Findlay scanned the shed. There was a shit load of stuff he could get rid of. He was never going to build the greenhouse Sarah had wanted.

Looking at the shade cloth and timber in the corner caused his stomach muscles to clench. He ran his fingers through his hair. A fit of shakes rippled through him. Findlay held his hands in front of him and watched them tremble. He needed a beer but he needed money first so he searched the shed again.

Money lay all over the place, he just had to choose what to sell.

When he decided, he made Fin help him pack the car and drive him to the demolition yard.

Five dogs ran towards them. Fin put her foot on the brake to stop the car.

Findlay struggled out of the vehicle and slammed his hand on the bonnet. "Shut up ya mongrels."

Two men in wide straw hats were unloading a tip truck parked near the shed. They straightened and looked toward them.

Fin's heart stopped. One was the stranger. Shane Peterson jumped from the truck and walked towards them. When the stranger stayed where he was, she sighed in relief.

"Hey, Findlay. What can I do for you?" Shane lifted the brim of his hat and swiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.

"I've got some stuff here I want to get rid of. Wanna sell it. You interested?" Findlay jerked his thumb towards the back of the station wagon and strode to the tailgate. Shane followed.

Fin stayed seated behind the steering wheel and watched the stranger unload the truck. He looked in her direction, she hung her head.

"It's timber and other bits and pieces. Building supplies," Findlay said. "There's some shade cloth too. Enough to build a reasonable-sized greenhouse."

"How much you want for it?"

"Whatever you're prepared to pay. It ain't any use to me now. Just taking up space in my shed."

"This is good timber. Hardwood," Shane said. He gave it some thought. "Two hundred for the lot sound fair to you?"

"Yep. That sounds fair to me," Findlay agreed.

"Get your daughter to drive over to the shed and I'll get my mate to help me unload it," Shane said.

Fin looked in the rear-view mirror. Her father shook Shane's hand. Her heart pounded; she didn't want to go near the stranger.

Shane signalled for her to follow him. Fin gripped the steering wheel. Shane spoke to the tall blond man who nodded and jumped from where he worked.

Findlay climbed into the passenger seat. "Well come on, girl, start the car. They're waiting."

She swallowed the lump in her throat, turned on the key, and then drove the car forward. Shane signalled with his hands that he wanted her to turn the car around and reverse into the shed, then he disappeared into the building.

The stranger stayed where he was, which made her extra nervous. She swung the car around and stalled.

"Fin! Drive the fucking car!" Findlay hollered.

She started the engine again and once more stalled it. Fin looked through the windscreen. The stranger made his way towards them.

"You're so fucking useless!" her father yelled.

"You! Shut the fuck up!" The stranger pointed his finger at Findlay.

"Don't you speak to me like that!" Findlay opened his door and lunged out of the car.

The stranger loomed over him. "You speak to her like that again and I won't just tell you to shut up, I'll rip your fucking tongue out."

Findlay staggered backwards. The stranger slammed the passenger side door and shoved him. "Get out of the fucking way," he said as he rounded the car.

He opened Fin's door and leaned in. "I'll move it for you."

Fin stared at him and then swung her legs out of the car. He took hold of her elbow and helped her stand. She could smell his sweat. His face was damp with perspiration, little beads clung to his stubbled chin and lay in a row on his upper lip. Fin lifted her gaze. When he took a breath, she noted his nostrils flare a little and that his brown eyes were the colour of treacle. Entranced, she watched as his lids closed and his long lashes brushed his cheeks.

"There's a lot of stuff in the way," he said. "I'll move it for you."

His lips formed the words but all Fin could focus on was the shape of them. The strange sensation she had experienced the night before ran through her body. She shivered. The thought that she was coming down with something flashed through her mind. He touched her arm again and moved her out of the way. Fin sucked in a breath, hung her head and scampered away.

Holy hell. That face. Cody dropped into the driver's seat and moved it backwards to get his legs in behind the wheel. God, she was so scared that she trembled. Man, oh, man, he was gonna have his work cut out to win her trust. He laid his arm across the back of the seat and looked behind him. Cody chuckled and let the ghost in his head talk. "Listen to yourself, wanker. Like you're gonna have a chance anyway. But hey, I like your optimism."

When he had the car where he wanted it, Cody climbed out and shut the door. She stood near the truck with her arms folded. Findlay moved to the back of the station wagon and struggled with one of the timber beams. Cody thought about letting the bastard unload the lot himself but knew he'd be at it for the rest of the day if he did.

Shane strode from the corner office and held out four fifty-dollar bills. "Here's your money, Findlay." He pulled them back a fraction, glanced at Fin and said, "You want me to give this to your daughter?"

"What? You think a man can't look after his money!" Findlay spat.

Shane shrugged and handed him the notes. He jerked his head at Cody. "Come on. Let's get this unloaded."

The beams were as heavy as hell. Cody bet the bastard made his daughter help him. Of course, he would have, because the man was as weak as water.

Cody dropped the length of shade cloth onto the pile of timber then shut the tailgate and looked over at Fin. She had crouched and rubbed Max behind the ears. The bastard loved it. He got his large wet tongue and ran it up her mouth and nose. That planted an image in Cody's mind. He hung his head, smiled and brushed the thought from his brain.

She giggled and lifted her head. Fuck me. Cody took a step towards her. A smile, a mile long, fixed on her face. Her eyes glistened. As he got closer the smile disappeared. She stood and took a step backwards. Talk about shrink a man's ego. "Will you be right with the car or do you want me to move it?"

She stared at him, shifted her gaze to the car, and then back at him. "I can do it," she whispered.

Cody grabbed her arm as she stepped around him. She tensed and peered at him. He said, "You shouldn't let your father talk to you the way he does."

She looked at him like she didn't understand what he'd said. Cody let go of her arm. She sprinted to the car, climbed in and pulled the seat forward. The engine roared, and the car sped out of the shed leaving a trail of dust and dirt behind it.

"What the hell did you say to her?" Shane said.

"I told her she shouldn't let her father speak to her the way he does."

Shane's face lit with a grin. "She's the one!"

Cody rolled his eyes and headed back to the tip truck.

"She's the fucking one." Shane ran after him, grabbed Cody's arm and forced him to stop walking. "Isn't she? The one you've got your eye on."

"You got a problem with it?" Cody jerked his arm out of Shane's hold and continued to walk.

"Fuck me." Shane shook his head in disbelief. "You can't be serious?"

Stopping mid-step Cody turned to face Shane. He didn't say anything but stared at his friend.

"Cody," Shane sighed. "She's, she's, shit I don't know. I don't think she's all there.

Have you ever had a conversation with her? And fuck. The Gallos. You do know..."

"Yeah, I fucking know! Alright! It seems the whole town fucking knows but not one bastard did anything about it!" Cody yelled. He took a breath and focused on Shane as he muttered, "It doesn't make her retarded. Man, if you had what happened to her, happen to you, and had a cunt of a father like she does, how do you reckon your personality would turn out."

Cody swept a hand in the direction Fin's car had taken. "I'm drawn to her. I don't know why. Maybe because my life hasn't been so great and I understand where she comes from a little." He shook his head and kicked the ground. "But man... my life was never as fucked as hers is. Maybe I feel sorry for her. I don't know, something in my gut tells me I have to help this girl."

"Cody?"

"Can we just leave it? Okay? It's not like I'm going to ask her out on a date or anything."

Shane ran his hand through his hair. "Okay." 

I hope you all had a great Christmas/holiday/festive season.  Mine was hot but not as hot as the guy in the photo hahaha. 

Thanks for continuing to read. I love seeing your comments so if you could spare the time I thank you ♥♥♥

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