Race Girl (36 page)

‘Thank you!' Tully grinned as Dahlia flicked her tail, spun, and dragged Tully and Peta back to her tie stall.

Tully was wrapping a cosy rug over Dahlia after she and Peta had hosed her down and groomed her when Fia crept up, grabbing Tully in a tight hug. ‘My Little Racing Star!' she cried, kissing Tully on both cheeks. ‘How does it feel to be a metro winner?'

‘This star did all the work,' Tully said, reaching carefully under Dahlia's belly to do up her blanket straps. ‘She really is something special, isn't she, Aunt Fia?'

‘Too special to waste,' Fia said, crouching down to run her hands down Dahlia's hind legs. ‘It's time, Race Ace,' she said, giving Dahlia a pat on the rump, before moving around next to Tully. She leant in close, between Dahlia's wither and the wall of the stall. ‘It's time for you and this amazing filly of yours to live your dreams. To come try your hand on the biggest stage in the country, one of the biggest in the world.' Her green eyes met with Tully's. ‘I want the two of you down in Melbourne, at Flemington, to train with me. How does Monday sound for the truck to come and collect you?'

29

Choose One, Lose Two

Tully blinked, her mouth falling open, as her aunt spoke about making a dream she'd hardly allowed herself to contemplate become a reality. ‘The stable in Melbourne desperately needs my attention,' Fia continued, resting a hand on Tully's arm. ‘It's been so hard – I want to be up here and close to you, but it's come time that I
have
to be there.'

Tully nodded like she totally understood. In reality, her head was already spinning with the questions, the uncertainties, the possibilities of continuing the climb to the glamorous pinnacle of her sport, and what it would mean for her and Dahlia's future. For the future of her farm. For her and Brandon . . .

‘I'd like you to fly down as soon as possible,' Fia said, her eyes opening wide to soften the blow of her words. ‘So you can get started riding track work – one of my girls got knocked up, and I'm in dire straits. I can send Ashlea up to drive with Dahlia, she'll be fine. I know it's a huge decision, sweetheart, and I'm so sorry to lob this on to you. But, regardless, you
have
to keep this momentum—' Fia's mobile rang and she adjusted her sunnies on her head, staring down at the screen. ‘Bugger, sorry, sweetie. I've gotta take this. I'll ring you from Melbourne tomorrow, okay?'

‘For sure,' Tully said, kissing her aunt on the cheek. ‘Um, thanks so much, Aunt Fia. Speak soon, okay?'

Fia gave her arm a squeeze, flashed her a grin and a thumbs up as she took her call, whisking back to her horses.

Tully stared out at the passing industrial buildings, construction and city houses from the passenger seat of Mr. Barnes's ute as they headed home. Her whole body still buzzed with the excitement of their win, the surges of adrenaline coursing through her veins.

But her breath caught in her throat when the houses were replaced by the distant high-rises of Brisbane city, and her thoughts jumped from the thrills of the day to Surfer's Paradise – to how exciting and terrifying it had been in the city. Fia's offer of Melbourne returned to the forefront of Tully's mind and she was again mulling over the consequences, turning and rolling the tough conversations she'd be forced to have once the decision had been made. Her father, Brandon, Mr. Barnes, even Tam – no one would be happy about her and Dahlia making such a move.
What will happen to Brandon and me? To my farm?
Anxiety twisted inside Tully like a living creature as she paused at the threshold of the most momentous decision of her life, at the knowledge that from today her and Dahlia's lives would never be the same.

There was no choice.

They had to go.

And Brandon needed to be the first to know.

Tully rang Brandon that night, once she'd settled Dahlia at Gulherin and made it home. He was busy the next day – Sunday – in an emergency meeting with a new vet to discuss the treatment plan for Lucky Strike's stomach ulcers.

Tully decided to surprise him after feeding Greg and Frangi that morning and buzzed in at the front gate of Weston Park, checking her ponytail in her rear-view as the towering gates swung open. She was startled by her ghost-like reflection, by how navy her eyes were and by the dark violet shadows beneath each one. Then again, she supposed she shouldn't be surprised – she'd hardly slept last night, as each tick of her clock weaved another strand of fear and dread over her already aching heart, making it impossible to relax or close her eyes. She was petrified of losing Brandon, of hurting her father and Avalon, but the cavern of regret she felt looming behind her if she chose to stay was as frightening as the Bermuda Triangle. When she thought about it, her aunt's offer had hardly seemed a novel one – it was as if the
obvious
had been staring her in the face all her life and she just hadn't been brave enough to dream it. The only option
was
to go.

Tully could only pray that Brandon would understand – would consider becoming one of those couples who made the distance thing work . . .

She pinched her cheeks to at least give some colour to her cheekbones and released the clutch, creeping inside the gate. Her ute lagged, seeming to buy in to the heavy thudding of her heart as she shifted down gears and revved the engine to keep pace up the driveway.

‘Hey, Race Ace!' Brandon beamed, leaving the vet with Lucky and jogging across the stable yard to Tully.

