She did as he suggested, and this time she floated on the surface. She grinned. “I did it!” As she spoke, she turned her head and sank, swallowing a mouthful of water.
Ed helped her surface, chuckling.
“Again,” she insisted. This would take some practice.
It took half an hour before she could float and tread water, which Ed insisted on teaching her. “Next time we come, I’ll bring goggles, and I’ll get you a pool noodle so you can explore the mangroves and reefs over there,” Ed said.
Excitement filled her. She wanted to learn to do everything. As she dried herself, she studied the island in the bay. “It doesn’t look too far away.” Though it was too far for her to swim.
“Brandon swam there once on a dare,” Ed said. “He almost didn’t make it.”
Tess gaped at him. “What?”
“Charlie dared Brandon to swim to the island and promised to do his chores for a month if he did it.” Ed shrugged. “Brandon thought it was worth the risk.”
“So what happened?”
“Brandon made it, and then Charlie and Darcy went home to get Dad and the dinghy to fetch him. Brandon was preparing to spend the night on the island, because he didn’t have the energy to swim back.”
She wrapped the towel around her waist. “That would have been scary.”
“We camped out a lot as kids,” Ed said. “Matt’s parents taught us how to make fire, and what things we could eat, so he would have only had a night of discomfort.”
So blasé about it. Australians were an interesting bunch.
Something glistened on the island in the morning sun. She shaded her eyes. “What’s that?”
Ed joined her. “I don’t know. A fisherman might have left rubbish there. Sometimes they come this far down the gulf.” He placed his hat on his head. “Or Matt’s family might have set something up.”
“I thought you said it was your land.”
“The island isn’t. This entire area is Bayungu land, which is Matt’s people.”
They sat side by side on the sand and ate lunch. The sun was warm, and Tess slid her T-shirt over her bathers to protect herself. It was funny how comfortable she was with Ed. Perhaps the circumstances of their meeting had wiped away any awkwardness and given them a solid bond. She hoped they could spend more time together in Perth after Tan was arrested.
She shivered despite the heat and scanned the surrounding shoreline. Maybe she was too trusting that she was safe out here. Tan had wanted the station for a reason.
“You OK?” Ed squeezed her knee.
“Just thinking about Tan and wondering where Salvatore has gone.”
“The police will find him, and in the meantime, you’re safe here.”
She didn’t like that they were connected to Tan through the station. If she didn’t hear from Dot tomorrow, she would call her parents, and figure out the next step. If the police had her statement and all the details they needed, would Tan and Salvatore still hurt her? She smiled at Ed, pushing away her troubles. Here and now, it was as if it was just the two of them. And the thought brought her a lot of comfort. She could be herself.
She finished her sandwich and sipped from the icy cold thermos Ed handed her.
“You ready to go back?” Ed asked. “We can haul some of those trunks inside and go through them.”
The excitement of the investigation pushed her concerns away. She scrambled to her feet. “Absolutely.” She held her hand out to pull Ed to his feet.
He chuckled. “Well, I know how to distract you now.”
She smiled at him. “Everything about you is a distraction.” She kissed him and then gathered their towels and led them over to the ute. “Can I drive?”
Chapter 16
Ed was impressed with the way Tess handled the rough road like a pro. Without gears to worry about, she drove confidently, not concerned about the bumps and soft patches, but slowing when required. Her hands gripped the steering wheel, and a grin covered her face as they jostled their way home. He loved the way she threw herself into learning new things with enthusiasm and determination, and it was a pleasure to teach her. When she drove into the yard, Darcy and Matt were still working the sheep with Brandon’s friends. The sharp poke of guilt was normal, but Ed refused to give it any power. They didn’t need many people to deal with the lambs. Any more and he’d be in the way. He’d accepted long ago he wasn’t cut out to be a farmer.
