“If everyone’s here, we should get started,” Faith said. “It will take some time to get the horses ready.”
As Gretchen followed Faith, Georgie and Arthur out of the house she said to Joan, “I’ll call you before I leave so you know when we’ll be back.”
“Thanks.”
Outside it was still warm although the sun sat low in the sky. The dozen or so kids were gathered around the horse yard and the horses owned by some of the kids had been tied to the outside. A blue heeler trotted from child to child lapping up the attention and a couple of sheep and a kangaroo also received their share of attention.
“All right.” Faith clapped her hands. “Let’s saddle up.”
The kids all jumped to work. Gretchen went from horse to horse, helping the children place the saddles over their backs and then checking the cinches were tight. When she finished, she noticed Lara showing Arthur what to do to get his horse ready. It was sweet the way he listened attentively to the girl.
Faith wandered over. “With Arthur riding, we don’t have a spare horse for you.”
“That’s fine. I’ll help Amy get dinner ready.” Horse-riding wasn’t her favourite activity and Jordan would appreciate not having her hanging around.
After they made the final checks, they mounted and filed out of the yard with Faith leading, Arthur in the middle and Georgie bringing up the rear. Gretchen waved and then headed back into the house, with the dog, Bennett at her side.
Amy flinched as Gretchen came through the door and then relaxed. “Are they on their way?”
“Yeah. Are you all right?”
Amy shook her head. “I don’t know what to do around Arthur.”
It said a lot about how bad their relationship was for Amy to be uncomfortable.
She got salad makings from the fridge. “Part of me wants him to be the one to bridge this distance between us. He was the one who wronged me. But then I think that’s just petty, and I should try, for Brandon. They’re good friends.” She handed Gretchen a glass of water.
“Do you want to tell me the story?”
“It’s pretty short. My father is a major in the army and wanted his family to be as regimented. When he was away, Mum, Arthur and I would have a lot of fun, but when he came back, Arthur would do everything he could to please him.” She peeled the carrot as if it had wronged her. “Arthur joined the army as soon as he turned eighteen. Not long afterwards, Mum was in a car accident. She got addicted to pain killers.”
“I’m sorry.” Amy would have been still at high school.
Amy shrugged. “I struggled to take care of her, but neither my father nor Arthur would help. She overdosed when I was fifteen. Only Arthur got leave for the funeral. Afterwards my father was going to put me in boarding school, but I’d had enough. I left home and started travelling, working wherever I could find a job. I hadn’t heard from either of them until I discovered Brandon was Arthur’s teammate at the beginning of the year.”
Fifteen. That was young to be on her own. “Didn’t you need ID?”
“I got a fake one until I turned eighteen.” Another shrug as she chopped the carrot. “Most places were so desperate for workers they didn’t care how old I was.”
Gretchen hesitated. “I know what it’s like to have a dysfunctional family. It’s tough.” She sipped her water. “I imagine Arthur doesn’t know what to say to you. He seems a little socially awkward.”
Amy rolled her shoulders. “That’s what Brandon says too, but I don’t know how I feel about it all. I want to know why he deserted me the way he did.”
Gretchen smiled in sympathy. “Then you’ll have to ask. One of you has to make the first move.” She’d been the one in her family, but in her case it was to cut all ties.
“I asked him at the hospital, but he didn’t answer.” Amy screwed up her face. “Maybe I should try again now he’s had time to settle.” She sighed.
Gretchen had witnessed how difficult it was for Arthur to interact with people. She would do what she could to help both of them. They deserved closure.
Chapter 9
Arthur braced himself as Faith called for the children to follow her in pairs. He was to be in the middle, which suited him. Georgie would notice if he needed help. In front of him rode Lara, Mischa, Jordan and Cody. Behind him, he heard the not so whispered sounds of a girl whinging about Lara being at the front. Childhood politics. They’d never been fun. He didn’t deal with children, hadn’t had to since he’d been one. On missions when kids had been involved, Sam or Dobby had taken point and Arthur had been happy to let them. So being with kids as well as riding a horse was not his finest hour.
But he’d figure it out.
He held himself stiffly astride a horse called Reg, which had been Lara’s grandfather’s. Reg seemed content to follow the horse in front of it in a swaying walk. They walked under an overhanging branch and Arthur had to duck or be hit in the head. It was then he remembered Lara had told him to relax, to settle into the saddle, and he’d be more comfortable. Following her advice, he shifted and became one with Reg’s movement.
Around him, kids called to each other as they rode towards red sand dunes in the distance. He shook his head. He had never seen dunes this rich rusty red before. As they drew closer, he saw how fine the sand was. Animals left clear footprints in it, from tiny lizards, to birds, to the long curvy line of what could only be a snake.
