Page 53 of Stockman's Stowaway

‘If Mia says she’s fine, it’s enough for me.’ Cap gave her one of his sly winks that always made her smile. ‘So, did you bring the dogs out?’

‘I did.’ Porter juggled his keys and unlocked the back cage.

‘Listen, everyone,’ called out Cap, holding the cage door. ‘No offence, but I’d rather there weren’t too many people around for this. How would you feel having all these strangers gawking at you.’

‘Point taken,’ said Porter. ‘Charlie, while I’m here, I was hoping you’d show me the car you found in the Stoneys.’

‘Did you learn something about my brother?’ Charlie’s grey eyes filled with hope.

‘No. But I have paperwork you can fill out to claim the money he left in the bank.’

‘I’m not after the money. I just want to know where Harry is.’

‘Pop, think about it,’ warned Bree. ‘Harry ran away for a reason. Do you really want your older brother to face murder charges and the possibility of spending his last days in prison?’

Mia’s eyes widened with surprise at the reminder that Charlie’s brother was a murderer on the run. Did she dare ask the details?

Charlie hesitated, dragging his hat off his head as if it weighed a tonne. ‘I didn’t think about that.’

‘Charlie, I’m only working on a missing person’s report, like you asked me to.’ Porter gently patted the old man’s shoulder. ‘And I’d like to check out the car for clues as part of my preliminary enquiries. That’s it.’

‘Well, okay then, Harry’s car is this way. You can tell me what you think of the work these boys did in restoring it. And Cap can settle in his new dogs.’

‘Want me to come with you, Pop?’

‘Nah, I’m good. You take a shower, kid, and get your jug of gin. You deserve it. This way, Porter.’ Charlie patted the police officer’s back as he led him off, his bandy-legged walk seemed weary.

‘Psst, Dex? Do me a favour and go play babysitter for me until I get my jug of gin and play catch-up?’ Bree angled her head at Charlie and Porter.

‘No worries. Don’t forget to bring me a glass.’ Dex trotted after them.

‘Bree, before you go?’ Ryder held open the gate. ‘Thank you for today.’

‘I didn’t do it for you.’

‘I know. But I’d like to give you a bonus for your work.’

‘I don’t work for you. You don’t own me, and you can’t buy me. I’m here for Charlie. What I did today was for Charlie. But that was the last time I’ll do the pound again for anyone. And you can forget putting me near the pit, I’m no one’s dogsbody in the drafting yards.’

‘But your skills in cattle selection were spot on. I heard you correcting Charlie.’

‘Because I was on the ground, wiping the yard dust off my teeth. Charlie is and will always be the king of the drafting yards to me. I may correct him, but the man taught me.’

‘Just know we appreciate—’

‘Stop sucking up to me, cupcake, when it’s Charlie you need to thank.’ She turned away, closing the cottage door with a bang.

‘The cranky, irritating, pig-headed, redhead! I wasn’t sucking up.’ Ryder scowled at the closed door.

Cap gave a low chuckle from the back of the paddy wagon. ‘Mia? Now that the crowd has thinned out, can you put Willow inside the cottage yard with Atlas and Fern while Ryder and I get these dogs out?’

‘Sure.’ Mia hustled the three dogs into the front yard filled with assorted flowers, closing the chest-high gate she peered over to watch.

Ryder opened the heavy cage door at the back of the police paddy wagon and out jumped two massive, white and woolly dogs.

‘Now I know why Harper kept calling them bears.’

‘They’re big enough to scare off a dingo, I hope,’ said Ryder, inspecting the dogs. ‘At least they’re bigger than those wild dogs we saw.’ He frowned, standing tall to face the farmhouse. ‘Which reminds me to check on those cameras.’

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