High Country Christmas

Chapter Thirteen- The News

I had only just had time to get a shower when I heard the whistle of the Earnslaw announcing its imminent arrival. Leah had phone earlier to say that she would be arriving back around mid morning with her sister Anna. I rushed out down to the dock, Daniel was already standing to the side leaning on the rails, so I joined him.

"Hey,' I smiled at him. He had been so pleased to have the sheep delievered to the shearers yesterday that he had helped me to put up the christmas lights on the trees as a surprise to Leah. The first day of shearing had gone well, with only a slight problem with the baling machine that compressed the wool tightly into the large hessian sacks for export. Fortunately between them, Ali and Daniel had sorted out what the problem was.

Daniel smiled back. "How are you feeling today, not too sore after the muster I hope?"

There was a bit of a tease in his tone, "I am fine, I am soo young. Unlike you. How are you feeling?"

He was quick on his reply, "Cheeky. Now...tell me. Have you had much time to talk with Ali?"

I sensed that there was more to his question than he was letting on, "What do you mean?" I frowned.

"Well, you two seem to be getting on...well?" suddenly it became clear what he was hinting at. Feeling very embarrassed I hesitated before I replied.

"We seem to, yes. But thats it." Daniel raised his eyebrows at me as if challenging what I was saying. "Oh alright, so I might feel something for him, but I am sure that the feeling is not reciprocated, and before you say anything else, you are NOT to ask him how he feels. Give the guy a break, he is just coming home and sorting things with you guys, the last thing he needs to to feel like you are fixing him up with someone," I paused before continuing, "Also, just so you know. It's over with Geoff. I got the final papers. I feel so embarrassed by the whole deal. My life ah?" I sighed.

Daniel's smile had grown as I talked, I tried to look sternly at him, but failed. I felt so close to him. I wondered if this is what daughters usually felt for their dads. I knew that Daniel wouldn't say anything to Ali about a relationship with me and I could trust him with the news about Geoff. But it didn't stop him giving me a bit of a friendly ribbing.

Daniels smile eased with affection, when he said, "You know, the mistakes of our past don't define us." He paused and sighed looking out over the lake, "I learnt that one the hard way. If anyone, it doesn't matter who it is, son or not, doesn't treat  you right, look out! . You know how I've always felt about Geoff." Daniel looked grim. " Sascha, this is your home and Geoff isn't welcome here." I slipped my arm around his waist.

"Thanks for that. You know you're pretty great, right?" he gruffly shook his head in a humorous way. Both our eyes were on the passengers disembarking from the Earnslaw.

Seemed like a good number of Americans and a few Japanese tourists this time. After they cleared the boat, I noticed Ali and Keith standing on the far side of the dock, on a small lawn of grass, just above the stone beach on the fore shore.

Leah hurried over to us, a smile of relief on her face as she was hugged by Daniel. She reached an arm out to me and pulled me in as well. "Thanks for letting me go over to Queenstown at such short notice. Anna was happier to meet me there, and only come back over once you had all arrived back from the muster.  You won't believe it but she had this darling little girl with her. Anna hasn't said much yet, I know it is late in life for them to have managed an adoption, but I wonder if..."

The words were left hanging as we watched Anna greet first Keith then Ali. Ali didn't take his eyes off the little girl balanced on Anna's hip. He seemed to be waiting for something, hands in the pockets of his knee length shorts. He looked great, all showered and managed to affect me even from this distance. Anna was talking to the little girl, who nodded and reached out for Ali.