The Geography of Happiness (Mackenzie Country)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

Spencer

“That’s the last one.” I whistled for Wolfie to jump down from the bench and the collie took off at breakneck speed. “Holy smokes, he’s fast.”

“Like a bullet.” Alek joined me in watching the dog run hell for leather toward the woolshed. “I told Holden the mother must be greyhound,” Alek said in his thick Russian accent. He whistled Thor to his side and the bitsa border collie cross German shepherd cross who the hell knew what wandered over from where he’d been keeping an eye on us from under the tree. “This lazy arse has spoiled lapdog mama for sure.”

I laughed. “Spoiled or not, he sure seems to have adopted you.” I finished writing up the last vaccination card and put my pen down so I could scratch the dog’s ears.

Alek patted Thor’s head fondly. “Crazy dog. Holden wants to give him me but not right.” He shook his head. “Holden too kind already.”

I caught Alek’s eye and raised a brow. “You know damn well Holden doesn’t make offers for no reason. If he says you should have Thor, it’s because he thinks you’ve earned him. And it’s not charity, Alek. If Thor and you click as a team, then that’s good business for Holden too, right?”

Alek went quiet for a moment. “You think?”

I nodded.

Alek knelt and pulled the adoring dog into a rough hug. “Dunno. Maybe.”

Aka done and dusted. I swallowed a smile. Holden could thank me later.

“How ’bout you?” Alek looked up.

“What do you mean?” I started packing my equipment.

“Silo’s been dead a while, right?”

I nodded. “Two years.”

Alek shook his head. “Vet without dog? It seems wrong.”

I kept packing so he didn’t notice my eyes blinking hard. “Takes a lot of time to train a dog and I work long days. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“Mmm,” Alek murmured, sounding unconvinced. “Silo’s a legend.”

I sighed. “Yeah, he was.” Too much so. I snapped the lock shut on my bag and Alek got to his feet. “They’re big shoes to fill, Alek. Needs to be the right one.” An image of Miller sprang from nowhere. Well, not exactly nowhere. It wasn’t the first time I’d thought about keeping him. The dog was cute, just like the man who’d brought him in. But he wasn’t Silo, and I couldn’t decide whether that was a good thing or not.

“Maybe change is—” Alek pursed his lips, struggling for the right word. “—better?” He watched me closely and I tried not to take offence at the big Russian’s suggestion.

Mostly because he was probably right. I clapped him on the shoulder. “I dunno. Maybe.” I threw his own words back at him and winked.

He laughed. “Fair enough.”

“So, how’s your brother doing?” I changed the subject. “Is he still up in Auckland?”

Alek’s lips set in a thin disapproving line. “That one has rocks in head. Done with farming, he says. Says Auckland way better. More dick.”

I snort-laughed. “Well, he’s not wrong there.”

Alek grimaced. “Not funny. He’s too young.”

“I thought he was twenty-five?”

Alek narrowed his gaze. “Our farm back in Russia... nothing for miles. No towns or cities. Andrei knows nothing of how world works.”

I bit my tongue. Six months immersed in the Auckland gay scene and I suspected that situation no longer applied, but I kept my opinion to myself. It wasn’t my battle. “We should probably get back to the woolshed before Holden comes looking for us. You want a lift?”

Alek shook his head. “Nah. Come on, boy,” Alek patted his thigh and headed up the track with Thor at his side.

The woolshed reverberated with the familiar thrum of station activity—ewes bleating, Holden’s team calling to each other over the pens, dogs barking as they pushed the mob through the races, and the melodic voice of Bob Marley singing in the background. Tom was on the sorting gates, Sam was busy with the lambs, and Alek was making his way over to Charlie, who was working with the anxious ewes bleating to their babies.

In charge of the chaos was Holden, directing operations from his position atop a wide plank straddling the races. Shirtless and sexy, he commanded attention, and for a second, I couldn’t look away. Then a certain cute storekeeper sprang to mind and Holden’s charms suddenly fell way short by comparison. And exactly when had that happened? Good God, I was in so much trouble.

An elbow caught me in the ribs, and I turned to find Gil grinning from ear to ear with Spider glued to his side. He shoved a steaming mug of coffee and a huge slab of chocolate brownie into my hand. “Here, I saved you some.” Then his gaze locked on Holden and an appreciative sigh fell from his lips. “Lordy, he’s a sight, isn’t he?”

