“What?” Paula dropped the spoon she’d been using to stir the stew and rushed to Dan’s side. “What happened to him?”

“Old age.”

Paula flung her arms around her husband’s middle and hugged him to her. “Dan, I’m so sorry.”

“He died in his sleep.”

Paula leaned her head back and looked up at Dan’s rigid face. She knew he’d loved Rocket but he showed no emotion. “He was a beautiful dog and a good friend,” she said.

Dan patted her shoulders. “His time had come, that’s all.”

“Where did you bury him?”

“Under the gum trees near his kennel.”

Paula studied him closely, then put her head against his chest and held him tight. She had seen the track left by a tear in the dusty smudge on his face. He cared a lot more than he let on. “That’s a good spot,” she said.

Chapter 6

CHAPTER

6

“G’day Paula.”

Tarzan careered across the yard barking excitedly. Paula turned from the clothesline, a wet towel in her hand, and waved hello to Tom with the other.

He entered the yard and squatted down to give the happy dog some attention, then glanced up. “Sorry to hear about Rocket.”

“Dan will miss him. So will I. He might have been a working dog but he had a lovely nature.” She smiled at Tom who was shifting his weight from foot to foot. “Besides, he always ate my cooking and looked for more.”

Tom gave a little smile and Paula noticed the bruise under his eye had deepened. He was still wearing his footy guernsey over his t-shirt.

“How are you feeling? It was an exciting game on Saturday. Have you recovered okay?”

“I’m good. Just a bit tired. Haven’t had much sleep since we won. We’ve had a few parties.”

“You’re all heroes. The girls will be throwing themselves at your feet.” She saw the colour in his cheeks before he lowered his face and poked at a crack in the pavement with his toe. He was so shy she couldn’t imagine him having the courage to talk to the equally shy redhead. “Dan said something about a premiership dinner coming up.”

“Yeah, in a couple of weeks. He said you two might come. Should be a good night.”

He shifted from foot to foot and Paula noticed he was gripping some papers very tightly in his hands.

“I’m just about to have a cuppa. Would you like one?”

“That’d be good. Dan asked me to tell you he’s gone over to Ted’s but he’ll be back for lunch.”

“Thanks. I’ll just hang the last towel. You go inside. I won’t be a minute.”