Page 94 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘No. Hecan’t!’ Cap and Ash were on their feet.

‘Like hell, that is going to happen.’ Ryder’s fists landed heavily on the table.

‘I agree,’ said Bree, who rarely agreed with Ryder. They normally fought with each other. ‘I’ve only just stopped Dex from claiming squatter’s rights to my couch from the last fight.’

‘But if Dex fights,’ said Finn, ‘Hank will show up to fight Dex, which means Marla and her brother will try to sell your stolen cattle in the car park.’

Marcus leaned forward to speak to Bree. ‘I’ll even allow you to sell your gin in that car park.’

‘What gin, officer?’ Bree didn’t even flinch, remaining cool and calm as always.

Finn chuckled. ‘Trust me, Marcus, you’ll never get a straight answer out of this one. I’ve been trying for fifteen years.’

‘Well, I’m not the type to tell anyone I won the lottery, but there will be signs,’ said Bree. ‘But as much as I hate the idea, it’s a plan to get the boys’ property back.’

‘I’ll say it again, in case you missed the memo,’ said Ryder, glaring at Bree. ‘It’s been a week since they pinched our cattle. Who’s to say they haven’t sold them already?’

‘Because common sense isn’t common with this group of idiots,’ snapped back Bree. ‘But if you keep whining at me like that, cupcake, I’m going to record your voice to make it my ringtone.’

‘Bree, play nice,’ said Dex, playing the peacemaker, while Cap tried to hide his grin.

‘How can you be so sure you’ll be able to recover our cattle?’ Ash asked a lot more calmly than Ryder, who was glaring at Bree, who wasn’t shy either. It was like having two sworn enemies face each other, with the police sitting like piggies in the middle.

‘Because we’ve been watching the commercial cattle yards.’ Finn cleared his throat, glaring at Ryder toback off from my wife!

Ryder did, butonly after a snort, to lean back in his seat.

‘My bet is they’ve worked out that the brand is so well recognised, no legitimate buyer will touch your cattle,’ continued Finn, ‘and they’ve got them stashed somewhere, waiting to sell them at the next fight. We’re aware that those customers like to see the beasts whole and have them parade past their potential buyers like an auction.’

‘It’s how we’ve done it before,’ said Marcus, nodding at Finn. ‘Let people get comfortable and cocky before we bust them, especially with cattle.’

‘And I’m betting they’ve got your cattle somewhere close, fattening them up, waiting for the fights next weekend.’

That gave Dex a week to train—if he agreed to this crazy scheme.

‘Do you think that prick Leo has them stashed in some paddock or shed next door?’ Dex asked Bree.

‘No. Not unless Leo’s living like a Disney movie with some secret underground car park to hide that small herd. But Ash, you should see their heat-seeking drone compared to—’

‘Baby.’ Finn patted her leg.

‘So, you’re saying this has nothing to do with Leo?’ Ryder asked the police.

‘Oh, this has Leo’s suit-wearing, mani-pedi mitts all over it.’ Bree checked out her own nails that Finn grabbed, giving her hand a squeeze.

‘Are you sure?’ Dex asked.

‘I’m willing to bet on it.’ And Bree rarely lost her bets. She then nodded at Marcus. ‘Show them.’

‘We can thank Charlie, who’s been drinking in the pub these last few days, for these images.’ Marcus dropped another photo on the table. It was grainy, but the images were clear enough to make out Leo talking with the three cattle rustlers. ‘This was in the pub’s car park.’

‘How does that prick always keep one step ahead of us?’ Dex wanted to wipe the floor with Leo.

‘It’s not a distraction, is it, for something else?’ Ryderasked. ‘Leo’s MO is to burn a paddock to damage a dam. To pick a fight to poison dogs at campdrafts. To let loose wild dogs to attack our herd, while lodging a challenge for our water rights.’

‘What’s this about wild dogs?’ Marcus asked with eyebrows raised.

‘Can’t be proven,’ said Bree, bluntly, beating Ryder to the punch.

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