“You sure?”
“You were always better than me with the barrels.” Darcy gestured Lara over. “Uncle Brandon’s got a couple of tips for you.”
Lara perked up and smiled at him. The hope on her face wrapped around his heart, in a hold that would never break.
“Let’s get started.” He wouldn’t let her down.
***
Amy woke as footsteps crossed the porch outside her door. The light was bright outside, and her room was hot. With a groan she rolled over and checked the time. Eleven o’clock. She’d slept for two hours and every inch of her being wanted to close her eyes and go back to sleep. But she had work to do and it was her own fault she was so tired.
She dressed, tied her hair back in a ponytail—the frizz she’d tackled out the day before was back with a vengeance—and headed over to the house. Lara no longer rode in the paddock and the rest of the yard was deserted. Only Jay and Cheryl sat under the awning of their van reading. Cheryl glanced up and waved, and Amy returned the greeting. She’d have to clean the guest bathroom after she’d checked in.
Everyone sat in the kitchen and a fresh batch of scones christened the table. Her gaze immediately found Brandon who smiled at her and then turned his attention back to Lara.
“I beat my best time!” Lara crowed. “After Uncle Brandon showed Starlight what she had to do, she was like a bullet.”
Darcy clapped Brandon on the shoulder. “Told you he was the best.”
Brandon’s expression was priceless. Shock, embarrassment and also deep pleasure shone on his face and he ducked his head. “It was all La La,” he said. “She just needed a couple of tips.”
“I can’t wait to see Natasha’s face when I beat her tomorrow. Faith’s going to be so impressed.”
Amy smiled as she moved around the table to put the kettle on. Lara loved her pony club instructor, was always filled with stories of what Faith had done during the class.
“There’s a fresh pot of tea,” Brandon said. He shifted down the table to make room for her next to him. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she remembered the kiss.
“Feel any better?” he asked, pouring the tea for her.
“A little. Did you get any sleep?”
“No, but I don’t need any.” He handed her the plate of scones and she took one.
He seemed at home. In fact there wasn’t any tension around the table as Lara chatted happily about the gymkhana tomorrow. “Everyone’s coming, aren’t they?” Lara asked.
“I’d love to, La La, but I’m flying back to Perth tomorrow,” Sam said. “I’ll get Brandon to send me some photos.”
She pouted for a second and then said, “You’ll have to come and visit when you get out of the army.”
“I will,” Sam promised.
“When do you have to leave, Ed?” Lara asked.
“Sunday,” he replied.
With Georgie going back into town this afternoon and Lara back at school on Monday, soon she’d be out here with only Matt, Darcy and Brandon. The place would feel empty. Amy pushed away her concern as the phone rang. Darcy answered it, shot a look at Lara and then walked out of the room. Almost as one, Brandon, Georgie and Ed followed him.
Lara glanced at them. “What’s going on?”
“They’re probably being nosy,” Amy told her.
“Yeah, Brandon always has to know everything,” Sam said.
“And Georgie never likes to be left out,” Matt added.
Satisfied with the answer, she took a huge bite of her scone and whipped cream dotted her nose. She laughed as she wiped it off.
It was heartening to see Lara more cheerful. The week had been long and hard, but things were getting back to a new normal. Amy spread a generous layer of jam and cream on her scone, keeping an ear out for conversation from the siblings, but she couldn’t hear anything.
