Page 114 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘I’ll bet my entire holiday savings to Tahiti on Dex to take this party all the way to the knockout.’

Dex stared at Bree in disbelief.

‘Listen, Bree, I’d never take your money. I know how hard you hustle for it.’ Leo glanced over and paused to use the back of his fingernails to scratch his chin darkened by a few days’ growth. ‘But if you throw in a case of your gin, and a date that went for two days, I’ll take your bet.’

Bree arched her eyebrows at Leo. ‘Wait, are you expecting me to drag out some pom poms and play the part of a high-kicking high school cheerleader because you said that? When I repeat:I am not doing anything with you. This,’ she said, waving her hand over her curvy body, ‘is the no-hanky-panky zone.’

Leo chuckled. ‘Our date will be amusing, if nothing else. We’ll start with a trip to the local airstrip, where I’ll fly you out on our jet, after I finish with the neighbours once and for all.’ He glared at Ryder, and it was like heavyweight prize-fighters facing each other, where the air got thick with tension.

‘But I’m fighting Dex,’ said Hank, looking confused. ‘You’ve lent me the money to have my shot.’

‘I’ll just use it for me, because I want a crack at the title.’ Leo wore the confident grin of a loan shark. ‘What do you boys say? Do we have a deal?’

Thirty-seven

‘You two are not serious about me fighting against Leo for our station?’ Dex glared at Ryder and Bree, once again agreeing on something—but this was so much bigger, this was for their home.

‘Do you see it, Bree?’ Ryder narrowed his eyes at Leo, walking towards the fight organisers with Hank skulking off in the other direction.

‘I do.’ Bree quickly shoved her boxes of bottles, and her folded table into her Kombi van. ‘It’s a distraction.’

‘What?’ Dex asked.

‘Leo is distracting you two, giving Hank time to warn the others and get away. Leo did that at the campdraft, making out he owned Mia’s dog, while his offsider was poisoning Cap’s dogs.’ With her Kombi locked up tight, Bree started moving.

Ryder caught her arm. ‘Find Finn.’

‘No, you find Finn.’ She pulled her arm free, to drag out her shotgun from under the chassis of her Kombi. ‘Hank has your cattle and I’m not letting that prick get away with it.’

‘We can’t let Bree go on her own.’ Dex watched her leave, fearless as always.

‘I agree. You find Finn, let him know what’s going on. I’ll watch that woman’s back.’

‘What about my fight?’

‘Stall the fight somehow. Just don’t start until I get there.’

‘What about the bet? Do we go through with it?’

Ryder’s hands landed heavily on Dex’s shoulders. ‘Doyou believe you can beat Leo?’

‘Leo must know about the ribs.’

‘Forget that. I want to know if you believe you can beat him.’ Ryder’s eyes locked on his brother. ‘I know you can. And so does Bree. Come on, we both know Bree would bet against you if she didn’t think you’d make it. And I wouldn’t be fronting my share of the station either.’

‘That’s a lot to put on one fight.’

‘Think about it. I honestly don’t believe Leo will follow-up on that bet, not when he’s got no backup, or witnesses of his own.’

‘So, it’s a distraction?’

Ryder nodded. ‘Listen, brother, you may have to go through with the fight, but know you have my support because I believe you’ll beat him. And, who knows, maybe they can beat Leo at his own game, but don’t hold your breath. And don’t start without me.’ Ryder ran off into the dark.

Could Dex do this?

Oh, he so very much wanted to face Leo. It was the ultimate Christmas present for this fighter.

But first, he had to find Finn.

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