Page 16 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

‘Seriously?’ She garbled right before swallowing what was left of the rum ball.

He gave her an affirmative nod. ‘Deadly.’

‘Sounds … wonderful.’ Without meaning to, she matched his pose. ‘Can I think about it, though?’

‘You sure can.’ Stretching his arms high, he stood. ‘Anyway, I best get a shift on if I want to be home around midnight.’

Not wanting to have to say goodbye to him just yet, Rose almost instinctively told him to stay a little longer, but her mother saved her from saying too much.

‘You’re not going anywhere, Ty Parker,’ Molly said in a motherly tone as she wandered onto the verandah, a steaming cuppa in hand.

Stifling a yawn, Ty turned in her direction. ‘I’m not?’

‘No way. You’re too tired to drive all that way now.’ She offered a fleeting glance in Rose’s direction, silently checking it was okay then, receiving an eager nod from her daughter, went on. ‘You can crash in the guest room and head off in the morning, after you’ve had a good night’s sleep.’

Ty looked lost for words, but then said, ‘Are you sure?’

‘A hundred percent, Ty.’ Molly sank down into the well-worn cushions of the settee. ‘I wouldn’t feel right seeing you drive off now. There’s too many idiots on the road.’

‘Righto.’ Ty sank back down to the step. ‘Thanks, Molly.’

‘Yeah, thanks, Mum. You’re the best.’ Smiling from the inside out, Rose looked to her mum, loving her all the more for being such a kind-hearted, thoughtful woman. They shared a mother–daughter moment before Rose brought her attention back to Ty. ‘Come on then, Parker, go grab your bag, and I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping, then you can have a shower if you like, and chillax with us lot until bedtime.’

‘Sounds like a plan.’ Ty stood, shoving a hand through his hair. ‘You and your family are amazing, Rose. I feel very lucky to be invited here today.’

He towered over her, the admiration in his eyes making her feel like she hadn’t felt in a very long time. ‘You’re welcome, Ty. We’ve all loved having you here today.’ What she really wanted to say was she had loved having him today and she’d enjoyed every second of his easygoing company.

‘Right, then. I’ll go get my stuff, back in a sec.’ Taking the steps two at a time, he strode across the yard, offered a grin and a wave to Trev and Kenny, who were flat on their backs on the lawn, hands tucked beneath their heads as they watched the storm clouds roll overhead, then disappeared around the side of the homestead.

Rose felt a tiny piece of herself go with him as he strolled out of sight. There was just something special about this man; exactly what, she couldn’t tell yet. Maybe he was a gift from her great-grandmother up in heaven, an earth angel sent to lighten the load of her burdened heart.

Whatever the case, Rose already knew deep in her bones they were going to be mates for life.

CHAPTER

5

The hint of a new day had almost broken across the heavens above Jacaranda Farm, way too soon for Rose’s liking. Not only because she could use more snoozing, but because she wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Ty. They’d spent a great night sitting on the back verandah, yakking about their lives and their dreams for the future as if they were already lifelong mates.

In his effortless way, he made her feel good, and lifted her spirits just by being around. He’d made her laugh more than she had in the past year. And her family clearly adored him, her GG going as far as to say Ty was one of the very few good ones. Heath and her mum had been quick to agree.

Tiptoeing past the guest room at the crack of dawn, she’d almost had a heart attack when she’d bumped into him in the hallway – he on the way back from the bathroom and her en route to it. After a quick, whispered discussion, Ty had suggested they watch the sunrise on foot – Ty wanted to see the place and Rose was all too happy to give him the tour.

Half an hour later, the glorious sunrise had added golden swathes to the powdery-blue sky and the sweeping landscape beneath, and the few drifting clouds resembled soft marshmallows. Sunlight bounced off the cherry-red coats of the Santa Gertrudis cattle dotting the rolling paddocks on either side of the earthen track worn into the scrub by many sets of boots over the years. Strolling along with her hands shoved into the back pockets of her frayed denim shorts, Rose admired how happy and healthy the cattle were – Heath and GG treated the cattle like close family, and it showed with their breeding programs, as well as how sought-after their livestock were. She smiled as she watched a couple of the calves leave their mother’s side to romp in the long grass, their playful antics giving rise to a soft giggle.

As they wandered side by side, Ty’s gaze travelled to the same place. ‘I love watching cattle, especially newborn calves. They’ve all got their own personalities …’ He offered her a sideways glance, as if gauging her response, ‘… and contrary to what some people might think, they’re highly intelligent creatures.’

‘I totally agree.’ Stopping at the gate, she unlatched it and it swung open, bumping against the post. ‘Some of them can be super intelligent, and others can be downright stupid. Just like humans, really.’

‘Ha, yup! Spot on, Rose.’ Ty took the liberty of closing the gate and latching it shut. ‘I’m a firm believer in raising cattle like you do here. Free to roam with a wild diet.’

Rose respected his beliefs about animal husbandry. ‘It’s the only way.’ She fell into step beside this man once more, keen to continue the thread of conversation, one she was passionate about. ‘We wouldn’t expect a child to develop normally if it was brought up in cramped conditions, on a diet of processed foods, with little or no exercise, and without any family around.’ She cleared the notch of anger from her throat – overcrowded feedlots boiled her blood. ‘So why do it to our cherished animals?’

‘Very well said.’ Ty’s expression was one of total awe. ‘Just like chickens that need to be able to hunt for worms and insects, and spread their wings in the sunlight, not be cooped up in those horrid cages where their feet become permanently clawed.’ He huffed an irritated breath. ‘That’s just bloody inhumane.’

‘Exactly.’ Rose nodded firmly. ‘I only buy free-range chicken, and bacon and meat, oh, and I like my milk to be as natural as possible too. Give me the cream on top over that horrible low-fat stuff any day.’

‘I couldn’t agree more.’ Ty bequeathed her a slow, easy smile. ‘I love how we think very alike, Miss Jones.’