Page 31 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘Why should you care?’ She narrowed her eyes at him.

His side glance was like a shot of heat to the heart. It made her swallow air.

‘Mason likes you. He’s happy and …’ Raking fingers through his thick hair, his eyes darted to his brothers, before returning his focus to the drone’s controls. But his voice became soft and low. ‘I haven’t got a clue what I’m doing when it comes to …’

‘Your son?’

The nod was so minimal she’d almost missed it. But his admission had her heart aching for him, and for Mason, the little boy who needed his father.

‘I don’t know what I’m doing, either.’ Especially these feelings she had for Ash, who now had his back to her. She had to admire his straight shoulders and strong back, and how it narrowed to the waist of his dusty jeans that cupped his butt beautifully.

‘You’re doing a helluva lot better than me.’ He expertly steered the drone to buzz over their heads, where it slowly descended to land on the dry lawn.

The cans clanged loudly as Mason rushed towards the drone, just out of her reach. ‘Mason?’

‘Gotcha.’ Coming from the laundry end of the house, Cap nabbed Mason by the back of his tiny jeans. ‘Look at you, making a racket out here.’ He scooped up the boy to tickle the toddler’s tummy. Mason’s laughter filled the air. ‘Watch those blades on that drone, Ash.’

‘I know.’ He picked up his drone to make sure it didn’t end up a child’s toy.

‘Come on, Mason. You can help me clean up these cans and we’ll find somewhere to store them, until I go to the recycling centre.’ Cap crouched beside the small boy and started throwing the cans like a game.

Finally, someone was doing something about the rubbish, as well as bothering to spend time with the boy.

‘Ash, you need childproof locks for the house. Please.’ Harper felt like she was nagging and hated how she sounded. Dex was right, she had become a whiner.

‘Did Bree suggest it?’ Ash put his drone on top of the outdoor beer fridge to recharge.

‘Yes.’ Bree knew everything about children. But right now, she needed to plead her case. ‘Look, Mason is crawling into everything. Even though there is nothing in the kitchen cupboards, it’s the fridge I’m worried about the most.’ She pointed to the beer fridge. ‘Mason is small enough to climb inside the fridges and hide, where we won’t be able to hear him if the door closes. He could suffocate.’

Ash and Cap stopped what they were doing. Even Ryder had stopped pacing. And for the first time she had the rare attention of all four men. They looked at her, then at the boy, then at the rattly beer fridge. She could hear them thinking.

‘Ash, there’s a small gate latch and some plywood in the shed you can use to block the kitchen door,’ said Ryder. ‘We’ll keep the front glass doors shut from here on out.’

‘I spotted some old lock hasps in the shed. I’ll pop rivet them to the fridges high enough that even if that kid climbs on a chair, he won’t open those fridges for a few years.’ Dex jumped off the porch with dust kicking up behind his boots. ‘I’ll find the drill for you, Ash.’

Ash, Ryder, and Dex had scattered, leaving her with Cap and Mason, who were still picking up empty cans. It was crisis management in a whole new way.

At least they were doing something for the safety of the boy, but it also showed how much they cared. Finally.

‘I’ll help.’ Now that Ash had gone, she felt foolish for her dummy spit. At least she got a reaction out of them.

‘How are you doing?’ Cap asked, as he dumped the empty cans back into the box.

Harper shrugged. ‘Honestly, I’m not used to living with anyone.’

‘Me neither.’

‘Didn’t you grow up with a stack of siblings?’

‘As kids, sure. Having four brothers and two sisters made for an interesting childhood. But I’ve been out of home for a long time. It’s usually just me and the dogs.’

Scout, the beagle, pushed its way through the cans to sit on Harper’s foot, leaning into her for a pat. The beagle always came up to her for a pat, just like Ruby did. Unlike the muster dogs that lay on the dirt in the shade, who kept their distance. But they were all working dogs, not pets, so she’d been told.

Still, it didn’t stop her from sneaking treats to Ruby and Scout. When home alone with Mason, she’d even use a broom to slide a bowl of goodies across the old floorboards to Sarge, where the regal-looking shepherd stayed at the corner of the house, keeping watch. But he’d wag his tail at her, even though he never left his post, like a good soldier.

‘Is it true this beagle was a police dog?’ She couldn't imagine it, especially when the beagle was so friendly.

‘Scout was a drug dog, who worked for the Federal Police and Customs. She did the airports.’

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