Page 62 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘Who checks the crocodile trap?’ Ryder asked.

‘Bree. She goes riding out the back there, checking her stash of cherabin pots in the mornings. She follows the track that runs through this paddock at the back of the cottage, that you have to see, brothers. I’ll show you later.’ Crashing at the caretaker’s, the place was like a separate farm.

Ryder shook his head. ‘I wish Charlie and Bree would tell us what they’re doing.’

‘I was with them. And they were setting that croc cage to save our stock, before the sun was fully up, because it had a go at Bree—’

‘It did what?’ Ryder slammed his fists so hard on the table, their coffee cups jumped.

‘Easy, brother.’ Cap held his hands out as if to tame a wild beast.

‘Is Bree okay?’ Ash asked.

‘Yeah, she’s fine. Don’t worry, I spat it too when she told me. It’s why they set that trap the same morning.’

‘If you’d told me, I would’ve got rid of it straight away. Permanently. No need for a trap.’ Ryder’s voice was low and lethal, matching his cold eyes that clearly displayed his deadly intent. There was no way that crocodile would survive with Ryder on the hunt.

Dex scowled, leaning in to his older brother. ‘But I was with them when they set the trap, and they asked my permission to push the herd away from that area, to cut off its food supply.’

‘Did you go droving with them?’ Ash asked.

‘No. I wanted to.’ But Bree and Charlie took him back to the couch, for his appointment with the nurse.

‘Was that why they took off in their horse truck towards the Stoneys?’ Ryder asked.

Dex nodded.

‘Are you saying,’ Ash asked, ‘That Bree and Charlie drove our herd? Especially Bree, who doesn’t work for us, did this with no complaints?’

‘It was Bree who suggested it, when we set that crocodile trap. Hey, it was Bree who stashed that herd, too…’ He told them the story of how Bree hid the herd in the Scary Forest.’

‘What else happened while you were couch surfing, bro?’ Ash asked, while Ryder’s scowl remained steady.

‘Well, Porter showed up…’ Dex updated them on the murder room and Porter’s visit, but he never mentioned anything about last night’s escapade of shifting an illegal still off the station.

‘You did all that, when you’re meant to be resting on the couch?’ Ash asked.

‘I was. Bree just had all these cushions for the Razorback, creating an outdoor couch for me, in between setting alarms to do my breathing exercises and making me take my pills, the witch—’

‘Good.’ Ryder nodded, but the glare remained.

‘Yeah, well, before you complain,’ he said, narrowing his eyes at Ryder, ‘Charlie kept me updated as part of the management team of what they were doing. Which I am,aren’t I?’ The anger burned in his chest, which he took as a good sign of his recovery.

‘You sure are.’ Cap patted his back, defusing the anger.

Dex shuffled closer to the table, ready to swing on his chair as was his habit.

‘Don’t.’ Ryder held Dex’s chair on one side, with Cap doing the same on the other side.

‘Before you jump down our throat, brother,’ said Cap, ‘you’ve still got a bad rib. If you fall…’

Yeah, he got it. So, he plonked his elbows on the table. ‘Is the vet coming out today? I want to test out my new cradle and chute design.’

‘Harper told me Ryan’s coming out after lunch,’ replied Ash.

‘Good. I’ll be there.’

‘Are you sure?’ Cap tapped on Dex’s oxygen tank.

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