Red Queen by Honey Brown Read Free Book Online Page A

into a routine for two weeks. Rohan fished and hunted, I clipped my way through the wool-blind sheep and collected wood, and Denny padded barefoot around the yard and had the cabin swept and dusted into a breezy new home.
    Rohan included her in conversations regarding the food or changes around the cabin. We all played cards each night. Denny joined me on the veranda once Rohan was in bed, and we talked quietly, or didn’t talk. I didn’t play the guitar. But regardless of the routine, Rohan’s trust seemed sudden.
    I didn’t know if I liked Rohan trusting Denny.
    She was tall and informal before me. The weight she’d put on showed more in her arms than anywhere else. It was obvious now that she was going to fill out into something impressive. Rohan was more content with her restored strength, and even, to a point, her initiative around the cabin and in the yard – although he’d drawn the line at her taking down the photos in the hallway, and had made her put them back up.
    Now, with one foot propped on top of the other, she had a bubbling excitement about her. I thought she might swing around in a circle or bounce on her filthy feet, but she looked to rein it in.
    ‘That’s good,’ I muttered.
    The back door was wedged open and the windows let in broad bands of sun. A cool flowthrough swirled around me. Denny kept what my mother would have called a fresh home . Rain, hail or shine the windows and doors were open.
    Clutter also bugged Denny. Slowly but surely she was stowing ornaments and clearing surfaces of lace doilies.
    I opened the fridge, then spun quickly to look at the sink. ‘Hey? Have you two eaten?’
    On the draining-board were a dirty frying pan and two plates.
    Denny rubbed behind her ear.
    ‘I don’t believe it,’ I said. ‘What did you have?’
    ‘Bubble and squeak.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘There’s some in the oven for you.’
    ‘You ate without me? Did you sit and have breakfast with Rohan?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘And not get me? What happened to the eating all together rule?’
    ‘He—’
    ‘This is so typical of him. I just love the way the rules are final, until he chooses to change them. What if it had been me – imagine the shit I’d cop if I decided one morning to fry up a heap of leftovers and sit down to a huge breakfast?’
    ‘I think he wanted you to get some sleep. You’ve been working really hard, and I think —’
    ‘He could have said something last night. God, he was fanatical about meal times. You weren’t here for the lecture I got on the importance of equally sharing the food, no-one eating behind the other’s back. Shit! Did he say anything about it this morning?’
    ‘Only to tell you that yours was in the oven.’
    I walked to the sink and stood staring at the dirty plates. ‘He cooked?’
    Denny paused. ‘No.’
    I spun around.
    ‘He let you cook? And he ate it – what you cooked?’
    ‘I’m sorry if this has upset you. I really don’t think it was meant that way at all. I got the impression that he wanted you to sleep – that he’s been proud of what you’ve been doing, and that you deserved it.’
    ‘I doubt it. If he was so bloody thoughtful why didn’t he wait an hour or so before going off to play Huckleberry Finn in the bush? We could have eaten together … I would have liked that, for you to cook …’
    ‘I’m sorry. Sit down and I’ll get it for you. Come on, I’ll spoil you.’
    I stayed at the sink, breathing hard, not the least bit hungry.
    ‘Fuck! If he wants respect for his high and mighty commands he should at least stick to them.’
    ‘Come on.’ She came close to me. ‘I’ll squeeze you an orange juice.’
    ‘Did you two have that?’
    I scanned the sink for any sign that they had.
    ‘No,’ she said laughing. ‘But we’ve got enough oranges to cure the world of scurvy – and that might not be an exaggeration. I don’t think he’s going to mind if I make you a glass of juice.’
    ‘What did you talk about with