I grinned and went back to his question. “As for the next job, I’m not sure yet. There’s a few things I want to get done. Maybe start the firepit.”
“Just in time for summer, huh.” He quirked his brow.
With a roll of my eyes, I said, “If you don’t want there to be a fire for toasting marshmallows, then keep up the snark.”
“I wouldn’t dare, not if marshmallows are on offer.”
“Wise decision.” I smirked before asking him about the training I knew he had next weekend. “Craig said you have a whole weekend thing going on, starting next Friday.”
“Yeah. Should be a good laugh.”
“A laugh… because that’s important when fighting fires,” I sassed.
Dan’s grin was filled with mischief. “Humour is just the cream to go with a full-on weekend of training. The focus is bushfires.”
“Summer’s going to be here before we know it,” I said. While our summer was also the rainy season, and now in August, we were already technically in fire season with the dry land, the last few fires around the state had sparked at the end of spring, beating the rains.
“And hopefully with it plenty of the wet stuff.” He indicated towards the kitchen window. “It’s looking dry out there.”
“Makes me glad I only have the couple of cows and my annoying goats. Any more and I’d be buying in feed within the next couple of months, if we don’t get a decent drop of rain.” I followed Dan’s focus when he returned his attention to the window and started laughing.
“Is there a reason why Benji’s standing on Val’s back?”
I craned my neck as I took a couple of quick steps closer to him, looking into the side paddock where my cows and goats were. Valkyrie, my Droughtmaster, was lounging in the sun, munching grass. She was the first cow I’d bought five years ago as a calf and had turned into a good breeder.
But she wasn’t the brightest cow ever.
“Bloody hell. Benji’s been a nightmare recently. Getting into everything.” With a shake of my head, I wondered why the cow would allow a goat on its back in the first place. I took the few steps to the back door, Dan hot on my heels, and stepped outside.
Sun streaked across the veranda deck, which also needed some TLC. I ignored the long list of jobs buzzing in my brain and focussed on the vista, reminding myself why all the hard work was worth it.
The rolling hills of the valley were a sight I’d never tire of. The view was one of the main reasons why I couldn’t resist the property, despite the rusty roof and the eighties-style everything.
The fence line of the paddock where the animals grazed was about ten metres or so away.
“Valkyrie,” I hollered, “why are you letting the goat walk all over you?”
Dan snorted at my side, and my own laughter spilled out.
“You gonna tackle that?”
“Nope,” I said. “There’s no way I have the energy to deal with either of them.”
“Probably wise.” Dan’s arm brushed against mine, and I soaked in his heat and touch. Being in his company was as easy as breathing, and just like air, I couldn’t do without it. “Come on, let’s finish these last couple of doors, and we’ll grab a cold one.”
“Good plan,” I said with a nod and turned, allowing myself an indulgent glance at how Dan’s grey T-shirt pulled just so across his large chest. When I shifted my gaze up, our eyes caught, a small smile dancing on his lips. Like a kangaroo bounding over the road, facing an oncoming truck, I hesitated and dithered a little before a weird burst of laughter broke free. Only then did I hightail it back into the house.
Barely a moment passed before I thought I heard his quiet chuckle, but a quick glance in his direction showed his focus was back on the doors, and only his usual relaxed expression was evident.
Once we got stuck in, it only took about half an hour to finish off and ensure the doors aligned. We stepped back to see the finished units better, my grin quick and happy. “It looks amazing.”
“Yeah. Good pick with the doors.”
“They only look so great because of the countertop.” I wasn’t blowing smoke up his backside either. Dan had managed to source some reclaimed timber and had spent time at work after hours preparing it.
I had no idea what sort of labour had gone into it. Still, the worktops were spectacular, all multicoloured tones of oak, the imperfections on display to appreciate the natural timber.
Dan gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. It was a sweet reaction. Though I hoped he knew just how talented he was. I did tell him often.
