Page 23 of Stockman's Showdown

‘Flipping hell.’ Dex dropped his head, rubbing his forehead. ‘I’m sending her back.’

‘Don’t worry, brother, I’m sending Harper and Mason home, too.’ Ash patted Dex’s shoulder.

Ryder scowled. ‘Good. A muster isn’t a summer camp for teens, which is what you two were turning this into. This muster isn’t—’

‘What is that?’ Bree turned her horse away from Ryder’s lecture.

‘Will you stop rushing into danger?’

‘I want to see the damage.’

‘And cause another landslide.’

‘I didn’t cause that. It was coincidental. And I’ll find a geologist I can pay to back me up.’ When she was really hoping to skip another one of Ryder’s lectures.

‘Why? Do you have one in your pocket?’

‘At the pub. You can find all sorts there. Or, I can be like Ash, who found his nanny at the supermarket in town.’ She cheekily winked at Ash, before riding closer to the edge of the rubble, spotting the dark shadow, like a hole. ‘Look. It’s a cave.’ She jumped off her horse and shared some water with Black Hand who seemed keener on sniffing around, as Ryder and his brothers rode up.

It was as if nature had peeled back the lower quarter of its rocky curtain to reveal a secret cave, the wide entrance framed by loose rocks and rubble scattered across the ground. Dust hung in the air, swirling lazily in the beams of sunlight to shine into the cave’s mouth, exposing rough and irregular walls of red and orange sandstone that faded into darker, more ancient tones that were lost deep in the shadows.

‘You are not going in there.’

‘Watch me, cupcake.’ She didn’t care what Ryder said, kicking herself for not packing her torch in her saddlebags. ‘Stay, Black Hand, I’ll be right back.’

‘You are the most—’

‘Will you lighten up?’ She scowled at the broody a-hole barking in her face. ‘Stop being such a buzzkill. And stop ranting at me like some nattering, no-fun nanny. You’re not my parent, you’re not my brother, and you are certainly not my boss. So stop ruining the day’s adventure.’

Ryder’s jaw dropped as if she’d slapped him.

It was enough to make her pause and inhale deeply to temper herself. ‘Look, cupcake—’ The nickname always elicited an annoyed scowl out of him, which was a much better look than before. ‘We’ve just survived a stampede and a landslide, so let’s catch our breath, and let the herd do the same, while we take a peek inside this cave.’

‘It could be unsafe.’

‘I’m willing to take my chances.’ She entered the mouth of the cave where the floor was strewn with loose rocks and debris. Dust lingered, but the air inside was cool and free from any humidity, it only heightened her curiosity at this unearthed mystery.

Certain sections of the cave’s walls had been cut away with straight, deliberate lines. The ceiling bore deep gouges, while some were faint but visible under the layers of dust and dirt. In some places, even though aged, sturdy wooden support beams braced the interior, unmoved by the landslide.

Leaning against the wall was a sturdy hammer and some shovels, a sight that made her shudder, as if an eerie ghost were scraping its nails across her scalp, sending a ripple of goosebumps to squirrel down her spine. ‘It looks like an old mine.’

Ryder grabbed her forearm. ‘Careful. Please?’

‘Well, since you asked so nicely.’ Matching his pace, they entered together.

‘You two are as crazy as each other,’ called out Ash, well clear of the main entrance. ‘I’m not going in there.’

‘Good. You can watch our horses.’ Dex rummaged through his saddlebags. ‘I’ve got a torch, so don’t start without me.’

The temperature dropped as they entered the small cave where old planks of wood braced the roof and sides. It was surprisingly sturdy enough to survive that landslide.

‘Did you know this was here, Bree?’ Ryder asked.

‘No. I knew they did some fossicking deeper in the Stoneys, and they’d panned for gold in the creeks, but not this…’ She stopped, her hand instantly reaching for Ryder’s solid chest.

His large hand squeezed hers. ‘What is it?’

She pointed with a trembling finger. ‘That.’

---