Page 13 of Stockman's Showdown

‘It’s part of the run-off from Cattleman’s Keep.’

‘I haven’t been back, not since the day Charlie first showed us this place.’ He leaned back against the rock wall that was surprisingly smooth. The waterfall’s turbulence massaged his legs, as he sipped on his beer. Now this was living.

Bree said nothing, but he could feel her watching him.

‘I never take time out to do things like this.’

‘You get that when you’re busily stealing land to increase your empire.’

Smart-arse. ‘I’m not doing anything with Drover’s Rest. I just said it was mine because my brothers were harping on about which paddock I was going to choose. I’m not running any new experiments, I’ll leave that to my brothers. But I do want the concept of stock school to continue, if Charlie is willing. Maybe he can talk to Cap about using the guardian dogs?’

‘We don’t work for you.’ Her words were very controlled, laced with a heat in her voice that skimmed across the water.

He should have stopped and heeded her warning. But he couldn’t resist. Even if she might be a pretty package of poison—one who should clearly wear a warning label about her outlaw attitude—but she was also an attractive temptress who’d somehow melted this man’s heart of ice.

‘Your grandfather is stoked it’s still allowed to continue. And I will not say no to the old man, and I know you don’t either.’ It was just another reason for respecting her, even if he wanted to be disrespectful with her body.

‘I do, too.’

‘No, you don’t. But you sure as hell tell me and my brothersnoall the time.’ How could he ever get her to sayyes?

Unexpectedly, her upper lip curled and a twinkle appeared in her eye.

‘Why do you always defy me? When I’m trying to be the good guy here.’

And didn’t the sweet little outlaw arch her eyebrows at him. ‘You called me a cattle thief.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Is that why you gave my shotgun a makeover?’

He couldn’t say the real reason why.

‘Fine…’ She rolled her eyes dramatically. ‘Thank you, again, for cleaning my shotgun. And I liked the blanket.’

‘I’m sorry, what?’ He blinked at her.

‘It’s a nice blanket.’

‘It’s old.’

‘So? It’s wool. Do you know how rare it is to find a hundred per cent woollen blanket in a part of the country that has no sheep. Where did you get it?’

‘You’ll think I’m dumb.’

She faced him fully, completely, with her green eyes locking on his. ‘No. You are not dumb. Maybe a bossy workaholic who’s put his emotions and empathy on ice, but dumb you are not.’

‘Is there a compliment in there?’

‘What’s with the blanket?’ Her eyes narrowed at him.

‘You tell me the story of Drover’s Rest first.’

‘I’m surprised Charlie hasn’t told you already.’

‘Me too. But it means a lot to you guys.’

‘It’s our backyard, of course it does.’

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