Free The Horse Thief by Tea Cooper Page A

loaded the plates and bowls onto her trolley. ‘I’ll be right back.’ Accompanied by the squeak of the wheels Peggy pushed the contraption out the door and down the hallway.
    For a few moments Jim sat motionless. India took several small sips of water, rearranged the remaining cutlery in front of her and eased back in her chair. When she lifted her head her eyes were full of pain and almost black. More than anything else he wanted to assure her everything would be well.
    â€˜As you can see—’ her raspy voice hid unshed tears and she took another sip of water, ‘—life at Helligen isn’t a bed of roses.’
    â€˜Family tiffs happen. Please don’t be embarrassed.’ The possibility his presence or words had sparked Violet’s outburst weighed on his mind. ‘I’m mortified to think I caused Violet such distress. Obviously my social skills are lacking.’ No wonder Violet would rather be in Sydney, forced to sit at the dinner table with the cook and a stablehand.
    â€˜Jim, please don’t take it upon yourself, you will only make me feel even worse. Violet is upset, beyond upset, with me. She didn’t want to come home, however, I insisted. You’ve seen for yourself the state of disrepair the property is in. It mirrors our life.’
    Jim stood, walked around the table and moved Violet’s vacant chair closer to India. He sat and rested his arms on the tablecloth. Her face, usually so alive and animated, was pale and wan and her head slumped. ‘I’ve got broad shoulders and they say a problem shared is a problem halved.’
    India gave a watery smile. ‘I don’t think I’d know where to begin.’
    â€˜It doesn’t have to be the beginning, just wherever you feel you are at the moment.’ The impulse to reach out and touch her was almost more than he could control. She needed consolation but it wasn’t for the stablehand to provide.
    The incongruity of his situation struck him. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he’d find himself concerned for the wellbeing of one of the Kilhamptons. To see India struggling cut him to the bone. He’d returned for one reason and one reason only—to discover Jefferson’s lineage. Without it he couldn’t enter him in any reputable race, nor could he stand him at stud. As soon as he found the information he needed he intended to leave.
    The chair scraped and India sat tall and raked back her long hair. The lamplight caught the amber highlights and returned the colour to her cheeks. ‘Thank you. I feel I owe you an explanation. You can’t be expected to do a job without knowing what it entails.’ Her eyes flashed. ‘I am determined to get Helligen back on its feet. In a way Violet is right. This place is like a mausoleum. That’s why Papa left. Why he sent Violet and me away to school. I want Helligen to be as it once was—a home and the best horse stud in the area. I want to breed racehorses.’
    Jim started. Their dreams were no different. He could only imagine the cost and responsibilities involved in a property of such size and it was unusual for a woman to be taking it on. ‘And your father left you to manage the stud?’ Kilhampton must have paid scant attention to the effects his actions had on those around him. His own father would have vouched for that.
    â€˜Why is that so unusual? Before her accident Mama ran the property while Papa attended to his business matters in Sydney. She’s no longer capable and it is my responsibility. It’s the obvious solution. Things might look run-down but the structure is here, and as always there’s a demand for good horses. We still have the stock, as long as I don’t keep selling animals to pay the bills.’
    â€˜And that’s where I come in.’
    â€˜That’s where you come in.’ She rested her hand flat on the table.
    Acting on instinct he covered