The Road Home (21 page)

NOAH stretched his legs as he got out of the ute, the cool air fresh on his face. The sun was setting on another autumn day, which had been perfect for seeding. Mandy’s dad was still going around and around, seeding the last of the oats for feed. But he was knocking off early. He’d do the longer shift tomorrow. As he walked to the back door of the old house, past the overgrown garden and outback toilet, he noticed that the lights were on inside. Mandy must be home already.

‘Hey, babe. You knocked off early?’ he asked, kissing her head as he went past on his way to the fridge for a beer.

‘Can you come and sit down? We need to talk.’

‘Sure. What’s up? It looks serious. Don’t tell me your dress doesn’t fit.’ Noah pulled a face and scraped the wooden chair against the floor as he sat down. He knew something was up when Mandy didn’t even crack a smile at his teasing. She usually loved his sense of humour.

She held him down with her hazel eyes, which were swimming with discontent. Instantly he thought of his stash.

‘Noah, we need to talk about the fifty grand you took out from the account.’

Alarm bells rang. They rang so loudly he thought he’d been stuck in the Perth Belltower right on chime time. No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening now. He was so close to winning it all back.

‘Yeah, I told you that was to pay Lara back. We settled all this.’ He pictured the wads of cash tucked away in his travel bag, ready for his trip to Perth. Just the thought of it brought him out in an excited sweat. He jumped as Mandy slammed her hand on the table.

‘Damn it, Noah! The lies need to stop here.’ He forced his eyes to meet hers, where he saw tears pooling. ‘I’ve talked with the bank, I’ve talked with Lara —’

Noah cut her off. ‘I told you to leave her out of this. She’ll just say all sorts of things.’

‘For Christ’s sake, Noah. Stop lying!’ Mandy sobbed.

He swallowed hard, unsure of what to do next. If he just sat here and played dumb, would it all go away? Would he be able to hide a little of the money, even just for a few bets? He still had the money for Aaron, hidden in a sock in his drawer. Would that be enough to turn his losing streak around? What if he told Mandy how sure he was that he could win it all back with the money he took? They still had more left in the account from the house sale. Surely she wouldn’t care about him having some? Not all of it was going on the new house.

‘Noah, I love you.’ He turned his focus back to her as she wrung her fingers together on the table. ‘I still want to marry you and I want to help you. I
need
you to let me help you.’ Mandy swiped at the tears, leaving shiny streaks down her tanned cheeks. ‘Please,
Noah. You have a problem. You can’t keep feeding it, otherwise we’ll have nothing left,’ she pleaded.

‘It’s not that bad, Mandy,’ he said softly. ‘I’m being careful. I know I can turn it all around for us. Don’t worry.’

She took a deep, centring breath. ‘You said before that you would stop. Clearly you can’t. You’re leaving me with no choice.’ Mandy held out her hand. ‘I want it all: your cards, cheque book, cash, the lot, Noah. I want it all on this table now.’

Panic. Cornered. Suffocated. She couldn’t do this to him. He knew that he could win big for them soon. If he could just get to Perth, he’d show her. He’d show them all that he could make it. His winning hand wasn’t far away.

‘No. No, you can’t do that,’ he said more forcefully. He just needed one more go. The picture of all those green hundred-dollar notes, all neatly grouped, taunted him.

‘Damn it, Noah. It’s for your own good. I want it all now!’ she screamed.

‘And you think you can make me?’ he challenged.

He saw her eyes darken with fear and instantly he felt bad. But then they widened with sudden relief as she glanced towards the back door.

‘If she can’t, then I will,’ came a deep, familiar voice behind him.

Noah swung around. ‘Jack! What on earth are you doing here?’

Jack stood beside Amanda, staying quiet and just giving her the strength she needed to confront her fiancé. Time was passing slowly
but Jack was in no hurry. He’d stay until he was certain his best friend was alright.

‘Noah, you still haven’t told me what you did with all that money you withdrew,’ Amanda said as she collected all the cards and money that they’d made him put on the table.

Jack could see Noah’s mind working. He didn’t want to give it all up.

‘I’ll go get it.’ Noah walked out, Jack followed. ‘I said I’d get it!’ he growled.

‘Yeah, well, I’m coming to watch. I don’t want you hiding some of it.’ Noah’s shoulders dropped a fraction. His game was over. Hidden in his bag in his bedroom was the cash.

