The Christmas Contract by Pamela Cook

Author:Pamela Cook
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQ Fiction
Published: 2025-06-18T00:00:00+00:00

‘Do you want me to do a snail hunt, Mum?’ Finn skips along beside me, almost keeping up with my stride as I make a beeline for the toolshed. Today is the day to pick the first batch of zucchini flowers, snow peas, cucumbers and carrots for Bounty and deliver them straight to their door. Getting a contract with such a prestigious restaurant has been encouraging. They pride themselves on being ‘paddock to plate’ so harvesting as close as possible to serving is crucial. When Ace introduced me to the owners and sang my praises I actually cried.

‘Hopefully there won’t be any snails to find if those coffee grounds have done the trick.’

Finn looks crestfallen but brightens when he turns towards the rumbling sound of an engine.

‘Rhys!’

My stomach dips as low as Finn’s voice soars high at the sight of Uteman approaching in his hot rod. I let out a sigh. We’ve managed to stick to our respective jobs during the week without so much as batting an eyelid at each other. So what is he doing here on a Saturday? Doesn’t he have washing to do, or floors to clean or … cows to corral?

At the sight of him walking towards us my duplicitous body starts quivering in all the wrong places. What the hell is wrong with me?

‘Hey, buddy.’ Uteman high-fives Finn, who leaps in the air, arm outstretched to reach his palm.

‘I wasn’t expecting you today.’ There’s no disguising the disappointed tone in my voice.

Uteman frowns. ‘Didn’t we agree we were going to continue with the arrangement until all the work was done?’

‘Yes. But it’s Saturday. Most people relax on a weekend. Do things other than work.’ I make sure not to meet his gaze as I speak in case he reads the lie in them.

He eyes the shovel in my hand and scans me up and down, taking in my gardening attire. ‘Are you relaxing today?’

‘No, but …’

‘Okay then.’ He flashes that too-good-to-be-true smile and rubs his hands together. ‘What’s next on the list?’

At least he’s asking this time. And I can’t argue given the implement I’m holding. In the spirit of keeping as far away from him as possible I point towards the stable block. ‘That needs finishing off, and there’s some more old wire and tin around the back. Once it’s all piled up I’ll call someone to come and collect the whole lot.’

‘Or I could take it to the tip. Probably easier.’

‘Only if you don’t mind.’

‘Can I come?’ Finn lights up at the mention of the tip. Even though it’s an organised, well-run facility there’s something about the place that gets him excited. Probably the machinery. Certainly not the smell.

‘If it’s okay with your mum.’

My gaze flicks to the pick-up truck. Is it really necessary? I mean, what’s wrong with a normal-sized utility? Maybe it’s a testosterone thing, the whole mine is bigger than yours, imprinted on their DNA along with the Y chromosome. Hence Finn’s never-ending interest in the vehicle.

‘As long as—’

‘I’m in my booster seat.

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