Cover

About the Author

ABOUT TRICIA STRINGER

TRICIA STRINGER is the bestselling author of the rural romances Queen of the Road, Right as Rain, Riverboat Point, Between the Vines and A Chance of Stormy Weather, the companion novel to Come Rain or Shine, as well as three historical sagas in the Flinders Ranges series, Heart of the Country, Dust on the Horizon and Jewel in the North.

Queen of the Road won the Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year award in 2013 and Riverboat Point was shortlisted for the same award in 2015, as well as Between the Vines in 2016.

Tricia grew up on a farm in country South Australia and has spent most of her life in rural communities, as owner of a post office and bookshop, as a teacher and librarian, and now as a full-time writer. She lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region with her husband Daryl. From here she travels and explores Australia’s diverse communities and landscapes, and shares this passion for the country and its people through her stories.

For further information go to triciastringer.com or connect with Tricia on Facebook or Twitter @tricia_stringer

Also by Tricia Stringer

Also by Tricia Stringer

Queen of the Road

Right as Rain

Riverboat Point

Between the Vines

A Chance of Stormy Weather

THE FLINDERS RANGES SERIES

Heart of the Country

Dust on the Horizon

Jewel in the North

Title Page

COME RAIN OR SHINE

Tricia Stringer

Dedication

For my dad

Chapter 1

CHAPTER

1

Paula removed the protective hand she’d placed over the imperceptible bulge of her baby and lifted the magazine higher. The two women in the seats opposite had acknowledged her with quick smiles when they came in but now they had forgotten that she was sharing the doctor’s waiting room with them and their conversation had turned personal.

“What will you do in the city?” one asked the other.

“I hope I can get an office job. I’m pretty rusty but I think I’ll get something.”

“What about Pete?”

“He’s the one I’m worried about.” Her voice wavered. “He’s only ever known farming.”

“You’ve had some help from the counsellor, haven’t you?”

“Yes, but Pete is so hard to read. I’m on edge watching him all the time.”

“Surely you don’t think he’d…harm himself? Now that you’ve made the decision to leave, it must be a relief.”

Paula couldn’t help a quick glance over the top of her magazine. Pete’s wife took the tissue offered by her friend. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She had a neat, tidy appearance and could have been about forty, but it was hard to tell. Her face was taut and she looked worn out.

“Yes and no. Pete still stews over it.” The woman sobbed openly now. “He thinks we’ve failed.”