Down Outback Roads Read Online Free PDF

his arm’s pretty banged up, but considering he was pinned under a tree for almost two days, he’s lucky to be with us.’
    Tish shuddered. ‘I can’t imagine how he or his sister must have suffered. I’m a mess when Braye stays hidden while we’re playing hide and seek.’
    ‘She must have been out of her mind, but I think keeping busy helped.’
    ‘Travis said she rarely left the command post.’
    ‘And when she did it was just to grab a couple of hours’ sleep at Amanda Butler’s.’
    Tish’s green eyes met his. ‘Amanda called today about the poppy-seed dressing she wants me to make. She said the sister is stunning and will leave a few broken hearts behind.’
    Ewan put down his fork and took his time to answer. Kree wasn’t his, and never would be, but that didn’t stop a stab of envy at the thought that she’d inevitably belong to someone else. ‘Stunning she may be, but she’s also leaving soon. Even if she wasn’t, she’s way out of our country-boys’ leagues.’
    Even Travis?
    Tish didn’t have to voice her query. Her concern Travis might have lost his shy heart to the beautiful stranger pinched her face.
    ‘Well, out of the league for some of us,’ Ewan continued with a reassuring smile. ‘Travis could have anyone he wants, but he’s married to his new farm. If you asked him what hair colour she had, he’d have no idea.’
    Relief relaxed Tish’s features, but she didn’t resume eating.
    ‘What about you?’ she asked quietly. ‘Did you notice the colour of her hair?’
    Ewan fought the surge of warmth he knew would appear as a dark flush and strove for casualness. ‘Actually, I did. It’s brown, the same as her brother’s.’ He toyed with his fork. ‘But she’s definitely way out of my league, so just as well I’m also married to my farm.’
    Tish’s gaze lingered on his face before she resumed eating. ‘You and Travis are hopeless cases. There’s more to life than machinery and cattle.’ Her eyes sparkled. ‘One day, I’ll makegood on my threat to sign you up to an internet dating site. Maddy Palin is now engaged to that fellow she met on Rural Hearts.’
    Ewan chuckled. ‘The world simply isn’t ready for two single rural romeos called Travis Sinclair and Ewan Mackenzie.’
    Tish joined in with his laughter, but not before Ewan noticed the wistfulness wash across her face. No one had been happier than Tish when Travis had returned. Ewan had to do all that he could to create an opportunity for the old friends to catch up and say more than two words to each other. He knew that Kree’s intimate dinner party would provide the perfect venue, and he would have to be a fool not to take advantage of such an opportunity. No matter what his self-preservation might say.
    ‘Just to prove we’re not totally hopeless cases, Travis and I actually have a dinner invitation.’
    Tish stopped chewing. ‘Dinner invitation?’
    ‘Yes, Kree promised us a pot roast to say thanks for helping find Seth.’
    ‘That’s nice. I know how hard you both searched for him. Are you going?’
    Ewan passed a hand around the base of his neck. ‘To be honest, I wasn’t, but for some reason when I mentioned the invitation on the trip home yesterday, Travis thought it was a great idea. I haven’t said anything to Kree yet, mind you.’
    Tish paired her knife and fork together on her plate, signalling she’d finished eating even though her plate wasn’t empty. ‘I think it’s a great idea, too. You’ll all have a fabulous night, I’m sure.’
    She stood.
    ‘Tish,’ he said into the sudden quiet, ‘I told Travis I’d only agree to go if you came as well.’
    Tish lowered herself into the wooden kitchen chair. ‘Me? But I don’t ever go out. Who would have the boys? Mrs Murphy won’t come back after Braye put salt in the sugar container.’
    ‘Can you blame him? She’d dosed them on cough medicine when they were perfectly well, to make them sleep.’ His voice roughened. ‘It’s not