“It’s getting old and breaking down more often but we’ll still get a lot more work out of it. We certainly can’t afford a new one.”

“Paula tells us things haven’t gone quite so well this year.”

“You might say that.”

“Your friend that lost his property…has that left you in the lurch?”

Dan could feel the knot tighten in his shoulders. “Ted didn’t lose anything. A series of events led him to his decision to sell up. It’s meant we’ve had to do some major rearranging but we’ll get by. It could happen to anybody.”

“To you?”

Dan stood up. He was slightly taller than Rex but they stood nearly eye to eye. The older man was watching him closely. There didn’t appear to be any malice in his look.

“I guess it could happen to anyone, Rex.”

“The reason I ask is…”

“I know you’re worried about Paula but I can take care of her.” Dan’s tone was gruff. The last thing he needed was a heavy talk with Rex.

“Of course you can.” Rex’s mouth turned up in a grin. “In fact, I think we’ve both learned that Paula can take care of herself.”

Dan dug his fingers into the tense muscle at the back of his shoulder and pictured Paula standing with her hands on her hips and fire in her eyes. He couldn’t help a little grin himself. “You’re right about that.”

“Dan, I know you’re busy but can we sit down for a minute?”

Rex was already drawing up a chair between Dan and the door. Dan lowered himself onto the swivel chair again.

“I want to tell you something, then leave you with it. We’re going to Rowena’s for lunch today and then we leave first thing tomorrow morning so we might not get the chance to talk again this trip but you can contact me any time.”

Dan remained silent. He had no idea what Rex was about to say and he wasn’t in the mood to listen. Before Rex had found him he’d been looking over the farm books trying to find some way of coming up with some money, then he’d found the loan paperwork which was damn useless now.

“I would talk to Paula about this but she gets so fiery every time I offer to help…”

“Look, Rex.” Dan shifted in his seat but Rex put a restraining hand on his shoulder.

“Hear me out, please. Like you, I’ve worked hard all my life and I plan to continue to do so for as long as I can. Diane and I have a very comfortable existence and we have been in a position to help Alison and Susan and their husbands with their business ventures. We want to offer the same opportunity to you and Paula.”