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‘Rebecca. I don't think she enjoyed it. She ended up drunk and hurling in the gutter somewhere.'

‘Is she your … girlfriend?'

‘Used to be. Though after the other night I don't know why.'

‘Did she follow you up here?'

‘No, she didn't know I lived here. She left Sydney before I did. I knew her boyfriend worked for a rodeo but I didn't think it was the same one that just passed through town.'

‘Where is she now?'

‘I don't know. I haven't seen or heard from her since. The rodeo left town weeks ago, so I guess she and her boyfriend left with it.'

‘I wouldn't be so sure,' Caitlyn said.

Brett followed her gaze to the door. Dressed in a fluorescent green crop top and black hip-hugging shorts, Rebecca walked into the takeaway. Her hair was a mess but seductive. She strolled up to the counter and leaned over the cash register until the cook came to serve her.

‘What's she still doing here?' Brett groaned.

‘I thought the rodeo left town.'

‘It did. Maybe she's just sobered up.'

Caitlyn laughed quietly and they both looked back at the counter.

‘Oh no. Now she's seen us.' Brett hid his face by pretending to rub his temples. ‘Is she coming over here?' he asked.

Caitlyn nodded. ‘What should we do?'

But it was too late.

‘Hello!'

Brett glanced up. ‘Oh, hi Rebecca. I thought you would've left with the rodeo by now.'

‘No! The best thing happened! I dumped Joe after meeting this gorgeous guy who lives on a property near here. He said I could stay with him as long as I want. Isn't that great? Now we can hang out together again like old times.'

‘Yer … great,' Brett said.

Rebecca eyed the seat next to him until he got the hint. Reluctantly, he shuffled over and glanced at Caitlyn. He couldn't tell what she was thinking at that moment. But he knew it couldn't be good.

Rebecca looked across at Caitlyn, finally acknowledging that there were in fact three people sitting at this table, not just two. ‘Oh … hi,' she said. ‘I'm Rebecca.'

‘Caitlyn.'

‘Are you from round here?'

‘I live on a property upriver.'

‘A property? What do you do? Do you work? Or do you go to school still?'

‘I go to school.'

‘Oh,' Rebecca said, drawing out the word. ‘What year? Nine?'

‘Eleven,' Caitlyn corrected, the friendly smile fading from her beautiful face.

‘Really? You look a little young to be in year eleven. How old are you?'

‘Sixteen,' Brett interrupted, not liking Rebecca's catty tone. ‘And she is in year eleven.'

‘You studying to be anything in particular? Or are you planning on being a farmer's wife for the rest of your life? Have a few kids —'

‘No, I'm not going to be a “farmer's wife”,' Caitlyn said, an edge to her voice. ‘I'm hoping to go to uni like my brothers and study veterinary science or maybe biology.'

‘Veterinary science or biology? I thought you had to be smart to get into uni.'

‘Sorry?'

‘You know — brains. It isn't like milking a cow, you know.'

Caitlyn stood up. ‘I'm sorry. I have to leave,' she said. ‘Excuse me.'

‘Don't go.' Brett stood up too.

She looked at him then Rebecca. ‘Maybe some other time.'

And she left.

‘Is it something I said?' Rebecca asked, watching Caitlyn leave.

Brett glared at his ex. He couldn't believe what she'd just done. ‘Thanks a lot, Rebecca,' he said.

‘Forget about her. She's too precious. Take a seat and we can talk about what we're going to do in this hole for the next few months.' She pulled on Brett's hand but he yanked it away violently. ‘Get out of my face!' he said.

Running outside, he yelled, ‘Caitlyn! Wait!'

She stopped in the middle of the street and he joined her.

‘I'm, uh, sorry about that,' he said. ‘I tried to get rid of her.'

‘I know,' Caitlyn said. ‘But I had to leave though. I don't like her.'

‘Don't worry. I just told her off. I won't let her talk to you like that.'

‘You didn't have to do it. I can look after myself.'

‘Maybe, but you're my friend. I don't like my friends being treated that way.'

A car approached and they both finished walking to the other side. ‘Thanks,' she said. ‘But I still better go.'

‘Can't wait until you can find a “cure” for that flu of yours, huh?'

‘No,' she answered, grinning again. ‘And I shouldn't be going alone either. You wouldn't happen to know anyone who'd like to walk with me, would you?'

Brett grinned coyly. ‘I know one guy who would.'

‘Oh yes? Who?'

‘Brett! Time's up, Romeo. C'mon. We've got to get back to The Farm.'

‘
Sam
!' Brett hissed across the street.

