Paula brushed her hands over the tablecloth, flattening imaginary ripples. “Rowena said she was taking you lunch today.”
“Yes.”
“I am capable of making you lunch.”
“I can do my own but there wasn’t anything in the fridge this morning and Rowena offered. Now that we’re out at Harvey’s place it’s too far to come home.”
Dan pushed the food around his plate and Paula realised she hadn’t thought enough about meals and planning ahead. She watched her bleary-eyed husband poke at the remnants of the rubbery chicken. Finally he picked up the almost empty plate and carried it to the sink.
“I’m bushed, Sweet Pea. Thanks for tea.”
“It was terrible.” Paula jumped up to hug him. “I’m sorry, I’m just not used to this kind of cooking.”
Dan trudged out to the shower and Paula cleaned up and followed him to bed. There was no point sitting in the empty kitchen. She cuddled up to him and remembered her earlier thoughts about lack of transport.
“Dan, do we have another vehicle anywhere?”
His hand patted her back. “Sure, Sweet Pea, sheds full of them.”
Paula’s spirits rose.
“There’re two tractors, a ride-on mower, a harvester and a truck. Which one would you like?”
Paula stiffened in his arms. “Don’t make fun of me, Dan. You use the dual cab every day and I’ve no way of getting around.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know but it would be nice to take myself to town or to see Jane or just drive if I want to. Couldn’t you take the truck?”
“We’re using it in the paddock at the moment…I’m sorry,” he murmured into her hair. “I hadn’t thought about it. We’ll have to work something out…”
His voice faded and Paula could feel his arms going slack. She thought he was asleep then he surprised her when he said they could sleep in tomorrow.
“I’m going to church with Rowena in the morning.” His voice was barely audible. “You’re welcome to join us.”
She thought about his offer, which had sounded very casual. She didn’t know whether he wanted her to go or not and the thought of sitting with Rowena on a hard church pew didn’t excite her.
Paula didn’t think about God much. She thought she believed he existed but had not explored beyond that for years. Her mother was Anglican and had taken Paula and her sisters to church when they were young. Alison was still a regular attendee but Susan and Paula were not.
Dan’s gentle snores told Paula there would be no more cuddles or anything else tonight. She felt tired – painting was strenuous work – but sleep eluded her. Once again she lay awake for a long time while her husband slept the deep sleep of exhaustion beside her.
CHAPTER
5
“You’re a bit of a drawcard,” Dan whispered. “I haven’t seen this many here since Christmas.”
Paula smiled nervously back at him. She was sitting with Dan and Rowena at the back of the little Uniting Church building. She glanced around and estimated there were about twenty people seated on the hard wooden pews. The only ones she recognised were Jane and her children sitting a few rows in front. A nuggety guy with dark wavy hair sat beside Jane holding baby James. Paula assumed he was Bruce.
Over breakfast Dan had been more encouraging. The church had been built over a hundred years ago at a crossroads when a much bigger local community existed. He was anxious to be back on the tractor but there was only a service in the local church once a month and the small congregation liked to go to ensure its continued existence. Tom was driving the tractor in his absence but Dan didn’t want to leave him for long. Paula did wonder why he had Tom in the first place if he couldn’t leave him to do a job for a few hours, but she didn’t say anything. She sensed an underlying tension in Dan which she didn’t understand.
By the time she had dithered over what she should wear and they’d picked up Rowena, who had been waiting impatiently at her front gate, there were several cars at the front of the church and nearly every pew was full. The stone church with its tin roof, small porch and arched windows was perched alone near a junction where five roads met. There were a few straggly gums behind it but otherwise the ground around in all directions was devoid of any growth.
Paula felt as nervous as she had when Dan had dropped her at the supermarket. There no one had taken much notice of her, but here she didn’t think she could escape so easily. She glanced around at the congregation again. They were mostly women, children and older men. Dan and Bruce seemed to be the only two men under forty.
Never having been to a Uniting Church service she didn’t know what to expect but the words of praise washed over her and gave her a chance to reflect. So much had happened in the last few months. She had changed her life completely to come and live with this wonderful man who sat beside her. That she loved him she had no doubt and she liked what she’d seen of country life, except the mice.
She slipped her hand into his. He smiled down at her and gave her hand a squeeze. Dan was all that mattered. She could live anywhere if she was with him. Looking past him she caught the flash of a frown on Rowena’s face as she glanced down at their joined hands. Paula edged closer to Dan.
At the end of the service Rowena was quickly ahead of them and after a shake of the minister’s hand, moved over to speak to a smartly dressed woman waiting outside. Dan introduced Paula to the minister, who welcomed her warmly.
Jane took her arm and introduced her to Bruce. He was the same height as his wife and had a daredevil twinkle in his eye. His dark brown hair curled into a boyish wave on top.
“I can see why you’ve swept this beauty away to your country lair,” he teased. “You’ve certainly tamed him, Paula. He used to be quite a wild man.”
“Not me, I’m the quiet one. You used to lead me astray until Jane taught you some manners.” Dan grinned.
