him. What was he doing adding to Paige’s already heavy burden? But he’d come too far to abandon his plan to ensure Paige would lead the life he wished for her. He had to have faith in Molly’s belief things would work out. Even in her last days she’d clung to the hope fate would deliver a happy ending. It didn’t. He could only hope that this time Molly’s belief would hold true.
He reached up to pull the cord that hung from the pressed metal ceiling that would switch the kitchen light off. He’d more to worry about than how Paige and Tait were getting along. Tomorrow at Balgarry the whole community would be gathered. Generations of farming families who’d lived through floods, droughts and fires and who held an archive of memories.
Tait believed his secret was safe and that Connor thought he was simply a city boy here on business. But it wasn’t only the strength of Tait’s character that the newspaper photo had revealed to Connor. He’d also seen that the small boy he’d once met had grown into a man capable of righting past wrongs. But would Tait ever have such a chance?
Connor slowly made his way down the hallway. Would anyone see past Tait’s unfamiliar surname?
Would anyone else know who he really was?
Chapter Eight
Paige adjusted her grasp on the Tupperware containers and paused on the school pathway to check Connor was okay. He and Tait had headed over to a cluster of farmers sitting at a wooden playground table. As Connor approached, the Akubra-wearing men stood. After much back thumping and hand shaking, all returned to their seats. She waited for the group to grin and look at her and when they didn’t she knew Connor’s introduction of Tait as a friend had been accepted. The juicy news of Tait and Paige being an item hadn’t yet reached Balgarry via the Glenalla bush telegraph. But it soon would, whenever Mrs Jessop arrived. Connor wheeled himself close to the table and as Tait sat beside him a farmer passed both men a bottle of beer.
Paige smiled through a swell of emotion. Social contact for Connor, as well as the district’s other men, was so important and never more so than in a drought. An initiative of the drought support worker, who donated bread, meat and a case of beer, the monthly get-together was a vital part of bolstering local mental health. For a brief time families could escape their constant stress and have some old-fashioned fun. Stories could be swapped, frustration vented and support networks created.
Children’s laughter carried from the tennis courts to her right, and the smell of barbequing sausages drifted from within the weather shed. Usually home to the school’s eight students, the shed now teemed with colour as women set up a long trestle table with paper plates, plastic cutlery and red bottles of tomato sauce.
Still smiling, Paige turned and headed towards the school house. Two children ran to her across what had once been a grassy playground but now coated their scuffed boots with dust. They screeched to a halt in front of her, their attention on the containers she carried.
‘Paigy, did you bring those white thingies again?’
‘Yes, Chloe, I sure did.’
The five-year-old giggled and elbowed the taller boy beside her. ‘Told you.’
Sean gave a gummy grin. ‘Shoddy the first one.’
Last get-together he’d lost a front tooth. Paige bent to peer into his mouth. ‘You know, your other front tooth looks wobbly enough to come out too. I wonder if I gave it a little tug …’ She shifted the containers to free her right hand.
Sean’s grin widened as he squealed and the two children dashed away. Chloe stopped, rushed back to loop her hands around Paige’s waist and give her a quick hug, before skipping off again.
Heart light, Paige turned to see Anne approaching. The plait of her long grey hair was secured in its usual neat coil and her customary dark skirt and white blouse were immaculate despite the hour-long car journey from town.
She too
He reached up to pull the cord that hung from the pressed metal ceiling that would switch the kitchen light off. He’d more to worry about than how Paige and Tait were getting along. Tomorrow at Balgarry the whole community would be gathered. Generations of farming families who’d lived through floods, droughts and fires and who held an archive of memories.
Tait believed his secret was safe and that Connor thought he was simply a city boy here on business. But it wasn’t only the strength of Tait’s character that the newspaper photo had revealed to Connor. He’d also seen that the small boy he’d once met had grown into a man capable of righting past wrongs. But would Tait ever have such a chance?
Connor slowly made his way down the hallway. Would anyone see past Tait’s unfamiliar surname?
Would anyone else know who he really was?
Chapter Eight
Paige adjusted her grasp on the Tupperware containers and paused on the school pathway to check Connor was okay. He and Tait had headed over to a cluster of farmers sitting at a wooden playground table. As Connor approached, the Akubra-wearing men stood. After much back thumping and hand shaking, all returned to their seats. She waited for the group to grin and look at her and when they didn’t she knew Connor’s introduction of Tait as a friend had been accepted. The juicy news of Tait and Paige being an item hadn’t yet reached Balgarry via the Glenalla bush telegraph. But it soon would, whenever Mrs Jessop arrived. Connor wheeled himself close to the table and as Tait sat beside him a farmer passed both men a bottle of beer.
Paige smiled through a swell of emotion. Social contact for Connor, as well as the district’s other men, was so important and never more so than in a drought. An initiative of the drought support worker, who donated bread, meat and a case of beer, the monthly get-together was a vital part of bolstering local mental health. For a brief time families could escape their constant stress and have some old-fashioned fun. Stories could be swapped, frustration vented and support networks created.
Children’s laughter carried from the tennis courts to her right, and the smell of barbequing sausages drifted from within the weather shed. Usually home to the school’s eight students, the shed now teemed with colour as women set up a long trestle table with paper plates, plastic cutlery and red bottles of tomato sauce.
Still smiling, Paige turned and headed towards the school house. Two children ran to her across what had once been a grassy playground but now coated their scuffed boots with dust. They screeched to a halt in front of her, their attention on the containers she carried.
‘Paigy, did you bring those white thingies again?’
‘Yes, Chloe, I sure did.’
The five-year-old giggled and elbowed the taller boy beside her. ‘Told you.’
Sean gave a gummy grin. ‘Shoddy the first one.’
Last get-together he’d lost a front tooth. Paige bent to peer into his mouth. ‘You know, your other front tooth looks wobbly enough to come out too. I wonder if I gave it a little tug …’ She shifted the containers to free her right hand.
Sean’s grin widened as he squealed and the two children dashed away. Chloe stopped, rushed back to loop her hands around Paige’s waist and give her a quick hug, before skipping off again.
Heart light, Paige turned to see Anne approaching. The plait of her long grey hair was secured in its usual neat coil and her customary dark skirt and white blouse were immaculate despite the hour-long car journey from town.
She too
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