Man Drought (33 page)

Gibson did make Imogen wait three years, but every minute affirmed the fact that he was worth waiting for. He needed those years, and she was more than willing to give them. She’d walk to the ends of the earth for him, so three little years hadn’t seemed so torturous in the end.

In that time, they grew closer than she’d ever believed possible.

She moved out of the pub and into Roseglen. She was still owner and publican of The Majestic, but was happy to hand over most of the daily running to Pauli and Cal, who surprised her, not long after the Man Drought weekend, by admitting they were crazy in love with each other. Looking back, perhaps there had been a few clues. They’d made Gibson’s Find their home as much as she and Jenna had.

Yes, Jenna moved from Perth three months after conceiving Jasmine, and more recently opened a gallery on the main street of town. Showcasing local art and craft, as well as rural artists from
right across the state,
Regal, Rustic and Rural
had become a must-see stop for tourists travelling along the highway – most of whom popped into The Majestic afterwards.

Once there, travellers were certain of a warm welcome, a cold or hot drink depending on the weather, and, if they were interested, a run-down of local history from Charlie. Three years after his stint in hospital, he was healthier than ever, and Imogen couldn’t imagine the pub – not to mention their lives – without him.

And although she hadn’t repeated the Man Drought weekend – too scared of another debacle – it hadn’t been a complete flop. One romance had sparked, blossomed and thrived. Having beaten Imogen and Gibson to the altar, Michelle and Warren had just celebrated two blissful years of marriage. Thus, the female population of Gibson’s Find was on the rise again.

Amy and Ryan still lived in Perth, but they were frequent visitors to the farm, wanting their two children – there were only fifteen months between Gibson and Mitchell – to appreciate the benefits of life on the land. And while Imogen and Gibson loved having the boys around, they were always happy to get back to it just being them.

After Amy and Ryan had driven away and the dust from their city car hurtling down the country track had settled, Imogen would step back inside the only place she could ever call home, into the welcoming arms of the man who made her smile every day. She’d come to Gibson’s Find to build a new future, but nothing had prepared her for the joy of finding Gibson. Where she and Jamie had been waiting for children to fulfil them, with Gibson, she was now complete.