Page 11 of Stockman's Stowaway

‘Hey, stop that, it’s fine. Listen, what I’m going to do is set you up and give you some space. I’ll get you some clothes, so you can take a long hot shower, and then I’ll leave you alone to recuperate, unhindered, on the best couch on the planet.’ She pointed to the large couch.

‘It looks comfy.’

‘It is.’ Bree led her to the couch, helping her to sit. ‘The problem is if I sit on that couch, I can kiss the rest of the day goodbye because I won’t move again.’

Even though she was sore all over, the couch was cool and seemed to hug her body in the perfect way. ‘I see what you mean.’

Bree handed her a light linen bag that smelt of flowers, and an open tin of what looked like wax. ‘You can put this bag over your eye. It will soothe and help reduce the swelling. And you can rub this ointment on the areas that hurt, too.’

‘What is it?’

‘It’s a natural magnesium salve for muscle aches. Pop swears by it. Just dab it on the area that hurts the most. Or I can get you a lump of steak?’

‘This is fine, thank you.’ The cloth was soft, and the ointment so cool on her skin. ‘I’m so sorry to bother you.’

Bree leaned in closer, to tenderly capture Mia’s hands. ‘I want no more saying sorry to me. No more thinking you’re bothering us, because you’re not. Charlie and Cap brought you here for a reason, and you can trust us. There is no hidden agenda here. We will keep you safe.’

Again, her eyes teared up at Bree’s open kindness. ‘But you don’t know me.’

‘Well, then, don’t be shy in telling me your story. Starting with, are you in any danger?’

‘I honestly don’t know.’ Mia hid her face in her hands, only to wince. ‘Ow.’

‘The salve will help.’ Bree ever so gently brushed the hair away from Mia’s face. ‘Your wounds show this happened today?’

Mia nodded.

‘Do you want me to call the police?’

‘I don’t know?’ Why couldn’t she think straight?

‘I bet the whole incident is so fresh that you’ve got all these fragments rattling around in your brain that haven’t had a chance to soak in yet.’

‘How did you know?’

Bree gave a mild shrug.

But her patience in waiting for a response made Mia want to speak. ‘I’d been at the pub having lunch with workmates, that went longer than I thought. Then my boyfriend, Gavin, showed up to drive me home.’What the hell, Gavin.She tried to get angry at him for what he’d done, but could only shiver.

‘You worked for the mine?’ Bree nodded at her work shirt, as she dragged over a soft blanket for Mia.

‘We’d finished our contract. I wanted to stay and party longer with everyone before we scattered across the country. But Gavin snapped. I don’t know what happened.’ For the life of her, shehad no idea what she had done that was so wrong for Gavin to lash out at her like that.

‘Was he jealous of you with your workmates?’

‘I don’t know.’ She dragged the blanket over her legs, hiding her cold hands under its soft edge where she twisted her fingers to stop them trembling. ‘One minute we’re in the car, the next Gavin’s elbow slams into my eye. I was so stunned.’ She swallowed hard, pulling the blanket up to her chest, while staring at her fat tears splattering on the floor. ‘He stopped the car, dragged me out, and…’ She squeezed her eyes shut and the tears fell down her cheeks as the horror replayed in her mind. No one had ever hit her, until today. ‘I fell back and hit the fence, and I rolled under it.’ She inhaled a shaky breath. ‘That’s when I ran. But he chased me down in his car.’

‘Arsehole. How did you get away?’

‘I hid in the long grass and ran for the pub.’ At times she’d heard him, in some places so close she could hear the crunch of the grass, and his laboured breathing. ‘That’s where I climbed into the back of Cap’s ute—’

‘With all of those dogs?’

Mia nodded.

‘You poor thing.’ Bree rubbed her back in soothing circles. ‘Well, that idiot won’t want to come near me or this station, that’s for sure. Just know you’re safe and you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.’

Could Mia believe them about keeping her safe? Yet with the recent events that brought her here, she might not be that lucky.

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