Dan had climbed in and was already starting it when she pulled up. He waved her over. Paula rubbed at her itchy eyes as she picked her way across the dry dirt and stalks to the open truck door. The huge vehicle burbled beside her. Dan jumped down.

“You drive the truck while I load it up.”

Paula looked from Dan to the open truck door with its steering wheel high above her head. Then she smiled.

“Ha, ha, very funny,” she said.

“It’s either that or you do the loading.” He waved a hand at the distant tractor beside one of the giant bales.

“You’ve got to be kidding.” Paula looked from Dan’s face, where there was no hint of a grin, back to the open truck door. “I won’t even be able to reach the pedals.”

“You don’t need to.”

“Dan…” Paula could feel her heart begin to thud. He was serious.

“It will just roll along. You don’t have to do anything but steer it.” His arm went around her. “I’ll help you up.”

“Dan, stop it.” Paula pushed against him. “I have enough trouble with the dual cab. How can I drive this?”

Dan’s face lost its urgency and creased into a gentle smile. “It really is okay, Sweet Pea,” he said. “All you have to do is hold the steering wheel. I’ll be right beside you on the tractor loading the bales.”

Paula glanced up at the huge cab again. “I suppose…”

Dan’s strong arms were lifting her up before she could say any more. She perched on the edge of the seat and rested her hands on the steering wheel. Dan climbed part way in and leaned across her to move something. The truck gave a gentle lurch and so did her heart as the huge machine moved slowly forward. She clutched the steering wheel tightly and shot a pleading look at Dan but he was already back on the ground and closing the door.

Her eyes darted back to the paddock in front of her. The large bales of hay were dotted across the dry ground all the way to the distant fence. Her heart raced and she thought of her baby.

“Calm down, Paula,” she muttered to herself. Dan wouldn’t put us at risk.

She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly and focused on directing the truck forward in a straight line. A thud from behind made her jump. The truck gave a small shudder and then continued rolling steadily forward.

She glanced behind but something covered the back window and she couldn’t see out. The side mirror gave her a glimpse of Dan just as he backed the tractor away from the side of the truck. He turned and drove past her to the next bale, loaded it onto the prongs at the front of the tractor and gave her a wave as she slowly trundled past him.