Page 84 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘Ash, in the morning, you’ll head back into the Stoneys with Charlie.’ It wasn’t a request, but an order from Commander Ryder, tossing the last of his coffee into the fire.

‘What for?’ Ash wanted to see Harper and Mason.

‘Because we’re missing a few dozen cattle in there after that sandstorm hit.’

‘Why me?’

‘Or you can help fix fences and clean troughs with us, brother?’ Dex leaned forward, his eyes taunting him to take that dare, just like he did with his opponents in the fighting pits. But Ash was supposed to be their brother.

‘I honestly didn’t think the drafting yards were that bad.’ Cap shrugged, taking a sip from his tin mug.

‘It’ll take a good week—’

‘Try two,’ said Dex, holding up two fingers.

‘—to fix it. Then we’ll be ready to draft them, so we’ll need that fencing done,’ said Ryder. ‘In the meantime, Ash, you’ll go with Charlie back into the Stoneys, where you’ll use your drone to chase those strays out of those tight places better than I can with the chopper.’

‘Yeah, sure, okay.’

Ryder leaned his elbows on his thighs, directly opposite Ash, only their small campfire separated them. ‘I am not the enemy, Ash. And I hate that I’m always riding you about your work.’

‘Are you saying you’d sack me?’ Ash said it as a joke, but Ryder wasn’t laughing. He rarely did.

‘I would’ve sacked you weeks ago, the first time you forgot to clean those troughs. It’s only because you’re my little brother, that I haven’t.’ Ryder showed no emotion, unlike Cap meekly shrugging, and Dex wearing his normal scowl. Ryder was as cold as a snake.

It had Ash gritting his teeth to stop his jaw trembling with rage.

‘Look, we all know you were happy just being a contract musterer, so I’m happy to give you your deposit back and let you go.’

‘And do what?’ They were firing him!

‘Do what makes you happy. Because you have to want this life, Ash. Your brothers and I are busting our butts to get this station on track. In this life, this job, there are no time clocks or suitable work hours, or lunch breaks. And I shouldn’t be playing the boss to check on your work when you’re meant to be a boss, too. It’s what happens when you work for yourself, getting the job done, relying on ourselves to do it right the first time, every time. But you seem to want something else.’

‘To be fair to Ash,’ said Cap, ‘He did get lumped with a kid. That’d be enough to rattle even you, Ryder.’

‘It’s why I’ve cut him some slack.’ Ryder leaned forward, the dancing flames reflecting in his dark, cold eyes. ‘I was hoping you’d find the drive to put in the effort, for your son’s sake, to give that boy the home he deserves.’

‘I’m trying—’

‘No, you’re not. You have to want it here.’ Ryder tapped at his chest. ‘You have to want it deep in your soul or you’re just wasting your time and everyone else’s on a daydream.’ Ryder stood, towering over them, and with a curt nod, he walked off.

Ash looked at his other brothers. ‘Are you agreeing with him?’

Again, Cap shrugged. ‘Sorry, mate, but—’

‘Stop treating this like a game, is what Cap’s trying to say.’ Dex leaned in, eyes blazing. ‘This isn’t some game where you get a thousand chances to beat the bad guys, we’ve only got one shot at this. Meanwhile, you’re treating it like it’s a bloody day care centre where you’re watching the clock to go back to either kiss the babysitter or plug into some computer game to play all night. Ryder’s right, your head and heart aren’t in it.’ Dex shuffled to his feet and dusted off the back of his jeans, shaking his head as he left.

That left Ash staring at the campfire, with Cap patting a cattle dog stretched out before him.

‘What do you want for yourself, Ash?’ Cap craned his neck up to the stars and then to the wide land covered in darkness. ‘For me, it’s this, and a kennel for the dogs. You?’

Ash didn’t know what to say.

‘Look, I know you weren’t part of the original discussions when we decided to buy a station. You just said okay and tagged along for the ride.’

‘I didn’t want to be left behind.’

Cap patted his brother on the shoulder. ‘Mate, we want you here. We do. But is this what you want, what’ll make you happy?’

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