His feelings in the open now thanks to the old man, Brett glanced over his shoulder and saw Caitlyn barely controlling a wide smile. His confidence rose again. He wasn't the only one blushing! She liked him too!

He wondered if the right time was now. Maybe he should ask her. Clearly she liked him. He swallowed back the fear. He had to get it over with. At least he'd know once and for all if she liked him. It'd be better than suffering for the next couple of weeks, wondering.

‘It'll have to be another day,' he started safely. ‘I have to go. But that doesn't mean we can't, um —'

‘We can't what?' Caitlyn asked.

‘We — er — I mean —'

‘Yes?'

Brett gave a stupid little laugh. He never was good at asking girls out. ‘Don't worry. It's dumb.'

‘What?' Caitlyn pushed. ‘C'mon. Tell me.'

He was dead certain she knew. ‘I, er — no, I can't.'

This was ridiculous. He wanted to ask Caitlyn out but he was scared. Of what? A girl!

‘Brett, whatever it is I promise I won't think it's dumb.'

‘Yes you will. That or you'll get all embarrassed and I'll get all embarrassed and —'

‘Brett, ask me.'

He looked at her face and he knew everything was all right. She not only knew but she
wanted
him to ask her out.

With a deep breath he said, ‘Even though you're never going to talk to me again, I want to know if you wanted to — like, y'know — go out with me to a movie or something?'

There he'd said it! Now he just hoped she'd kill him off quickly.

Biting back an enormous smile, Caitlyn said, ‘All right.'

‘All right?'

‘Yes,' she nodded. ‘All right.'

Brett nearly howled as Caitlyn got all shy and red-
faced again. They looked at each other and smiled, not knowing what to do next. A car horn blasted from across the street. Brett didn't have to turn round to realise it was Sam.

Brett turned to leave. ‘I better go. I'll catch you later then?'

‘When?' she called.

‘How about tomorrow?'

‘I'll be at school.'

‘Catch another cold.'

‘I can't. Two in one week's too obvious.'

‘What about after school?'

‘I'm working at the store.'

‘How about this weekend?'

‘I'm going to my aunt's on Sunday.'

‘Saturday then?'

‘I promised Dad I'd help him round the property.'

‘Oh, okay.' Brett felt cheated. Asking Caitlyn out on a date was all for nothing if they couldn't see each other. And that was before he'd even begun to figure out how to get past Sam to see her.

‘But that doesn't mean you can't come over and help me,' she shouted.

‘Sold!' Brett called back. ‘What time?'

‘Nine o'clock?'

‘Great. I'll see you then.'

‘It's a date.'

Brett waved back as he dodged another car to reach the ute. He was lucky not to be run over. His mind was doing cartwheels! He had a date with Caitlyn Douglas! The girl of his dreams! On Saturday! Nine o'clock! At —?

‘Caitlyn!' he yelled out. She stopped and turned round. ‘Where do you live?'

‘“Yuriyuri”,' she answered. ‘Just follow the river east. You can't miss it.'

That settled, she waved a final goodbye. His face glowing, Brett watched her leave until Sam honked the horn once again.

Pushing himself off the dirt, Brett started sprinting! His boots thudded on the ground as he ran across the paddock. He made it two hundred metres, looked over his shoulder then hit the dirt again. Sam was about to glance his way! Frog realised it too and distracted the old man. It worked. Brett got to his feet again and made another hundred metres. Within five minutes, he'd escaped. He pulled up a small distance away from the property's turn off then flagged down the first approaching car to hitch a ride.

With some help from the driver, he found where Caitlyn lived. It was a white medium-sized homestead set on a large property with beef cattle, geese and chickens. He banged on the front door again, shifting from one foot to the other, maybe a
little too anxious to see Caitlyn. He knew that. But he'd thought Saturday would never come. He'd nearly gone crazy counting down the days until he got to see her again. So far, Sam knew nothing of the escape; only a couple of the guys. And just as they closed ranks to cover a wrongdoing, they closed ranks for something they thought was right. Brett knew he had to be back before the afternoon rollcall — if not sooner. He had two hours — or three tops — before Sam would become suspicious. (The guys could only lie for him for so long.) And if the old man found out before that, Brett could expect to be punished accordingly.

No one answered the door and he started to worry. She had said nine o'clock hadn't she?

He pressed his face against the frosted-glass window to see if anyone was moving inside and thought he saw something. In old houses like this one it could've just been a shadow. He tried the door. It wasn't locked. But he didn't go inside. Knowing his luck, Caitlyn's parents would catch him and think he was breaking in.

A noise rumbled from the east and Brett looked round. A tractor chained to a crackling cluster of dead timber bounced into view over a small rise. On board the blue monster were three people: a man in
his late fifties, a woman with silver hair and a teenage girl. It was them.

