It makes me wonder why Mum and Dad even bothered having another kid. They already had a perfect daughter. Why go and mess it up by having me? It’s not like I can ever be her. She looks exactly like Mum, with her shiny blonde hair and tall, athletic frame. I, on the other hand, am my dad. I inherited his brown eyes and stocky build. I like to think I also got some of his attitude, although these days it seems like, along with the kitchen, Mum has remodelled him into something a little more up to date. Into something a little more functional.

  So that just leaves me, the odd one out. I can’t say exactly when I stopped trying, but if you’re always falling short, at some point you have to stop reaching, right? Otherwise, it’s futile. That’s why I loved Lilly so much. She got me, and I got her. Even though our families were different, we were practically the same.

  She was an only child and didn’t have the burden of a perfect sibling overshadowing her every move, we were different in that way, but she understood what it felt like to be invisible in your own house. My mum was always blinded by Juniper, but Lilly’s was more interested in chasing men. Definitely her loss because Lilly was smart. She could’ve been anything. Deep down, I know she only acted out to get her mum’s attention. If Herm was always dragging her to the station, and the good women of Wildling were banging on the door, accusing her of trying to steal their husbands, Lilly figured her mum would have no choice but to notice her. In the end, all it did was put her in situations no teenage girl should ever be in – like what happened right before she died.

  Outside, a familiar vehicle pulls in and stops at the bowser. The shiny black truck has Willow’s Crossing emblazoned along the door in white cursive, leaving no doubt about who owns it. Luke told me that his dad told him the truck cost a quarter of a million dollars. More than most houses in town.

  Bryce climbs out of the passenger seat and I automatically glance into my phone camera to check how I look. Not that it matters. Still, how do you not fantasise about a guy like Bryce Stanton? That wide, magnetic smile hits you before anything else. It’d be easy for him to act like he’s above everyone in Wildling, but he never does. Despite his bright blue eyes and family fortune, he’s got that boy-next-door vibe. Disarming. Charming. Drawing you in before you even realise it. He was wrecked when Juniper left for Sydney. Maybe because he actually loved her, or maybe he just couldn’t believe anyone would leave him – the only son of Jack Stanton and heir to the Willow’s Crossing empire.

  ‘Hey, Britt,’ he says, pushing open the door. ‘Got the morning shift, then?’

  ‘Yep. How else would you want to start the day but right here?’

  He chuckles and heads for the fridges at the back of the shop. His tan jeans and navy collared shirt tell me it’s not a workday at Willow’s Crossing. He and Jack must be off to the saleyards.

  ‘Cattle or horse?’ I ask as he comes back to the counter.

  ‘Dad’s on the hunt for a new thoroughbred. Thinks he might have a go at breeding racehorses.’

  I roll my eyes. ‘‘Course he does.’

  Bryce grins and sets a can of soft drink on the counter. ‘I heard Juniper’s coming back.’

  So that’s why he bothered to come inside. News of Juniper’s triumphant return has spread.

  ‘Yeah,’ I say, mindlessly rearranging things on the counter. ‘Apparently. Did she call you?’

  ‘Nah. Mum told me last night.’

  I nod and glance out at the truck. ‘Did your dad really pay two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for that?’

  He follows my gaze, watching his father wipe down the windscreen. ‘Yeah. Thereabouts.’

  ‘You know there are kids in Wildling whose parents can’t afford groceries, right?’

  He looks back at me and smiles. Heat floods my cheeks before I can stop it.

  ‘Dad does a lot for this town, Britt. You know that.’

  I purse my lips, trying to seem unimpressed. ‘Like I said, can’t afford groceries.’

  His eyes linger on me, and for a split second, I let myself imagine what it would be like if he looked at me the way he once looked at my sister. If he leaned in and—

  The bell above the door rings, and Jack Stanton makes his way toward the counter. Bryce immediately straightens, his tall frame dwarfed by his father’s towering presence.

  ‘Morning, Britt. Put the fuel and whatever Bryce has on the account, will you?’

  ‘Sure, Mr Stanton.’

  ‘My son’s not giving you a hard time, is he?’

  I grin at Bryce, then shake my head. ‘Not this time.’

