Page 32 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘How did you end up with her?’

‘Scout got hit across her nose during a drug bust.’

‘Is she okay?’ Her heart squeezed for the poor thing, who only leaned into her leg for a cuddle. It was like the dog could read her moods, making her a wonderful companion for keeping the loneliness away.

‘Scout’s fine. She’s a little gun-shy, and she’s not good with crowds anymore, like crowded airports. But her sense of smell did sustain some damage. Or she’s faking it so she could quit the job.’

‘What do you think?’

‘Scout can still follow a scent. She’s helped the local police with a kidnapping case.’

‘How did it go?’

‘It was a happy ending.’ Cap patted Scout. ‘Like Scout, here. She’s living the dream, now.’

‘Are you?’ So where was her happily ever after? Why couldn’t she live the dream where her true love saved her from cooking disasters and bad hair-days, while living in a world free from fear and only filled with love?

Cap smiled at the area of dead grass with a view of the sheds. It wasn’t much, but the way he looked at the place, you’d think he was looking at paradise. ‘I am. Let’s just hope we get to keep it with the mine wanting our water.’ He stood, brushing off his jeans. ‘Come on, little fella,’ he said, scooping up Mason. ‘Let’s go pinch your dad’s ute and load up these empty cans. Where do you think we should put the cans?’

‘Can you dump them all over Dex’s bed?’

Cap chuckled as he lifted Mason to sit on his shoulders. ‘That’s a good idea. We can just blame Mason.’ He then paused. ‘Hey, Harper?’

‘Yeah?’

‘You’re doing a good job. We might not say it, but we appreciate what you do.’

She clutched her throat as her wounded soul filled with gratitude. ‘Thank you.’ Cap was such a sweetie, it was hard to believe he was from the same bloodline as Dex and Ryder.

‘I’m glad you found us some salads for tucker.’

‘I can’t burn a salad, can I?’ But she was having cooking lessons with Bree, who had escaped into town with Charlie today.

Harper wanted to go to town, too. But she didn’t know where the child’s car seat was or how to even fit one in her car. It felt like a ploy to keep her here as the ageing fairy princess, dumped by political garden elves who’d moved on to greener pastures, leaving her in this dust bowl of day-to-day drudgery. But she had to remember she came here by choice.

‘Can you tell Ash it’s his turn to cook dinner?’ Cap nodded, carrying an excited Mason over his shoulders, while the dogs followed him like he was the Pied Piper.

The brothers were all so different. But they all cared for this country and for their family. She just didn’t get the bit about the country, it looked like a barren wasteland to her—except for the view from Bree’s backyard.

Just then she spotted another vehicle coming down the long dusty driveway. With no one else around, Sarge gave out his deep warning bark. Did she dare?

‘VISITORS!’

Fifteen

Ash rummaged through the workshop’s containers of nuts and bolts to find the sliding locks. Now all he needed was the screws. ‘Hey, Dex?’

‘Yeah.’ At the other bench, Dex grabbed the drill.

‘Can you do me a favour and get off Harper’s back?’

Dex turned around, wearing a cheesy, know-it-all, smart-arse grin. The kind of grin he used to stir up his opponents in the illegal fighting pits. ‘You’re not, are you?’

‘What are you on about, now?’

‘Falling for the nanny.’

‘I am not.’ Ash jutted out his jaw. ‘I think she’s snooty.’

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