‘Is that all?’

Noah rolled his eyes and retrieved another small wad of cash from under his bottom drawer. ‘That’s it. I promise.’

Back at the table, they all sat, staring at the money. Amanda drummed her fingertips while Noah jiggled his leg and Jack felt the muscle in his jaw pulse.

‘Well, I guess the first thing to do is for me to put this back in the bank, and then take you in to see someone,’ said Amanda, looking to Jack for support.

‘I don’t need a shrink,’ Noah argued.

Amanda pulled out some information from her back pocket. ‘I found this pamphlet online. It’s a centre for when gambling becomes a problem and it’s here in Esperance. It’s for family members as well so we can try to help and understand.’

‘Noah, you will be doing this,’ Jack added. ‘And we will be with you all the way.’

‘Thanks, Jack.’ Amanda took a deep breath and continued. ‘I’ve already called and we have our first visit tomorrow.’

Noah stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor, and went to his bedroom.

‘Just leave him,’ said Jack, seeing the panic in Amanda’s eyes. ‘He needs to adjust to us intervening. It’s not going to be easy. He can’t admit it to us when he hasn’t admitted it to himself.’

‘I can just feel the electricity in the air,’ said Mel with amazement. ‘I’m so glad I got to experience a thunderstorm out here before heading back to the city.’

It was late in the day, around five o’clock, and Lara and Mel sat in the old wooden two-seater chair, Gretel and both dogs asleep at their feet. Mel had taken the weekend off to visit Lara and cheer her up, and they’d spent the first day drinking, eating and watching old movies – with a big emphasis on eating. Chocolate had been consumed by the kilogram, but it was all for medicinal purposes.

‘Yeah, it’s weird how the feel and smell of a storm is different out here. It must be all the dirt and trees that make it so incredible,’ said Lara. She unrolled the long sleeves on her checked shirt and wrapped her arms around her waist. ‘I wish you didn’t have to go home again tomorrow. I hate it when you leave. Couldn’t you move here with me? I sure could use some girl company.’

Mel smiled and Lara saw the longing. ‘Oh, Lara, I would love that. You and me here in the big outback together? What a dream.’ Mel cracked a piece off a block of chocolate and slipped it into her mouth. ‘You know, it’s not the same since you left. I’m seriously
thinking of changing my life around.’ Mel sighed as she tucked her auburn hair back behind her ear.

Lara didn’t want to say it but she thought Mel was looking unwell. Her eyes were drawn, and even her trademark happy persona had stayed hidden away until Lara had finally coaxed it out by taking her yabby-catching.

‘Well, if you ever want to start up a practice out here, I’d be behind you a hundred per cent and do whatever I could to help, you know that. The nearest vet is two hours away. You’d have this whole district to yourself. It could really work, Mel.’ Lara wrapped her arm around Mel’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze.

‘Thanks, Lara. It means a lot. I just don’t know if I could leave Justin and Dad. I feel so responsible for them.’

‘You’ve got to live your own life, Mel. They’re adults. They’ll survive. Cut the apron strings, woman.’

‘Gee, when did you get all grown-up and philosophical?’

She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. All I can say is that if you’re not happy, you’ve gotta do something about it yourself. Make the change. Live the dream. Whatever it takes.’ She gazed up at the massive sky, darkening with the onset of rain. ‘Even with everything going on at the moment, I’m still happy out here. It’s magical.’

Mel shook her head. ‘You know, I can’t believe Jack and Noah would do that.’ She caught Lara’s glare and ignored it. ‘I mean, he was so lovely to talk to at the lake. I just find it hard to think they could stoop so low. And Noah …’

‘Yeah, well, it was all there on the paper.’

‘Hmm. So, still no word from Noah?’

‘Nope, not even from Mandy. And I don’t want to call her, as she said she’d call me. I’m trying to keep my nose out of it, you know? He’s all I’ve got, but he’s going to be a husband and Mandy is his family now.’

‘Sweetie, so are you. He’s your brother … You are allowed to know what’s happening in his life. I’d bloody make it my business,’ Mel said, laughing. ‘Maybe just send Mandy a text and test the water. Know what I mean?’

‘Maybe you’re right. At least she’d know I was thinking of her.’

‘That’s my girl.’

