Chapter 73
"Okay, well, I guess I'll see you guys later," said Claire.
Claire did not accomplish her mission. Blake barely even knew she was there. She had even pretended to need help lifting a tire and he didn't even bother to help her. Moira, who was an older lady, had to help her. It was embarrassing. Boys are so confusing, thought Claire.
Blake seemed to like her before, but today, he didn't even know she was there in the garage with him for hours. Maybe it was just because she wasn't pretty enough to distract him from the car.
Claire mounted Parker and headed for home. She had wanted Blake to be her first real kiss. She was starting to feel like that wasn't going to ever happen with Blake or with anyone.
Moira looked at the progress that had been made on the car. The car wasn't finished, but she knew she could get it there. Stevie had been right. The boys were pretty good workers. They didn't give her much back talk and had worked hard with her for several hours. However, Blake seemed to be completely clueless to the fact that Claire spent the whole day desperately trying to get him to notice her. She had failed.
Moira thought about when she was young. She had had a hopeless crush on Gary Ippolito. She did everything she could think of to get him to notice her. She finally cornered him at the swimming hole, wearing a bikini, and dared him to kiss her. He did. They "dated" for two weeks, until she decided she liked someone else and broke up with him. She was fourteen. Young romance was confusing at best.
Moira couldn't decide if she should mention Claire's interest in Blake to Tess or not. While she thought about it, Stevie walked in.
"Hey, the kids did a good job today. We made excellent progress," said Moira.
"I'm glad to hear they didn't let me down. I'm sorry I wasn't here to help more myself. I know this was my project to start with. We are trying to find a buyer for about two hundred sheep. I was on the phone most of the day. Prices are low. The water shortage is hurting everyone, and no one wants to water their mobs, so everyone is selling at the same time," explained Stevie.
"Did you find a buyer?" asked Moira.
"I did, but I'm not happy about the prices I'm getting for them. Still, it's cheaper than paying to keep them and water them. We have a truck coming tomorrow afternoon. I'm afraid I'll need the boys to help with the mustering and loading, so you won't have your helpers," admitted Stevie.
"That's okay. Most of the work that still needs to be done is more technical than strength. I can do it on my own," said Moira.
"I noticed Claire was here. I didn't realize she had an interest in mechanics. Maybe she would come help you if she isn't needed on Drovers," said Stevie.
"I don't think it was an interest in mechanics that brought Claire down here. I think it was an interest in Blake Chelsea," said Moira.
"Oh, I see. Do we have some young romance budding?"
"By the way Blake ignored her completely all day today, probably not," said Moira.
"Oh, to be young and trying to make a boy like you. I asked Vincent Colvin to the school dance. I got all frocked up, makeup, everything, and he spent the entire time sitting with his friends, talking about the footie. I didn't even get to dance with him once that night," admitted Stevie. "Not much later, I made terrible choices about how to get boys to like me and I ended up with Rose. I love my daughter, and I wouldn't trade her for the world, but fifteen is far too young to be a mother. I don't think Claire will make the same mistakes I did though, and if she did, I know Tess would treat her better than my parents treated me," said Stevie.
"Boys can be pretty clueless," said Moira.
"Yeah, men too." Stevie was thinking of Ben and the ring.
"But yet, I let him stay around," Moira replied thinking of Phil.
"Well, once in a while, they can get things right," said Stevie.