Clouds over Featherwood Falls by Heather Reyburn

Author:Heather Reyburn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heather Reyburn

23

Zoe gazed at her newfound friend. Until this morning, the opportunity for the two girls to meet hadn’t eventuated, first because of heavy rain and then because, according to Claire, Penny had come down with a cold and her grandmother had confined her to bed. Although Penny was a year older than Zoe and approaching her final year of high school, the girls had quickly discovered their mutual enjoyment in riding, music—and the heartbreak of coping with parental issues.

‘I promised Granny I’d help her tomorrow,’ Penny said. ‘We’ve got a Christmas party booked for Saturday and I said I’d be there to set everything up.’

As they had circumnavigated half the farm with Claire calling out instructions and giving a running commentary about the animals, trees, how the windmill-and-trough system worked, and a myriad of other farm-related information, the girls had also found time to exchange snippets of the how-and-why-we’re-here scenario. Penny’s tone had taken a bitter edge as she described her life attempting to achieve goals set by her parents—much like Natalia, Zoe had thought. Now Penny’s parents had announced their plan to divorce. The shock had hit Penny like a sledgehammer and the bitterness flamed.

Uneasiness squirmed in Zoe’s gut. She didn’t want to hear any more. A vision of Catherine dominated her thoughts, and a wave of grief washed over her. Distracted by Penny’s problems, her own enjoyment of the patchwork of fields, the rich black soil, and the kaleidoscope of crops and grasses was momentarily extinguished. Turning away from Penny, she gritted her teeth, relieved when the girl’s next revelation was how kind her grandparents had been and how much Penny enjoyed living on Kallala.

During the minutes it took to wind their way through rough-barked trunks, temporarily blocking the vista below, Penny continued her seemingly essential synopsis of life on Kallala.

Although Kallala was only a small working farm, apparently the property’s primary income came from the elaborate yet countryfied event facilities her grandparents had worked hard to achieve. Penny’s description of the rambling five-hectare gardens—a large, glass-walled reception facility, a rustic chapel framed with wisteria, and a smaller timber-and-corrugated-iron shed that served as a workshop for all manner of art and craft—had Zoe’s imagination running wild. To her, it sounded like paradise. Uncertain if Penny was exaggerating, Zoe kept her silence while they rode back to the stables.

Across the driveway, a cloud of dust signalled the arrival of a vehicle.

‘Dad’s here!’ Zoe called, twisting in the saddle, one hand on the reins and the other on the horse’s neck.

‘Perfect timing.’ Claire opened the stable gate wide and rode Akela to the railing before dismounting. After slipping the headstall over the mare’s bridle, she turned to hold the girls’ horses while they slid inelegantly to the ground.

‘Good girl, Tango.’ Zoe beamed at the horse, her face flushed with pleasure. ‘Can we come again tomorrow, Claire?’

‘Sorry, Zoe. I’ve got to finish a design project for one of my customers, so I’ll need to spend the day in the office.’

‘Oh.’ Zoe’s

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