Driftwood Read Free Page B

problematic life. He took a few more sips from his bitter coffee, wishing Frank had offered milk and sugar.
    No wonder he didn’t have a woman to share his life with. Five months after moving in, Becky had run for the hills, unable to cope with the stress of being a cattleman’s girlfriend, and straight into the arms of a rich city boy. She didn’t even have the decency to say goodbye, had just left a note, like he wasn’t even worth her breath. She’d broken his heart. He was still trying to mend it, and trying to get over his bitterness towards the human race, because lately, all anyone seemed to do was break his heart. Even his own mother — whom he loved dearly — had her moments, her binge drinking creating a massive rift in what used to be a loving mother-son relationship. Wasn’t it enough for him to lose his dad without having to worry about losing his mum as well?
    Thank God he had Tom Connors back on the station to help him out — he’d be up shit creek without him. Tom could be a cantankerous bugger when he wanted to be but Jay thought of him like a father. He’d been the head stockman at Waratah for going on twenty years and Jay had the comfort of knowing that Tom wasn’t going anywhere; Tom swore he would be taking his very last breath on the station.
    Frank raised his eyebrows and Jay groaned. He didn’t want to talk about it with Frank — or anyone else, for that matter. What good would it do anyway? Couldn’t he just keep on pretending that this life he was living was someone else’s? Pretending he was all right and handling everything like a bona fide countryman should, with a stiff upper lip and balls of steel. That was what his father would have expected of him, so that was what he was trying to do. Jay wanted his dad to be proud of him.
    â€˜I’m okay, Frank, but cheers for asking. Nothing going on in my life I can’t handle.’ Jay pinched the top of his nose, a killer headache suddenly arriving. Considering he had been up before the crack of dawn to muster his cattle, it had been one long day. ‘Anyway, both times I’ve been in here it hasn’t been my fault. Last time was because I was trying to stop a fight at the footy and this time was because I knocked some bloke out who was beating on his missus out the back of the pub. The bloody coward, picking on a woman. Scum of the frigging earth blokes are who do that. I’m glad you’ve locked him up. I hope you throw away the key.’
    Frank released a long, drawn-out breath. ‘Believe me, I agree, and I wish I could throw away the key. But still, you can’t go around clouting people, Jay. It’s against the law. You’re lucky the bloke didn’t press charges tonight considering the mess you left him in, or you would have found yourself in court. And Lord knows we don’t need you being shipped off to jail. Who’d look after Waratah then, and your dear mum? I may have been your father’s best mate but I can’t change the law to suit you. I have to uphold it. Honestly, Jay, it breaks my heart having to arrest you in front of everyone.’ Frank leant over and squeezed Jay’s shoulder. ‘Come on, mate — you’re not that guy. You’re far from it. I believe in you. You just gotta start believing in yourself.’
    Jay hung his head, angry and ashamed for letting Frank down. Again. This man was like an uncle to him. ‘I’m sorry. I’ll try harder to curb my temper from now on. Promise.’
    Frank pushed himself up, the legs of the chair scraping against the worn lino floor. ‘Please don’t give some of the old residents in Driftwood any more reasons to gossip. Remember, you have no control over what’s happened in years gone by, but you do have control over your future. Yes, your life has had more downs then ups these past few years, but you can get through all of it and come out on top