  ‘I hear your sister’s coming back. We’d love to have her over for dinner. Be sure to let her know, will you?’

  ‘Will do.’ Bryce studies me, and I quickly look away. ‘Anything else today, Mr Stanton?’

  ‘No, that’s all. Oh—’ he snaps his fingers. ‘Sarah had an invitation she wanted me to drop off for your mother. I’ll leave it with you. Must be in the truck. Run and grab it, son, would you? It’s in the console.’

  My eyes follow Bryce as he heads back outside.

  ‘Sorry about what happened to Lilly,’ Jack says once he’s gone. ‘Awful thing.’

  I nod, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat.

  ‘I know the two of you were close.’

  ‘We were.’

  He leans forward, elbows resting on the counter. ‘You know, Britt, girls like Lilly have a habit of getting themselves into strife. Wildling’s no place for that kind of behaviour.’

  His eyes pin me. ‘Mr Stanton, I—’

  ‘She made a lot of bad decisions,’ he cuts in. ‘One of them got her killed.’

  His eyes are the same blue as Bryce’s, but so much colder. A trickle of sweat finds its way along the small of my back. ‘Mr Stanton, Lilly was—’

  ‘Trash,’ he says flatly. ‘She was trash. And you’re better than that, Britt. Your family means a lot to my wife and to my son. I’d hate to see them hurt.’

  ‘Hurt… how?’

  He steps back and loosens the collar of his shirt. ‘Best you just put Lilly’s drama behind you. Is that clear?’

  ‘Mr Stanton, I don’t—’

  The bell rings again, and Bryce comes back, his face flushed. ‘I turned the car upside down, Dad. I can’t find any invitation.’

  ‘Then I must’ve left it at home.’ Jack taps the counter twice but doesn’t take his eyes off mine. ‘Nice to see you, Britt. I’ll make sure Sarah gets that invitation to your mother.’

  I nod, but my throat is too dry to speak.

  ‘Nice to see you, Britt,’ Bryce calls over his shoulder.

  ‘You take care,’ Jack adds. ‘And again, condolences for your loss. Let’s hope nothing like that ever happens in Wildling again.’

  I stand rooted to the spot as they leave. Only when the truck pulls out onto the road, do I let out my breath and slump against the counter.

  Was Jack threatening me? Your family means a lot… I’d hate to see them hurt. Did he mean that if I don’t keep quiet, I could end up like Lilly?

  Whoever did the autopsy over at Winton River Hospital is already covering up the truth. Now it feels like Jack’s threatening me not to say anything about what I know. If I was smart, I’d do just that. Shut the hell up. But how can I when Lilly deserves more than that – and so does the baby she was carrying when she died.

  Chapter Twelve

  ‘THANKS, Mimi,’ I say, as she fights with the old truck’s gears. ‘I just needed to get out and walk. Clear my head. I wasn’t expecting… him.’

  ‘S’ okay, kiddo. No need to explain. Wasn’t like I was counting on a visit from you anytime soon.’

  I always have mixed feelings when it comes to Mimi. Guilt, frustration, resentment. You name it, and Mimi has the ability to make me feel it. All the bad things anyway. It’s not her fault. She didn’t choose my parents any more than I did, but it’s because of her and Dad that living in Wildling has always been a nightmare.

  The fact he just up and left us one night. No explanation. No goodbye. Her self-proclaimed role as a custodian of the land and refusal to sell the farm. Together, they personify everything the farming community of Wildling despises.

  It’s not that I think Mimi’s a bad person, but she’s a stark reminder of all the reasons I don’t fit in. When I look at her, I remember feeling isolated and unwelcome. Worst of all, when I look at her, I see my father and feel his rejection all over again.

  Is Will going to leave me too? I wonder as we bounce along the bumpy road. Sophie’s words echo in my mind, and I try my best to push them aside. Listening to her will do me no good. She’s never had my best interests at heart.

  ‘Truth always comes out in the end, kiddo,’ Mimi says suddenly. ‘You’ll see.’

  Koda sits perched between us on the bench seat, blocking my view of her face. ‘The truth about what?’ I ask, leaning forward to look past him.

