But what made it worse, Finn and all the others were complying with the redhead’s orders!
‘Come on, let’s go.’Porter tugged on Amara’s arm as everyone filed out of the room.He closed the door to the boardroom, effectively trapping Finn inside with his ex-wife.‘You don’t want to mess with Bree when she’s in a mood.Trust me on this.I’ve known Bree for a while now.’
Amara hesitated, glancing back at the closed door.‘Will Finn be okay?With his ex-wife?’Who seemed rather bossy.And clever.Amara didn’t know whether to like the woman or not, when her loyalties lay with Finn.
Porter followed her down the corridor towards the back door.‘Oh, yeah.Bree’s the dose of medicine I think Finn needs right now.’
At the end of the corridor, Amara paused.Her eyes narrowed slightly as the pieces fell into place.She spun around and jabbed at the air between them.‘You called her, didn’t you?Because that redhead was way too prepared for this visit.The big coffee, the food, just to share information that could’ve been done over video conference.I know she lives on a station, but she drove all the way into town just to talk to Finn becauseyoucalled her.’
Porter didn’t flinch.‘Yeah, I did.Craig was with me.We both talked to her.’
Her glare deepened.‘Why?She’s the ex-wife, not his mother.’
‘Because you need Finn to be on the ball.You’re not his babysitter, Montrose.He’s your boss, and he’s a bloody good cop who might not realise how bad he’s getting.’He then added a little quieter, ‘and yeah… we need him for this.’
She should’ve been furious with Porter for going behind her back, and for meddling.But instead… something loosened in her chest.
Because for the first time in too long, she wasn’t the one left holding the weight on her own.Porter had seen it too—the way Finn was slipping—and had stepped in when she’d been at a loss to even know where to begin.
She glanced towards the closed office door.
Maybe, just maybe, Finn was coming back to them.
And for the first time in weeks, she let herself believe it.
Either way, she was relieved that Finn was finding his footing again.And she needed that more than she’d ever admit to Finn—or to Porter.
But she’d made a lot of mistakes over Lot 728, that she had to make up for.She needed to find that horse.‘Let’s go.’
Nineteen
In his police ute, Porter steered them down the small town’s main street.The small cluster of stores ran on both sides as he headed for the only four-way intersection in Elsie Creek.
On the right stood the hardware store, on the other corner stood the mighty pub, towering over the intersection.The small town park occupied the left corner, which carried through to the train station’s passenger terminal, where Porter turned left, crossed the railway line tracks, then left again into the train station, and headed for the main entrance to the stockyards.
‘Who’s Bree?’Amara peered out the passenger window as they passed the vintage train, now turned into a playground, that stood beside the passenger terminal.The terminal held the old tea house, converted into a small museum, where Lucy’s food van lived at the end of the long stretch of lawn.
‘Bree is Finn’s ex-wife.’He scoffed at her.‘You already know that, Montrose, so ask me the real question that’s on your mind.’
‘Fine,’ she said with a huff.‘What does Bree’s pregnancy have to do with Finn’s drinking?’
‘You don’t know.’Porter’s stomach dropped as he swallowed down that foul taste in his mouth.
‘I’m asking.Normally, I wouldn’t ask.I respect people’s privacy, especially Finn’s.But Bree—that woman back in the office—’
‘Who is really nice.’
‘She took over the office, when she’s not my boss.’
‘Bree may be bossy, but her heart is in the right place.So be careful what you say about her in front of me.Bree is a friend of mine, a good one too.’His tone was low and loaded with warning, as he was protective of his friends.
‘You’re such a popular guy.’The snark in her voice was unexpected.
‘You’d have friends in this town too, if you weren’t so cut and dry, you know.’
The look she shot him was positively lethal.It’s obvious she was hurting, looking to lash out, and once again he was the lucky bastard who’d won that door prize.
‘I’m not your enemy, Amara.I didn’t steal your horse, so don’t take it out on me when I’m trying to help you.’
