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Rex shrugged. “Sorry, Kristy. Someone’s been tossing horseshoes up here and I think that’s the problem.”
Her eyes flew to her sister, Zoe. Zoe loved party games and last year she had a series of farewell parties before she left for uni. Would she and her friends toss horse shoes onto the roof? She’d tackle her sister about it later.
“Can you finish this up tomorrow?” she asked.
Rex scratched the back of his head. “I won’t be long. I’ve only got one side left to do and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
She nodded. “Okay. Any damage up there from the horse shoes?”
Rex shook his head.
“All good?” called out Zoe.
Kristy nodded.
When she reached the courtyard Zoe jumped off the chair and took the tray out of Kristy’s hands. “Great, let’s get this party started. I’m starving.”
Within minutes, Taylah finished setting the table, Anna poured the drinks, Zoe and Sophia tossed the freshly sliced onions onto the barbecue while Cherie and Ava unwrapped salads and dips bought in town.
Kristy slumped into the nearest chair at the end of the table, glad to chill out after another long day. She sat back as a gentle breeze swirled about her.
Anna handed each of them a glass of pink bubbly. “This is as cheap as chips, but I’ve been told it’s a great drop. Let’s judge, shall we?”
“Cheers!” called out Zoe.
Anna sat beside Kristy as they both took a sip of the icy cold drop. Kristy gave a little shiver as the refreshing bubbles slid past her throat.
Rex’s heavy footsteps on the aluminium Colorbond roof could be heard close by, followed by another heavy clanging thud on the ground.
“Shit!” called out a deep male voice that wasn’t Rex’s.
Kristy slammed her glass on the table and ran out of the courtyard. She pulled up when she met Josh’s dark eyes locked on hers and her heart rate shot up. Stunned, it took a full few seconds to register his ripped shirt.
“What’s just hit me?” he demanded.
She grimaced. “A horse shoe.” She hoped it hadn’t hit his head.
Josh looked incredulous. “You’re kidding me. A horse shoe?”
“My god, Rex. You could have killed someone!” Kristy yelled. Her fury and fear new no bounds.
She ran up to Josh. “Are you alright?”
From the scowl on Josh’s face, she had somehow clearly asked the wrong question. She needed to pull herself together. “Your shirt’s torn, Josh. Are you okay?”
Josh nodded and gave her a half-cocked smile. “I’ve had better welcomes.”
His voice, low and deep, sounded warm and friendly. She stared at him.Did he hit his head?
“Sorry mate,” called out Rex. His words triggered something in the girls and they all rushed forward to see Josh.
“Josh, did you get hit anywhere else?” asked Zoe, who pointed to his ripped shirt.
Kristy saw blood starting to seep through.
“Josh, we have to get that shirt off and see the damage,” commanded Anna.
Behind Josh, Cherie and Ava had picked up the hessian bag and were carrying it to the side of the stables. The girls were starting to cluster around Josh, eyeing him off as if he were a rare specimen – which he was in Bindarra Creek. He didn’t have cuts and bruises on his hands. He didn’t work with his body. Josh worked with his brain.
