Page 34 of Stockman's Stowaway

Honestly, she tried, but her lungs were tight, with her mind dancing along that scary edge between fright and flight, because she had no skills to fight.

‘Leo is trying to buy this place for his mine,’ explained Cap. ‘Did you know that he’s buying up other cattle stations?’

‘Only through Gavin. Leo was going to hire Gavin for the new mine that…’ Then it clicked and she looked up at Cap, her fear easing, pushing back on that tight terror band around her chest, even if it still lingered, and her heart hammered as if she’d run some marathon. ‘You guys stopped the new lithium mine fromhappening. How? No one stops mining giants from getting what they want.’

‘Harper looked into the Federal Government’s zoning. Technically their Northern Territory–issued mining lease wasn’t valid. We’re not sure how long that’ll stop them, so Harper has started a petition to block any changes to the zoning and to protect farmers’ water rights.’

‘I’d heard talk between the farmers in the pub.’ It all made sense now, thinking hard to push past her body’s overreaction. ‘They hated us miners drinking in their bar, telling us we were stealing their water.’ The same day she’d ended up out here. Almost a week, and she was still full of fear. It wasn’t right.

‘Leo’s mine was trying to take our water, daring to fine us for fixing our own dam. Which is why I’m trying so hard to make sure we’re ecologically sound. If they changed the laws—’

‘They’d need an environmental impact study.’ Finally, she could breathe properly again, as her brain engaged past the panic. ‘That new mining site never did an environmental impact study. I know they didn’t, because my team and I were talking about it because we’re the contractors who consult on those reports for this region. No one asked us.’ And she was damned good at her job.

Oh, wait, Leo did talk to her about it, but that had been a while ago and it had only been a casual conversation, before she’d left Gavin at their house to go to work.

The mere thought of Gavin made her heart quicken and that inner terror once again began to tighten its grip around her lungs. She gripped Cap’s arm like he was an anchor and forced herself to hitch in a breath.

‘You’ve got this, Mia, breathe.’ Cap seemed to understand, gently patting her hand.

Again, she hitched in more air, a little deeper this time. ‘Please… Talk… Anything.’ To get her mind off her ex.

‘Okay, sure, um… The reason why Ash and I are collecting data on this place is that if they ever tried to take our water, we could easily prove the impact it would have on this station. I know a lot of locals are watching to see what we do, hoping they can do the same to save their cattle stations from losing their water rights.’

‘I get it.’ Again, she calmed down, squashing that fear deep inside her belly, and finally let go of his arm. It left her palm tingly as if missing his touch. ‘So, Leo is…’

‘The enemy.’

‘So, you really do need me for my brains.’

He gave her a coy grin. ‘And your planting skills, and nursery know-how.’

‘I’ve always wanted to build a native nursery.’

‘I know. Bree told me.’

She could just hug Bree, and the man with caring eyes.

Willow pushed her nose against her leg.

‘It’s okay, Willow, I just panicked for a bit.’ Now she was back to feeling like a proper idiot. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Hey, listen, you have nothing to be sorry for. You’ve been through something I’d never wish on anyone, and having a panic attack is understandable. Just know it will take time to get past this.’

Her eyes widened as she stepped back. Since when did she suffer from panic attacks?

‘I won’t push you with the work if you need space.’

‘But I want to do it.’ She needed it to help keep her grounded, to occupy her mind with the good and not the bad. Mia also wanted to pay everyone back for their generosity, especially Cap for his kindness.

‘Do you want me to walk you back to Bree’s?’

‘I’m okay.’ She had to get back to a time when she wasn’t afraid of the dark. But she hadn’t realised how deeply Gavin’saction had impacted on her. ‘Come on, Willow.’ At least she had the dog.

‘I’ll see you at sunrise for the drafting?’

‘Yeah.’ She turned back and unexpectedly kissed his cheek. Shocking herself for being so brazen, the blush burned her face as she dropped her head and mumbled, ‘Thank you for everything, Cap.’ And rushed for the cottage, taking the long way around the house to avoid being spotted by Leo.

With Leo—their neighbour—showing up like this, it proved that Elsie Creek Station really wasn’t safe for her at all. It meant Gavin could be working right next door.

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