Right As Rain Read Online Free PDF

”
    â€œMackenna!” Her mother’s sharp tone cut her off again. “Your father’s had a heart attack. We can’t go back to how things were. Everything’s changed.”
    Mackenna frowned. “In what way?” She studied her mother’s face as she waited for an answer.
    Louise’s eyes were bright. The weariness of yesterday was gone. Her hair with its neat strips of salt-and-pepper grey was brushed into the bob style she always wore and a touch of lipstick coloured her lips. All appeared normal. She turned away to check on the eggs.
    â€œMum?” Mackenna gripped the back of a chair in frustration. “Dad’s doing okay isn’t he, and I’m fit. Why do our plans for the future of Woolly Swamp have to change?”
    Sounds of movement came from the passage.
    â€œNot now,” her mother said as Patrick and then Cam arrived.
    â€œGood morning, Louise,” Cam said. He turned to Mackenna. “And good morning to you . . . officially.”
    She nodded her head and busied herself making toast. She didn’t want him telling the rest of the family about her blundering into his bedroom.
    â€œHow’s Lyle today?” Cam asked.
    â€œTired,” Louise said.
    Mackenna felt a pang of guilt. She hadn’t asked after her father.
    â€œI’ll take him some breakfast,” she said.
    â€œNo.” Louise wagged the spatula at her. “He’s probably gone back to sleep. I’ll make him something later. You don’t need to ask him anything do you, Cam?”
    â€œNo. The roof iron is on the truck. I’ll unload it this morning. Then we’ve got those rams to shift, Patrick.”
    Mackenna watched in amazement as the hired help gave directions in the family kitchen. Her mother was right. Lots of things had changed but Mackenna would soon set that straight.
    â€œHas Ted been out to test for worms?” she asked.
    â€œYes . . . well no,” Patrick said. “Dad asked me to call him last week but he was away. His replacement came out, your old friend from Morning Star Station, Hugh McDonald.”
    â€œI didn’t know he was back.” Mackenna hadn’t seen Hugh in a long time. They’d been very close once, doing everything together with their mutual friend Carol – a formidable gang of three for many years. She gave a wistful thought to those carefree days before focusing back on Patrick. “What did he say?”
    â€œThey’ve got worms.”
    â€œWhat kind of worms?” she asked, aware that both the men had been served eggs and toast while nothing had been set before her.
    â€œWhat difference does it make?” Patrick asked.
    â€œThere’s an extra test to tell what kind of worms so we get the specific drench.”
    â€œDrench is drench.” Cam chuckled and rolled his eyes at Patrick.
    â€œNo, it’s not,” Mackenna persisted.
    â€œIt costs more for that test,” Patrick said. “Dad didn’t say, so I didn’t ask for it.”
    â€œIt will cost a lot more if the drench you got isn’t the right one.” Mackenna was annoyed. Between Patrick and Cam, things were obviously not being done properly. “I’ll give Hugh a call.”
    â€œI can do it,” Patrick said. The colour was rising in his cheeks.
    â€œWhy don’t you leave it to the blokes, Mackenna?” Her mother patted her on the shoulder. “You still haven’t shown me your holiday pictures.”
    â€œI will later. My camera’s in the car.” Mackenna had been so busy yesterday, her car was still by the gate where she’d left it. She hadn’t unpacked a thing. “Bloody hell, my car!” She jumped up from the table.
    â€œMackenna!” her mother rebuked. “I won’t tolerate bad language in the house.”
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Patrick asked.
    â€œI found a dead lamb in the paddock on my way in yesterday,” she