The concern on his face softened to a smile and he put his hand over hers. “You really have had a busy day.” He kissed her. “I don’t suppose you’ve had time to make our dinner?”

“Of course I have.”

“Well, dang me, Mrs Woodcroft,” he said in that terrible American accent of his as he scooped her up into his arms. “I really do have me a clever little wife.”

Tarzan barked excitedly at his feet. Paula laughed. Dan put her down safely inside the door and she shooshed Tarzan and shut him outside. Now that the plumbing was fixed, she thought perhaps they could fill the bath tonight.

From the direction of the toilet behind her came a faint gurgle. Or maybe they should plan how they were going to afford to permanently fix the plumbing, instead.

Chapter 12

CHAPTER

12

The shrill ring of the phone startled Paula from the laptop screen.

“Paula, can you make a trip into town for me?” Dan’s voice sounded curt.

She sighed. She had only just sat down and set up her laptop on the desk beside the computer. When their internet access had been upgraded it had included wifi and she’d decided to buy herself a laptop with her first earnings. The portability was useful for her business. Not only did she maintain their farm books but she also did accounting for Olive and Bill Williams and several others.

“Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” A trip into town would wipe out the rest of the afternoon.

“No. I’d go but I’ve got hay to cut and Tom’s at shearing school.”

Dan’s voice had become more agitated. He’d gone off before lunch to check the crops with the agronomist and she hadn’t seen him since. He’d been in good spirits when he left but he didn’t sound happy now.

Paula closed the laptop lid. “Okay. What do you need?”

She scribbled on her notepad and didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye before Dan had disconnected.

The computer screen beside her went black, then a picture of her with Dan on their wedding day drifted across the screen. Her bouquet was lowered to one side, her other hand in his and their smiles were wide as they gazed at each other with the sparkling blue of Sydney Harbour behind them. Once again she sighed and shut down the computer.