Twelve
Ash caught up to Bree, helping her round up the stray stockhorses with their saddles and packs still in place, forming a long horse train as they headed back to camp. Ahead, she spotted her grandfather, sifting through the remnants of their stock camp.
It was enough to make her guts twist into hot knots of lava for what she was about to do.
‘Hey, Bree, well done on stopping the stampede. I took some awesome photos.’ Sophie grinned, holding up her camera.
Bree scowled at Sophie. ‘Pack up camp. You girls are going home.’
Mia froze, her eyes wide, side-glancing at Harper, who looked just as stunned. ‘On our own?’
‘You’ll be fine.’ Ash jumped off his horse, to stroke Harper’s cheek tenderly, giving her a gentle smile. ‘I trust Shortbread to take you home, no worries.’ He pointed to the cream-coloured stockhorse he’d bought his partner as a gift.
‘But?’ Harper hoisted the toddler Mason higher on her hip.
‘You can do it. Just stick together and keep at a steady pace.’ Bree gave an encouraging nod to Harper and Mia. It was Sophie who might need some coaching. ‘Cap, can you and your muster dogs help me, and Ash, muster the cattle towards the yards?’
‘Sure.’ Cap nodded, as he approached them.
‘Cap and I will take care of the horses, we’ll wait for your call, Bree.’ Ash nodded at her with sadness in his eyes. ‘I’ll find some torches and put them in your saddlebags.’
‘Thanks.’ For once she didn’t think ahead, her mind was all muddled.
Ash nodded at her. ‘You do what you need to do.’
She’d rather do anything but this.
Dismounting, Bree removed her hat as she approached her grandfather. ‘Pop?’
‘You looked good out there, kid.’ Charlie swaggered up and patted Bree’s stallion. ‘Black Hand, you’re a beast, you are.’ He held out some sugar cubes for the horse, who lapped them up as Charlie rubbed his nose.
Bree licked her dry lips, with her throat so tight. ‘Um, Pop, I…’
‘What’s wrong, kid?’
She swallowed hard, pulling the envelope from her back pocket. ‘We found him.’
‘Found who?’
‘Your brother. Harry.’ She pointed back to the edge of the escarpment. ‘There was a landslide.’
She inhaled deeply, searching for the strength, hating that she was about to ruin her grandfather’s day. This was so freaking hard! ‘Pop, um, we found your brother. We found Harry’s remains. He died alongside Penelope Price.’
Charlie’s jaw fell as he sat hard on the nearest tree stump, scattered around the cold campfire like chairs. ‘Where?’
‘In this old mine.’
The many wrinkles shifted across his brow. ‘There are no mines out here.’
‘Well, there is now… Pop, you were right all along. You said your brother would leave you a note, and I found it. Here…’ She held out the letter. ‘I’m so, so sorry I never believed you.’ The guilt was enough for Bree to drop to her knees in front of her grandfather, her hands trembling as she held out the letter that he’d been searching for.
‘That’s Harry’s writing.’ Charlie’s voice was frail, as he blinked at the envelope. ‘Where is he?’
‘Back at the cave. Ryder and Dex are there. I’ll show you.’
‘Er… yeah…’ Charlie stared at his name on the envelope with confusion strewn across his face. She just hoped he wasn’t going to go into shock.
She helped Charlie with his horse as he slowly climbed back into the saddle, with Bree doing the same.
‘This way, Pop.’ Salty tears blurred her vision. As if the guilt wasn’t enough for not believing her grandfather, along came that old familiar feeling of grief laced with a lashing of fear to wash over her sinking stomach once again. She may have never met Harry Splint, but he was Charlie’s brother—a reminder that her grandfather was the last family member Bree had left.