Page 91 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘Nope. And don’t hold your breath—’

‘Which I can now, thank you very much. And I got a good cardio workout, too.’ Oh yeah, Nurse Kitty was quite the little feline in the sheets.

‘Can Leo stop our carbon credit application?’ Ash asked Ryder.

‘Nope. I’d submitted that application long before Leo knew we were the new neighbours.’

‘Why so soon?’ And the fact Ryder never mentioned it earlier.

‘Because I knew this place didn’t have any cattle, and I’d listened to Cap talking about creating wildlife corridors and knew he’d do it.’ Ryder was always looking at ways to make money, taking their ideas to the next level. It was like Ryder knew how to print money.

‘Are you richer than Leo?’ Dex asked bluntly.

Ryder shrugged. ‘I like to think I’m smarter than that prick. I just haven’t worked out his endgame yet.’

‘That’s easy. Leo wants us out, so he can claim the water to start his mining operations.’

‘Hello, boys, we might have company.’ Ash pointed across the yard where Bree approached with her husband. ‘He’s a muscly guy, mean looking too. Did anyone know Bree was married? Harper said she’d never heard of him.’

‘It’s the first I’ve heard of him, but Bree and I don’t do the girlie talk on relationships.’ No, Bree was the type to peel back Dex’s skin to find his secrets. But the ones she had unearthed had helped him release those demons of his past to want to date someone.

That’s right, Dex was dating. Whatever that meant? Which sounded like he was letting Sophie control what shewanted from him. As long as he got to spend time with her, he was down with that, no matter what pace she set.

‘It mustn’t be that sound of a marriage if this is the first time we’ve heard about him in six months,’ mumbled Ryder, his expression stern like stone.

The dog barked as a sleek police car rolled into the yard, not like Porter’s police paddy wagon. ‘That’s not Porter.’

‘It’s Marcus.’ Ryder moved from his seat.

‘Why is the town’s top cop coming out here?’ And that cop wasn’t small. Elsie Creek’s Detective Senior Sergeant Moore had the arms of a professional bodybuilder, with fists the size of sledgehammer heads, and he had the reputation of someone not afraid to use them. Marcus could easily make a killing in the illegal fights if he wasn’t a cop.

The police car stopped beside Bree and her husband, where they shook hands like friends. Then all three approached the farmhouse.

‘What is that woman planning now?’ grumbled Ryder as he met them at the front steps. ‘Hey, Marcus, what brings you out here?’

Marcus shook Ryder’s hand, while carrying a folder—the same kind of folder Porter brought out about the murder that happened sixty years ago. ‘We’re here to talk. Have you guys met Finn?’

‘Nope. I’ve been busy.’ Finn crossed his muscular arms over his expansive chest. His arms might not be as big as Marcus’s, but they were solid muscle. ‘Which one is Ryder?’

‘That’d be me.’ Ryder looked at Bree. ‘I’m sorry, Bree.’

‘You should be.’ Finn scowled.

‘Easy, Finn. I’m a big girl, who can fight my own battles.’ Bree patted his arm, like controlling a pit bull. ‘But that’s for another day, because we need to chat. Everyone, take a seat and please be patient with your curiosity about what is going to be tabled. And can someone make Marcus and Finn a coffee while I clear this table? Jeez, big night last night? What was the occasion? Wait, was it because it was Thursday as a pre-Friday drinks session?’ Bree grabbed the beer bottles andstarted piling them into the empty beer box.

‘We sold our first lot of cattle.’ Dex grinned at her as he swung back in his seat.

‘Oh, good for you.’ She then arched her eyebrows at Dex. ‘Look at you, Stormcloud. You’ve got enough cat fur on that shirt to knit yourself a blanket. Which means you weren’t wearing that shirt. And judging by the spiky stuff covering your chin, you’ve been a dirty stopout.’ Bree tickled his chin, being her usual self.

‘Like you haven’t been seen for days.’

‘A girl has needs, I won’t apologise for that.’ Bree grinned, putting down the beer box against the wall.

‘What’s going on, Marcus?’ Ryder watched Bree take over the table like she owned the place and was helpless to stop her.

‘Finn is here…’ The police officer hesitated.

‘About your missing stock.’ Finn’s deep tone was brisk. ‘Bree called me, after being accused of being a cattle thief,’ he said, glaring at Ryder.

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