Cover

About the Author

ABOUT TRICIA STRINGER

TRICIA STRINGER is the bestselling author of the rural romances Queen of the Road, Right as Rain, Riverboat Point, Between the Vines, A Chance of Stormy Weather and Come Rain or Shine; three historical sagas in the Flinders Ranges series, Heart of the Country, Dust on the Horizon and Jewel in the North; and a contemporary novel set on a cruise, Table for Eight.

Queen of the Road won the Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year award in 2013 and Riverboat Point and Between the Vines have been shortlisted for the same award.

Tricia grew up on a farm in country South Australia and has spent most of her life in rural communities, as owner of a post office and bookshop, as a teacher and librarian, and now as a fulltime writer. She lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region with her husband Daryl. From here she travels and explores Australia’s diverse communities and landscapes, and shares this passion for the country and its people through her stories.

For further information go to triciastringer.com or connect with Tricia on Facebook or Twitter @tricia_stringer

Also by Tricia Stringer

Also by Tricia Stringer

Table for Eight

Queen of the Road

Right as Rain

Riverboat Point

Between the Vines

A Chance of Stormy Weather

Come Rain or Shine

The Flinders Ranges series

Heart of the Country

Dust on the Horizon

Jewel in the North

Title Page

Something in the Wine

Tricia Stringer

Dedication

For Kelly

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Keely Mitchell peered at the numbers on the overhead panel and stopped beside 19B. A man was already in the aisle seat. His head was back and his eyes were closed. She paused. His relaxed face had the most freckles she had ever seen, and it was topped by wisps of faded gingery hair. If he’d had a straw hat, he would have made a good scarecrow. Pressure against the pack on her back reminded her of the passengers queuing up behind her, waiting to find their seats. She had to get past the scarecrow to reach hers.

A loud laugh erupted from the group of young men who were seating themselves a few rows ahead. She had noticed them in the airport bar before the boarding call came. They were a happy crew sharing jokes over their drinks – a sharp contrast to Keely’s bored brothers and fussing parents. Her mum had asked her several times if she’d packed spare cash and, to Keely’s horror, underwear in her backpack in case her bag was lost, and her dad kept checking departure and arrival times and reminding her of the time differences.

“Are you going to sit down, love?” a plaintive male voice asked from behind.

The scarecrow man opened his eyes and Keely flushed as she felt his piercing gaze sweep over her. She pointed at the seat beside him. “Excuse me. I’m in the middle.”