Home Before Sundown by Barbara Hannay

cloud of dust. ‘Looks like someone’s working with a grader blade. On our land.’
    â€˜Maybe Peter organised it and forgot to tell us.’
    â€˜I suppose that’s possible.’
    The line of trees where the tractor was working marked the border between Mullinjim and Redman Downs, the Mitchells’ place.
    Which was probably why Bella was instantly tense. She knew she wouldn’t be able to avoid Gabe. Her father had actually suggested that she should ask him and their other neighbours for help.
    Her dad was trying to protect her, of course, but she wouldn’t prove anything by running for help every five minutes.
    â€˜I need to find out what that driver’s up to,’ she said, ignoring Liz’s frown. ‘I’m going to check him out.’
    â€˜It’s pretty obvious he’s clearing a firebreak, isn’t it? He’s probably a contractor.’
    â€˜Probably.’ For the most part, Mullinjim’s internal roads and creeks and gullies served as natural firebreaks, but there were one or two sections on the boundaries that usually needed maintenance. ‘Mum didn’t mention him, though.’ Bella frowned. ‘Anyway I should know what’s going on here.’
    â€˜Up him, Spot. He’s not our dog,’ Liz responded with a grin.
    â€˜Huh?’
    â€˜It’s something your grandfather used to say. Means you’re adapting fast, Belle. You’re vigilant, like all good property folk, demanding to know who’s doing what on your land.’
    â€˜Well, it makes sense, doesn’t it?’
    â€˜Of course it does.’ Still smiling, Liz squinted at the tractor again. ‘But you won’t be able to drive across there.’
    â€˜No.’ If she was in the ute she’d have no trouble bouncing over the rough paddocks, but this little car would never make it. ‘I’ll walk. I won’t be long.’
    This brought a resigned sigh from Liz.
    â€˜You don’t have to come.’ Bella was already scrambling out of the car.
    â€˜Don’t worry. I don’t plan to. I’ll stay here in air-conditioned comfort, thanks.’ Liz pressed a button on the car radio. ‘I might even listen to a little Classic FM if I can get it out here.’
    â€˜You should be listening to country,’ Bella called back over her shoulder. ‘To help you get back in the groove.’
    Without waiting to see Liz’s reaction she set off across the paddocks, frightening a flock of noisy apostle birds that rose in a chattering, musical cloud.
    Wow. How long had it been since she’d heard that sound? She’d almost forgotten how much she loved the bird calls of the bush. She was so busy thinking about other birds – magpies, plovers, corellas – that she was at the halfway point across the paddock before she realised she was marching straight into trouble.
    She recognised the man on the tractor.
    All too clearly.
    Even from a distance of a hundred metres, even though his face was shaded by his Akubra, Bella could identify Gabe’s profile. She would know it anywhere – the nose that wasn’t too sharp or too fleshy – the square line of his jaw, the extra wide set of his strong shoulders.
    A storm of butterflies rose in her stomach.
    Too many times she’d fantasised about meeting Gabe again, but she’d always imagined she’d be totally prepared and looking glamorous – immaculately groomed and wearing a cool little number from Paris or London as well as killer high heels. Ideally there would also be a sexy European man on her arm.
    Instead she was hot and sticky, dressed in jeans and an old T-shirt with her hair scraped back in a messy knot. No different from the thousands of other times Gabe Mitchell had seen her. And Anton, unfortunately, was on the other side of the world.
    She felt sick and she might have turned and hightailed it back to the car, but Gabe had already noticed