Paula recalled the dent in the dual cab. Dan thought Tom had run into the tree because he’d been using his phone.

“Well, at least not while you’re driving.” She chuckled.

Tom blushed. The background noise of the shearing machinery dwindled then stopped. Paula handed him the plates and started taking the lids off the containers of food.

“We still haven’t had you and Louise over for that barbecue. Will she be back soon?”

“Yeah. She’ll be back tonight. It was only a couple of days training in Adelaide.”

“I’m planning to have a barbecue for Dan’s birthday,” Paula said. Loud laughter echoed from the other end of the shed. Paula flinched as she recognised Ted’s voice above the rest. “We’d love you two to come.”

“Sure,” Tom said.

Paula cast a quick eye over the table to make sure everything was ready. It was hard enough to organise food for shearers she didn’t know, without the extra wild card of Ted thrown in. Goodness only knows what he’d say about her food.

“That’s if it’s okay with Dan.”

“Sauce,” Paula said, hardly hearing Tom’s low voice. “I’m sure I put it in the box.” She dug it out from the corner and placed it on the table just as the men approached, then Tom’s words registered.

“Dan and I both want you to come,” she said firmly, wondering why Tom would think it wouldn’t be okay. “I’ll let you know when.”

“I’ve nearly finished the doghouse. It’s a bit hard to keep it a secret, though. We’re pretty busy at the moment and Dan can’t spare me much.”

“That’s okay, Tom. We’ll manage. Don’t go missing on my account.” She smiled at him. She’d been going to say don’t get into trouble. Why was Dan being so tough on Tom?

“Smells good,” Ted said. “Have you been shopping again, Paula?”

He laughed and Paula smiled through gritted teeth. “Too busy cooking to be shopping,” she said briskly.

Dan put his arm around her waist, gave her a reassuring squeeze and introduced her to the shearers. After that she was too busy organising food and dodging Ted’s crass jokes to think any more about Tom.

* * *

“This is a great clip, Dan, just what we’ll be looking for if we expand.” Rod Brown handed the wool to his wife.

“Imagine,” Paula said, “our wool will be part of fine garments all over Australia.”

“The world,” Rod chipped in.

They were sitting on the rough benches at the table where Paula had served lunch earlier in the day. She had been the one who suggested Dan contact the Browns. On her last visit there she had seen for herself the potential of their business. If it did well they would need far more wool than they could supply themselves.