The Golden Stranger by Karen Wood

Author:Karen Wood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV000000
ISBN: 9781742695549
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd
Published: 2012-03-19T04:00:00+00:00

15

THE AROMA OF cinnamon buns seemed as wonderfully comforting as always when Shara walked into the bakery that afternoon. She took her place behind a thin woman with greying hair and waited for Jess to finish serving her.

Jess popped her head around the woman. ‘Be with you in a sec, Shara.’

The woman turned and looked Shara up and down. Shara met her gaze. Her face had the deep-rutted wrinkles of a smoker. In her arms were two large paper sacks filled with day-old bread. She pushed past Shara, opened the door–handle with her elbow and disappeared out the bakery door.

‘Who was that?’ Shara asked Jess.

Jess motioned for her to come closer. ‘She’s one of the Connemans, they’re back in town,’ she said in a hushed voice. ‘She was asking all about you, even where you live!’

Shara went to the window and peeked between the net curtains. Some way down the street, the woman got into a small red sedan and closed the door. Shara recognised the car as the one that had nearly run her over that morning.

‘Everyone in town is talking about Corey. They’re all coming in here asking if he stole a horse.’

Shara snorted with outrage. ‘The rumour mill is unbelievable in this town,’ she said. ‘What did Mr Hoskins say?’

‘Not much. He said, “I’ll see what I can do.”’ Jess held up her hands and shrugged.

Shara peeked back out the window. The car was still there, with two people sitting in the front. Her mind raced. ‘What are they doing there?’

Jess joined her at the window. ‘Stalking you, by the look of it.’

‘Why?’

‘Because they hate you?’

‘Why? What did I do?’

‘Errr, spray-painted all their brumbies, splashed them all over the front page of the local newspaper, forced them to surrender ten of their horses. Nearly put them out of business. Then there was the incident down in Brisbane . . . ’ ‘Okay, okay! But it wasn’t just me!’

‘Yeah, but you’re the one they busted.’

Shara cursed under her breath. This conversation was doing nothing to make her feel safer.

‘Want me to ring the cops?’

‘And tell them what?’ said Shara. ‘They’re not doing anything wrong. They’re just sitting in a car eating.’

A large white LandCruiser pulled up and parked behind the red car. John Duggin stepped out.

‘Oh no, it’s Corey’s dad! He’ll be so angry!’ Shara briefly considered slipping out the back door.

‘Is that the oven timer I can hear beeping?’ said Jess, heading for the kitchen.

‘Don’t just leave me here,’ hissed Shara.

John opened the door with such force that Shara thought the bell would jingle itself off its fixtures. He stalked to the counter and stared at the display of cakes with a tight face and his hands tucked into his dark-blue coveralls.

‘Can I help you?’ asked Jess, so meekly she sounded ridiculous.

John pulled a small plastic bag from his pocket and slapped it on the counter. Inside was the small lock of cream-coloured horse hair. So he had spoken to Mr Hoskins.

Shara stepped forward. ‘Hi, John.’

John’s eyes flashed to her.

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