The Outback Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

ears.
    By his makeshift bed sat a heap of empty king brown bottles. Indi squinted and saw a few that were still full of beer. Ready for his breakfast. As if he knew they were watching him, a loud fart erupted and he scratched at his belly through his dirty clothes.
    Mrs Bateson actually took a step back and grimaced. ‘Well, one can’t choose one’s neighbours. At least Troy seems like a nice young man. He saw me struggling with the lawnmower yesterday and next thing I know he’s come over and mown my lawn for me.’
    ‘Yeah? Well, anything would be better than Kingy,’ Indi said but her mind was already picturing Troy pushing the lawnmower in his singlet, sweat beading on his tanned skin, perspiration dampening his dark hair. Indi touched her cheek as the fiery blush returned there. What was going on with her lately?
    ‘It’s been very quiet at Troy’s, but a young strapping fellow like him will have friends in no time, I’m sure,’ said Mrs Bateson. ‘And he seems to be single.’
    There is nothing worse than an old lady wiggling her eyebrows suggestively
, Indi thought.
    ‘I better go. Thanks again for the flowers. I have to pick up Patrick and meet Dad and Jasper there.’
    ‘All right, love. Pay my respects to your mum. We all miss her ’round here.’
    ‘I will. Cheers.’ Mrs Bateson stood out the front of her house watching her leave. Indi had to wonder how she still lived on after all the funerals she’d attended. Her husband, her youngest son, her best friends and her parents. Getting old sucked. Then she glanced across to Kingy, who was now sitting up having his warm morning beer, and she changed her mind. At least Mrs Bateson knew how to live.
    Indi drove a few blocks to Patrick’s house with the flowers resting carefully on the seat. He’d bought his house a few years back, just before his wedding. A simple three-bedroom house, which Indi hoped would soon have a baby in the spare room. Some said Pat may have rushed into marriage – he had only been with Maddie a year – but with Lizzy fighting cancer, he took the plunge. Maybe he knew Lizzy would have liked to go to a wedding for one of her children or maybe he just realised how short life was.
    Knocking on the door, she gave a shout ‘Hello’ before pushing it open. ‘Pat, you ready?’
    She could hear voices towards the kitchen area before Pat appeared with Maddie behind him. ‘Hey, sis.’
    Maddie was a wisp of a thing, coming up to Indi’s shoulders, and so petite that when she hugged her it was like hugging a child. Fine-boned, Lizzy always said. Not like the thick-boned sons she’d produced. But her frame was the only small thing about Maddie. She had a strong constitution and never backed down on a fight. Which was great for Pat, as he always wanted to win or had to have the last say – was always the bossy older brother who thought he knew everything. In Maddie he had found his match.
    ‘Hi, Indi.’ Maddie touched her shoulder tenderly. ‘You’ve got my love today and I’ll be there in spirit. I’ll see you later for the family dinner. I’m running
so
late for work. Pat, don’t forget to hang the washing out and do the dishes when you get back, please,’ she added. Maddie flicked back her blonde hair and kissed Pat goodbye before rushing out the door.
    ‘You’ve been told,’ Indi said, teasingly.
    Pat pushed her out the door and locked up.
    Opening the passenger side of her LandCruiser, Indi pulled her large water bottle from the footwell to make room for her brother’s leg. ‘Just watch the flowers,’ she warned.
    When Indi got in behind the steering wheel, she saw that Pat was holding the flowers gently on his lap with his head down. His hair was shaved short, which made his jawline stand out like a soldier’s. ‘Thanks for the lift, sis.’
    ‘I had to come into town to get the flowers; it’d be silly not to get you too.’
    His finger touched one of the lilies and she knew he was thinking of their