With a sigh, he pried off his shoes and climbed into the swag.
The stars were plenty of company for tonight.
Chapter 9
The unusually comfortable bed was Tess’s first clue she wasn’t in her granny flat when she woke the next morning. The next was the giant teddy bear staring at her from across the room. She sat, heart racing, as her gaze darted to the pile of stuffed toys on the floor, the posters of horses on the wall and the small cubed shelving full of books. Lara’s bedroom. She let out her breath. Light filtered through the gap in the blinds, and she reached for her phone to check the time.
The bedside table was empty. Her phone lay in the dirt somewhere north of Meekatharra. There was, however, a clock across the room which told her it was six-thirty. Somewhere in the house, a shower ran, which meant others were up. The wedding was this morning. Would Ed already be in the kitchen?
Though everyone had been kind, Tess noticed Georgie watching her. She couldn’t blame her. She’d be suspicious of anyone who’d led her sibling into danger. Footsteps padded down the hall outside her door and Lara said, “Can I get into my dress now?”
Tess smiled. If Lara was up, she was happy to go into the kitchen. The young girl made her feel so welcome, and after she’d discovered Tess was interested in the Retribution shipwreck, she’d told her all about it. Tess made the bed and then looked in her backpack. She had bought only two T-shirts and a pair of shorts. Nothing appropriate for a wedding, though Ed assured her she would be welcomed. Perhaps tomorrow Ed could take her into town so she could buy more clothes, and a phone. By then the police might have captured Salvatore and arrested Tan.
Her laptop caught her eye. Her parents only expected her to call on Sundays, so she could delay it another day. Before she did, she wanted to ask Ed about what Tan had done to the Ridge so she could get an idea of what else he was involved in. What her parents could be involved in. She’d heard Tan mention a business up north, and she’d figured it was another restaurant, but maybe it wasn’t.
She’d wait for the right time to speak with Ed, maybe tomorrow. She didn’t want to bring up what could be an unwelcome topic during the wedding.
Today, she wanted to fade into the background as much as possible. The wedding was a family affair, and she didn’t want her issues to interfere.
She ambled down the corridor, nerves tickling her skin. Everything would be fine. The Stokes were kind people. Inside the kitchen, Lara, Faith, and Amy were having breakfast. Lara waved. “Morning, Tess. Would you like cereal?”
The nerves dissipated. “Yes, please.” A box and several clean bowls sat in the centre of the table.
“Did you sleep well?” Amy asked.
Tess nodded. “Thank you for lending me your bed, Lara.”
“It’s cool. I got to sleep with Georgie, and she was so funny when she came in, bumping into things.”
Faith chuckled. “She had too many of her margaritas. We won’t see her until it’s time to get ready.”
“I wonder how the guys fared,” Amy said. “The farmers are usually awake by now.”
“Will you see Brandon before the ceremony?” Tess asked.
“Yeah, I’m not superstitious.” Amy held up a jug. “Coffee?”
“Please.” She’d slept solidly all night, and now she needed something to clear the remaining fatigue from her system. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“We got everything ready yesterday,” Amy said. “We just need the celebrant to arrive, and Lindsay’s bringing the cakes in from town.”
“How far away is the town?”
“About an hour’s drive,” Faith answered.
That wasn’t close. There’d be no popping in to get food if anything was forgotten. Her mother had been a nervous wreck the morning of Joy’s wedding, sending people out to get last-minute things she’d decided were essential. Amy was the picture of calm.
Heavy footsteps stomped on the porch outside, and Sam staggered in. “Coffee, I need coffee.” He sank into a chair, placed his head in his hands, keeping his sunglasses firmly on his face. Tess smiled.
“Overindulged last night, did we?” Faith asked.
Sam groaned. “It’s not every day my best friend gets married.”
Tess hunched over her bowl, trying to make herself inconspicuous as Darcy, Brandon, and the other guys wandered in. Six large Australian males dominating the room. None of the other women seemed the least bit concerned. A huge grin covered Brandon’s face as he pulled Amy into his arms and kissed her. “Morning.”
Tess’s shoulders relaxed, though Ed was missing. How had he fared last night?
The kitchen was soon full of excited chatter and the scent of bacon, toasting bread, and coffee, lots of coffee.
