Darcy closed his eyes and breathed deeply. “All right. We need a new station hand now Taylor’s gone. You can move into Mum and Dad’s room if you want.”
Relief washed over Brandon. He would have camped with his swag if that’s what it took. “Thanks.” He held out his hand.
Darcy looked at it and rolled his eyes. “That’s not how we do it here.” He grabbed Brandon’s hand and pulled him into a hug. “Welcome home, Bran.”
The words took a moment to come. “Thanks.”
Brandon was home.
Chapter 15
The next morning saw a flurry of activity. Amy hadn’t seen such an uproar since she’d arrived. Lara was in a total panic. “Where are my jodhpurs?” she yelled, racing through the kitchen into the laundry and tossing clothes from the hamper. “I’m going to be late. Faith said we can’t be late!”
“I folded them and put them in your room yesterday,” Amy told her.
Lara ran past with a “Thanks,” and a wide-eyed expression on her face. Poor girl.
Brandon stood. “I’ll go hitch up the float and check the gear, you calm her.”
Darcy nodded his thanks.
Amy made sandwiches to take with them and Lara ran back in, this time dressed but her hair in disarray. She glanced between her father and Ed and then handed Ed the hairbrush. “Can you do my hair?”
“Burn,” Ed joked as he shifted so Lara could sit in front of him while he brushed her hair.
“I could never get the hang of the braid,” Darcy said. He held Lara’s hand. “You’re going to be fine, pumpkin.”
She jiggled in her seat until Ed told her to stop moving. “What if I fall off?”
“Then you get back up and try again,” Darcy said. “No matter what, I’m proud of you.”
Amy’s heart clenched. She wished her father had said something like that to her.
Outside the kitchen door, Sam dumped his bag on the porch and chatted to Matt who had returned from seeing to the animals.
Finally all was ready and they climbed into their cars. Lara paused before she got into the ute. “Uncle Brandon, will you come with us?” Her hopeful expression was so sweet.
Brandon glanced at Amy and she nodded. “All right.”
He gave Sam a bear hug. “Thanks for coming.”
“Any time. I’ll see you back at base in a couple of weeks.” He got in the passenger side of Amy’s car and she waved at the others before leaving the property. She’d drop Sam at the airport a little early so she’d make it in time for Lara’s first event.
“Have you enjoyed your time here?” Amy asked. She liked Brandon’s best friend, but she hadn’t spent enough time with him to get to know him.
“I did. Brandon’s family is great. I get why he was so miserable being away from them.”
“He ever talk about them?”
“Only once.” Sam peered at her. “You know about Charlie?”
“Yeah.”
“Then you understand. He’s got a stubborn streak, but I reckon it’s focused in the right direction now. He won’t let Darcy keep him away now he’s decided to come home.”
“I don’t think Darcy will.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Sam conceded.
