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“Can I see them?” Benni asked, voice full of awe.
“As long as you’re quiet and don’t scare them,” said Kee.
“It’s fine,” Wazza assured her, and leaned into the dim corner, then returned with a puppy in each hand. He put them on the floor next to Benni, who got down on her hands and knees and cooed at the tiny animals. They were roughly two weeks old, and had just opened their eyes and started to explore their surroundings, crawling around on their bellies. The bitch squirmed out of her den—a pile of hessian sacks beneath a set of metal shelves running along one side of the shed—and yawned and stretched, obviously glad for an excuse to escape her offspring for a few moments.
“Be careful, bunny.” Kee made as if to bend down, then laughed as the female dog licked her hand. “Oh, she’s gorgeous,” she cooed over the kelpie. “I love dogs. It was one of the reasons I took the job at the animal shelter, so I could be around them more. Jakov never allowed us to have any pets.”
“Who’s dog is she?” Benni asked.
“Kali is Steve’s dog,” Wazza replied. That was stretching the truth. Steve might’ve purchased Kali as a puppy, but she belonged to everyone, really. She was one of the many station dogs, although possibly Steve’s favorite. They had a few of them to help with the cattle. But more than that, a dog was an everyday part of running a farm. They were part of the culture, as much as the horses, and barbed wire, and dusty boots.
The farm dogs normally slept in a suite of kennels on the other side of the stables. Because there were so many guests around, Daniella didn’t want the dogs roaming around at night. Kali had broken away from her kennel and no one could find her for over two days. Then Wazza had heard a noise while he’d been hunting around for the large wrench which normally lived on the shelf at the back of the shed. He’d got down on his hands and knees and found the missing dog, with five gorgeous puppies all suckling noisily. Kali was a black-and-tan kelpie, as was the purebred father from a neighboring property, and so we’re all her puppies. Steve was delighted when Wazza told him that he’d found her. The puppies would be worth a pretty penny if Steve decided to sell them. Quality working dogs were highly sought after out here, and Kali had impeccable breeding, as well as a friendly nature.
“Are you all right here for a while? I need to get back to fixing the tractor.”
“What? Of course,” Kee said hastily. “Don’t let us take up any more of your time.”
Wazza strode down the length of the shed to where the tractor sat waiting for him. But he couldn’t help himself, and he turned to stare at the two figures half-hidden in the gloom. Benni was still on her hands and knees, making encouraging noises as she tenderly patted one of the puppies. She was extremely gentle, and Wazza decided that she hadn’t needed her mother’s words of warning. It was as if she had an affinity with the animals. Much as Kee did. Other kids might’ve yelled or jumped around, scaring the dogs, but Benni sat calmly, moving with care, and not picking the puppies up, but instead letting them come to her.
Kee’s slim figure was silhouetted by a ray of light shining through a hole in the iron. From this angle, in those tight-fitting shorts and tank top, with the Akubra on her head, he could appreciate her curves, her thin waist and nice legs. She was a damn attractive woman. Then she glanced in his direction, and he was struck by how young and forsaken she looked. Out of place. His heart went out to her, because it was obvious she had no idea what she was doing, or how she was going to solve this shitpile of trouble she’d got herself into.
He wanted to help her. Help them both. Right at that second, he made a vow. He’d do whatever it took to make sure she wasn’t in this alone. Whatever it took.
