Page 6 of Stockman's Sandstorm

It was impossible. He didn’t have a child. No way.

Ash looked at his big brother, Ryder, the man who had a plan for everything.

‘Can I see that?’ Ryder read through the paperwork, and there was a lot of it ‘Why is the kid here?’

‘We’re instructed to deliver Mason to his father,’ explained Jenny.

Everything slowed down. The way the birds flew, the dust stirred, the blink of the boy’s eyes that stared at him. Ash struggled to breathe as the nurse and the policeman spoke about details, he just didn’t hear any of it. This had to be a nightmare. ‘What do I do?’

‘Hold him.’ Jenny put the toddler into his arms. The boy had that baby smell of baby powder and custard. ‘Your son’s gear is in the police cage.’

Son? Nah, he had to be dreaming. ‘But … A son.’ He looked down at the boy to find his own eyes staring back at him.

‘Paperwork’s legit.’ Ryder’s shadow stretched over them as he peeked at the boy. ‘Mason. Good strong name.’

‘We have a nephew?’ Cap smiled at the toddler as if he’d stumbled on another animal to save.

But it was Ash who needed saving. ‘What? Why? How?’

‘I guess we all know about the how, there, Ash.’ Again, Dex cackled.

Bree giggled beside him. ‘As my grandfather would say, if you’re gonna sow your oats, you eventually have to deal with the harvest.’

‘Yep. Sounds about right.’ Charlie chuckled, as he scrubbed rough nails at his ruddy chin.

It set Dex off on another round of riotous laughing, wiping at the happy tears in the corners of his eyes.

‘I meant …’ Ash cleared his throat, desperate to save face. ‘Why is he here?’

‘Mason’s mother died.’

That sobered them up.

‘How?’ Ryder asked Porter.

‘I’m not sure on the details, only that the boy is here at the request of his mother.’

‘Aw, he’s got the Riggs’ eyes and nose. A proper little heartbreaker.’ Bree held her hand out and Mason’s little fingers gripped onto her finger and gave a toothy smile. ‘Yep, another player, like his father.’

Didn’t that make Ash wake up from his stupor as the heavy thud of responsibility landed across his shoulders.

Come on, Ash was the guy who ran from responsibility, preferring a carefree lifestyle and children only complicated that life plan. He passed the child to the nearest female, Bree. ‘Nope. Not gonna happen. I take precautions.’

‘Obviously not,’ piped up Dex from the rear.

Ash scowled at his brother.

‘Don’t think you can fob him off on me. He’s your son.’ Bree passed him back to Ash.

‘I don’t know what to do with a child!’ Again, he looked at his older brothers for help. ‘I don’t even know the mother’s name.’

‘Gemma Fallon.’ Ryder held up the birth certificate. ‘Says here Mason’s eighteen months old, which means you knew her—’

‘Two years and three months ago,’ said Dex, ‘when you danced the sheets—’

‘Oi, have a bit of respect for the kid’s mother who isn’t here, please,’ urged Cap.

‘Where were you two years ago, Ash?’ Ryder asked.

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