Page 23 of Stockman's Stowaway

It was as if those words flashed in his brain, like some savage animal wanting to imprint on her until she was his. He wiped hismouth, as if that would get rid of the flavour of desire so deep it travelled like an earth tremor all over him. He turned for the car. ‘Well, how about you give me some ideas on what to do with this paddock.’ He drank deeply from his mug, quenching his inner thirst.

Women never looked at him, not when he spent more time with animals than humans. Cap avoided people if he could, except for his brothers. Besides, someone like Mia wouldn’t be interested in getting involved with anyone, not after what Gavin had done to her.

Pity, because she might just be the perfect woman for him. Or did fate have something else in store…

Nine

‘I’ve always called thisthe dogbox.’

‘Aw, come on, Bree. It’s not that bad, is it?’ Cap pointed at the long rectangle box of steel and ironclad sheeting that contained two rooms and one bathroom.

Hold on a second…

He tilted his head at the demountable. Bree was right, it was a dogbox. Especially when his muster dogs were sprawled underneath it, enjoying the shade from the mid-morning sun.

‘It’s fitting for the kennel master who hangs out with dogs all day, but you can’t expect Mia to stay here.’ Bree opened the door, waving her hand at the musty fumes billowing out of the spare room.

‘It’ll be fine.’ Mia stood close enough for Cap to enjoy her sprightly summer aroma of orange blossoms. ‘I’ve been in worse on mine sites. Really, I have.’

Cap gave Mia a grateful smile. After spending most of yesterday with her going over his plans for his paddock, he was hoping to give her a space to stay and be a part of something big—with him.

But who was he kidding. Bree was right, this wasn’t good enough for Mia. ‘This was a bad idea.’

‘No, it’s a brilliant idea.’ Bree grinned at him.

‘But you just said—’

‘I know what I said, tiger. I don’t have short-term memory loss. It may be a dogbox, but it has enormous potential.’ Bree jumped down the rickety wooden steps that sat beneath each door. ‘Do you have any ideas for this place?’

Cap shrugged.

‘Don’t you have some secret wish list on how your dream home should look?’

He may have dreams about the land, but for dwellings… Meh.

‘I just want somewhere safe for the dogs and a view for my morning cuppa.’ He pointed to the far end of the demountable. It was his favourite spot where he kept his camp chair near his billy on a tiny gas plate. It looked primitive. What was he thinking, inviting Mia here? She deserved better than this.

‘Oh, wow.’ Mia’s jaw dropped as her eyes widened at the open landscape where the sun’s rays peeked through the sparse clouds hovering above the wide valley that held nothing but open country. ‘I’d live out here. I mean, right here, on this spot.’

Cap would too.

‘Can’t we spin the demountable around to face this view or something?’ Mia’s smile was so sparkly and sweet.

‘Precious,’ said Bree, tapping Mia’s shoulder, ‘we have buildings lying a certain way, so they don’t take the full brunt of the outback sun all day long, to burn out the engines of our already overworked air conditioners. But, for that gorgeous view, it’s worth doing something.’

He was stoked that Bree and Mia liked the view as much as he did. ‘Such as?’

Bree hesitated.

‘Come on, Bree, it’s why I asked you over here this morning? I’m hoping for some of your magicking.’ Dex called her a witch to tease the redhead.

Today, Cap was grateful Bree had downed tools to come over with Mia to check this place out. Because Bree, like hergrandfather, was a master crafter when it came to metals. She could do anything with this place, plus give it the female’s POV for Mia’s sake.

Cap understood that mastery was picking a skill that you worked tremendously hard at until you became one of the best. He wasn’t a master, preferring to pick up several skills, working hard at each of those skills until he became fairly competent in all of them, to then combine them to create an entirely new style or form to suit his needs. It was handy when he adapted his skills to suit the individual animals he taught, and the lands he lived on.

Mia was also a master in her field, and that was an advantage for what he wanted. It was also a privilege to have these two strong women here; it was like breathing a rare air indeed. Especially when he never had much to do with women.

‘Bree-Bree-BREEE!’ A small boy’s voice echoed in the air.

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