“Thanks, Andie.” She stood and packed the first aid kit into her saddle bag, then gathered Tim Tam’s reins and led him over to Gingernut who was eating dried grass on the side of the trail. She took Gingernut’s reins, the mare seeming reluctant to abandon her trailside snack. Back on her horse, Andie called over her shoulder. “See you back there.” She gave Tim Tam a firm kick and led Gingernut to the front of the group. The others waved their grim goodbyes from their perches, and then it was just Jase, Jules, and Matt.

“I feel like a right idiot. Sorry, Jules. Not exactly how I thought the day would end up.” Not for Jules either, but all she cared about was making sure Matt was okay.

“It’s not your fault. It was just bad luck. That could have happened to any of us. I’ve certainly been thrown from a horse before.”

“Really?”

“Yes, when I was eleven.”

Matt started chuckling. “Great, so you’re saying I have the horse-riding ability of an eleven-year-old?”

“Oh, hell no, I was way better at eleven than you are now. I was thrown when my horse shied right before a four-foot jump.” She scrunched her nose at him and they shared a laugh at his expense.

“It’s a good thing I like you.”

“Yes,” she said. “I’m starting to think it’s a very good thing.”

“He’s here!” Jase called. He’d been standing about twenty feet away, perhaps to give them some privacy while they waited for Jonno. Would Jules ever get used to all the “Aussiefied” names? She doubted she would ever call Matt, “Matty”.

“Let me help you,” she said to Matt as she stood. She took his left hand in both of hers and pulled him to his feet. “Anything else hurt?”

“Just my pride.”

Jules smiled, keeping hold of his hand as they walked to the Land Rover.

Chapter 23

Lucy

“Mom is going to kill you, Bradley,” hissed Bridget.

“What? I’m fine. Nothing happened!”

“Your mom is not going to kill him, Bridget, because we are not telling her what happened.”

“But—”

Will cut her off. “Bridget, no. Bradley’s fine and that’s all that matters. Your parents left me in charge, and if you think I’m getting told off by Aunt Jackie ’cause you tattled, think again.”

Will’s tone told every occupant of the car that what he’d said was final. Lucy found his take-charge attitude extremely attractive, but she also agreed. They could just as easily have been on their way to A&E as back to the family’s cabin, but Bradley was unharmed, so everyone should keep quiet about it.

“We won’t say anything, Will,” assured Briony. “But what were you thinking, you doofus?” Lucy turned just in time to see Briony cuff her brother upside the head.

“Ow,” he whined as Briony continued her rant. “You’ve only been snowboarding for, like, what, two years? The guys who do those tricks, they’re professionals, you idiot.”

“Okay, geez. Forgive me for raising my hand! They asked for volunteers.”