“Come on you two, that’s enough. You’re giving Paula the totally wrong impression,” Jane said. “They both think they’ve got some kind of past reputation, Paula, but they’d run a mile if anyone took up the challenge.”
Other people came to be introduced. Paula had no hope of remembering all the names and working out where they lived but everyone was so friendly. An older grey-haired woman, with a limp that made her rock wildly from side to side as she walked, asked Paula if she liked to cook and without waiting for a reply produced a dozen eggs. A shy woman, even shorter than Paula but twice as wide, brought over a foam tray covered with a serviette and a generous number of carefully arranged homemade biscuits.
Dan and Bruce were talking earnestly about some problem Bruce was having with machinery so Paula deposited her gifts in the dual cab and went to help Jane load the children in the car. James was beginning to grizzle and Andrew was jumping up and down in the back seat.
“I want Daddy’s truck,” he yelled.
“Where did you leave it, Andrew?” Jane’s reply was patient as she tried to strap the squirming baby into the car seat.
Andrew kicked his legs. “I want Daddy’s truck.”
Jane turned to Paula. “He must have left it in the church, I’ll get Bruce to look.”
“I’ll go,” Paula said. “You’ll have to tell me what I’m looking for though. I don’t remember any big trucks in church.”
“It’s only a small toy but it looks like Bruce’s truck. Andrew won’t go anywhere without it.” Jane gave Paula a grateful smile then turned back to the two noisy children.
Paula stepped through the door of the church. The lights had been turned off and it was dim inside. She started down the aisle but as her eyes adjusted she realised she wasn’t alone. Two women were up at the front of the church clearing away the flowers. They both had their backs to Paula.
“She’s only a little thing,” one was saying.
“Height’s not important,” the other replied.
“I’m sure it helps.”
“No, it’s all in the hips.�
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Paula didn’t like to interrupt their conversation. She reached the pew where the Freemans had been sitting and bent down to pick up the little truck, which had been partly hidden by the leg.
“Well, the other one certainly had the hips.”
“You mean Katherine?”
“Yes. They made a striking couple.”
Paula froze. Were they talking about Dan and Katherine Melton?
“But she wasn’t right for him.”
“I don’t know, there definitely was some chemistry between them for a time. Makes you wonder how it can disappear so easily. Although I have heard they still have a ‘connection’, you might say, and Katherine has spent quite a bit of time away.”
“Yes, well, we don’t know if the rumours are true.”
“I just hope he hasn’t rushed into this new affair too quickly.”
“Well, it’s hardly what you’d call an affair. Dan’s married her, and child-bearing hips or not, there’s bound to be children soon. Rowena is concerned.” The women picked up a vase each. Paula was trapped, aghast at their conversation and terrified that they might turn and find her standing there.
“Give the poor love a chance to see if she likes country life.”
“Rowena’s point exactly. She doesn’t want a baby to complicate things and keep the new wife bound to Dan if she doesn’t like it.”
“It would be a case of history repeating itself.”
“A terrible shame.” They went off to the side and disappeared through a door into another room without looking in Paula’s direction.
The little truck cut into Paula’s palm. She opened her hand and looked at the red imprint it had left. Her life was not private. These women knew more about it than she did. Dan had never mentioned wanting children, and what did they mean by history repeating itself? What had happened with Katherine? Was there still something between her and Dan? Paula’s head spun with questions.
“Paula?”
She turned, startled at Dan’s call.
“There you are. Did you find the truck? Andrew won’t go home without it.”
Confused about the conversation she had overheard, she mumbled a ‘yes’ and hurried past Dan to Jane’s car.
The drive home was torturous. Rowena was relating a story to Dan about the minister and how he hadn’t visited some woman Paula had never heard of, called Betty, when she was sick in hospital. More gossip, Paula thought angrily to herself, and she tuned out.
It seemed Rowena must have had plenty to say about Paula. If the two women in church were anything to go by, the whole community would know her business. She and Dan had not discussed their past and they had not really discussed a future. Not things like children anyway. Had they done the wrong thing? What was in Dan’s past that was a terrible shame? She felt sure he loved her but the Katherine factor was a mystery she wasn’t sure how to deal with.
Anyway, their marriage and children were Paula and Dan’s business. She fumed again at the thought of Rowena discussing these things with other people. How dare she!
* * *
Rowena watched the dual cab drive away then went into her house. She flicked the kettle on and went to the bedroom to change into casual clothes. She wanted a cup of tea and something to eat before she made a phone call to the minister’s wife.
Pam Mason was a sensible woman. She was a good support to her husband who often got so caught up in the parish responsibilities he didn’t always have time for the little touches. Pam would know how to help her husband patch things up with Betty. Not that he could possibly have known the woman was in hospital. She’d had a fall and was only in for observation, for goodness sake. Betty didn’t attend church often but was happy to tell anyone who would listen how the minister had visited others in hospital but not her.
Rowena made a pot of tea, took a couple of homemade biscuits from the tin and carried it all on a tray into her little sunroom. Originally it had been a small verandah off the kitchen and she’d had a door knocked through and the verandah enclosed with timber and glass. It was a cheery, warm spot in the colder months.