‘And you know what else is bugging me? This bloody drug crop! I haven’t heard diddly squat about it. It’s taking them bloody weeks. Surely it can’t be that hard to catch someone.’

Mel shrugged. ‘Maybe they had to wait for them to come from the city or something? Or they could be trying to see how many leads they can get. You know, catch
all
the bad guys!’

‘Christ, Mel, I think you’ve watched too many of those cop shows.’ Lara grinned.

‘I wouldn’t stress. It’s not your problem any more. But what I really want to know is about Jack,’ Mel said, treading carefully. ‘What are you gonna do about him? You can’t give up on him. Not after that amazing sex.’

Lara laughed. ‘Yeah, well, I just don’t know what to think. I’m really so confused. One minute he’s pissing me off, the next I can’t wait to rip his shirt off, and then I find the agreement …’ It seemed like such a low act, but still Lara couldn’t help thinking about him, missing him. Even after all this. What was wrong with her? There he was, constantly in her thoughts. She’d analysed
everything about that night they’d been together, the things they’d talked about. She was sure what she’d seen in him was deep and wonderful. How could she have been so wrong?

A chill spread through Lara and her skin broke out in goose-bumps as thunder rumbled over the vast land. This was the opening rain they’d been waiting for! Hopefully they’d get a good inch or more and could begin seeding straightaway. Lara watched as lightning arced through the black clouds like a spotlight in the dark, and as if on cue the raindrops began to fall. They brought with them a smell so wonderful that she had to close her eyes.

To think that only months ago she’d been in a different life, her job all she had to live for, a relationship doomed to fail … But here, now, she felt that magic she remembered from her childhood. She felt close to heaven and close to her parents. She reached down and scratched Dippa’s head, running her fingers through his fur. Mel patted Gretel’s tiny head. The lamb’s skin was wrinkled under her short, white wool, and her large eyes were sort of eerie; the black centres weren’t defined like human pupils were. But she was still cute, even with her big hoofs and wiggly tail.

The rain fell faster, causing water to run over the dry ground as the earth struggled to soak it up. Lara felt alive and all her senses tingled as if electricity was running through her from the storm. She smiled, marvelling at Mother Nature, and felt like a very small part in the universe. She couldn’t help the grin that kept growing. Tomorrow she would start seeding her first crop, and that would make her a real farmer. After that, no one would ever say again that she couldn’t make it.

As a storm raged at the start of the next week, Jack and Noah sat by the fire in the lounge watching the rain pour down outside. Amanda’s parents had been told. Noah’s gambling had to be out in the open so all of them could watch out for him. It was no good for Amanda to hide all the money if Noah could start pinching it from her parents. Neither she nor Jack could imagine Noah getting to that stage, but they had to take precautions.

Noah was less angry and was letting Jack be his mate again. He’d been asking him about Lara, how she’d been coping.

‘She’s been amazing, Noah. I think she was born to work the land. She’s got more drive than you have.’ Jack chuckled.

‘I’m glad she’s doing all right.’

Jack told Noah about the fire, but left out what had happened afterwards. Just thinking of it had his heart racing. He could remember the feel of her hair through his hands and the way it smelled: sweet like apples but edged with smoke from the fire. He cleared his throat and tried to push her image from his mind. ‘But she’s pissed at us.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Do you remember asking the lawyers to do up the agreement when I was first going to take on Erindale?’

Noah’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, no. It didn’t.’

‘Yep, it rocked up in the mail. She thought we’d gone behind her back and done a deal.’

‘Crap, did you set her straight?’

Jack moved in the old floral chair. ‘I tried to, and then she dropped your bombshell on me.’ Nothing else had seemed important. He felt like he deserved her hatred, that it was his payback
for how he’d treated her. Karma for not knowing about Noah. He didn’t deserve someone like Lara.

‘I better call her then, or else there could be fireworks at the wedding,’ said Noah, pulling himself out of the chair.

Jack thought he’d gone to call Lara, but he came back with what looked like a pair of socks.

‘What? You want me to do your washing? I’m not your friggin’ house maid!’ he said, rolling his eyes.

Noah chucked the bundle in his lap and Jack saw the yellow fifties sticking out the end. He looked up at Noah.

‘That’s the last of it. I don’t want this thing hanging over me any more, Jack. I want to get rid of this problem.’

IT took half the morning to say goodbye to Mel, who never said quick goodbyes.

