Page 3 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

‘I’ll try to, I promise.’ Rose bit back the urge to spill anything about her and Finley’s troubled relationship. Her mum had enough emotional baggage to deal with right now.

‘Glad to hear it, sweetheart.’ Molly held her gaze with eyes the same colour as her own for a moment longer, then looked to Lizzy, who was now drawing circles in the dirt with a stick. ‘I best get a move on. I have to get this little one to her dance class at twelve-thirty.’

‘Okey-dokey. I’ll call you tomorrow.’ Rose started to lead Buck towards the stables. ‘Bye, Lizzy.’

Lizzy waved enthusiastically. ‘Bye, sissy.’

An hour later, Rose was stepping through the doors of her second-favourite shop in Mareeba, the first being the Western clothing store with all its leather goods and sparkly tops. She breathed deeply; she’d always loved the smell of the local feed store, Stockman’s Hall of Hay. Striding towards the back of the building, she went in search of golden yolk chicken feed, the secret behind the almost orange hue of the eggs she consumed every morning. Fried, poached, scrambled, the occasional omelette, you name it – eggs were her go-to. Ironic that Finley was allergic.

Turning a corner while lost in her thoughts, she ran smack-bang into a big, burly chest. The owner of said chest instantly grabbed her arm as if to steady her, his hold strong yet gentle, cool but heated. And holy moly, he smelt good – leather and spice and all things horsey nice.

‘Oops, sorry about that.’ Shamefaced, she stepped back and her heart skipped a beat as she peered up into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, ones that contrasted with the bloke’s shaggy black hair and the equally dark five o’clock shadow that dusted his square jaw.

In a single breath, his gaze raked over her, paused on her lips then back to her eyes. ‘Equally guilty for the collision.’ Balancing a twenty-kilogram bag of feed on each of his wide shoulders, the towering bloke flashed her an apologetic grin. ‘So no worries at all.’

‘Oh, okay, cheers.’ Remembering to blink, she smiled as she stepped aside to let him pass. And that was when it hit her – she’d just collided with the one and only Ty Parker, champion bull rider. She’d seen him atop a bull quite a few times, but never had she been so up close and personal. By god, his presence was emanating masculinity in spades. For some strange reason, she felt the need to look around and make sure nobody was watching them. She shook herself. What was that all about?

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him walk away quickly, disappearing except for his wide-brimmed hat. She observed it hovering across the store then, after pausing at the cash registers, out the front doors. She knew that he owned a cattle station a few hours west of Townsville, nearer Charters Towers, and that was about it. With one of the biggest rodeos of the calendar on this weekend, he was no doubt here to jump aboard a bucking bull.

Remembering what she’d come in here for, she got back to her list of errands. Even though they were in a hard place right now, she was looking forward to seeing Finley and hoped they could find a way to move past all the drama. Maybe she should cook his favourite of grilled garlic Moreton Bay bugs with a side of her rocket, pear and blue cheese salad. Washed down with a good bottle of wine, of course, to soften the mood. Yeah, that’s exactly what she was going to do. The very thought made her steps a little lighter. All she wanted was a happy life with him – surely it couldn’t be that hard? She swallowed down another wave of hurt, wishing he’d call her back.

As if on cue, her phone chimed from her pocket. She plucked it out, breathing a sigh of relief when Finley’s handsome face lit up her screen. ‘Hey you.’ She stepped into a quiet aisle, keeping her voice low.

‘Hi, Rose.’ The line was crackly, distorting his voice a little.

‘I was getting worried, seeing as you didn’t return any of my calls.’

‘Yeah, sorry. I’ve been flat-out.’ Finley’s tone was curt and cold.

Not wanting to bite, Rose pushed past her anger and reached inside her heart for the love she felt for him. ‘I can’t wait to see you tonight.’

‘Yeah, about that.’ More crackles sounded. ‘I’m not going to make it to the airport in time.’

Her heart sank to her scuffed boots. ‘Why, what’s happened?’

‘I’ve been caught up at a meeting, and I’ve had to rebook my flight, so I won’t be home until tomorrow, around lunchtime.’

Rose almost protested but stopped herself, knowing from experience it would be a waste of her breath, and would only add fuel to their heated fire. ‘Oh, okay. Well, it can’t be helped, I suppose. I’ll see you tomorrow then.’

‘Yup.’

‘Okay. Well, have a safe flight.’ Tears threatened and she blinked faster.

‘I will. Bye, Rose.’ He hung up before she could even tell him she loved him.

Dropping her phone from her ear, she stood there for a few long moments, trying to gather her emotions. She didn’t want to cry – not here, not now. Having spent so much time alone over the past few months, she’d cried rivers over her bumpy relationship with Finley.

On the way home, she pulled into the McDonald’s drive-through. With nobody to cook for, a Quarter Pounder and chips washed down with a sugar-free frozen Coke was on the menu. Hell, she might even grab herself an apple pie to munch on later, when she wanted to drown her lonesome sorrows. It would go well with the tub of cookies and cream Connoisseur ice-cream she had stashed in her freezer for just such an occasion.

Twenty minutes later, driving past the sign that read Cole Estate, she slowed and turned left. It had taken her a while to get used to her future in-laws’ flashy fifty-acre Mareeba property – she’d always envisioned growing old on the unpretentious family property, Jacaranda Farm. But then she’d met Finley on the night of her seventeenth birthday and, after four and a half years of dating, he’d shocked the hell out of her and everyone who knew him by getting down on one knee. She’d moved in with him a few months later.

His parents made their disapproval of their engagement known whenever the chance arose, jibing about everything from the way she chose to dress to how she placed her knife and fork on her plate after eating. They were subtle, but it was passive aggression in its ugliest form. Finley chose to not see what they did to make her feel uncomfortable, and unwelcome, which caused more arguments.

If only she could talk him into returning with her to Jacaranda Farm, where life was peaceful, her family loved unconditionally, and the future seemed bright.

* * *

Rose couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She carefully placed her knife and fork down, trying to reel in her anger while death-staring Finley. ‘What do you mean, you think we need to take a break?’