Chapter 11
Each day that passed became more torturous. So far Annie had managed to avoid letting her mum anywhere near Lucas, despite her innocently curious questions about the Doolans’ new farmhand. At least they felt innocent, but her small spike of emotion sent out little shoots of tremulous hope each time she brought up the subject. Annie knew that her mother yearned for her to find her soulmate, as did most parents, probably, but she ruthlessly pulled at her mother’s feelings and left her a bit numb. It was better than letting her feel that hideous grief that shrouded her whenever she thought of her lost husband, and speculation about Annie’s Guardian inevitably led to that.
On the day they’d moved the sheep, Lucas had returned the talisman to her with hardly a flinch, and without o
