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***
Following much-needed Mum and Dad hugs, the four of us took a seat at the dining table and Mum set coffee and sandwiches in front of us along with a bowl of salad.
I wasn’t hungry but helped myself to half a chicken sandwich so mum wouldn’t become concerned.
Dad asked the first question. “Are you back to stay?”
“I think so, Dad. My adventure was somewhat of a disaster. It’s here I belong.”
I spent the following half an hour explaining everything about Sydney, and the house I’d been staying in with Harper and Ellie before moving on to my budding relationship with Hudson. I confessed how I’d lost my heart, thinking he might be the one until I caught him with another woman.
“Oh, Sweetheart. I fell in love with your dad the first moment we laid eyes on each other, so I understand exactly how you must have felt. Are you sure of what you saw?”
“There’s no doubt, Mum. When the door opened, he was standing with a woman in his arms, and I heard him saying he loved her very much.”
I caught sight of my brothers exchanging a glance.
“Whatever you two are thinking—don’t. The last thing we need is you two ending up in jail. I’m a big girl, I’ll get over what happened.”
Dad took hold of one of my hands. “I’m sorry about what happened, Sweetheart, but I’m glad to have you back.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I pushed up from the table. “I’m going to get changed and take Cappy out. Is there anything you want done?”
“We have a few escapees in the west paddock that need to be brought up to the house paddock so we can tag the calves. Take Harry and Mildred and chase them up here. See if you can find the break in the fence and I’ll send someone down to get it fixed.”
“Harry and Mildred in the kennels?”
“In the yard off the barn,” Dad answered.
“I’ll grab them after I saddle Cappy.”
“She’s in the pasture off the barn,” Lucas explained. “She likes to cosy up to Zion.”
Leaning over, I kissed Mum and Dad on the cheek, thanked my brothers for rescuing me, and headed upstairs to change.
***
I whistled and Cappy whinnied before charging toward me from where she’d been at the back of the pasture rubbing up against Zion—Mathew’s horse.
When she reached the fence, she lowered her head and planted kisses all over my face which had me laughing. Reaching into a pocket, I pulled out a couple of carrots that I’d grabbed from the kitchen. She munched on them before settling her head on my shoulder. I wrapped both arms around her neck.
“Oh, darling girl, I made a big mess of things.”
Cappy nuzzled my neck. That was one of the good things about animals, they offered buckets of comfort without judgement.
When she decided standing with me had gone on for long enough, I led her to the stables where I saddled her and climbed onto her back. I rode her the short distance to where the two dogs were busy running zoomies and kicking up dust. Reaching down, I unlocked the gate and the two dogs charged out when I whistled, circled around Cappy, and came to a stop—one on each side of the horse, awaiting instructions.
The three of us started down to the west paddock. I kicked Cappy into a gallop, knowing even though the dogs couldn’t keep pace, they would follow.
I sucked in lungs full of fresh country air, my braid slapped against my back. I revelled in being home on familiar ground. Home was safe. It was where I’d always been happiest. I would never venture to the city again.
It didn’t take long to locate the escapees—a number of mummas and their calves.
“Harry, Mildred, stay.” The pair immediately sat as they had been trained and I knew they would keep an eye on the cattle.
Before I herded the renegades to the house paddock, I walked the fence with Cappy, checking for breaks. I came to the conclusion the animals were Houdinis because the fence was intact.
“Harry, Mildred.”
