Moonstone Promise Read Online Free Page B

didn’t like her and she didn’t like them. But he had a soft spot for the little mare.
    â€˜She’s been nicer lately,’ he said, wondering what had brought about the change in the little horse. Maybe she just liked having so much grass to eat. ‘She came up for a pat when I rode past the other day.’
    â€˜Yeah, well, she better not come near me,’ said Jess.
    â€˜You hate her too.’
    â€˜She killed my horse, what do you expect?’
    It was true. Chelpie had chased Jess’s horse, Diamond, into a cattle grid and got her killed. Jess had every right to hate the mare.
    â€˜May as well leave her there,’ he said, changing the subject. ‘She’ll only get out again.’
    â€˜Let’s ride up along the creek.’ Jess reached through from behind and took one of the reins. She turned Legsy back towards the river. ‘We can swim at Hell’s Hole on the way.’
    They left Chelpie and followed the creek up a cool gully, through low-growing ferns. The colt’s hooves sank into wet sand as they followed a narrow track along the side of the creek, ducked under low-hanging branches and squeezed through narrow passes. In some sections of the creek, they crossed wide flat stretches of river pebbles; in others they waded through deeper water. Then they left the creek and traversed the side of a mountain, scrambling over rocks and crossing fallen trees covered in moss. As they climbed the hill, the trees became smaller and the forest more open.
    They rode in silence. It was like that with Jess. She and Luke seemed to slip so easily into the same rhythm and pace. When she was around, Luke found the world an easy place to be.
    At the top, they came to a clearing and stopped. The view caught Luke’s breath every time. Dark gullies and mountains tumbled down into the valley, which was green and wide and flat. The Coachwood River, like a long ribbon, coiled and slithered in big loops, carrying life to the bordering properties. Farms, patched in all sizes and shapes, ran along the sides of the valley for as far as the eye could see.
    â€˜There’s my place,’ said Jess, pointing west along the valley. ‘Dad’s slashing the paddock – look, I can see him!’ She waved and laughed. ‘Hi, Dad!’
    Luke looked out over Coachwood Valley. It was the first place in his life that had ever felt like home – the people, the different farms, the little bunch of shops and the huge freight trains that rattled through so often he barely noticed them anymore.
    â€˜There’s mine,’ he said, pointing in the other direction. Harry’s place was easy to see: a perfect rectangle, cut into neat paddocks.
    But it didn’t look right. There were cars all around the house. Lawson’s ute, Ryan’s truck, Mrs Arnold’s four-wheel drive, an ambulance, two other cars he didn’t recognise. They were parked at strange angles all over the front grassy stretch, as if they’d pulled up in a hurry. Stanley Arnold’s little brumby ute drove in and Luke could see him running towards the house.
    The day around him went still.
    â€˜Something’s wrong,’ he said.

5
    LUKE STOOD IN FRONT of the mirror in the hallway and tried to work out his tie. He was tall now, and lanky, despite trying his best to get some meat onto his bones. He ran his hands through his thick rusty hair, trying to smooth it down.
    Lawson appeared in the mirror and held his hand out for the tie. Luke ripped it off and passed it to him.
    Ask him. Ask him now.
    No one had said anything about his future. Everyone was too devastated by Harry’s sudden heart failure to think of anything else. Annie had barely surfaced from the bedroom. Lawson had been busy with funeral arrangements.
    Through the mirror, Luke could see Ryan talking to Harry’s sister, Mrs Arnold, in the kitchen. There was always tension in the house when Ryan came home. Lawson was only