“Dan had a plumber do some work here before you were married. There was the new washing machine to plumb in and I think he cleared all the drains then as well. It cost quite a lot at the time.” Rowena glared at Paula. “I wish you two would take up my offer of moving into my place. This old house needs far too much money spent on it.”

“We’ve managed to do a lot of things ourselves.” Paula was on the defensive. Rowena had the happy knack of making her feel that way quite often.

“Well, I doubt if you can fix this yourselves. Dan should probably come and take a look at it.”

“I tried to reach him before I rang you. He must be out of range. I’ll have to deal with it.” Paula’s words held more determination than she actually felt.

Rowena held her gaze for a minute, then moved towards the door. “You can try Smith’s Plumbing,” she said over her shoulder. “That’s who Dan had out here before. If they can’t come, I’d keep ringing till you find someone. You can use the bathroom at my place for as long as you like. I’ve got to get going or I’ll be late for my meeting.”

Paula had to walk fast to keep up with her, Tarzan cuddled in her arms. “There was something else I wanted to ask.”

Rowena paused at her open car door.

Paula stroked Tarzan’s head. “I thought I’d get a pup for Dan for his birthday.”

Rowena snorted. “Not one of those squibs from the Marches? One’s enough. Dan wouldn’t like that.”

“No.” Paula gritted her teeth. She loved her little dog but he was a pet. She knew Dan needed a working dog. “I thought perhaps…”

“You should get him a sheep dog to replace Rocket. That would be a better idea.” Rowena put one leg into her car. “Give Monica Brown a call. I think they’ve got pups at the moment and they have a good reputation for working with sheep.”

Paula didn’t get a chance to say more. Rowena was already in her car and shutting the door. She gave a quick wave and drove away. A cloud of dust hung in the air behind the departing vehicle.

Paula gave a sympathetic thought to the poor women who would be at the meeting Rowena was attending and then went inside to make her calls.

By the time she finished, Paula was humming to herself again. Bert, as the Smith’s Plumbing man asked her to call him, would do his best to be out at the farm by late afternoon and she had arranged to go to Monica’s the next day to look at the pups and her wool workshop. Paula looked longingly at her coffee machine and felt the faint pressure on her bladder.