Page 59 of Stockman's Stowaway

‘Who? How? Where?’ She looked around for Willow.

The back door opened, and Charlie stepped inside. ‘Morning, Mia. Have you met Craig?’

‘I, um…’ Hiding under the blankets, she slid into her overalls, and tried to tidy up her hair. She was in desperate need of a toothbrush, face wash, or a shower.

Craig didn’t seem real—he was way too handsome, with a set of strong straight shoulders and a waist that trimmed down into a dusty pair of jeans that rolled over his strong thighs, and an astonishingly beautiful butt. He even wore a rodeo-style belt buckle, just like the many Charlie had crowding his bookshelf.

Mia rubbed the sleep from her eyes, anything to stop watching the blond cowboy who should be on the cover of some cowboy calendar—and of all the days for this guy to show up, it had to be when she looked like a dog’s dinner gone bad!

‘Here, I got you a decaf, old man.’ Craig held out a takeaway coffee cup. ‘Freshly heated from the microwave.’

Charlie frowned as he sniffed at his cup. ‘You could’ve said it was normal and I wouldn’t have known.’

‘Bree’s orders. You’ve got a tricky ticker to look after. And I’m guessing the extra cup Bree ordered is for you, Mia.’ Craig put the cup on the table.

‘Where is Bree?’

‘Coming. She’s just finishin’ a job.’ Charlie reached for a pastry and sniffed at it. ‘And before you ask, girlie, Willow’s outside. She needed to do her business.’

Mia looked at the grandfather clock. It was nearly nine. ‘I slept in.’

‘Me too. Been a busy couple of days.’ Charlie dragged out a chair at the table. ‘Come have some mornin’ smoko, girlie. Just don’t touch the cupcakes, they’re Bree’s favourite. Lord knows that girl could do with a sweet treat. Swear she was gonna rip off that Policeman Porter’s head at one stage.’

‘Why were the cops out here?’ Craig removed his hat and dropped it on the spare chair, on its crown, to then brush fingers through his soft curls. Without the hat, but with that deep tan and blond curls, Craig looked like a stunningly hot surfer.

Charlie shrugged. ‘It was just Porter. He did a vehicle inspection for me. Brought out some big guardian dogs for Cap, to watch over the calves. I’ve never seen it on beef cattle, you know.’

‘I’d heard of that being done in the north-west. You’ll have to let me know how it goes. I know a few cattlemen who’d be keen to try it on their stations to protect their calves.’

‘Mia can mention that to Cap. Come on, girlie, take a seat. Craig don’t bite.’

Mia gingerly sat and sipped on her coffee. The caffeine flavour was rich and creamy, coating her tongue. ‘This is excellent coffee.’ She hadn’t had a coffee all week, as Bree didn’t keep coffee in the house because of Charlie.

‘The Station Hand’s daughter makes a fine coffee.’

‘Who?’

‘Lucy. She runs the food van at the train station in town that she’s branded it asThe Station Hand’s Daughter.’ Craig pushed the box of pastries towards her, then he stopped to lean closer and wince. Sitting back, his brow ruffled. ‘Are you okay?’ He glanced at Charlie.

‘I’m okay.’ Brushing her hair to hide the bruising on her face, Mia turned away from the stunning male specimen.

‘Mia’s doing good, aren’t you, girlie?’

Mia nodded.

‘Take a pastry, go on. Bree calls it comfort food. Don’t worry, girlie, we burn off plenty of calories out here from the hard yakka, you don’t need to worry about the weight.’

‘Thanks.’ She gave a meek smile and plucked up a croissant.

‘Before you ask, Craig, Cap and I found Mia stowed away in the back of Cap’s old Tojo with all his dogs. And they liked Mia. So does Cap. So, no flirtin’ with the girl or you’ll have Cap on your case.’ Charlie wagged his thick finger at the younger cowboy. ‘About time Cap found himself a nice lady.’

Mia nearly choked on her coffee.

‘Which one is Cap?’

‘Haven’t you met them?’ Charlie asked. ‘Aren’t you mates with the younger one, Jonathan?’

‘Sure. I know Dex and Ash. I knowofCap through my mate Ryan, the town vet. But not Ryder, the oldest. He’d been gone ten years.’

---