Novels 01 Blue Skies Read Online Free PDF

farm, I’ll do it myself.’
    The bank manager looked dubious. ‘Do you really want the responsibility of running a big farm with a large debt?’ he asked. ‘You’re only twenty-two. I’d have thought you’d rather be out having fun with your friends.’
    ‘I’ve had three years of doing that at ag college,’ Amanda replied, shaking her head.‘I didn’t realise how things stood with Kyleena, but now that I do, I’m ready to take it on. I’ve been putting together a business plan.’ She bent down and opened the beaten-up leather briefcase which had been her mother’s and brought out a display folder. She placed it in front of Malcolm. ‘Here’s a five-year plan. I’ve updated it since I’ve been home, and if you can back me on this, I won’t let you down.’ She fixed him with her most determined gaze.
    Malcolm didn’t move to pick up the folder, but leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk. ‘We do seem to be forgetting one thing here, Amanda. You are only one half of the partnership. Your father is the other, and in the conversations I’ve had with him, I can’t see you changing his mind. I also was under the impression you had been accepted for an agricultural exchange in England in a few months’ time. What about that?’
    Just for a moment, Amanda allowed herself to dwell on the plans she knew now, she would have to give up. There was no doubt what she was undertaking would mean she couldn’t go to England now . . .
    ‘Yes I was – but I can’t let Kyleena be sold. It’s been in our family too long. I realise that Dad is going to be hard to sway, but I’m hoping you can help me.’ She took a shaky breath and continued. ‘Dad and I had an argument the night I met you in the drive and you told me about the valuer. I . . . I left the farm. But if you like my plan and can offer me the finance I need, we might be able to talk Dad round.’
    ‘Where have you been staying?’
    ‘At the backpackers,’ Amanda confessed. ‘But I can’t stay there much longer. I hate being in town and I’m running out of money. I’ve been asking Dad about a wage for months but he just keeps giving me a hundred bucks here or a hundred and fifty there. Now I know why. I just can’t understand why he never talked to me about it.’ Her voice betrayed her hurt.
    ‘Your father is emotionally exhausted at the moment,’ Malcolm said gently. ‘I think you’ll find that’s why he wants to get out of farming. Maybe you both need some time before we start this process. Due to the bereavement in your family, the bank would be willing to offer a grace period of a couple of weeks. Just to make sure your head is in the right place. Big decisions are never made well under pressure. It might also give you time to sort things out with Brian. You may not need to use our mediation service.’
    ‘No! I need to do it now – I need a purpose,’ Amanda blurted.
    ‘I suppose the big question is: can you work with your father?’
    ‘I’m sure I can,’ Amanda cried, hoping it was true. ‘I know it won’t be easy, but if we both try to understand each other’s point of view . . .’
    The bank manager looked at her for a moment, tapping his finger on the desk as if in thought. Then he cleared his throat. ‘Okay, here’s what we’ll do. I’ll look at your business plan. Then, if it stacks up, I’ll consider financing it and we’ll work out a plan to chat to Brian. But I’m not making any promises.
    ‘You have to understand that the bank will look at three things.’ He ticked off the points on his fingers. ‘One, how will the debt be serviced? Two, how are you going to move forward as a business? And three, do you have a succession plan? If the plan we put in place doesn’t work and there is a family rift, then how will it be worked out in the end? Do you understand that?’ Amanda nodded. ‘Right, I’d better get some more coffee; this might take a while.’

Chapter 7
Autumn 1934
    Michael came in from