Page 10 of Stockman's Showdown

‘Do you have any real weed amongst those weeds?’

‘If you tell me where you’ve hidden your gin still, I’ll tell you where my stash is.’

‘You know I can just take our resident drug dog, Scout, for a puppy dog playdate. She’d love the adventure.’ The loppy-eared beagle had played scout a few times for her. In fact, she’d borrowed many of Cap’s dogs for a job now and again, taking them for a spin in the Razorback. But she’d always given them back. After losing her own dogs in one cruel act, she didn’t have the heart to adopt another one.

‘So, um…’ Dex shifted his saddle. ‘I’d better tell you about the paddock Ryder’s chosen.’

‘Do I look like I care?’

‘I think you might.’ Dex rode closer as his voice lowered. ‘He chose Drover’s Rest.’

Bree didn’t respond, keeping her focus on the ride ahead.

‘Which includes Scary Forest. And he’s told Ash and Harper to do what they want with the farmhouse to make it their home.’

So where was Ryder going to live? The boardroom?

‘That farmhouse will end up being one big hat rack, you know that,’ complained Dex.

‘Harper wears hats for a reason.’ It hid the scar Harper had from a car-bombing incident in Belgium. You couldn’t see it, now the hair had grown back, but Harper was still conscious of it, fuelling her love of stockman’s hats to suit her stylish wardrobe. ‘Come on, you can’t tell me that Harper doesn’t look cute in her hats. Plus, she’s setting a great example for your nephew, always ensuring little Mason has his hat on, too.’ The small boy, riding in the harness strapped to his father’s chest, peeked around to wave at Bree.

Of course she waved back at the little big man.

Dex rubbed the back of his neck. ‘I’m sorry, Bree, but I think Ryder’s looking at taking the cottage when the caretaker’s caveat is over.’

‘When was this decided?’

‘Yesterday. Ryder’s going to tell Charlie today about using Drover’s Rest.’

Of course, that calculating businessman had waited to choose his paddock, just to make sure he had the best one on the property. ‘Do you know what Ryder plans to do with Drover’s Rest?’

‘No idea. But we all know Ryder would have some clever market strategy worked out.’

She shifted in the saddle, her hands gripping the reins a little tighter, as if trying to rein in the temper that was bristling under her skin. That prick was going to take control of her backyard, and her home, is what he was doing! And she couldn’t do a damned thing about it.

It’s why she refused to call herself a stockwoman anymore. And why she refused to work for the Riggs brothers. Especially when she’d been successfully running this place for years, whilecaring for an ageing Charlie and Darcie—who used to not only pay her but give her a share of the profits.

It had been heartbreaking when Darcie had died, only to watch Darcie’s son strip this station of all the cattle she’d helped raise.

She hated how her grandfather had never found the courage to leave and start somewhere fresh. Leaving her to battle with the neighbour, Leo, to protect her grandfather over the caretaker’s caveat. And then she had to bite her tongue when Elsie Creek Station was sold to strangers—and she couldn’t do a damned thing about it.

It was like everything she had ever loved was being taken from her, piece by piece. It was just another reason to despise Ryder Riggs, who’d set his sights on Drover’s Rest, as if boldly declaring his intention to take over the cottage—the only place she called home.

Five

Rijidij Dugout was such a well-hidden spot, you wouldn’t know it was there until you were practically on top of it. Wisps of steam rose from the shimmering surface of the large rock pool, creating a natural spa. The water was so clear you could see bubbles slowly rising between the smooth river rocks, mingling with a soothing mix of sand and the softest mud.

After a long day of chasing cattle, Ryder was looking forward to kicking back in that spa, beer in hand, while taking in the view of Emu Plains. An open valley filled with sun-drenched grasslands that rippled like a sunlit sea, it stretched endlessly to meet the sinking sun on the horizon. As that great ball of orange and red fire bathed the valley in golden light, each blade of grass seemed to reflect that fire. The hazy horizon blurred softly into the distant ridges of the Stoneys that stood like silent soldiers, yet somehow crafted a seamless tapestry of ochre gold and amber, it truly was the land of the big sky.

Still in the saddle, Ryder tried to work out where to set down his swag for the night, which was proving a challenge when the girls had marked out most of the territory with tents!

Ash and Harper had a big tent to help contain little Mason. Meanwhile, the toddler was having a fat time with the stash ofyellow rubber ducks Bree had emptied into the rock pool for the kid to play with, while the adults discussed swimming lessons.

As for the other adults, Sophie had Dex so whipped it wasn’t funny, by building Sophie a tent city. They had a tent for sleeping in, a tent for changing in, and a tent to shower in, with no clue what the fourth tent was for. It was an eyesore.

Mia and Cap simply had their swags set up together with their dogs surrounding them, well back from the campfire.

Charlie had his bed-roll near the campfire, the camp cookers were set up, getting ready to give a lesson on camp cooking, while their usual muster cook was nowhere to be seen.

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