  ‘About all things.’

  That’s the other thing about Mimi. She speaks in riddles. She only ever gives you half the story and leaves you to figure out the rest.

  ‘Are you talking about Will?’ I press, wondering if the rumour has travelled all the way to the outskirts of town.

  She doesn’t answer, and I don’t bother asking again. She’ll only give me something infuriating, like listen to the spirits of the mountains or the answers you seek will come on the wind. Jason might buy into that hoo-ha, but not me. All I know is that Mimi never gives a straight answer, and it’s frustrating as hell.

  ‘Anyway, thanks for coming to my rescue,’ I say. ‘Herm can be…’

  ‘I know what Herm is.’

  I wrap an arm around Koda, grateful he’s between us. There are things I want to ask Mimi, and things I don’t. How much she knows about Herm is one of the things I don’t.

  When we reach the bitumen road leading back into town, Mimi stops the car. ‘This is where our journey ends, kiddo,’ she says. ‘Don’t need to give him any more reason to come bothering me.’

  ‘Well, like I said… thanks.’

  ‘You be careful now, Mia.’

  She doesn’t often call me by name. It’s always kiddo. Hearing her say Mia makes me pause. ‘Careful of what?’

  Mimi stares out the window. It’d be easy to think she didn’t hear me, that age has dulled her hearing, but I know better. Nothing gets past her. If she doesn’t answer, it’s because she chooses not to.

  ‘Right, okay. Well, you be careful too, Mimi. And thanks.’

  ‘Don’t need to be careful when I’ve got this.’ She pats the shotgun wedged down beside her seat.

  I glance at it, and wonder if she’s ever actually fired that thing. ‘All right… I’ll see you.’

  ‘Sooner rather than later, I hope.’

  I climb out and wave as she attempts an awkward three-point turn that nearly tears the bumper off. As she drives away, dust billows up, coating us from head to toe. I cough, brushing grit from my face, and glance down at Koda. The white in his fur has turned a mottled brown, and dirt flecks cling to his tongue.

  ‘Look at you,’ I sigh. ‘We’ll stop at the servo and get you some water. It’s just up the road.’

  After a short walk, I turn on a tap attached to the side of the building and Koda laps the water with his usual deafening slurp. Once he’s done, I gather up his lead and head inside to get a drink for myself.

  ‘Hello?’ I call out when no one’s at the counter. ‘Anyone here?’

  ‘Oh, hey, Mia. Sorry.’ Britt Davis pulls herself up off the floor behind the counter, and it’s immediately obvious she’s been crying. Her dark hair is pulled back into a messy ponytail, and what had once been thick black eyeliner is smeared down the side of her face, making her look like a sad and not-so-funny clown.

  ‘You might want to…’ I gesture at my own face.

  ‘Shit, has my makeup run?’ She disappears again, and I hear her rustling around under the counter. ‘Oh my God,’ she shrieks. More rustling, then the sound of her blowing her nose, and she reappears. ‘Sorry... again.’

  I nod and give her a moment, pretending to browse the chocolate bars by the counter.

  ‘They’re two for one if you’re interested,’ she manages.

  ‘No, just the water, but thanks.’ I push the bottle forward, and she scans it with a beep. ‘It must be a lot, losing Lilly. I know you two were close. How are you coping?’

  That’s all it takes for her to drop the scanner and burst into tears. She folds herself over on the counter, her body racked with sobs.

  ‘Hey, you know what?’ I try. ‘Why don’t you come out here for a sec?’

  At first, she doesn’t move, but then slowly lifts her head and eyes me cautiously before making her way around the counter.

  ‘Koda, go see Britt.’

  Immediately, Koda walks over and pushes his nose up against Britt’s hand. She looks down at him, and a smile tugs at the corner of her lip. ‘Thanks, Mia. I don’t usually cry. It’s just…’

  ‘Losing someone’s a big deal. It’s normal.’

  ‘It’s not just that,’ she murmurs, her eyes still on Koda.

  ‘No?’

  Her eyelids flutter as if she just woke up from a dream, and she snaps back. ‘It’s nothing. Like you said, it’s just hard losing Lilly.’

