Page 99 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘Only to use that to bring Harper back when we found out she was a liar,’ said Ryder, glowering at Bree.

But Bree just lifted her chin, stepping in closer to Ryder as if daring him to fight her. She wasn’t scared of anything. ‘I just love this level of gratitude on you, cupcake,’ she said with a sarcastic sneer. ‘Especially when we all know how well that turned out. You know, that bit about how I knew Harper could save this station. Like I’m trying to get your stolen cattle back forthis station.’

‘How?’ demanded Sophie. ‘And what does this have to do with Dex?’

Bree whipped around to face Sophie.

While swallowing her gasp, Sophie gripped Dex’s hand in reflex, from having that redhead’s full attention. It was scary.

‘Your turn, Dex. You made me tell, now you can. But the nurse doesn’t need to know about Finn. That really isn’t any of her beeswax.’ Bree stepped away from Ryder, her stance relaxing, but her eyes a stern green on Sophie. ‘For the record, Sophie, I have a purely platonic relationship with Dex. We’re just friends. The only reason Dex was here, that night, was because the stubborn ass refused to walk away when the police came here after reopening the murder case.’

Sophie and Ryder went to speak.

‘Ugh!’ Bree held up her hand, cutting them off. ‘Let me finish my monologue. You wanted me to speak, so listen.’

‘You’re so bossy,’ mumbled Sophie.

‘You ain’t seen nothing yet. You should see me boss around a herd of cattle.’

Sophie swallowed, frowning at the redhead. ‘Right? Like you—’

‘Stop it, Sophie.’ Dex warned, while squeezing Sophie’s hand.

‘I agree.’ Ryder stood between Sophie and Bree. He was much bigger, but Bree looked tough enough to take on a bar full of cowboys. ‘Bree, you were saying about that night.’

It was the secret Sophie was dying to know.

‘I had to get the still out of this room, because one, I did not want to put Policeman Porter in a compromising position. He is a family friend who knows nothing about this. And two, I didn’t want the Riggs brothers to take a hit for my distillery. But, for sixty years, no one has been in this old tack room but me. I just didn’t think Porter would want to see the crime scene, because I’m no cop and I do make mistakes.’ Bree raised her eyebrows at Sophie, as if taunting her.

How could Dex be friends with this despicable, bossy woman?

‘But Porter and his entourage of trainee detectives were starting to map out this room,’ continued Bree. ‘So, I used Dex’s health and his dodgy oxygen trolley as an excuse to get Porter and my grandfather out of here. I then built Dex that new oxygen trolley to not blow my cover—’

‘I thought that was you sucking up to Dex with that trolley.’

Again, Bree laughed as Dex groaned, dropping his head.

‘Go on, Bree,’ urged Ryder. ‘Let me guess, you needed to move your still out?’

Bree nodded. ‘I went to move the still out that night, but this man child—’

‘Oi!’ Dex scowled.

‘—climbed into the Kombi’s passenger seat with his oxygen tanks and refused to leave until we’d pulled it apart.’

Sophie pulled her hand free, to face Dex. ‘You did what? You could hardly walk.’

‘Don’t worry, Dex only undid a few bolts. I wouldn’t let him do more.’

‘He shouldn’t have been in here at all, not with all this dust.’

‘There is no dust in that room, Sophie, look at it.’ Dex’s scowl remained, as he walked away from her. ‘I’m not achild.’

‘You can be,’ said Bree.

That was the first time Sophie agreed with Bree.

‘Go on, Bree. What happened after you got the still out of this room?’ Ryder asked, leaning against the wall opposite Bree.

---