Hana Du Rose by K T Bowes

Author:K T Bowes [Bowes, K T]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hakarimata Press
Published: 2013-05-31T12:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Hana slept late again the next day and awoke feeling groggy. The sun peeked through a gap in the curtains and scattered light over her fiery hair draped across the pillow. Before she even fixed her feet to the rug, she decided to spend the day working on her garden.

In the kitchen, she found Logan on the telephone. He broke off his conversation to kiss her cheek and then ended the call. Already dressed, he looked healthier but still thin and gaunt.

Hana filled the kettle and flicked the switch, leaning back against the counter to face Logan. “Who was that?” she asked.

Logan shrugged. “My father.” He jerked his head towards the window. “Maihi will be glad of the extra grass. He says it will be a bad winter this year.” He seemed edgy and Hana watched his jerky movements with suspicion.

“What are you up to?”

“Me?” He smirked. “Nothing, babe.”

“Whatever.” Hana narrowed her eyes. “You know I’ll find out.” The cat shot under the kitchen table as she squealed. Logan chased her back into the bedroom. Tiger sat beneath Logan’s abandoned chair and licked pork fat from his coat. He liked the men who arrived in the bush after dark. A ute dropped them off and they hiked the Hakarimata Trail before dropping down the ridge and tracking their way to the house. Expensive GPS guided their steps. They set up their camp with soundless expertise and killed a wild pig using a bow and arrow. The cat fed on the scraps from their meal as they took turns on watch.

Maihi’s cuttings looked limp from their transplant and Hana watered them. Then she pottered around tidying other flowerbeds. Logan sat on the porch steps watching her and enjoying the sunshine on his face. “This is weird,” he sighed. “I’m not used to sitting on my backside.”

Hana turned soil with a pitchfork and defined the edges of the beds with a spade. “Enjoy it. You’ll be back at work soon enough.” She wrinkled her nose. “I wish I could visit a garden centre. I’ve run out of weed mat and it looks so bare.”

“No,” Logan said and Hana raised her hand in protest.

“I won’t actually go,” she replied, her tone barbed. “I’m not stupid!”

“Behave wahine,” he warned her and Hana pouted. Logan rose and rubbed a hand across his stomach. “I’ll take a walk to the bush line. I need the exercise.”

“Are you sure?” Hana shoved her fork into the soil. “I’ll come with you.”

Logan shook his head and set off walking. “I won’t be long and I’ve got my phone.” He waved the device in his hand and disappeared around the side of the house.

Hana glanced up at intervals, watching Logan’s progress up the right-hand side of the paddock. She saw him halt and waited, shielding her eyes from the sun. When he lifted his hand to his ear, she guessed he made a call. Reaching for her phone on the top step of the porch, she waited for him to ring her but it remained dark and silent.

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