“You’re right, Sweet Pea. No matter what you do there’s only so much in your control. In the end it boils down to whether luck’s on your side.”

“Hey, you two,” Alison called. “Dad’s in the car. We’ve got a baptism to go to.”

Dan stood Paula up then offered his arm. “Let’s go get our son dipped.”

“Dan, he’s not one of your sheep.” Paula cuddled into him and the warmth of her laughter made his steps light as they went together to collect their son.

* * *

The little church was full. Paula glanced from her parents and sisters on one side to Rowena and Austin on the other. Paula didn’t think she’d ever be close friends with Dan’s aunt but she no longer felt intimidated by Rowena. Working together on a succession plan had given them the opportunity to set several things straight.

The minister read another prayer and Paula glanced across at Jane who was nursing the still-sleeping baby. Bruce stood beside Jane holding the prayer book so they could both see it. His face was a picture of concentration. Paula smiled. He took his job seriously.

She was grateful for their help. She didn’t know what she would have done without Jane’s support in the early weeks after her mother had left. Then the rains had come, Dan and Tom were flat out with seeding and Paula was once again alone. She had looked to Jane for advice she could trust. Paula and Dan had struggled to concur on a name for their baby but they both agreed that Jane and Bruce should be his godparents.

Paula was glad Tom was also sitting in the church today and he’d brought Louise. They were a good match, both painfully shy but so happy together. Dan had wanted Tom to stay on the tractor during the baptism but Paula had put her foot down, just this once. She prayed a half a day’s delay wouldn’t make any difference to the final outcome.

Dan stood beside her in a smart shirt and pants. He looked quite different out of the work clothes he lived in most of the time, even more handsome if that was possible. The weariness from long days and nights on the tractor showed on his face and she knew he would always shoulder concern about farming and the future, but at least he talked to her about it now. Farming was changing but Dan was adaptable and making modifications to his practice. Like a sponge she soaked up all the details he shared about what he was sowing where and how much fuel was used and what other things were needed. She had started to transfer the current information to a computer database and later she planned to add in the information from previous years.