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‘We’ve left the front door open for you, so make yourself at home. The guest room is at the far end of the hall,’ Ellie said as Kane went around to the passenger side of the vehicle. ‘And you have an ensuite.’

‘Thank you. Um . . . again, I’m so sorry I was late. It’s good to meet you, Ellie. I look forward to seeing you when you get back.’

Ellie raised her eyebrows. ‘So, you’ll still be here when we get back?’

‘Yes, the Institute has extended my research to a three-month secondment until the end of winter. Of course, I won’t stay in the house when you come back, I’ll move into town and travel down.’

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Ellie said. ‘We’ll sort all that out when we get home. You just enjoy living here.’

‘Um . . . I’m sure I will.’ Tarni’s voice shook as she glanced past Ellie to Verity and Matilda, and a flicker of sadness crossed her face. ‘Thank you so much for being so welcoming.’

Ellie wondered if Tarni would still be here when they got back. Tarni Morgan wasn’t at all what she had expected.

Chapter 8

McLaren Mango Farm -Monday morning

Tarni

Tarni felt totally out of her comfort zone as Ellie and Kane brushed off her apologies for being late. She felt even more foolish as she stumbled over every sentence that she uttered. Ellie and Kane McClaren welcomed her warmly and brushed off her apologies. How unprofessional and what an awful first impression to make. She’d known they were flying out today, and she should’ve left even earlier, but the last thing she’d expected was the fires on the highway and the numerous stop-and-go signs that had made her arrival an hour and a half later than she’d calculated. She bit her lip and turned her attention back to Ellie who was still talking to her.

‘The coffee maker’s on and there’s some fruitcake in the pantry for morning tea. The washing machine is easy to use. There’s washing powder in the laundry. I’ve made your bed up and there’s spare linen and towels in the hall cupboard outside your door. Please make yourself totally at home.’

‘Thank you. I’ll find my way around. You didn’t have to put me up in your house.’

Kane leaned forward and called to her out of the driver’s window. Tarni smiled at Ellie and moved around to the passenger window on the other side.

‘I forgot to say your supplies arrived about four days ago. The boxes are just all stacked up there. Stay in touch by email. If you have any questions about the mangoes or where I’ve been working just email me. I’ll be online every day. Wi-Fi password is on the fridge.’

‘That’s fine, Kane. I know exactly what you’re up to from your application, and I know what our objectives are. If I do need to know anything, I’ll email you. Thank you so much for providing your farm as an opportunity for me to further my research.’

Finally, she managed to sound coherent.

Kane went to speak, but the driver interrupted. ‘Hi, I’m Jeremy and I’m going to have to be rude and take this lot to the airport now if they want to go to Mexico.’

She smiled and stepped back as he started the vehicle and a throaty roar surrounded her.

‘Thank you for coming,’ Kane called as the car pulled away. ‘If we can achieve what we’re aiming for, it’s going to be a game changer for mango production at our farm.’

His words faded as the vehicle pulled away.

Tarni stood there and watched as the bronze four-wheel drive disappeared over the hill. Silence surrounded her and all was still. The anxiety of being in a new place tugged at her as it always had recently, and she pushed it back. It wouldn’t take long to settle, and she would be fine once she was immersed in her work.

I will be.

There was no sign of the manager; Tarni stood there for a long time before she turned to the house. As she opened the screen door, a puff of dust rising from the drive near the highway caught her eye, and she wondered if they’d forgotten something. She waited on the veranda, with the house keys in her hand; a large black ute crested the hill between the house and the highway. She frowned; Kane had indicated that the dam was in the other direction. Tarni waited as the vehicle approached. A short and stocky guy climbed out and looked up at the house. Tarni walked across and stood at the top of the steps.

‘Hi there,’ he called up the steps.

Feeling uncomfortable, she walked down the stairs. ‘Cy?’

Tarni was reassured when he grinned at her. He was a young guy about her age, dressed in clean work clothes. ‘No, I’m Jerry White. Sorry to interrupt you.’

‘What can I do for you? My husband is just a little way into the orchard,’ she said, not wanting him to know that she was alone there.

‘I’m working my way around the Territory. I’m looking for work wherever I can pick it up and I was wondering if you had anything going here at your farm.’

Tarni nodded. ‘I can ask my husband for you and certainly take your details. I know he was talking about hiring somebody for some trench digging.’