Read Online Outback Blaze by Rachael Johns - Free Book Online Page B

said, lifting the mug to her lips. She took a sip and Ruby noticed her hands were shaking.
    â€˜I know.’ She sighed. ‘Just when I think things are looking up, something like this happens.’
    â€˜Oh honey, I’m so sorry you have to go through all this so soon after everything that…that he put you through.’ Lyn hadn’t been able to bring herself to say Jonas’s name for a long time. Her ex-fiancé was the He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in her family.
    â€˜Mum. Stop apologising. It’s okay. None of this is your fault.’ She reached over and took one of her mum’s hands in hers. It felt cold and slightly clammy. ‘We just need to get through this together. But we’re good at that, aren’t we?’
    Lyn nodded, no doubt thinking of how they’d come together to drag Ruby out of a very nasty place not too long ago.
    â€˜Look, I’ve got to go feed my horses,’ Ruby said, not wanting her mum to start talking about the past, ‘and I think you should get some rest.’
    â€˜What about you?’
    Ruby yawned in response. ‘Me too. I promise I’ll be right behind you after I do my chores.’
    â€˜Okay,’ Lyn sighed, ‘but you’ll come and wake me if there’s any news, won’t you?’
    â€˜Of course.’ Ruby stood, deciding to pour her coffee into a flask and take it out to the paddock.
    Her mother stood, pausing to give Ruby a quick hug before taking her tea into her bedroom. Ruby wasn’t sure if her mum would be able to sleep but at least she’d get some rest. She felt physically exhausted but her mind refused to shut down.
    Changing from her slip-on shoes to her boots at the front door, Ruby hurried towards the paddocks, desperate to see her two horses – Roxie and Riley. The caramel mare and big, dark chocolate brown gelding were pretty much all she’d come away with from her five-year relationship with Jonas.
    â€˜Hey, my lovelies,’ she cooed as she arrived at the fence where they were both waiting. ‘Sorry I’m late. Crazy day.’ She heaved herself over the fence and wrapped her arms around Riley, relishing his warmth as he nuzzled at her neck. There was nothing in this world more comforting than the affection of animals. Roxie made a disgruntled noise beside them and nosed at Ruby’s side. She laughed and switched her attentions to the other horse.
    â€˜Don’t be silly, girl, you know I love you both.’ Just being around them had taken her stress levels down a good few notches already. They didn’t know about the fire, they weren’t offering her apologies, looking at her with pity or, worse, as if she’d lit it herself. After checking their water and refilling their food, she asked, ‘How about a groom?’ She swore Roxie – who was a real lady and always loved being prettied up – actually smiled. Riley didn’t care what he looked like but he loved being brushed.
    Decision made, she left the horses eating and went into the shed to get her grooming gear. Just the thought of spending some time running the brush over their beautiful bodies calmed her. As much as she hated the idea that Jonas had gotten off so lightly for hurting her, she couldn’t regret the decision she’d made that had allowed her to keep them.

Chapter Six
    Drew wanted to punch something and he wasn’t usually a violent man. Following a laborious night, the day hadn’t gotten any better. After being kept well away from all the interviews, he’d had to watch O’Leary and the investigator go into the rubble, hoping against hope that the blokes from Perth knew what to look out for. Although not an arson investigator himself, Drew had been to his fair share of fires in the early years of his career and one of his best mates led the arson squad in Newcastle. Numerous times they’d gotten together to exchange war stories and Drew knew exactly