Page 57 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘Fine.’ She checked the hat’s inner lining, then went through the rack and selected another one. ‘This one.’

‘Are you sure?’

She just popped her hand on her hip and glared at him as if to say, try me.

Leo slid on the black hat. It was perfect, just like Bree had found for Harper.

Bree checked over the fit, the brim, then gave Leo and his new hat a nod of approval. ‘And my job is done. Later, demon spawn. Please don’t eat the children in town.’

‘Aww, you’ve hurt my feelings, Bree.’ Leo chuckled.

‘You don’t have any.’

‘Do you?’

‘Not for you. But you should go find yourself a gold digger and put her to work digging up that new mine of yours.’

‘It’s just business, Bree. And I know you’re all about smart business that comes with a whole lot of outlaw attitude. It’s hot.’

‘Oh, please, don’t make me hurl my lunch.’

‘The people in your world have no idea how much of a gift you are. But I do. So please have dinner with me, Bree?’

‘No. But I will agree with you that I don’t think the people in my life ever fully appreciate how many lives are saved by my self-control and desire to not go to prison. So, no. I will not have dinner with you today, tomorrow, or next Tuesday.’

‘I’ll pay you for your time?’

‘Well, for five k I’ll make your eternal demise look like an accident. For a cup of raw peanuts, I’ll make it look like a hilarious accident.’

He laughed so loud it made Harper pause, with Mason grinning.

Even Bree gave him a sly grin. ‘Have a nice life, Leo. Enjoy your hat.’

Leo tapped his hat’s brim at Bree in an old-fashioned cowboy hat tilt. It was sweet and old world gentlemanly. Even though Bree rolled her eyes at him, her lips twitched as if to control her smile.

‘Let’s go.’ Bree pushed the pram.

Harper carried the bags outside where they copped the full brunt of the outdoor heat and the sun’s glare. Harper held out her new hat like a piece of cardboard to block the sun.

‘You can wear the hat, Harper. It is to be used.’

It was Harper’s turn to roll her eyes, sliding on the hat. ‘Who was that?’

‘Leonard Travers. Leo. He’s Elsie Creek Station’s eastern neighbour—the man trying to steal the station’s water.’

Harper gasped, turning back to the store. Inside, Leo nodded at her as he leaned his elbow against the counter while the cashier rang up the purchase of his hat.

Harper rushed to catch up with Bree who was opening the yellow Kombi van’s side door. ‘That’s the bad guy?’ In a suit.

‘The ultimate bad guy.’ Bree paused from loading up the van. ‘If you ever see Leo, walk away, Harper. Leo is slipperier than a dozen experienced politicians on a good day. And we do not need someone like Leo learning we’re leaving the homestead empty for this muster. Especially since they’ve just fixed that dam that Leo and his balding gorillas destroyed in the first place.’

Twenty-three

Under the thick cover of darkness, squeezed into the cab of Ash’s ute, Harper had to hold the handle with both hands to stop her arm and shoulder hitting the passenger door or Mason’s baby seat that sat in the middle. ‘Where is the road?’

Ash pointed with his wrist casually resting on the top of the steering wheel. ‘It’s there. It hasn’t been used in a while.’

‘No kidding.’ It was like they were driving over a path filled with potholes, tufts of tough grasses, and rocks. ‘Where are we going?’

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