Page 85 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘I enjoy mustering.’

‘I can see that.’

‘I like working the stations and the whole cattle industry.’ But he hated his older brothers ganging up on him like this.

‘But do you like being the boss who carries all the responsibility?’

‘Ryder won’t share the workload.’

‘He’s been trying to share it with you, Ash. Yet you just treat him like the boss when he’s being your partner. Just do yourself a favour and think about what you want. Write a list. Or check out that one you’re always adding to.’

‘Harper said the same thing.’

‘Yeah, well, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but …’ Cap peered around to check they were on their own, then lowered his voice and said, ‘You should forget about Harper.’

Ash sat up with a frown.

‘Come on, mate. Do you honestly think Harper is going to play instant family when you’ve never even taken her on a date? She’s also on holidays with a job to go back to, so think about what’s best for Mason. Sleep tight, little brother.’ Cap left, his dogs following, and it was just Ash and the dancing flames of the campfire.

Fuming, he grabbed his swag and moved to the far side of the campsite. He wanted to talk to Harper, to hug Mason goodnight. He missed his family, when not that long ago he lived for the ride following the mustering contracts without caring where his next pay cheque was coming from. It was a life that used to be so free from stress. A life of little to no responsibilities.

When did life get so complicated?

He knew when … It was the day he’d met Mason.

How many days did he have until that escape clause expired?

Thirty-five

It was a harrowing ride to the small town of Elsie Creek with the dog whimpering, Mason crying for the dog, while Harper drove as fast as Ash’s ute could move.

She knew the vet clinic was in town, but where? She drove past the pub on the corner, down the main street, past the hardware store on her left, then the supermarket.

That’s right, Ryan had told her his clinic was behind the supermarket. She steered a hard left, then left again, and cruised down the dark street with only the lights of the police station shining behind her. ‘Please be here …’

She hunched over the steering wheel, scouring the dark storefronts, where there was a council office, another business, and a little back from the road stood the veterinary clinic.

Harper parked close, with the headlights beaming brightly. She hammered her fists on the front door while pressing the bell.

Finally, a door at the rear opened, and the lights flickered on.

‘Ryan? It’s Harper, Bree’s friend from Elsie Creek Station.’

Jiggling a stack of keys in his hands, Ryan approached the door. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘It’s one of Cap’s dogs. It got bit by a snake.’ She rushed back to the car and opened the passenger door. ‘It’s Mason’s nanny dog. She was protecting Mason. Please help her. Please?’

‘Okay, okay. Let me in there, Harper.’ Ryan pulled her back and leaned inside. ‘Hello, girl. Let’s see what we can do for you.’ Ryan scooped up the labrador and carried her inside, with Harper carrying Mason.

Inside the clinic, Ryan laid the dog on the examination table. ‘What kind of snake?’

‘I don’t know. I thought it was a stick, it was behind the washing machine.’

‘Have a look at that wall chart, it shows the most common snakes in the Northern Territory. See which one you think it is, so I can give Ruby the correct antivenene treatment. Did you bandage her up?’ He pointed to the leg wrapped in strips of sheet.

‘Within a minute or two of her being bitten.’

‘Good work. You’ve probably saved her life.’

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