Page 7 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘Forget asking him who he was with,’ said Dex, ‘because we all know he likes the chase but gets bored with the catch and goes through women like—’

‘Like what, hmmm?’ Bree practically bristled with an unsaid warning. It shut Dex up. ‘I love how stupid looks on you this time of the day, Dex. And, with that, I’m leaving. Have fun, boys. See you at Charlie’s next check-up, Jenny.’ With the shotgun resting on her shoulder, she marched off towards the caretaker’s cottage whistling some tune.

‘Seein’ as how we aren’t doing the troughs today, I’ll go give the girl a hand.’ Charlie trotted after Bree in his bandy-legged walk.

‘Yeah, I’d better go get the dogs sorted out for mustering.’ Cap took off for the kennels.

‘I’ve got a truck to fix.’ Dex did a runner for the shed.

That left Ash holding a small boy as Jenny talked about sleeping schedules, night nappies, and other foreign words, while Ryder helped Porter unload the kid’s gear from the cage at the back of the police car.

The police radio squawked, with Porter talking in the background, all while Ash just stood and stared at the small boy in his arms.

‘We’ve got to go, Jenny,’ said Porter.

Jenny slid a card into Ash’s shirt pocket. ‘Here are my numbers. Call me if you have any issues.’

‘Oh, and I’ll be back to do a welfare check in twenty-eight days,’ said Porter.

‘Why?’ Ryder asked.

‘It’s a request that came in with the paperwork.’ The policeman shrugged. ‘It’s just to check if there are any issues.’

‘And if there are, I can give the kid back?’ Did Ash have an escape clause?

Jenny gasped.

‘If it doesn’t work out for you, the child does have options. It was in the mother’s will that the boy be with his father—and your name is on the birth certificate.’

Jenny stepped in closer, draping the baby blanket over his shoulder. ‘Ash, I know it’s a big shock—’

‘Ya think?’ Daddy day care was not on his to-do list. Cleaning troughs actually sounded really good about now.

‘It will take time to bond, but when you do …’

Nope. Twenty-eight days was too long.

‘But today I feel like a stork, you know. Happy daddy duties.’ Jenny waved as Porter tooted the horn, driving the police car out of the yard.

‘What do I do, Ryder? I’ve never changed a nappy or even held a baby before.’

‘Well, you’re about to get a crash course, aren’t you?’

Five

It was just after midnight and a child’s wails echoed like a tsunami siren screaming across the outback plains. Ash held the boy in his arms, desperate to keep him quiet as he paced the front porch.

‘What’s wrong with the kid now?’ Dex stumbled outside in a pair of boxers, his bare chest showing off his many tattoos and scars.

‘He’s got a set of lungs on him, I’ll give him that,’ said Cap, in shorts and a singlet. ‘My dogs aren’t this loud.’

‘Now I remember why I don’t want kids.’

‘Hey, I didn’t plan this.’ Ash held out the boy. ‘What is his problem? I’ve given him a drink, changed his night nappy, offered him food—’

‘You mean, I did.’ Ryder strolled outside with a steaming coffeepot in one hand and a stack of cups in the other. ‘Cut the kid some slack. He’s in a new house surrounded by strangers, and he’s probably missing his mother.’

‘I should call Mum. She can look after Mason,’ said Ash.

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