The Sunburnt Country Read Online Free PDF Page B

here for long,’ Dan said frankly. ‘They’re taking applications for the permanent manager’s position soon, so I’m just here to fill in and check everything’s in order in the meantime. With the last guy pulling the pin, it made things a little hard.’ Dan had bought most of these belongings new rather than dealing with shifting his own furniture from his house in Perth. He figured he’d just give it away when he got back to the city. He wasn’t here to make a home. He was here to work.
    ‘So you got any kids? A girlfriend?’ asked Zac, collapsing onto the couch for a rest.
    ‘No and no.’ Dan signed off with the delivery guy, then, turning back to Zac, said, ‘I’m too busy to get involved with anyone. You?’ He thought he should ask, the guy did just help him out.
    Zac rolled his eyes. ‘Nah. Not many to chose from out here.’
    Rick snorted as he rested against the couch near Zac. ‘I’ve got one, must just be you, hey, Zaccy. You’re wearing the wrong deodorant.’
    Zac punched Rick in the arm. ‘Jesus, you’ve got a smart mouth for a nineteen-year-old.’ He stood up next to Dan, resting his hands on his hips. ‘Well, we’re gonna be at the pub again tonight for a pool session. You should drop by for a game. Besides, it’s your shout,’ said Zac.
    ‘Yeah, mate, the more the merrier.’ Rick held out his hand and Dan shook it. Rick was big and shy, but Dan could see that with more time the kid would open up. He didn’t know many teenagers who’d stop what they were doing to help a stranger.
    ‘Um, I guess. I had Jean Symonds drop by and invite me for dinner . . .’
    Zac waved his hands like he was trying to stop a truck. ‘Nah, nah. You don’t want to go doing that, mate. Jean’s a nice bird but she’ll burn your ears off after an hour, and her hubby, Symmo, has a model tractor collection and he loves showing people every single one . . . in detail,’ Zac emphasised.
    Rick was shaking his head, waving his hand across his throat in a slicing motion. ‘Nooo, mate. You don’t wanna go through that, trust us.’ His eyes were wide as though reliving a nightmare.
    ‘Ookay. The pub it is,’ Dan said slowly. Both guys smiled, happy with Dan’s choice. ‘Well, thanks for your help. You too, Rick. I wish I could offer you a beer but . . .’ He gestured to the empty fridge they’d just lugged in.
    ‘It’s cool,’ Rick replied, hitching up his low-hanging denim shorts. ‘The pub has plenty, you can thank us there.’ He smirked before following Zac back to his ute
    Dan shut the front door of his new house and cranked up the air-con. The place was silent again – just what he was used to. He leaned against the door, wondering just how many other locals he was going to mix with tonight and how many of them would have files he’d have to sift through on Monday morning.
    He hoped none of them. He’d never socialised with his clients before and he didn’t want to start now. Besides, it was his dad’s wise advice that was freely given when he’d followed John into banking. He was the son of John Tyler, Sovereign Bank’s managing director. He had to get results.

Chapter 4
    MONDAY morning Jonny woke to loud banging on her bedroom door.
    ‘If you want any breakfast, you’d better get up now, sweet pea, or your brothers are gonna scoff the lot.’
    ‘I’m coming. Save me some, please.’ She rubbed the sleep from her eyes before throwing back the rugs and sitting up. After Friday’s all-nighter with Ryan watching the first three Star Wars movies, she was catching up on some much-needed sleep. Every time she’d started to get some shut-eye during the movies, Ryan had poked her in the ribs, telling her she was missing the best bits. Needless to say, Sunday morning she’d slept in till eight and this morning was no better – six-thirty. In a household that rose at five, six thirty was a solid sleep-in.
    Not wanting to miss breakfast, Jonny didn’t bother to get dressed.