Romancing the Girl Read online

  Aimee watched him start his run and smiled at his seamless form in the saddle. He truly was his mother’s son. Justine’s head shifted slightly and she knew from experience that she was watching out of one eye.

  “Did you watch the show on Monday night?” Justine mumbled into her shoulder.

  “Huh?” Aimee turned her head but kept her eyes on Aaron’s progress. “Romancing the Farmer?”

  “Yes. Did you watch?”

  “I did.” Aimee shook her head. It was the most misspent hour of her life watching all these desperate farmers meeting a line-up of twits from the city. Catch phrases like ‘I’m ready to find love’, and ‘I’m looking for the man of my dreams’ came to mind. Watching Joey meeting and selecting the three women that eventually came to the farm was cringe-worthy.

  “What did you think?”

  Aimee bit her lip.

  “Aimee?” Justine said, lifting her head at the silence.

  “Shh…Aaron’s on his last jump.”

  He cleared the triple and earned himself a clean round. Justine let go of Aimee and stood, cheering and whistling loudly. “That’s my boy!”

  They waited for the results to come on the scoreboard and Justine squealed and grabbed Aimee when Aaron’s name came first. Being tossed around like a tumble drier, Aimee grinned as Justine simultaneously hugged her and bounced.

  “He made it! Aimee, look! He made it!”

  Laughing, Aimee nodded. “I can see, Jac, I can see.”

  Justine hugged her tight, for once not rolling her eyes for the use of the nickname Aimee bestowed upon her the moment she discovered her middle name was Anne. Justine Anne Cason. JAC.

  The couple soon linked up with an excited Aaron, and mother and son bounced around again with joy.

  “Ah, Justine?” a man said, coming over to them and looking tremendously uncomfortable.

  Justine stilled in an instant. “Greg.”

  “Ah, so, umm…Aaron here has made the squad after today’s results, and…well, I’m coaching the team next year.”

  Justine blinked. “Oh. Okay.”

  “Okay.” Greg nodded at them all and walked off.

  “I’m going to the ladies,” Justine announced and left abruptly.

  Aimee frowned at Aaron. “That was weird, right?”

  “Totes.”

  “Totes? What is that?”

  “Totally.” Aaron rolled his eyes before giving her a mischievous grin. “Seriously, you gotta get with the slang sister.”

  Aimee arched her eyebrows. “Sister?”

  “Ugh. Adults. So unchilled.”

  “Unchilled? What?”

  Aaron gave her a friendly tap against her arm. “I’m messing with you.”

  “Oh.” Aimee was left standing and shaking her head while Aaron walked away giggling and informed her he’d get his horse to the float. “What the hell is unchilled?” she asked Justine when she returned.

  “Uncool.”

  “Oh.”

  “You know, your son needs to come with a translator.”

  “Totes.” Justine chuckled and linked her arm with Aimee’s, guiding them to the car and the float where Aaron was headed.

  ***

  “What’s up with Greg?” Aimee asked Justine after arriving at Aaron’s grandparent’s place that evening to return the horses to their yard.

  Justine went bright red. “Umm…”

  “Umm?”

  Justine sighed and slumped her shoulders. “Greg used to coach the Australian team for the games. He’s a bit of a womaniser, and when I was nineteen, he tried hitting on me.”

  Aimee’s eyebrows shot up in the dim light. “And?”

  “Well…” Justine fiddled with her earring. “I was more interested in his wife.”

  Aimee’s eyes widened. “No!” she gasped. “You didn’t?”

  “No! Of course not! But…well…that’s around the time I realised my sexuality. Greg is hot enough, but Helen…” Justine blew out a long breath. “Hotter. Much, much hotter.” Justine smiled in thought. “Oh, but nothing happened. I’m not into married women.”

  “No? What about simple farm girls,” Aimee asked, wrapping her arms around Justine’s waist.

  “I’m definitely into them.” Drawing Aimee down for a kiss, they lost themselves in each other until a throat cleared behind them.

  “Dinner’s ready ladies,” Penny said from a few metres away.

