Dan hadn’t mentioned it to Paula again. He didn’t want to say anything that would remind her of the conversation she’d started about wills. He hated the subterfuge but he’d deal with that when Paula found out. With any luck she wouldn’t notice the change to the loan until after the baby had been born. Then, he told himself, he would tell her everything. She would understand why he had kept the truth about his father’s will to himself.

Dust blew in his face as he hooked up the trailer. The wind was picking up. It really was looking like it would be a pig of a day. Spud was watching through the wire gate of the house yard as Dan drove past.

“Sorry, mate.” Dan murmured. “You have to stay home today.”

* * *

Paula fought to peg the sheet on the line. She had started the washing early when Dan had got up but already the wind was hot and strong. She should have left it till tomorrow but there was still a bit to do before her family arrived in a few days and she wanted to be organised. After they left it wouldn’t be long till Rowena’s wedding then only a month or so till the baby was due.

March had seemed so far away when she first discovered she was pregnant. Suddenly, it seemed the baby would be here before she knew it. A tingle of excitement surged in her chest. On some days she couldn’t wait to have the baby and on others she felt a bit nervous; more about the actual birthing process than anything else.

Before Christmas she’d gone with Jane to town for coffee to meet some other new mums. They’d been only too eager to share their experiences with her. Some of them had been quite alarming. Jane had told her not to take any notice but it was hard to erase some of the images their stories had conjured up in her mind. Even her sisters had made a few hints at how painful it could be. And only last week Jackie had bailed her up in the supermarket, filling her head with the best birthing poses. Everyone was full of advice. She hoped once she’d been to the birthing classes she would feel more relaxed about it.

She forced another peg over the sheet and pushed it on hard. Surely five on each sheet would hold them. She looked over the fence at some sheep huddled under a tree. Poor things, she supposed they were used to days like this. Dan had left Spud behind today. Tarzan had retired to his kennel but the younger dog was stretched out along the side of the house wall in the shade. She was quite used to being on her own these days but for some reason she felt comfort having the sheep nearby and the dogs in the yard.