Page 33 of Stockman's Stowaway

Her breath stalled as he held her gaze. It was deeper and longer, as if he could truly see beyond her cuts and bruises, beyond her messy hair and dirty nails, through to her soul. No one had ever looked at her like that, where the air felt positively charged around them.

When Sarge let out an enormous bark, she jumped in fright.

‘Sarge? What do you hear?’ Cap jumped to his feet as the large shepherd, bristling with muscles, stood in the fiercest stance she’d ever seen, barking at the driveway.

‘Stay.’ Cap commanded to the cattle dogs spread out over the nearby patch of dried lawn. Without hesitation, they sat obediently, but alert, with their eyes on Cap.

Ash came to the front door, stepping over the baby gate. ‘It’s probably Harper, coming back from work.’

‘Not with that bark.’ Ryder came from around the corner, tapping on his tablet in hand. Mia could feel his sturdy boot steps through the floorboards. ‘The security camera shows it’s someone else.’

‘It’d be handy if there was somewhere we could all see the security screens,’ suggested Cap as he leaned over to Ryder’s tablet.

‘I’ve ordered more screens to come with the extra cameras, to extend Ash’s intranet idea. Once it’s up we’ll be able to tap intoour security system with our phones.’ Ryder turned the tablet around. ‘In the meantime, does anyone know this vehicle?’

Mia gasped, her eyes widening at the large black ute on the screen, that was slowly coming around the bend on the dirt track, recognising it. ‘It’s Leo’s ute.’ Her voice was shrill as she stood quickly, knocking over her chair. With legs trembling, she struggled to stand when all she wanted to do was run for her life!

Thirteen

‘Who did you say that was?’ Ryder’s frown was fierce, only spiking Mia’s fear as she watched the black ute get closer, driving down their long driveway.

‘That’s Leo Travers.’ She stepped away from the driveway, with Willow whimpering beside her. ‘He’s from—’

‘Blackwell Mining.’ This time it was Ash who scowled, not at her, but at the shiny vehicle on the tablet’s screen, then at the black ute cruising closer to the house. ‘How do you know Leo?’

Her throat hurt to speak as she squeaked the words loaded with fear as she recognised the driver, parking his vehicle in the yard, looking straight at them. Straight at her. ‘Leo. Knows. Gavin.’

‘Aw, crap.’ Cap ripped off his hat to rake fingers through his hair.

Mia bolted for the far side of the house with Willow running alongside her.

‘Mia?’

She heard the footsteps behind her, but she didn’t expect Cap to be so fast as he gripped her arm, pulling her to a stop as she rounded the corner.

‘Hey, it’s okay.’

‘Leo knows Gavin. He’ll tell Gavin I’m here.’ She struggled to breathe, fighting against the terror gripping her lungs. Tears andsweat streamed down her cheeks as she searched for somewhere to hide.

Cap gently gripped both of her arms, stepping in so close all she saw was Cap. ‘Hey, it’s okay, Mia. I promised I’d keep you safe.’

‘Then why is Leo here?’

‘I don’t know.’ He shrugged candidly.

It was enough to pause her panic for a moment, reminding her this wasn’t her house, and it wasn’t her business who visited. She’d just embarrassed herself over someone else’s visitor.

The savage licks of shame flared across her cheeks, she had to be glowing. Yet the tight terror that gripped her lungs relentlessly refused to let go.

‘Take a deep breath, Mia.’ Cap rubbed large smooth circles across her back.

She tried to inhale deeply while shaking the tremors free from her hands, but her whole body was trembling. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be sorry.’

‘It’s none of my business who comes here. I shouldn’t even be here.’ What was she thinking, getting these people involved like this?

‘Stop, Mia, just focus on breathing, honey. Come on, take another deep breath.’

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