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Cy put the tools in the back of the ute and reached for the towel he always carried in the cabin. He wiped the dirt-streaked sweat from his face, neck and shoulders. As much as Jerry whatever his name was, seemed like an absolute tool, it would be good to have a break from digging. He knew that Kane hadn’t expected the trenches all to be done at once, but if he got it out of the way, he could go over and help Ryan with the cattle.

Cy stretched and pulled his T-shirt over his head. Hopefully, Tarni and Dee would hit it off; it would get Tarni away from the shed for a bit. He sensed that her work was her life, and he understood why since she’d revealed her sad past to him.

He drove back to the shed; he’d spend the day up here. He was surprised to see the shed was still locked up. Maybe Tarni had gone back up to the house for a break, or maybe she wasn’t well enough to work.

He opened the door and called out.

‘Are you in here, Tarni?’

No reply. Concern tugged at Cy. He should have checked on her before he left this morning. Hurrying up to the house, he took the front steps two at a time. The front door was open and he walked inside. She wasn’t in the kitchen. He walked down to her bedroom, and looked through the open door; a wet towel lay on the floor, and the bedsheets were in a tangle, half on the floor and half on the bed, but there was no sign of Tarni.

His worry grew. He went back to the kitchen and noticed the coffeemaker was switched on, so she must be around somewhere. He leaned over the sink and looked out the kitchen window. Relief filled him as he spied her feet hanging over the chair on the back veranda.

##

‘Good morning, sleepyhead.’

Tarni jumped as Cy’s voice woke her. ‘Damn, I must have drifted off again. I can’t seem to stay awake.’

‘How’s the hand?’ He came over and sat in the other papasan chair.

‘Not too bad actually, but I had a stinker of a headache when I woke up so I took some more painkillers and they knocked me out. What time is it?’

‘It’s closer to lunchtime than morning tea. I got held up. That Jerry bloke turned up early.’

Tarni sat up and stretched. ‘I’ve wasted the whole morning. I haven’t even been down to the shed yet.’

‘You needed the rest. I set the hotplate on the fire pit and got the fire going before I went down to the trees this morning. Feel like sausage sangers for lunch?’

‘Sounds good. I haven’t eaten yet.’

‘Okay, how about I throw an egg on for you as well?’

‘As long as you put tomato sauce on the egg.’ Tarni stood and picked up her coffee cup.

‘Gross,’ Cy said. ‘Eggs and tomato sauce do not go together.’

‘Have you ever tried it?’

‘Nope, and I’m not about to.’

‘I’ll bring the sauce down,’ Tarni said.

‘Okay. I’ll go and get the snags on.’

‘Would you like me to bring you a coffee down? I’ve figured out the intricacies of the coffee maker.’

‘No, I’m good thanks. I’ll have a Coke.’

Tarni shook her head. ‘You’re addicted to the stuff.’

‘What? No worse than the caffeine in coffee.’ Cy grinned at her and then went down the stairs and started back to the shed. Tarni watched until he disappeared around the corner. The relationship between them now was very comfortable but she had wondered about him last night. She’d told him a bit about her life and he’d shut down.

She wondered if it was what she’d told him, or whoever it was he’d been to visit that had made him go quiet.

Tarni stood up. Her head spun and her legs were shaking, so she sat back on the chair for a moment. Her eyes were heavy and she jerked herself out of it.

What the hell is wrong with me? As she pushed herself up, her vision blurred and she grabbed the side of the chair.