Darcy nodded. “I’ll give Dot a call in the morning. Maybe she can suggest something.”
“Why don’t you two fetch the welder?” he suggested. “I’ll keep searching, see if I can find some other evidence.” He held his hand out for a torch.
Darcy narrowed his eyes and then gave it to him. “Don’t shoot anyone. It would take too much to explain.”
Brandon grinned. “We’ve got plenty of space to hide a body.”
Matt put his fingers in his ears. “I didn’t hear that.” He slapped Darcy on the back. “Come on.”
Brandon waited until the engine had faded before he slowly searched the surrounding area. The intruder’s tyre marks weren’t clear in the dust and he couldn’t make out which footprints were Darcy and Matt’s. He climbed the metal ladder on the side of the windmill, taking his time to make sure each rung held before moving to the next one. From a few metres off the ground, he could see for kilometres in any direction, the moon highlighting the different shapes on the ground. Aside from the lights over by the farmhouse, the land was dark. The intruder was long gone.
When he got back to the house, he’d sit down with Darcy and Matt and identify all the potential targets for sabotage.
Perhaps they could set up traps of their own.
He wasn’t letting anyone scare them off the land.
Chapter 9
Nerves jiggled in Amy’s stomach as she walked over to the farmhouse the next morning. She hadn’t seen Brandon last night after he’d taken off in search of the trespasser. She’d waited with Georgie and Ed in the kitchen until Darcy had returned and told them about the cut pipe. Then she’d headed back to her room and stared at the ceiling until she’d heard Brandon return and enter the room next to hers. Only after she was sure he was safe could she sleep.
She could still feel the comfort of his arm around her shoulders. The way they’d leaned into each other and shared confidences in the dark. But now in the bright light of the morning she questioned how things were going to be between them. What was she supposed to say? It felt weird not to acknowledge last night, but she also didn’t want Georgie or anyone else asking questions about what they’d got up to.
She huffed. She was making too big a deal about it. Everything would be fine. They were both adults. She braced herself and walked into the kitchen. Only Lara was there, making herself toast and wearing an oversized T-shirt rather than her usual pyjamas. Amy relaxed.
“Morning, La La. Where is everyone?”
“Dad went out with Uncle Matt and Uncle Brandon and said I couldn’t go with him,” she said. “Georgie and Ed are still in bed.”
They were probably looking for more evidence of the trespasser. Well, she could keep Lara busy for them. “Do you want a hot chocolate?”
“Nah, juice is fine.” The young girl turned and Amy realised she was wearing Beth’s favourite Michael Jackson T-shirt.
Her heart ached, but she didn’t comment.
While Lara sat at the table and munched on her toast, Amy prepared coffee and poured herself cereal.
“Amy, what happens tomorrow?” The uncertainty in Lara’s voice made Amy turn.
“You mean at the funeral?”
Lara nodded. “I didn’t want to ask Dad in case it upset him. Are they burying Granny and Grandfather?”
The poor girl. They hadn’t realised she would need everything explained. “No, sweetheart. They’re going to be cremated.” At Lara’s frown she explained. “Remember that Viking movie we watched, where they put the soldier’s body on a boat and set it alight?”
Lara nodded.
“It’s the same kind of thing. After the fire, they’ll collect Granny and Grandfather’s ashes and scatter them on the station.”
“So they are always part of the land?”
“Yeah.”
Lara chewed thoughtfully and then smiled. “They would like that.”
“The funeral itself is like a goodbye ceremony,” Amy continued. “Your family will say nice things about your grandparents and some of their friends will too. Then we’ll have a big party with food and drinks and celebrate what wonderful people they were.” She choked up and glanced down at her bowl, blinking to stop the tears.
Lara slid her small hand over Amy’s. “It’s OK to cry.”
