Page 32 of All Roads Lead to You

Down by the lakefront, a grill had been set up, along with fold-out tables and chairs; a good number of townspeople already clustered around. Cait had brought out food for everyone—salads and rolls—while Jim dealt with handing out beers and shandies from a big cooler full of ice. Mystery was nosing around, a black streak of fur looking for a dropped sausage no doubt.

A couple of kaka, a native parrot, were perched on the roof of the Rose and eyeing the goings-on beadily. Kaka and their cousin, the kea, weren’t regular visitors to the town, but Finn appreciated their presence when they did appear. Even if they turned stealing food into a high art form. One of the kaka flapped its wings, revealing the bright red feathers underneath. It made a screeching sound as if displeased at having to wait for scraps like an ordinary scavenger.

Finn grinned at them as he strolled over to where Chase stood manning the grill, cooking steaks and sausages with the same kind of intense focus he reserved for every task.

Levi was down on the lakefront with Gus and a few others, apparently teaching Chase’s daughter to skim stones, while Indigo, looking irritated, watched from a short distance away.

“Planning your third Michelin star?” Finn asked casually, coming up to stand beside his brother. “I’m sure they give them out for sausages.”

Chase didn’t look up. “If you’ve got some issue with the way I cook sausages, then by all means, let’s hear it.”

“Does Izzy know how seriously you take sausage cooking?”

“Is there another way to take sausage cooking?” Chase glanced at him. “Careful, you might be in danger of cracking a smile.”

“Nah, it’s just a figment of your imagination.” Finn put his hands in his pockets. “I just asked Beth if she and Indigo want to move into Clint’s.”

“Oh?” Chase gave the sausages a critical look. “She keen?”

“Yeah, I think so. From the sounds of it they’re both sick of living at the Rose.”

“Understandable. What about when you find someone to manage the stables?”

Finn had been considering this. He didn’t have time to oversee the running of the stables in the long term, not when Pure Adventure NZ took up so much of his time. And he loved guiding and spending time out in the bush. He didn’t want to stop doing that.

Toby and his sons were a good temporary solution, but what he really needed was a permanent stable manager, and finding someone was going to be tricky. People generally didn’t want to be stuck way the hell down a long and treacherous unsealed road, in a tiny town that consisted of three buildings and no internet service. Even if accommodation in a spacious farmhouse was part of the deal.

“IfI find someone to manage the stables,” he qualified.

Chase nodded sagely while turning over a steak. “Tricky. Are we going to have to find a temporary guide to pick up the slack?”

“No. I’ve got Toby Miller and his sons helping out until I find someone. Plus we’re heading into shoulder season.”

They’d already seen a drop-off in terms of summer tourists, and now that they were heading into autumn, they would only get fewer and fewer. In winter there were still a few but not many, which made the purchase of Clint’s ranch good timing. It would give him some breathing room in which to find a manager.

“Fair enough,” Chase said. “Well, it would certainly solve the issue of accommodation for them if they could live at Clint’s. Even if it’s a temporary solution for the winter.” He paused a moment, then added, without any discernible change in tone, “You’ve been in a good mood lately.”

The comment made an odd tension crawl through him, though why Finn wasn’t sure. “Have I?”

“Yeah.” Chase turned over another steak. “For the last week I’m sure I even saw you smile at people.”

“What?” He tried to keep his tone casual. “A man isn’t allowed to smile?”

“It’s noticeable.” Chase’s attention was still on the grill. “Because for the past few months, you’ve been tense as hell.”

Finn didn’t like the direction this particular conversation was heading in. “And you haven’t been? You’ve stalked around snapping at—”

“Yeah, and you know why too.” Chase cut him off, turning his head, his gray gaze meeting his.

Of course Finn did. Chase had been bad-tempered as hell because of what had gone on with Izzy. The two of them had resisted each other for a whole month before they’d finally gotten together.

Finn attempted to relax all his muscles and not snap at his brother, because then that would be turning this into a case of protesting too much, which Chase would definitely pick up on because he was by no means a stupid man.

You think he hasn’t noticed the chemistry between you and Beth? Come on.

Finn ignored the thought, making sure his posture was loose and easy. “Are you suggesting Izzy might have something to do with it?”

Chase scowled. “Don’t be a dick, Finn. You know I’m not suggesting that.”

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