*
Jaz hung her head out the window of Taylor’s Mustang and closed her eyes against the wind. A handful of black hair swirled out behind her.
‘You remind me of our dog, Jake, but with less drool. He loved sticking his head out the window too,’ said Taylor with a smirk.
Jaz put her head back inside. ‘Smart arse. I was clearing my mind.’
‘Did it help?’
‘Nup,’ she laughed.
Taylor tapped his fingers against the steering wheel in time to the music on the radio. ‘You know Jaz, something about you has changed. Nothing big, and nothing I can put my finger on, but you’re different.’
‘Is that in a good way or bad way?’
‘Good…I think.’
‘Gee, thanks…I think,’ said Jaz pushing Taylor’s arm playfully. Maybe in a way she was different. Ryan had opened her eyes to a completely new world and she felt like she saw things a bit differently. She also noticed she wasn’t thinking about Taylor all the time. Like a month ago, she would be delirious with excitement to be going home with Taylor, but now there just seemed like more important things to be thinking about.
‘It’s been a while since just you and I were here,’ said Taylor as he pulled into his street.
A black car caught Jaz’s attention, more so when it parked on the street opposite Taylor’s house. She could have sworn the car and the guy in the driver’s seat looked familiar. Must be just one of the neighbours busy talking on their mobile.
Taylor drove into the garage. His home was a beautiful big one-storey home with a tropical garden and pool out the back. It had probably been a year since her last visit to his place alone. She followed Taylor through the three-bay garage and into the house. They walked through the lounge room full of expensive artwork and sculptures. His dad collected guns, so his mother had collected artwork, before she died four years ago from cancer. It had been a hard few years, but Taylor and his dad had their own rhythm going now.
They headed down the wide passageway to a door on the right, which was his dad’s big office with his prize collection.
‘Come in here, I want to show you something,’ he said, taking her hand and guiding her into his father’s office.
Taylor went past the floor-to-ceiling display cabinet with guns, to a bookshelf, pulled out a book and came back with a key. Then he opened a large vault that was hidden behind another bookcase on a hinge.
‘This is Dad’s new pride and joy.’ Taylor put on some white gloves and threw a pair to Jaz. When he turned around, he was cradling a gun.
‘This is a .32 calibre revolver made by Henckell & Co and was found at Kate Kelly’s house.’ Taylor waited for the news to sink in.
‘Soooo, as in Ned Kelly the famous bushranger?’
Taylor smiled with joy. ‘You got it. Experts have placed the revolver in the period 1870 to 1880, and see this,’ Taylor held the wooden stock closer. ‘The initials KK are inscribed here, and also the insignia of the Royal Constabulary who hunted the Kelly Gang.’
Jaz took the old revolver and felt awed in its presence. Whether it was from touching a part of Australia’s history, or just being swept up in the magic of it all as Taylor spoke with such passion. ‘It’s beautiful, and no doubt very expensive?’ Jaz asked.
‘Yeah, but it’s worth it. Just think what this revolver has been through and the stories it’d tell if it could. I reckon it belonged to Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick, apparently he claimed to have lost his gun during a struggle with the Kelly family.’
‘Wow, Tay. You know so much about all this. Does your dad let you show it around?’
Taylor laughed and took back the revolver. ‘That would be a NO. He doesn’t even know I know where he hides his keys. Adults underestimate their kids’ abilities.’
‘Typical. It’s a weird feeling to hold so much history in your hands,’ said Jaz, taking her gloves off while Taylor locked up.
He put his arm around Jaz after hiding the key back in the book and headed off towards his room. ‘I knew you would appreciate it, Jaz. I can’t wait to show Anna too.’
‘She will probably know more about it than you,’ Jaz laughed as they entered Taylor’s room. His double bed was against the far wall, the blue doona cover thrown back as if he’d just got out of bed. Jaz walked across the grey carpet and sat down on it while he went to his walk-in-robe to find the ties. His floor was a lot like hers, covered in clothes.
‘Your house cleaner on a vacation too?’ she asked.
‘Yeah, probably off sipping martinis with yours,’ he laughed.
Jaz glanced over to his desk by his bed. His laptop sat open, alarm clock nearby and a photo frame, which she picked up. It was a photo of Jaz and Anna together, arms thrown around each other and pulling a finger at Taylor who’d taken the photo. She’d forgotten he’d taken this. It was about four months ago and it was after his photography class.