Page 24 of Stockman's Stowaway

Cap grinned, turning to watch his nephew, Mason, run towards them on his little legs. The toddler was getting bigger every day.

‘Hello, little big man.’ Bree swooped Mason up in her arms, her smile wide.

It still pained him to know about the son Bree had lost. How Bree could smile like she did showed spirit. Or she hid the pain of her past well.

‘Look who else is here.’ Bree pointed to Cap. ‘Go on, tell him your new word.’

The toddler grinned, looking just like his father. ‘U-u. Unnn—cal. Uncle.’

‘Uncle who?’ Bree put the boy on the ground.

‘Unnncle CAP.’

Didn’t his heart just freaking melt. ‘That’s right, Mason.’ He couldn’t help but scoop up the boy and hug his nephew. ‘Wantto help us set up house for Mia?’ Wait. Did he just say that out loud?

Ten

Mia smiled so wide it bloomed from her heart as she watched Cap play with the small boy, Mason. He was a truly kind man, who saved dogs, and had been so helpful to Mia, just like Bree and Charlie. Cap was not only sensitive to others and animals, he also had the body to create one stunning masculine package. He was a rare unicorn indeed.

But then a stabbing twinge of pain became that cruel dose of reality forcing her to turn away from Cap doting over his nephew. She didn’t deserve those happy family moments, it’s why she chose losers for partners, and in the last instance, a monster.

Cap was doing his best to help her, giving her a place to stay, and a job she’d always dreamed about. Technically he was her boss. And she’d hate for him look at her with pity like she was some broken animal.

The reality being she really was broken in a way that was hidden to the world.

‘Hi, I’m Harper.’ A slender woman with ivory skin and black hair approached, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, new jeans, and a crisp collared shirt. She looked fancy. ‘You must be Mia.’ Surprisingly, she shook hands like a man.

‘You did the shopping for me. Thank you.’ After Mia arrived at this place with nothing but the clothes she was wearing, Breerang Harper to collect the necessities for Mia on her way home from work.

‘I hope it all fits.’

‘Absolutely, I must pay you back.’

‘All good. You can pay in babysitting fees. If you stay…here?’ Harper screwed her nose up at the demountable. ‘Really? You’d give up Bree’s comfy couch for this?’

‘I’ve lived in worse. Mining companies make a point of putting the revegetation workers in the worst accommodations.’

‘You should have seen the farmhouse when I first arrived. Bree called it a frat house.’ Harper held out a dark brown, wide-brimmed hat. ‘This is for you. Cap said you’d need one. Bree suggested the size and style, she’s good like that. If you don’t like it, I have others you can try, or I can swap it for a different size when I go in to work later. It seems I have a new obsession with hats these days. I’ve accumulated so many that Ash is making me a new hat rack for the hallway.’

‘Because of your skin.’ Mia slid on the wide-brimmed hat. ‘This is brilliant.’ It was a great fit. Same with the overalls Bree had found for Mia to sloth around in.

‘You should hit up Bree for her sunscreen. It’s the best. She makes it herself, and all sorts of home remedies. I think that’s why Dex calls her a witch.’

‘I didn’t know that.’ Mia watched Bree go through the demountable while Cap played with Mason. ‘It’s like being back home, hanging out with Bree and Charlie.’

‘How so?’

‘Bree had me helping her make chilli sauce, and tomato purees for pizzas. My mother did that too with jams and preserves.’ Washing jars, sterilising them, then doing the bottling, to leave the kitchen bench covered with bottles, and the fragrance of fruit lingering in the house. Especially when Charliebrought in loaves of bread he’d baked that morning before sunrise, it was the best.

‘I’ve been having cooking lessons with Bree. Can’t cook, but I can make a salad. Cap said if you move in here, you’ll go on the cooking roster for the farmhouse.’

‘I want to be useful, because you guys have done so much for me.’

‘They do that,’ said Harper, sharing a soft smile at Cap. ‘The Riggs brothers will drop everything to help when needed. You should’ve seen what they did for Mason. Now you.’

‘I’m not putting them out, am I?’

‘Are you kidding? Cap is like mega-excited to have you here. He can’t wait for you to start. He really likes you.’ Harper nudged her playfully.

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