Arthur moved over to his sister. “That includes you. I can put mugs and milk on the table.”
Her eyes filled and she nodded. They’d had it rough out here and the stress of so little money would be wearing on her.
When the kettle boiled, he filled the teapot and set it on the table. Everyone sat around it, silent, lost in their own contemplation.
They needed something to cheer them up.
He glanced at Amy. Should he mention his theory about the treasure, or would it devastate them further if it wasn’t there? “Is now a good time?”
She frowned, and then when she realised what he was asking, she smiled and nodded.
Arthur cleared his throat. “I might have some news.” He poured milk into his cup.
“What?” Lara asked.
“I might have figured out Lilian’s clues for where the treasure is.”
Georgie dropped the spoon she’d picked up, and everyone turned to look at him.
His face heated. “I might be wrong, but you know those extra names?”
“What about them?” Faith asked.
“They might be directions.”
Lara clapped her hands together with a squeal. “We have to go! Please, Dad.”
Darcy rubbed his face, eyes already dark with fatigue. “We can wait one more night.”
Lara’s face fell.
Brandon ran a hand through his hair, looking as exhausted as Darcy. “We should check the fences down that way.”
“It will be dark soon,” Matt said.
“We’ve got spotlights on the ute,” Brandon said.
Darcy sighed and forced a smile. “All right. As long as I don’t have to do any more digging.”
In very little time, they were on their way to the gulf with Sam following Amy in the ute. They’d thrown some tools in the tray of one ute in case fences were down, and Lara and Jordan sat in the back of the other one.
Arthur slipped his arm around Gretchen and she leaned into him. Georgie’s eyebrows almost disappeared into her hairline when she noticed, but she said nothing and simply smiled.
Just over the road they found Charlie’s sign. It was dented and had a scratch right down the middle. They all got out to look.
“It’s ruined,” Georgie whispered.
Arthur stepped closer, examining it, and shook his head. “No, it’s not. We can knock the dents out and I can touch up the paintwork.”
“You paint now?” Sam asked.
“Haven’t you seen his notebook?” Brandon asked. “He’s incredible.”
Sam glanced at him. “The notebook you hid from me?”
Arthur nodded. “It contains my drawings. I, ah, don’t like to show people.”
“Dad told him they were worthless,” Amy added.
