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birds had come to drink, and she wanted to finish yesterday’s sketch.
    As she opened the screen door, Fudge pushed past her legs and stormed down the hallway. Her smooth hooves slid on the polished floorboards.
    ‘I know you believe you’re more dog than goat, but you’re not allowed inside,’ Kree called after her. ‘As for you, Freckle, don’t you get any ideas –’
    But Kree was too late. The pup wriggled between her feet and skittered after Fudge.
    Kree propped the screen door open. ‘Right, you two, I’m coming in. You might think I’m a clueless human but I will outsmart you. You are going outside and in the meantime, don’t you dare piddle anywhere.’
    She entered the kitchen and caught Fudge butting the potted fern Kree had recently watered, to get to the liquid in the saucer beneath.
    ‘Fudgy, are you thirsty? Is that why you tried to drink my tea?’
    Kree exited via the back screen door and, sure enough, the stainless steel bowl the two animals drank from had been upended. ‘You guys,’ she reprimanded as the goat and pup skidded to a stop beside her.
    She collected the bowl and went down the steps to the tap at her right. But as she drew near, she realised the rebellious drip that usually filled the large bowl positioned underneath had stopped. That bowl was also empty. She turned the heavy, steel tap and, as expected, no water gushed out.
    A cow bellowed. Kree looked across the garden to the paddock where a cement trough stood. A cluster of cows hovered around its rectangular shape. Another cow bellowed. No wonder there weren’t any birds visiting the bath-trough this morning – there was no paddock water.
    Kree filled Fudge and Freckle’s bowl from the kitchen tap. Thankfully, she still had inside water. She sat the full bowl on the back verandah, before heading to find the list of instructions Maureen had left. She scanned the page until she found the heading ‘water problems’. The words she didn’t want to see in Maureen’s neat handwriting were underlined. Call Ewan.
    Just. Great.
    She hadn’t recovered from Ewan’s phone call of two days ago. When she’d heard the deep timbre of his voice she’d forgotten to speak. And then, when he’d said he and Travis would like to accept her dinner offer, a strange sense of relief had flowed through her. A relief that soon dissipated when he asked if he could please bring an extra guest. The familiarity with which he’d said Tish’s name suggested the extra person was no random addition.
    Even now, a hollow feeling of disappointment filled her stomach. Just because he didn’t wear a wedding ring, didn’t mean he wasn’t attached. After all, she knew farmers in Elk Falls who didn’t wear a ring for safety reasons when working around machinery. Everyone, Ewan included, deserved to be both understood and loved. And, if she was honest, she’d known that someone like Ewan had to be taken. His rare smile would have melted far more hearts than hers.
    Kree sucked in a deep breath and dialled the number beside Ewan’s name. Two rings sounded before a cultured feminine voice answered, ‘Tish Mackenzie speaking.’
    Kree’s heartbeat pounded in her ear.
    Not girlfriend. Same last name. Not sister. Their accents were too dissimilar.
    Wife.
    Kree’s face heated. She’d spent the last week pining after a married man. That would teach her for being so out of control. How many lessons would it take for her to learn that to deal with life’s curve balls, she had to remain on task – taking care of Seth. No diversions. No distractions.
    ‘Hi, it’s Kree Garrett here,’ she managed. ‘I’m looking after the Tylers’ property next door and there’s a problem with the water. Maureen made a note to call Ewan if such a thing happened.’
    ‘No worries. You called at the perfect time. He’s heading past your front gate on the way to town.’ Kree could hear the smatter of muffled words as Tish put her hand over the phone receiver to relay