“Ask your father! I have four rows of vines poisoned. Four rows that edge the Levallier Dell boundary. He’s jealous I got that land before he did and he’s poisoned them.”

Keely drew in a breath. Theo was wrong. There was no way the Euan she knew would do something like that.

“He wouldn’t hurt your vines, Theo.” Flynn’s tone was calm. His words echoed Keely’s thoughts. “Would you, Euan?”

Keely was watching the confrontation from the side. And she saw the cold look Euan gave Flynn, before he turned back to Theo.

“You’re a fool,” Euan murmured.

Theo shifted from foot to foot. His fists were clenched and his eyes blazed.

“A fool, am I? At least I stay and run my business properly, not like some hobby.”

“I don’t have to listen to this rubbish.” Euan turned his back on Theo and began to walk away.

“It’s the truth. Everyone knows Flynn does all the hard work.” Theo raised his voice another notch. “You can walk away but this is not the end of it.” Theo stabbed the air with his finger again.

Euan stopped, put his hand in his trouser pocket and turned back. “Be careful what you do, Theo.” His voice was low. “And don’t set foot on my land again. I was going to send this back later but you might as well have it now.” He pulled his hand from his pocket and tossed a small notebook at Theo’s feet then strode through the gate to his ute.

“My diary,” Theo spluttered. “He stole my diary.”

Kat put a hand on his arm. “I don’t think Euan would have—”

“Bah!” Theo flung off her arm, bent to pick up the little book, then toppled as he tried to straighten up.

“Pappou!” Kat grabbed his arm. Flynn and Keely both rushed forward but Flynn was closer and managed to help keep him on his feet.

“What’s wrong, Pappou?” Kat asked.

“Nothing. I’ll be alright.”

“I think you’d better sit down.” Flynn directed Theo towards his car.

Keely heard Euan’s ute start up. She watched as he turned the vehicle and drove back down the drive. Flynn was beside Theo’s car talking earnestly to Kat, and Theo sat inside looking at something, probably the diary.

Keely wondered how Euan had ended up with that. She glanced once more at the welcoming sign and then walked slowly back down the drive. What a strange lot they were. She’d spent two weeks here and felt no closer to understanding them at all.

Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28