The sky was clear and blue and the wind was gusting from the north. The outlook was for rain in a few days. Not that it meant anything. Rain had been forecast on and off over the last month and little moisture had dropped from the sky. There was no reason to believe this was any different and it was way too late now anyway. Rain could do more harm than good.

He climbed back into the cab of the header and started off again. Time was marching on and he was no closer to finding a solution to his problem with the loan. He reached inside his shirt and rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. At least the paperwork was in motion to make the new property his and Paula’s as a separate entity to Wood Dell.

Paula had suggested they call the Harvey place Woodcroft Farm and he had agreed. If Wood Dell became tied up in a legal battle with Jacinta at least they would still own some land.

He rubbed at the back of his neck again. He was constantly tense – nothing seemed to relieve the ache. Sometimes he thought he was going mad. Ever since the bombshell of cousin Jacinta making a claim, things had gone from bad to worse. At least he could talk to Rowena about that but he hadn’t discussed the problem of the loan with her lately. She was determined she’d been advised by Glen to go ahead but underneath Dan knew she blamed herself for agreeing to let him borrow more than should have been allowed. She was going to Adelaide to see Glen again. Hopefully that would sort it out. Maybe Glen had it wrong.

Dan’s stomach grumbled and he glanced at his watch. Nearly two o’clock. He looked down at the lunch esky stashed beside him but he couldn’t even be bothered opening it. As he turned the corner, he saw Paula’s car pulling up next to the field bins on the other side of the paddock. She’d said something about pasties. That was tempting.

* * *

Paula opened the car door then shut it again quickly as a cloud of dust billowed towards her, ahead of Dan. She waited until he had stopped the machine and the worst of the dust had blown away before trying again. Opening the boot, she uncovered the basket packed with warm pasties. She’d also packed a container of fresh strawberries and yoghurt and there was a flask of hot tea. She glanced at Dan as he climbed down from the tractor. Was he going to be grumpy? She was much later than she’d planned.