Paula looked around the room. She couldn’t see the tall and elegant figure of Katherine anywhere now. The bar area was thick with men. Quite a few members of the glorious winning team were having trouble staying upright. It was getting late and the beer had been flowing like water. Everyone wanted to shout the winners a drink.

Paula glanced back at Dan, sitting beside her. He had been talking earnestly to the bloke on his left, another farmer, but now his attention was focused on the podium.

The man at the microphone had his hanky out and was mopping his brow.

“On behalf of the club,” he said, “I’d like to thank you all for your support. It’s been a bloody great year and now we’ve capped it off with a bloody great night.”

He paused and Paula steeled herself.

“You bloody beauty, boys!” Once again the shout echoed around the hall.

Dan’s hand took hers and he leaned in close. “That should be the last of the speeches,” he said. “You can relax now.”

Paula let out the breath she had been holding and looked into his twinkling blue eyes. “Did you know it was going to be like this?”

“I’ve never been to a premiership dinner. This is the first one in the club’s history, remember.” He patted her leg. “Got to let them have their moment of glory. There won’t be much else to celebrate this year.”

Paula saw the worry flick briefly across his face, before it was replaced with a cheeky grin.

“Besides, it might be a long time till the next one. How about I get us a drink?”

Most of the others at their table were taking the opportunity to stretch their legs and mingle. Paula would like to have been home tucked up in bed but as she watched Dan wend his way through the crowd towards the bar, slapping backs and shaking hands, she knew that wouldn’t happen for a while.

Dan was right about needing something to celebrate. The drought was on everybody’s lips. There was talk of government financial support for farmers in the worst-hit areas. Maybe that’s why tonight’s proceedings seemed loud and exaggerated. It was a way of lifting the shadow that hung over the community.

At another table, she noticed a woman smiling at her. Paula had only spoken to Monica Brown a couple of times since meeting her at a surprise welcome party a few months ago. Paula returned her smile and stood up to make her way over.