  Aimee flushed. “God, that’s so embarrassing.”

  Laughing to herself, Justine nodded. “Completely.”

  “So, Justine, have you decided what you’re doing this Christmas? I know Dawn wanted you at the beach house, but we thought maybe you could all come here. Tony is going to be home.”

  Justine blinked at her son’s grandmother. “I, ah… Sally…” Justine paused when Aimee’s head shot up. “…offered to have us at the station.”

  “She did?” Aimee asked in wonder.

  “Surely Christmas time is for being with family, dear?” Penny insisted.

  “Yes, and they’re Aimee’s family. Besides, I have to take Dreamer out there at some point.”

  Penny nodded, barely hiding her disappointed scowl.

  “Dreamer?”

  Justine smiled at Aimee. “I spoke to Sally last week to organise a follow-up visit on your brother and his chosen woman. She mentioned that Kite was with foal and that no other mares fell pregnant. One thing led to another and I offered Dreamer out to stud for them. She suggested Christmas may be a good time to bring him out.”

  Aimee, acutely aware that Kite was pregnant to the downfall of the younger, stronger mares, also knew her brother was livid because of that fact. Justine’s offer would save them thousands of dollars and potentially make them more. Dreamer was a genuine thoroughbred with a championship record. His foals would be worth a lot. “But we usually cover our mares in August. Joey agreed to this?”

  “I have no idea but Sally certainly did.”

  Aimee smiled to herself. “You didn’t have to do that,” Aimee said at her girlfriend’s overwhelming generosity.

  “I know.” Justine smiled and squeezed Aimee’s thigh under the table.

  “So, Christmas, huh?”

  Justine nodded. “Christmas.”

  With a deep breath, Aimee inclined her head in return. They had spoken about telling Aimee’s family about the depth of their relationship for over a month. Aimee, still angry with Joey, didn’t think the man deserved another go at trying to convince her that dating Justine was a bad idea. Justine had assured her that this time she’d be standing right next to her explaining to Aimee’s brother just how serious their relationship was, and how accepting Aaron had been. Sally, Aimee knew, would be thrilled, and had been constantly asking her how Justine was. Playing it down, Aimee was certain Sally was unaware of how much they saw each other.

  Christmas…that would be their official ‘we’re in love’ announcement.

  Aimee struggled to swallow down the food in her mouth as she wiped her sweating palms on her jeans.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It was November and Aimee drove to the city with a specific plan in mind. This was the last weekend of the university semester, meaning she was going to return to the station come Monday morning. Now was her last chance to follow through on the plan she had in mind. Knocking on the door of the Killara home, Aimee waited a moment before Justine opened it with a smile.

  “You have a key, you know?”

  “I know.” Leaning in, she gave Justine a thorough and dizzying kiss. “Where’s Aaron?” she asked after pulling back breathlessly.

  “Aaron?”

  “I’m ready!” the boy said, rushing out the front door.

  “Back in a few hours,” Aimee said, kissing Justine again.

  “Wait. What? Where are you two going?”

  “Secret stuff, Mum.” Aaron brought his finger to his lips.

  “Secret stuff? Aimee, what—”

  “Bye, Jac.”

  �
�But…”

  Aimee grinned and hopped into her car where Aaron was already buckling himself in.

  Following the boy’s directions after giving him a map to the property they were headed for, an hour later, and after receiving several text messages on her phone she assumed were from Justine, they were at their destination.

  “This is awesome!” he said, eyes round as they entered a renowned horse stud property.

  “I know,” Aimee said, giving him a wink.

  The yards were immaculate and horses with breeding histories centuries old trotted about importantly. Known for breeding competition quality horses, Kevin also specialised in stock horses. Sending Justine a quick text that they wouldn’t be too much longer, she led Aaron into the stables to meet an old family friend.

  “Kevin,” Aimee said, striding over to the sixty-year-old man and shaking his hand.

  “Aimee. Well, look at you. No longer a snotty-nosed teenager.” He grinned and crushed her hand. “But, it seems you brought one with you,” he said, sending Aaron a wink.

