Page 73 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

His irritation rising a couple more notches as the sun rapidly descended behind the mountain ranges, Ty met the cantankerous glare of the bull he was trying to push up the loading ramp. ‘Get in there, you stubborn bugger,’ he huffed. ‘We haven’t got all bloody day.’

The bull finally did as he was told and, acting quick, Ty thrust his weight against the cattle trailer’s rear door, locking it shut. He gave the door a rap. ‘All tucked in safe and sound, mate,’ he hollered to the driver.

‘You’ve got yourself a good haul this time round, mate.’ Rodney Rogers flashed a gap-toothed grin out the driver’s window of the road train. ‘Will be some big bucks at the saleyards for you, I reckon.’

Ty nodded. ‘Yeah, that’s the plan. After paying Kelly out, I need to get the bank balance out of the red, quick smart.’

‘True shit, hey?’ Rodney frowned. ‘I hope she’s going to make herself scarce to ya, now she’s got her pay cheque.’

Ty held his fingers up and crossed them. ‘A man can only hope.’

‘For your sake, I hope so too, Parker. You deserve way better than the likes of that bloody gold digger.’ The truck driver tipped his weather-beaten hat. ‘Catch you in a couple of months, buddy.’

‘Yup, will do. Cheers Rodney.’ Watching the road train thunder off down the road, Ty waved his old mate off, then headed for home.

With the sun setting on yet another day without Rose around to brighten it, Ty stomped on the brakes of the quad bike and jumped off. The heartache he’d carried around with him the past couple of weeks was close to unbearable – whoever said time healed was speaking crap. After a glorious month of getting to know her every smile, every lilt, every glance … she was gone, just like that. As if their connection hadn’t mattered one little bit. God, he hoped Leah wasn’t going to raise the subject over dinner again. He really didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

The intensity of the anguish made him remember all too well the mess women could leave behind, and it firmly reminded him to get on with his life as a single man as best as he could. But first, he really needed to find a way to let the fantasy of Rose Jones go – she was a heartbreaker, just like the rest of them. He was better off alone.

The crunch of tyres approaching had him striding out of the machinery shed and tugging the brim of his hat down. The woman behind the wheel of the beat-up old ute flashed him a smile. It took him a few moments to work out who it was.

What in the hell is Delilah Smith doing all the way out here?

When she pulled to a stop beneath a towering gum, a blue heeler dog turning grey around the muzzle jumped out the passenger-side window and traipsed over to him. His tail wagging in circles, the dog sat down at Ty’s boot

‘Hey there, buddy.’ Ty gave the dog a scratch behind the ears then took steps towards Delilah, now climbing out from behind the wheel with a bottle of wine in one hand and a bunch of flowers in the other. ‘Howdy,’ he said.

‘Hi, Ty.’ She passed him the bottle of wine. ‘I hope you like cab sav, I didn’t know what else to bring and I couldn’t come to dinner empty-handed.’

Not aware in the slightest that Delilah was joining them for dinner, and finding it quite odd, Ty took a moment to reply. ‘Yes, thanks. I’m sure Leah will love the flowers.’

‘I hope so.’ Delilah leaned into the ute then resurfaced and tugged her handbag over her shoulder. ‘Are you heading inside?’

‘Yeah, I was just about to.’

‘Well, then, let’s walk over there together, shall we?’ She motioned to her dog, and he lumbered to her side. ‘I hope you don’t mind me bringing Bugalugs.’

‘Not at all.’

What in the hell is going on?

Delilah took the steps slowly, breathing heavily at the top. She paused to catch her breath. ‘Don’t mind me. Old age isn’t kind at all.’ She gestured to her dog, breathing just as heavily as she was. ‘You settle yourself over there, my boy.’

The dog did as he was told and flopped down in a heap.

Taking his hat off, Ty scratched his head. ‘Did I miss the memo? Because I didn’t have any idea you were coming for dinner.’

‘Oh, sorry, it was last-minute.’ Her breath somewhat caught, Delilah flashed him a wide smile. ‘I’m going to be your sister’s birthing partner.’

Ty was stunned. ‘You are?’

Her smiled widened even further. ‘Yes, and I’m so honoured.’

‘Oh, well, now your being here makes sense.’ He guided her towards the front door, where Leah met them.

‘Hi, Delilah. I’m so happy you could make it.’ Leah stepped back, quite a lot, to allow Delilah to step inside. Ty passed her the bottle of vino, at the same time mouthing, Thanks for telling me. Leah pushed him past and cooed over her flowers. ‘Oh my gosh, they’re beautiful. Thank you.’

‘Right. Well, I’ll leave you ladies to it.’ Ty took faster steps down the hallway. ‘I’m going to head off for a shower.’ Too busy wrapped up in a clucking conversation, neither woman replied.