Free Silver Clouds by Fleur McDonald

grave.’
    â€˜She’s fine. It was a bit emotional for her.’ He turned to look for Tessa through the window. There she was, helping herself to another wine. It was her fourth that he knew of.
    â€˜She looks really tired. Just like you.’ Diane nudged Peggy’s shoulder.
    â€˜I guess you would be too if you’d travelled halfway around the world. And you know how much she thought of Spider.’
    They all watched Tessa take a long drink from her glass.
    â€˜She’s like her father and anyone else around here,’ Peggy observed. ‘Loves a drop or two to drink.’
    â€˜Right. I’ll leave you to it,’ Harrison said and backed out of the kitchen. He got the impression the two women wanted a chat.
    Outside he talked to a few of the older people. He saw Cally, now sitting in the swing, talking to one of her School of the Air friends.
    Paul was in a group, but it seemed to Harrison everyone except Paul was talking. Violet’s death had hit his friend hard.
    Marni was hovering over everyone, waiting to see an empty cup and offering to refill it. She rarely smiled, but was polite to everyone.
    Old Joe, a man who had been breaking horses on the Nullarbor for nearly fifty years, sat by himself in a chair underneath a tree away from the crowd. Harrison started to go to him, but Tessa beat him to it. A rare, genuine smile lit her features as she sat down next to the old bloke and patted his hand. Joe seemed to get a new spark, too.
    But Tessa didn’t stay long. A quick chat, a peck on the cheek and she was on her way back to the Esky.
    A man in a dull green shirt, loose black tie and moleskins strode passed. When his eyes settled on Tessa he made a beeline towards her.
    Harrison’s face set hard. Bloody Brendan McKenzie! If Tessa was the sort of girl she seemed to be, with her makeup thick as it could stick, that short black dress and swaying hips, she’d be giggling and flirting in no time. No extra thoughts for Spider.
    He watched as Brendan McKenzie smiled down at Tessa and held out his hand.
    Tessa smiled back and took it.
    At that moment he heard a voice at his shoulder. Old Joe.
    â€˜You’d reckon Paul would run him off the place wouldn’t you?’ Joe said slowly.
    â€˜He’s not one to make a scene,’ Harrison answered.
    â€˜I’ve never understood why some fellas just have to be a pain in the arse,’ Joe commented thoughtfully. ‘And he’s one of them.’
    â€˜He definitely appears to be that.’
    Tessa was now holding a fresh glass of wine and in deep conversation with Brendan.
    â€˜Someone should warn that girl that his reputation with the ladies precedes him,’ Joe said. His eyes stared ahead, but his meaning was clear. Harrison should.
    â€˜She’s able to make her own decisions, Joe.’
    Brendan’s family had bought into the area four years before. In that time Ray, his father, had earned a reputation for being an alcoholic and a rogue. Brendan seemed okay even though he was widely known as a ladies’ man. The girls thought him charming and devilish, but no one wanted their daughters near him in case his father’s traits turned out to be his own.
    Harrison noticed Pastor Allan going to Peggy, who had come outside to stand next to Paul. When Allan said he was leaving, it was the sign for others to start the exodus. Couple by couple and family by family, people said their goodbyes. There was the drone of planes overhead and dust in the drive. Within an hour most of the mourners were gone.
    Peggy flopped in a chair and Harrison handed her a beer and passed another to Paul.
    â€˜Where’s Tessa?’ asked Peggy, looking around.
    Harrison scanned the area, a feeling of unease spreading across him. Was she really so brazen? ‘Not sure,’ he answered.
    Ryan flopped down in another chair. ‘Saw her talking to McKenzie, earlier.’
    Peggy’s head snapped around.