Paula lifted her head and looked across to the paddocks on his side of the car. “That’s Harvey’s place. How did we get here?” She glanced at Dan. There was a grin on his face. “You’ve come a different way,” she said.

“Can’t fool you, can I?”

“Don’t tease me, Dan.” She pulled herself away from him, back into her seat. “You’ve grown up in this…this frizzle of roads.”

“Frizzle!” He laughed.

How she loved to hear that sound. She couldn’t be cross with him.

“What kind of word is frizzle? Is that city-girl speak?”

“Don’t mess with me, farm boy.”

He was silent but the smile stayed on his face. Paula thought it was a good opportunity to discuss another plan she’d been pondering.

“You know, I think it’s time we put the Harvey property into joint names,” she said.

“I don’t know that there’s any rush.” Dan had slowed the vehicle and was staring hard at his crop.

“With the baby coming I want to have it in our names. I kind of think of it as his future.”

“His? Did you see something on that ultrasound I didn’t.”

“No. But I swap between thinking of the baby as a boy one day and a girl the next. Are you sure you don’t mind either way?”

“Of course not. Why would you ask that now?”

Dan gave her a piercing look, before his gaze swivelled back to the road.

“Just something someone said once about farmers being traditional and wanting a boy to carry on the family name and farm.”

There was a slight hesitation before he replied. “As you pointed out, girls are just as capable.”

Paula placed a hand over her swelling tummy. “It was funny to see the baby. It wasn’t like I imagined but time is going quickly. We’ll have to start tossing around name ideas for him or her.” She emphasised the ‘her’. “We created a new life and took over a new property around the same time. I think we should tidy up the paperwork.”

“Yes!” Dan slapped the steering wheel with one hand and the dual cab swerved on the gravel road as he accelerated.

Paula clutched the armrest and looked from Dan to the road ahead. “Take it easy.”

“You’re right.” He gripped the steering wheel and grinned across at her before he looked back at the road. “The property should be in joint names. In fact I think we should give it a name separate to Wood Dell. You’re good on names. You come up with something.”

“Okay.” Paula was happy that he was happy but a little unease settled in her chest and lingered there. His mood swings were sudden and extreme. She would have to keep a better eye on him.

Chapter 17

CHAPTER

17