“I remember.” Tom glanced up and she could see the glimmer of a sparkle returning to his eyes.

“I was a shocking driver, wasn’t I?” Paula laughed and Tom broke into a grin.

“Not bad for a learner,” he said.

“Come on,” Paula said, “My turn to help you. What do they want to know next?”

* * *

“Things are looking good here.” Dan nodded across Ted’s paddock to the mob of healthy sheep grazing contentedly.

“The rain may have been late coming, but we’ve had just enough since to keep the pasture fresh,” Ted said. “For once my place has been getting a bit of moisture and you blokes to the west have been missing out.”

Dan understood Ted’s words weren’t meant as a brag. Ted’s property had missed out on decent rains for several years and this year, when those who usually had reliable falls weren’t getting them, Ted was. The Harvey place Dan had bought had also received more rain than Wood Dell. Dan looked again at the sheep he was pinning his future on.

“Do you think we should keep them here till the sale?”

“Definitely,” Ted said. “But this is the last time we’re taking sheep to the markets.”

Dan swallowed. His mouth had gone dry. How could Ted know already? Surely Rowena hadn’t said anything.

Ted clapped a hand on Dan’s shoulder. “Next year they’ll be coming to us, mate. After the word gets around about the quality of our stock we’ll be having on-property sales. This time next year, our first lot of rams will be ready for sale and our credentials will be known. The buyers can come to us.” He turned and Dan could see the hope in his eyes. “Depends on what happens with the sale.”

Dan watched the sheep. He couldn’t stand it any longer. He was going to have to talk to Ted. It would be tough but maybe there was still a chance they could salvage something out of this.

A few years back, Ted had to lease his property and find work elsewhere to survive. That’s when he’d started helping Dan with his fledgling sheep-breeding program. Ted may have fallen on hard times with his own farm but he knew sheep and was a great help to Dan.