She poured her tea and ate one of the biscuits while she waited for it to cool. Paula had been very quiet on the way home. Seeding was a lonely time for farm wives and even tougher for new wives from the city. She was glad Paula had become friendly with Jane. She was such a sensible down-to-earth girl. Even though she wasn’t a local she would be a good influence on Paula.
While she sipped her tea, Rowena made a list of some of the other younger women in the district who might help Paula to settle in. A luncheon would be the thing. She stopped, pen poised over the paper.
“Blast,” she muttered. She had several meetings and appointments that week, then Paula’s parents would be here. The luncheon would have to wait.
She finished her tea and tidied up. There was the call to make to Pam and then she had Dan’s lunch to prepare and deliver. If she didn’t do it the poor boy would only have cold sandwiches. That was another thing Paula would have to learn. He needed good hot food to keep him going through the long hours of seeding.
So much depended on a decent return this year. Rowena had been quietly confident they could continue to pay their share of the loan for Harvey’s place providing they had at least average returns. Dan’s personal life had thrown a spanner in the works. Katherine was back and would have to be dealt with, and Dan’s marriage had created expenses they hadn’t factored in. He’d spent money on the wedding, furnishings, updating the plumbing for the old place and a new vehicle.
Which reminded her, he hadn’t passed on the paperwork for some of those things yet. Rowena flicked a piece of hair from her face, looked over at the pile of papers in the basket waiting for her to tackle the quarterly tax statement and shook her head. She’d always done the farm books and enjoyed it. They’d progressed from the cashbook and shoe box full of cheque butts and statements to the computer years ago, and then had followed the new tax system and the enjoyment of keeping the books had gradually withered away.
She’d been to several financial and bookkeeping training days when it first came in. BAS, as they called it, had not been an easy task to learn. Even now, it still took hours of work and she’d grown to hate it. She shook her head again. The government had a lot to answer for, lumping the extra paperwork burden on them. Rowena turned her back on it. The paperwork could wait. She wasn’t going to spoil her Sunday with it.
If she could get the BAS done in the coming week and Paula settled in, perhaps Rowena would go to Adelaide next weekend. The Crows were playing a home game and if Austin was in town they could go together. It was several weeks since she’d seen him. Even though he was travelling less now she hadn’t been able to make the trip to the city. With a wedding, seeding, the new city girl and paperwork, she’d been too busy.
Austin was a wonderful man. He was kind and thoughtful and romantic. A few years ago she’d given up any thought of a relationship, let alone a physical one. Then they’d met at drinks after the football through a mutual friend. She closed her eyes and imagined his lips on hers. Warmth spread through her then her eyes snapped open. No point daydreaming.
Rowena gave a fleeting thought to his suggestion on their last weekend together that she give up the country life and move in with him permanently. She had to admit it was lonely now that Dan was married. If everything worked out and the finances were arranged maybe it was time for Rowena to make the move.
Still, that was in the future. The sun went behind the clouds, turning the day grey. A chill ran down her back. The temperature had dropped. She did up the buttons on her cardigan and flicked on the gas heater.
Rowena was glad Dan had finally found someone to share his life with. He’d had some tough times and he slipped easily into solemn and reclusive habits. Paula did seem to make him happy, but the house was barely habitable and the girl’s poor parents were bound to get a shock. Maybe there was something more Rowena could do to help. Perhaps she’d go and visit
Paula today. There was someone in town who might be useful with the redecorating. That was another call she’d have to make.
Rowena ran her fingers through her hair and headed for the phone. Once again she lamented Dan’s decision to marry at this time of year and move a city bride into a rundown country house.
CHAPTER
6
“It looks great, Paula. You’ve done a wonderful job.” Dan’s strong arms wrapped around her as they stood in the doorway of the spare room and admired the paintwork. It was early morning but Paula was determined to spend a few minutes with her husband before he disappeared to that wretched tractor again.
He’d come home so late last night she hadn’t even heard him come to bed. After several restless nights tossing and turning in the blackness, bereft of sound bar the breathing of Dan beside her, she had at last had a deep refreshing sleep.
“I am rather pleased with it.” She nestled back against him, enjoying the closeness of his embrace.
“The coffee looks great against the paler colour of the woodwork.”
“That was the colour Carl mixed…” She started to explain about the muddle up but Dan cut her off.
“I reckon that must be the kind of thing he suggested for the lounge. I brought him out here to give me some ideas before I started on the bedroom. He’s got a good eye for colour.”
Paula was stunned. So Carl had visited the house. Maybe he had intended she have that colour all along. Had Dan known Carl would mix his own version of colours? Paula turned in Dan’s arms.
“You didn’t say anything about selecting colours when you took me to Carl’s.” She studied him closely. He gazed steadily back at her, his look serious. She could detect no sign of duplicity.
“I’m sorry, I had other things on my mind that day and I knew Carl would have a better idea than me. I wish I could have done more of the painting before you arrived. I had planned to do the kitchen and lounge but —”
“It doesn’t matter, Dan.” Paula put her fingers to his lips. “Maybe we can tackle another room when you’ve got more time.” She kissed him, and their closeness quickly turned into a passionate embrace.
A Chance of Stormy Weather Page 6