Giving up on analyzing that, I swept my gaze back to my brumby. “Hey, Comet. You want another one? Just take one step toward me, and it’s all yours.”
Comet swished her tail, turned, and walked to the first apple.
“Holy shit,” I blurted.
Sapphire giggled. “I think she speaks Kayden.”
I laughed as I tossed the second apple forward. “I think you’re right.”
I checked Comet’s water and grain troughs, making sure everything was squared away.
“Okay, you ready to face my family again?” I held my hand toward Sapphire, and she slipped her hand into mine.
As we reached the main house, voices drifted out through the open windows, and I wondered if they’d heard us together in the loft. I bloody hoped not. “This could be hell,” I whispered to Sapphire. “You ready?”
“Just make sure we sit together.”
I squeezed her hand. “Absolutely.”
We crossed the verandah and went inside.
The dining room was warm and bright after the darkness outside. Everyone was still seated around the table, but the empty bowls confirmed they’d already eaten.
“‘Bout time you two showed up,” Mitch said.
Cassidy slapped his arm. “Leave them alone. They’ve been busy.” She wriggled her brows.
“Christ.” I rolled my eyes at Sapphire, and her cheeks went pink.
I pulled a chair out for her, and after she sat, I sat beside her.
The dining table seated ten. Four seats on each side, and one at each end. Nobody sat in the chair at the end. That was Frank’s domain. Maybe we should burn his chair and the one at the opposite end, where Mom used to sit.
Cassidy and Xavier sat opposite me, with Mitch and Charlie next to them. Bella was next to me with Declan beside her.
“Hi, everyone. How’re you all feeling?” Sapphire said. “It’s been one hell of a day.”
“Oh, we’re fine,” Cassidy said. “You know.” She pointed at me. “You still haven’t told us how you two met.”
“We’ve kinda been busy, in case you haven’t noticed,” I said.
Rose came into the room carrying a basket of bread. “Ah, you’re here. Hungry? Want some beef stew?”
“Yes, please, Rose.”
Rose placed bread in the middle of the table and left.
Declan reached for a bread roll. “Cassidy and Mitch told us what happened today.” He broke open the bread, and steam wafted out. “Thank you for not telling them about that cash we found. Do you have a plan for it, Officer Delaney?”
Fucking hell. Talk about going for the jugular. “Declan, really, can we just have a feed first?”
“What?” He slathered his bread roll with Bella’s homemade butter. “It’s an important question and an interesting one, don’t you think?”
Rose returned to the dining room with a tray, and as she placed steaming bowls in front of us, nobody spoke. The beef stew smelled incredible, with chunks of beef and vegetables in a thick gravy. My stomach cramped with hunger.
Rose left the room, and for a few minutes, as Sapphire and I ate, nobody spoke.
Even eating felt surreal, like we were all pretending everything was normal when nothing would ever be normal again.
