Meggy woke to find two small faces peering at her, their blue eyes as intense as their father's. She smiled and with that first gentle smile an instant connection was formed.

"Da...! Da...!" The smaller of the two ran from the room his face lit up with excitement.

"Don't worry about him, he's only three," the taller child said as he watched his brother's excited exit.

Meg rubbed her eyes and yawned. "So, what's your name, laddie?" She curled up and snuggled her head on her hands.

"Ain't you gonna get up?"

"In a minute. Which one are you?" Meggy tittered.

"Covey, and Da says I'll be as big as him some day."

"And just as handsome I'd say." Meggy grinned. She heard a noise at the door and looked up to see Lucan leaning against its frame holding Riley on his hip, smiling at them. She blushed hoping he hadn't heard her exchange with Covey.

Not that it really mattered because as soon as Covey saw his father he exclaimed, "She says I'm handsome like you, Da."

Lucan chuckled as he saw her face colour. He locked his vivid blue eyes on hers and was happy to know his looks appealed to her. "Sorry, Meg. They've been waiting for you to wake up."

She pulled her gaze away from his, sat up on the side of the bed and straightened her blouse. "What time is it?"

"Coming on for eight-thirty. I have to take the lad ta school and go down to the battery. You'll be able to work things out here, won't you?" He cocked his head in question as she looked back at him. "That can be your bed now and there's a cupboard here. Just make some room for your things." Meggy nodded and looked toward the wardrobe as Lucan continued, "Thaiter's at the smelter. He won't be back till late so the place is yours for a while." He waited for her to say something but felt she was a bit overwhelmed.

"Do you want to leave the little un?" She looked at him from under her eyelashes.

Lucan considered this. He studied her body language and thought perhaps she needed some time to herself. "No. Get yourself sorted and we'll talk when I get back." He turned to leave the room.

Meggy stood up and followed. She stifled a yawned when she got into the kitchen.

Lucan studied her once more and realised she had slept in her clothes which were now wrinkled and creased. His mind flicked to Lillian and thought she would have a fit if she saw this. Lucan wondered if she slept with an iron by her bed so she could straighten her night clothes before leaving her bedroom. He chuckled to himself at this thought.

"I suppose I must look a sight," Meggy said thinking he was laughing at her.

He gave her a grin. Her blonde hair hung untidily to her shoulder blades, it had been longer when he had first met her but it was still thick and wavy. Her fringe hung just above her eyes. Her blouse sat crookedly so the skin of one shoulder was exposed. Lucan decided it was too big for her.

Meggy cocked her head and wondered what he was thinking, his face said little but his eyes seemed to have a language of their own. One she didn't understand fully.

"Yeah," he said. "But you'll do for now I guess."

Covey laughed. "You better not let Miss Rowles see ya like that." He nudged his father. "Hey, Da?"

Smiling down at him, Lucan nudged his head and said, "Get ya lunch, boy."

"Miss Rowles?" Meggy queried.

"She's me teacher," Covey answered. "And Da walks out with her. Caroline Henke says she saw em kissing and that me Da'll marry her one day."

Meggy watched Lucan's face change colour, she tried to read his eyes but a veil seemed to draw over them.

She chuckled with curiosity. "So, she's a teacher?"

"Yeah." Covey thought this question was directed at him. "Yeah... but I'm thinkin' if Da marries her then she'll make me do more school work at home and I'll never have time to catch tadpoles with Ben Baker and he has a heap already."

Meggy roared with laughter, and then clamped her lips tightly together when she saw the look on Lucan's face.

"We better get on," he said and took Covey by the arm. Now the damn woman's laughter with her full pink lips spread wide had his mind in places it shouldn't be. Lucan looked over his shoulder to see Meggy leaning on the door frame waving to the boy's. She wasn't stupid. She'd know he hadn't wanted her to know his fiancé was a teacher.

"You'll have ta watch what ya say, Covey. Not everything is everyone's business. You understand that. Da doesn't want you to blab what goes on with him."

Covey didn't understand but he heard the growl in his father's voice so he nodded.

