BooksBarbecue
Back Dead Horse Gap
Chapters (58)
  1. COVER PAGE
  2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  3. DEDICATION
  4. Prologue
  5. One
  6. Two
  7. Three
  8. Four
  9. Five
  10. Six
  11. Seven
  12. Eight
  13. Nine
  14. Ten
  15. Eleven
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Sixteen
  21. Seventeen
  22. Eighteen
  23. Nineteen
  24. Twenty
  25. Twenty-one
  26. Twenty-two
  27. Twenty-three
  28. Twenty-four
  29. Twenty-five
  30. Twenty-six
  31. Twenty-seven
  32. Twenty-eight
  33. Twenty-nine
  34. Thirty
  35. Thirty-one
  36. Thirty-two
  37. Thirty-three
  38. Thirty-four
  39. Thirty-five
  40. Thirty-six
  41. Thirty-seven
  42. Thirty-eight
  43. Thirty-nine
  44. Forty
  45. Forty-one
  46. Forty-two
  47. Forty-three
  48. Forty-four
  49. Forty-five
  50. Forty-six
  51. Forty-seven
  52. Forty-eight
  53. Forty-nine
  54. Fifty
  55. Fifty-one
  56. Fifty-two
  57. Fifty-three
  58. Acknowledgements

‘Thanks, Sarge, for the kind words. I’m always keen to learn, and I appreciate the opportunity.’ Flowers held out the paper carry bag he’d brought with him.

‘What’s this?’ asked Ryder.

‘We picked up a few prints from the Buchanans’ shop this afternoon. There’s one here for you,’ Flowers said.

‘Oh, you shouldn’t have done that,’ Ryder said, a little embarrassed as he accepted the gift from Flowers. ‘That’s very nice. And unexpected. I don’t really know what to say. Will I open it now?’

‘Yes,’ said Flowers. ‘Sterling chose one of the homestead.’

‘It’s going to remind me how lucky I am to be alive.’ Sterling took a swig of her beer.

‘I chose the Buchanan Hut and the cemetery at White Winter Station,’ said Flowers.

Ryder frowned. ‘The cemetery? You’ve always been a bit weird, Daisy.’

Sterling sniggered.

Ryder held his print up to the light. ‘I like that. It’s really nice. Thanks.’

‘It’s the view from Dead Horse Gap,’ said Flowers. ‘We thought it was the one with the most meaning. Everything started there with the loss of the snow lease.’

‘It did indeed.’ Ryder nodded and studied the print before carefully sliding it back into the bag. ‘Thank you. I’ll get it framed. Vanessa will love it too.’

The door opened and Vanessa stood in the doorway, Poppy by her side in her pink dressing gown.

‘Speak of the devil,’ Ryder said, and they all laughed.

‘I don’t know what that’s all about,’ Vanessa said with a grin, ‘but you’d better get organised, it’s time to eat.’

section break

Five minutes later, Ryder was sitting at the dining-room table, with Vanessa next to him with Poppy on her knee, and Flowers and Sterling opposite.

‘Jack finally got everyone out of here,’ Eva whispered, tilting her head towards the lounge room where a few of the guests were still kicking on. ‘Now, you three,’ she said, looking at Ryder, Flowers and Sterling in turn, ‘you just sit there and relax. Jack and I have everything organised, and Vanessa, you’ve done enough too.’ Eva went to stand behind Flowers’ chair and put her hands on his shoulders. ‘I’m just so excited we finally got you here, Mitch,’ she said, giving him a little shake. ‘And you too, Nerida. I don’t know any details but I’m so happy you’re back here safe and sound.’

‘Thanks, Eva,’ Sterling said.

Ryder thought he saw a shimmer in her eye. Sterling seemed to have survived yesterday’s horror, and while issues could still arise from the attack later on, it was with profound relief that he watched her tonight, alive, happy and enjoying herself.