Read The Protea Boys for Free Online Page A

Nevertheless, the possibility of getting to the stage where the rest of his family welcomed his existence seemed even more distant since his trip to Sydney.
    Question—what next?
    He and Nick had completed the restoration work on the restaurant, and as happy as he had been to help his brother, playing waiter wasn’t his scene. His people skills just weren’t good enough. He needed to find something else to do, something different, while he waited to hear from the mines.
    Itchy feet.
    Tom drummed his feet on the sandstone pavers and flipped the battered copy of the local rag over. The bright pink border of an advertisement stood out like a cricket ball at a charity match. His gaze settled on the words WANTED: STRONG, FIT YOUNG MEN and his mouth twisted in amusement as he scanned the page. He wasn’t sure he strictly filled all of the criteria. When did he stop being young? Probably the day he stood in the pouring rain as Jane’s coffin was loaded onto the plane back to Australia. He tapped the advertisement with his finger.
    Do you want a job in the open air?
    Yes, it would be good.
    Have you experience with basic tools and equipment?
    Not just basic, pretty much any agricultural tools and piece of equipment you’d like to mention.
    Look no further. Here is your opportunity to build your muscles and your bank balance .
    His bank balance was in as good as shape as his muscles, but it sounded pretty intriguing—just the thing to cure his itchy feet for a month or two. He pulled his mobile from his back pocket and punched in the numbers.
    “Hiya.” The initial pause lengthened. “Hang on a minute. I’ve got to pull over.”
    Rolling his eyes, he tried to imagine the owner of the cheerful, upbeat voice on the other end. Eventually the sound of tires on gravel stopped. “I’m enquiring about the advertisement in last Wednesday’s paper.” The silence stretched out. Was she still there? “Have you filled the position?”
    Another pause .
    Come on, it can’t be too difficult.
    “No... Well, yes... Three, we’re actually looking for one more person, but we need someone with managing experience. A team leader.”
    “I think I can claim to a have a small qualification in that area.” He contained the beginning of a laugh and ran his fingers through his hair. “Is there any chance of teeing up an interview?”
    “Mm,” she replied.
    Excellent. A little more information would be handy.
    “But we’d really like someone who could start on Monday.”
    He looked at his watch.
    What is today?
    God, if he didn’t know the day of the week, it was certainly time to go back to work.
    Saturday.
    “This someone could start on Monday, but you’d probably like to eyeball me first and make sure you know what you’re letting yourself in for.” He grinned into the mobile.
    “Are you local?” she asked. “Could you drop by this afternoon because I’ve got some spare time? Can I have your name?”
    “Yeah. I’m local, and I can do this afternoon. Just give me the address. Is about fourish okay? The name’s Morgan.” He memorized the address. “I’ll see you then.” He snapped the phone shut, still smiling at the catch of excitement in her voice.
    ***
    Tom leaped up into the car with more enthusiasm than he’d been able to summon in a while and followed the old convict road up out of the valley for the second time in as many days. As he crested the hill, he slowed and tracked the verge looking for the spot where they’d rescued the injured wombat. He stopped with a start.
    They—no .
    He had rescued the accident-prone Miss Georgina Martin, cleared up the mess, and taken the injured wombat to the vet. Pretty much the same way he’d cleaned up the mess after she’d thrown water all over him and the restaurant. Mind you, she probably wouldn’t put it that way, wouldn’t want to accept she’d needed help even if her life depended on it.
    Strange.
    She brought out some sort of protective urge in him and reminded