Page 104 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘I knew there was something odd about you wanting to be a nanny.’ Ryder’s deep voice sliced through the air, matching his frown.

But it was Dex who scared her more. The professional street fighter clenched his fists as if to control his rage. ‘You lied to us.’

‘No, I didn’t. I was …’

‘OI!’ Porter pressed on the police siren, blasting the air. Even the dogs cowered. ‘Calm down, everyone, and let the girl explain herself.’

‘I didn’t lie, I swear.’ Harper approached Ash.

‘You’re here for Mason.’ Ash stepped back, holding Mason away from her. ‘With those kinds of federal connections, you could take him away from me. From us.’

‘Get OUT.’ Ryder’s voice boomed like a shotgun blast across the compound, it rang in her ears.

‘But I can explain everything.’

‘Dex, grab Harper’s suitcase and chuck it in her car,’ ordered Ryder. ‘The nanny’s employment has been terminated. Immediately.’

Dex bolted for the house.

‘Come on guys, give Harper a minute to explain herself,’ said Cap, trying to calm them down.

‘No, she doesn’t get a minute.’ Ash glowered at her. Harper had never seen him so mad. ‘You were coming here to take Mason away. When I found you, with that flat tyre, you were coming here the same day Mason arrived. It’s why you stuck around in town—’

‘It’s why she agreed to be the nanny, when it’s obvious she is no nanny.’ Ryder sneered at her, it was a terrifying look.

Cap grabbed her arm. ‘Come on, Harper, it’s time to go, for your own safety.’

‘But I—’

‘Porter, if she’s not gone in five minutes, I want her arrested for trespassing.’ It was Ash who said it, not Ryder, not Dex. But Ash. ‘Get out and never come back.’

‘I didn’t lie, I—’

‘You deceived us. You could have been straight with us from the beginning—with me. How can I believe a word you say? How do I know what we shared wasn’t fake?’

‘It was real.’

‘I don’t believe you.’ Ash held Mason away from her. ‘Come on, Mason, let’s get you inside.’

‘But …’ Hot, salty tears streamed down her face, as Cap led her away from the farmhouse to meet her car being driven by Dex.

Dex left the driver’s door open, the motor running, her suitcase dumped on the back seat with her clothes spilling out everywhere.

‘Politician’s lie for a living, so it must be in their blood, and you being their kid …’ The hatred emanated off Dex in heated waves. ‘Or is this situation all about you keeping your enemies closer?’

She stepped back with that tingle of terror creeping up her spine at the potency of Dex’s glare.

Harper had crossed a line and broken boundaries that were irreparable. This was why she’d always made plans and kept time schedules, because when she had no plan, it created one big mess with no time to fix it.

‘Come on, Harper,’ said Porter, ‘I’ll escort you back to town.’

She had no choice but to leave.

Policeman Porter led the way down the long driveway, and through her thick tears she followed.

With eyes on her rear-view mirror, she watched the last of Elsie Creek Station disappear behind a thick veil of dust and knew she could never come back.

This morning, she’d been invited on a first date. This morning, she had a family. Now, she had no one.

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