“That he is.” I took a long swallow of coffee and sighed happily. “You’re a lucky man.”

Gil’s attention remained fixed on Holden. “And don’t I know it. I make sure to time my morning tea run for when I know he’ll be all hot and bothered... like now.”

I chuckled. “You’re a bad, bad man, Gil Everton, but I like the way you think.” I pulled the stack of vaccination certificates from my overalls and offered them to him. “You want these?”

He snatched them from my hand. “Hell yeah. Lord knows where Holden would stash them if it was left up to him. That man’s brain works in strange and mysterious ways. Did you vaccinate Spider as well?” He stroked the huntaway’s furrowed brow.

“Yep. All done. I caught him strolling to the woolshed as I arrived.” I elbowed Gil gently. “You might want to keep an eye on his weight. He’s up a few kilos from last year.”

Gil sighed and scratched the dog’s ears. “Back to the diet kibble for you, little man.”

Spider cast an accusatory look my way and I raised my hands in defence. “Hey, don’t blame the messenger. The numbers don’t lie.”

The creak of the woolshed door had us both glancing around, and I blinked at the sight of Terry looking all kinds of delicious in a pair of faded blue jeans, a crisp apple-green T-shirt, and a pair of black sneakers. His choppy blond hair hung in damp wild strands around those crystal-blue eyes, and a blush ran over his cheeks when his gaze landed on me. “Hi.”

I grinned in reply. “Hi yourself.” I added a wink, knowing Gil couldn’t see, and Terry’s lips twitched.

His fingers fidgeted at his side. “I hope it’s okay for me to drop by.” He switched his focus to Gil, which gave me a few seconds to simply drink him in. Lean, guarded, sexy as hell, and smelling fresh from the shower, I wanted nothing more than to lick him from his toes to the top of that pretty blond head... slowly. “Zach suggested I come take a look if I had time.” Terry’s gaze slid back to mine, then off again just as fast. “And whaddya know, I had time.”

He really was too fucking cute.

“And that salted caramel is to die for, by the way,” he added. “I’ll take some back with me if I can.”

Gil’s smile broadened. “I’ll put a couple of bottles aside. I’ve been trying to get Helen to sell it commercially for ages.”

Terry’s eyes lit up. “Tell her I could stock some in my store if she wants to give it a go. I have a table next to the cash point devoted to boutique products. I guarantee people will love it.”

Gil nodded enthusiastically. “That’s what I think too. I’ll put the idea to her. Have you got plans for the day other than watch the best station team in the Mackenzie?”

Terry chuckled. “Nothing yet. I do have accounts I need to finish.” He threw a wicked smile my way and I couldn’t stop the groan that fell from my lips.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, say it isn’t so,” I grumbled. “What did I tell you about trying to pass off work as play. It doesn’t and will never count as fun, no matter what you tell yourself.”

Terry laughed. “Says you.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Gil watching us with a curious look on his face. A part of me inwardly groaned, but an even bigger part simply said fuck him . I was past caring about what Gil Everton’s sixth sense might be telling him. The man was an emotional bloodhound of the highest order, but he was also one of the most trustworthy people I’d ever met.

“Well now, Mister Smarty Pants,” Terry said cockily. “It just goes to show how wrong a man can be. I don’t know how you started your morning, but I for one began it with a brisk dip in the lake. How’s that for stepping out of my comfort zone?” He eyed me meaningfully.

Gil’s mouth dropped open. “A swim? At this hour? Are you crazy?” He put a hand on Terry’s forehead. “No fever, so I’m going with the crazy option.”

Terry laughed. “It was good, actually. Blue-ball freezing but... good.” He looked back at me. “I feel more alive than I’ve done in a long while.”

I tried not to read too much into the comment and instead held my palm up for a high five, and Terry obliged. “I’m proud of you,” I said, unable to keep the grin off my face.

Terry’s cheeks turned dusty again and a shy smile crept over his lips. “Thanks. It felt good to shake things up a bit.” He held my gaze until Gil cleared his throat.

“Well, you’re a braver man than me.” Gil studied Terry with those shrewd eyes of his. “Still, you’re on holiday, right? There’s never a better time to push the boat out a little.”

