Page 69 of Stockman's Showdown

‘Not like that. Few people realised Laurel cooked for the local homeless shelter. Even though she’d retired, she still did it a few days of the week.’

‘Sounds like a sweet lady.’

‘Anything but. She was a brandy-swigging, foul-mouthed woman who gave people hell with her comments. You would’ve liked her.’

‘Why was she working there then, if she was giving lip to the customers?’

‘Laurel’s brother, Clyde, was an ex–combat vet. He wasn’t coping too well back in society, and preferred living on the streets.’

‘Where Laurel volunteered at this soup kitchen?’

He nodded.

‘Did she—’

‘She tried.’ His chest rose and fell in a deep sigh. ‘Laurel had a room for Clyde at her house, but her brother wouldn’t accept it. So, she made sure Clyde had plenty to eat, clothes and blankets to keep him warm, while keeping watch over him.’

‘And you stayed with her?’

‘For a few months. I painted Laurel’s house, fixed her plumbing, serviced her car, and tamed her garden, while scaring off some local kids who dared to hassle her. And Laurel also made me help her with her work at the soup kitchen.’ Again, he rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Laurel made me see the world in a different way. I was a broke kid from the bush who didn’t know about city living.’

‘Do you regret leaving your family?’

‘No. It was my time. It might sound selfish, but I needed it. Like I told you, I never learned to play. I’ve always been too serious, too focused. I’m not like you and Dex, who know how to muck around and actually enjoy life. Now that I’m out of the Army, I wish I could let go a little—have more fun in my day.’

Why did that make her heart ache for the always serious and stern Ryder Riggs?

‘And the blanket?’ What was the connection?

‘When I was getting ready to leave, Laurel gave me this handful of cash. It wasn’t a lot. I knew she couldn’t afford much, but she insisted on taking me shopping to get my recruit kit together.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Toiletries, specific civilian clothing. I never had much. With no shopping malls anywhere near us, we were kids who shared clothes and lived off hand-me-downs. But Laurel insisted on helping, lecturing me on the difference between quality over quantity and to invest in something that would last. After living a life in the outback, in a house that never got cool enough in the summer, I wasn’t ready for the southern winters.’

‘I can relate.’ Wrapping the blanket tighter around her shoulders.

‘And, after having a chat with Clyde, huddled on a street corner, about his time in basic training, that’s when I bought that blanket you’re wearing now, and it went everywhere with me. Just like Laurel’s brother, Clyde, carried one with him living on the streets… You see, in the Army, most of the personnel had photos of their family, a special book, a watch, or some keepsake. I grew up in a junkyard, well aware of what people threw away and didn’t want much. Some of my bunkmates gave me a hard time being this dumb kid from the scrub carrying this blanket around.’

She bristled, with that blaze of protectiveness rising fast in her chest. ‘That’s not fair.’

He tilted his head at her with that grin growing. ‘Look at you.’

Only then realising she was being protective of Ryder.Nooo.She had to step back. ‘I hate bullies.’

He narrowed his eyes, his deep voice dropping lower, colder even. ‘Were you bullied?’

She shrugged.

‘Bree?’

‘When I went to boarding school, somehow, they found out about my parents and some of them picked on me. But not for long.’ No, she learned all about pranking those in the dormitory, and their weak spots, to ensure they never bothered her again.

‘They obviously had no idea who they were dealing with.’

‘No, they didn’t. What about you?’

‘I grew up being bullied. We were known as the junk brothers in school, until my mum decided we were all going to learn to box. After that we never got bullied again.’

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