Page 66 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘Nope.’

‘What does Harper do when she’s not pretending to be a nanny?’

‘Office something or other. Overseas.’ Again, Ash shrugged at Ryder. He didn’t feel like sharing the details with his brothers, he wanted to keep the conversations he shared with Harper to himself. ‘Maybe if you’d bother to have a conversation with Harper, she might actually help you in the office.’

Ryder frowned. ‘Charlie, if you’re running a brand-making business, who does your paperwork?’

‘Bree manages it all. She’d make an excellent secretary if she’d stop tellin’ me what to do. Go to this appointment, eat this, drink that, don’t do that, no coffee. I miss coffee.’

‘Bree is only doing that because she cares,’ said Ryder. ‘She told us that she wants you to outlive her.’

‘Yeah, I know.’ The old man sighed, adjusting his hat. ‘I’m lucky to have someone like her. Ol’ Darcie adored her, too. Bree looked after him, too, at the end and wanted no money for it. It’s why I reckon Darcie created that caretaker’s caveat.’

‘That’s for you, right?’ Dex asked, as Ryder listened.

‘And Bree. That kid grew up here, too.’ Charlie plonked his hands on his belt. ‘Look, fellas, Bree may seem snappy with you mob, but once she learns to trust you, you’ll never find a more loyal friend who’ll treat you like family. I don’t think you’re far off now…’ Charlie nodded at the food bag filled with sandwiches. ‘That kid was up all night making sure you were well catered for. And believe me, there’ll be times you’d tell her to get nicked, to go live a life elsewhere, which she did …’ He paused, scratching his ruddy chin.

‘But one phone call from that hospital mob was all it took and my granddaughter rocked up. Then she moved her whole life, to take care of two old men and this station. Darcie’s own children didn’t even bother and that was his kin.’ Charlie dusted his hands, then faced the four brothers. ‘Let me tell you fellas, underneath that brassy red hair is a kind soul. And, if you lot bothered to talk to that little Harper, you’ll find she’s like that, too. Harper is a good kid, otherwise Bree wouldn’t have bothered befriending her. Now, let’s skedaddle before them two females give us a job, and come and get your fresh horses to saddle.’ With hands full of sandwiches, the brothers left Ash.

He wasn’t walking away from Mason, not near water.

Harper approached, her cheeks brushed with red, almost the same colour as the tip of her nose.

‘You should put on some more sunscreen. Your cute nose is getting burnt.’ Ash playfully tapped her slightly upturned nose. He hadn’t meant to get that close to her, but he enjoyed being near her. Inhaling the soft fragrance that he’d come to recognise as hers.

‘I will, thanks.’ She gave him a shy smile. ‘Where’s Mason?’

‘Splashing in the water.’ Ash nodded at the boy.

‘He’s naked.’ Her eyes widened with surprise.

‘He’ll drip dry soon enough. Go get yourself some lunch.’

‘I could handle a swim.’ Her smile light, her eyes bright, even her walk seemed lighter and full of energy. And that view of her high and tight arse in those jeans made his head tilt.

‘She’s having a good time,’ whispered Bree, close to his ear.

Busted. ‘Bree. Where did you come from?’

‘The spinifex fairies dropped me off on their way to the pub. What do you think?’ Bree giggled.

‘Hey, Bree.’ He grabbed her arm before she walked away. ‘Thank you.’

‘For what?’

‘For helping Harper adapt.’ Wishing he could do more to make life easier for Harper.

‘You guys really dumped her in it, you know?’

‘Yeah, I know.’ They’d been idiots—himself mostly for not seeing it sooner.

‘Talk to her, Ash. Harper is a clever woman.’

‘And what do you suggest we talk about? Shopping?’ Did he admit he’d been trying—but the boundaries they had were making it difficult for him to even be in the same room as Harper. Not when he wanted to tuck her close to his chest, grip the sides of her face and kiss her.

‘Why not tell Harper what this mine is trying to do?’

‘How? When I don’t understand what they’re doing.’ And he wasn’t asking his brothers to explain it to him, it’d only give them another excuse to look at him like an idiot. He wasn’t dumb, he just didn’t do legalese.

---