Page 23

Where had she been? With Mara? Somehow, he doubted it.

He was worried about her. Hadn’t been able to focus on the match reviews they’d sat down to analyse after dinner.

Which was crazy. Nothing had ever been able to take his attention away from football, but Indy had.

No, the thought of Indy had. Just the mere idea of her was enough to drive him past the point of distraction and into sheer desperation to just be near her.

To know she was okay, especially after today.

He’d just go and check on her. Like any decent friend. Make sure she wasn’t upset or still shaken. That’s what friends did, and they were friends, right? It wasn’t like he’d be able to sleep until he knew she was okay, anyway.

Decision made, he shifted the covers again and pulled himself into a sitting position to slide his feet into the shoes he’d left at the bottom of the bed. Slipping his jacket around his shoulders, he crept to the door and slowly turned the knob.

‘You right, man?’

He jumped a mile at Ethan’s question. ‘Yeah, just … ah … going to check on something.’ It was weak. He should’ve had an excuse ready. Piss-poor effort.

‘Mmm hmm, more like check on some one .’ Ethan chuckled. ‘I won’t stay up waiting for you to get back.’

‘It’s not like that.’

‘Sure it isn’t. Don’t worry, I’ll keep my thoughts to myself but I’ve seen the way you are around her and how she looks at you. Especially when you’re preoccupied.’

Carter tried to make out his roomie’s face to see if he was taking the piss or not, but it was too dark. ‘For real?’

‘Yeah, man.’ He yawned. ‘Just keep it down when you come back in.’

With his mind spinning, Carter checked the path between the two bunk blocks was empty and slipped out the door.

Rounding the edge of the building, he zipped up his jacket and threw on the hood before moving into the rain.

It was falling harder than he’d realised, the wind blowing at his back more strongly.

The temperature must’ve dropped into the low teens, if not single digits, and he was glad for his track pants.

The tops of the trees in the paddock past the dining hall lit up with a flash of lightning that was closely followed by a rumble of thunder.

Was another storm closing in? He shuddered.

Carter ducked under the verandah as he skirted around the back of the dining hall.

The only light was coming from the kitchen and he could hear the banging of metal on metal like a cutlery drawer being shaken.

Could Indy be in there? Unlikely, and he didn’t want to risk a glance through the window in case he was sighted.

He should come up with some reasonable excuse for why he was sneaking around the back of a building in an area he wasn’t supposed to be while wearing a black hoodie. But his mind was blank.

The trees separating Indy’s cabin from the main buildings was the next thing he had to navigate. Luckily, he knew the path from his trips back to bed after scrubbing the ewes. Really, he should be thanking Beau for sending those two newbies on the initiation dare.

He reached the edge of the tree line and paused, glancing across the four cabins that sat perched on the edge of the hill.

The two furthest from him but closest to the road were dark from the back.

The little windows at the back of Emery’s cabin beamed light across the grass behind it, but Indy’s were dark.

Given the size and placing of the windows, it could be a bathroom.

Was she home? Or with Emery? Or playing pool? There was only one way to find out.

He darted across the open space and around the weatherboard cabin, then took the stairs, treading lightly.

It was quiet. She wasn’t here. Or was she?

There was a faint glow around the edge of the blind covering the front window.

Maybe a lamp had been left on. Chances were she was with one of the others and she’d left the lamp on so she wasn’t coming home to a dark house.

It’s what he would do. I’ve seen the way you are around her and how she looks at you .

Ethan’s words had lit a hope in him that he wasn’t supposed to have.

He should turn around now and go back to bed.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Not until he knew she was okay. Just knock, man!

Using the back of his knuckles, Carter tapped on the door and started counting in his mind. One … two … three … He’d give Indy until ten to open up then he’d leave … five … She probably wasn’t home … seven.

The doorknob rattled as it turned, and Indy appeared in the small gap.

With the light behind her, Carter couldn’t make out her expression.

Then lightning lit up the sky and Carter got a glimpse of her oversized hoodie and the soft blue of her pyjama shorts.

Another flash, accompanied by a loud rumble of thunder, and he took in her long hair, still damp and combed back from a face that didn’t look too surprised to see him.

‘You shouldn’t be here.’

He swallowed. ‘I needed to see you. Needed to know you’re okay.’

She stayed silent. Heat built in his chest from being only a few feet from her. ‘Are you? Okay?’

Her head dropped. ‘Yes …’ It was defiant. ‘… No …’ Softer, almost sad. ‘… Define okay?’

The corners of his mouth jerked up and Indy pushed the door wider before stepping back, allowing him entry. With another burst of lightning and a gust of wind pushing him forwards, he followed her inside.