Page 73 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘That’s true.’ He frowned, then wiped it away. ‘Don’t get offended by that, Harper, it’s not you. Ryder is like that with all of us. Dex reckons it’s because we used to break his stuff when we were young. We were always in Ryder’s room, he had the cool stuff and his own room, while we all shared.’

‘Did you ever get your chance to move into Ryder’s old room? I always had my own room, practically an only child.’ Even if her old childhood room didn’t exist anymore, she would’ve shared.

‘Lucky you.’ He sniffed. ‘No. I went to work. I wasn’t interested in finishing school. Our little bush school couldn’t help me anymore, and I knew what I wanted to do.’

‘What’s that?’

‘This. Working with cattle, in this industry. I knew it the second I stumbled onto that first station. I’ve always been happy just being a contractor, until Jonathan got Sandlot Station and the rest of my brothers started talking about buying a place together. I never thought it was possible.’

‘So, this is one of those impossible dreams come true for you.’ She lay facing him, with their heads resting on pillows, talking in hushed voices. Even with a small boy lying between them it was intimately cosy.

Ash nodded, rolling over to face her. ‘It’s more like one of those dare to dream kind of things. Deep down I’ve always wanted my own cattle station, but never thought it’d happen. But having my brothers as partners, they’ve made it possible.’ He exhaled heavily, rolling onto his back. ‘I would’ve freaked doing it on my own.’

‘I don’t think so. You’re a strong guy.’

He rolled over to face her again. ‘There’s a lot of responsibility running a place like this. Ryder’s doing it all.’

And Ash ran from responsibility. ‘Do you want to help Ryder manage this place?’

‘Yeah …’ He paused, blinking in the silvery moonlight where the glow of the campfire gave him the perfect silhouette. He then nodded with resolve. ‘Yes, I want to help, but I don’t know how. All Ryder tells me to do is the troughs.’

‘And that’s where you say you’ll add it to your list.’ She gently poked his chest. ‘Have you ever looked over that list you’re always adding to?’

He frowned.

‘I’m not judging.’ She held her palm open as if in peace.

‘No. I haven’t.’

‘I bet you’ll find the answers you’re looking for there.’ She patted his chest and her hand rested on Mason’s little shoulders. ‘Good night, Ash.’

‘Good night, Harper.’

And she let her eyes close and soon fell asleep to the soothing sounds of Ash’s deep breathing, not even realising he was holding her hand.

Thirty

The cows were enormous. They also came with massive horns and should have been classed as colossal white boulders who didn’t want to move.

Not that Harper could blame them. When they had beautiful, lush green fields full of assorted grasses and grains mixed with wildflowers to tempt them.

The day had begun at sunrise where the rich layer of dusky pinks smeared across the horizon, when Ash approached his brothers over their first cup of coffee. At Harper’s careful suggestion, Ash had drawn a diagram in the dirt as if giving a presentation to the board, explaining how he could use the drone for their benefit.

It was enough to give him the go-ahead.

Ash held the remote control for his drone, the dark goggles covered his eyes as he spoke over the radio clipped to a leather holster called a radio pouch.

Right beside him, Harper sat on the side of a small hill, making daisy chains with Mason, as Ash steered his drone. The aim was to muster the cattle closer, to create one large herd to then make the trek back home.

‘Watch your back, Ryder,’ said Ash over the radio. ‘I’m bringing a bunch of cleanskins in from the scrub behind you.’

‘I see them. Well done, Ash,’ came Ryder’s deep voice over the radio speakers. ‘Dex, you with me?’

‘On your ugly side, Ryder. We’ll flank ‘em.’

The dry season air carried a certain vibrancy with its upbeat winds ruffling old leaves free to make way for the new. From her view on the hill, the streams and billabongs sparkled like gin-clear waters. It also gave her a clear view of the show being laid out before her—the muster.

It was teamwork on horseback, but one of a rugged elegance, captivating her with the skill level and power of both Ryder and Dex as they made their horses dance, while whirling the stockwhip to gallop through the thick scrublands. From there, they’d meet up with Cap, playing the Pied Piper, whistling commands to the stocky and fearless cattle dogs who helped corral the cattle closer to Bree. With her thick plait like a red rope, that beautiful Amazon fearlessly controlled the wing of the main herd while Charlie took the lead, like he was promising them a golden ticket to paradise.

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