Page 23 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘I know nothing about hockey.’

‘What’s to know? The players are hot, the game is fast, and its brutal fun. I also like to imagine how cold it is to go to an ice hockey match, especially when it’s sweltering here in the outback summer.’

‘So, um … Favourite team?’ Harper struggled to make small talk, considering she came from a world that didn’t do small talk. It was so much better than baby talk.

‘I have none. You?’

‘I don’t do sport. Or small talk.’

‘You’re doing okay.’ Bree unleashed a smile. It wasn’t a mean one, it was the smile of a friend. And Harper needed one.

‘So, you’re Charlie’s full-time carer?’

‘And business partner.’

‘Doing what?’

‘How about, when you’re ready to tell me the real reason you’re out here, I’ll share.’

Harper slammed back into her chair. No, it couldn’t be that obvious. Could it?

But Bree’s eyes saw everything. ‘Don’t stress, blossom. Eat up, and then I’ll give you a cooking lesson for your dinner.’

‘I’m happy to pay you to cook.’

‘Why? When you now have the time to cook.’

‘I never did, before. I lived under strict time schedules, racing to meetings, scoffing down whatever my assistant brought me, sipping on cold coffee. This is all new to me. Even conversation that isn’t part of a negotiation.’ Her shoulders sagged, tears suddenly forming. She sniffed hard, straightening her dress as if to compose herself. But it was a struggle. ‘I’ve never—’

‘Hey …’ Bree leaned over and squeezed her hand. ‘Just take it day by day. Especially after your horrific experience with a car bombing. That’s not normal, blossom, so you’re doing okay. Just know you’re safe out here.’

‘Why are you being so nice to me?’ What was Bree’s angle? Harper was so used to people bartering with her for political favours, with everyone having a hidden agenda.

‘It’s more pity than anything else.’ Bree snuggled back into her chair and gave another one of her devilish grins.

‘Excuse me?’ Harper didn’t want anyone’s pity.

‘You’re living with the Riggs brothers.’ Bree laughed, instantly lightening the mood.

‘They haven’t even bothered to connect a TV, and they have four of them.’ She pointed at the wide-screen TV attached to the wall. ‘They only use the inside of the house to sleep.’

‘If they did, they’d argue over what to watch.’ Bree playfully rolled her eyes. ‘Can you imagine it? Ash would hog it to play his computer games. Cap would have it on some wildlife documentary. Dex would have it on a boxing bout, the bloodier the better. Ryder would have a split screen, watching the news, the stock market and the business channel all at once.’

‘They’re so different.’

‘And they have a baby brother, Jonathan. The locals call him Rigsy. He’s got a little bit of all of them, and he’s a nice guy.’

‘Why isn’t Jonathan here?’

‘Jonathan lives with his future bride, Mandy Must, on Sandlot Station. They’re our neighbours to the west.’ Bree pointed to the side, Harper had no idea which way was north, south or west. ‘That’s why the Riggs brothers came to town—to help Jonathan with his first muster.’

‘Where were they before that?’

‘No idea. But Jonathan told me it was the first time they’d been together in ten years.’

‘That’s a long time to be away from family.’

‘Guess so?’ Bree shrugged.

---