Outback Dreams by Rachael Johns Page B

decided she might need a PA. She answered and her grin grew when she recognised the caller’s voice.
    â€˜Hi, Curtis.’
    â€˜Too soon to call? Do I look too eager?’
    She laughed. ‘No. Not at all. I’m happy to hear from you.’
    â€˜In that case, what would you say to dinner in Gero Friday night? Maybe a movie afterwards?’
    â€˜I’d say that sounds like a lot of fun.’
    â€˜Awesome. Can you pick me up? I don’t know if my old bomb will make the distance?’
    â€˜Um, sure. You’ll have to give me your address, though. I don’t actually know where you live.’
    He made a snorting noise. ‘Don’t worry. Half the time I don’t either. I’m camping out on a mate’s floor until the cray season is over and we head to Queensland. I’ve got another mate there who’s got some jobs lined up for us.’
    â€˜So you’re not staying in Bunyip Bay?’ The question slipped out before she thought about it.
    â€˜Nah.’ He paused a moment. ‘That’s not a problem, is it? You’re not looking for marriage, kids and the whole shebang are ya?’
    Her foolish heart sunk a little. She’d managed to snag the attentions of yet another guy who just wanted a bit of fun. Was there a flashing neon sign on her head that read “Perfect for a great time, not a long time"?
    â€˜No, of course not.’ She forced amusement into her voice. ‘I’m only twenty-nine.’
    â€˜Exactly,’ he said. ‘Plenty of time for that serious bizzo later.’
    â€˜Yeah, plenty.’
    So why had her day just taken a nosedive?

Chapter Nine
    Over the next week, Faith kept busy cooking stews and smoko snacks for the upcoming seeding season and working on plans for the fundraiser. She’d set the date for the last Saturday in June when, hopefully, most farmers would have finished seeding. With Simone’s help, she’d booked the Memorial Hall, started designing the invitations, and begun drafting press releases for the media. Faith relished the busyness but grabbed every opportunity to get away from Forrester’s Rock because life at home hadn’t improved at all.
    Her dad had barely spoken to her all week; the grunts he gave her to pass the broccoli at dinner didn’t count. So many times she wanted to scream that she hadn’t stopped picking up his socks or cooking his favourite desserts, despite her threats to do so, so why oh why couldn’t he just smile at her occasionally? She felt trapped. On the one hand she didn’t want to leave Forrester’s Rock, but on the other hand, she couldn’t go on living in such a toxic place. She prayed for rain and vowed that once seeding was over, once the ball had been ticked off her list, she’d have it out with her father. She’d held off far too long, not wanting to cause disharmony—for her mother’s sake, for her memory—but disharmony was already here and it was time to face it.
    At the sound of the front door opening and closing, Faith glanced up at the clock. Good Lord, it was almost five and she hadn’t even contemplated dinner. She leapt out of her chair as Ryan entered the kitchen.
    â€˜Hey, sis, what’s for tea?’
    She racked her mind for what could be defrosted from the freezer while Ryan helped himself to a beer.
    The bottle hissed as he opened it. He took a long sip, smiled and then said, ‘Haven’t you got a hot date tonight?’
    â€˜Oh, shit. Is it Friday already?’ She dropped her head into her hands and sank back into her seat. She was supposed to pick Curtis up in an hour so they’d make it into Geraldton for their six-thirty reservation at the Indian restaurant.
    â€˜Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten!’ Ryan’s voice was incredulous. ‘You and Curtis seemed joined at the hip last week.’
    Looks can be deceiving.
    Cancelling on him would have been a