  “This is Aaron, my girlfriend’s son.”

  “Pleased to meet you, sir,” he said, shaking the man’s hand.

  “Oh, manners. It’s more than I can say for you, Aims.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  With a deep chuckle, Kevin said, “So, you’re after a yearling?”

  Aimee nodded. “It’s for my girlfriend. I want to keep it out at the property.”

  “This girlfriend of yours, can she ride?”

  Aimee grinned. “Know a horse called Dreamer?”

  Blinking, Kevin tilted his head. “Justine Cason’s horse?”

  Aimee smiled, knowing full well the remarkable memory of the horses the man bred. Dreamer’s glory at the games help plant his place in Kevin’s mind. “That’s my girlfriend’s horse.”

  “Christ! You hooked up with Justine?” Kevin looked at Aaron with renewed recognition. “My, you’ve certainly shot up since you were a grubby-faced toddler.”

  “Thanks,” Aaron said. “I think.”

  Kevin turned back to Aimee. “So you want a station horse for her?”

  “Yeah. She’s taking Dreamer out there over Christmas to cover the mares.”

  Kevin laughed. “I heard about what happened with Handsome Boy,” Kevin said, obviously having spoken to Joey about the disaster. Handsome Boy, the stud they hired, belonged to Kevin’s son.

  “Yeah, yeah. Show me what you’ve got.”

  Leaving Aaron and Aimee to it after showing them the horses for sale, they pair spent their time studying each animal.

  “What about her?” Aaron asked of a particularly beautiful horse. Black mane and brown coat, she was truly a stunning specimen.

  “Look at her ears and the tension in her back legs.” Aaron did. “She’s nervous.” She pointed to a similar coloured horse. “She’s a loner. See how she’s keeping her distance from the rest?”

  Aaron nodded. “So they’re bad horses?”

  Aimee shook her head quickly. “Not at all. That one at the back simply needs to be bribed to stay focused, and will need a lot of interaction. On a station, that’s not always ideal. This nervous one can be calmed with a soft touch and a foundation of trust. She’ll probably be a one-rider horse.”

  “And that’s bad?”

  Aimee sighed. “It depends. They’re young and they could probably be handled by a couple of people.”

  “Like you and Mum?”

  Aimee nodded. “Yeah, but even then, if she’s not around a lot, they might change allegiances.”

  “So we move to the station then,” Aaron said as if the solution was that simple.

  Aimee wished it was. It was something she had been thinking about as her return home approached. Monday morning, she’d be driving back to Yarrabee Station with no idea how often she’d be able to see Justine from then on. Would Justine want to become a station wife? Would Aaron want to live there? Would he still get all the opportunities he was offered in the city? Lastly, where would they live?

  “It’s pretty isolated,” Aimee said.

  “Yeah, it’s in the middle of nowhere,” Aaron said in agreement. “But it’s really cool, you know?”

  “How so?” Aimee asked as they walked over to some other horses.

  “Because everyone’s there. Like, your whole family is right there. No travel, no planes, no passports. You have so much space to explore. Robbie is pretty cool, too.”

  Aimee smiled. She knew the boys had kept in touch via email. “What about school?”

  “Gran has me fully paid for in a boys’ college in the city. Pop used to go there. I’m boarding there from next year.”

  “What? You’re going to boarding school?”

  “Yup. Mum’s not happy, but you know, its good education and stuff.”

  Aimee dropped her head and frowned wondering how Justine was going to cope with sending her son away to school a mere hour from where she lived. “Robbie studies via distance education,” she said absent-mindedly.

  “Yeah, I know. That’s so cool. A couple of hours in the morning and the afternoon is free time.”

  “Not really. He works.”

  “Yeah, but still better than school.”

  “True.” Aimee recounted her days doing the same thing. A morning worth of study, and an afternoon to ride fences, herd sheep, and do station jobs. It had been a wonderful childhood. So free. Her heart broke for Aaron having to reside within a confined space to eat, sleep and learn. “What subjects are you interested in?”

  “Maths. Computing.”

