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Back The Orchardist's Daughter
Chapters (57)
  1. COVER PAGE
  2. PRAISE
  3. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  4. DEDICATION
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. PART I SEEDS
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. PART II GERMINATION
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. PART III GROWTH
  29. 21
  30. 22
  31. 23
  32. 24
  33. 25
  34. 26
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. PART IV UNDERSTOREY
  42. 33
  43. 34
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. 42
  52. 43
  53. 44
  54. 45
  55. 46
  56. EPILOGUE
  57. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Leon carried Bonnie down the street, blood dripping from her nose. Toby swung open the door so Leon could get in with the dog. Then Toby banged his hand on the side of his car and shouted, ‘Come on, lady. Move your car so we can get going.’

The lady bustled into her car and pulled over in front of the post office. Then Toby drove up the street, revving his engine loudly.

Max waved to Leon as they went past, but Leon didn’t see him because he was bent over Bonnie. They were gone in a cloud of blue fumes.

When Max turned around to walk up the street, he saw Miki at the door of the shop. Kurt was a shadow behind her, his hand on her arm. He was like a bear holding on to her. She saw Max and waved, then Kurt tugged her into the shop.

31

31

In the back seat of Toby’s ute, Leon shoved Coke cans and chocolate wrappers onto the floor, then sat with his broken dog on his lap. His hands shook as he stroked her battered head. She had scrapes and nicks everywhere, drops of blood from her nose. She was so unlike her usual self. How many times had he wished she would grow up and become quieter? Now his little dog was in pain.

Toby was concentrating on driving. They were already on the highway and heading out of town past the footy field, which was almost empty, only a few cars left—probably somebody cleaning the change rooms after the game. Toby was disregarding the speed signs.

‘Thanks for taking me,’ Leon said.

Toby hurled his ute around corners. ‘It’s been a bad day. How’s she going?’

‘She doesn’t look good.’ Leon ran a hand over Bonnie’s shoulder. She was more settled now and the huffing had subsided, but it was as if she had wilted, all her puppy energy gone. ‘I can’t believe I’m so upset about a dog.’

‘Part of your family,’ Toby said.

Leon tugged gently at Bonnie’s soft ears as they spun down to the river, following the road along the silvery water.

‘Dogs are great,’ Toby went on. ‘Always happy to see you.’ He chuckled. ‘More than I can say for the missus.’

‘I’ve heard your missus is a good woman.’

‘Yeah.’ Toby glanced in the rear-view mirror. ‘Steph puts up with me.’ He was fiddling with his phone while he kept an eye on the road. He handed the phone back to Leon. ‘Want to call the vet and let her know you’re coming? I’ve pulled up the number.’

Leon was relieved when Kate answered the call. He quickly explained the situation before asking, ‘Is it okay to see us?’

‘Sure. Just knock on the door.’

He reached forward and passed the phone back to Toby. ‘Heard any more about Mooney?’ he asked.