She parked across from the parade ring, pointing down towards the main barn. Her eyes welled with tears and she turned away, wiping her face frantically.
Crap, crap, CRAP!
She scolded herself, forcing a breath and smiling like she wasn't having a panic attack.
Quit being such a pussy!

‘You okay, babe?' Brandon said, easing his long frame into the passenger side. He wrapped a steady arm around her shoulders, pulled her in for a hug. He was all cuddly in a white hoodie and ripped jeans, his hair tousled and golden, his skin warm and inviting from the chill of the day. She just wanted to cuddle into him, but his dark brown eyes burned relentlessly, forcing her forward.

‘Ah,
Brandon
. . .' Tully said, chewing her bottom lip to keep from bursting into sobs.
Why does this have to be so hard?!

‘Oh, my God, Tulls,' he leaned back, a hand on her shoulder, his eyes opening wide with concern. ‘What's happened?'

‘I'm so sorry, Brandon,' Tully said, fighting the urge to bury her head in his chest. ‘I can't believe I even considered it—it was crazy. I'd miss you way too much!'

‘Wait, what's going on?' He hugged her hard, then took her by the shoulders and rested his forehead against hers. ‘
Tell
me.'

Tully forced a deep breath, wiped her eyes.
The risk is worth it,
she told herself, doing her best to be strong, to be brave.
He's going to understand . . .
‘Aunt Fia wants Dahlia and me to move to Flemington,' she said in as determined a voice as she could manage. ‘To train for the Melbourne Cup.'

‘Well…
shit
.' His shoulders straightened. A stunned expression crossed his face, then he looked away, out his window, down over Weston Park. When his eyes finally returned to hers she was sure they were darker, crinkled at the corners.
Fear.
And she'd seen it in him before.

The memory of her sweet sixteen, of how she'd finally had him after so many years, only to lose him completely, sent Tully's mind reeling. Acid rose, burning her throat, her stomach twisting and dropping to the ground.
So this is the end?
The panic rose as she reached forward to grip Brandon's arm, holding her breath, waiting for the end.
He's gonna run again!

‘That's . . . one hell of an opportunity,' Brandon said, his eyes softening as he leant into her. Tully's heart burst with relief.
Brandon Weston's growing into a man.
‘It's the dream, Tully. It's
your
cream. I couldn't stand in the way of that,' he continued, reaching forward to brush a tear from her cheek. ‘But, you
do
want to stay together, right?'

‘Um, oh yes.
YES!
' Tully shrieked in sheer relief, throwing her arms around his neck and breathing in the mind-blowing scent of cologne and horses and home that was Brandon. ‘Of course I do, Brandon. I
love
you.'

‘I love you too, Tulls.'

They beamed at the words they'd never before spoken. Tully's smile was warm enough to melt the fear in her heart, setting her soul alight with the possibilities of their future.

‘You know I never want to go back to the city, Tully. But I'd do it for you.'

‘I couldn't ask you to come, Brandon. I never would. I'll come back to visit, and you'll be coming down with your dad for races, anyway.'

‘For sure. What's sixteen hundred kilometres, anyhow?' They both laughed nervously. ‘So, we'll have a crack at the
impossible
long distance thing, then?'

‘We'll make it look easy.'

He smiled, pulling Tully against his chest. ‘I'll miss you, my little Race Ace.'

‘I'll miss you more, Master Weston.'

‘Have you broken the news to your dad, yet?'

‘Um, no,' Tully said, snuggling in the hollow of Brandon's shoulder. She reached unconsciously for her horseshoe necklace, running her fingers over the cool stones, the silky metal. ‘I was planning to, tonight.'

Brandon leant down to kiss her. She arched against him, their lips meeting with a melting heat and eruption of sparks.

He pulled away, ran a work-roughened finger down her cheek, then flashed a cheeky, lightning-bolt grin only Brandon Weston could get away with. ‘Well—' he kissed her quickly on the forehead ‘—there's one for luck, Ace.'

30

Impossible Goodbye

Tully wasn't sure who was more furious the night she broke the news of her and Dahlia's move to Melbourne: her father, or Bucko. It was impossible to judge, she decided, as they had such different reactions to rage. Her father tended to lash out, then handle it, but Bucko brooded on things until his face went so red he looked like he'd explode.

Bucko threw his hands in the air, turning to stalk from the kitchen.

‘Bucko—wait!' Tully pleaded. ‘I value your opinion. You found Dahlia!'

Bucko halted in the doorway, wouldn't meet her eye. Tully was sure he hadn't really looked at her since she started dating Brandon. His face was beet red, creased with emotion. ‘
You
found her, Tully. You're the one that's connected with her, paid for her. Now you're making all the decisions.'

He left before she could say any more.

Tully's father sat down heavily at the kitchen table, his head in his hands. ‘We're just getting back on our feet, and you want to leave?!'

‘I'm sorry, Dad,' Tully said gently, sliding a fresh cuppa in front of him. ‘Surely, though, Dad . . . surely you can understand why we have to go?'