Page 53 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘Shh.’ Bree held her finger over her lips. ‘Tell no one.’

‘Why?’

‘I’ll explain it later. I promise.’

‘Do you need a hand?’

‘No. It’s the Riggs brothers’ first muster.’

‘I see.’ Craig nodded, with hands on his hips. ‘You know me, I won’t say nothing. But you know my number, all you have to do is hit speed dial and I’ll be there. No questions asked.’

‘I know.’

‘And that’s a big fat ditto from the sexiest man in the room,’ said Ryan, pointing at himself.

Harper burst out laughing.

Even Craig chuckled as he elbowed the vet. ‘You’ll keep, puppy panderer.’

‘Get over ya’self, bubble butt.’

‘And on that note, we’re leaving.’ Bree began pushing the pram for the door.

Harper followed. ‘Nice to meet you, gentlemen.’

‘She called us gentlemen. Did you hear that, puppy panderer?’ Craig nudged Ryan.

‘She was talking about me, because she obviously doesn’t know you yet. Can we help carry those bags to the car, ladies?’

‘We’re good. You guys go play nice over lunch. We’ll see you next time.’ Bree pushed the pram out the door, with Harper following.

Harper winced at the sunlight, sliding on her sunglasses. ‘You know, we still got hassled in that pub.’

‘Those two weren’t hassling us.’ Bree covered over the pram with a small blanket to shield the sleeping boy from the sun. ‘But I get what you’re saying. A single girl in a bar, of course you’d get hit on.’

‘Why? I’ve sat in plenty of bars across the globe and never got hassled.’

‘I think the ratio of men to women in this town is something like twenty to one.’

‘No way. How come you’re single, then?’

‘Why are you?’

‘I’ve never really …’ Harper shyly shrugged.

Bree stopped the pram on the sidewalk and turned to Harper. ‘Do I have to tell you about the birds and the bees?’

‘Nick off.’

‘Finally.’ She nudged Harper’s arm. ‘I like this playful side to you. It beats the deer in the headlights look you had going on.’

‘I’m learning.’

‘That you are.’ Bree swung her arm over Harper’s shoulders and gave her a tender squeeze. ‘By the time the muster is over, you’ll be a whole new you. But first, let’s get you dressed for the part.’

Twenty-two

‘The trick to finding the right hat is working out what it is you want that hat to do.’ Bree explained to Harper as they stood before a towering wall of wide-brimmed hats of many assorted colours and styles.

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