Fin and Cody had fallen into a routine. He started the generator and fed the animals. She cooked. They cleaned up together. She washed the clothes and Cody hung them out. He cut the timber stored in the shed and lit the wood stove when she wanted to bake.

On those days Cody brought in some of the washing and hung it over the backs of chairs so the heat could dry it. He made another line that hung above the stove also for this purpose.

Every night they read together and every night she cuddled against his chest to go to sleep. Cody never touched her.

Some nights he couldn't sleep with her so close. On these nights he went out to the shed and slept in the back of his truck on his swag. It got harder and harder to stay away from her.

He lay on his back and stared into the dark. Fin was snuggled against his bare chest. Cody felt her warm breath tickle his skin as she breathed out.

He had wanted to push her away when she'd wrapped her arm over his shoulder, as she had done since the first night, while they lay beside each other on their stomachs to read another comic or chapter of a book. She had formed the habit of fiddling with the hair at the nape of his neck. Cody was sure she was unaware of what this kind of touching did to him.

Tonight, it had angered him because he felt so frustrated. Rather than snap at her he said he had to go to the toilet. When he'd washed his face and returned, she had babbled on about the comic as if nothing had happened. Cody knew in her mind nothing had happened. He'd made the excuse he was tired and didn't want to read anymore.

So here he was wondering how he was going to get her to stop touching him or to take the next step. Either way, Cody was sure it wouldn't turn out well. He got out of the bed and went to the shed.

"What are you doing? Cody...!"

Cody stood over him, pointed and said, "You're using mine."

He saw that he was naked with his hand on his penis.

"What do you think you're doing?" Cody laughed.

He let go of his penis and stared back at Cody.

"She'll find out what you're doing."

A wave of anxiety swept over him. He shook his head and cried, "No..."

Another nudge on his shoulder.

"What are you doing out here? Cody!"

The jolt woke him. A dream. Cody sat and gasped for breath. "Jesus!"

Fin stood beside the car, her hand on the side of the tray. "What are you doing out here?"

Cody groaned and covered his eyes his eyes with his forearm. "Leave me alone, Fin."

"Did I do something wrong?"

He didn't answer but rolled on his side away from her. She sighed and walked away. Cody curled into a ball and pushed his hand into his pants. He didn't need her anywhere near him. Had he dreamt this?

Cody went straight into the shower when he got inside. He scrubbed his shorts under the water and then sat in the tub with his head in his hands. How could he tell her? Make her understand he didn't want to hurt her but just wanted to be with her. He couldn't. She'd never understand and he liked that she felt so comfortable.

She hadn't cried since she'd slipped in the mud on her first day. He didn't want her to cry again, but shit, he wanted to grab her backside and run his hands over her body. Cody chuckled at this thought. Maybe he should just tell her. She couldn't be that naive? But he knew she was.

She sat at the kitchen table with a bowl of cereal when he walked in with a towel wrapped around his waist. Cody went to the wardrobe for a pair of jeans. He intended to go to the bathroom to put them on but decided not to. Maybe if she saw what he looked like naked, she wouldn't be so scared. Maybe she'd get curious and things might develop. He dropped the towel and turned to face her.

Gone.

The front door was opened so she must have stepped out onto the verandah. Cody grinned. What an idiot. She'd have freaked and got the knife. He made himself a cup of tea, put some toast on, and then sat at the table working a plan of how he could make her understand.

"Did I do something wrong?" Fin whispered. "I didn't mean to."

Cody looked up from staring into his cup. He shook his head. She had the same look he'd seen so often in at Snakes. Wary and timid. "It's not you. You didn't do anything wrong. I need some time to myself. I'm not used to living with someone else so I need some space."

"But you have a big family."

"It's not the same. I've been on my own for a long while." Cody rubbed his forehead. He didn't want to get into a long explanation. "Just give me some space and leave me alone for a bit and I'll be okay."

Fin didn't argue. She went into the bathroom and got the dirty clothes to wash them. While at the sink, she heard his footsteps in the hall then the back door closing. His coat was gone. Fin opened the door and looked out. Cody disappeared into the bush with Max not far behind.

She went back to the clothes. He didn't like her anymore and didn't want to be her friend. Now they were stuck here together. Her heart ached. She liked him, he was good to her and she was getting better at reading.

They had started the vampire book. Fin liked it even though Cody had warned her it had some yucky bits. He skipped over them.

She went into the lounge and lifted the book. She wished she was a vampire. Fin sat and concentrated on the story trying to think about anything other than Cody.

After struggling to read Fin cleaned and cooked. She went to the shed for some wood because she wanted to bake. First, she made lasagne for dinner but used normal pasta because he didn't have the proper sheets.

She wanted him to be happy again, to like her as he did before he needed his space. Cody liked biscuits. Fin set to work.

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