Amy flashed him a smile.
“I asked you not to.” Ed’s words were softer but more painful because of the hurt in his eyes.
Shit. “I had to do something. I couldn’t risk him getting away.”
“And did he?” Georgie demanded.
“No. Dot arrested him this morning.”
Both his siblings seemed satisfied by that. “I want to know what happened last night,” Georgie said. “But first there’s a young girl out there who is incredibly nervous about her first gymkhana. Lara knows Uncle Brandon was a champion and so you’re going to march out there and give her some pointers.”
“But Darcy’s helping her.”
“Lara even asked Georgie and me for tips,” Ed said. “That’show nervous she is.”
Ed had never entered a horse-riding competition in his life though he was a competent rider.
Georgie nodded. She pointed at Brandon. “You go to Lara.” She pointed at Amy and Sam. “You two get some sleep because you both look exhausted. Then, after lunch, you’re going to tell us what went on last night.”
Brandon would have almost preferred facing more of Georgie’s wrath and Ed’s disappointment than going out to the horse yard, but he did what he was told. Before he left, Amy squeezed his hand. “You’ll be fine.”
Her faith in him dissolved some of his worries.
He flicked at the flies buzzing around his head as he strolled over. Darcy called out instructions to Lara and on his command, she kicked Starlight into a gallop and the horse barrelled around the course. She had good riding technique but wasn’t directing Starlight close enough to the barrels. When she finished the course, Darcy called, “Good job, pumpkin.”
Lara trotted over to him, spotting Brandon over by the fence. She ducked her head.
Crap. He didn’t want his niece to be embarrassed around him. “Nice riding,” he called.
Darcy turned and frowned. He gestured for Lara to walk Starlight around to cool her down and walked over to Brandon. “You’re back.”
Brandon nodded. “Dot arrested the guy this morning.”
“You really think you should have taken Amy with you?”
“She didn’t give me much choice.” The anger in Darcy’s tone concerned Brandon. “Is she… special to you?”
Darcy blinked. “Special? She’s my employee and a friend, and I don’t need you putting her in danger.”
Given that he had kissed her and wanted to do it again, he needed more from his brother. “So she’s not your girlfriend?”
Surprise washed across Darcy’s face and he burst out laughing. “No, she’s not.” Then he narrowed his eyes. “Why do you ask? You’re not sticking around, are you?”
Was he? He didn’t know the answer. “Just checking.” Behind Darcy, Lara circled her horse. “She rides well.”
“Took to it like a duck to water,” he said proudly. “She’s been riding since before she could walk.”
“So why is she so nervous about tomorrow?”
“The pony club has only just reopened. She’s never competed against anyone, and all her friends will be there. She desperately wants to impress her instructor, Faith.”
He remembered how big deal it felt whenever they had a gymkhana.
“Plus there’s a girl in her class who’s been trash-talking her.” Darcy shook his head. “I’d forgotten how mean ten-year-old girls can be. Saying she can’t be any good at riding if her mum didn’t stick around.”
Indignation filled Brandon. “Then I guess we’d better make sure Lara wipes the ground with the little bitch.”
Darcy grinned at him. “You want to give her some advice?”
