Page 115 of Stockman's Showdown

‘Will Leo hurt them?’ Ash croaked out, the worry showing on his face, but also on the girls.

Dex’s hand landed heavily on Ash’s shoulders. ‘Not while Bree is there. Remember, Leo has always had a thing for Bree. I’ve seen it at the fights. He won’t hurt her.’

‘No, that prick wants to own her.’ It was one of the things Bree hated, anyone owning her. But Leo—who liked to think he lived above the law—wasn’t just going to own her, he was planning to keep her!

Like hell.Ryder’s lip curled with his snarl full of heated rage.

‘What are we going to do?’ Cap asked over the phone.

‘Everyone is coming home now, you lot all stay in that boardroom until I tell you otherwise.’

‘What are you going to do?’

Ryder opened the back tray of his ute and dragged over his steel box. With a juggle of his keys, he unlocked the sturdy bolt and lifted the vacuum sealed lid. The car park’s spotlight shone inside the large steel crate, filled with an assortment of weapons. The same ones they’d used on their midnight hike through Leo’s land and more. ‘I’m going to get them back.’

Forty-five

‘Coffee? Tea? Wine? Beer? Bourbon,’ offered Leo as he led them inside the simple demountable normally found on mine sites. For Bree, it reminded her of the ringers’ rooms on Elsie Creek Station.

With the windows closed and the air conditioner on full blast, it was like walking into Antarctica, except it reeked of greasy sausages.

‘How many times have I told you lot to not cook inside?’ Leo ripped out the electric cord and passed the greasy frying pan to Wrench, who dumped it outside.

‘May I?’ Charlie pointed to the old dining chair, at the table that seated four. Other than that, they had a desk and a kitchenette in this sparsely furnished room. Behind her was the bedroom with bunk beds, and further along a small bathroom.

‘Go ahead, Pop.’ Bree pulled out the chair while glaring at Leo.

‘Sorry, I forgot my manners.’

‘You could show a shred of decency and let us walk home.’

‘Charlie won’t make it.’

‘I’m a lot fitter than you know,’ Charlie mumbled, pushing back the brim of his hat. ‘What’s this all about, Leo? You said you wanted to show us something. So show us and let us be on our way.’

Leo poured himself a bourbon, even pouring one for Charlie and Bree. ‘It’s a nightcap then, or a peace-offering.’

Bree grabbed her glass and sipped on the hard liquor that was surprisingly smooth. No wonder Ryder liked it.

Right now, she had to think like Ryder. How would he size up this situation as a soldier?

Her eyes darted around the room as she leaned her back against the wall with Charlie in front of her. Gator and Bones lounged around on her left side. Opposite was Leo. To her right, bookending the door to freedom was Hammer, with his brother, Wrench. They were a ragtag lot.

While the AC was threatening to give her pneumonia, Leo’s men were sweating, clearly not used to this outback weather. Hammer and Wrench were sunburnt, obviously showing their southern skin.

‘Okay, Leo, now that you’ve brought us to your little house-warming party, can we get on with the show-and-tell? I already told you that this Cinderella’s pumpkin has lost its puff hours ago.’ She even feigned a yawn, mixed with weariness and boredom.

It didn’t fool Leo, who only smiled with amusement. ‘Charlie, I’d like you to tell me about your brother, Harry.’

‘What do you want to know?’

‘Tonight, at the rodeo, they had that one minute of silence for him. I was under the impression that Harry was wanted for murdering Elsie Creek Station’s head stockman, who’d then run off with the man’s wife?’

‘But Harry didn’t, you see.’ Charlie fiddled with his glass where it rested on the table.

Leo, seated opposite Charlie, crossed one leg over a knee like a gentleman, cradling his glass of bourbon as if in some country club. ‘Go on.’

‘Harry was going to run off with Penelope.’

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