Mountain Ash Read Online Free PDF

had to fight to retain her land. A bit like Jodie had had to fight most of her life to hold on to what she had. Her life. Her child. Herself.
    Weddings always did that to her. They were a reminder of all those hopes she’d once had herself. Hopes that were shattered when her cowboy had decided to ride on out, leaving her with nothing other than a fretful baby and a fistful of splintereddreams. That had been someplace west of Augathella. She’d made her way to Charleville, a single mother with no qualifications. Got an afternoon shift at the pub, a day-care lady for her child, and tried to work out what to do next. It hadn’t been the best time of her life, that was for sure. In fact, she had hit rock bottom there for a while, until things had slowly taken a turn for the better.
    Jodie guided the ute down Hope’s Road and through the low-level crossing, then swung right at the T-intersection. Not long now and they’d be at their new house. Home. She rolled that beautiful word and all its comforting connotations around in her mouth, let the endorphins it created seep from the pores of her skin. Finally they’d have a place to call home. A place where they could be together. Mother and daughter. Not at the beck and call of others, like the elderly in the nursing home in Narree where she worked. Not at the decree of officialdom, like the solicitors and bankers working on sorting out her dad’s estate. Nor subject to the whims and voracious appetite of the cancer that had slowly consumed him.
    Finally peace, tranquillity and a life for themselves on McCauley’s Hill.
    She turned the ute into their new driveway, checking in the rear-view mirror to make sure the horse float behind was still with her. A useless act really as the loss of Parnie’s weight would have been more than noticeable if the trailer had decided to part with the ute. But then, knowing her recent luck, it paid to be sure.
    She could see the shadow of the gelding’s head through the Perspex window and was reassured. Hopefully he was having a chat to Milly’s pony, Buggsy, telling the little 12-hand mare to settle and not be afraid, that Jodie had it all in hand.
    Jodie choked back a half laugh at that thought as she braked to a stop. Her? Have it all in hand? If there ever was a time when she wished she could go back to being a child and be cared for by two loving parents, it would be now.
    When had she become the parent? The one who was supposed to know what to do, where to go, how to support two human mouths, two horses, a dog and the latest addition … Jodie looked down at the box on the seat between her and her daughter. Two bulbous, unblinking eyes glared back. Milly was always picking up stray bits and pieces and this ugly frog was the latest in the long line of misfits and orphans who’d made their way to the Ashtons’ door. What the heck were they going to feed the thing? ‘Ribbit!’ the frog croaked. Maybe there were some Frenchmen serving at the wedding who liked frog’s legs? The local backpackers’ place was full of Europeans earning a dollar from casual work.
    â€˜He’s here to stay, Mum, so don’t get that look in your eye.’ Her daughter was awake and had an eyebrow cocked while a little grin played around the edges of her cute bow-shaped lips. At seven years old, she knew her mother better than anyone else alive.
    â€˜What look?’ Jodie tried her best to sound indignant. And failed. Her mouth gave her away. She could even feel her own dimples starting to dance on her cheeks. Damn it. The child was just too intuitive for her own good.
    â€˜His name is Ribbit and you need to be nice to him,’ stated Milly. ‘He might make all your wishes come true when I turn him into a handsome prince.’
    Jodie rolled her eyes and tried not to laugh. ‘You have to kiss him to do that, Milly.’
    â€˜I do?’ Her daughter looked horrified. ‘Since