Outback Dreams Read Online Free Page A

and Lyn Jones. They own The Ag Store. Monty—and all the other single guys in town—have been vying for her attention since she moved in with her parents a few months back.’
    â€˜Really? And why the ‘princess’ bit? Don’t you like her?’
    â€˜It’s not that, it’s just…’ What had Faith got herself into? Fact was, she didn’t know why she’d taken such a dislike to Ruby. ‘She could just be shy, I suppose, but she keeps to herself and something gives me the impression she thinks she’s too good for Bunyip Bay. My guess is she’s biding her time until something better comes up and she leaves again. And I don’t like the way she’s stringing Monty along.’
    â€˜Not just a tiny bit jealous, are we?’ Jenni nudged her.
    â€˜No! There’s never been anything like that between us.’
    â€˜I see. Well, if she hurts my boy, I’ll put a hex on her.’
    Faith laughed.
    â€˜What’s all the ruckus in here?’
    They looked up to see Stuart Montgomery standing in the doorway, peering at them suspiciously. ‘Did I miss a good knock-knock or something?’ Before either of them could answer, he inhaled deeply and a massive grin appeared on his bearded face. He eyed the almost-cooked omelette in the pan. ‘Have I ever told you how much I love it when you come to stay?’ Stuart crossed the room and draped his arm around Faith’s shoulders. ‘Great to see you again, love.’
    The feeling was absolutely mutual. She leaned into his hug, enjoying the warmth and comfort of his fatherly embrace. How many times recently had she wished Stuart was her real father and then been overcome with guilt? Stuart and Will had been out yesterday afternoon—some arachnid talk at the museum— when Faith dropped her overnight bag off, but she was glad to see him now. As he sat down at the table opposite his wife, and Faith continued cooking, she found her gaze drifting to the happy couple. Monty’s parents had aged well. Despite her quirky dress sense, Jenni was elegant, and Stuart’s salt-and-pepper beard suited him perfectly. She wondered if Monty would be as handsome as his dad at that age. What would he look like with a beard?
    Shaking that random thought, she laid a couple of omelettes down in front of her friends before turning to start her own. She always enjoyed breakfast with the Montgomerys because they took the time to sit down together. This was something her mum had always insisted on too, but after Cassie’s death, the family habit of eating breakfast together had somehow died too.
    â€˜So, what have you been up to lately, Miss Faith?’ Stuart asked as his fork scraped across his plate.
    â€˜Same old, same old,’ she replied, glad she didn’t have to pretend for these two. ‘I manage to put the time away running after dad and Ryan, milking Daisy, keeping the hens.’ These last two were her mother’s projects, things she kept doing because it seemed right. ‘There’s also netball coaching, and we’ll be starting seeding soon, so I’ll no doubt be stuck in the kitchen cooking until some emergency happens and they need me on a tractor.’ If she sounded bitter, her friends didn’t call her on it, but the fact was the life she’d made up last night was far more appealing than her real one.
    â€˜Ah, the tractor…’ Stuart said with a wistful tone. ‘I do miss that sometimes.’
    Faith couldn’t miss the look Jenni shot her husband.
    â€˜Don’t get me wrong, love,’ he was quick to placate her. ‘I wouldn’t change the past for anyone, and I like living in the city now, but farming was in my blood. Hard to forget it completely.’
    â€˜Of course,’ Jenni nodded, her expression softening. ‘Well, if Daniel won’t come visit us, we should go to him.’
    â€˜Good idea.’ Stuart