Page 62 of Stockman's Stowaway

‘I do. Do the brothers know this?’

‘I don’t care what they think. I’m doing it for the puppies. Come on, Scout, let’s put that nose of yours to work.’

Twenty-one

‘What the flip?’ Dex pointed at the Razorback cutting through the outback, as Ash started to curse under his breath.

‘What’s the matter?’ Cap stood beside Ryder, high on the viewing platform, giving them a grand view over the drafting yards.

‘It’s time to lock up the ladies,’ said Ash, ‘because CowboyfreakingCraig, is here at Elsie Creek Station.’

‘What have you been drinking?’ Ryder asked Ash.

‘Sounds like he’s been into Dex’s stash.’ Cap chuckled.

‘He’d better not have.’ Dex crossed his arms, his eyes shaded beneath his hat’s wide brim. ‘You know, that’s the first time I’ve seen Bree driving the Razorback.’

The dust plume was high as the Razorback skimmed over the red soils like a boat flying on air. Charlie sat in the passenger seat and in the back stood Craig and Mia, holding onto the rail, with Willow beside her. The wind blew back Mia’s hair, exposing her wide smile. She was obviously having the time of her life.

‘They’ve got Scout with them.’ Cap pointed to the beagle sitting on Charlie’s lap with her long ears flapping like wings.

Ryder positively growled deep in his chest. ‘What is that woman up to now? She’s got her shotgun with her, too.’

Bree parked the Razorback near the stairs. Craig held his hand out to help Mia climb off the back like a lady in a carriage.

Cap frowned.

‘Careful, Cap. Cowboy Craig loves the single ladies, or they love him,’ teased Dex.

‘Mia is her own woman.’ He didn’t dare expect anything with Mia, not after what she’d been through.

Yet, the heated pangs of jealousy created an unexpected rage that crept up his shoulders to skim across the back of his neck. He removed his hat and used his shirt’s sleeve to savagely wipe the sweat from his brow. He’d never been jealous of anyone.

Somewhere along the way he’d begun to care about Mia, so much so that she’d become his first and final thought of the day. She’d become his number one priority so quickly and so easily, it worried him. Tangling with the emotions of a woman who was in Mia’s situation was not right. She needed to heal and not have some tool like him in her space.

Yet, he couldn’t help but worry about her—it was maddening.

It was also madness that he was experiencing a whole new range of emotions he only felt when he was around Mia. Like jealousy and a territorial protectiveness that easily turned into rage. He’d never been like this with anyone. It wasn’t right.

He shifted in his boots, crossed and uncrossed his arms to at least pretend he didn’t care, while slyly sneaking glances at Mia to check she was okay. She had been through enough, she needed time to heal. By then she wouldn’t even give someone like Cap a second glance.

‘Hey, fellas. Have you met Craig?’ Charlie slowly clambered up the steps with his bandy-legged swagger, while the taller cowboy effortlessly took two steps at a time.

The show-off.

‘Congrats on the boy, Ash,’ said Craig. ‘Mason is a good-looking lad, and so is your clever little lady, Harper.’

‘Thanks, Craig.’ Ash shook hands with Craig.

‘Craig reckons he knows you two,’ said Charlie.

‘Craig came out home with Jonathan one Christmas,’ replied Ash.

‘And it was Dex here who knocked me out cold in the boxing ring. Rum and boxing do not go together.’

‘Especially when you’d started with our grandfather at breakfast.’ Dex chuckled, shaking hands and patting Craig on the back like old friends. ‘This is Ryder. And have you met Cap?’

‘I’ve heard plenty, but we’ve never officially met. Ryan, the local vet, is a good mate of mine. He speaks highly of what you do with the muster dogs, Cap.’

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