‘Please think about changing your life, Mel. No offence, but you look miserable.’

Mel hugged her. ‘If you can do it, anyone can. You’re who I look to for inspiration, you know that?’

Lara kissed her cheek and wished her a safe journey. She stayed out on the road, watching the ute disappear until the dust settled. Then Lara started to get organised for seeding. The first thing was to get the tractor and air seeder up to the top paddock. Lara was feeling more comfortable around machinery but that didn’t stop her second-guessing everything she did. She still had all her fingers, so it paid to be on the cautious side.

It took a ridiculously long time to get the machinery through the various gates, and even longer to fill the bin on the truck with the grain and fertiliser. It was hard by herself, but she knew what had to be done. Once she got the tractor and air seeder to the
paddock, she had to walk back to the shed for the truck. At least she could hook up the old ute behind the truck, as Noah had built an A-frame onto the front so it could be towed. Otherwise, it meant more walking to go back and get the ute and some of the paddocks were seven kilometres away.

The next morning, Lara put on her thick brown jumper and headed out at five o’clock to start the seeding. The mornings were much colder and darker now that the winter months were approaching. But she welcomed the change, and loved watching the lilac leaves turn yellow and fall, covering the ground with autumn colour.

Lara put her lunch esky on the back of the ute, along with both dogs, and drove to the paddock, where she started up the green John Deere tractor. Inside the cab, the dogs took their positions beside her chair. They were veterans at this game. If only Lara could say the same about herself.

As the engine warmed up, Lara stood at the top of the ladder, in between the two huge tyres at the front and back, rubbing her cold fingers and gazing out over the bare paddock. The early morning chill was creeping in and the sight of the sun peeking over the horizon brought on a shiver. Everything looked so alive after the rain: the trees were greener, the dirt was darker and the smell was like freshly washed linen, but more earthy and natural.

Things had certainly changed since Lara’s last experience of seeding. When she was a kid they used to rip up the ground before planting. More recently, Noah had been using the direct-drill approach. It seemed like the way to go to help reduce the effects of erosion. She’d spent hours reading up about it online, and had kept in contact with other farmers on Twitter and ag chats. You
never know when you might learn something new.

The rumble of a diesel motor made her turn towards the gate. It was Nelson, driving into the paddock with the spray rig. His hair was as dark as Jack’s and for a fleeting moment she’d thought it was him approaching. Nelson pulled up in front of the tractor and opened the arms on the boom spray before heading towards her.

‘Hey, Nelson,’ Lara said as he looked up at her from the ground.

‘Hi, Lara. I’ll do this paddock and then I’ll come back tomorrow and get the next one done for you.’

‘No worries. That would be great, thanks. I’m just glad you could come out today so I could start. Cheers.’

Lara’s order of chemical had come in a few weeks back and she’d been gobsmacked at the price of just one 110-litre drum of Trifluralin, let alone the Sprayseed and Logran, which were also mixed in. Farming wasn’t cheap, and the chemicals were harsh. She was glad they hired someone else to spray them out – she would likely get the dose wrong and either fail to kill the weeds or put enough on to kill the crop. And then she had to consider what kind of water to use, as it could affect the chemicals. There were still so many things for Lara to learn, and it never seemed to end.

Nelson said goodbye and turned back to the spray rig. He even looked like Jack from behind, or perhaps that was just wishful thinking. It had been well over a week now, and Lara hadn’t heard from him. Not that she really expected to, after she’d screamed at him to leave. But for him not to have even attempted to set the record straight, or to dispute her accusations … She had to admit she was disappointed about that. Why was she wasting her thoughts on him? She simply couldn’t help it.

Lara sat in the tractor, waiting until Nelson had gone around half the paddock and the chemical had settled. She chewed on her fingernail as she itched to start seeding her first-ever paddock. On her own. Just her and the dirt … and the dogs, of course. She grinned at Roy and Dippa.

‘Ready, boys?’

Two days later, she was still attached to the tractor, going around and around. It was the same every day: get up early, pack her food for the day, drive the tractor and then come home late for around five hours’ sleep. Lara’s phone rang while she was out in the paddock and she recognised the Esperance number.

‘Hi, Mandy,’ she said. Her heart stopped as she waited for the news, good or bad.

‘Hi, sis. It’s me, actually.’

