Page 121 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘Where are we going?’ asked Joe. ‘We can’t travel east with this load. We’ll run into an inspection crew.’

‘We’ll head to Alice Springs. I’ve got a mate with plenty of contacts there.’

‘Why didn’t we do that in the first place?’ Marla pressed afresh chunk of ice to her face while sipping on a beer can, that she then pressed to the other side of her face.

‘Because Dex was here,’ complained Hank, stabbing the air in Marla’s direction. ‘I told you, already. You knew the plan.’

‘And you never got to fight him. And we never made a sale. The only thing that happened was I lost my fight, and YOU lost our money.’

‘Get in and whine at me while we’re on the road. Look, I’ll even play nice and help you get into the cab.’ Hank opened the door and helped Marla up.

‘You should be nicer to my sister,’ warned Joe.

‘She did this, not me.’

‘No, you were the one who made us wait this long when we could’ve hightailed it down south a week ago.’

‘Not my fault that no one wants this load of cattle,’ said Hank.

‘You should have known everyone would’ve recognised that station’s cattle brand.’

‘Okay, okay, I stuffed up.’

Joe made a stabbing motion at Hank, as he said, ‘Or that Leo mate of yours gave you a bad tip when you sucked up to him for cash. Do you have the means to pay back the money you owe Leo? Because he’s not the type of bloke to let you walk away.’

Dex and Ryder scowled from the shadows, hearing how their nasty neighbour was involved in this.

‘I’ll deal with Leo later.’ Hank hoisted the cooler and lantern into the truck’s cab. ‘First, let’s hit the road and head for Alice Springs, we’ll get rid of the cattle there.’

‘You’d better. Or we’ll be letting this load go on the side of the highway before we cross the border.’ Joe climbed into the passenger seat.

‘We’ll be right, trust me.’ Hank juggled the set of keys, walking around the front of the truck’s cab to climb up to the driver’s door.

‘Here we go.’ Ryder was crouched like a jaguar, ready tosprint for the kill. Dex was doing the same.

Hank slammed the driver’s door shut, the truck’s engine came to life, the lights came on, and its large tyres rolled with a crunch over the dry soils.

‘They’re leaving.’

‘Let’s go.’ Ryder and Dex ran across the field and leaped onto the back of the trailer.

Dex struggled to get his boots up onto the ledge as the truck started to gain momentum.

‘I’ve got you, brother.’ Ryder’s grip was like a vice under Dex’s armpit, pulling Dex up.

Dex finally got his boots to wedge against the small ledge. With his hands on the rails, he faced their cattle. ‘Was this part of the plan?’

‘I’m not letting them get away with our cattle.’

‘So, we hold on for how long?’

The truck built up speed as it hit the dirt track. It bounced around with the cattle lowing, their manure potent as the wind whipped around them to blend with exhaust fumes and dusty paddock dirt.

When the truck slowed down to cross the dry riverbed, there was a flash of red-and-blue lights as vehicles rushed at them from two sides, with a large truck blocking their path. Trapped.

The rustler’s truck doors opened. Hank ran in one direction. Joe hightailed it in the other, sprinting across the field.

‘Ryder, get Joe. Hank is mine.’ Dex jumped off the truck and ran across the paddock, his boots churning up the dust to cover the distance, getting right behind Hank, who dodged like a rabbit to hide behind a tree like a child.

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