Page 129 of Stockman's Showdown

‘Through you, I learned to play, but also to live a life by enjoying those small moments found each day with you. I want to go riding with you in the mornings to greet the sunrise as we check over the herd, and help you haul in those crab pots before dawn. I want to share breakfast with you, and to sit beside youat a campfire under the stars. I want to explore every part of this land with you, hearing all those stories you’ve learned about our home, with you by my side as my wife. I want us to betogether forever.’

Her eyes sparked to life, to stare at him fully for the first time in days.

He then pointed to the cases in the back of her van. ‘Were you leaving me?’

‘I—I… was letting go.’ She sighed heavily as she peeked back at the van. ‘It’s Liam’s, my grandmother’s and Charlie’s stuff, to go to the Goodwill.’

‘Why? And don’t say it’s because of Charlie’s list.’

‘It is on Charlie’s list.’ Bree lifted her chin feistily, her eyes blazing with the stubborn fire Ryder had once dreaded, but was now grateful to see it again. ‘I was cleaning out the house because it needed to be done.’

‘To help you move forward, not leave me behind. So, what were you planning on doing today? The truth. No games.’

‘I’m taking this stuff to town, then collecting my gold from the police station and delivering it to Lenny to sell for me. Charlie wanted me to use that for my holiday, then to find a home to live.’

‘You’ve been very specific about that holiday.’

‘I’ve never had one.’

‘Excuse me?’ He stepped back, tilting his head at her.

She shrugged. ‘I’ve always had to take care of someone or something…’ She nodded at the land that surrounded them and the road that led to the homestead. ‘I’ve never regretted being a carer, not for one second, but I promised Charlie that I’d take a holiday when he left, because I’d been the carer for Darcie, Charlie, and this place for years. I wanted a break, somewhere that is free from deadly wildlife, like crocodiles.’

‘Like Tahiti.’

She nodded. ‘And I’ve always wanted to see a live ice hockey game. We don’t get many games out here…’ She gazed at the sunburnt land that made up the remote outback.

‘Save that gold, invest it, and I’ll take you on that holiday, and then we’ll both come home to where we belong.’

‘You can’t buy me.’

‘Don’t you think I know that by now? But I can spoil you, if you’ll let me.’

For once she looked at a loss for what to say.

‘Look, I told you I was missing something and bought this property for my brothers.’

‘For family.’

‘Correct. What I didn’t know—until I’d met this sassy redhead, so fiercely loyal to her loved ones, who fought with me every inch of the way and is still fighting me when I know we belong together—is what I was missing. Bree, we’ve been through so much together. We’ve fought for this family, and for this station, side by side. When we did the muster to Wombat Flats, hiding from the sandstorm in the cave. Then we shared moments mustering the herd together by moonlight, just you and me. We sat side by side in the hospital when my brother was on that breathing machine. We fought against Leo, swapped wedding fingers in a morgue, discovered dynamite and solved a murder mystery at midnight. In case you hadn’t notice, Bree, I’d walk through fire for you, to be with you. For you are the fire that helped melt the ice that used to run through my veins.’

She gazed at him, listening silently. It gave him hope she was really hearing him.

‘I love you. And the way I love you, there’s nothing you can do about it, and there’s nothing you can do to make me stop loving you, and there’s nothing you can do to make me change my mind.’

‘Oh, hellfire…’ she murmured under her breath.

‘I know this is the most I’ve ever said to anyone, except you. I’m only like this with you.’ He then took a deep calming breath. ‘Now, tell me, what do you want from me that’ll make you happy again?’

She stared up at him with her beautiful green eyes, where, for the first time in what felt like forever, a twinkle broke through, a mischievous shine even. ‘Yes.’

Did he hear that right?

Fifty-three

‘Where’s the no?’ Ryder stood so close, his head tilted, gazing at Bree in one of those unreadable expressions. ‘You’re always saying no to me.’

She gave him a shrug, biting back her smile. ‘Well, now I’m saying yes.’ She liked this game of surprising Ryder.

---