Dan looked down at the small animal relaxing against him. The thudding headache had gone but the knots tightened across his shoulders again. He squeezed his eyes shut, appalled by the moisture forming there as emotion and fatigue threatened to overwhelm him. Fighting his internal turmoil he forced a smile as Paula placed a coffee in front of him. He wasn’t going to spoil her happy surprise with his grim confession, not today.

* * *

Dan dragged the heavy shed door partially shut. It was a waste of time really. The wind would force dirt into every gap but it might keep the worst of the rubbish out. The change in the weather that had threatened on his birthday three days ago had finally arrived. He’d shifted Paula’s car in among the machinery so that he could cook the barbecue in the garage next to the house. They needed a pergola right across the back but the old lean-to part of the house would need to be fixed first. It was hard to make plans when Jacinta’s claim hung over his head.

He cast his eyes towards the southern horizon. The murky greyness was being replaced with dark banks of cloud. The rain that was forecast may actually eventuate, now that it was too late. At least Paula would be happy. The barbecue she had planned would go ahead with the men there as well, instead of on their harvesters. Damn it!

He slapped the roof of the ute then climbed in, slamming the door against the wind. So much was riding on this harvest being a good one. He backed away from the shed, skidding the wheels in the gravel as he turned the vehicle towards the house.

* * *

The wind howled around the house and rattled everything that could move. Paula looked anxiously towards the kitchen window. The branches of the trees were whipping in all directions. It was far too awful to contemplate entertaining outside. They would be eating the barbecue at the kitchen table. At least everyone had said they would come for Dan’s birthday tea. Once he’d finally conceded the barbecue was a goer, Dan had wanted her to include Ted and Heather as well and as it was for his birthday Paula had agreed. She hoped Dan would brighten up once everyone arrived. He’d muttered and mumbled on and off all day about dreadful weather and was currently outside somewhere, battening down the hatches.

Earlier, Paula had gone outside to check on the dogs and she’d been blasted by dirt blown on the hot wind. The two young animals were getting on well together and didn’t seem too distressed about the weather but Paula had shut them in the enclosure that surrounded Tarzan’s kennel. At least they could keep out of the heat and the worst of the gusts in there.