Hearing his voice was like the release of an elastic band. ‘Noah! Oh, hi. Hold up two ticks?’ She stopped the tractor so she could fully concentrate. ‘All right, I’ve stopped seeding, right to go now.’

‘Seeding, hey? How’s that going for ya?’

It was so amazing just to hear his voice. ‘I’m surviving. I’ll make it through.’ She could imagine Noah smiling on the other end. ‘And you?’

‘Oh, you know, surviving.’

‘Everything’s fine? The wedding’s all good?’

‘In other words, how’s your gambling problem coming along and will they cancel the wedding?’ he said.

‘Yeah, I guess.’ She was clutching her phone as if it would try to escape from her ear.

‘Don’t worry, I think I’m really getting there. I can admit my problem and I want to be rid of it. And yes, the wedding is still all go. I’m not letting Mandy escape now,’ he joked. ‘But I really rang to explain. Jack told me about the agreement. It was organised before you took on Erindale, Lara. We just forgot about it; I forgot to tell the lawyer not to worry. I was a bit preoccupied with showing you the ropes and moving to Esperance and then learning my own ropes.’

‘Oh.’ Lara could see how that could have happened.

‘Anyway, what kind of brother do you think I am? I wouldn’t do that to you,’ he said resentfully.

‘Obviously I wasn’t thinking clearly myself,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry, Noah.’

‘Nah, but yeah, it’s all water under the bridge. We’re family, we move on, we forgive and we put up with each other’s quirks.’ He chuckled.

‘Hey, I don’t have any quirks,’ she protested. ‘Thanks, Noah. I’m glad you called.’

He cleared his throat. ‘Yep, well, my job is done. I best let you get back to it. See you at the wedding, sis.’

‘Bye, Noah.’

Her legs wobbled as the stress left her body like ants from a disturbed nest. She leant against the seat of the truck and breathed a sigh of relief. It had been weighing so heavily on her mind.

Later, Lara took the truck back to the shed, parked it under the auger and began to fill it. But soon she realised she’d made a terrible mistake.

‘Oh, shit. Bloodyhellbloodyhellbloodyhell,’ she said to herself. With a quick hand, she shut the auger off and watched as the last of the grain fell from its mouth. She cursed herself as she surveyed the mess. Grain piled on top of the yellow tarp she’d forgotten to take off before she tried to fill the bin. It trickled over the edge onto the dirt, leaving maybe a few wheelbarrow loads on either side. Just when she thought she was getting a grip on this farming caper, something like this would happen. She just wanted to scream. She went to kick the silo and stopped herself halfway. That wouldn’t solve the problem.

Somehow she managed to get the tarp off and transfer the grain on top into the bin. What was left on the ground she’d give to the chooks. It wasn’t so bad, she tried to reassure herself, but she’d wasted a good chunk of seeding time, and delays certainly didn’t help when you were trying to make the most of the moisture in the ground.

As she was climbing down from the bin she saw a yellow ute coming up the driveway. Her stomach lurched. Aaron. What was he doing on her property again? She needed him here like a flash flood. Crossing her arms, she braced herself for whatever was about to go down. Aaron stopped just in front of her, looking her over like she was his next meal.

‘Good morning, Lara,’ he said smugly, before poking his cigarette back into his mouth. He squinted at her through the haze of smoke.

‘What do you want, Aaron?’ she asked gruffly.

‘Now, now, don’t get your knickers in a twist. I’ve just come to collect my money. I have a big game coming up tomorrow night and I need it now. I think I’ve been lenient enough, don’t you?’

Oh, damn. Noah clearly hadn’t paid him. Christ, she’d had enough of dealing with Aaron. ‘Come to the house and I’ll write you a cheque.’ What else could she do?

‘Jump in. I’ll take you there.’

She hesitated a fraction, before nodding. What the hell. She just wanted him gone quickly. He brushed food wrappers off the passenger seat onto the floor and she tried not to let her disgust show.

‘Have a little spill, did we?’ He smirked, pointing to the grain on the ground.

Great. That’ll be all over town by this afternoon, Lara thought.

‘Don’t worry. Done that meself a few times.’

She didn’t find his small talk at all charming or helpful. His ute reeked of spilt Red Bull, cigarette smoke and another smell that she couldn’t put her finger on but probably had something to do with the small metal tin by his side. She was almost certain it was Aaron who’d been growing that crop. She wondered what was taking the police so long.

