The ache in Dan’s chest deepened as he picked up the shovel. He tossed in the first load of dirt and remembered the day he’d gone with his father to pick Rocket up. It had been Dan’s fourteenth birthday and the pup had bonded with him straight away. Even when Dan had been away at boarding school, their closeness had never diminished. Rocket was always waiting for him when he came home, a quivering bundle of excitement. The young dog had been a fast learner too. Dan’s father had taught him to work sheep and Rocket was good at it.

Dan tamped down the dirt with his feet and placed a couple of big rocks over the top. He gazed at the grave for a moment. Another link to his father was severed. A lump formed in his throat as the memory of his father’s death came flooding back. Daniel never truly recovered from the grief of losing his wife and had also suffered from heart disease. It had been terrible to watch him frustrated by his inability to work as hard as he’d been used to. Dan’s memories of his father were of a sad man. He was thankful for Rowena, who had brought sunshine and laughter to his young life. Tears rolled slowly from his eyes and trickled down his face. He wiped them firmly away with one finger, then turned and walked back to the dual cab. He wasn’t going to be like his father.

An involuntary shudder passed over him as he thought of Paula’s dog and how he’d come close to having to bury him only a few months ago. Tarzan had been a gift from Tom’s family. Dan had accidentally run over the young Jack Russell when Paula had been sick in hospital. They’d both been upset. Dan would never intentionally hurt an animal and Paula was totally in love with Tarzan and she’d been very distressed.

Tarzan had made a full recovery from his injuries and Dan had to admit he was getting used to the crazy mutt being around. Similarly he knew Paula was fond of Rocket, often sneaking him titbits from the kitchen. It wasn’t only him who would miss the old dog.

* * *

Paula looked up from the saucepan she was heating on the stove as Dan came in the door.

“Everything all right?” she asked. There was a dirty smudge on his cheek.

“Yes.” Dan went to the fridge and got himself a can of beer. “Would you like something to drink?”

“I’m fine.” She nodded towards the glass of water beside her. She watched Dan shuffle through the pile of mail he’d already looked at before they’d left on Friday. “What did Rowena want?”

He kept studying the pile in front of him.

“Dan?”

“Nothing much. Rocket died. I had to bury him.”