The North Wind by Bronwyn Parry

Author:Bronwyn Parry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC027020 FICTION / Romance / Contemporary, FIC066000 FICTION / Small Town & Rural, FIC000000 FICTION / General
ISBN: 978-0-9941970-3-0
Publisher: Firetail Press
Published: 2016-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

~

Owen splashed his face with cold water in the old-fashioned bathroom at the pub. Eight-thirty in the morning, and showered, dressed, shaved. And mostly awake. The couple of hours of broken sleep he’d managed at the hospital – and the half hour in the car while Angie drove him back to Dungirri – would have to do for now.

Back in his room, his grandfather’s briefcase sat on the floor beside the table. Heavy, he discovered, when he lifted it to the table. He flicked the catches open. An envelope addressed to Miss P. O’Connell sat on the top of a number of hardcover journals and albums. In spite of his curiosity, Owen didn’t move anything. He closed the briefcase up and left it there while he went downstairs in search of some breakfast. It would be best to have something to eat before he went out. Dungirri had few options for food outside the pub’s limited meal times.

Breakfast was laid out in the bistro, a basic self-serve array of cereals, fruit, yoghurt, and options for toast and spreads. And coffee. Plunger coffee with a choice of grounds. He made his strong.

He saw no-one while he ate his hurried breakfast, although as he finished an older woman in an apron came out from the kitchen. The woman he’d seen yesterday with Philadelphia O’Connell. She’d also been at the hall last night, organising the food and the Christmas tree.

She came across to clear his table and enquired if he wanted anything else. Polite and friendly, although her direct gaze studied him more closely than casual acquaintance.

‘It’s Owen, isn’t it?’ she asked. ‘My name is Jeanie Menotti. I heard about your grandfather. I hope he’s okay?’

Dungirri, like most small towns, clearly had an efficient social news network. ‘Yes. He’s doing much better.’

‘Let us know if there’s anything you need. Anything we can do to help.’

Because of the way gossip could travel, he debated with himself before asking, ‘I think you know Philadelphia O’Connell?’ A fairly safe question, given she was out there yesterday.

Her eyes narrowed, not exactly suspicious, but definitely cautious. ‘Delphi? I’m staying with her at present. Why?’

Staying with her. Obviously friends. ‘Is it too early to call on her now?’

‘Delphi is up with the birds. She might be out in the paddocks by now. What’s your business with her?’

‘My grandfather has asked me to take some-‘ Documents? Journals? How should he describe the contents of the case? ‘Some information to her. He knew her a long time ago. But he will be in hospital for a couple of days, most likely.’

Jeanie considered him for a long moment. Perhaps she thought him dangerous, or was simply rightly cautious of a man going out to see an elderly woman on an isolated farm. ‘What is your grandfather’s name?’

Now he watched her closely. ‘Chynoweth. Doctor Bernard Chynoweth.’ An unusual name, but if she’d ever heard her friend mention it, she gave no sign of recognition at all.

‘I’ll call and tell her you’re coming.’

‘Thank you. I’d appreciate that.

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