Page 48 of Jillaroo from Jacaranda

‘Oh, I’m just dandy.’ Her chaotic blonde curls bouncing around her cheery face, Leah tipped her head and pouted. ‘Other than the fact I feel like a beached whale.’

Rose bit back a chuckle. ‘Well, just for the record, you don’t look like one.’

‘Thanks, lovely.’ Leah lifted a leg. ‘Look how puffy my foot is. I can’t even get it into a boot.’

‘Oh god, it is swollen.’ Rose screwed her face up in sympathy. ‘Does it hurt?’

‘Not really, but it sucks that I have to wear thongs with this banging outfit.’ Leah shrugged. ‘All part of being pregnant, I suppose.’

‘If it makes you feel any better, I have no idea what to wear.’

‘Then go naked.’ Leah tossed her curls over her shoulder and flashed Rose a mischievous smile. ‘Ty would love that.’

Rose chose to ignore the last comment and focus on the first. ‘Trust me, with how hot it is, I considered it.’

‘You can’t go wrong in a pair of jeans.’ Leah rubbed her belly. ‘I would’ve worn some if I didn’t have the little hiccup of not being able to get a pair past my thighs right now.’

‘Jeans it is, then.’ Rose grabbed a pair out, at the same time deciding on a shimmery black tank top with a diamante belt and her Ariat boots. She laid it all out on the bed. ‘Thoughts?’

Leah assessed the display then nodded. ‘I think you will look smoking hot.’

‘Not sure about that, but thanks.’ Feeling comfortable enough to drop her sarong, Rose got dressed while she and Leah chatted about what they were going to eat once they got there, until Leah held her hands up.

‘We seriously need to stop with the food convo right now, or I’m going to chew my own arm off,’ she said, chuckling. ‘I didn’t think I’d ever be able to eat as much food as I have been lately. I’m seriously hungry all the bloody time.’

‘Well, you’re eating for two.’

Leah grinned. ‘That’s what I keep telling myself when I raid the fridge at midnight.’

‘Ha! I don’t have that excuse.’

‘You will one day.’ Leah sighed and rested back against the pillows. ‘As exhausting as this pregnancy gig is, I’m loving the thought of being a mum soon.’

‘You’re going to make a brilliant mum, Leah.’

‘So will you one day, Rose Jones.’ Leah smiled then closed her eyes. ‘Don’t mind me, I’m just going to catch a few zs while you finish getting ready.’

Rose finished applying her mascara then popped some lip gloss on. She paused to study her reflection in the long mirror on her closet door, turning from side to side to view her outfit from different angles. She nodded, happy with her choice. In less than an hour, she would be letting her hair down and enjoying a few drinks with Ty in close proximity. All it was going to take to lower her defences was one of his penetrating looks, and she’d risk her soul being laid bare to him. Her heart pounded as she thought about such a thing happening, and she suddenly felt light-headed. Gripping the dressing table, she took a breath.

Get a grip.

She helped Leah up from the bed and headed outside to where her horse float was already hitched to the back of the Colorado. The plan was that she would crash in it then drive home in the morning. Leah wanted an early night, so she was going to take the LandCruiser home. As for Ty, he was happy to crash in his swag under a tree somewhere and catch a lift home with her in the morning. But if the night wasn’t what he’d talked it up to be, she might even drive Leah home herself. It was all up in the air, depending on the events of the night and how much she had to drink – she’d never get behind a wheel drunk.

Following Ty’s scribbled map, it took half an hour, including two wrong turns, to reach the barn, and a tangerine haze was drifting up on the dusty horizon by the time Rose parked. Climbing out, she felt balmy night air cool her skin as she and Leah weaved between four-wheel drives, utes, tents and rowdy partygoers. Stepping through the doors, they heard the twang of country music filling the massive barn, along with whoops and hollers from the far back corner where people were testing their riding skills out on a mechanical bull. Over the opposite side were bales of hay arranged around tables – a country-style dining area at its most authentic. Immersed in the electric energy of it all, Rose found herself whooshing with excitement for the night ahead.

‘I just got a message from Ty,’ Leah hollered over the music. ‘He’s ordering himself a burger and wants to know if we’re here and would we like anything to eat.’

‘Damn straight we do.’ Rose nodded. ‘I’ll have whatever he’s having.’

‘Me too,’ Leah said with a grin as she typed a quick message back.

They weaved their way through the crowd towards the area designated for eating and chillaxing. Ty was towering above most, with a come-hither smile directed straight at her, or at least that’s what it felt like; it wasn’t hard to spot the gallant man who made her heart race.

‘Howdy, you two lovies.’ Ty flashed his dimple-clad grin. ‘I have to say, you both look bloody amazing.’

‘Thanks,’ they said in unison.

‘Oh my god, if it isn’t Lucy Brown,’ Leah said, waving madly at a woman sitting on a bale of hay with a pregnant belly as big as her own. ‘She was my best friend in high school. I hope you two don’t mind, but I’m going to head over and catch up with her.’