“We’ll pass on some things though,” Ed said. “Most of their clothes can go to another home.”
“OK.” The young girl seemed satisfied.
After breakfast Amy gathered her keys. “If you don’t need me for anything, I’ll head into town to get the groceries for tomorrow.”
“Great,” Georgie said. “We should get the delivery of chairs this morning, so I need to stay here and tell them where to unload.”
“Brandon’s picking up a friend at the airport,” Ed said. “Let me call them and ask how long they’ll be.” He went over to the kitchen radio and after a minute Amy had her answer. Ed turned to her. “You happy to wait for Brandon? You can give him a ride.”
“Sure.” The nerves from this morning came back with a vengeance. Over an hour alone in the car with him. Would they have anything to say to each other? “Is the friend staying here?”
“I guess so.”
“I’ll go make up a room.” Unless the friend was female and would share Brandon’s room. She didn’t like the twinge of jealousy. When Ed didn’t correct her, she headed over to the shearers’ quarters. It contained a dozen basic rooms and it took her little time to make the bed in the room next to Brandon’s, give it a quick dust and leave a clean towel on the desk. She placed a twig of rosemary in a vase to make the room smell a little fresher. Then she checked that the bathroom was clean before Brandon arrived back on a motorbike. He waved her over. “Give me five minutes to shower and we can go.”
“What time is your friend’s flight arriving?”
“It’s supposed to be ten o’clock.”
“I’ll check it’s on time.” Most flights were, but the weather forecast for Perth was stormy, so there might have been a delay.
The website told her the airport baggage handlers were having a go-slow day in protest of working conditions. All flights out of the city had been delayed.
Brandon came into the kitchen five minutes later as promised, hair damp, wearing a T-shirt which clung to his chest and cargo pants which shaped his butt nicely. Her mouth went dry. The evidence of army training was clear in his fitness and muscles and now she’d experienced his softer side, he was far more appealing.
“Ready?” he asked.
She nodded and cleared her throat. “The flight’s been delayed half an hour.”
He glanced at his watch. “What are you getting in town?”
“Groceries for tomorrow.”
“OK. I’ll drop you at the supermarket and then go to the airport to pick up Sam. You’ll probably be done by the time I come back to get you.”
“All right.” The name Sam didn’t tell her if the friend was male or female, but she wouldn’t ask.
She walked with him to the shed where her car was parked. Maggie was lounging underneath Jay and Cheryl’s caravan, and Cheryl was reading under her awning.
Amy unlocked the small yellow Hyundai hatchback. If Brandon’s friend was as large as him, it might be a squeeze, but the boot space should be big enough for all the groceries. Brandon examined the car and then scanned the shed.
“It’s this or Georgie’s car,” Amy told him.
He sighed. “Maybe I should get a hire car at the airport.”
“Up to you.” She climbed into the driver’s side. A moment later he got in next to her.
His broad shoulders exceeded the size of the seat, making Amy’s car feel smaller than normal. Whatever soap he’d used in the shower was musky and manly, and she had to resist inhaling deeply. To get her mind off how attractive the man next to her was, she asked, “Did you find anything this morning?”
“No. Darcy and Matt are checking the other assets, but those closest to the yards haven’t been tampered with.”
The idea of someone out there making things difficult for the Stokes was creepy. Last night, for the first time since she’d been at the Ridge, she’d wished for a torch as she left the house to go to her room. She’d start leaving the shearers’ quarters porch light on in future.
She turned onto the main road. What else could they talk about? Their conversation about Charlie had been interrupted but she wasn’t willing to bring it up. The subject seemed too sensitive in the harsh light of day. “Who are you picking up from the airport?”
“Sam Hackett, an army buddy of mine.” He tapped his finger on the hard plastic dash. “Though I guess not for long. He’s getting out.”
He. Amy relaxed. “That must be hard for you.” Army teammates were like brothers.