  I study her closely. The tremble of her hands. The way she’s shifting her weight from one foot to the other. The puffiness around her eyes. ‘Britt, is there something else bothering you?’

  ‘No, I’m fine. Just… you know… what you said before.’

  Everyone in Wildling knows Britt is a tough-talking, sarcastic girl, quick to cut you down if you give her half a chance. The only stance I’ve ever seen her take is to be square-shouldered, feet planted, her sharp eyes daring you to have a go. But today she seems rattled, almost vulnerable.

  Images of Lilly’s perfect nails flash in my mind, and I wonder if Britt knows more than she’s admitting. ‘You know, it was Koda and me who found Lilly.’

  She nods, eyes dropping. ‘I know. Thanks.’

  I glance outside to make sure there’s no one else around. ‘Britt, I want to tell you something. Would that be all right?’

  ‘Something about Lilly?’

  ‘Before everyone else got there, I noticed something strange. Her nails were perfect, even the polish. If she’d fallen into that ravine, she would’ve tried to climb out. I’ve seen it before. People don’t just lie down and wait to die.’

  Britt swallows hard. ‘Like… if she was already dead when he put her in there?’

  ‘Exactly. Do you think that’s possible?’

  Her eyes flick nervously. ‘This is Wildling, Mia. Anything’s possible.’

  I step closer. ‘Well, I think it’s more than possible.’

  ‘Nobody else thinks so.’

  ‘But you do.’

  She steps away and moves back behind the counter. ‘I never said that.’

  ‘But you thought it. You said when he put her in there. Who did you mean?’

  ‘No one. Look, I barely know you. I can’t talk about this.’

  She busies herself moving things around the counter and won’t look at me.

  ‘Can’t talk about what?’ I lean in across the rows of lollies and chewing gum. ‘Britt, let me help. I know Lilly didn’t just lie there waiting to die. You’re her best friend. Someone has to be held accountable for what happened to her.’

  ‘Why do you care so much?’ she snaps. ‘No one cared about her before.’

  ‘Because I found her, and I can’t get it out of my head.’ My voice rises, and I grip Koda’s ear to steady myself. ‘Shit, Britt. I didn’t mean to yell at you. I’m sorry. It’s just… it was a lot for me, too.’

  She studies me. ‘You actually give a shit,’ she says finally.

  ‘I do. And I don’t think she ended up in that ravine by accident.’

  Britt bites the inside of her cheek, her eyes flicking between mine and the floor. I can almost hear the gears turning in her mind as she processes her options. Should she trust me? Should she let me in? Her eyes linger on mine just a little longer, then she lets out a long breath and says, ‘Herm Drinkwater got Lilly pregnant.’

  My breath catches, and I step back, fingers wrapped around the edge of the counter to balance myself. Even though I know what Herm is capable of, the words still shock me. I close my eyes as images of his vile face fill my mind.

  ‘Mia?’ I hear her asking. ‘Are you all right?’

  I nod and quickly re-centre myself. ‘Yeah, I just… are you certain?’

  Britt nods, and then suddenly pounds her fist against the counter. ‘He’s such an arsehole. I should have said something, you know? About what he was doing to her. I keep asking myself over and over, why didn’t I say something? Why didn’t I call the real cops?’ Her gaze goes far away for a moment, as if she’s still trying to figure it out. ‘It was stupid. If I had, maybe none of this would have happened.’

  ‘This isn’t your fault, Britt. You can’t blame yourself.’

  ‘But I do, Mia,’ she whispers. ‘I was supposed to be her best friend. I should have done something.’

  For a moment, we both stand in silence and I search for the right thing to say. Failing, instead I go with, ‘And she’d told him… about the baby?’

  ‘I guess so,’ Britt says with a shrug. ‘I mean, why else would he kill her? She’s, was, seventeen and still a minor. He’s a cop. I can’t imagine him being too happy about it.’

  ‘You’re certain? About Herm being the father, I mean.’

  Britt lets her eyes drop. She takes a deep breath and then looks at me. ‘People say things about you, Mia. You know that, right?’

  My stomach twists, and I nod quietly, bracing for whatever might come next.