‘Is it a straight two grand?’ she asked when they pulled up at the house.

‘Yeah, I’d be happy with that. I’ll let the rest go.’

Lara didn’t care about the rest. She just wanted this bloke far away from her. As quickly as she could, she ran inside, scribbled out a cheque and ran it back to him.

His smile unnerved her as he took the cheque and shoved it in his top pocket. After he dropped her back near the truck, she met his gaze. ‘I hope I don’t see you back here again,’ she warned.

Aaron winked. ‘See ya around town, gorgeous.’ Then he drove away while she shuddered. He was dark-alley stuff.

Her phone rang a few minutes later as she was about to have another go at filling the bin.

‘Hi, Lara. It’s Constable Peters here. Just wanted to let you know that we’ve finally apprehended someone over the drugs, and all the plants have been removed.’

‘It took long enough.’

‘Sorry about that. The crop had been abandoned but we had to figure out why, and we had to investigate further, which took time.’

She wondered whether they had nabbed Aaron as he left. It all seemed too coincidental. ‘So, who was it?’ Just to be sure.

‘I can’t release that information.’

She almost laughed. Didn’t he realise they were in a small town? She’d know by tomorrow anyway.

‘Thank you for all your cooperation and understanding,’ he continued. ‘Sorry it took longer than expected.’

‘No worries. I’m just glad it’s all over. Thanks, Constable.’

Lara was relieved that she could cross that off her list of things to worry about.

She finished loading up the fertiliser in the other end of the bin and put the tarp back over. The mornings were quite moist with dew so it paid to keep the fertiliser covered to stop it sticking together.

She parked the loader back in the super shed, wiping her hands on her jeans and smiling at how much fun it was to drive. There was something gratifying about being able to handle large machinery – even more because she’d had to teach herself.

The morning breeze ripped around her, taking a loose strand and wrapping it around her face. As she was clipping it back into place she saw a white ute roar in and pull up to a stop near the
shed, narrowly missing the truck. Marge jumped out. For an old lady she had plenty of spring.

‘Morning, Marge,’ said Lara, walking over to her. ‘How are you?’ Lara thought she should invite her in for morning tea but she really wanted to get this paddock finished.

‘Oh, Lara. I’m so sorry. Oh, what am I to do?’ Marge cried. Her normally calm temperament was now frantic.

‘Whoa! Steady up. What’s wrong, Marge?’ She took the elderly lady by the arms and helped her to sit on an old tyre. Marge was pale and looked ready to faint. ‘Are you okay? Are you having an attack? Should I call Trent?’ Lara wondered whether she should call the ambos. Or Jack?

Marge began to cry. Lara had never seen tough-as-old-boot-leather Marge so unhinged. ‘Take some deep breaths and then tell me what’s going on. Have you got any pain?’

Marge’s bony fingers shook, so Lara held them tightly in hers.

‘No, it’s not me. Oh, Lara. I’m so sorry – I didn’t know. I can’t believe it. They’ve taken my boy.’

‘Who’s taken who?’

Marge took a deep breath and faced Lara, her tired eyes weeping. ‘The police have my Trent. They’ve taken him to Narrogin to the lockup until his court case.’

‘What? What do you mean, Marge?’

Marge gripped her hand. ‘The drugs, Lara. It was Trent. He was the one growing them.
My Trent
.’ Her shoulders began to shake and for the first time she looked frail and as breakable as fine china.

‘Surely not,’ Lara said. It couldn’t be. Not charmingly sweet Trent, her neighbour and her friend. The first one to make her feel
welcome and cared for. He was Marge’s grandson. He had a farm of his own. What in the hell would he be doing growing drugs?

‘It’s true. They took him away like a criminal. But my Trent isn’t a bad person. I can’t understand any of this.’ Marge clutched her heart. ‘And on your farm, no less. Oh, I feel so bad, Lara.’

Lara wrapped her arm around Marge as they sat there on the old tyre by the super shed. ‘Don’t worry about that, Marge,’ she said. Trent had been arrested. Not Aaron. ‘It’ll be okay.’

The pink and grey cockies gathered around the truck to eat the spilt grain and Lara stared without really seeing them. She thought of all those plants and of Trent sitting in a prison cell in his jeans and Rossi boots. Oh, Trent. What had he done?