Page 16 of Stockman's Stowaway

‘Dex is cool. We share the same weird sense of humour—but we will never ever tell him that.’ Again, Bree shared anotherwolfish grin, helping to distract Mia from her issues. ‘Then you have Ash, who used to love the game of chasing skirt and playing computer games all night. Until the little snowflake grew up overnight when his son, Mason, arrived, along with the perfect lady to suit Ash.’

‘And her name?’

‘Harper. She’s only been in the Territory a few months, knows nothing about cattle, but is a whizz with politics and office stuff. She works part-time at the vet surgery in town, which is handy because she loves to shop—so it’s like dial-up delivery service. You’ll meet her soon. Harper visits for cooking lessons. Can you cook?’

‘Basic stuff. You?’ Mia had been spoiled with flavoursome soups, smoothies, and lots of comforting cupcakes. Food that was easy for her to eat with her sore jaw. The level of care these strangers provided for her was heartwarming.

‘Well, me and my curves like my food, and my gin.’ Bree patted her healthy curves. Bree not only had the height and a stack of red hair, she also had a generous bosom that Mia would kill for.

‘Which reminds me, I’ve got a new batch of gin to test.’

‘You make your own gin?’

‘It keeps me out of trouble.’ Bree winked with those green eyes all sparkly. ‘We’ll have to find a flavour you like when you’re ready. But I noticed you haven’t asked about him yet.’

‘Who?’

‘Cap. Don’t you want the dirt on him?’

Mia swallowed hard, desperate to fight her blush. ‘I—’

‘Don’t worry, precious.’ Bree waved her hand in the air as if shooing away a bug. ‘There is no dirt on Cap, except the dirt he wears at the end of the day.’

‘So, um, he’s…’ Trying not to make it too obvious, but she had to learn more about the guy who’d offered her a job. ‘Nice?’

Bree tilted her head at Mia, sharing a wry grin. ‘Cap is a rare unicorn.’

‘A what?’

‘He’s very much a masculine male who is in touch with his sensitive side, but it’s not a weakness in him, it’s a strength.’

‘Cap helped me.’

‘And Cap will continue to help you, because that’s what Cap does.’

‘For everyone?’

‘No.’

‘Excuse me?’ Mia’s eyelids fluttered as if to blink away some imaginary grit.

‘Cap only rescues stray dogs. Working dogs are his specialty.’

‘I noticed he has a lot of dogs.’ Having been up close and personal with the pack in the cage.

‘Cap’s either found those dogs on the side of the road, saved them from some farmer’s bullet, or people have sought him out to care for the dog—like Sarge, the ex-riot dog.’ Bree leaned closer, resting her forearms on her knees. ‘But you’re Cap’s first human stray. Which is rare because Cap doesn’t do people. He’d rather hang with his dogs, or his brothers, than deal with people. So, he may struggle to say what he means, especially when he likes someone.’ Bree’s green eyes locked onto Mia’s for a long beat, as if sending a message.

‘VISITORS!’ Charlie’s shout came from the back sheds, as a dog gave a deep bark from up at the farmhouse.

‘I have to tell Charlie to stop doing that!’ Bree peered over the garden and watched as a white car roof, topped with emergency lights, parked nearby.

‘It’s the police. What are they doing here?’ Mia jumped out of her seat, pushing past the flaring pain from her bruises with her heart hammering in her chest.

‘It’s only Porter.’

‘I can’t. He’ll see my face and ask too many questions.’ Bree had told her to call the police, but Mia didn’t want to cause trouble, or for her family to find out. Most of all she never wanted to see Gavin again. She hated confrontations, avoiding them at all costs. It was right up there with public speaking.

‘You can hide inside. I won’t say anything.’ Bree held the front door open.

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