Page 24 of The Mistletoe Wish

Uttering an ear-splitting scream, Skye pointed towards the grass. “I saw a snake!”

Darim hissed in a sharp breath. “Don’t move. Stay exactly where you are. Sara, you’re closer. Can you see anything? I can’t.”

Craning her neck and wishing she was five inches taller, Sara examined the ground near the patch of grass growing around the fence post. “It’s okay. It’s only a goanna. Come a little closer, Skye, and I’ll show you.” She beckoned the young girl forward.

After a glance at her father who nodded, Skye moved over to stand beside her.

“I think it’s a lace monitor. Look how fat he is,” Sara said as Darim joined them.

“Oh, there he goes.”

With a flick of his tail the lizard scurried over the ground and up the nearest tree to disappear amongst the branches.

“That was cool. I’ve never seen a goanna in the wild before.”

Darim slung an arm around his daughter and hugged her. “Well done for not moving, hon.”

Smiling, she squirmed out of his hold and returned to brushing Sonny.

“I’ll put those hay bales in the shed.” He strode off to where a haphazard pile of bales had been stacked outside the rickety tin shed.

“I’ll give your father a hand.” Feeling guilty about the amount of work she’d piled onto his shoulders, Sara hurried after him. These were her animals after all; her responsibility. She should be the one building shelters and storing their feed. She went to heave up a bale but toppled onto her butt in the dirt.

Laughing, she picked herself up.

Darim grinned. “I’m all over this, Sara.”

“At least let me get the door.” She stomped over and unlatched the shed door, holding it open as it had a tendency to swing shut and slice into any unsuspecting person’s ankle.

“Skye is loving all this – thank you so much for inviting us along today.” He walked past, forearms bulging from the bale he carried.

“It would have taken me forever on my own, so your company was most welcome. Besides, I enjoyed it.”

Darim winked at her, his gaze sweeping her from head to foot. “So did I. That swim and bike ride was a lot of fun too. I like being around you, Sara, and so does Skye.”

Her face heated at the loaded look he gave her. She curled her fingers tighter over the door, fighting the flutter of desire and excitement turning her belly to water. “If you’d like more fun, there’s the Christmas Carols on the 17th. Its being held in the showgrounds.”

“Are you asking me out on a date?”

She shuffled her feet. “Hardly. It’s a family do.”

“Then we’ll go together. You. Me. Skye.”

His decisive voice took her breath away. Was he implying they were … a family?

“Any guest singers?”

Head still whirling, Sara gave a breathless chuckle. “Sorry. You’ll have to make do with the locals. Some have half-way decent voices; some are very enthusiastic which kinda says it all. The evening will start off with school kids, a few solo acts etc.”

“Sounds great. We’ll organise a picnic dinner.”

“There’ll be a barbeque for those who want something hot as well as a coffee van.”

“Even better.” Darim moved in and out of the shed, stacking the bales of hay one on top of the other. When he’d finished, he stepped back slapping strands off his hands and jeans.

“Thanks for your help, today,” Sara said as she tried to pretend she wasn’t fascinated by the sight of him moving bales around as if they weighed little more than a cushion.

“It’s all good, Sara. We make a good team.” He smiled and her heart almost seized at the warmth and … something else that glowed hot and deep in his dark eyes. “I need to talk to you.”

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