“We better get going,” Riley said, motioning to the helicopter behind her.
“Thanks for having me, Mum. I hope I wasn't too much hassle,” Noah said with a grin.
Harriet McGuire remembered that grin from his childhood, before his father had used him for a punching bag. Riley had helped that grin return. Noah was finally the man he should always have been—confident and self-assured, with the love of a good woman.
“Thank you for coming. I'm glad everything is working out for you.” She hugged her son as tears stung her eyes. “Don't be a stranger.”
“We won’t.” Noah kissed her cheek and turned to his brother, Lachie. “Look after Mum.”
Lachie slapped his brother on the shoulder. “She doesn't need looking after.”
Riley kissed Harriet's cheek. “We'll see you soon.”
Harriet wanted to tell the younger woman to fly safe and be careful, but she knew Riley was more than capable in the air and took safety very seriously. Noah would be in good hands with her as they explored and worked their way across the country. She had explained that Grant was looking after the business from Longreach and was finding them jobs in Western Australia. “Send me a postcard from Broome.”
The lovebirds walked hand in hand over to the helicopter, and Lachie put his big, strong arm around his mother’s shoulders. “When are you going to find yourself a new bloke?”
Harriet laughed. “When you find a woman who will put up with you.”
“Deal.” Lachie squeezed her lightly.
Harriet smiled as the helicopter started up. Their family had been built on lies and torment, but her sons had grown to be good, decent men. Two had found the loves of their lives and Lachie? Well, Lachie would get there eventually. He was sober now and taking every day one step at a time.
She didn't know what the future held, although she suspected grandchildren from Meghan and Darcy wouldn't be too far off. Her children were the light of her life, and she was so grateful for them.
Riley and Noah waved from the cockpit before rising up off the ground in a flurry of dirt and wind. Harriet continued to wave even when she knew they could no longer see her. The dark blue helicopter got smaller and smaller, heading west for new adventures, leaving only Lachie and Harriet under the bright blue sky over Brigadier Station.