Page 12 of Stockman's Stowaway

Six

‘We’ve got dingoes.’ Dex dragged out his chair at the outdoor table that occupied the corner of the farmhouse’s front porch. It’s where Cap and the rest of his brothers had gathered for every sunrise and sunset since they’d moved in. ‘Mongrels got one of the calves.’

‘Which means they’ll be back,’ said Ryder, passing out a round of cold beers to his brothers.

‘Can we bait them?’ Ash asked as he spun his chair around to sit on it like a saddle.

‘Not with my dogs around, thank you. Besides, they’re a native animal that was here first.’ Cap patted Sarge, the guard dog, before dragging out his chair.

‘Not for long, if they keep this up. They’ll have a belly full of lead if they take any more of our calves,’ said Dex.

‘I may have a solution.’ Cap scrubbed at his hair, hidden under his cap, unsure how to broach the subject with his two older brothers, who weren’t as open to change as his younger brother, Ash.

‘We could put up an electric fence,’ Ash offered.

‘They’re too smart and cunning for that, when a box of bullets will do.’

Cap frowned at the bully, Dex, who provoked his violent streak for a living. ‘We don’t need to kill them. We can share thespace with them as they’re an Apex hunter that will effectively manage the roos from destroying our crops, just the way nature intended. And I have some ideas.’

‘Well, you’re the dog whisperer. Let’s hear it.’ Dex rocked in his chair while chugging on his beer, but his dark steely eyes kept watching. But they weren’t nearly as cold as Ryder’s.

‘I’m thinking of getting some nanny dogs.’

‘We’ve got one; it’s Ruby who looks after Mason.’ Ash pointed his beer at the plump labrador lying next to the child playing in the lounge.

Dex tilted his head. ‘Is it me or is that labrador getting fat.’

‘Stop fat-shaming my son’s dog,’ said Ash. ‘Ruby’s retired, leave her alone.’

‘Harper has ruined those police dogs, she’s turned them into pampered house pets. Look at what she’s done to that beagle.’ Dex pointed at the beagle, flat on her back inside a very plush dog bed, wearing a neckerchief, snoring.

‘I’m thinking of getting dogs for the calves,’ blurted out Cap to stop his brothers bickering.

‘Eh?’ Dex raised an eyebrow.

‘Do you mean guardian dogs?’ Ryder asked. ‘Like they do with sheep?’

Cap nodded. ‘Yes, it’s the same concept. I can get us some maremmas. There’s a station up near Broome that’s had some luck with that breed in protecting their calves.’ Cap scrolled through his phone and brought up some pictures. ‘They’d live with the calves to protect the herd. Eventually I’d love to establish a breeding program here and sell the pups.’

‘You’d give up a dog?’ Dex chuckled. ‘You, who is forever bringing home strays?’

‘Sure, if they’re going to a good home. I’d check out the owners before they left, and I’d ensure they had proper training. I’d also like to train local farmers on using muster dogs, orhelp them with any problem dogs they have to help build their mustering teams.’

‘That’s a lot to take on. When we’re flat out fixing this place up.’ Ryder looked annoyed, which was normal.

‘Talking about strays…’

‘What did you bring home now?’ Ryder arched an eyebrow at Cap.

‘Porter’s bringing out a dog.’ Cap then spotted Bree coming towards them from the caretaker’s cottage. It was enough to make him rub the bridge of his nose to push back the headache that was about to form. ‘And I brought back someone else.’

‘Who?’ Dex followed Cap’s line of sight to turn in his seat. ‘Uh-oh, incoming.’

‘She’s staying at Bree’s.’

‘Friend of Bree’s?’

‘Nah, she snuck into the back of the ute.’

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