“How’s it going?” Staring at my phone screen, I saw all three of my siblings sitting around the dining table. I’d called them every week since I got to the States and this was our latest catch up. “Saw that a big fire tore through the district. Everyone OK?”
“He didn’t ask about the stock first.” Bronson held out a hand, and Billy muttered something before slapping a bunch of money into his hand. “Called it. Troy’s a sensitive new age guy now.”
My lips twisted, wanting to smile, but something stopped me. Leaning forward, I frowned slightly.
“How are the stock numbers, anyway?” I asked, trying to keep the tension out of my voice. “Didn’t look like the fire hit our place, but it got close.”
“But it was the second thing he said.” Charlie plucked the bills from Bronson’s grip. “So I win.”
“Our place escaped unscathed.” I let out a long breath when Bronson said that. Watching the CFS map was always nerve-wracking during summer. Doing so from halfway across the world was far worse. “The Argyles can’t say the same…”
OK, now I really was smiling and so was my family. It was a shameful, guilty kind of thing, but those bastards…
“So what happened?”
“Old man Argyle thought the fact he uses half the district’s water allowance on his pastures was enough to ensure he could escape the fire unscathed,” Billy said with a grin. “Won’t volunteer for the CFS, but expected all of us to come to his rescue.”
“We did.” Bronson’s arms crossed his chest. “There was no way we’d let the place go up, but while we’re doing that, he’s moving his damn horses at the same time. They’re obviously panicked. Honestly, he’s bloody lucky he didn’t lose one.”
“Lost a bunch of pasture,” Charlie added. “And fences. Got a cast of thousands working on the repairs right now.”
The need to steer the conversation where I needed it to go rode me hard, but I knew exactly what stopped me.
“So how’s things going at home? Apart from the fires, I mean.”
The way they all looked at each and shared a smile made clear I wasn’t as good at masking as I hoped.
“You’ll be happy to know the top paddock fence got sorted finally,” Billy replied. “Stock numbers are still solid and looks like the wheat came through the fire unscathed.” His smile widened. “We’ve been taking an early mark on Fridays and heading to the pub.” The need to reprimand him rose fast, but thankfully I kept my mouth shut. “Does wonders for productivity. Everyone gets their work done at double time.”
So why don’t you do that every day? I wanted to ask, but I knew why. No one wanted to work at maximum capacity every damn day. Not even me. Being in the States, hanging out with Mackenzie and her mum, it made clear to me something I’d never allowed myself to feel. A man needed rest time to beat his best, and if this was how Billy got his, I wasn’t going to complain.
“Sounds like a plan,” I said finally.
Billy’s eyebrows shot up as he looked across at Bronson.
“Rescue’s doing well,” Charlie replied. “Could do with a hand, though. When are you bringing Mackenzie back home?”
That was when my nails raked across the tabletop, because it was the question I wanted answered more than anything else in the world. While flying over, I had all these scenarios in my head. Obviously one where I came and saved the day, but then I’d assumed we’d head back to Australia once Kimberley was stabilised. My mother’s ring, it was sitting in the pocket of my suitcase for a reason.
But the United States was Mackenzie’s home.
“I’m not sure,” I said with a sigh. “Mackenzie is still worried about her mum and if we move to Australia, she’s a day away at the very least. There’s no way for her to respond to an emergency. So, she’s looking for a job at the moment.” My shoulders sagged. “And has been offered her old one back. From what she says, it’s a good job.” My finger traced frantic little circles on the tabletop. “That’s part of the reason I rang. Medical care isn’t free over here and her mother has a massive bill for her surgery. They don’t talk about it much, but I know it’s really pressing both of them.”
Forcing myself to stare at the screen, I knew I needed to face this head on.
“Selling the farm.” Swallowing hard, I wish I’d set a bottle of water by my phone because my throat was bone dry. “I know we talked about doing it in spring, but I need… She’s my girl and I can’t stand her worrying about this shit.” I met each one of their eyes in turn. “That’s why I called. Dad used to piss me off because he was bleeding the farm dry chasing after too young women, but… I’m gonna have to do the same. I need to stayhere until Mackenzie is ready to move, and I need to get them clear of that debt. Don’t get me started on the whole green card process.”
“About that.” Bronson smiled as he leaned closer. “I talked to a lawyer.”
“What did you do that for?” The words were out of my head before I thought twice and that had the others snorting. “Sorry, but?—”
“Because I wanted legal advice about the contract you signed with Dad,” he replied. “It was a very interesting conversation.”
“Especially for Dad,” Charlie said with a slow smile.
“What?”
“Turns out he’s been grossly overpaid.” Billy’s smirk had my teeth grinding together. “He was only entitled to a small percentage of the money he received, and there was no proviso in the contract to allow him to force a sale.”
