Offering trail rides would require a proper commitment and investment. She’d need to buy horses, a float large enough for them, and all the other equipment. And she’d need somewhere to stable them too.
A pipe dream, similar to her father’s ones, which had dragged her from place to place. The difference between them was, Faith was too sensible to think it would actually work.
Plus, she had a job waiting for her in Perth. Her boss had called on Friday, asking for an update, hinting she needed to be back soon, that they couldn’t keep her job available forever.
Faith’s muscles tightened. She’d been reluctant to promise anything, but now, with her mother ready for more independence, Faith had to consider what to do next. She hadn’t missed living in the city. Life was slower in the country, or maybe it was simply because she wasn’t working seventy-hour weeks. She’d had nothing to do for the first few months except nurse her mother back to health.
It had been rewarding as well as frustrating, but she felt closer to her mother than she had before. They’d got to know each other as adults, as people rather than mother and daughter, and Faith liked her mother. She’d also gone for drinks with a couple of the women who worked on her father’s tour boat, and met Darcy’s sister, Georgie, who worked on another of the boats. She’d enjoyed the casual atmosphere and their discussions hadn’t been full of legal talk, which used to frustrate Faith when she went out with friends in Perth. Instead, they spoke of movies, books and people.
Darcy stood, the water glistening off his chest. She swallowed to get moisture back in her dry throat. No one deserved to be that good looking. She wanted to spend more time with him, find out about this kind, considerate man who was a loyal father.
Perhaps he and Lara would be interested in dinner next week.
Without bothering to dry herself Lara flopped down on her towel and dumped her goggles in her backpack. “I’m starving.” She reached for a caramel slice.
“Hey, pumpkin, where are your manners?” Darcy called.
Lara paused, arm outstretched, and asked, “Can I have a piece?”
“Help yourself to anything here,” Faith told her.
“But make sure you have some fruit and not just sweets,” Darcy added. He towelled himself dry and slipped his shirt on.
Nuts.
“I saw the Retribution memorial.” Faith offered Darcy the slice and fruit and he took something from both containers.
Lara nodded as she chewed. “It’s pretty cool, right?”
“Very cool,” Faith assured her.
“Granny was going to get the old trunks from the shed and go through them with me, to see if we could find a treasure map.” Lara’s face fell and she glanced at Darcy for support.
“We can still do that, pumpkin.” He squeezed her hand.
Faith hated seeing her sad. “Do you think X will mark the spot?”
“Yep. I reckon it’s in the cave by the ridge.” Lara continued to explain her theory and Faith listened with rapt attention. There was something about the idea of buried treasure that spoke to the child in her. She’d always loved pirate adventures.
“Do you think the memorial could hold a clue?” Faith asked.
Lara’s eyes lit up. “I never thought of that!” She scrambled to her feet. “We should check.”
Faith stood and had taken a step after Lara before she remembered Darcy. She turned to him, her cheeks hot.
“Go.” He grinned. “I’ll pack up here.”
“Come on, Faith!” Lara yelled.
Faith smiled back at him. “Thanks.” She raised her voice. “I’m coming!” And she ran after Lara, feeling like a kid again.
***
Darcy’s spirits were high as he saddled his horse. It had been a perfect morning, one he would remember for a long time to come. He’d tuck it in his good memories box, to be retrieved when he needed cheering up. Faith genuinely seemed to enjoy Lara’s company, and he’d enjoyed teaching her to snorkel. Perhaps he’d used the shark as an excuse to hold her in his arms, but she hadn’t minded and her hand had fit so perfectly in his when they swam side by side. Then she’d been undemanding and understanding when she’d wanted to return to the shore. Sofia would have made them all turn back.
After Lara and Faith had discovered nothing of note on the memorial, they’d ridden the horses bareback along the sand, taking them swimming when the day grew hot. Then they’d eaten the gourmet rolls Faith had made for lunch.
He tightened the cinch on his saddle and mounted. Time to head home. He’d promised Matt he’d stop and check the sheep they had put in a nearby paddock, but it wasn’t much of a detour. “Ready?” he called.
