Page 38 of Where the Heart Is

Will sighed. ‘Yeah, I know. It’s everything to her, so I guess I understand she’d go to such lengths to save it. I just wish I had the cash to help her out.’

Here went nothing. ‘Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’ve got an idea.’

‘Mate, if she thinks you’re interfering, she’ll castrate you. You know what she’s like. Independent to a fault, not accepting help from anybody.’

‘Yeah, well, I tackled the subdivision issue, and put feelers out to see if anyone would be interested in acquiring some of her land, but it was a no-go. I even approached Phil to ask if he’d buy the land, but he said he hasn’t got the money, which pretty much confirms that he was only interested in the land if Mila was the prize attached to it. So I’ve come up with another idea I wanted to run by you.’

Will had been his mate since they sat next to each other the first day of Year 5, so it didn’t surprise him his friend guessed his plan before he could articulate it.

‘You want to buy the land to help her out.’

‘Yeah, but she’d never accept my help, so I’m doing it through a subsidiary company I run. I’ve acquired land all over Victoria through the company, making sound investments, so this would be one more.’

‘But is it a sound investment? If Mila’s desperate for cash, the farm could be running at a loss, so you’d be throwing away your money.’ Will paused. ‘I know you’re a good mate, but losing money because you want to help my sister? That’s going above and beyond.’

‘Actually, she has a sound business plan for a farm-stay project she’s undertaken. Profits will increase, but she needs the equity up-front to make it happen.’

Will remained silent, thinking. ‘If you do this, you know you can’t tell her you’re behind it, right? She’d never go for it.’

‘I know, but I hate lying to her.’

‘Consider this. She was willing to marry Phil Baxter rather than ask family or friends for money. Do you honestly think she’ll accept your help?’

Sawyer had known the answer all along, which is why he knew if Mila ever found out the truth, it would be the end of them.

‘I know she won’t. But lying to her …’

‘Mate, you’re withholding the truth for her own good, not lying deliberately.’

Sawyer knew there was a fine line between the two and Mila wouldn’t see it that way. ‘So you think I should do it? Bail her out?’

‘Absolutely.’ Will’s tone softened. ‘She’s my sister and a major pain in my arse, but she’s one of the good ones and she deserves to follow her dream.’

Will didn’t have to add,‘just like I’ve followed mine’. Sawyer knew his friend harboured guilt for leaving town the day after their final exam and not returning. He mentioned it occasionally, usually after a few beers on a late-night call. Sawyer hated talking about the past, especially his life in Ashe Ridge, so he often changed the subject. But Will lamented walking away from his family—especially Mila—without looking back.

‘You can’t say anything,’ Sawyer said, knowing if the time ever came to tell Mila the truth, it had to come from him.

‘What do you think I am, an idiot?’

Sawyer paused, and Will chuckled. ‘Don’t answer that. Seriously, mate, like I said, you’re going above and beyond. Thanks.’

‘Anytime. You two were closer to me than my family growing up.’

Spending every day with the Hayes family, surrounded by the tranquillity of Hills Homestead, kept him sane back then. They eased the edginess in him, the urge to go wild and do crazy stuff, like sneak into adjoining farms and pilfer fruit, or jump into the dam in the dead of winter. Mila and Will calmed him, and it wasn’t until years later when he’d been diagnosed had he understood the extent of their influence. He owed them, big time, and helpingMila out with money he could spare was the least he could do.

‘Man, being back in that town has you going soft.’ Will sniggered. ‘Stop the sentimental bullshit and let me get to work.’

‘Are you sure your eagerness to get to the hospital isn’t to do with a certain orthopaedic surgeon resident rather than the outpatients lined up to get their backs manipulated?’

Will snickered. ‘I’m a dedicated physiotherapist and my patients need me.’

‘Yeah, right. Like that hot ortho resident needs you to—’

‘Got to go, bozo. Thanks for the call. And for helping my sister out. Your secret’s safe with me.’

Will hung up, leaving Sawyer bemused. His friend had never been backward about talking about conquests in the past, but he clammed up any time Sawyer asked about the new surgical resident in the orthopaedic ward where Will worked. It had to be serious. Who knew, maybe he’d be attending another Hayes wedding sometime soon?

In the meantime, hearing Will reiterate he was doing the right thing, and getting his blessing, meant Sawyer had to formalise an offer from his company that would be too good for Mila to refuse.

---