Brett stayed out of sight for a while longer as he watched Caitlyn and her parents ride towards the house. They looked like they'd been awake for some time now, clearing the cattle paddocks of dead trees. Mr Douglas stopped the tractor behind the house and he and his daughter stepped off to unchain the timber. Even sweaty and covered in dust, Caitlyn looked sexy. Her hair was pulled back in its usual ponytail, leaving her with that cute fringe. She hadn't seen him yet, so this gave him a chance to check out what mood her parents were in. They seemed mellow enough. Good. Last time had been a disaster.

Before showing himself, Brett double-checked that he looked respectable — well, passable. He'd borrowed the best shirt he could find and some hair gel from one of the guys. He'd never used gel before but he'd never met a girl like Caitlyn before. He'd also borrowed and slapped enough aftershave on his face to kill a skunk, brushed his teeth (three times), sprayed himself with deodorant (four times) and scrubbed enough zit cream into his face to nuke any pimples that might surface over the next decade. Not too much like a pretty boy hopefully — but just right.

Caitlyn disappeared round the far corner of the
house and Brett didn't know whether to wait until she returned or to rock up to her parents first and say hello. He'd have to meet them eventually. And now was a good time. He took several deep breaths, wiped his hands on his jeans and practised what he was about to say. With a final sigh, he stepped forward — and nearly browned his daks when a hand grabbed him from behind.

‘G'day!' Caitlyn laughed. ‘I didn't scare you, did I?'

‘Nah,' Brett said, hoping it was only his tongue and not his heart which had leapt out of his throat. ‘I'll have to change my jocks though.'

Caitlyn smiled. ‘Well, you surprised me. I didn't expect you to come till nine.'

Brett looked at his watch. It read 9:04. ‘Hey?'

‘You're an hour early.'

Brett looked at his watch again. Yep, he was on time.

Then Caitlyn finally understood. ‘Sorry, it's my fault. I should have told you nine o'clock Queensland time. Your side of the border is an hour ahead of us because of daylight saving.' Then, smirking, she added, ‘Typical Newsouthwelshman. Always in a rush to get somewhere.'

‘Typical Queenslander,' Brett shot back. ‘Always behind the times.'

She laughed. ‘Did you have any trouble getting here?'

‘No, I hitchhiked. But I'll be in trouble if Sam finds out I'm gone. He'll probably ring the cops and I'll be sent back to Sydney to a real jail.'

‘So you're on the run, huh?'

‘For a couple of hours at least.'

They smiled before Brett asked cheekily, ‘So what are we going to do today?' He knew what
he
felt like doing.

‘Some work. You think you're up to it?'

‘Of course,' he said, if a little hesitantly. When Caitlyn had said the other day that he could come over and help her and her dad round the property, he'd thought he would be opening a gate or two, or chucking feed off the back of a ute. But from what he'd seen already, Caitlyn had meant
real
work. The hard stuff. The stuff you broke a sweat over. Or your back. ‘What do you want me to do?'

‘First, come and see my parents. Dad'll tell you what to do.'

‘Is it safe?' Brett joked, half-serious.

‘Of course. C'mon.'

They walked round the back of the house. Mr and Mrs Douglas were where Caitlyn had left them by the tractor, taking a breather.

‘Mum, Dad, this is my friend, Brett — the one who's here to help us out.'

There was silence for a few seconds as both Mr and Mrs Douglas realised exactly who Brett was.

‘You!' Mr Douglas spat. ‘What are you doing on my property?'

‘I'm here to work, sir.'

‘Work? There's no work here for you, young man.'

‘But Caitlyn said —'

‘I don't care what my daughter said. We're a hardworking family and we don't need the help of lowlifes like you.'

‘Dad! Don't talk to Brett that way!'

‘I'll talk to him however I like, Cait.'

‘What have I ever done to you to make you call me a lowlife?'

‘Coming here for a start. You're not here to work. You're here for my daughter to do who-knows-what!'

‘Dad!'

‘It's true, Cait. Do you think he honestly came here to work? It was either because of you or because he wants to case the joint.'

‘I don't have to take this,' Brett said. Then, turning to leave, he said, ‘Nice parents you have, Caitlyn.'

‘We're better than yours, I reckon,' Mr Douglas shot back. ‘What are they? Alcoholic dole bludgers too?'

‘Hey! You leave my parents out of this!' Brett shouted. ‘They're ten times better than you, old man. At least they give me a chance.'

‘Yes, and look where that's got you.'

