Across the garden, at the end of the aisle, Brandon only had eyes for Amy. His intensity and the warmth of his gaze created a longing in Tess. Would anyone look at her that way? She blinked. Where had that come from? She’d been so focused on her study and getting away from Singapore that she hadn’t paid men much attention.
Until Ed. She glanced at him as Lara sat next to him and whispered something. He slid his arm around his niece and she leaned into him. Then the ceremony began. The small, strappy celebrant smiled as she spoke. “When I first met Brandon, he was wailing, and from the smell of him, he’d just soiled his nappy.”
The guests laughed, and Dot murmured to Tess, “Lindsay owns the supermarket in town.”
As the couple exchanged vows, Lee took photos, constantly moving to get a better angle, but never too close to be in the way. Whoever he was, he was good at this. He shifted his camera towards the guests and Tess ducked down, her heart racing.
A minute later, Dot murmured, “You can look now.”
Tess raised her head as Brandon and Amy kissed, Lee’s attention on the couple. She appreciated Dot’s awareness of the surroundings.
The guests cheered, and the couple came down the aisle together, both beaming. Behind them trailed Georgie and Sam, and Faith and Darcy, with Lara following, her hand in Ed’s. A sweet picture.
On the verandah, the couple formed a casual receiving line to greet all the guests, and Brandon’s army mates moved the chairs to form a perimeter around the garden.
Ed appeared by her side. “I’m going to check the caterers,” he said. “Do you want to come?”
“Please.” Lee was taking photos of the guests as they congratulated the couple. “Thank you, Dot.”
Dot smiled. “No worries.”
Tess followed Ed away from the garden and across the red dirt to the building where Brandon’s army friends were staying. Around the side was another room where a kitchen and sitting area were located. “Is this someone’s house?”
“No, it’s all part of the shearers’ quarters,” Ed explained. “At shearing time, we get a dozen people in to help. They stay in the rooms, and there’s this kitchen and lounge where they can relax at the end of the day. Mum cooks for them all…” Sadness crossed his face. “Ah, I guess Amy or Faith will cook for them this season.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry. Are you OK?”
He shrugged, and the silence stretched before he said, “I’m thrilled for Amy and Bran, but I keep thinking Mum and Dad should be here.”
They should be. “I’m sure they’re watching from somewhere.”
“Still not the same.” He strode over to speak with the caterer who was plating up various hors d’oeuvres.
Tess hovered at the door. Ed spoke confidently as he ensured the caterer had everything she needed and arranged for the servers to circulate with drinks and food. It was mid morning, so the food was light, and the drinks were plentiful. When Ed was satisfied everything was under control, they crossed back to the garden. People were mingling now, and the bridal party was having a few photos together.
Something had been bothering Tess since she’d seen Lee. “Why do you think Lee might be involved with Tan?”
Ed frowned and moved further away from the guests. “I hope he’s not,” he said. “But Stonefish have been a step ahead of us for the past couple of months.”
“What have they done?” She needed to know the scope of Tan’s business so she could figure out whether she could continue to stay in Australia when this was all over.
He sighed. “It started at the beginning of the year. Tan wanted to buy the station but my father refused to sell.”
“Why did he want it?”
“We can’t figure it out. Our neighbours are willing to sell, but Tan’s not interested in her place, just the Ridge.”
Odd.
“Then Mum and Dad had their car accident, and it turns out someone we trusted was asked to cut the brake line of their car.”
Tess touched his arm, wishing she could take away the pain on his face. “Tan asked them to?”
“Yeah, or someone working for Stonefish.”
So Tan was responsible for more than just the woman’s death.
“There’s been a bunch of sabotage around the property and Stonefish ordered another person we trusted to kidnap Lara last month, so that Bran would sign the station over to them, but we got Lara back before he did.”
