Read Online Home Before Sundown by Barbara Hannay - Free Book Online Page A

that grew by the back steps drifted in on a warm tropical breeze. It was the smell of summer.
    For better or for worse, she was home.

8.
    Another hot day dawned.
    The sky was bleached of colour and the air shimmered with heat as Bella drove the ute over the bumpy back roads to Redman Downs to collect the dogs. Unfortunately she had to admit Gabe had been right about the fire danger. The country was scarily dry. The grass was brown and patchy, and the cattle were trying to escape the sun by lying in the scant shade of the straggly scrub.
    As soon as she got the dogs home, her first priority would be to check the Mullinjim bores and water lines and make sure the cattle were still getting enough to drink, then she would have to finish the breaks.
    She was surprised her dad hadn’t seen to the breaks, but perhaps he’d slowed down since his first heart attack. Luke’s departure wouldn’t have helped. And I certainly wasn’t offering to lend a hand , she thought guiltily. At least she could make up for that now.
    As she drew closer to the Mitchells’ homestead, her stomach started jumping again. She’d always been nervous around Gabe’s mother, Leila, but in the past she’d at least had Gabe on her side. Now she felt as if she was entering enemy territory.
    No one answered, however, when she knocked at the front door, even though it hung wide open, giving her a view down the long hallway to the old-fashioned kitchen at the back. She was standing on the verandah, wondering what to do next, when a voice called.
    â€˜Hoy! Bella!’
    Old Roy, the retired ringer who’d stayed on in a small cottage as the Mitchells’ gardener and handyman, hobbled across the front yard on stiff, bandy legs.
    â€˜Long time, no see.’ His grin was broad as he held out a gnarled brown hand. ‘Welcome back.’ They shook hands. ‘S’pose you’ve come for the dogs.’
    â€˜Yes. But it seems there’s no one home.’
    â€˜Leila and the girls are away at Noosa, escaping the heat. Lucky beggars.’
    Lapping up the good life while Gabe does the hard yards here alone , Bella added silently.
    Gabe’s mother had always been different from other outback mums. Delicate was the polite adjective, although Bella had heard others.
    When she was little, there’d been a stretch of years when Leila Mitchell had actually gone away to live in the city, leaving Gabe and his father to manage on their own.
    Bella had heard her mum muttering with other women over cups of tea, their voices a blend of concern and suspicion. As a child, she’d never understood. Later she still hadn’t been sure if Gabe’s mother had had an affair with a city man or if she’d been ill. Gabe had been tight-lipped about it.
    Now Roy shrugged. ‘Gabe’s around here somewhere.’
    â€˜I don’t really need to see him,’ Bella intervened quickly. ‘I spoke to him yesterday and I told him I’d be over.’
    She wasn’t sure if she was incredibly relieved or deeply disappointed by Gabe’s absence. ‘Anyway, how are you, Roy?’
    â€˜Not bad.’ He grinned again. ‘You know how it is. Getting stiffer. Lost a few teeth. Still offering advice and bullshit to anyone who’ll listen. But they’re bloody few and far between.’ His expression sobered suddenly. ‘How’s your old man?’
    â€˜Making slow but steady progress. Fingers crossed, he’ll be fine.’
    â€˜Poor bugger. Let’s hope he’s a cat. Nine lives and all that.’ Roy squinted back over his shoulder. ‘The dogs are over at the stables. I’ll take you there, if you like. Old Gus’ll be pleased to see you. He’s been pining.’
    Gus was her father’s blue heeler. ‘Gus won’t be happy till Dad’s home again,’ Bella said, but then she was distracted by the sight of a gorgeous kelpie puppy bouncing over the