“I guess.” Terry glanced over to where Holden was cursing up a storm as he tried to flip an uncooperative ewe onto her back. “But it still feels strange knocking around on my own. Like I’m missing a limb or something. I can’t seem to settle.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Gil sympathised. “Luke and I lost a daughter a few years back, and you don’t realise how much a child becomes your entire life until suddenly they’re not there. I imagine Hannah keeps you even busier as a solo dad.”

“She does. And I heard about your daughter. Zach mentioned it yesterday.” He glanced nervously between us. “I’m sorry if I wasn’t supposed?—”

“Not at all.” Gil smiled reassuringly. “Everyone knows the story. It’s even become part of the station’s legacy. We scattered her ashes in one of the rivers bordering the property.”

Terry studied Gil with soft eyes. “That’s a lovely tribute. I don’t know how you survived. I can’t even imagine losing Hannah like that.”

Gil gave a gentle sigh. “You find a way to move on.” His gaze switched to Holden, who finally had the ewe under control and was yelling for Charlie to bring him the hoof shears. “And if you’re lucky, maybe someone comes along who can help with that.”

Terry’s lips quirked up. “You guys, all four of you, certainly have a... unique relationship.”

I laughed. “That’s one way of putting it. Just fucking weird is another. But what Gil says is true. I never met Callie and yet I feel her presence here as well.”

Gil reached for my arm and squeezed it. “Thanks, Spence.”

I shrugged and put my hand atop his. “It’s the truth.”

Terry was watching Holden. “So, in a way, he saved you.”

Gil snorted with laughter. “Jesus, don’t let him hear you say that. He’d like to think he saved me, but he doesn’t have any superpowers, as much as he’d like you to believe otherwise. It was more the realisation that I could feel again when I’d been numb for so long. That something so foundational could change. It helped me find a way back, even if I almost didn’t take it. Thank God I came to my senses.”

A deep crease marked Terry’s forehead. “I admire you. I’m not sure I’d have the strength. I was only sixteen when Hannah came along, so it’s not like I had a life or knew what it was like to be an adult, or anything, really. It’s nearly always been just the two of us. We’re down here supposedly prepping Hannah for the opportunity to board at Nolan Academy next year, and in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m finding it hard learning to let go.”

Gil’s brows crunched. “That’s a lot of responsibility to take on at such a young age. And yes, Hannah told me about Nolan Academy when I took her on the station tour, and I don’t envy you that decision. For what it’s worth, one thing I learned about being a parent in all the shit that went down after Callie’s death was that you have to find a way to keep a kernel of you, of Terry O’Connor, alive as an individual, a man in your own right, someone other than just someone’s dad. I didn’t do that for myself, and Luke and I failed to do that as a couple. Callie became our purpose for living, our only common bond, and it sucked the life out of our marriage. I imagine it could do the same thing to a solo parent if you’re not careful, especially when you were so young.”

Terry shot me a soft sad look and I wanted to pull him into my arms. From what he’d told me about how closed off he could be with his friends, I knew he was taking a huge risk speaking any of this aloud to Gil, just like he’d done with me. I was so proud of him.

And like he read my mind, Terry held my gaze and said, “Lost childhoods, right? They come in all shapes and forms.”

Without thinking, I instantly replied, “Yeah, they do. Maybe the secret is learning how to give that child a space to breathe in your adult life.”

Terry grinned. “Like freezing your arse off in a glacial lake?”

I chuckled. “Yeah, like freezing your arse off in a glacial lake.”

Gil looked between us but didn’t ask. Instead, he regarded Terry with affection and said, “From what I’ve seen, Hannah is a great kid and you should be proud of what you’ve achieved. Boarding school isn’t leaving home. If you decide to let her go, Hannah will still need you, maybe even more than she does now. And by the time she’s old enough to truly leave home, you’ll be ready to let go. That’s why God invented teenagers. So that parents didn’t want to keep their kids forever.”

Terry snorted, but his frown remained. “Now that I can understand. Thanks for the advice.”

Gil nodded. “Anytime. If you wanna talk some more, come find me. I can’t promise I won’t put you to work in my kitchen though.”

Terry nodded happily. “I can wield a spatula with the best of them.” Then he turned to me. “Hannah wants to see Miller. I said I’d ask if it was okay.”

