Right As Rain Read Online Free

her.
    Mackenna glanced longingly at the coffee machine gleaming on the bench. It had probably been idle since she’d left six weeks ago.
    â€œYes, thanks, but tell me what’s going on?”
    â€œDad had a heart attack.”
    â€œWhat!” Mackenna had been half seated but she jumped up, bumping the table and making the scattered papers slide and a can rattle to the floor.
    â€œSettle down,” Patrick said. “No need for you to have one too. He’s okay now.”
    â€œWhen . . . why didn’t . . .” Questions whirled through Mackenna’s head. She didn’t know which to ask first.
    â€œDad had the first attack not long after you left.” He plonked a mug in front of her.
    â€œFirst!”
    â€œWell I don’t understand these things. They put a couple of stents in and sent him home to take it easy.”
    â€œWhy didn’t they ring me to come home?”
    â€œI reckon Dad was planning to but Mum wouldn’t let him. Said it was the first proper holiday you’d had. She asked me to come.”
    â€œWhat about your work?” Patrick had left the farm as soon as he finished school, went to university and was working in marketing for a national company.
    â€œThey’ve been very understanding.”
    Mackenna gaped at her brother. He wasn’t one for farm life and rarely came back to visit.
    â€œMy boss said family comes first,” he said.
    â€œSo why are Mum and Dad in Adelaide now? You said first attack. Has he had another?”
    â€œI don’t think so.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Mackenna banged her hands on the table. That’s what irked her about Patrick, he was always so vague.
    â€œTake it easy. Dad had been complaining of pain so he had to go back for another angiogram. Mum rang last night and I think they’ve put in another stent.”
    â€œYou think!” Mackenna slammed her hands on the table again. “Why on earth didn’t anyone tell me?” She’d made a couple of phone calls home while she’d been away and sent a few emails but that damned mobile had been so unreliable. Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t spoken to her father. Each time she’d been able to get through, her mother had said he was off doing things.
    â€œLike I said, Mum wouldn’t let us.”
    â€œHow’ve you managed?”
    Mackenna saw the anger flare in Patrick’s eyes. He pushed away from the table and started dropping cans into the recycle bin. “Dad’s been able to direct traffic, and I can follow instructions.”
    â€œI know Patch, but there’s so much to do even with you here.” Mackenna slumped in the chair. She’d sounded harsh and hoped the use of his pet name would calm the situation. “Are the neighbours helping?”
    â€œOf course. And Dad’s hired Cam Martin to do the truck work. I never got my heavy vehicle licence.” Patrick looked around. “I thought I heard his voice when I got up.”
    â€œReally tall, dark wavy hair?”
    â€œSounds like him.”
    â€œDamn,” Mackenna muttered. That would explain the confidence of the guy to walk into the kitchen, but she still felt he was taking a liberty.
    â€œWhen did Dad put this Cam guy on?”
    â€œAbout two weeks ago.”
    â€œSo, let me get this straight.” Mackenna stood up and paced the kitchen. “While I’ve been away, Dad’s had a heart attack and ongoing treatment, you’ve given up your job to look after the place – ”
    â€œWell, not given up, exactly. I . . .” Patrick stopped talking as Mackenna locked eyes with him.
    â€œAnd Dad’s employed a working man.” She stood in front of Patrick. “I’ve only been gone six weeks. And for the last three I’ve been in New Zealand for goodness sake. It’s not as if I was in outer space.” She swept her hair back and held it in a ponytail while she