Down Outback Roads Read Online Free PDF Page A

desperate for someone to continue the family tradition.’
    The shrill shriek of the kitchen’s smoke alarm pierced the night-time silence.
    ‘You’re kiddin g,’ Tish said, dragging her hands through her fine, pale-blonde hair. ‘And after I’ve been going so well.’
    She sprinted along the hallway, the navy men’s shirt she wore for gardening billowing behind her.
    Ewan didn’t hurry, knowing there would be no fire – only a charred dinner. When Tish and the two-year-old twins had moved into the main homestead she’d insisted on taking over the cooking. But between caring for the boys and gardening, she often left a pot to boil for too long or opened the steamy dishwasher too early. The call of the smoke alarm had become such a regular occurrence the boys no longer even stirred in their sleep.
    The insistent screech suddenly stopped and the acrid smell of burnt milk drifted his way. He ignored the rumble of his stomach. If dinner was ruined, he’d scramble them some eggs. It wouldn’t matter what they ate, the conversation he’d been avoiding would still happen.
    When he’d returned from Dubbo yesterday, he’d checked the bore in the back paddock. Today he’d kept himself away from the house by fixing the broken fence on the western boundary. The unspoken questions and curiosity in Tish’s eyes wouldn’t have faded. She’d want to know about the Dubbo trip and especially about the mysterious American woman. But as much as he loved his sister-in-law like a real sister, he wasn’t ready to talk to her about Kree.
    His fear of seeing Kree at the hospital when visiting Seth had proved unfounded. Since their farewell at the command post, he’d kidded himself he could slot back into his regular life, thoughts of her the last thing on his mind. But it made no difference how physically hard he worked, or how late he stayed awake, he couldn’t blank out the memory of the sweetness of her smile or the joy in her laughter. He had to resist the pull she wielded on him. It didn’t matter how much longer she’d be staying in Australia or on neighbouring Berridale, he’d never be worthy of a woman like her – not after what he’d done.
    Tish appeared at the kitchen door. Cheeks flushed, she cast him an apologetic smile. ‘It’s safe to come in. I’d left the white sauce for the lasagne on the stovetop. I wish the elements would turn off after a certain time, like that iron you bought me.’
    Ewan draped an arm across her slender shoulders and gave her a quick hug. ‘Don’t worry, we can have lasagne another night. The meat will go fine with toast, or else we can have eggs.’
    ‘Didn’t we have eggs last night?’
    ‘We can have them again. I’m so hungry I’d eat your scorched white sauce.’
    Tish giggled and led the way into the kitchen that formed the heart of the house. When not filled with smoke, the generously sized room smelled of fresh bread, honey and lemons. Tish adored her vegetable garden and orchard. Home-grown produce always filled the fridge, and the fruit bowl always overflowed with fresh fruit. He knew the twins must have picked the last lot of oranges, as he’d found a misshapen orange on the lawn Braye had been using as an impromptu soccer ball.
    Together, he and Tish set about making the scrambled eggs and toast. They ate in comfortable silence until Tish looked across the kitchen table, fork halfway to her mouth.
    ‘I’ve been meaning to ask you how your visit to Dubbo with Travis went. You must be enjoying having him around again.’
    ‘Yes, it took long enough but he’s finally come to his senses and realised there’s no place like western New South Wales. As for the fact that he’s bought the farm I grew up on, I couldn’t be happier.’ Ewan paused. ‘And the Dubbo trip went well. The part I needed in order to fix the airseeder’s hydraulic pump had arrived, and we called in at the hospital to see Seth.’
    ‘I hope he’s doing okay.’
    ‘He is. He’s thin and