Page 98 of Stockman's Stowaway

‘Her prince went dark and hit her.’ Bree’s smile fell, as did the fun mood. ‘The princess thought she could save him, fix him, make the home better for him, but he only got darker and darker.’

‘What happened?’

‘The princess remained loyal to the prince she loved. Thinking no one else could help her, that it was all her fault that the prince was like that, believing she could save her prince.’

‘Lost cause, she should’ve dumped that prince on his ass,’ mumbled Dex.

‘Maybe she might have, if they didn’t have a child.’

The air got heavy as if everyone paused, the brothers who went to extra lengths for family were silent.

‘Was the child safe?’ Mia whispered.

Bree nodded. ‘The princess built this special cupboard just for the child, who thought it was part of a special secret game. The princess told their child to hide inside this teeny, little cubbyhole, where the child would find new toys to play with, along with promises of ice cream and trips to the zoo if the child stayed quiet. Because they both knew that the prince would become the perfect husband and the perfect fatherafterhisblack moods had faded and the bruises disappeared. Until the next time the black moods returned.’

‘What happened to them?’

‘He killed the princess. Murdered her before breakfast.’

Mia gasped, holding her stomach. Beside her, Dex sucked air through his teeth with a hiss.

‘The princess thought her family couldn’t help, when all she had to do was call them and they would have been there in an instant.’

Mia dropped her head, the guilt of not calling her family now making her ill.

‘However, the princess’s child did get the support of the princess’s loving family, they helped her heal so she could grow up stronger, to not hide from the world. They gave her the support and the confidence to be anything she wanted to be.’ Bree squeezed Mia’s hands like a sister. ‘The reason I’m telling you this is that you have your family to help. And there’s also us. Ryder and Dex won’t let anything happen to you. You’ve got me and Charlie as your support group, Harper too, that we know you’ll handle anything, and we’d be willing to help you. Especially Cap. But do you think your family would have helped you out?’

Mia nodded. ‘My family would have caught the first plane out to take me home. But I don’t want to go back there. At first I was just ashamed to tell them, but now I don’t want to go back there at all.’

‘Because you have your home, with Cap, at the station.’ Bree cradled Mia’s hands, lowering herself so Mia couldn’t look away from those empathetic green eyes. ‘The reason you didn’t call them is that you are far stronger than you realise. You knew, deep down, that you were always going to be okay. This past month, you could have left Elsie Creek Station at any time, but you chose not to because you’ve been proving to yourself thatyou have that strength to keep moving forward to put all that horribleness behind you.’

‘Is that what you do? I know about your son, the dogs…’ Mia swallowed.

Bree didn’t even react, no frown, no raised eyebrows, nothing. ‘It’s why I know you can do this, Mia. You are far stronger than you realise. And you deserve a big win after what you’ve been through. So, by entering Willow and yourself in the trials, you’ll not only be helping Cap in the biggest possible way, but you’ll be returning that kindness that the Riggs brothers have done in making sure you’re kept safe and have a home where you belong.’

Dex nodded, over Bree’s shoulders. Ryder didn’t react, as per normal.

‘More importantly, precious, doing this event will help you.’

‘Me?’

‘You’ll prove to yourself that Gavin hasn’t beaten you. No one can, because your past will only make you stronger.’

‘Do you really believe that?’

‘I do. Now you need to believe that, too. So, what do you say? You in?’

Forty

Mia shook her head. She wanted to run and hide like she always did, but she had no choice. She looked at Willow, sitting patiently by her side, unaware at what they were asking. ‘Do you think we can do it?’

‘I do,’ replied Bree.

‘Ditto.’ Dex nodded behind her.

‘You don’t need to win,’ said Ryder bluntly, leaning against the rails of the empty dog pen, as the crowds shifted in the display tent.

‘Why not?’ Dex asked.

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