Free Wish by Kelly Hunter Page A

no matter what Ralph says, and that you could thank him by not embarrassing him and winning with them at the show.’
    ‘Oh, Roland!’ Maude’s eyes were suspiciously bright.
    Roly’s eyes widened and he set the bushes down on the counter with a thud and backed away fast. ‘Now, Maude,’ he said. ‘There’s no need to get sentimental.’
    Maude sniffed and pulled out a linen handkerchief from the folds of her apron. Roly took one look at the handkerchief, a second look at Maude, and fled.
    ‘That man!’ said Maude as she wiped at her eyes. ‘He came down to my house this morning and made a complete ass of himself checking the locks on all my windows and doors, and the next thing I know he’s out in the garden turning my compost.’
    ‘Er, is that a bad thing?’ asked Billie. ‘Turning your compost?’
    ‘Well, no, for it did need turning. It’s just that half the townspeople saw him doing it.’
    ‘And that means what, exactly?’ Billie wasn’t quite up to speed on compost etiquette. ‘I’m not sure what you’re getting at.’
    ‘Well it’s obvious isn’t it? I’m a widow. He’s a widower.’ Maude sniffed, squared her shoulders. ‘Next thing you know everyone will think we’re having an affair.’
     
    ‘So Roly’s protective instincts are roaring, and Maude’s threatening to brain him with a stewing pot if he doesn’t get over it,’ said Billie as she traced a lazy finger down Adam’s spine and over taut buttocks. He was naked again and so was she and they were way out the back of his property somewhere, hidden amongst a small cluster of gum trees and wattles and surrounded on all sides by golden summer grass. Sated for now, but not for long if she knew Adam’s habits. Adam smiled lazily as he rolled off her and onto the swag beside her, wanting contact nonetheless as he twined her fingers in his.
    ‘I’d like to see that.’
    ‘Come into the pub some time and you can,’ she murmured and then wished she’d kept her mouth shut when he stilled. ‘Go in this weekend. I’ve got the weekend off.’
    ‘Roly works you too hard,’ he said by way of an answer.
    ‘It’s not hard work.’
    ‘Too many hours.’
    ‘Less than I used to do. And for comparable pay. I’m happy with the move, with the way things have worked out.’
    ‘What about your son? He happy here?’
    ‘I think so. Mainly because of Blue.’ Talk of Cal was generally kept to a minimum owing to Adam’s studied indifference. ‘I’m thinking of getting him a puppy for Christmas, on the off chance that you might someday want your dog
back
.’
    Adam grinned briefly. ‘Sounds like a plan.’
    ‘So I need to ask you where you got Blue.
’
    ‘He’s out of Casey’s old bitch, but she’s old now. She hasn’t had a litter in years.’
    ‘Or if he ever donates his services hereabouts.’
    ‘Not lately,’ said Adam. ‘I could arrange it. Not in time for a Christmas puppy, though.’
    ‘Or I could get Cal a pushbike,’ she murmured. ‘He’s wanted one of those for years.’
    ‘Why didn’t you get him one?’
    ‘Where we were in Sydney?’ Billie rolled over onto her stomach and propped herself up on her elbows the better to see Adam’s face. ‘Nowhere to ride it. Nowhere safe.’
    Adam closed his eyes and Billie stifled a sigh. Conversation over, apparently. Too much conversation about a part of her life he wanted no part of, a piece of herself that she would
never
give up. Time to finish this clandestine affair; she knew it in her heart. Not fair to anyone if she fell for a man who wanted no part of her son.
    ‘Si’s got a pup,’ he said, his eyes still closed. ‘Little border collie. He’s not working out.’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘Too gentle with the sheep and not an ounce of bluff.’ Adam opened his eyes and fixed her with a strangely wary gaze. ‘You want me to take you to have a look at him?’
    ‘Would you?’
    ‘I just offered.’
    Which in itself seemed like a minor miracle. Adam Kincaid