Page 116 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘How were they, um …’ Ash asked softly, the empathy shining in his eyes, as his stance softened even more.

‘My family, along with a dozen other innocent people, were waiting for the traffic lights to change to cross the road when a car ploughed into them. The news reports all say that the driver just lost control.’

‘Mason?’

‘Gemma had pushed Mason’s pram out of the way, he was safe and unharmed. My father,’ she said through the tears, ‘he copped the full impact trying to shield his family.’

Ash patted his hand over his chest, his eyes sullen as his voice softened, ‘I’m so sorry for your loss.’

She faltered at his sincerity.

‘When did you find out that they’d…’

‘A few days later, while in hospital on the other side of the globe. A family friend took care of Mason and set about trying to find you. They also arranged for my parents’ house to be packed up.’ When she finally made it back to Australia two weeks later, the house had been empty. She’d hated the house being so quiet, expecting her mother to walk through the front door with her father, trying to work out their time schedules for a dinner date.

‘So why did you come here?’

‘When they told me they’d found you and they were going to fly Mason out to you, I just started driving. Once I realised I was in the middle of nowhere, that there was no turning back, I began writing this speech that I practised as I drove. The plan was to introduce myself to you, Ash, and to see my nephew again—’

‘To take him.’ Dex scowled.

‘No.’ She ignored Dex, focusing on Ash. ‘I was going to tell you, that my parents had set up a trust for Mason.’

‘For what?’

‘For school fees, university fees. Or, I don’t know, medical fees for braces or something. I wasn’t planning to take him away. Come on, I’ve never even babysat a pot plant before I came here. But Mason is the last of my family and I’m doing what my family wanted. I’ve always been here for Mason to ensure his safety.’

‘That’s why you bought the fire extinguishers, the first-aid kit for the house,’ said Cap.

She nodded, never looking away from Ash. It was Ash she had to convince. ‘Ash, you told me how unsure you were about keeping Mason, from the beginning. You said that if it turned out that you wanted to give him up after the 28-day period, then I would have taken him, but not unless that happened. I was never going to take him without you making that decision first, all I was doing was trying to protect Mason. Remember the reason for me agreeing to go to Wombat Flats?’

‘Yeah...’

‘Well don’t leave us in suspense. What was it, besides playing tourist,’ demanded Dex.

‘Harper went because I told her I was going to use the trip to Wombat Flats to bond with my son.’

And he did.

‘Is that true, brother?’ Cap asked. ‘Were you thinking of giving Mason up?’

Ash rubbed his eyes, sighing heavily, then opened them to focus on Harper. She felt them stab straight through to her wounded soul. ‘I was. But not anymore.’

Good. It’s what she’d hoped for Mason’s sake.

But she understood his brothers were being protective, and they’d fiercely fight for Mason, too. It’s what she’d always hoped for Mason’s sake.

‘But you have the political weight to take Mason away from Ash, any time.’ Dex was such an arsehole, stirring the pot.

‘Dex, do you know what the first rule to déjà vu club is? Oh wait, she’s already told you all this!’ Bree was Harper’s hero, giving her a nod of encouragement to continue.

Harper turned and removed a box of paperwork from her car. She took another deep breath, wiped away her tears, straightened her shoulders, and squarely faced the brothers. ‘Because Mason lives here, and because this is his home, and to prove to you all—’ she glared at Dex with determination. ‘I am not here to take Mason away, instead I’ve learned how to save this station.’

Fifty-two

‘Give Harper a chance to explain, fellas. Trust me, you’ll want to hear this.’ Charlie leaned against his stockhorse where they stood in the shade of the farmhouse.

Ryder looked at Ash. ‘Your call.’

---