They got to school a little earlier than Covey would have normally. However, this wasn't a normal day. Lucan didn't usually walk Covey to school. Normal was that he woke them early and carried them both to Missus Scott's with their lunch packs and clothes on his back, and then she took care of the rest but he wasn't working that day and he felt he needed to show some courtesy to Lillian by letting her know he was back. Lucan decided to take Thaiter's advice and finish it as soon as possible, though that wasn't his intention this morning. He thought he'd go see her Friday night and get it sorted then. If she was upset, she'd have two days before having to face a classroom full of children.

There were only a couple of kids sitting in the playground. Children of a single father who had already been at work for two hours and had probably dropped the kids there as he passed. Covey ran off to join them. Lucan made his way to Lillian's class room. She was writing something on the blackboard when he knocked on the door. Her face lit up when she saw him. He felt a sharp uncomfortable feeling knowing she had missed him. Lucan realised finishing it was going to be more awkward than he thought. Not because of his own feelings but because of hers and him not wanting to hurt her.

"Lucan," she gushed, ran across the room throwing her arms around his neck and kissed him fully on the mouth.

Lucan stepped back, shocked she was so opened. Lillian was usually reserved, up tight and worried about who would see them and how they should behave in front of people.

She restrained herself and let go of his neck. "I'm sorry... I..." She blushed. "It's good to see you."

He smiled and said, "Hello, Lillian."

She acknowledged Riley by touching him with one finger. "So, you had a nice time?"

"Yes... caught up with a few things." He wondered if he should tell her about Meg but decided that could wait until they had more time to talk. "I better get on. We'll talk soon. I have to get to the battery."

"Thanks for coming by." Lillian nodded and smiled, adding, "For letting me know you're back." 

*

Lucan made his way to Margaret Scott's. She invited him inside for a cup of tea. Riley scurried off to play with Toby, her youngest.

"I wondered why the lads weren't here this morning. Thaiter did a grand job with them. He surprised himself I think."

Lucan laughed at this comment.

Placing a mug of tea in front of him, Margaret pushed the biscuit tin towards him. "So how was Cairns?"

"Yeah, good." He bit into his biscuit and swallowed. "I met me sister-in-law there. Kat's sister. It was unexpected. I didn't know she was coming to Australia, so I've brought her back with me. She's going to look after the lads for a bit, cook and clean until she gets on her feet."

"She's here in Irvinebank?" Margaret's mouth dropped open. "You brought her here to Irvinebank. Oh my God! Straight into the pits of hell."

Laughing at her outburst, Lucan said, "It ain't such a bad place, Margaret."

"Not for a man perhaps, but a lass fresh from Scotland is another thing. If she needs some help, you tell her to come see me."

He beamed. Margaret was a good caring person. "I'll bring her to meet ya when she gets settled." Lucan swallowed the last of his tea and stood up as he called, "Riley!" He put the cup on the table and said, "I have to go see Bluey down at the battery so I better be off." He called again, "Riley! Come on lad we got ta go!"

Riley came in covered in dirt from where he had been playing under the house with Toby.

"Leave him, Lucan. He's no bother and they're having some fun."

"You sure, Margaret?"

She waved him away. "I'm sure. He keeps Toby out of my hair."

*

Bluey had been waiting for Lucan to turn up. He said, "Thaiter said you'd be along shortly." He patted Lucan on the back as they walked into the shed and added, "Luc, I'm sorry but you've lost ya place here. I've got Simo on the fire." Lucan opened his mouth to speak but before he could, Bluey stopped him. "Uh, uh, now before you go on let me finish. Simo hurt his leg down the Vulcan and can't bend it much so we're doing a swap. You've worked underground before and there's more money in it so I didn't think you'd mind."

Raising his eyebrows, Lucan smiled and said, "That's alright then. I don't have a problem with it. When do I start?"

"Tomorrow. They do three shifts. You've landed the late one. Sorry."

"It's to be expected." Lucan said with a grin. "The new man always gets handed the shite."

"Glad to see ya got a sense of humour, Lucan." Bluey patted his back once more. "Shift starts at ten, evening, finishes at six, morning. At least you'll get home in time to wake ya lads and get 'em off to school."

Lucan punched Bluey lightly on the arm. "Always gotta find a positive, aye Bluey."

"Well, no good livin' life full of negatives." They both laughed and said their farewells.

I love Covey and Riley's reaction to Meggy waking up. I think they might just get along. ♥♥

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