“What?”
“Not having part of your leg,” she replied. “Dad was helping me research it when we heard you were coming up, and it must suck having to think about doing everything again.”
Something about the matter-of-fact way she said it made him smile for the first time in a very long time. “It does.” He followed her over to where a dark brown horse was grazing, and she stroked the horse’s neck. “This one is mine. Her name is Starlight.”
“She’s nice.” The horse’s hair was smooth and dusty, and his hand was covered in a film of red dirt by the time he finished patting her.
“The pony club is coming out on the weekend to do a trail ride and sleepover. You should come too.”
“I don’t know how to ride.”
“It’s easy. You just need to sit and steer. I overheard Faith telling Amy they didn’t have enough parents interested in sleeping over with all the kids, so Dad and uncle Brandon have to help.” She glanced at him. “But they work really hard, and it would be nice to have somebody else’s help.”
Arthur shook his head. The kid had a way about her.
“You will help, won’t you?”
How could he refuse that hopeful grin? He didn’t even stop to consider the potential problems. “All right.”
“Yay!” She hugged him, taking him by surprise again. “You should come to pony club tomorrow night. It’s for kids, but at least you’ll get a chance to ride before the weekend. Or maybe we can ride after dinner.” She waved at someone behind him. A dusty white ute pulled up to the house and three men climbed out. Brandon he recognised, and the other dark-haired man had to be his brother Darcy because they looked so similar. The indigenous man must be Matt, the farm hand Sam had told him about. They all wore checked shirts, jeans, brown boots and Akubra hats.
“Come on, dinner will be soon.” She raced back over to the house without waiting for him.
Arthur followed more slowly, dusting the dirt off his hands before rubbing his chest. So this was what Sam meant by Lara time. He had to give his friend credit. He felt better than he had in a long time. She made him feel useful and wanted, two things he hadn’t felt since before the accident.
He embraced the feeling, soaking it up like a dry river bed after the rain.
He felt good.
***
As he reached the stairs, a blue car parked next to Sam’s four-wheel drive and a woman with pale blue hair hopped out. “Hey!” She hurried over, smiling at him. “You’ve got to be Arthur. I’m Georgie.”
The only Stokes sister. His smile felt forced. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise, as long as you don’t hurt Amy again.” She breezed past him and into the kitchen where she greeted the farmhand, Matt, with a hug and a smacking kiss.
Her words struck him in the chest like shrapnel.
She was right. He had hurt his sister, and now Amy’s whole new family were inside the kitchen chatting. His hesitant footsteps as he climbed the steps had nothing to do with his prosthesis.
Slowly he opened the door as he assessed the situation. Lara spoke to Darcy and Brandon about her day, Georgie and Matt had their heads together murmuring to each other, Faith and Sam were setting the table, and Amy placed plates of chopped lettuce and tomatoes on the table. “Dinner’s ready.” She glanced at him and her smile became guarded. “Sit wherever you want, Arthur.”
Talk ceased.
Shit. He almost turned and walked out, but Sam moved over to him and said, “You haven’t met Darcy and Matt yet.” He indicated the men.
Darcy stepped forward, hand outstretched and a smile on his face. “Welcome.”
How could one word slay him? While Arthur’s mind reeled at the simple acceptance, his body reacted automatically, shaking Darcy’s hand. He cleared his throat. “Thanks for having me.”
“Nice to meet you,” Matt said.
Arthur nodded. “Likewise.”
“Why don’t you sit next to me, Arthur?” Faith patted the seat next to her.
He stumbled to the seat, his brain still processing the genuineness of the greeting. Surely they had to dislike him for the way he’d treated Amy.