Brett felt his temper getting out of control. This old goat was asking for it, paying out his parents like that. It was the second time Mr Douglas had had a go at him for no reason. A fat lip might shut him up.

But before he could do anything crazy, Caitlyn stepped in.

‘Brett, you better go home. I'll see you sometime else, okay?'

‘No you won't, young lady. You're not to see this boy again.'

‘But Brett's my friend!'

‘Not anymore. You're never to see him again, do you understand?'

‘No!' she shouted. ‘You can't tell me what to do!'

‘Go to your room!'

‘No!'

‘Go!'

Caitlyn ran up the steps and slammed a door behind her, her mother chasing after her.

‘And as for you —' Mr Douglas added.

‘Don't worry,' Brett said. ‘I'm leaving.'

‘Yes! Go on! Walk away! Make sure you stay away
this time because if you come near my property or my daughter again, I'll call the cops! Hear me?
Do you hear me!'

 

‘Caitlyn?' a voice called softly from her bedroom doorway.

‘Get lost!' she shouted.

There was silence for a couple of seconds before the stranger reluctantly sat on the side of the bed where she lay. He reached out and brushed her fringe gently to one side — something Caitlyn took offence at!

‘I said get lost, Dad!'

She lashed out with her pillow then both fists. The man fell off the bed and onto the ground. Worried about a second attack, he quickly scurried backwards, trying to get away from her.

‘Oh, Brett?' she said, finally seeing who it was. ‘I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!'

She rushed to his side as he rubbed his shoulders and chest. ‘I'm glad I'm not a relative,' he joked.

‘How'd you get in here?' she whispered.

Brett smiled uncertainly and ran a hand over the back of his scalp. ‘I am doing three months for break-and-enter, you know.'

‘Did Mum or Dad see you?'

‘Do you think I'd be sitting here if they did?'

‘Why'd you come back?'

‘To see you. You still owe me a favour, remember?'

‘Oh yes? And what do you have in mind?' she teased.

Brett read Caitlyn's eyes. Man, how much longer could they keep fooling each other? She liked him. He liked her. Why couldn't they both just say it?

‘Caitlyn!' her father's voice rang out again. ‘Go and help your mother in the laundry, please.'

Caitlyn rolled her eyes and sighed. She took one step to go inside but Brett grabbed her hand. ‘C'mon,' he said.

‘Where?'

‘To the river.'

‘I don't know.'

‘C'mon!' he urged, opening the window.

Caitlyn hesitated then relented.

‘Dad's going to kill me!' she shouted outside.

‘You and me both!'

They ran across the yellow-green plain, only their shadows chasing them. She laughed and he howled. They were free!

Past a row of trees, they pulled up short of the river and collapsed under a huge gum. They smiled
between puffs, their eyes lingering on each other. Brett didn't know what to do next. Their feelings for each other were still raw. So he crawled over to Caitlyn and sat beside her. Their arms touched but neither he nor she flinched.

‘What'll your father think?'

‘I don't care. Since my brothers moved away he never lets me do anything.'

‘And that includes seeing criminals?'

‘You're not a criminal.'

Brett flushed with relief. He was worried that his past was one of the reasons for Caitlyn holding back.

‘You think you're tough but you're not,' she added.

‘Do I now?' he smiled.

‘Of course. It's all an act. Even I can beat you up.'

‘Yer?'

‘Yer!'

Caitlyn tickled him and he tried to defend himself. Eventually, he started to get the upper hand and she broke away, leapt to her feet and ran through the trees, Brett chasing after her. Rabbiting one way then another, she laughed as she looked back at him. Brett kept saying, ‘I'll get you!' but held off from doing so for a little while longer to enjoy the game.

Finally, he caught her and slipped his arms round her waist. She resisted and, taking Brett totally by
surprise, flipped him and herself onto the ground. A mess of arms, legs and hair, they laughed and cried out in mock pain as they rumbled like a pair of puppies.

Defeated, he looked up at Caitlyn from the bed of long green grass. She smiled back at him, her face shadowed from the sun, and her hands pinning his wrists to the ground as she sat on top of him, determined to keep him down. She needn't have worried. He was determined never to get up.

‘Beat you,' she said. ‘Pay up.'

‘But I haven't got anything to give you.'

‘Then you'll have to find something,' she grinned, leaning forward and bringing her face close to his.

The softness of her small breasts buried themselves warmly into Brett's chest and pure thrill shivered throughout his body. Conscious of the forbidden touch, neither of them drew away, excited yet scared. His heart beat rapidly, but not alone. Caitlyn's too went wild.

Their eyes met. And for long seconds all was silent.

Then it happened.

They kissed.

And Brett fell hopelessly in love.