Of Wolves and Oranges

Chapter 23: Ford

My dick of a brother continues to sulk throughout lunch, but in between the sighs and growls I see him watching Golf, his eyes following the way she talks to our mother and the way that Max and I move around her. I watch her as well. She is beautiful. Even with a black eye and a bruised face, she shines.

After lunch, us boys are relegated to washing up in the kitchen, whilst Ma shows Golf around her beloved vegetable garden. Ric has calmed down a lot by this stage and I figure it's safe to bring up the Naidoos.

"What was the final decision at the security meeting, Ric?"

He raises his head as he scrubs viciously at the roasting pan and gives me the stink eye. "Wouldn't you like to know, Jaco."

"Drop it, Ric." Max growls as he dries a glass.

"Fine. Pretty much, we do nothing. We have eyes on the gang and on Harry at the hospital. See if he talks. Since he was out cold by the time you arrived, they have no witnesses of your involvement. But word has it that he saw your girl. When is she leaving?"

"I'm driving her back to Ingwavuma this afternoon."

He grunts. "And her car. Is the mechanic one of ours?"

Max picks up a plate, "No. Just a townie. I've got his card but they have all her details through her insurance."

"Damn." Ric swore. "So, the gang could get to her through that, let's just hope that her car is a write- off and that Harry doesn't find out that she survived. I'll try figure something out in the interim. Make sure she stays at that hospital for the foreseeable future."

He dumps the clean pan on the drying rack. "I'm finished here. I've got shit to do upstairs for Ma, so I'll leave you to sweep the fucking floor."

I exchange a look with Max. In three months Golf would be finished at the hospital and if I have anything to do with it she will be moving into my house.