Page 100 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘I kicked Dex out of the Kombi at two in the morning, because I would not risk Dex being caught in the front seat, while I was towing a copper still and a few dozen cases of full-proof illegal gin down the highway.’ She then peered around the hidden room, where her tone softened. ‘For the record, Dex and I talked about this room becoming a space for you to use. It’d be perfect,’ she said, walking back out to the main room. ‘You could work on your guns while overseeing a wall of monitors for your surveillance cameras, and then you guys could meet here for your boardroom meetings instead of at the farmhouse.’

‘Why here?’ Dex asked.

‘It’s central to your place, the stockman’s shack, Cap’s dogbox, and the farmhouse. Think about it, you all end up walking down here to start your workdays—to grab a vehicle, pick up some tools, or go to the stables to saddle the horses. This would be a good office space for all of you, and especially for you.’

‘What’s theotherreason, Bree?’ Ryder seemed determined to dig for answers.

Bree sighed, hooking her thumbs into the cargo pockets of her work pants. ‘In here, you’ll be able to create a separate space to create some work-life balance for yourselves. Cap has his space, Dex, too. And by having your office down here for your morning and afternoon sessions, it’ll be neutral territory that you can then close the door at night to give you that break you all need.’

Sophie arched her eyebrows at Bree. Did this mean Bree cared about the Riggs brothers?

‘Being in charge,’ continued Bree on her rant, ‘you need to unwind somehow, because running a cattle station is a jobyou can’t switch off from. Dex trains in the morning, and then blows off steam at his place. Cap closes the doors on their nursery, and the cage doors on the kennels with Mia at the end of their day, to share their back deck. My grandmother did that with Charlie, where we’d douse the forge’s flames in the blacksmith shed, as a signal to know the workday was over. But you, cupcake,’ Bree said pointing at Ryder who frowned at her, or the nickname, ‘walk out the back door to the front porch and will pace that verandah until late into the night.’ Bree nodded at the main room, as if picturing it a different way, like a real estate agent selling a vacant lot. ‘Here, you can use this space to think and for the others to meet. Hey, even Charlie might show up and share all his stories about Elsie Creek Station, stockman to stockman.’ She then headed for the door. ‘It’s something to think about.’

‘Would you come to those meetings, too?’ Ryder asked.

Bree caught her hand on the door jamb. ‘It’s not my business.’

‘What about doing the makeover on it, Bree? Dex said you like doing those things, and you did a great job on his place.’

‘No. Not for you.’

‘Come on, Bree, you’d love to do this. I know you would,’ said Dex.

‘I’ll pay you.’

Bree frowned. ‘I don’t work for you boys. You can’t buy me. And I don’t want you to fight, Dex, because if you get into that ring, I’ll be betting on the other guy to win.’

Dex scowled, sucking in the air as Bree left them after dropping that bomb. ‘I hate you, Bree.’

‘What is Bree talking about?’ Sophie grabbed his arm. ‘Please tell me you’re not putting your health at risk?’

Ryder closed the door to the false room with a muffled thud. ‘Before Dex does, Sophie, can we trust you not to say anything to anyone?’

‘Of courseyou can.’

‘I don’t know you. Bree doesn’t know you. But she spilled her biggest secret in front of you, and that’s an enormous risk. If Dex tells you, he’s taking a risk on you. And as his big brother, I hope he’s doing the right thing.’

‘Brother…’ Dex narrowed his eyes at Ryder.

‘I’ve got to, Dex. You’d do the same.’

‘Are you asking me to swear some secret oath? When I don’t know what it is you’re doing?’ Sophie was stunned. ‘Dex, what’s going on?’

‘The police want to use me as bait to attract the rustlers at the next fight, where Bree will be going to identify the thieves and our cattle. There, that’s it, all out in the open. There are no more secrets to tell. I am an illegal bare-knuckle fighter. It’s what I do.’

‘No, brother,’ said Ryder, patting Dex on the shoulder. ‘You are much more than that. And it’s Bree who recognised it first. She recognises the good in people. But you...’ Ryder narrowed his cold dark eyes at Sophie. ‘What do you have against Bree?’

‘Sophie’s jealous,’ replied Dex.

‘Of what? You and Bree?’ Ryder screwed his face up as if he’d tasted something foul.

‘This place is a freaking zoo!’ Sophie stormed out of the shed. ‘I’m going home.’

‘That isn’t a home.’ Dex grabbed her arm, only a few metres from his shack. ‘It’s a room. And I don’t like you going back there.’

‘Why not? It’s where I live.’

‘No, it’s only temporary.’

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