Page 71 of Stockman's Stowaway

‘So that whenever the Tojo runs over the corrugations, I hear the rattle of Dodge’s collar to remind me to keep going, especially through the tough times, to know I’ll find paradise on the other side.’

‘Was Dodge, um…’ She peered down into the Tojo’s cage where Willow was sleeping on a blanket Bree had given her, which she shared with Atlas and Fern, while the rest of the muster dogs were tucked up safe in their kennels. ‘… dumped, like Willow?’

‘Worse. I saved him from a bullet. I nearly swallowed that lead myself.’

‘Seriously?’

‘I was only a young station hand then, when I realised what was happening. I’d sprinted from the sheds, slid across the dust to drop to my knees and put myself directly in front of that shotgun, keeping Dodge to my back, where he’d been chained to a tree.’

She gasped. ‘Why?’

‘That prick called Dodge a mutt and said he was no good as a muster dog, and wouldn’t listen to him.’ He scowled at thesky. ‘That farmer was so wrong. Dodge taught me so much, he helped me train the other dogs, like Atlas does now.’ He sighed and looked at Mia with such sorrow in his eyes. ‘Dodge would’ve loved this place.’

‘You’re lucky to call this place home.’ She nodded at the expansive sleeping landscape that stretched in all directions beyond the hidden horizon. Even with the other dramas unfolding in the background, it was like sitting in paradise.

‘It’s taken a long time to get here. Without my brothers, Ryder especially, none of this would have been possible. I mean, I never pictured living in a house the way Bree did, but I can now.’ His voice was deep and raspy, prompting images of sultry summer nights, soft sheets and nothing but skin on skin.

It wasn’t fair.

No, it was worse, especially when his malt-whisky eyes drank her in like she was sunshine on a rainy day, and he was desperate for the rays.

‘The many dreams I thought would’ve taken decades to achieve, I can actually reach out and touch them now, because of you.’

‘The revegetation?’

He nodded. ‘Your input has been invaluable.’

And that meant he only saw her as an employee, nothing more. She hugged her knees, desperate to squash her inner emotions playing havoc with her mind—she had a job to do. He was the boss, and she was the contractor.

She looked up to find Cap still staring at her.

He then leaned over and gently brushed the hair from her forehead and tucked it behind one ear as the blood whooshed through her. With the moon rising behind him, it cast an ethereal, magical glow around him. ‘Thank you for everything, Mia.’

She sighed at the sound of her name crossing his lips. ‘I should thank you.’ When she really wanted to kiss him. Wouldn’t that be the best way to properly thank the man who’d been her hero from the second he’d helped her out of the back of the Tojo, giving her a place to stay, and her dream job?

But his intense gaze had her pinned as he stared at her for so long that the demons that haunted her vaporised, and all she saw, smelt, heard, and needed to feel was Caleb ‘Cap’ Riggs.

She leaned in closer to kiss him, but he pulled back, and she gasped. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘No, I’m sorry.’ He sat back higher in his swag as if to get away from her.

‘I shouldn’t have done that.’ She hid her face in her hands where the heat radiated through her fingers. What was she thinking? Cap wouldn’t touch her, not when he’d seen her at her worst.

‘Hey…’ He tenderly stroked her hair. ‘Were you going to kiss me?’

She couldn’t look at him, barely nodding. ‘I got my wires crossed and read the signals wrong.’ Cap was just being kind to her, like he was with all the other strays he rescued. ‘I should go.’ She went to pack up, but he held her wrist.

‘Mia, look at me.’

It took a while to find the courage to meet his eyes. She was expecting to see disgust and disappointment, but what she saw was unexpected.

Cap leaned in so close, his breath warm, his eyes blazing with hunger for her, but it also came with a whole new level of tenderness. With the tip of his finger, he traced along her bottom lip, then her chin, to cup her cheek while his eyes roamed over her face.

‘It’s the bruises.’ She pulled back, hating them.

‘You’ve been through a lot. I don’t think you’re ready for anything.’

‘I’m trying to forget.’

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