Page 9 of Stockman's Stowaway

‘My wife started it, and now my granddaughter manages it.’ Charlie nodded at the yard filled with an assortment of vegetables.

‘I’ve never seen squash like this.’ Mia pointed at the strangely shaped summer squash that grew alongside luffa squashes and gourds, even some tri-coloured winter pumpkin shaped like a bell. ‘How? It’s winter with summer crops?’

‘I’d say they’ve adapted, considering they’ve been using the same seed stock for half a century, which would make them heirloom vegetables,’ explained Cap. ‘What do you think?’

‘This is incredible.’ Mia wanted to pluck at the vegetables she’d only seen in books. An oasis in the outback that filled the air with astonishing scents. It had her stomach rumbling.

‘BREE?’ Charlie hollered.

Mia jumped in fright. Swallowing hard, she looked back for an escape.

But Cap was there, holding out his hands to calm her down with his soothing tone. ‘It’s okay, Mia. You're safe here. I promise.’

‘I’m not normally this jumpy.’ Even if her heart was hammering in her chest, with her throat so dry and tight.

Cap said nothing, just giving her those sad eyes. She had to turn away.

‘I’m coming, Pop.’ The woman’s voice came from the left area of the back sheds. Horse stables stood on the right end of the corrugated fence line, and in the middle was a spectacular view of horses grazing in a paddock, which led to a group of trees and the rocky red escarpment. What a view.

Movement caught her eye and she turned to discover a meshed dome covering a raised garden bed. Inside it three hens were busily digging like tractors in the richest dark soil. It was so sweet, her dirt-loving fingers itched to dive in there.

A gate shut, and footsteps came down the stone path. ‘Where have you been, Charlie?’ The woman was hidden by a high trellis of sugar peas and snake beans.

‘I went to town with Cap to see a bloke about a dog.’

‘Is that your knitting circle where you blokes make jumpers you’ll never wear?’

‘I left you a note.’

‘Where?’

‘Kitchen. Wind must’ve blown it away.’

‘Uh huh. Which reminds me to update my spam filters, and to spray the house for note-stealing spinifex fairies.’

‘Anyhoodle, we picked up a stray.’ Charlie pointed at Mia. ‘Bree, meet Mia. She’s gonna crash on the couch for a bit.’

In a thick leather apron, Bree ripped off her long leather gloves, pulling off her skullcap to release a shocking spill of red curls. Mia had never seen so much hair.

‘Uh, hi, Bree.’

Bree said nothing for the longest time, while her green eyes took in the details. ‘Are you okay?’

Mia nodded, then shook her head, her eyes hot with tears. ‘This has never happened to me before.’

‘Aw, come here, precious.’ Bree swallowed Mia in a big sisterly hug.

Normally Mia didn’t hug anyone, but something inside her broke as she lowered her face into Bree’s soft hair, gently scented with lavender and vanilla. Or was that pecan?

‘I’ve got you. You’re safe now, precious.’ Bree rubbed her back in a soothing manner.

‘Told ya my granddaughter would be an instant friend.’ Charlie nodded. ‘Come on, Cap, let’s leave ‘em to it. Mia’s in good hands now.’

‘I’ll check on you later, Mia. If you need anything, let me know.’ Cap nodded at her, clearly concerned for her, before he followed Charlie.

Strangely, Mia didn’t want Cap to leave. She wanted to say thanks. She wanted to stop blubbering, but was helpless as her shoulders slumped, and the adrenaline leached out of her to leave her a hot thumping mess.

Five

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