“Sounds good,” I quickly agreed. Spend some more time with Terry and get to know his daughter better? Like I was ever gonna argue with that. “He’s eating up a storm and none the worse for wear after his neutering.”

Terry flinched. “Ouch. I’d almost forgotten.”

I chuckled. “He did fine. I was planning to drop him at the shelter tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Terry worried his lower lip. “That’s... great. Forever home next, right?”

Gil shot me a wry look, but I doubted Miller had a home waiting for him in Painted Bay. Luckily Gil kept his thoughts to himself, instead directing Terry to find himself a seat on the stacked hay bales while Gil fixed him a coffee. “Milk and sugar?”

“Just milk, thanks.” Terry watched Gil leave, then his gaze flicked back to me. He looked like he was about to say something when Holden interrupted.

“Hey, Terry.” Holden waved from the race. “Welcome to the circus, man. I can give you a bit of a tour after, if you want?”

Terry waved back. “I don’t want to hold you up.”

“You won’t. But as for the guy next to you—” Holden shot me a wide grin. “—maybe when you’re done chit-chatting and drinking coffee, Mister Veterinarian, you can find time to join me in the ram pen. The sooner we start, the sooner we finish.”

I grinned and pointed to my still half-full coffee mug. “I’m on break, don’t you know?”

Holden laughed. “You’re always on break.”

I flipped Holden off and emptied the mug’s contents into the closest pen. “I better go before he gets punchy. Grab a seat and enjoy the show, but maybe not too much, yeah?” I tipped my head to the left and Terry switched his gaze to where a bare-chested Holden was looking far too sexy for my liking.

Terry laughed. “You’ve lost your mind.” But there was a cute smirk on his lips, which told me he liked the idea that I might be a little jealous.

Gil reappeared and passed a mug of steaming coffee to Terry. “Here you go. Get that down you.”

Terry lifted it to his nose and inhaled deeply. “Mmm. Just what I needed.”

“My pleasure.” Gil tugged at my arm. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure.” I followed him to the next pen and put my back to the railing. “What’s up?”

“Feel free to say no, but are you super busy today?”

“Not really. I’ve got McEldowney’s sow next, and after that I told Jules I’d check out his new bull and vaccinate the dogs.” I narrowed my gaze. “Why?”

Gil fought a smile. “ So suspicious.”

“With good reason,” I reminded him. “I haven’t forgotten the surprise birthday party you threw for me at the Barbecue Pit last August. My liver is still in recovery.”

He grinned. “It was a good night, right?”

I waggled a hand. “The jury’s still out.”

He snorted. “You suck at lying. Anyway , why don’t you take Terry along for the ride today, if he’s interested. He could see a couple of different stations, meet a few locals, that kind of thing. Some people even say that you’re good company. Not me, of course, but some do.” He grinned wickedly.

“Gee, thanks.”

He smirked. “You’re welcome. I just thought he might find it interesting, and you two seem to have hit it off.” He paused to waggle his brows and I scowled. “Just saying. Besides, I’m heading into Oakwood later this afternoon. I could pick him up from the clinic if you wanted.”

I glanced over Gil’s shoulder to find Terry’s gaze locked on the two of us. When our eyes met, he flushed and quickly looked away. “I don’t know. And stop that.” I stabbed a finger his way.

“Stop what?” He threw me an innocent look.

“That,” I repeated. “Matchmaking. How do you know he isn’t straight?”

Gil lowered his voice and flicked a look Terry’s direction. “For one, you have excellent radar and it’s written all over your face.”

I groaned.

“And two—” He hooked a thumb in Terry’s direction. “—does that look like a man who’s only interested in the workings of a woolshed?”

I stole a look at Terry who had given up watching Holden and was back studying... me. I swallowed hard. “Let it go, Gil,” I warned. “Seriously. It’s complicated for Terry. That’s all I’m gonna say.”

“I knew it!” Gil whisper-shouted with glee. “Fuck me, Spencer. Is there anyone in this fucking country who doesn’ t fall for your charms?”

“I can name quite a few,” I retorted, drilling him with a meaningful glare. “You, for one.”

“Yeah, well, I was a little... distracted at the time.” He glanced toward Holden who caught the look and blew him a kiss. “But I take your point about Terry.” Gil turned back to me. “It’s none of my business, and I won’t say a word, you know that. Although I have to say, he’s hardly your usual type.”

