‘I taught myself to ride here,’ I say. ‘I loved the animals, the sunsets, the bushland. I want to put the bad memories behind me and focus on the good ones.’
When Anna crouches next to Tara and pats the ground, Keith Urban, tail wagging, comes to join her. ‘How’s Mr Henry getting on?’
‘He should be out of hospital soon.’
‘Gordon used to keep an eye on the native birds that nest at the primary school. I’m a teacher there now. Your name is still up on the Dux board—four years straight.’
‘I was probably a nuisance.’
‘You were sent to high school two years early.’ She grimaces. ‘That’d never happen today.’
‘Schools didn’t know what to do with me.’
‘You were special needs in a different way. They should have catered to that.’
‘Just to make things clear …’ My attempt at a smile fails dismally. ‘I didn’t come back to Summerfield to revisit my school days.’
She puffs out a breath. ‘In which case, you might not want to do what I was going to ask you to do.’
‘Try me.’
‘The school has a farm project, like a small hobby farm, so the town kids can get hands-on experience in animal husbandry and land care. When Dr Brown was still around, he looked after the stock when they needed it. After what you’ve just said I’m not sure you’d want to do it but—’
‘Are the animals kept in the school hall?’
‘You have my word they aren’t,’ she says mock solemnly, before smiling again. ‘We have two goats, twelve sheep and a pony.’ She winks. ‘We also have chooks; their eggs are a bonus.’
‘Sign me up, no problem.’
She reaches into her bag and takes out a foil-wrapped container. ‘I made you a lasagne. Vegetarian, just in case. You might have something sorted for tonight, but pop this in the fridge and it’ll keep for days.’
‘Thank you, but …’ The thought of the decomposing cat turns my stomach. ‘I can’t use the kitchen in the terrace. It’s not habitable. Not yet.’
‘Why not?’
When I give a sanitised version of what I found, Anna winces. ‘For the past year, Dr Brown has refused to let Julia past his surgery. She and Cam were worried he’d left things in a mess.’
‘The waiting room and vet spaces are fine, but I can’t risk having animals or people in here until the kitchen is scrubbed and sterilised, the fridge is taken away and the rest of the place is assessed. I’ve booked a specialist team to do it, but they can’t start until Wednesday. After that, I’ll have to get a new fridge and whatever else I need delivered.’
‘Where will you stay until it’s done?’
‘I’ll find an Airbnb.’
‘There’s only one in Summerfield.’
‘If I give you my number, can you text me a link? I’ll only need it for a week.’
When she scoops Tara up, the little girl squeals. ‘It’s not on Airbnb yet,’ Anna says, ‘because the owner hasn’t got around to listing it.’
‘I’m happy to call them directly.’
‘Cam didn’t want the hassle of setting it up.’ Smiling brightly, she settles Tara on her hip.
‘I don’t want—’
‘He bought the cabin, it was originally a tiny house on a trailer, so he’d have somewhere to live when he was building. Since he moved into the main house the cabin has been empty, but it’ll have everything you’ll need and the views are sensational. You’ll love it.’
Chapter 4