Page 65 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘Back bush block on this track that runs down the western boundary.’

‘Sounds like they used the old stock route.’

‘How do you know?’ Ryder stepped in closer.

‘Duh. I’ve lived here for how long with the caretaker. Where is Charlie?’ She looked to the cottage. ‘Oh, look, Lenny’s here.’ She nodded casually at the battered ute parked outfront of the cottage.

Yet there was nothing casual about this conversation, the air was so tense you could cut it with a surgeon’s scalpel.

‘And where is your grandfather, Bree?’ demanded Ryder.

‘Isn’t it obvious? Charlie is with Lenny.’ Bree shrugged, unfazed. It only made Ryder angrier. Was Bree being so blasé on purpose to annoy him?

‘Ryder, I already told you Charlie went fossicking with Lenny in the Stoneys this morning,’ said Dex. ‘It was Lenny who gave me that soil map, before they left in the Razorback.’

‘When the old man gets back, we need to discuss the use of the Razorback. We could have used it to help search for our cattle.’ Ryder kept glaring at Bree. ‘Do we own the Razorback or does Charlie?’

Sophie was dying to know what the Razorback was.

Bree gave one of her annoying know-it-all shrugs. ‘You’ll have to ask Charlie that.’

Ryder wiped a hand roughly over his face, but it did nothing to deter the menacing scowl that was intimidating for Sophie.

‘Again, I’ll ask you, Bree… Where were you last night, between the hours of two and seven this morning?’

‘Brother, don’t do it.’ Cap winced, gripping his trucker’s cap tightly as if to prepare for an explosion.

‘Ryder, stop it.’ Ash hooked his fingers through Harper’s, dragging her behind him, while stepping in front of his partner to shield her.

‘No.’ Ryder stepped in closer, arms at his sides where his hands formed into fists as he glared down at Bree. ‘I’m asking what we’re all thinking, because we know Bree and Charlie are skilled enough to pinch an entire herd from the old owners, and hide them, and we’ve just had—’

‘Say it.’ Bree stepped right up to Ryder, lifting her chin. ‘Go on, I dare you to say it.’

‘Don’t you dare, Ryder,’ warned Dex through gritted teeth.

‘Did you steal our cattle?’

Whack!It was the sound of a stockwhip cracking to echo in the surrounding air, and it came from Bree who had slapped Ryder across his cheek!

Bree glared at him with such anger, her green eyes were practically glowing. ‘I may be a lot of things, but I amnota thief.’ She sneered, full of bitterness, the controlled anger heard in her voice. ‘If you wanted to insult someone—whose family has worked for generations within this cattle industry and on this property—congratulations, arsehole, you just won the Oscar for being a prize tool.’ Bree jumped into her van, slamming the door shut, and swiftly drove towards the cottage.

These people were crazy!Sophie was so close to jumping back into her own car to leave this place for good.

‘That was a dick move,’ Dex said to Ryder. ‘If I was well enough, I’d punch you for that.’

‘No. You can’t.’ Sophie grabbed his arm to protect her patient, but Dex shook it off. His anger and his focus were on Ryder.

‘Bree still didn’t say where she was.’ Ryder pointed to the yellow van that disappeared around the corner of the corrugated fence. ‘What is that woman hiding?’

‘You don’t have to know everything,’ snapped out Dex. ‘To think Bree was sticking up for you last night.’

‘So, you were with her last night?’ Ryder jabbed the air, inches away from Dex’s chest.

Sophie stepped up, the protectiveness over her patient was surprising. Come on, she’d been trained to never interfere with families, and she’d seen plenty of fiery family feuds in the hospital—but this was Dex.

But Dex gently pushed her back, as he stepped up to Ryder, toe to toe. ‘Of course I was. I’m staying on her couch, aren’t I?’

Sophie couldn’t stop her frown. Not that it was any of her business, but it still flared the jealousy she had over Bree and Dex. He might say they weren’t a couple, but he was quick to defend Bree against his bigger brother.

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