered into the room, wrapped a hand around her waist and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Haven’t had roast corns for ages.’
‘They’ve come from out back, the garden is doing great.’ Jeanette settles herself down opposite, and eyes him off carefully. ‘How was the training?’
‘Oh, it was breathtaking,’ He starts as he shuffles food into his mouth, pausing while he chews and then continues. ‘There’s a lot of learning, but nothing really out there. It feels about as hard as getting the driving license.’ Another mouth full of lamb. ‘But once you get off the ground, it is breathtakingly beautiful. I’m looking forward
