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Private. You’re lucky that his dad allows him to spend so much time with us, he could be nasty and not let him visit at all. Then who would you talk to all the time?’
    â€˜Dad,’ Tara said. ‘Uncle Stuart is your first cousin, hey?’
    â€˜Second,’ Joshua corrected.
    â€˜So there is blood in there somewhere. So promise me that just because you have some of the same blood, you will never be like him, okay?’
    â€˜I promise I won’t. His path and mine took different directions years ago. Now, we need to leave or we will be arriving home in the dark.’
    â€˜Thanks, Dad,’ Tara said and she smiled.
    Joshua’s heart melted at the innocence in her smile. She remained totally oblivious of the harsh world that he and her mother protected her from. His heart broke to think that poor Gabe had to return home to his drunk, abusive father. But what happened behind closed doors within a person’s home was their business. It was a rotten system.
    Joshua turned to his twin, Jacob, who stood holding the reins of the other horses.
    â€˜Poor kid. Sometimes I wish I could smash Stuart’s face in for what he continually puts Gabe through. I’m amazed the boy returns for holidays from university. I’d stay well away if I were him,’ Jacob said.
    Joshua nodded. ‘Me too. To both Gabe staying away from home, and to wanting to beat up Stuart. But I think Gabe comes home for Mauve, to check on his mother, not for want of seeing his father. I don’t know how we can actually be related by blood. Pity you can’t choose your relatives.’
    â€˜Agreed. But I’d still choose you, brother, despite the fact that you are a total softy. You know you give in to Tara all the time, right?’ Jacob said, but his face was soft too, the words said without malice.
    â€˜Thanks, but you would not have to choose me as your brother. Because you were born exactly three minutes after me, I would be the one choosing my younger sibling.’ Joshua laughed and Jacob shook his head.
    Joshua coughed, and his tone turned more serious. ‘I know I give into her. She looks at me with that pixie face, bats those blue eyes and I’m toast. There’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for her. Not that I have ever heard you say no to her either.’
    â€˜That’s my sworn duty as the doting uncle. Never to give her cause to doubt I’ll say yes. Since your girls will be the only ones who will ever call me Uncle, it’s my duty to spoil them,’ Jacob said as hemounted his horse, Ziona. He took the lead reins of the five horses from his brother’s hand, so that Joshua could mount up on the bay, Elliana. ‘You, on the other hand, will face the wrath of your wife when we get home so late with your daughter. Give it another two hours and it will get dark while we stand around here talking. Even though the war is over, she still hates it when you are out in the dark. Especially if you have Tara with you.’
    â€˜She’ll forgive us. She always does. Besides, she knows that Tara gets her horse-madness from me, and that she is happier on a horse than anywhere else. Maggie loves me, she always forgives me.’
    â€˜You’re a lucky son of a bitch, you know that? First Maggie and now the girls. I tell you, I envy your life now that independence is here.’
    â€˜No you don’t. You love being the footloose bachelor of the district. Think of the routine life I have settled into, the downside of being a lawyer from Monday to Friday. You would die trapped inside a courtroom.’
    â€˜That I would. Give me my trucking company any day …’
    â€˜Come on,’ Joshua said as he mounted. His brother passed him back two of the lead reins, and twisting in his saddle, Joshua touched Elliana’s flank with his heels to begin their journey home. She needed no second urging and the horses on lead reins pranced behind her, free