  Aimee grimaced slightly. Those two subjects were her least favourite, preferring to stick with biological sciences. “So you’re smart then?”

  Aaron shrugged.

  “What do you want to do after school?”

  “Like at uni and stuff?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Engineering. I’m thinking aeronautical, but chemical engineering seems kinda cool too.”

  “Yeah,” Aimee said, trailing off and feeling as smart as a log. “So, which horse?”

  “What? From the skittish one and the hermit?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.”

  “But what about that one?” Aaron pointed to a horse that was practically glaring at them from across the stall.

  “He’s cranky, and a colt. I’m looking for a horse that can breed with Dreamer in the future.”

  “Ah…” Aaron studied the two female foals. “Her.” He pointed to the closest one that seemed to panic at the finger singling her out.

  Aimee smiled, liking his choice. “Why?”

  “Well, after we move to the station, Mum and her can bond.”

  Unable to hold down a grin, Aimee ruffled Aaron’s hair and said, “I like your enthusiasm. Come on, let’s find Kevin and see how much he’s going to rob us.”

  ***

  “You’re back. Where were you?” Justine said as she opened the door before Aaron or Aimee had a chance to get within a metre of the door.

  Aaron grinned. “Secret stuff.” He pushed past his mother and headed for the kitchen.

  Aimee smiled at Justine’s dubious expression.

  “Secret stuff?”

  “Yep.” Aimee stepped over to her girlfriend and kissed her. “Patience little one.”

  “I’m only three inches shorter than you, I’ll have you know.” Justine closed the door behind Aimee and followed her to the kitchen where Aaron was devouring what was left of a cold roast chicken.

  “Your pool isn’t green,” Aimee said, staring at the pale blue water through the large windows along the back wall of the house. Last time she saw the pool, it had a family of ducks living in it, which had coincidentally been the reason Justine didn’t want to clean the water.

  “Summer is coming,” Justine said, offering no further explanation. “Cuppa?”

  “Yeah.” Aimee continued staring through the back windows over the pool deck and the land
scaped gardens. She cocked her head and wondered where the eight-duck family had been relocated.

  “Nana told her she refused to look after the gardens unless she evicted the ducks,” Aaron said between mouthfuls. “They started attacking her ankles when she watered the flower bed.” The teenager broke into a fit of giggles at the thought.

  “They were simply protecting their young,” Justine snapped.

  Aimee suppressed a grin, realising this was a sore subject.

  “Mum, they’ve been living in the pool all year. The ducklings were huge.”

  “They were six months old. How would you like it if I evicted you out of your home at that age?”

  Aaron rolled his eyes. “As if.”

  “There, there, my little activist,” Aimee said, pulling Justine into a hug from behind. “The little duckies will be okay.”

  “I can’t see why Mum couldn’t just wear boots like the rest of the pensioner gardeners do.” She glared at the mugs on the bench as she tipped milk into them. “I mean, Penny isn’t precious about it. She wears gumboots all the time.”

  Aimee hugged Justine feeling the tension in her shoulders. “With the pool clean, we can go swimming tonight. Maybe…” she looked at Aaron to see if he was distracted and whispered in Justine’s ear. “… naked.” Justine relaxed instantly and sighed.

  Aaron looked at them suspiciously. Narrowing his eyes suddenly, he said, “No. Gross! My room is right over the pool! If I see boobs—”

  “Aaron Timothy!”

  “—or butts, I’m moving out!”

  Aimee chuckled and let Justine go. “You going to live with the ducks?” she asked him.

  “Nope. I’ll move to Yarrabee. Aimee already said I could.”

  The progress of Justine’s coffee cup stalled halfway to her mouth. “What?” Justine’s eyes flicked to Aimee briefly. “You want to live on the station.”

  “Hell yes.”

  “Language.”

  Aaron huffed in a typical teenage fashion. “Yes. I do. It’d be so cool!”

  “But…” Justine shook her head slightly. “We haven’t really discussed—”

  “But Aimee and I have. She said I can do distance education and work around the station. I can be with you instead of going to boarding school. We can live in the loft and—”