I rolled my eyes. “For the sake of my sanity, I’m not going to ask who you think is my usual type and just move on. Besides, there is Nothing. Going. On . We simply hit it off when he brought Miller to the clinic. It’s not a crime to be friendly, Gil. Terry’s a nice guy.”

Gil gave me a look that let me know he wasn’t buying my bullshit for a second. “A nice guy with killer blue eyes.”

I groaned. “You’re such an arsehole.”

He grinned. “No argument there. But putting all that aside,” his tone turned serious. “I simply want the man to have an enjoyable day. He’s obviously stressed.”

Something I already knew. I thought of our proposed lunchtime meetup and decided Gil’s was a better idea, not that I’d tell him that. “Okay, I’ll ask.” I stabbed my finger into his chest. “But only because we had a tentative arrangement to meet for a chat today, anyway.”

It was Gil’s turn to look surprised. “A chat ? Really? As in actual words?”

I flicked him on the forehead. “Jesus, you lot have no faith. I can do more than just take guys to bed, you know. I can make friends as well.”

Gil blinked but said nothing, clearly struggling not to laugh.

“Fuck you.” I gave Gil’s shoulder a forceful nudge with mine as I passed, but all he did was chuckle.

Terry’s response to my invitation was immediate. “Really? Are you sure? I’d love to.”

I couldn’t stop the grin that split my face from ear to ear at his obvious excitement. That was until I caught sight of Gil standing at the woolshed door, wearing a shit-eating grin. I glared at him to get lost. The man really was irritating as fuck.

“I’d have to be back here in time for Hannah,” Terry pointed out but I already had a solution for that.

“We should be done by three-ish, and if Zach and Hannah are in Oakwood today, then maybe Zach could stop by the clinic when they’re done?” I suggested. “That way Hannah could see Miller, and Zach could bring you both back.”

Terry beamed. “That’s a great idea. I’ll need to check it’s all right with Zach, of course, and just so we’re clear, I was less than useful on our own farm as a kid, so don’t go getting your expectations up that I can be of any help. My job as a kid was restricted to hosing down the milking shed, feeding out, and driving the machinery. I was definitely not allowed to be in charge of the milking or have any close contact with the herd. According to my parents, the animals could smell my fear and trepidation. That about says it all.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Can you take notes and wield a clipboard?”

He stood a little straighter. “With the best.”

I grinned. “Then that’ll work just fine. I’ve got a spare pair of coveralls, but if you want anything from the cottage, I can stop by on the way out. I’ll just finish with these rams Holden wants me to take a look at, and then we’ll be off.”

“Can I come and watch?”

I hesitated. “We’ll be talking breeding programmes and performance. Hardly riveting conversation.”

His gaze remained steady on mine. “I think I’ll be the judge of that.”

I shrugged. “Don’t say you weren’t warned, and you have to promise to ask Holden lots and lots of questions.” I checked over my shoulder to make sure the man in question wasn’t standing right behind me. “God bless him, that man loves to talk about his precious merinos, but if he’s busy with you, it’ll give me time to examine the rams without him interrupting me every five seconds.”

Terry chuckled. “Is this the part where I earn my spot in your truck for the day?”

I shot him a wink. “Absolutely. We’ll head to McEldowney Station first and then on to Lane Station. And if you think Holden is singularly focused on his mob, wait until you meet Jules Lane and his father. Now there’s an interesting family.”

Terry rubbed his hands together with obvious glee. “Colour me intrigued. I expect all the country gossip before we arrive.”

I laughed. “You really are small town, aren’t you?”

He grinned and pulled out his phone. “You have no idea. I’ll give Zach a call while I’m waiting.”

“Tell him we should be back at the clinic by three thirty, but there’s no rush if he needs more time. I can always put you to work,” I added and was rewarded by that familiar shy blush that I couldn’t seem to get enough of.

I dragged my eyes away from Terry’s and called over to Holden. I pointed to the far pen, and he nodded and started walking along the top railing to meet us there.

“After you.” I waved Terry ahead, trying and failing to ignore the way his arse moved hypnotically in those faded jeans.

Feeling the heat of someone’s gaze on my back, I glanced over my shoulder toward the woolshed door to find Gil smiling smugly.

Fucker.