Riverboat Point Read Online Free PDF

adjoined the original family land where Mal and Barb still lived, but their home was twenty kilometres away over the hills as the crow flies, further by road. The two properties were divided by the hills and a creek. East of the hills Mal managed the sheep country and on this western side, Blake’s country was better for crops. They worked together but apart, which suited them both.
    Ethan pulled in at the back of the house and rolled to a stop by the gate into the yard. The freestanding garage was open and empty except for assorted boxes and bags. There were no other vehicles about.
    Ethan was relieved. He wasn’t in the mood to make small talk with this Jenny.
    The cat miaowed at him from the verandah. Blake wasn’t into pets but he’d allowed a cat when his children were little. They’d called it Pookie. The wife and children were gone but the cat remained. At least a cat could look after itself for a while.
    The cat called again.
    Ethan went through the gate then stopped to take in his surroundings. The ramshackle garden had been tidied to the point where it actually looked like someone cared. Blake certainly never had. Ethan looked around as he slowly followed the path to the back verandah. The weeds were gone, roses had been pruned and lavender bushes trimmed. A row of annuals had been planted along both sides of the path.
    A small cloud of flies buzzed around a red clump near the back door. He poked at it with his boot as the cat tried to rub against his leg.
    â€œYou’ve been catching rabbits, Pookie.” He kicked the remains of the baby rabbit into the garden.
    The cat let out a long complaining miaow.
    Ethan glanced towards the bowls of food and water. All empty. Not surprising but they were pristine clean. Blake fed Pookie as if he was a hen, scattering dry food everywhere. The build-up of old food that usually littered the concrete around the bowls was gone.
    Someone had given the verandah a scrub. Not Barb, she had trouble enough with her own house and she wasn’t a fussy housekeeper. Her garden was cared for but ramshackle, no rows or order. Perhaps it was the doing of this Jenny that Blake had mentioned.
    Ethan stuck his head through the back door.
    â€œHello,” he called.
    The only response was another wail from Pookie.
    â€œOkay, cat.”
    Ethan picked up the empty bowls and refilled them from the supplies in the laundry. Pookie crunched on the dry food. Ethan left her to it. He shut the door to the house. He had no desire to look any further into Blake’s private business. Perhaps this woman was the right one. Ethan hoped so.
    He retraced his steps along the path, once more taking in the neat appearance and noticing smaller plants he hadn’t known existed there. He shut the yard gate and went back to the ute. He would be spending his days in the sheds going over machinery left idle since last harvest. He gave a brief thought to Jaxon’s sister. He’d promised to keep an eye on her but she’d given him the impression she wouldn’t take kindly to that. What was of more concern, there’d be no fishing for a while. He’d have to eat something else for dinner.

CHAPTER
5
    Savannah lugged the bag and box of groceries into Jaxon’s shack. The musty smell of mice greeted her straight away. She pressed her lips together and tried not to breathe deeply. She needed something to eat before she tackled the mess in the pantry.
    She turned on the tap and was rewarded as the stream of water turned hot.
    â€œAt last,” she whispered.
    She washed down the bench beside the sink, gave a cup and a plate the same treatment and set about making herself some breakfast. Normally she started the day with freshly brewed tea but it was more like brunch time now. Coffee was what she needed.
    Once the meal was ready, she crossed to the wall of glass facing the river and pulled up one of the thin venetian blinds that covered the sliding door. Light flooded