Page 67 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

She spent the next two hours cleaning the cottage from top to bottom – not that it needed it, but it gave her something to do. Placing the mop back into the bucket then flopping onto the couch while she waited for the floor to dry, she felt a cavernous sense of sadness as she gazed over the room. This had been her place of healing, in more ways than one. While she was lost in the memories of her time here, a sudden reverberation of rain pelting the roof had her straightening and wandering over to the windows. Pulling back the curtains, she peered out at the tropical downpour hammering from the dark sky. The change of weather had brought with it a deep sense of stillness, like the pause between breaths, and it squeezed her heart painfully tight. Something about this place felt as much home to her as Jacaranda Farm did, and possibly even more so, in a strange but reassuring way.

Sinking back down on the couch, she reached for the remote. Needing anything to distract her wandering mind, she hoped mindless entertainment might do the trick. She settled on an old romcom, but within minutes, Ty was occupying her thoughts again. Holy hell, she’d never wanted anyone like she wanted him, and she had no idea what she was meant to do about that. Groaning, she flicked to another channel, where there was a commercial for some weight-loss machine that would apparently make her look like she’d been going to the gym for years in a matter of weeks.

Yeah, right.

She switched the television off with a huff and went in search of another distraction in the kitchen. She flicked the kettle on, wondering how she was going to say goodbye, get in her Colorado and drive away. It was beyond her. Even thinking about it brought an aching hollowness to her heart. Ty had filled it with so much joy, as had Leah. Leaving was going to be like popping the balloon.

Wizard lifted his head from where he was curled up in his cat bed and regarded her with bright eyes. Scooping him up, Rose cuddled the purring ball of fluff to her, enjoying the way Wizard’s vibrations got louder as she gave him a scratch on the belly.

‘I hope you’re going to settle in back at Jacaranda Farm okay, my little buddy.’ Tears budded and she let them fall, sniffling. ‘At least I don’t have to say goodbye to you, hey.’

Completely in the moment, she jumped as her mobile phone chimed from the basket at the corner of the bench. Snatching it up, she smiled through her tears at the caller ID. ‘Hey, Dad. I thought you’d disappeared into the ether.’

‘Sorry, love, I kept meaning to call you back yesterday, but every time I did, I got sidetracked.’ He chuckled. ‘You know me.’

‘Yes, you’re a sidetracker if there ever was one.’ Placing her phone down, Rose put it on speaker so she could finish making a cuppa.

‘So, when are you coming home?’ Mark’s voice echoed through the room. ‘We all miss you back here.’

Plucking the string from her teabag, she fell silent as she dropped it into her cup, dangling the label over the side.

‘Rose?’

She took a breath and braced herself. ‘I’m heading back tomorrow morning, but to be honest, I could stay here forever. I love the place.’

And I think I’m falling in love with the owner too.

Mark breathed a sigh. ‘Well, my girl, maybe you need to consider staying longer, because before you know it, life will pass you by, and you don’t want to look back on it with too many regrets.’

‘That’s good advice, Dad, but I have to come home.’ Rose grabbed the milk from the fridge. ‘I’ve got things to sort out there, like my horse-riding business and where I’m going to be living in the long-term.’

‘You do know you can teach horse riding almost anywhere, right?’

‘Yes and no.’ Rose treasured how her dad always wanted her to do whatever made her happy. ‘I need a safe yard and people who want to pay me to learn.’

‘It will all work out as it’s meant to, Rose. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, okay?’

‘I’ll try not to, but you know me, I’m a total worry wart.’

‘Ha, yeah, a bit like your mum, god love her.’

‘Yes, she and I are like two peas in a pod.’ A knock at the front door had her striding towards it. ‘Someone’s here, I’ve got to go, Dad. I’ll talk to you again soon.’

‘Okay, love you. Drive home safely tomorrow.’

‘I will. I love you, too. Lots.’ She hung up right before she tugged the door open to the man who owned her heart.

Ty tipped his hat and greeted her with his dimple-clad smile. ‘Howdy doodie, Miss Jones. How’s things?’

Why did he have to be so irresistible? ‘Not bad.’ She rubbed her temples as she stepped back to welcome him inside. ‘Although I drank a bottle of wine by myself last night, and now my head is absolutely smashing.’

Ty kicked off his boots and brushed past her. ‘Have you drunk heaps of water? That seems to do the trick most of the time.’

‘Yup, done that, and taken a couple of painkillers. I’m just in the middle of making a cuppa.’ She thumbed over her shoulder. ‘Would you like one while I’m at it?’

‘Have you got anything cold?’

‘I’ve got some juice, I think.’