Page 14 of Stockman's Stowaway

‘How could you not see her?’ Dex asked Cap. ‘I know you’re always checking that cage.’

‘The dogs must have shielded her while she hid behind the bags of dog food. And she’s such a tiny thing.’ Pretty, even. But he wasn’t sharing that with his brothers.

‘Oh, as an FYI, Mia talks just like Cap about the garden, soil, and stuff. All eco-friendly.’ Bree gave Cap a wry grin, her eyes all sparkly, which was a sure sign of trouble.

‘I see.’ Ryder gripped his beer, as his scowl deepened. ‘You’re not trying to save another stray, are you, Cap? When everything went to hell with the last mystery woman we had out here.’

‘Oi, leave Harper out of it.’ Ash frowned.

Cap gritted his teeth, his hands curling to fists on his thighs. ‘I don’t care what you say, Mia is staying as long as she wants.’

‘I vote we let her stay.’ Ash raised his beer. ‘If this Mia knows her stuff, she could offer ideas on fodder and how to improve our pasture grasses. Right, Cap?’

‘Exactly.’ Cap nodded at his younger brother, so glad to have him on board. ‘You gave me a paddock to run my own trials, and I’m hoping Mia can advise me on the best plant stock we can use in the best possible way to improve our soil.’

‘But only when she’s ready, Cap.’ Bree lowered herself to meet his eyes, there was a heavy protectiveness laced within her voice. ‘Mia is going to be sore for the next few days, so I’d appreciate it if she had no visitors to let her heal in peace.’

‘Thank you, Bree.’ The relief was enormous that the redhead was on the job.

‘Do you think Mia should call the police?’ Ryder asked.

‘Hell, yeah.’ Cap’s scowl was low over his eyes, as an unexpected rage began bristling within his chest. ‘Porter’s bringing out a dog later, we can talk to him then.’

‘Mongrel.’ Dex frowned as his chair thumped hard on the floorboards. ‘If anyone laid a hand on one of our sisters, I’d kill the bastard. We all would.’ Dex’s voice was loaded with grit, coming from a man who never backed down from a fight in and out of the ring. ‘But as I’m so good-looking, I’d hate to steal Cap’s thunder of being the white knight—’

‘Leave off.’

‘Tell this girl—’

‘Her name isMia.’ Cap ground his teeth and sneered viciously at Dex.

‘Did Mia say this man’s name, to keep a lookout for him?’ Ryder asked Bree.

‘Gavin Rikers.’

A name Cap would never forget.

Seven

‘You’re welcome to flick through Pop’s cowboy books or magazines. I’ve got an e-reader if you want to read anything else.’ Bree led Mia out the front door to the small verandah where a set of comfy cane chairs, a small table, and a sparsely filled bookcase created a cosy corner with a view of the front yard’s flower garden. ‘It’s a good spot here in the mornings. The flowers are at their most fragrant then.’

‘Did you plant this?’

‘Me, no. Pop grows them in memory of my grandmother, Beverly Splint. Granny Bea loved this part of the garden.’

‘It’s beautiful.’

‘It is. And you should tell him that and watch ol’ Charlie blush. It’s the sweetest thing.’ Bree giggled as she plumped up some cushions on the comfy cane chair.

‘Where are your parents?’

‘Gone. Yours?’

‘They live with my brother on the family farm.’ Mia lowered herself into the chair, the plump cushions cocooning her sore ribs.

‘Where?’

‘Nildottie. On the river, near Swan Reach?’

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