He knew he was being tough on Tom but nothing Dan had tried to do today had gone right. This morning he’d driven in to town to the bank. He had organised to change the loan that currently used Wood Dell as surety and was the reason Rowena could be in trouble. His plan was to use Woodcroft Farm as collateral for the change of loan, but when he got there he discovered Paula as co-owner of Woodcroft Farm had to sign the papers as well. He’d told them she’d call in at some stage and left the bank berating himself for not thinking it through enough. Of course Paula would have to sign, only trouble was she didn’t know about it. She hadn’t been keen on the idea and he’d gone ahead without her knowledge.

Leaving that mess behind he’d dashed back to meet the wool buyer, who had been delayed, then there had been the trip to the back paddock ready to load some hay on the truck that Tom didn’t bring. Paula wanted him to be in early tonight for a special meal with her family. The rate he was going, he’d be lucky to get home in time for breakfast.

Dan glared at Tom who stood unblinking, like a rabbit caught in a spotlight.

Then a muffled noise drew their attention to the open door of the ute. It sounded like Tom’s mobile.

“There’s nothing wrong with my phone,” Tom murmured. “It keeps ringing fine but it’s gone down the back of the seat somewhere and I can’t reach it.”

Dan looked from the ute to Tom. So that’s what he’d been doing. Dan wanted to laugh but if he did he felt as if an invisible wall would burst and the well of emotion he was holding back would overflow. Instead he took a deep breath. “You’ll have to leave it and get it out later. We’ve got to get this hay loaded.”

He strode back to the dual cab and as he drove out past the house he saw Rowena in her garden. She was waving at him to stop.

“Damn!” he muttered. No doubt she wanted to remind him of the rest of the jobs she had for him before the wedding. He pulled up at her gate and lowered his window with the engine still running.

Rowena’s face was pale in spite of the warm day. “You have to come inside, Dan. We need to talk.”

“I’ll call back tomorrow, I’ve got—”

“Now, Dan.”

Her command startled him. He peered closer and saw the fear in her eyes. His heart gave an extra thud. He turned the dual cab off. “What’s this about, Rowena?”